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Thursday, July 18, 2013

WE HAVE MOVED...

please continue to follow our adventures from our new website



Sunday, July 14, 2013

Worship

My church...

is awesome

provides hope
welcomes
changes lives
teaches
preaches
saves
helps
gives
grows

is comfortable
has padded seats
has a large staff
produces videos
is technologically advanced
ownes a fleet of ipads
had it's own coffee shop
is airconditioned
has bathrooms... in every hallway
has parking attendants... because everyone arrives by car

My family attends Hope Fellowship in Frisco, Texas and we absolutely love it.  We visited a lot of churches when we first moved to Frisco and knew as soon as we walked into Hope that we would be staying.  It's just so different than the church that we have been attending for the last 5 weeks.   Highland Baptist Church in Kalingalinga, Zambia, Africa is about as far from Hope Fellowship as you can get.  As much as I love Hope, I really missed Highland Baptist this morning.

You can find Highland Baptist on an unpaved dirt road, right across from a giant neighborhood trash pile.  Sometimes they borrow a sound system and sometimes they just speak up.  Each week that I attended, they had a translator preaching with the preacher (even though I'm married to someone who speaks both languages).  They welcomed my children and I as if we were already members of the church.  They take up an offering and proudly announce the grand total no matter how big or small.  They use stackable plastic outdoor patio chairs for seating.  If one is broken, it's just stacked with another broken chair in hopes that together they will become sturdy.  All of the children sit in the back on a mat or on the skinniest benches I have ever seen.  They sing, and I mean SING from the heart no matter their musical talent.  There are countless praise teams that take turns to perform each week often dressing alike and marching in while singing.  There is a dead rat outside the building that the kids sneak out to investigate.  There is no running water so their bathroom is like an outhouse but with nothing to sit on, just a hole in the concrete.  The preacher is animated, their deacons are dedicated often spending the whole day at the church, and the congregation is loving and welcoming.


Both churches are wonderful in their own way but I must admit feeling just a bit guilty at how comfy my chair was this morning as I sat sipping my coffee and watching the weekly announcements on one of 4 large screens.  Just makes me appreciate things a bit differently.

Todays message from our worship Pastor Aubrey really seemed fitting.
Week 6 of a series called wiser



Wednesday, July 10, 2013

a picture is worth a thousand words

Just wanted to share a few of my favorite photos with you...

This was the first day I met the students at the Zambian Vocal Group Academy.  I was immediately surrounded by a group of children so I decided to play follow the leader :)

Best game of Dodgeball ever

Brandon and his cousin Jordan walking home from Church together


Madison with my niece's two youngest girls.  The ever smiling Moscar and Butembewe with the biggest most mischievous eyes you have ever seen.  the baby's name and Maddie's middle name Chikondi both mean "Love"

Just a small handful of the smiles from the Zambian Vocal Group Academy Students

My kiddos playing outside of the Lodge waiting for lunch after a hard day of work at the school

Brandon's new soccer team... or a few of his cousins :)
Frank, Simon, Jordan, Mapesho, Christopher, Slyvester, Caleb, Brandon

My kids joining in the singing performances at the end of VBS

From Zambia to Texas

Today I am thankful for running water, reliable electricity, my washing machine, my dishwasher, my flushing toilet, bedsheets with elastic corners, and antibiotics....

We have just arrived back in Texas and it has been a very long and exhausting journey.  I regret not writing down my thoughts through out our trip to Zambia but with the unreliable internet, and so much to accomplish each day, I was just happy to get back to our apartment and get some sleep.  I'm going to try to go back and finish some of my posts while they are still fresh in my memory.  

The kids got sick about 5 days before we were scheduled to leave.  They have now been to a Zambian Clinic, twice.  I took them to a private clinic which costs K10 (ten kwacha, the Zambian currency which is roughly $2)  That was the expensive clinic mind you.  They did not have many instruments to be able to investigate why my child was coughing and gagging so we are still not totally sure what the kids have.  He tipped Brandon's head back and with the help of sunlight peered into the back of his throat and looked with amazement at his missing tonsils.  He listened to the kids cough and decided to prescribe a large amount of meds for them.  Normally I wouldn't give them so much medicine but I was more than worried on how they would do on our long flights home.  

