Reading homework

I took the time this weekend, finally, to read over the blogs of the other volunteers on the team. I’m glad I finally got he chance to sit down and do so. Even though we were together for 10 days, it’s amazing to see the different views each person writes about. A lot of days we were split into 2 groups, doing different things, or just riding in 2 different vehicles, so there is always another story to be had from someone in the group other than yours; each person remembers a different tid-bit of information, a different story told, or just something you totally forgot about in the excitement of the moment. If you haven’t yet checked out the blogs by the rest of the team, I highly recommend you do so, you’ll get a much fuller understanding of the trip and all that it encompassed. I know as I was reading, I kept thinking to myself, “oh, yeah, I forgot about that,” or “Wow, I hadn’t heard that story”, such as the story Christy tells of how Eustance came to work for World Vision. It was at dinner on our weekend in Livingstone, and I could hear bits and pieces, but when there are 10 or more people, all holding different discussions, it’s not always easy to catch the whole story. This is one worth reading. I’ll copy it here and perhaps spark your interest in reading stories from the others.

Eustance - by Christy

Over the course of the 2 weeks, we heard some stories that take your breath away. But one of the most beautiful was the night before we left. Our gentle driver Eustance had already dug himself pretty deeply in my heart, but a combination of preparing to leave and fatigue made him open up at supper in a way I had never seen before.
Here is my understanding of Eustance’s story – clearly restaurant noise and a very tired brain may fuzz some details, but those of us sitting at his end of the table were blessed to hear this incredible story.
Eustance came from a terribly poor family. His Father was a policeman who made a very low wage and he lived with relatives to try and complete his high school. They were unhappy having him, so he went to school on an empty stomach every day and pushed through long days without any food. By the time his break for Grade 12 exams came, he was so exhausted that he literally fell asleep every time he sat down to study. The years of pushing his body, hunger and physical exhaustion made that period of his life extremely difficult, and he didn’t get high enough marks to go to college as he dreamed about.
He found work as a regional bus driver, driving long hours between Lusaka and other centres. He was very familiar with World Vision’s work in his hometown, and remembers seeing WV vehicles pass his bus. Every time one went by, he silently asked God to make a way for him to work for World Vision (What struck me, is how he prayed believing it would happen from the very start). Finally he decided to send an application. He didn’t wait for a job to come open, he just decided to send a resume and see what happened. 6 times he sent his resume and one day, after months of hearing nothing, word came – they wanted to interview him for a position as a driver in Lusaka. Unfortunately, he was hours away. He managed to procure a day off from his current job (without having divulge why he needed the time off!), but he was stranded at least a 6 hour bus ride away.
Now, the bus system in Zambia, is nothing like Canada. He spoke to the driver of the bus that day and the driver indicated what he already knew – the bus stays parked by the side of the road, waiting until it is full before it departs. Most days it takes about 6-8 hours from the time you buy a ticket, for the bus to be on it’s way. And even then, it stops wherever people need to be dropped off – it could stop dozens of times before it finally reaches it’s final destination. There is no such thing as a schedule!
Eustance went back to his hotel and called the WV office for his interview time. He calculated the time between his location and Lusaka and the bus situation and realized there was no way he could make his slotted interview time.
So he got on his knees. He told God, he knew this was not a problem for Him and he trusted him to help make a way.
He proceeded back down to the bus, and the surprised driver informed him that the bus was already unexpectedly full. He hopped aboard, and the bus went straight to Lusaka, no stops, and he arrived right on time for the interview!
A month went by, and he knew they had interviewed another man as well, so he assumed the position was given to the other man. Until one day he again got word, that he was required to come for a second interview in Lusaka. Once again, he was hours away, and once again he knelt before God, asking him to intercede. And once again, that bus filled immediately and made a non-stop drive to Lusaka, in time for his interview.
This time he was peppered with demanding questions, while driving, no less!
After 6 resumes, 2 interviews and countless miracles, Eustance was officially a World Vision employee. He hasn’t had any accidents in 9 years and he credits that to getting on his knees every morning and asking God for safety.
I’ll never forget his words: “I told my wife My God Loves Me“. Indeed he does, and his story is a reminder of how very far God goes to see His plans succeed.

Eustance and his wife Minus sponsor a child in their own community at a great sacrifice. How is that for expressing belief in what World Vision is doing?!

There is also this touching piece written by Kathy:

The ADP staff who shared our van, and who witness unbelievable hardships on a daily basis, joked with one another constantly, laughter, their other companion. From my two week visit, I will always remember the quickness of a smile or laugh from Zambian people. I will remember, noting the work ethic of individuals everywhere, but on reflection, I can’t remember seeing anyone frowning or appearing distressed. Why is that?, I asked Masauso, our community agricultural consultant, an intelligent, thoughtful man. “ We believe”, he stated, “that in order to live a long life, we must smile. We will gain nothing by thinking badly about things. We are hopeful every day that things will improve. We live one day at a time with hope. We are also very spiritual people, and pray for God’s grace, but also work hard to improve our lives”. At that, his face lit up with a thousand watt smile, the signature expression of Masauso Bandu. HOPE; that intangible; the one “with feathers / that perches in the soul”, (E. Dickinson), is everywhere in this community. It’s in the eyes of the World Vision staff, the farmers, the women with children and babies, the nurses Eunice and Daisy, the teachers and the youth group. It’s in the eyes of guest house neighbour 12 year old Lucky, who organizes football matches for little ones, and dreams of owning an authentic ball one day and it’s in the minds of all the other children. It’s about participating in any endeavor that will improve daily life. Ultimately, it’s about advocating for the wonderful children - the next generation - who just need a chance. They don’t ask for much; just clean water to drink, and enough food, and someone to help if they are sick. They also require the privilege and joy of being able to go to school and learn, and the sense that someone cares about them. To honour these hopeful Zambians, I hope that when I return to Canada, and tell my stories, that others will consider the value of a World Vision sponsorship and begin to change the life of just one vulnerable Zambian child. If you invest in the life a child, there is no negative outcome, only a better world.