New York Dream Center Zambia Mission Trip
August 20-30, 2019
Trip Update from Carrie Nichols, Team Leader
Just like Gideon’s small but mighty army that went up against the Midianites, our team was small but mighty. I could say we ONLY had 6 people, but we had 6 people God hand selected, 6 people who said yes and 6 people committed to serving the people of Zambia. All 6 of us had been to Zambia before, so we definitely came from a position of strength. We called it our ‘Redemption Tour’ because of the disappointing results from broken drill rig in 2018.
I had worked to fundraise enough for four water wells, $20,000 through my colleagues and friends. Every day we worked at a different drill site and were able to help complete the four wells. At the end of each day, once the well was dug, handpump was installed and concrete water catch basin complete, we would gather the villagers together and pray a blessing over them. The village leaders would share their immense joy over what a blessing the wells would be for their village residents. We spoke with women that walked 4 miles one way – baby on their hip and water bucket on their head – and would no longer have to spend their days this way. With a bit more free time, these women can actually spend some time in endeavors that might allow them to make small amounts of money to sustain their families.
In the last village we visited, we spoke to the village induna (chief) who shared with us his joy over the water well being built. He also let us know that in 2014, he lost his son to a crocodile death on the banks of the Zambezi. You could see the sadness over recalling that death, turn to sheer joy at the thought that no other villager under his care would have to suffer the same fate as his son.
These are the stories that fuel my tank and keep me planning the trip for the next year.
To date, the NYDC teams – along with the additional partnership with Breaking Chains International – have fundraised and helped build 22 water wells for the people of Western Zambia! God has been so good in these endeavors. So many seeds of the Gospel have been planted and we look forward to seeing how the RAG staff tends those seeds and things grow long after the team is gone.
Carrie Nichols serves as the New York Dream Center Global Missions Director, in the heart of New York City.
