Megan (sister) and Dave (bro-in-law) in Zambia - Dave

I interviewed my family about their experiences in Zambia after they've had a month to sit on it for a while.  Here are some quotes from my brother-in-law Dave...

"I was amazed at the purity and authenticity of the Zambians worshiping.  No glitz.  No glam.  No instruments.  Just voices.  All voices were strongly contributing and beautiful."  To see what this angelic host sounds like, check out this video "A kabwela mwana lesa (?)" - http://vimeo.com/14906874 and you'll even see a guest appearance of Dave himself!  

"I also loved hearing them pray.  They pray with so much power and we pray with so much passivity.  They realize the power that is coming out of their mouth when they pray.  In America, we pray fast food prayers.  Have you ever heard that?  You know, 'I'd like a #5 with a side of fries.'  Their prayers are more like home-cooked 7-course meals with good conversation and enjoying one another's company.  That should be the norm."

"My favorite part of the day was the beginning 15-30 minutes when we'd talk and pray with our Zambian partners to prepare us for the day. We'd discuss what we learned the night before and what messages the Lord had laid on our hearts.  I'm sad that hasn't translated to back here in the States.  I can meet with my boss at work 15 minutes early, but I can't meet with God for 15 minutes."

"I loved the joy party!  I was partly sad because the week was coming to a close, but it felt so good to be completely unabandoned knowing the kids weren't looking at me in judgment.  I was learning to let go and live in the moment and it finally broke toward the end of the week and the Joy Party was the culmination of that."

 

"It also touched me to hear My Redeemer Lives by Nicole C. Mullen.  I knew that these kids had experienced some extreme hardship but that they could stand on the truth of that song and claim it for their own.  Especially for the kids that underwent a major transformation and were having a mountaintop experience that they could look back on and remember when they are in a valley."

Dave Playing Hide and Seek