As we touched down in Zambezi, we looked out the small windows of the four-person plane, curious about this new world we were about to enter. As we looked around at each other, our faces were filled with joy and eagerness to step off the plane into the sea of children, who were joyously singing and dancing and ready to welcome us into their community. I was embracing all the little hands latching onto me and couldn’t help but smile, listening to these beautiful children screaming, “HI HOW ARE YOU?” with so much excitement. This feeling of love and sense of community have filled our days here thus far. I feel blessed to be able to experience people in this way, but what comes with this feeling of great welcoming to this community; we are also challenged to find our place in this community.
Something I have found myself struggling with is trying to make sense of my past international experiences over the years, including this being my second time on the African continent. What makes this experience in Zambezi different from the rest of my travels is I am being immersed into this community in a way I have never been before. Because we are here for 4 weeks, we are able to make relationships that really can build over time. We are also able to have a first hand experience in the education system, as we are teaching classes during the days. Finding my place here is really a great opportunity I get, to walk the fine line between being an outsider and walking with the community. I am feeling culture shock in a way that is different than before. The culture shock is less about the environment here, and more about the relationship between my culture in the states and the culture of Zambezi in a more transparent way.
Before our flight from Lusaka to Zambezi, the last group to leave was able to spend time at the Flying Missions guesthouse and got to talk with one of the pilots, Andy, for quite awhile. Our talk with Andy was the first time I felt uncomfortable this trip, but was also the first time I was truly challenged to question my place in Zambia. Andy is an expat who was born in Switzerland and then lived in Afghanistan for several years before moving to Lusaka, Zambia. This being said, he is a very well traveled man who was able to share his thoughts on this country from an outside perspective. Andy talked about foreign aid and the downfall of it, if it is not executed correctly. Two things can go wrong: we help when they don’t need it, and we don’t help when they do need it. An example would be the amount of clothes that are donated from the western world to African countries, in order to clothe people who are seen as not having enough to wear. The problem with this system is it puts the clothing industries in Africa in a hard place because they will go out of business if they are no longer needed to make clothing for their community. Another problem with this idea of clothing scarcity is it is a misconception. In my time here so far, I have become fond of a young boy named Motondo, who I have seen everyday wearing different clothes and two outfits on Sunday for mass. I’m not sure where this conception that African’s need to be clothed comes from, but I have also seen it with food. There is plenty of food in Zambezi, which I have seen in the strong traditions that surround meal making. These rituals carry on because of the food that continues to surround this land. It may not be as readily available as what we are used to, but we can’t compare our abundant grocery stores to their town markets. The flip side of this theme is figuring out where we are not helping when they do need help. This is not an easy solution and I certainly don’t have the answers for a town so foreign to me, but that is the lesson that we must share our knowledge, but not attempt to westernize a community. We must make solutions that are sustainable for this community, rather than fixing the problems our way. The message Andy left us with is we need to be immersed in a culture to truly understand the needs of the community.
This paradox of walking with and being an outsider is very representative of my experience in Zambezi so far. My goal on this journey is to find where I fit into this, and who I am in this community. We are all very excited and anxious to be starting classes tomorrow and beginning this incredible journey together.
Taylor – as we begin to prepare for our first computer class, we think of you and miss you. I am filled with happiness knowing that you will soon experience this amazing place.
Dakota Peterson
Class of 2018
Dakota,
You’ve already identified one of the most significant challenges that I struggled with during my time in Zambezi. It is difficult to assess another person’s quality of life without truly understanding who they are, how they take care of themselves, and how they look after one another. Continue to wrestle with these tensions, as you will continue to see that your true purpose in being in Zambezi is to see these people as friends, mentors, and members of our global community, not as people who need our help.
It sounds like you all are truly beginning to see what this experience has in store for you. I am so overjoyed that you are all settling in to the community, and I will be thinking and praying hard for you all as you start your classes today. Much love to you all!
Pete
These gaps between blog posts feel like entire lifetimes–goodness fam. Dakota, Katie, and Katie(have nicknames been established yet?! I am SO curious)-it warms my heart to see your smiling faces and you are all rocking that chitenge.
So the day is here, first day of classes! How are the nerves? Did the packets make it all safely? Are you having a hearty breakfast for the day ahead? My goodness, you have all been blessed with such incredible gifts to give to this world and I think the biggest one is your hearts and they way they yearn to know and be known to others. Praying that as you enter your classrooms that your hearts will remain open to the gifts your students and this experience have to bring you. I am overflowing with excitement for you to move deeper into the community. Sending lots of love and encouragement your way.