We left the house at 5am in Zambia to catch our first flight.  I think Sylvester and I got almost 3 hours of sleep.  We were sad, tired, and sick so not the ideal combination for a long journey.  A lot of our family members were able to come to the airport with us but it made it all that much harder to say goodbye and walk through security.  We survived the first 10 hour flight pretty well.  Our original plan was to stay in the Heathrow airport overnight and catch the flight out the next morning.  Sylvester and Webster, being citizens of Zambia, would not be able to pass through security to enter London and I wasn't about to wander out and find a hotel with the kids and luggage by myself.  When we arrived, the kids were so miserably sick that we decided it wasn't a good plan to have them sleep in the airport floor.  I talked to many people and with my two coughing kids in tow, was able to get the guys a special 24 hour temporary exit visa... so off through security we went.  Our plan was to call a friend in New York that has a brother in London and stay with him for the night.  I was told that there were lots of affordable hotel options available near the airport as well if we needed them.  Sylvester, Webster, and I had all sold our phones before we left Zambia (because we sold them for more than enough to come home and buy new ones) so we only had a pay phone to deal with.  Also good to note that we had no physical money (in any currency) as we had all run out of money before leaving Zambia.  This all makes it hard to get in touch with anyone.  We tried several times to get the right phone number and fought with the payphones that were eating our money.  We decided it might just be easier to get the kids to a hotel so we could all get some sleep.  By this time, Sly and I had caught the kids germs and our throats were feeling as though they were closing in on us.  We went to inquire about available hotels (and ATMs to have money for the cab rides) only to find out that nearly everything was booked and the only options available were too far away and much to expensive.

So back to our original plan to sleep on benches at the airport... until we hit security.  They would not allow us to re-enter the airport as our flight out of London was not until the following day at 11:50.  So we were stuck on the outside of the airport with two coughing kids.  I talked to just about every security manager in the building but no one could get us back in.  We decided to just make the best of it.  We found a 24 hour coffee shop, bought dinner, promised to buy coffee later, and put the kids down for bed in one of the booths.  I had packed pajamas for them so at least there was something familiar about bedtime.  at 2am, they came over and told us we needed to move to the other side of the coffee shop so that they could properly clean the side we were currently sitting in.  The family of 3 adults that were coffee shop camping at a table next door literally jumped up and ran to the only available both on the opposite side.  So there I was standing holding two sleeping children with nowhere to put them down.  I was exhausted and coughing, irritated, and seriously contemplating kicking the sleeping adults.   I chose to take the high road and push 3 chairs together and try to make a bed for my children.  They actually slept nicely through the whole ordeal but I or course got little to no sleep while clutching luggage and keeping one eye on my sleeping kids.  I am a little mad now that I didn't take any pictures but I was just so sleep deprived that it didn't even occur to me at the time.  

At 6am, the coffee shop was nearly full of paying customers... and my kids in their footie jammies fast asleep and snoring.  Good thing they are cute.  We got up and finally got back through security into the airport.  We busied ourselves with breakfast and the playground found in the main terminal.  NOTE: if you ever fly with kids through the Heathrow airport... go find the playground.  It will save your sanity.  There is a charging dock, playground, comfy chairs, and affordable food all right there.  Our second flight was a bit more challenging as the kids had gotten plenty of sleep and the adults were struggling to stay awake.  We took lots of "walks" up and down the isles with Madison as she was already tired of traveling.  It took well more than an hour to gather our bags and make it through US customs but thankfully we passed though with out any trouble at all.  

Thanks to my sister and cousin, we had an easy ride home and food ready shortly after we arrived.  My mom was so happy to see the kids that she took care of them nearly all weekend while Sly and I tried to recover from being sick, and jet lag all at once.  

It's really nice to be home... but I really miss Zambia.  I miss our family, the kids at the school, all of the friendly people, the amazing work ethic, just about everything.  I want to go back already and it makes me sad that it will be several more years at best before the kids and I can return.  The plane tickets alone make the trip to far out of our price range to even consider.  Our trip was amazing and it was even more amazing to be able to watch my children experience new things and watch the way they were able to adapt and fall right in line as if they had lived there forever.  

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Hold my hand

Today, I sat and held a little boy's hand while his family decided his fate.

This little boy is in 3rd grade and excels in school.  He is quiet, and a seemingly very serious kid.  I have meet him several times now and he will only offer his hand to shake when greeting me.  He doesn't really look into my eyes when I speak to him or seem affectionate or happy at all.  The only time I have seen him smile is when he's busy playing soccer.  It's like he's lost in the game and doesn't have time to be so serious.  He lives with his grandmother, who runs a bar out of her home.  Before and after school he is in charge of selling cigarettes, and fetching drinks for adults who are staggering around his yard yelling curse words at each other.  He often watches men get so drunk off of the homemade moonshine, that they have to be carried home, including his own father.  His parents live in a one room building with no electricity or running water.  They drink so much that they are not capable of taking care of themselves much less their little boy.  This is the life of a sweet innocent child that has more to overcome just in the next few years than I have to worry about in the rest of my life.  To make matters worse, he is HIV positive... he knows it, and is often looked down on because of it.  He has a family full of Uncles, Aunts, and cousins who love him, but he has been told lies by his own father, among others, so he's unsure that he can really trust anyone.

