I was scared!

Hey y'all it's been such a long time since I've posted anything!!!

 I could go into a myriad of reasons as to why.... but one of the main reasons was because I was scared! Sometimes that's hard to admit but yes....I was scared. Have you ever been scared and allowed the fear to keep you from doing things you love? Well that's what this vlog is about! Whether we realize it or not we are all gifted in many ways and people are waiting for our gifts to show up and SHOW OUT! We are meant to BE, but we have to kick fear out of the way so that we can BE! So I just stopped by to remind you to DO IT! Even if you have to DO IT AFRAID! Push through and do it afraid because we need it! We are waiting on you, and I know that the gifts you posses are outstanding and are imperative to our world, otherwise you wouldn't have them! I encourage you to push past the fear and let them out, because when you do, it's gonna knock you and us out the park in such a beautiful way. So watch this clip and may it inspire you and propel you forward, because you are worth it. 
Madetoencourageyou:)

Here is the link.

https://youtu.be/MIyPRaj5Y8A

Term 1 is finished!

Hey all! I finished my first term teaching English, eighth grade and it went pretty well. I have 104 students!!!! So obviously that was one of the largest challenges. Another challenging aspect was the different levels the kids were on. Nevertheless, we still prevailed. Here's what we covered last term:

Nouns
Pronouns
Punctuation (periods, question marks, capitalization)
Reading Comprehension
Review of phonics
Verbs


You could be thinking, "these kids are in eighth grade and they don't know this?" The answer is yes they are and no they didn't really know it.

Life in the village as far as education goes is very difficult. There is not a great value on education because so many are not educated and I mean from knowing the alphabets and the sounds they make. So many of the children miss a lot of school, drop out and are not met with much resistance because their parents, and grandparents didn't go either. There are some whose parents make their children go to school but have no idea what they do there, and have no thought to help them or make sure their children's assignments are done. Villagers are slowly learning and accepting the change as we try to help adults get educated so they understand and can help their children. So I take one day at a time, or in local language...panono panono.

Another cool thing I got to see my entire intake just weeks ago and that was really fun. We had training regarding sustainable projects in our communities. I brought my host father as my counterpart, and we were both motivated and look forward to hitting the ground running, when I'm back in the village. He also saw many other Zambians educated and it inspired him to get more serious about his education. (He hadn't been coming to our adult literacy group) I was very happy to hear and see that he realized how important it was, and how he wanted to get more serious. I believe exposure is so important, because it speaks for itself, so I'm so glad he came and thoroughly enjoyed it.

While being on vacation I got some clothes made!!!! Two dresses and a pants suit! Pics later of all my adventures. I also got to hang with good friends, teach some music at the American International School of Zambia...and get more plugged in to the musical scene in Lusaka. I have had a great time so far. Well until next time guys. Be encouraged!

madetoencourageyou:)

CHITENGE!!!

Hello all! Hope you all are doing well. I know however that is not always the case and I want you to know that I would love to pray for you, about the good and the bad. Really let me know, I gots you! (gots: means I got you covered)

Well I'm writing this blog to share a secret, though not so secret to some....my love for fashion. Though I hardly wear heels I still love clothes and fashion. I love looking good, but being comfortable is very important to me. The reason why stilettos and I broke up years ago is because I was no longer willing to sacrifice myself for her beauty.

I still notice how great they look but we're for the most part exclusively done. How familiar are with chitenge's? It's a fabric seen all over Africa, and this fabric is often turned into all different types of clothing. I was so excited to be able to get clothes made. The cool things about chitenge fabric is they come in a myriad of colors and patterns and their all gorgeous! It just makes you pop, I don't think you can feel bad when you have on a piece of clothing made from chitenge; I never have been. So far I've had one dress made, three skirts, and a pair of pants. I currently have a pair of pants in the works right now. I don't have pictures of any of them but when I do, I'll post them. Oh I am wearing a skirt in one of my previous blogs during our cultural day during training. Here are some patterns and designs I want to done in the future.....I'm so excited!

