I am a Soldier.

Wow I have been in Africa for 16 days and it does not feel like that at all. I have 2 weeks left here and 9 days left at MICS and I am trying to take every moment in. I have so much to tell about what has happened in the last week. We have not had internet  since last Wednesday so that has been interesting. Joe, Sawyer and I went the entire weekend without internet and that was pretty hard but almost nice in a sense. I have had a lot more down time here than I thought I would have. The weekends are so chill and we get a chance to rest and be with one another and read and watch maybe a movie or episode of FRIENDS. I have really enjoyed just being here with Joe and Sawyer. That is definitley one of the reasons why I am here to be here for them and with them. The Lord has definitely brought me and Sawyer so much closer to himself and closer in our relationship with one another. It is so beautiful to see Christ work in all of us to bring His Kingdom come. I am teaching 4th grade Math and Spelling and it is really fun. I really like being in the classroom, and so far, the students are understanding what I am teaching. Christ is definitely humbling me so much through this experience and making me aware of how big and able He is to do ALL things. I have really been able to dig into the Word while I have been here, which has been wonderful. The Lord continues to show me new truths everyday, whether its through His Word, nature or the beautiful children I get to take care of every day.
We traveled to Choma last Thursday and needless to say that was one of the wildest, craziest adventures I have ever been a part of. On our way to Choma, we got on a bus that takes us supposedly to Choma but when we are almost out of Macha, we turn around and go back to where we started. We waited for about 30 min and then we were off to Choma with now a bus full. Halfway to Choma, our bus breaks down, they thought that it was out of gas but they tried to fill the gas pump and put the wrong fuel in the gas tank, so now the bus is way way gone. We got off the bus and waited for another 30 min. until a truck came and picked us all up and we got to Choma. We finally arrived in Choma at 10 am and we got on the bus at 6 am...it only takes 2 hours by public transportation to get to Choma supposedly...
Our first stop was a bakery called Wonderbake! It sold bread and pastries and the most delicious coffee you will ever taste!! We got to watch the news and that was kinda weird to not know what was going on in the world, we found out about the continued turmoil in Egypt and the devastating tsunami in Japan. After Wonderbake, we headed to the immigration office to get Sawyer and Joe's passports renewed and it only took 10 minutes!!! SUCH A PRAISE...because last time they went to Choma it took 2 hours! After immigration, we headed to a local bookstore where I got a surprise for my boyfriend and Sawyer and I got some really cool envelopes. After that, we went to the pharmacy and then to this awesome restaurant where we ate Crocodile! It was so great!! It tasted like a mixture between pork chop, chicken, fish all mixed together. After the croc appetizer, we went to the market. The market in Choma is pretty big and is located right on the train tracks. We got African fabric to make surprises for our friends with and Joe tried to find a Zambian shirt but none fit...the market environment was interesting...they were not to keen on bargaining and many many poor people lived at the market. It was very dirty and they sold smelly fish and other gross things like caterpillars you could eat! YUCK!! After the market we went to the local grocery store and got supplies for Marit's going away party. Marit is from Holland and has stayed in Macha for 4 months working for Malaria and AIDS research at the hospital. She is so sweet and we are going to miss her terribly. We also got some yogurt and "brown bread" while at the grocery store. The next stop was the Museum Restaurant. This was the coolest thing EVER. We got to eat in an actual African hut and we had grilled Tilapia, salad with avocado and yummy french fries. It was prob. hands down one of the best meals I have ever had. After lunch, we hurried back to the center of town to find that the bus to Macha was full. The only option left was to ride in a truck and the driver had no idea what time he was leaving...we ended up waiting for 2 hours and finally the driver came back with the truck full of 3 sofas and other things that he was going to sell in Macha. When the truck arrived, a swarm of people flocked the truck and were rushing to put their stuff on and get in. We ran over to try to get a spot and got in barely. There were prob. 30 people or more in the back of this truck, we were packed in like sardines! There were many men on the truck that were intoxicated and in particular one that I will never forget. He was a soldier that had just returned from trying to keep peace in Sierra Leone and was returning home to Macha. He kept asking Joe if he was a soldier and if he was able to adapt to the situation. Then he started asking me the same question over and over again. "Are you a soldier? Are you adapting to the situation??" It was hilarious. Finally me, Joe and Sawyer broke out with the song, "I'm in the Lord's army...YES SIR!" It was crazy to say the least. We finally got back to Macha well after dark and with much more stories to tell...
It is Day 2 today at MICS and I am fixing to go teach my Spelling lesson...thank you for your continued prayers for me and my team! Please continue to pray for healing for Gil and Rhonda. Gil had his first chemo treatment last week and it went well and Rhonda just had some surgery yesterday. They need your prayers.
All my love,
rach