Independence & Our Roles

On October 24th, Zambia celebrated it’s 50 year anniversary of independence from Great Britain.  To say that people were excitedly freaking out doesn’t really explain the overall atmosphere of this nation.  Even to say that they were excitedly freaking out beyond control still doesn’t do it justice.  50 years is a big thing to celebrate.  It was named Zambia’s “Golden Jubilee”.  The entire city was decorated with the national colors:  green, red, black, and orangey gold.  Desk-sized flags were sold at virtually every major intersection of the city of Lusaka.  Zambian soccer jerseys were worn (even though they’re worn every day).  It was really cool to experience and it reminded us a lot about American Independence Day, but it had an unfamiliar charm to it.  In short, we were both very excited to be in the country during the Independence weekend (even if traffic was 10 times more chaotic than usual).  

(Image borrowed from Google)

So, having celebrated the first 50 years of Zambia’s independence, I (Wyatt) have been thinking a lot about how Amy and I can play our part in the 50 years ahead.  Relax, I’m not necessarily saying we’ll live here for 50 more years (though I can’t say we won’t, either).  I’m simply saying that we have a unique opportunity to love, influence, empower, and disciple the beautiful people of this nation, whether they're adults of various ages, children, or anyone in between.  As I consider practical ways we can be good stewards of our remaining time in Zambia, I get really excited for how God can use us to help shape the nation of Zambia and the next 50 years.  I’ll explain two major ways we can shape this country.

For one, Clothed in Hope’s programs are helping us to empower vulnerable women, who will in turn empower their families.  The most foundational aspect of our work here is what we will continue to use as a means of empowering this nation.  If we have 3 new classes of 10-15 women each per year, and we remain here for the next 10 years, then that’s 300-450 women who could be radically transformed and empowered.  That could potentially be 1,200-2,250 family members (assuming each family has 4 or 5 members, at the very least).  If the families are larger, or we are able to expand our programs to more compounds, then that number could easily double, triple or more by the next 10 years.  To think about the impact in the next 10 years, as far as life-skills training, is very humbling and very exciting.

Secondly and lastly, through said programs, we have an opportunity to get to know these women (and their families) on a deep level.  Through weeks, months, and years of walking through life alongside these families, we’re able to get to know these women deeply and to develop relationships that allow us to personally share the gospel of Jesus through our lives to those who do not know him, and to help encourage those who do follow Christ to grow towards the next step in their personal relationships with our Savior, also encouraging them to share that hope with their neighbors and friends.  This is eternally more important than the first point.  With this great responsibility we also know that we need to prepare ourselves in order to disciple others, constantly allowing the Holy Spirit and others to pour into us so that we can then pour into others.

As you see, we have quite a lot of work to do with Jesus going before us.  We’re excited for the 50 years ahead for Zambia and we’re praying for the strength and guidance to get to play some role in them.  Would you all consider joining us in prayer and support for our influence in the lives of these people?  As always, we’ll keep everyone posted on life and ministry here for the remainder of our time here, whether that’s another 5, 10, 25, or 50 years.

Love,

W&A

Fashion: Does It Even Matter?

Having graduated USC as a Fashion Merchandising major, I often get asked if I now find “fashion” to be superfluous, unnecessary, meaningless even. And I don’t think I ever really had the words for this, until now.

So here’s my answer: No. Not even close. Quite the opposite rather. As I sit 6,000 miles away from one of the fashion capitals of the world, and where I always thought I’d be at this chapter of my life, NYC, I realize that it just isn’t possible for fashion to be unnecessary.

Fashion is art. Fashion inspires people. Fashion influences culture. Fashion helps communicate a sense of identity for individuals around the world. Whether in NYC, with access to the greatest luxury designer labels, or in the bush in Zambia with limited access to secondhand clothing, people use fashion as a means to express themselves and their personal identities. People are creative beings. And if you don’t think everyone possesses a sense of fashion, realize that people still have to choose to put on jeans and a t-shirt if that’s the style they choose to portray themselves (and many days it is for me, so no judging here).

So when I got the opportunity to attend Zambia Fashion Week, it reignited my respect and enthusiasm for the industry I studied and followed for many years of my life, and still try to from afar. When I graduated in 2012, I had played a part in almost a dozen fashion shows in NC and SC, and I don’t think it’s only because I had issues with materialism. I think it’s because I’m greatly inspired and encouraged by the boldness and creativity of designers worldwide, showcasing their hearts on a runway for all to witness and take part in. Just like walking through an art gallery, I find the event rather brilliant, magical even.