To learn more about the history of chitenge's check out this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitenge

Around the village we use chitenge's for many things. Towels after bathing, aprons, decorations, carrying things, babies, also wear it over your nice clothes to protect them from dirt. 

As I stated before chitenge are turned into beautiful clothing but also bags, purses and so much more. Take a look.

She looks good honey!

I see this all the time. My closest neighbor came back from the bush with her baby and carrying wood on her head. It's hard to lift the amount let alone carry it on your head. The women are so strong.

Here are some styles I like and hope to get something made like it, or close to it.

Love this look. (I couldn't wear shorts like this in Zambia...thighs are considered private area but in America and other places where this is not the case....can't wait)

So fierce, I love it.

I'm hoping the ones I'm currently waiting for come out like this.

I love this free flowing skirt.

I like this.

So regal!

Yes!

I've started

and I will keep going! 

Here's to chitenge's!

Love you all,

madetoencourageyou:)

Mulli Uli?

Happy New Year everyone!

It's been a while but in the meantime I hope you all have been well. I have been living in Zambia for almost nine months! Time flies when you're having fun! Well I will try and give you a run down of what's been going on till now.

Myoka Village

 http://www.mayokavillagebeachlodge.com

Beautiful Lake Malawi

South Luagwa National Park

http://www.luangwa.com/

December: Had training in Lusaka, learned more about teaching (literacy) and HIV/AIDS. My favorite was that I was able to see my entire intake again, as community entry was over. (Where you live in your village for three months getting acclimated to where you'll spend the rest of your service.) After training we went on our first vacation to Malawi, and swam in Lake Malawi almost everyday....it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. The beautiful mountainous countryside was never ending. You know how you feel when you see all the changing color of the trees in the fall? The whole place was like that, I could barely breathe as we we kept driving through it. I would totally go back. The lodge where we stayed was also gorgeous...I twisted my ankle so it was swollen sometimes and hurt a little but it didn't stop me. The lodge was built on a mountain and the steps were steep and deep...and I landed too hard on it a couple of times and had to keep walking on it. I'm grateful it wasn't that bad...oh I forgot to mention that I also danced on it several times...for several hours! I was also a DJ for our nightly dance parties....what? Somebodies got to do it:) After Mayoka Village in Lake Malawi, we headed back to Zambia and went to South Luangwa National Park which is a word-renowned wildlife haven, I highly suggest it. Pictures are above.

January: Said goodbye to my fellow Pcv's and went back to the village...and started officially teaching, grade 8. I have around 98 students! Thankfully we have block scheduling, and there is a lot of absenteeism. Absenteeism is not good but I must say it can be a relief when the class is not jammed pack. I teach three days a week, two 80min classes. I have Mon. and Fridays off and I love it! On Jan. 20 while I was teaching someone broke into my home and stole most of my electronics and two flashlights. While this was sad, I have forgiven, and pray in hopes that they will be found and my things will be recovered. (My solar battery charger and inverter, my ipod, ipod speaker, my external hard drive, over the ear head phones ( I could hear the music so well;)) and my head lamp, and a flash light.) Peace Corps has been helping and giving me support...and thankfully I bought insurance, but please pray that I'm able to recover all that was lost, and that I will be able to get those things back. I miss being able to listen to music but I am hopeful, and will again soon.

February: I received some care packages from the USA! Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You all know who you are and I am very very appreciative. I also have visited some other PCVs around my area, and that has been a blast, seeing there houses and set ups. Very cool. Other than that I'm teaching and it's fun seeing the students grow and understand. Though at times it is very challenging, I'm having a great time!

