My Zambian Adventure

Muli Bwanji? (“How are you?” in Nyanja, one of the official languages of Zambia)
Thank you for your prayers! I survived Zambia and Zambia survived me. This journey began on October 22 when I left Johannesburg, South Africa for a month of hands on training learning about the various lifestyles and cultures in Africa; Zambia was my classroom for the month. Each day we studied a different cultural issue; for example we learned about Health and Medicine in Africa, Community Development, and Births, Weddings and Funerals. We received a lecture and information from our cultural experts; we would then go into the city or village to speak with the locals about their views and experiences on the topic for the day. I along with a group of 33 other IMB missionaries who had also recently come to the field and would be dispersing to many different areas around Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa began our time in the capital city of Lusaka for 12 days. I lived in the Baptist seminary, experienced my first ride in a taxi, and brushed my teeth using bottled water.
We then moved to the town of Petauke seven hours away in the bush where we camped, pumped our own water, and went to bed way too early because it was so dark outside since there was no electricity. Here I learned to kill and cook a chicken, to wash my clothes in a basin, and to balance a bucket of water on my head…still working on this one. After camping in the town of Petauke for almost two weeks, I moved in with the Mwanza family in the village of Kapaya. This began the most rewarding part of my whole time in Zambia. I was able to experience real African life - no longer was I in a classroom or research setting but I was able to live with a Zambian family of eight. I slept in a mud hut with a straw roof, got up and went to the well with the mother and daughters, attended a funeral and church services with the family, learned many Nyanja phrases thanks to my older brothers, went to the fields in the mornings to pick mangos, and took baths out of a bucket under the stars!! After the home stay portion of my training, I was able to stay a couple extra days and go to Victoria Falls with some friends. Wow! God is amazing and has made some incredible sights! It was such a blessing to spend time relaxing with friends and to enjoy God’s beautiful creation before we split up and went our separate ways around Africa.
God taught me so much while I was in Zambia this past month. My time there was just as difficult as I expected, if not more, but I was able to experience the awesome grace and strength of God. I was reminded again that true happiness does not come from material things but relationships with our Savior and with those He has placed around us. God also confirmed my calling to Johannesburg while I was in Zambia. I realized that He has equipped me for exactly where He has me and has been preparing me for my job assignment at the Guest House and with the youth at Lyndhurst Baptist Church long before I was ever aware that I would be living in Africa. My last month in Zambia was quite an experience and a blessing that I will never forget. Thank you to everyone who was praying for me; I cherish your prayers and miss you all!
Serving with you in South Africa,
Sarah-Michelle Maddox
P.S. Lyndhurst Baptist Church youth camp is next week December 8- 12. Please be in prayer for the leaders as we are preparing and for the miracles that we are trusting God will perform in the lives of the youth.

The closest I'll get to Georgia Football in Africa

.... kick off was set for 5:05pm, the smell of alcohol was in the air, the stadium was filled with a sea of red, black, and white, the guys ran on to the field as the crowd began to yell... sounds like a Saturday in Athens, Georgia, in Sanford Stadium, eh? BUT it's not. This was last Saturday in Johannesburg, South Africa at Coca-Cola Park watching a rugby game. The Lions whose colors are red and white were playing the Sharks who are black and white; this explains the sea of colors that reminded me of being between the hedges. As I watched the game; I realized that I was very confused...maybe I should have read up on the rules of rugby before coming...ooops, maybe next time. Why was a touchdown called a try and why do they randomly kick the ball in the middle of running down the field? As I listened around me I did not hear "Gooo Georgia Bulldawgs....sic'em!" Actually what I heard was not even in English; they were cheering in Afrikaans; so I just made sure that I cheered when I saw the flags and fans from "my" team the Sharks go up all over the field...I am now one of their most dedicated fans...ok, maybe not, but I did enjoy the game. It was a fun Saturday that reminded me of being back in Athens for a little watching one of the best teams in the land. Goooo Dawgs! ...so next for me is a soccer game and a cricket game...am looking for tickets, anyone selling??

Drums, Bananas, and Police...it's the life!!!

Sawubona!!

When do you know that you’re in Johannesburg, South Africa? When you are listening to the radio and the traffic lady reports that there are delays on the N1 (like Interstate 75) because a man is playing homemade drums in the middle of the median and passersby are stopping to watch…. When you must have your bananas weighed in the produce section BEFORE getting in line to check out to avoid having everyone behind you in line wonder what planet that you came from…. And when you have to go through THREE police checks just to get to church from the apartment…listen in on one of the conversations “How are you today my sister? Ahh, you are from America my sister. I am not fine today my sister, but I pray you are fine today my sister, you may now go my sister.”