Yes, the fashion industry looks much different in Zambia. But I would never dare to say that fashion is irrelevant here. At the Chikondi Community Center, I see that fashion inspires people, fashion creates the space for women to express themselves in ways words or society do not otherwise allow.

My wardrobe may have shifted from some trendy finds to now having a couple of ripped and hole-y tops sprinkled among Target and Old Navy steals. But nothing about my interest in the fashion world or its influence on culture, or my ability to express myself through clothing has changed. You just gotta get a little creative sometimes ;)

But that’s the beauty of it. Piecing together ordinary items, secondhand items, to portray our inward God-given identity and personality- it’s creative, it’s unique, it’s inspiring.

So ZedFW may not quite live up to the Mercedez Benz Fashion Week I still dream of attending once in my life (and follow like a madlady on Instagram), but I rejoice and thank God for the opportunity to give life to the passion He’s placed inside me for fashion.

Nothing is wasted. God knew exactly what He was doing when He planted this desire within me, and when He gave me so many opportunities to refine and use my skills and talents in the fashion world in the States. Little did I know it would take me to Zambia to share with women here, but I am so, so grateful that it did.

[And if you wanna see a bajillion- or 30ish- photos from the 3 day long Fashion Week here in Zambia, check out my Facebook album >> https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152311388820916.1073741844.601170915&type=1&l=3c4e3c2be7 and if we're not friends yet, let's be friends!]

Mid-October Update

Because there’s no better time for an update, right?!

Here’s a bit of what’s been going on in the last few weeks/months:

With CiH…

- We’re currently running 3 classes of women (over 30 ladies!) at one time. One group graduates in February, and they’re all becoming great friends. The other two classes just began in September, so they’ve got another year to go. We love seeing new faces, learning new names, and connecting with new folks. It literally feels like we’re just setting our dinner table for more people as we welcome them into the CiH family. And that’s a great feeling.

- The loan program is going 100x better than expected with a 100% repayment rate for these first 2 payment schedules. Women are experiencing great success in their businesses, even women who haven’t completed primary school, but who attended our loan workshop to learn about basic math, profit, cost, all the ins-and-outs of a good business. Sustainability and confidence boosting and smiles and empowerment and food on the table and kids in school and it’s just too much goodness to handle. Praise Jesus.

- We’ve started doing really well at some local markets here in Lusaka with our CiH products. We test out some new goodies here on the expat market to predict how they’ll do in the States. Never would I have ever thought I would be developing & selling a fashion line in Zambia. Kinda ridiculous, kinda great. We may even show you some of the gorgeous necklaces currently hanging up in our living room as we prepare for a market this Saturday J We also love market days because it gives us a chance to meet new people, welcome them to Lusaka, connect with them, invite them to our church and into our lives. Can’t beat those market days, y’all.

- A little (huge) announcement is in the works with a brand new partnership for us. Hint: it has to do with orphan prevention in a very direct way aka exactly the vision the Lord gave me for CiH just 4 years ago, one that I wouldn’t have dreamt of coming close to even in the next 10 years. Can’t wait to share that with y’all!

With Zambia…

- It’s hot. Our hottest of the hot season is right now. Y’all may be enjoying your sweaters and pumpkin spice lattes and cute/handsome boots, but we’re boiling over here. Days get upwards at 100 degrees, no A/C anywhere we can find. So sometimes we stand in the freezer aisles of the grocery store. Sometimes we stand in the air-conditioned butchery for as long as we can stand it until the meat smell gets to us. And most times we just stay super still all day and drink gallons of water. Rainy season cannot come soon enough! Or if y’all wanted to ship over some fall, that’d be great too.

With the Bardi Party…

- We’re moving! We found a little bit of a fixer-upper that will hopefully be ready for us when we’re moving in on November 11 before we head back to the States for a little holiday funsies and fundraising. We love the house, the property, our own space with space to host friends and YOU folks from America who can come visit us and witness firsthand the incredible things that are happening here. We’re even getting a cat. Watch out world, the Bardis really are settling into life in Zamland.

- We got our Driver’s Licenses!! After a couple months of waiting on carbon paper to arrive from the UK for our cards to be printed, we finally have them! We’re well on our way to becoming real Zambians, according to all the ladies at the center.

