40/40: Beginnings

From mid-April to mid-May, Kayla and I helped out with a training called 40/40… short for "40 days and 40 nights." The goal of 40/40 is to give new missionaries a cultural orientation to Africa. Roughly half the time is spent in an urban African setting, while the other half is spent camping in the bush (sans electricity and running water). Then, to practice what they have learned, the participants wrap up by doing a home stay with a Zambian family living in the village. 

40/40 is infamous among our coworkers in Africa… some dread going through it, others anticipate it with excitement. Or at least I was excited about it. Although I wasn't able to go through the program last year as a participant, this year my chance came when I was asked to come and teach the missionary kids! As a "surprise bonus," I also became the camp nurse, but that's a story for another day.

I can't really speak to what the participants learned during 40/40, but I can share a little bit about the children's program. Aside from their daily schoolwork, we had lessons in science, African history and geography, and cultural studies. They (rather, "we," since I was learning for the first time along with them!) also learned practical skills such as lighting a lantern, slashing grass and cutting down trees in the bush.

It's kind of a funny thing; we were supposed to be teaching them how to adapt to African life, how to survive in a village setting, and how to interact with people of a different culture… but to tell you the truth, these things seem to be easier for kids than they are for adults. When they play soccer with Zambian kids, they don't care that they speak a different language and dress differently. When we were in the bush, they had no problem using a squatty potty or living without electricity for 10 days. Kids are quick to adapt and remain trusting and optimistic in situations that can make us adults (or at least me personally) uncomfortable.

Kids are great. Missionary kids, though, are extraordinary. Not only did they show great flexibility, but maturity beyond their years in comprehending the gravity of what their family is doing. 

As one eight-year-old said, "At first I was upset that we were moving to Africa, but then I came here and saw the poverty-- I even saw a kid drinking out of a mud puddle-- and then I thought to myself, maybe God has me here for a reason. I want Him to use me to tell people about Jesus."

Working with these precious kids has been a huge blessing to me, and I know I am learning from them just as much as I am teaching them.