It’s hard to believe that ten years ago, we moved our family across the world to live and serve at MICS. Life looked pretty different back then. We had two little four year-olds who had never been on an airplane. Those little boys are now incredible teenagers almost halfway through their first year of high school. Our little surprise addition to the family is now nine years old. What was supposed to be three years, turned into five and we’ve now been back home for the same amount of time that we lived there. Life continues to roll along.

I feel honoured to continue being involved in the work of MICS as a board member. I give guidance where I can but the team is predominantly led by a group of amazing Zambian leaders. They have done their best and worked hard navigating the years of Covid and financial challenges. After a few delays caused by a global pandemic, I’ve been able to return three times, mostly recently this past May. In some ways the school has changed and evolved as any healthy organization should. But what always stands out to me is that MICS is still MICS. 

On any given morning there is a crowd of students playing out front, long before the 7:30am bell rings. They still sing the Zambian national anthem in beautiful harmony to start and end the week. Chapel still runs daily with songs and skits and lessons about God’s love. Children are still learning how to read, to multiply, to do puzzles and to garden. Teachers are still working hard to find creative ways to teach new ideas. Boarding kids still gather around meals of nshima and learn how to be family together. Staff and students still use their talents to put on incredible Easter and Christmas programs for the community. MICS still continues its legacy of having a one hundred percent pass rate of all of its thirteen graduating classes, writing the national grade seven exam required to move on to high school. And every time I travel on the bumpy dirt roads of Macha and pass through the school gates, it still feels like I’ve come home.

As I reflect on our time at MICS, I’m filled with gratitude…

• I’m grateful for the life that my children were able to live in a beautiful community, only needing to run out the door to find countless friends to play with and spending endless hours outdoors.
• I’m grateful for the chance to use my ESL skills and start a reading room where students continue to get help with their language skills.
• I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn leadership and administrative skills as Joel and I unexpectedly became directors during our second year.
• I’m grateful for the family and friends who came to visit and truly got to experience what our life was like.
• I’m grateful for the incredible staff we worked with, many of whom are still at MICS and are dear friends, who pour into kids’ lives and invest in their futures.
• I’m grateful for new leadership who have persevered in difficult circumstances and helped the school to grow.
• I’m grateful for the hundreds of people who have supported us along the way, continuing to help send resources… and to those of you who still read this blog a whole decade later!
• I’m grateful for the new friends in my life with whom I get to share about MICS and who are excited to learn about a place I love.

I really could go on and on but you get the point. There were many hard days, a few more snakes and spiders than I have in my life now, conveniences we had to live without and family and friends we missed. But it truly was a privilege to call MICS our home.

Three years ago I had the chance to take Caleb and Micah back for a visit. I loved watching how easily they integrated back into life there. And now I’m excited that it’s time to finally take Nathaniel back to the place he spent the first half of his life. He was only four when we moved home. His memories are a little more random and vague but he’s looking forward to returning. We leave mid-February for a two week trip. We’ve been working on a wish list of resources that MICS as well as another local school in Macha, could use to help educate students. I know some of you love the wish lists so stay tuned in the next week or two for how you can help.

Whether you’ve been along for the ride since we started this adventure over a decade ago, or are newer in our lives and are interested in a little school in rural Zambia that has my heart, thanks for being here. xo