- We have friends. Some real good ones. We really lucked out aka Jesus really provided for us in a really gracious way with a community of folks who encourage us and who also provide laughs for us and understand the kinda crazy days we have from time to time. And most every conversation includes a reference to Chick-fil-a at some point, so I think we really get each other.

- We are about to celebrate our first anniversary in just a few weeks (on November 9)! We have been through one heck of a year and could write novels upon novels about a lot of the ick we’ve walked through, but we’ve walked through it together and have come out of the thick of it. Daily we’re humbled at the amount of grace and mercy Jesus shows to us in our marriage and in each other, and how He truly cares about this bond He created for us to share with the world. Maybe you’ll see another blog post about what it’s been like to go from NC to Jamaica (no ick there) to TX to NC/SC to Zambia to NC/SC to Zambia and back again in the first 12 months of us living in the same state and under the same roof for the first time.

It sounds like we’ve been busy, and we kinda have been! And it’s just looking like it’ll get busier from here on out through the end of the year as we are working to coordinate events for us to get to share CiH and our lives with folks back in the States (and eat lots of Christmas cookies). We don’t love the busyness, but we trust that it’s just for a season, so we would really appreciate your prayers for us to find rest and balance and peace in the midst of it all. And for us to enjoy the ride that can be quite bumpy sometimes :)

We love y’all. A lot. Seriously. Sorry if you’re creeped out by the PDA, but it’s true. We know we can’t keep in touch as much as we’d like, and that relationships seem to change when you’re 6,000 miles away on a different continent. But know that we think of y’all more than you think and we miss you guys a lot. When we don’t say it, it’s because sometimes it’s a hard cost to count, but we cannot wait to see y’all soon. (And if y’all haven’t hollered at us to hang out from Dec-Jan, please do! We want to see you. It’s better than FaceTime.)

Love,

A&W

The dreamy yard at our new house!

And when I said Fixer Upper, I meant that in the most extreme sense. Like the front of our house not being on yet. So prayers appreciated!!

Now I hate selfies and this photo was just taken for sampling, but I'll sacrifice my pride for a hot second and share one of our new jewelry pieces with y'all! 

Ladies from the new class doing some group work

Just as evidence of how hot it really is... we chopped all of our hair off. At a salon at a Chinese restaurant. :)

Elina's youngest, and our best friend, Jona, turned 8 this month! Auntie Amy and Uncle Wyatt took this dude out for some gelato and gave him some American glow sticks. We love this kid. 

The puppy we got a couple months back isn't such a puppy anymore! Only 4-5 months old and already over 50 pounds. Grow, Penny, Grow!

Blooms in the Drought

This month marks almost 6 months without any real rainfall. Six months of drought. This month also marks the hottest month of the year. Everything is dry, brown, dusty, and really dry. Despite the conditions and bursting through the overwhelming hues of brown, one tree is thriving.

The Jacaranda.

The used-to-be black streets lined with brown grass and a lighter brown covering of dust on every surface all seem quite dull. But breaking through the monotony is this brilliant purple. Neon lavender. Brown limbs adorned with clusters of the most beautiful shade of purple.

But how?

I’m no tree expert, but I do know that no one is watering these trees. They are lined along roads, tucked away in random places, and even sprinkled throughout the Ng’ombe compound. You can’t miss ‘em. They are blooming so boldly, so courageously, so miraculously.

They are strong, thriving even in the midst of the driest of dry season here in Zambia. They seem to call out, begging attention to recognize something so incredible. They can’t and won’t be masked by the overwhelming browns. They won’t stop blooming in the most intense heat. They are making a statement that reaches far beyond flowers and trees and nature.

They are blooming in the dry season, regardless of the dry, in hopeful anticipation of what is to come.

These trees bloom because they know the rains are coming. Even if they are late, this year will not pass without the rains falling. They know that. They bloom in confidence. The season is approaching; it’s just weeks away. The rains will bring relief, provision, nourishment, color, brilliance, variety, food, cloud cover, life to this dried up land.

Sometimes the season of rain seems too far away. It seems like maybe it won’t even come this year. But it will come. It is coming. It is coming to satisfy, to restore, to renew, to give life. And the Jacaranda trees signal its coming. The trees themselves remind us to push on, to endure, for the rains are almost here. And not even to just endure, lifeless and dried up, but to endure with hope and joy and brilliance and blooms.

