The story goes...There once was a boss who decided to take a year leave from his job. He wanted to go out and travel and enjoy his time before coming back to work. However, he wanted the office to stay clean while he was away so before he left he wrote down a few instructions for his employees and told the manager that they should know them by heart. The instructions went...
1. Sweep the floors
2. Take out the trash
3. Organize the files and paperwork
4. Dust around the office
...and so on and so forth. The employees told him they would take care of it all. So a year goes by and the man returns to his job. He walks in and finds that the office is a huge mess. He couldn't see the floors because of the amount of trash overflowing from the bins, the paperwork was unorganized and scattered, and there was dust covering all the tables and blinds. He quickly went to the manager and asked what had happened and why he hadn't followed his instructions. The manager replied "Sir, but we did," The boss was shocked and replied "Well, do you see the place. It's a mess," and the manager replied "Yes, but I have the rest of the employees in the office studying your instructions right now. Just like we have been for the past year."
Now, as you can tell, the boss obviously wanted them to follow/act out the instructions; not just simply learn them. I feel the same goes for us. God has given us the instructions and now we must follow them. For an example, let's look at the commandment "Love thy neighbor." Well, that seems simple enough. We all have read it and can understand what it means. Great! However, is that enough? Is that what God wants? Did the boss want his manager and employees to actually clean the office or to just learn how to do so. It is one thing to understand the instruction to love thy neighbor and it is a whole other thing to actually love thy neighbor.
I like this story because it does answer the question.
Why volunteer? Well, rather than just reading His instruction over and over I am acting on them.
I hope that helps explain my thought process a little better.
Anyways, back to what's going on here in Zambia...
This past week has been great and this next should be even better because the monastery is planning for an ordination. A deacon will be ordained a priest on Thursday the 20th. I never knew these things were such a big deal, but I guess they are because the monastery is planning to host around 300 people for the feast. The volunteers (Zack, myself and the two Italians) will be helping with catering. There will be monks from other monasteries, priests, and family members. Zack and I have been told to help slaughter a cow, pig, and around 200 chickens in order to feed everyone. That will be interesting. We are excited for the big party, though.
We have also asked Prior Inzota if Br. Gabriel can accompany us on our trip to Victoria Falls. He was totally fine with it and didn't seem to care at all. So, it looks like Br. Gabriel will be going with! I can't wait to see one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Zack and I are getting excited to teach. It will be nice getting to work every day while helping educate the villagers on biology and physics. I have just the nervous system lessons to plan now!
As for some interesting things about life in Africa...
Everyone here seems amazed that I am from America. They see Zack with his blonde hair and instantly think he is American, but then they see my red hair and are confused. Ha it's actually funny. They think I am from Europe or something. They don't even know what to say when I ask where they think I am from.
I have been drinking plenty of tea while in Zambia. One thing they do that I have come to enjoy is putting milk in with the tea. It is very good. Maybe Americans do this as well, but I never did.
It's rare for us to get our hands on some beer but, being that we are two 22 year olds, we have managed to find some. The beer bottles here are reused. Once you drink them you bring them back to the shop. Kind of nasty but Zack and I make sure to wipe them down before drinking out of them. I am sure they are cleaned after each use, but you never can be to sure.
Well, that's it for now. We are slowly entering into the hot season so things are starting to warm up! It will be above 100 degrees on some days in October and November. It's better than -50 degree wind chills, though!
I am trying to post every Wednesday and Saturday, but it may come down to just one day a week. So bare with me as I try to figure out when to post. Thanks for reading!
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