Oh I forgot...as far as my personal development I've been exercising around two to three times a week it feels great, and I have been running a mile also and I haven't stopped. I can also do 20 push-ups at a time, I did 80 on Wednesday! I have never ran a mile and not stopped to breathe maybe only one other time in my life. Also I've started studying music, my hope is a chapter a week of theory, history, vocal pedagogy, arias, voice lessons, choral conducting, and sight singing. Pray I continue to be consistent and keep enjoying the discipline that is becoming me; I'm having a lot of fun. My goal is to have gone through the books by September, and then do it again. I must say, I'm feeling very proud of myself! Other than that....my hair keeps growing, trying to see how big my afro will get.

Well that's about it for now, but I'll see you soon. Thanks for reading, love you all.

Be encouraged,

madetoencourageyou!

PICTURES

Here is just some pics to if you're interested, and maybe don't have Facebook.

Chishimba Falls in Northern Province after just arriving in our new Province from training. Stunning....also a time for wading, and swimming in the water.

Termites....it's that time where they swarm....and people collect them and fry them up. Don't know that I have the nerve to eat them but....yeah I've heard other volunteers say they have, and it wasn't that bad.

I had the privaledge to give a speech thanking the Principal of  the school we trained at during training, in Mambwe the local language I was studying.

 

Each group divided by languages also perfomed a cultrural presentation for Cultural Day. We were the Mambwes. Davy (our Language teacher) Luke, Myself, and James....dancing with our shoulders the way Mambwe's dance.

The Pig that was sacrificed for our Thanksgiving dinner...watched the whole thing. Sad but very quick, and learned to have a deeper appreciation for the food I eat and is prepared. Everytime we eat meat, a live animal is sacrificed for us. I don't want to take that for granted anymore. 

Me on my roof, I was nervous as it can be slippery with shoes...but in the great words of my dear Zambians..."I managed".

One of my favorites...my little ones Dinah the older one and Meleby....first cousins....Meleby is my host parents youngest.

Well everyone that's all for now....more later

In His love,

madetoencourageyou:)

Happy Independence Day Zambia!

Today is October 24, 2015, and Zambia has been independent for 51 years now. Can you imagine if just 51 years ago the USA was still controlled by another country? So being here, I can only imagine what it felt like being independent the first couple of years in the United States, for those who were allowed to participate.  So I celebrate and pray for Zambia as they continue to celebrate during this time and hope that the country and the leaders of this beautiful country keep pushing Zambia forward.

To catch you up, I have been living in my village now since the beginning of September and it has been going well. I’ve started two groups so far, and have taught a number of times at school. During Community Entry, we are really suppose to spend most of our time getting to know our community so we’re not supposed to teach….but I have. I’ve also done a lot of tutoring of students who have asked, and were serious.

 

 In other news it has rained about five or six times now! It’s so crazy and exciting to just experience a climate where part of the year it doesn’t rain and then when it does you’re happy. We just don’t have that in the states…but all throughout our training at times we the Peace Corps Volunteers (pcv’s) would look at the sky and say, it’s definitely going to rain, and sure enough the Zambian staff would assure us, “no it’s not, you’re fine, it’s not rainy season.” So the first time it did somewhere the end of September, I was in sheer shock. However, with a thatched roof you have to make sure you have the plastic lining your roof well, or the natural beauty of rain will be a mess. My roof is getting worked on right now. The other draw back is that the same plastic that protects you from rain, debris, and the like also attracts…..RATS So people say oh get a cat and you’ll be fine. Well Nuisha my cat is still quite young and I am thankful that I never have seen a mouse (it makes me feel better to say that) like on the floor of my house. Three days ago I did see two run on the roof to the outside above my bedroom. That was enough, I told my Yataata we have to do the roof asap and get rid of these now because I can’t deal. To make a then very stressful situation better…they are on it and I am very grateful. Let’s just say once my plastic was removed….it was very apparent that many had made homes in my roof…and it sent me over the edge and I cried for the first time since I’ve been here. So without the plastic they don’t come b/c it isn’t stable enough for them….but you will also have rain and debri everywhere. With plastic they want to make a home but with a lot of poison and Nuisha safely staying at my parents house, we hope to kill them and the plastic will be up Monday, the old nests will be gone praise God ( I can’t stand to look at that) and my roof will be finished ASAP. Before leaving for church my Dad checked to see if any had fallen dead in the house…but he saw nothing…fine by me. We’re thinking they died maybe in the roof or ate food went away and died. I definitely heard sounds that sounded closer and then further away…and one I thought sounded like he could have been hurting but I don’t know. I didn’t see anything around the house either. Needless to say more poison is going up today and also my neighbors to send the warning to the whole rodent community to STAY OUT! So my principle and community have heard the message and are on it and I am beyond grateful. If I remember I'll take a pic of the nest….not a fan. Because Nuisha is only two months old she or he I don’t actually know but time WILL tell…sorry I digressed. Nuisha is still growing but later on she/he will be the Hercules of the compound. 