Now that you have experienced a little bit of living in Joburg, here’s what’s going on with me...God is showing me so much. Sometimes it isn’t in the most pleasant situations, but I am learning to find my strength in Him each day. The work with the youth can be draining at times going from one crisis to the next. BUT it is during those times of crisis that I see God working in their lives to draw them to Him. The Sunday before last I left early service to go take a youth to the hospital with chest pains, and this Sunday we took another one of the youth to the hospital with severe stomach pains; by the time we arrived at the hospital she was unresponsive. I spent the last 3 days at the hospital with her and her family. She was released, and the doctors have no idea what caused the problem. As I write this, she is resting at my apartment; please pray for her and her family that God would continue to work in their home. Last night I was able to have that family over for dinner; it was a very sweet time of fellowship. Please also be in prayer as we begin to make decisions about camp (remember we have summer camp in December here). We want to seek God in every aspect. This is a very special time that the youth look forward to all year long; this is the only time some of them get to go on vacation or holiday. My job at the Guest House is also going very well; I am getting to meet many missionaries as they pass through to the States or on to their place of service and as many stay for medical needs. Please pray for me personally as I will be leaving to go to Zambia for a month on October 22; this is a time of orientation that my region requires. I must confess that I have not had the best attitude about going. You see I really REALLY love my hot showers, my various forms of communication, and my apartment free of rats and snakes. I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me; it’s just sometimes I don’t want to do ALL things. I know this will be a time of growth and stretching for me as I lay it all before Him. I will definitely let you know how it goes.... O, I am also learning to count in Zulu; maybe by the time I leave for Zambia I will be able to count all the way to ten by myself… :)

LOVE YA'LL!!

Hebrews 12:1-2

a little retreat to the Indian Ocean

Hey ya'll,
This past weekend I was able to attend a prayer retreat near Durban, South Africa. It was a very refreshing time of prayer (obviously), worship, and fellowship with other missionaries in our cluster. It was awesome to see the years of service that many of these families have dedicated to spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and the miracles of changed lives that they have witnessed. During our free time , I was able to visit the Indian Ocean for the very first time. I walked in the ocean (a little to chilly to get in) and picked up some sea shells (although it took about an hour of looking just to find like 10 shells...there weren't that many where we were). I also ate at a restaurant called Durban Delights; an authentic Indian Restaurant....the food was a bit to spicy for me, but it was good. Although it was a good weekend, I was definitely ready to be back home in Jo'burg....where my heart is.

One month into it....

Thank you so much for your prayer support; it is cherished. I have been in South Africa almost a month; during this month I have learned how to drive a stick shift car (on the opposite side of the road), settled into my apartment, and made many new friends. However, the biggest thing that has happened since being here is being able to witness God working in miraculous ways in my own heart and in the hearts of the youth that I am working with at Lyndhurst Baptist Church. I have been expanded, stretched, broken, and grown by seeing the needs here and how God wants to work through those He created; it is very humbling. I was in Johannesburg last year for 2 months and worked with Lyndhurst Baptist; God has been faithful! He has raised up leaders among the youth. However, one of the prayer requests that we are lifting up to God is for Godly South African men to step up to help in youth. This past Friday we had over 50 youth in attendance (only 7 were females); the leadership included the interim youth leader (a 23 yr old female) and myself. We had about 20 come up for prayer and to make decisions; it was very powerful. However, these youth need to see an example of a Godly South African male who can model for them a Christian example. Most are suffering with abuse, addictions, anger, broken families and lives, to mention only a few. Please pray that they would turn to God to heal them and not to temporary things that the world has to offer. This Saturday some of the youth will be attending a conference called Passion in Johannesburg. Please pray that their hearts will be open to hear what God has to say and that their lives will be lights for God in this city because of the changes that will take place.
I do have one personal request for prayer. I found out Monday morning that my two roommates college roommates at UGA and close friends were in a car accident on Saturday. One of the girls (Miley Duvall) was killed instantly and the other (Hannah Redd) was life flighted to a hospital. Please pray for the families, for Hannah's recovery, and for me as I try to grieve so far away. I know God has put people around me to support me here, and He is my strength even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death!
I am very grateful for your prayers and love you all!

Serving with you in South Africa,

Sarah-Michelle Maddox

I'm finally in SOUTH AFRICA!!

