Life in Zambia has been somewhat completely different  to anything that I have ever known. I was on a walk with my husband this morning and being the enthusiastic birder that he is, every walk becomes an opportunity to participate in a ‘Birding Walk.’ We were walking along and then suddenly he stops to a halt and yells out “Stop!” He begins looking up into the tree to see if he can recognize where the bird noise is coming from and he begins the procedure of identifying a certain bird. 

Meanwhile, I was still recovering from the share shock of the suddenness of his manner that I couldn’t look up… seeing this he reassures me that he may have spotted the Chaplin’s Barbet. Here I was thinking that the sudden halt was a snake or something dangerous lurking in the bushes. I breathed a sigh of relief as we proceeded to look high up into a fig tree, the home of many of these Chaplin’s Barbets, endemic to Zambia. Hoping that we would manage to see it, we stood there, playing their call on Damian’s phone. Albeit no luck, but my husband always says when out birding – “you got to be in it to win it!” and the specific type of Fig Tree that these birds live in are common through the suburb of Roma where we live.

One of the reasons why I have themed the business around birds is because a certain verse that often comes as a timely reminder for me is from Matthew 6 verse 26. I am pretty sure that Jesus was a keen birder, but in this passage he was encouraging everyone, not just keen birders to stop and “Look to the birds.” The reason being is that birds are somewhat ‘carefree creatures.’ They move about effortlessly, hunting and gathering for food, with little distress in their manner. In stating this Jesus is urging his followers to consider how “they neither sow, nor reap and yet their Father feeds them.” “He then goes onto say, how much more valuable are we…so why do we worry about our life.” This perhaps is easier said then done, but I love how Jesus draws upon our everyday experiences to speak to us and to remind us through His creation that we are valuable, more valuable than the birds, and therefore that we do not need to worry about the details of our lives because He is taking care of us. This perhaps has been the hardest thing for me in this season. Although I am reminded constantly to look at birds, sometimes not figuratively but literally through my husband’s birding binoculars, I easily revert to worrying about my life. This has been even more heightened living in Zambia. Because everything has felt so new and sometimes overwhelming here. I live in the place of contention between do I truly trust my loving Father that he is looking after me or do I consume myself with the worry of day-to-day living here. Zambia is a very safe place but there are still challenges such as, power shortages, drinking bought water, being careful of what I eat when I go out, and will I be safe on the pot-holed roads here. Things that my husband, having grown up with reassures me that sometimes I am being a little irrational. However, growing up in New Zealand, I now realize how much I took life for granted there. I knew that every day I would wake up to power. I had a job, a car to drive, and nice roads that took me from A to B in good time. I could drink water from the tap. I could safely keep my windows down at stop signs, knowing that I would not be mugged. I knew the health system and could easily go to Chemist Wharehouse and get anything to help with health issues, at a good price. Everything has changed and now more than ever I am having to trust that these words will indeed become a reality and that my Father is watching over me. Not only watching over me but providing for me. These words have been true as I look at my time here thus far. Although I have at times reverted to worry, His mercy has not failed me. Some of the ways that I have seen His provision and care are: We moved into a home in town. We were given miraculously a solar system and a washing machine. So no more hand washing, Praise the
Lord!! Mind you my husband took on this role of washing clothes in the bath. I am thankful for good health and for finding places to buy fresh produce… my husband is slightly worried about the budget as I have a habit of always buying nice things at Woolworths (this is the same as Countdown in NZ). I am thankful for the different friends that God has brought across my path, especially in this settling in time and being able to understand different aspects to the culture here.

I have been able to see God’s hand in the little provisions too, such as these Birding Walks, which become a timely reminder to keep “Looking to the Birds” and consider how they neither sow, nor reap and yet their Father feeds them.’ To trust seasons to God and see how much he cares and values the smallest detail of our lives. Sometimes, it also shows me like todays walk that I am often found to be in my fear and worry, rather than in the zone of ‘Looking to the Birds’ and trusting, truly giving my cares and worries to Him. Therefore, I hope this encourages you too that the Father deeply cares about the details of your life. He sees you and you are valuable to Him. As you go for that walk or just enjoy being in nature that you too will Stop! to look at the birds and be reminded of the Creator that is watching out for you, providing and taking care of you.

Some of the interesting experiences over the last month have been:
1. Being interviewed to check whether we are saved enough to enter the housing estate where we live.
2. Discovering that the world of private health care is maybe even better than what is available in New Zealand.
3. Driving through massive flood waters during heavy rains – and understanding why we drive a land cruiser instead of a small town car!
4. Yango experiences through town, especially one where the driver turned round and asked my friend and I whether we’d be willing to drive the car, instead of him.
5. Discovering that we can do our exercise in a Chinese Store by spending a whole Sundayafternoon walking around.

Some things we are still needing to trust God in:

1. A permanent work situation for Damian. He currently has a small project at the moment that involves helping a friend with a tourism-based community conservation program.
2. I have a visit out to the Hope School and they are hoping to have someone who can oversee their Classroom Management. I would love to be able to help out in someway but pray for
sensitivity to know what might work for them and me in this season.
3. On-going strength and energy for the changes within this season, as well as good health.
4. Good relationships with our neighbors and that we will be a blessing to those around us.