 

In other news another pcv…has started a radio show with her family and friends back home…and I want to do the same as well. It’s quite hilarious and I will be picking her brain as to how she sends it out to the masses. One thing I also like was the question and answer section she has. People will ask questions and then she will respond. I love that, so again if you have questions about anything I would love to reply. So leave comments and I will get to them…and it’s also nice to hear a voice you haven’t heard in a while…btw I still sound the same.

(pics of me being silly…and clear clean water)

This leads me to my final thought of today. Sameness. You think that people change b/c there far away, and I guess it happens to certain degrees but I’m still just Imade (Mahdee as many pronounce it). Yes my bathroom now is a hole in the ground but I still don’t like putting my shoes on wet surfaces…haha my standard has not changed. There was a football final in my village which means wet surfaces in the chims  (Imagine a festival with the porter potties…which I never went into). I was charging my electronics at my teachers when nature called…but I was ready. I carry toilet paper and hand sanitizer with me. In I walk in and the wetness greeted me…so I do what I have to do and once out, like my cat, I’m rubbing my feet on the dirt…like get off my shoes and sanitize immediately and then I’m good. So humans adapt but that doesn’t mean I just love everything….I come ready and do what I have to do to find peace in gross situations. I still don’t like dirty dish water and food debris in the water still disgust me….that will not change. So I have gloves that I use or other times I’m just willing to use more water to make sure my washing bucket stays free of that. So don’t think everything has to change in your life to do something you feel might be considered hard. We just adapt in ways that will bring us satisfaction while doing the harder thing, it’s worth it b/c then you still have a great attitude, and God gets the glory. Well that’s all for now until next time, I love you be encouraged.

madetoencourageyou

Predator and the Prey

Upon arrival of visiting a dear friend, as I was walking to her house, I saw a dead bird. Initially I was shocked because I don’t often see dead birds along the sidewalk, a woodpecker at that. But there he was. I was a little sad, but really didn’t give myself time to process it but I knew I felt bad that he was dead on the sidewalk. After embracing my friend, who I hadn’t seen in months, I told her there was a dead bird on the sidewalk. After a closer look, she quickly saw that the bird was not dead, then I looked and I saw his little chest moving, now I was sad. It was a male woodpecker, he had become my friend and he was dying. This little bird was a living creature, had breath in his body, just like me, we both had life but his was ending and I didn’t think there was anything I could do. As these thoughts went through my mind, my friend said, “I can’t leave him here like this”.  After talking with another neighbor who had also seen our Mr. Woody (he was the woodpecker that Woody the Woodpecker based off of) he presumed with all of the hawks that fly around, that he probably was attacked by a hawk, a much larger bird. I learned a great deal from this experience, which in reality was only about five minutes or less, but I would like to share it with you.

