The Weather Outside is Frightful...

This post is written by Jasmine Delic, who lives in Zambia with her family as missionaries serving with Lifesong for Orphans Canada.

…….but the fire is so delightful….ok, not quite, but winter IS coming to Zambia and we absolutely LOVE IT! The temperature still rises to about 30 degrees Celsius but it’s so pleasant because it’s not humid. It’s the most wonderful time of the year….well, besides Christmas of course, but ENOUGH with the Christmas song references! On to more serious business, I want to just back up a bit and talk about something I mentioned briefly in another blog entry. Remember that I told you about a group of men that came out from Canada to visit the ministry earlier this year? Well, when they came, they also brought 30 computers that were donated by one of the ACC churches! The kids at school now have the privilege of learning how to use a computer for real! Whoop! Whoop!

I’ve always thought that if I miss things from Canada that means something isn’t right. That I have a “heart issue” that needs to be corrected, and that I need to be more content. I realize that I have misinterpreted that. It’s not wrong to miss things from my other “home,” in fact, I think it’s actually a good thing. When I end up doing the things, or seeing the people, that I miss I find myself soaking up every moment. It allows me to have something to look forward to, and when I get back to it the happiness I feel is un-explainable! It’s okay for me to miss things while I’m away from it. We all miss some things, but that doesn’t mean we regret where we are! I’m in Zambia right now for a reason, and I’m going to try my best to enjoy it to the fullest because I know that one day I may be called somewhere else, and when that day comes I will miss Zambia immensely! May I not make the mistake (as I have before) to allow the things I miss to overwhelm me. Because once that happens I tend to overlook the blessings that I have where I’m at, and I become discontented. Instead, let me use my little longings to draw me closer to God, and keep as sweet golden memories that fill me with happiness.

Another interesting thing. I find myself feeling guilty when I enjoy being in Canada. We were there for eight months last year, and I loved it. I enjoyed being able to spend time with my friends and family for a longer period of time, and get to know them better. Yeah, I had my moments of trying to find my place, but it was truly a wonderful time. Yet I still had a tiny feeling of guilt for enjoying it so much because I wasn’t in Zambia. I heard my other missionary friends saying that they weren’t happy being back in North America for furlough, yet I couldn’t relate, and I felt bad for that! I realize now that that wasn’t right. God allowed my family to be in Canada for that amount of time, and it was a huge blessing! When it was time to go back though, yes I knew I would miss things and I was sad to leave them behind, but I was ready to go. I was ready to go back to my other “home” with its own memories and joys.

From left; Adrian Acs, Doug Savin, Peter Friesen, Kenneth Makondo, Gary Tomic, Louis Jahn, and Bob Ritzmann.

So let me conclude with the quote I made my introduction with: I want to be perfectly content wherever I am, and yet still have things that I miss. Not letting those little things overwhelm me, but to enjoy the memories I was able to make. When I’m in Canada, I want to be perfectly content while I’m there; and while I’m in Zambia, be perfectly content there also. I don’t want to miss out on all the joys God gives to me wherever He puts me, and I certainly don’t ever want to give into the seed of discontentment, no matter how easy it is. This adventure has been one of a lifetime, and I’m so grateful for everything that I have experienced while living in the paradox.

Caregivers meeting with the teachers for an “interview”.