In January 2007 my husband and I got married! By late April we were on our way to Livingstone, Zambia in Africa for a four month adventure with Overland Missions. This was my first overseas mission trip and I was not quite sure what to expect, but I was so excited to be experiencing it with my husband.
I share more in depth what we encountered while in Africa in my book The Unveiled Wife, including the fears I had, the jealousy that flared up in my heart, and separation anxiety from being so far away from my family. This post is a little insight into the details I share in the book with a photo gallery showing what we experienced. Enjoy!
This is the truck that picked us up at the airport when we first arrived. We used it and several similar to trek rural roads to villages in Zambia.
My husband captured this photo of me and I just adore it. I love the way I looked back at him, not just the camera. Despite the challenges and fears I encountered being out of the U.S. for the first time, I remember thinking…God, You are so beautiful!
Above is Aaron hand-washing some clothes. Life skills! Below is where he worked in the office in his little niche that I mention about in my book on the chapter about jealousy.
This above is the gorge. The Zambezi River separates one country from another. Our base sat on the edge as we overlooked the gorge to Zimbabwe. Here is another article I posted about climbing down this gorge to see the water up close! Finding The Strength To Keep Climbing In Marriage!
This was a villagers home. Very simple, very short.
Learning and getting certified in CPR and Wildness first response.
The red dirt stained my skin. Most nights I only had baby wipes to try and get clean.
So much joy!
This spider was gigantic! It was bigger than our palms! And we found it on the wall right next to our bedroom door.
Several of these next photos were taken when we spent a month in Malawi. I was voted to be team leader but I had no clue what I was doing! There were 5 of us total, including my husband, and then we were joined by two translators.
My mission was to share God’s love with others…yet, I learned more during the four months we were in Africa than what I thought I would contribute to God’s Kingdom. This picture reminds me of so much that I experienced in another country, in my new marriage, and in my faith. l was challenged and I was inspired in so many ways.
God’s light shines so bright!
This was the truck we had purchased for the pastor we spent time with. His family needed reliable transportation, and they also managed hundreds of rural churches in the area. Just a few days after we bought it, my husband rolled it on a corrugated road in the middle of nowhere, and God spared our lives.
We woke up at 5am to see the sunrise over Lake Malawi. Women were already working, washing their clothes before the noon sun made it to hot to work.
Right before I captured this image of this beautiful woman, she was laughing and smiling so big! As soon as the camera sounded she resumed this posture. Oh how I wish I was able to capture her smile!
This was the damage after a few men sat inside the truck and kicked the roof out with their feet! I did not want to go back in that car after we rolled it, but it was the only way to continue on to our next destination.
Aaron and I had the chance to white water raft down the Zambezi! Had they explained that we would see alligators or crocodiles just feet from us on the shore, I can’t remember which one, I would have politely declined the adventure! I was terrified!
Right behind us, which was only about 15 feet away, was the falls! Looking at this picture in hindsight scares everything out of me! What were we thinking?!
If you want a more detailed story of what we encountered in Africa, don’t hesitate to grab a copy of my new book, The Unveiled Wife!
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I challenge you to go on adventures with your spouse! You will learn so much about yourself and each other it is quite amazing! So pray about it today and ask God where He wants you to go or what He wants you to do as a team for Him!
If you are interested in joining up with some incredible people in some incredible countries around the world, don’t hesitate to contact Overland Missions!