As soon as my friend said, “I can’t leave him here” she picked up our dear one who was not long to be in this world and placed him in the crevice of a bedding, off the busy sidewalk, in the shade, and laid him as comfortably as she could, as he had an injury to his head and one of his wings.  Hearing her words, “I can’t leave him here” I thought, why didn’t I think of that? Where was I, where did I go? I kept thinking there was nothing I could do. The Lord revealed to me, “you did think that, I gave you that thought too” and sure enough I remembered the quick passing thought. We can be so focused on the horror of the situation, that we stand still, and unfortunately do nothing but gaze at it. Then this thought came, “well moving him didn’t do much good, he still was going to die”….but truthfully that thought comes because we didn’t do anything, in order to justify the paralysis. Where did that thought come from though? Seeing her gently move him to a comforting place of rest was transformative. I can always do something, who told me I couldn’t?

We too have a predator and many times his attacks are not direct, in the way we expect. Sometimes like in this case he can implant thoughts that say things like, “no need in trying, nothing can be done”, “if someone could help, it can’t be you, you don’t have the expertise”, “people will look at you strange, might as well move on, it’s a lost cause anyway” and on and on. The other way the predator, takes us out is through discouragement. I became sad, that the bird was dying and was so focused, and for the split second the thought of moving him came to me, all I saw was sidewalk…it was immediately shot down with the thought, “even if you move him, he’s going to die anyway, it doesn’t matter” when I believed that I became discouraged so I had no hope to see anything else. I no longer believed so I didn’t act. Who cares that much to shoot down our thoughts so quickly, when we want to do something noble, caring and loving? Satan, that’s who. (Someone is like ok Imade….it’s just a bird, it’s not that deep….but hold on, it is) The greatness in an attack is when the opponent has no idea he or she is even being attacked! The predator enjoys the prey thinking it’s not there, or that he/she even has a predator! The predator first and foremost always wants an easy kill, so you and I not knowing that we’re even in a battle is A ok with the enemy…why wouldn’t it be, he is out to kill, steal, and destroy. (make no mistake, that never changes) God is so good, that in that fraction of time, He has given me insight to help us see and expose our predator and his attacks, I am grateful. So here are some helpful tips!

 

You CAN do something! Even when we do nothing we are doing something…so you might as well do the kind and wonderful thing you wanted to doJ Example…I saw a woman in a church I was visiting, and she was crying and you could tell her heart was broken. It didn’t matter that she was a stranger, and I couldn’t fix her problem, and I may not ever see her again. When you feel that tug on your heart to do something (which is the Lord) please do it, it always makes a difference (why else would the enemy say it won’t). So I went to her and gave her a hug, and said I prayed for you. She was touched, and so was I. She like that bird was alive just like me, and she too was struggling to make it, and it that small act, I (like my friend did for the bird), brought her comfort. 

 

Don’t accept negative thoughts, don’t allow them in, it’s a trick. Remember every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord, so when a thought says…”you can’t”…“nothing can be done, so don’t even try”…. “it doesn’t matter” It does matter, this is a lie in hopes to keep you afraid, keep you immobile, and rob you of the joy and fulfillment that comes from doing what God put in you to do, whether it be a simple smile to a stranger, or the fulfilling your dreams. Satan wants to rob you, discourage and keep you hopeless. When we become hopeless, (like I did) we no longer believe and we won’t do anything. Oh but dear friends be encouraged, God has sent me to give you hope! He loves you with an all consuming passionate love and wants you to live, He is for you! (Hence why I am writing you)

 

So know that you are always in a battle, and yes you are always being hunted...deception and lies are key characteristics of his attacks. All of satan’s great evil for us can’t even compare to the great love Christ has for us. He will help you in any situation, go to Him because you are safe, it is in Him that you will find rest for your soul. The greater reason for the bird experience was simply to be able to encourage you today that it does matter. There are many people like that bird who are dying, go and comfort them in whatever way God is telling you to, because it will comfort them, and it will bless and enrich you too. Don’t be afraid of man, what people might say. God wouldn’t have given you the idea if He didn’t believe you could do it. I believe in you too, now GO because I know you can.

In His love,

Madetoencourageyou!