Today, this innocent little boy sat nearly in my lap and held my hand so tightly that I thought I might loose the feeling in my fingers.  We sat in a room with two of his uncles, his mother, and his grandmother.  They were discussing letting the little boy live at the family's house with his cousins.  There were many things to discuss including being able to manage his disease properly so that he gets all of his medicine on time each day and can be taken to all of his check ups.  All of these issues were discussed in front of the little boy as we sat in the dark and worked out all of the details.  The more they talked, the more he sank into me as if he wanted to just disappear.  I only caught about half of the conversation in Nyanja and a bit was translated for me.  I kept wishing that he didn't have to hear us speaking about him and suddenly realized that this was probably not the only terrifying conversation that he had heard over the years.

I have never felt so helpless.  I wanted to take him home to the US and adopt him.  I can't even imagine what he has been through already at his age.  By the end of the meeting, it was decided that he would move in to the family house and would be brought up by several of his aunts and uncles.  He seemed very pleased with the outcome but very hesitant to be left at the grandmothers house until the family could make room for him at their house.  I didn't want to let go of that little boys hand but I know that I can't protect him from anything.  I can only hope and pray that his life gets better and that he's surrounded by family who can spend the rest of his life showing him how special he is.  I hope that his family tells him everyday how much they love him, that they will support and guide him, and how talented and wonderful he really is.

Hard day for this momma who just wants to fix everything...

Monday, March 11, 2013

Let go and Let God

ZAMBIA HERE WE COME
Ok, so that was taken at the Dallas Zoo but we are getting really excited about our upcoming trip.  We have purchased our plane tickets and have our exact travel dates.  Brandon is so ready to go to Zambia. He talks about it nearly every day.  He's excited to meet his family, to work with the kids at the school, to do construction on the building, and to just be a part of something big.

We are about to head off to Tennessee for our yearly trip to Dollywood.  The guys in the Zambian Vocal Group are preforming at their big Festival of Nations and I'll be helping in their product booth again this year.  I'm really glad that I'll be able to spend a bit of time helping with their ministry, plus I'll be able to catch a lot of awesome concerts while I'm working.  We are going to be gone for a little over a month and as I'm surrounded by a pile of laundry that needs to be sorted and packed I'm starting to get a little overwhelmed by all of our upcoming travels.  If I'm stressing about the travel details for a month long trip in the states, how am I going to handle our trip to Zambia?  I'm sure that everyone who has ever gone on a family vacation knows that it's probably the least relaxing trip you could take.  When you have little kids, your entire life revolves around naptime, snacks, amusement, behavior, and fun.  That's a lot to keep going on any trip but what about when everything around you is totally different than what you are used to?  New country, new language, new food, new surroundings, new dangers, new joys, new people...  It sounds fantastic... until the first meltdown from a 1 year old on a crowded bus right?  I'm sure they will do fine.   I'm sure I'll do fine.  I'm sure I will be able to plan out our trip, pack all of our luggage, and survive the 2 long days of travel with two small children.  I know that God would never give me more than I can handle... but I think He's testing me lately.


Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lordyour God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9


We attended an awesome and uplifting service at the Hope Fellowship Mckinney campus last night.  Sometimes I need a big reminder that I'm not the one really driving the bus.  I'm a control freak.  I plan out every part of my life so the whole "let go and let God" thing is a constant struggle for me.  I've spent to many hours worrying, stressing, and obsessing over details of our Mission Trip.  Everything has changed right in the middle of my plans, lists, and charts... but it will all work out according to His plan, not mine.  Starting tonight, I'm going to stop letting the stress take over.  We don't have enough money raised for the trip yet, but it will come.  We don't have housing secured, but it will happen.  We don't have all of the details planned out, but they will fall into place.  I choose to trust and be excited about the journey we are about to go on.  


If you are reading this blog and are wondering how you can help... 
What we need most is prayer.  Pray that we raise enough money to make the journey, that we have safe travels, that we stay healthy during our trip, that we are able to make a difference in the lives of the children we are working with, that our children will adjust nicely and that they will be able to enjoy and learn from the children in Zambia.  

