Conclusion

Fortune I received from a Jones Soda

Zambia is a wonderful place.  The people are friendly and the country is beautiful.   It’s really the hidden treasure of Africa.

The first day or so in Zambia was hard.  Nothing was clean and the lifestyle seemed chaotic.  Everyone there was just trying to make it day to day.

I found myself really being stretched.  I found perfection perfectly unobtainable.  I found the people were grounded.  I discovered how people create meaning in their lives.  I learned what it felt like to be among people who had HIV…. and around those who had it and didn’t know.  I learned what it was like to wake up when the sun came up and go to bed when it went down.  I learned what it was like to perform a simple day of work without a notion of deadlines.  I learned what it felt like to be free from stuff.  I learned that Rhinos walked underneath me while I slept in a tree.  I discovered a world of wildlife only accessible to me via the Discovery channel and National Geographic.  I was reminded of my dependence on God for daily strength.  I found out what real pot holes in a road are all about. I learned that people live joyful lives in the midst of what looks like turmoil to myself.

I learned that the only thing humans need besides food and water is love.

I was thankful for all of this; I hope to revisit Africa soon.