And this speaks so deep to my soul. Even in the dryness, we can bloom. We can sprinkle this dry, parched land with the most radiant of colors. We can speak through the dust and heat, and remind our souls that the rain is coming. Relief is coming. Provision is coming. But we don’t have to wait for the rains in order to act. We can bloom knowing our source of life is sure to fulfill Its promise. We can dig our roots deep knowing the nourishment to continue is there. We can bloom in faith of what is to come. We will not be forgotten. We will not be passed over. This land will not stay dry. This struggle, this drought will not last forever. But even during the drought, I will choose to bloom. I will choose to radiate the greatest Beauty, the most exciting Hope, the Giver of life, the Source of true joy and peace- Jesus. 

[Photo from GoogleImages, simply because I couldn't risk getting in a wreck on the streets to photograph the Jacarandas that really do look like this in Lusaka] :)

Dinner Party

Nevermind the awkwardness of this photo taken on self-timer on our kitchen counter. Let's get to the good part...

We love having a home here. More than that, we love opening our home to our friends, the ladies and kiddos of Clothed in Hope. It's here that we realize it isn't just a job, a 9-5 thing, or even a "ministry." It's life. It's friendships with people we dearly love. It's sharing the tough stuff, celebrating the good stuff, and walking together through the day-to-day.

Last week we were blessed to get to host Emeli (in red), Jessy (in yellow), and Margret (in white) with her twins, Martha and Harvest, for supper. We feasted. We laughed. We chatted. And we united in the fact that although we're from different countries and backgrounds, we really aren't that different at all. We all love crockpot pork loin. We all love some American-imported lemonade. We all care about our families and our communities. And we all love a good dinner party.

Thank YOU to those of you who so faithfully and generously partner with us in this Zamlife, making it possible to host our dear friends for supper and strengthen these lifelong friendships. We wish y'all could've pulled up a chair and joined us around the dinner table, but this thank you will have to do until that day comes :)

Grace & Chocolate Cake

There are really good days and really bad days here. Most of the time it depends on the attitude we choose and the way we see our circumstances. But sometimes the really good days are just huge helpings of grace as Jesus chooses to bless us even when we are far from deserving it.

Confession: this weekend/start of the week was really hard for me (Amy). I was drowning in doubt and fear and anxiety. Times like that just feel hopeless and overwhelming. But the good news is that Jesus doesn’t leave us there.

And then there’s today. Redemption. Mercy. Beauty. In the seemingly most ordinary of ways.

It’s a rare occasion that errands go as planned, or that one thing will even be successful that we set out to do. There are many reasons for this, but none we’ll dive into today.  I just wanted to say that to try to frame daily life here in Zambia for y’all back home. I know you don’t fully get it, I don’t blame anyone for that, and I’m not bogged down by that. Just know this: things are tricky.

But today was different. We drove through 2 checkpoints without any trouble. We signed a lease for a house on its own property so that we can run a volunteer house to host some fun folks who can be more hands and feet for Clothed in Hope. We love the house.

I have been trying since February- almost 8 months now- to get an ATM card for our local bank account. A process that seems easy but has been quite interesting. But today I got it! And was able to make a deposit AND do some other banking paperwork. Again, sounds small but y’all, it’s HUGE. An important official even tried to cut everyone in line because of his “status” but the banker told him “You are just like these other bankers in here, and you must wait in the queue (line).” BAM. Take that injustice! I wanted to stand up and cheer for this man and put him on my shoulders, but instead I just smiled and praised Jesus.

And if that wasn’t enough, sitting down to lunch at our favorite café to celebrate, I get a phone call from an incredible orphanage here who heard about us and wants their caretakers and the mothers who had to give up their children (thus making them social orphans in the orphanage) to be enrolled in our skills training program to re-unite families and create sustainable livelihoods. WHAT?!! Local partnerships + working to achieve our super long-term goals + orphan prevention through mother empowerment + new friends = YES!

Not every day is like today. But we will not let that detract from hugely celebrating God’s glory in today and every day. Jesus has won the victory and is proclaiming it in Zambia, in our lives, and through the doubt that plagues me.

So we celebrate with chocolate cake, usually a tradition as a coping mechanism of horribly awful days, but not today. Today Jesus brings beauty from ashes. Today He has redeemed what is His. Today He has shown us grace upon grace for His glory and incredibly, for our good.

Celebrate with us, friends. Thank you for your prayers that we feel so deeply, so fully, so beautifully.