“Tonight we will taste Uncle Daniel’s nshima!” Lizzy said as Kennedy was coaching me on cooking this dish. I’m not a bad cook, but cooking nshima, even cooking over a brazer is not something I have had any experience with. I had seen Kennedy cooking so I reached out to help and asked him to teach me how to prepare this Zambian dish. One thing about the people here, especially the children; they love to teach people how to be Zambian!
Kennedy showed me the ropes as far as nshima goes! We had a blast cooking together and talking about Zambian language and culture. All the children were so excited to see me cooking nshima and see me “becoming Zambian.” Spending time with these children is one of the greatest blessings God could have ever given me. To see their faces light up with excitement, hear the joy in their voices, and to see Jesus in their hearts and attitudes.
These relationships are something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. Learning Zambian languages, cooking Zambian dishes, and practicing football are some things Kennedy and the boys here have been teaching me. I’ve had the joy of going fishing with these boys, showing them how to play softball, talking about the Bible with them, and most importantly, being an example and a male figure in their lives. The responsibility of leading these boys to become men of God is something I can’t take lightly.
Kennedy isn’t just teaching me about Zambian culture, but he’s showing me the importance of relationship and he doesn’t even know it. These boys are growing up to become men that will lead not only this community, but people all across Zambia, even the world! There’s no greater joy than to be apart of these boys’ lives and watch them grow! As these boys grow stronger in God, my heart melts when I think of all the others around the world that still need hope!