We are still raising money to cover the cost of the trip, in fact we haven't raised enough money to pay for the plane tickets that we have already purchased... so if you feel like you would like to donate towards our trip we would appreciate that greatly!  There is a link at the top of this blog to donate online, or if you would like to send a check, you can email me for our mailing address. pammie_sichangwa@yahoo.com


Thursday, January 17, 2013

Pray like you are four

Pastor John probably had no idea that his "choosing to cheat" series would impact my 4 year old son quite like it did.  John McKinzie is the Lead Pastor at our home church, Hope Fellowship in Frisco, Texas.  Two weeks ago he started a series about cheating the things that take up time in our lives and replacing them with God.  We were all given bracelets that read "I'M A CHEATER" and asked to wear them each day both as a reminder to us as well as a great conversation starter.  Brandon spotted the bracelets and of course wanted to wear one.  Sylvester and I decided that if he could understand the basic concept and be able to explain it to others then we would let him sport the blue plastic armband.  We talked to him about "cheating" things in his life that tend to distract him and take up a lot of his time.  He agreed that playing on a phone, watching movies, and playing the Wii were things that he could cheat.  Then we talked about things that we could do to replace them.  He got his children's Bible out of his bookshelf and laid it next to his bed.  We talked about taking time in the day to pray, singing songs, spending quality time with his sister and teaching her the right way to do things.  

For several days he called us out every time we picked up our phones or tried to zone out with the tv.  (I'm thinking next time around Pastor John should hand out rule following 4 year olds in leu of bracelets... much more effective)  We spent time reading stories from the bible, praying, and singing Brandon's favorite worship songs.  We have been working on simple songs that he can help to teach the children in Zambia during Vacation Bible School This summer.  This is his current favorite, but beware it will be stuck in your head all day... Click HERE to hear Brandon's Favorite Song

Monday evening as I was putting Brandon to bed, he asked me how we know that God is listening when we pray.  I started into my explanation about how God is always listening when he blurted out "But it's not Christmas!"  More than confused, I asked Brandon to explain what was going on.  Apparently he had been cheating time playing on the iphone to pray during the day.  He had been praying that it would be Christmas again, that it would snow, and that all of the children in the world would receive presents again.  We spent a lot of time talking about the three ways that God answers prayers.  I'm still struggling with exactly how to answer my inquisitive 4 year old's questions about everything in the whole world so I'm just learning as I go.  I find it really hard to explain things to Brandon because I'm reasonably sure that he is already smarter than I am at this point.   I tell him that sometimes God answers our prayers with yes, sometimes with no, and sometimes his answer is wait.  We talk about his reasoning for wanting it to be Christmas again.  I try to explain that we need to make sure that we are aligning ourselves with God's will.   We then spoke about the Bible story we had read that night about Rebekah at the well.  Abraham's servant knew that God would give him a sign to let him know the right woman to marry Isaac.  Brandon decided that he would just wait for God's sign about Christmas in January.  I went to bed that night smiling at the wonderful heart and mind of my precious little four year old.  

Tuesday morning I wake up, look out the window and find Brandon's sign.  There is over an inch of snow covering the ground of our yard.  Now you must remember that we live in Texas.  Last year we didn't see snow at all.  I can't even remember for sure if we got our winter coats out of the closet at all the whole year.   But there was Brandon's sign from God, as clear as it could be.  I can not even tell you how excited my little boy was when he discovered the snow.  He was yelling, "He was listening Mom, it's Christmas, it's Christmas!"  He was so pumped about snow that not even my it's not really Christmas explanation would slow his excitement.  

Last night as Brandon went to bed we spoke again about prayers.  He had decided that God's sign of snow for him might be to tell him something important.  He was speaking of presents, toys, giving things to the children in Zambia, and all sorts of exciting things as he drifted off to sleep.  As I close his bedroom door, Sylvester tells me that "Uncle Richard" is in town and would like to drop off Christmas presents for the kids that we had not been able to exchange until now...  So guess what little boy is getting Christmas in January...


This makes me smile, it makes me proud, and it makes me so excited to see how Brandon is going to make a difference in people's lives.  He is so excited about our mission trip this summer.  He talks about it every day.  He asks questions about the children, learns songs to teach them, participates in public speaking events about Zambia, prays about it, and asks us every day if it's time to go to Zambia yet.  I just hope that I can follow in Brandon's footsteps and learn to truly cheat my daily life and give it all to God.  Being the control freak that I am, I think it's my biggest struggle.  I tend to give it to God, and then take a little part of it back to continue to worry about.  Today I am going to cheat my worries, cheat my time away from my family at work, cheat the stress of life, cheat the schedules, cheat the things that tear me away from God and from my family.  I just want to pray like I'm four and know that God will send me a sign and use me for His Glory.  




If you are interested in Cheating things in your own life, you can watch Pastor John's messages about choosing to cheat HERE

If you would like to learn more about the school that we will be working with while in Zambia you can do that HERE

If you would like to donate towards our trip so that we can make sure Brandon gets to Zambia this year you can do so HERE