Mission Trip To Zambia

In January 2009, the GAP missions team returned from Zambia. It was amazing how much God orchestrated for us to engage while we were there. We received great feedback from the junior high and high school trainings that opened up opportunity to partner with a prominent local NGO and have much conviction that this was just the the opening of our ministry involvment in Zambia We look forward to our continued realtionship with the communities there.

Testimonies from Team

I guess I would have to start out and say that God really met me in Africa. First of all I would not have been able to have been blessed in this way without all of the love, support, and prayer that all of our sponsors and other individuals gave to us. So Ill start by saying that Zambia was beautiful, in all the ways that makes a country and its people beautiful. My testimony was seeing the difference i could be in their lives and also seeing the change that they made in my life. Their genuineness and love for life made me re-evaluate how lightly I have been taking my life. Even though the country is impoverished the kids had a smile and a love that was contagious. For example Campbell and I, Campbell is another team member, we went and purchased soccer jerseys for the boys and sunglasses for the girls at the end of the first junior high training. To see the look on their face and the way it impacted them was really amazing. I felt like I wasnt just giving I was also receiving in a way. It really made my heart full and opened my eyes to life and light that I want to be. - Shane Carson Jobs

Going to Zambia was the most incredible experience of my life. Traveling across the world, exploring another culture, and caring for children and youth transformed my life forever. To see and encounter kids, many who were orphaned and many others who had experienced abuse, broke my heart. I knew I was privileged to speak a word of encouragement and make a stand for them. I especially was blessed by having the awesome opportunity of purchasing new furniture for an orphanage. Through it all, I became a changed man. I see now what I have and the value I can be for others. A value that will never again go to waste. - Allen Marshall

The trip to Zambia was so much more amazing than I was anticipating. Going into the trip I knew that we were going to be dealing with kids who lived very different lives than our own and I expected that meant it would be difficult to find ways to relate to them and speak into their lives. As it turned out, by simply being with the kids and showing them how much we loved them we were able to make an impact. The people we encountered continually blessed me throughout the trip. On the last day when we were able to hear the kids' declarations about who they wanted to be for the world; I was so moved by the clarity and power they spoke with. They had a passion and love that was inspiring. Being able to learn from the youth in Zambia and getting the opportunity to be in their lives was an experience I will never forget and I would be honored to get another one like it. - Christiana Salucci

When I heard that GAP was going to Zambia to work with teenagers who had been abused and raped, I knew in my heart, because of similar experiences in my life, I wanted to be part of the restoration and bring hope to their lives. I felt that God could use the pains of my past as a resource to bring hope into the future of these teens who saw no other possibilities. Although there was a language barrier I felt that my way of being was to show affection, acceptance, hope and love. I found myself often in deep thought about the possibilities for these amazing, talented, kids whose circumstances are horrific and seem hopeless. My emotions well up inside as I see the potential of these teens, the next generation of leaders for Zambia making declaration of taking a stand for other orphans and abused children, to be advocates and be a part of changing the culture of abuse toward women and children that resonates in the current culture. One teenage boy stated he likes to cook and wants to cook for his future wife which is unheard of in the Zambian culture. This trip renewed my vision and passion to continue working toward restoration in families, transformation in leadership, to be a part of the next generation stepping into their full potential. I want to thank those of you who sponsored me and provided funds for me to have this experience. Your generosity and gift to me was well worth the investment into the lives of these families. Your presence was there with me in your giving, thank you! - Cheri Meadowlark

One of the most striking experiences on this trip was meeting the courageous, young girls in my small group. In the span of their short lives they had already experienced sexual abuse, prostitution, being an orphan, being pregnant and losing a child, and dealing with the rigors of having AIDS. Their journals however were filled with hope and encouragement for others. They wanted to "care for orphans" and "tell them that their parents dying is not "the end of the world"". Story after story I continued to be amazed at their resilience and love.

During our small group one of these brave girls remained quiet for the first day and a half of the Gap training. She spoke no English and communicating was a challenge. I kept wondering if she would ever speak up and if the training we came to do in Zambia would make a difference for her. To my demise during the time of "sharing secrets" she was the first to volunteer and share her experience of being sexually abused. She also spoke about her fear of being unable to complete her education for lack of funds as her parents had died from AIDS. Step by step her story unfolded further and she disclosed that she herself was HIV positive. The antiretroviral medication which she was on however was an older, incompatible medication for her and she was already noticing side effects. Following a short intervention she was given the information that she needed including the right hospital connection in her hometown.

I often wonder what kind of a difference do we make when we go on missions trips. I know that we probably will not know the answer on this side of eternity, but I am grateful for the glimpses that God gives us into some of the lives that we do touch. Thank you to all of our supporters for your prayers and financial contributions. - Adelina

One thing that showed me that we really made a difference, in the lives of the kids in the workshops, was what happened with one of the guys in my small group. In the high school group, a boy named Justin told me the first day, that he couldn't speak English. He didn't try to communicate with me hardly at all, but I knew after working with the junior high school kids, that he probably understood a lot more than he let on. So, I just talked to him about the things he had shared and what was going on for him in his life and talked to him as much as possible, because I knew we only had three days together. Then, at the end of his training, he came up to me and thanked me for everything I did for him and for helping him, and wrote me a letter. I felt so blessed that he had gotten and learned as much from me as I learned from him. - Campbell

See pictures from the Zambia Mission Trip

See videos from Zambia

Thank you cards to team from some high school age participants

Contact me at jjjobs@sonic.net