This morning at church we sang the song “Beautiful Things” by Gungor. It goes a little like this, “you make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of the dust. You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of us.” I thought of this experience you are on and the one i’m having here. I was reminded of the absolute gift that it is to share in life with others and the ways stories allow us to connect in a way that transcends this world and the pain and loneliness and distance we often feel. I am praying that you are opening your hearts to the stories, both the ones you hear and the ones you have to share, and that you can see Gods hands in it all-that you see His goodness. He is with you always and making beautiful things even out of the dust.
Dakota and Sophie, wow my team. You both have especially been on my heart the past couple days as this first day of classes approached. I’ve been looking back on all the 8am breakfast meetings and the change of plans and the mixture of excitement/fear that came with the overwhelming possibilities and unknowns and the humor we found in how awful we all are with computers–I wouldn’t trade any of those moments we had together and i’m holding tightly onto them. You are both going to be so, so good. There is no doubt in my entire being that you were made exactly for what your 3 classes have to bring you and I cannot wait to hear the challenges and joys that occur. Remember to value your breaks and go to the market and check in with one another and speak what you need and that you are there for so much more than computer skills. I am wishing I was there to hug you and tell you how thankful I am for the ways you have handled everything with such love and grace and inclusion. I love love love you both so much. Deep breaths my friends, you were made for this.
All my love to you all.
Taylor
Yes, I too am checking your site for posts way too often. Thank you for the photo! I love it! We are never too old or too young to learn and I enjoy reading about your experiences.
Katie, Ryan and Andrew played well at districts and made it into the top 8. Nanny is doing well. Grandma says hello and is reading these blogs! Love you!
Take care everyone! Xoxoxo
Dakota– Thanks for your thoughtful and honest post. I think it’s incredibly important to question your place in Zambezi now and continually throughout your time there. Wrestling with uncomfortable tensions and big questions will lead to growth, and growing to better understand the world we live in and your relationship to that world is huge! Like you, I’d also been to Africa before going to Zambia last year. This morning I sat in my American Baptist Church back home, and we had a guest speaker from a non-profit working in Kenya come in to fundraise for the work they are doing with education, health, hunger, and poverty in Nairobi, Kenya. I was turned off and annoyed with the way Africans were portrayed as poor, resourceless, and in desperate need of our money and help. Even though so many international non-profits have great intentions and do important work, you are so right in identifying the local ramifications that acts of help from outsiders can have on self-sufficient communities. I was thinking about all of you there this morning! I wished I could sit at the table with you over breakfast and talk about it.
I’m so excited for all of you as you start classes and start meeting people in the community! I can’t wait to hear how classes go! Sending lots of love to you all and extra big hugs to Elly, Sophie, and the Katies. I know classes starting and even just a month away with spiders (yuck) can be scary, but you are in such good hands…Katie P, Jeff, and Jennifer are some of the best people I know. I’m constantly inspired, challenged, and encouraged by them.
Love always,
Lindsey
Dakota,
Three days in and you are already openly and willingly “leaning in and saying yes” to wrestle with and reflect on these hard questions. (Way to go! That’s not an easy thing to do!) Continue to lean in. I find the more times I question the hard things, the things that are really nagging me, I begin to understand how things are and discover my values. You have highlighted a point that still challenges and frustrates me. I am often frustrated when programs or organizations so often develop a solution to a “problem” (a problem they define), spend money to implement their solution, and leave; never sticking around to see the outcome. Traveling to Zambia taught me a multitude of lessons, however one that comes to mind, is how you never really know a situation or what a person is going through until you become immersed and in community with them. In my opinion, relationships and community involvement are foundational to implementing assistance to struggling communities.
Finding your place in Zambia is definitely a difficult thing to wrestle with. I can definitely relate, as I felt like that was one of my biggest struggles. Continue to sit with it, write about it, talk about it, and be silent with it – you never know what might come to you. ☺
(To Everyone)
Good luck with your first day of classes, enjoy and embrace every moment of it. You all will do beautifully and know: YOU ARE READY! I am already eagerly anticipating the next blog and cannot wait to hear how the first day went.
Much love,
-Joanna
DAKOTA!! I was wondering who was going to post first. I’m sitting in my kitchen thinking of the time I fell and slipped on the ice at the CLP retreat and we were laughing WAY too hard. Your writing despite some of the anxiety you have about finding your place in the community, has a relaxed, calming demeanor. I’m picturing you all reading my words out out and it feels sort of silly. I hope you are enjoying living in the present and soaking in every moment — I expect detailed reports. How’s teaching going? I am sure it is a learning process for you all, as it should be and I hope you are not putting too much pressure on yourselves.