So, I arrived in South Africa on Friday, July 11 about 5pm, and I went straight to Lyndhurst Baptist (where I worked last summer) to see the youth. Although I was a little jetlagged, I had an awesome time getting to see everyone; they couldn’t believe I was there. They had a bonfire, and we roasted marshmallows and hung out. The missionaries that I worked with last summer (the Tadlocks) took me to my apartment, and I stayed there my first night in Johannesburg (Joburg); it is a very nice place, just very cold. I have a three bedroom/two bath apartment; I’m going to turn one of the bedrooms into the dining room/office I think so I can have more living room space to have people over. I went to church on Sunday; I have really missed the service and people here. Please pray especially for Lyndhurst Baptist Church during the next few months as the Pastor announced he is most likely moving to pastor a church in Australia. He is a great man who has served there for 11 years, and he will be missed. On Monday, I began training at the Guest House; the Guest House has 8 permanent residents for missionary families and 18 hotel like suites for people traveling through or receiving medical attention in Joburg. My main responsibility includes driving missionaries to the airport and helping in the front office. Please pray that I will be able to learn how to drive a stick shift on the opposite side of the road and in the opposite side of the car; I have been practicing each day, but it is very difficult for me. I would like to be able to be comfortable driving to church and work at least soon. I will continue to practice each day! I know that God is my strength; He gave me strength to receive all of my shots without passing out, and I know He can give me peace and endurance when driving in the city. I am going to go organize and unpack some things I bought at PickNPay (kind of like a mini WalMart). Till later!
I am claiming this verse: Psalm 4: 7-8 “You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

What makes a Real Live Missionary?

Hey ya’ll!!!
I have been at training in Richmond, Virginia since May 11; I will be leaving here on June 27, and going to the field on July 10. I have really enjoyed my time here at FPO. I have been learning so much, but the best part is definitely the people. I live in a quad with three other units (families), and there are about 15 or 20 different quads full of people about to go out ALL over the world. At home, it was as if I was unique because of my desire to leave the US and move thousands of miles away, but not here. Everyone here has the same heart; we are all in this journey together, learning how to share our faith in culturally appropriate ways, experiencing our own fears of learning a new language, leaving everything familiar to us, and learning how to eat whatever is placed in front of us. We have had several cultural worship services, a Spanish one, African, Russian, and Arabic service. I helped lead the African service be learning a few songs in several different African languages and singing them with my quad; it was such a blessing. However, the Arabic service was the most touching for me; even though I could not understand the songs or the message in Arabic, the house church setting, gender split seating, and heads covered made the experience very powerful.
Thank you for everyone who has been praying for me during my time here. God has answered prayers in a very personal way....I hate shots, but I was able to get all of my shots…a total of 10 with a TB test, without passing out! That is a miracle! A lady from Fayetteville, GA who I met here at interviews in January went with me every shot day on Fridays and held my hand encouraging me the whole time. She is such a blessing! We get icecream, stickers, and face painting on shot day (it’s mostly for the kids, but it is for grown ups who act like kids too). On Sunday, I had my first stick-shift driving class; it went fairly well, although I have trouble going from clutch to gas on a hill without rolling backwards, but I am getting extra practice this week. Hopefully, I will have a good grasp of the driving by the time I get to the field. I have also been able to learn how to quilt; there is an amazing volunteer couple here from Texas, Mr. Reagan and Mrs. Bobbie, who pour into us. She is teaching about 20 or 30 of us how to quilt, and he is always available to chat or to hang out and watch Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy; there quad feels like home whenever we need to just get away. It has been amazing to see how God puts people in my life while I have been here. He knows exactly what I need!
I am in my final full week here at FPO. I have ordered my prayer cards, finalized my plane tickets to the field, and made my final to-do list for my last 2 weeks in the States. I am almost a RLM (Real Live Missionary)! Please pray for the people of Johannesburg and the violent xenophobic attacks that have been occurring the past couple of months in and around the city. Please also pray for the people that I have become attached to while at FPO who will be going all over the world. Will see ya’ll in a couple of weeks!

When you watch the clock, time goes sooo slow!

I am waiting to receive my letter that determines where I will spend the next two to three years of my life....the letter will be mailed TOMORROW, February, 6, 2008! God is calling me to do mission work in the country of South Africa, and I am patiently waiting for the day that I can take that 21 hour plane ride back to the people who have captured my heart. I was able to spend two months this past summer in Johannesburg, South Africa. God made it very clear to me while I was there that He has a plan for my life beyond what I could ever comprehend, and He wants to use me if I give everything I have to Him. God works in miraculous ways, and my life is an example of how He can use anyone. God has drastically changed my life, and the only thing I want to do is to serve Him with all that I have. Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."