Also — you guys are ridiculously photogenic
Hugs,
G
Great post, Dakota! I enjoyed hearing your insight. We have so much to learn from the experiences you all will be sharing. My prayers will be with each of you as you begin your week. Love and hugs from Hayley’s mom
Dakota,
Thank you for your reflective post. I am filled with so much joy reading your account of landing in Zambezi. I very distinctly remember being overcome with so many emotions in such a short period, it was amazing and scary both at the same time.
I hope you continue to reflect and feel everything you can while in Zambezi. The trip will go by so much faster than you think, so live in the moment.
Although I have no doubt you will discover where you fit in, in this amazing community, remember that it may come at an unexpected time, it may come even after you leave.
Good luck to you all on your first day of class! I imagine you will have plenty of extra time to prepare, do dishes, and just hang out due to the fact that classes will start 30 minutes late #ZambiaTime.
Special shout out to the Health Team!!! Molly, Justin, Matt, (Possibly some other awesome Zag) you guys are going to do amazing things!
Dodd and Jenny-hope the team is already laughing at (and with) you both. MISS YOU!
LOVE YOU ALL.
Go Zags,
Shelby “SHOBE”
It is awesome that you get this opportunity to experience Africa in a new way. Your reflections were thought provoking and I encourage you to continue exploring your place as you begin classes.
I think you will definitely begin to see your place in the community grow as you walk with your students. I remember so many Zambians hurrying through the doors on that first day of class and seeing firsthand the eagerness to learn a new skill.
I hope you and Sophie have a successful first day of class! Remember that teaching is just as important as conversing and connecting with students, so don’t be afraid to spend extra time in conversation when you get the opportunity to.
Kisu mwane – Nez
(Handy every time I remember you’re in Zambia I get so excited and tear up a little bit. You are meant to be with this community. Love you)
What an amazing adventure! Thank you for the opportunity to follow you, as you experience such a beautiful culture.
Davis-we are all so proud of you! Keep making people smile, loving unconditionally and bringing sunshine to the world around you.
Dakota,
Hi, you don’t know me, but I know and LOVE Mutondo. He had my heart (and my hand… literally) from the time I touched down on Zambezi soil. Please keep loving on him! He’s touched many people.
I also taught computer lessons when I was there. I hope your classroom was filled and you were encouraged beyond words today. These people just want to be known and to learn. Keep teaching them, but also remember to learn from them as well. Andy gave you some great advice. Take that to heart. Know that you will leave different than when you arrived, but you might not have any more answers than you came with… but possibly more questions! Awareness is a beautiful and hard thing.
Can’t wait to hear more stories from you all!
Kisu Mwane,
Megan Wertman
Zambezi Alum, 2011
Thank you for your post, Dakota. It is amazing how many experiences and insights there have been after just a few days! Thanks for including a picture with Katie Kenkel (aka: Katie-girl, Katie Grace, KT, Kate, KKenks…in case you’re in need of a differentiating nickname!)
Have a blast! Can’t wait to hear more…
Blessings,
Christina and Pat
(aka Mama and Papa Kenks)
Dak~
Nice work! Keep it up, and keep learning and loving.
T.
Dakota,
Very much enjoyed your very insightful and thoughtful comments and perceptions. The people of the amazing town of Zambezi are very special and have developed a unique bond with GONZAGA, so terrific to see your team so quickly building on that foundation and creating your own relationships and connections, which will resonate throughout everyone’s lives forever in both Africa and the States.
Have an awesome month and …GO ZAGS !! :-))
Hi Dakota!
I so enjoyed reading your post….you’re in a good place! Stay curious….isn’t that your motto? And keep swinging the bat!
The biggest lesson I’ve learned from travel abroad is to meet people where THEY are. It’s all to easy to meet people where we are because it’s comfortable and familiar. But if we will bend and twist and really try to meet people where they are, whether at home or abroad, that’s when I think we learn the most and find our way to fit in. Continue to be open to learning from them, and I know you’ll find your place. Enjoy this incredible journey~
I miss you….
Love, Mama
Hi Dakota,
I so enjoyed your post…..very thoughtful. You’re in a good place! You seem to have a good understanding what your job is during this short time in Zambezi. Stay curious…isn’t that your motto?
One of the valuable lessons that I’ve learned from travel abroad, is meeting people where they are. If we only meet people where we are, we don’t grow or challenge ourselves, but end up trying to change them to be like us. Meeting people where we are is familiar and convenient, so often times we don’t push ourselves out of our comfort zone.
But if we try meeting people where THEY are, we learn the most and find our place, where we fit in with them. This goes along the lines of understanding them from where they are, and not putting our judgements on their world, but allowing them to live the way they do, and embracing and accepting who they are.
Enjoy every minute of this wonderful journey….. you have so much to give.
Big hugs to your entire team.
Miss you….
Lots of love,
Mama