Rafting the Zambezi

People often ask me, Maggie, what life is like in Zambia.  Of course it’s difficult to give a true picture seeing as so much of life involves sounds, smells, tastes, feelings, sights and, of course, what we experience every day.  I think that moving to and living in Zambia is a lot like rafting down the Zambezi.

Before actually heading down the river we first asked others what it was like to raft down the Zambezi. Some said that it was the best experience ever, while others said that they’d never do it again.  Mark had already bought the tickets for us to go, so we were going one way or the other, with these mixed messages regarding other people’s experiences.  I wasn’t really sure whether to be thrilled or apprehensive about the experience to come.

The day arrived for us to head down the river. It was a beautiful day! We had put on our sunscreen, eaten a good breakfast and were heading for the amazing experience which is rafting the Zambezi river class 5!

The very first thing that we did was to receive a life jacket and a helmet.  “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, … take the helmet of salvation…” (Ephesians 6:14,17) The life vest was securely on me, so tight I could barely breath until I loosened it a little.  The helmet was wobbly at best on my head until I switched with Mark.  I was ready to go.  But I needed more…that wasn’t enough.  Just because we’ve been willing to follow God’s call to Zambia doesn’t mean that we are fully equipped by any stretch and what we are equipped with doesn’t always work perfectly to say the least.

The second thing we did was listen to the safety instructor regarding any possible scenario on the river and what to do in order not to drown: commands used, body position when out of the boat in the rapids, where to find help, how to help others appropriately etc…  “Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promise you.” (Deuteronomy 6:3).  If ministry in Zambia is to go well we are to be obedient to the Lord and His instructions.  We are attempting to best follow God’s leading as we navigate the cultural norms and learn the processes that are most appropriate for various situations in which we find ourselves involved.  The norms that we are used to often do not work here so much adjusting and learning are necessary even though God’s truths and commands still apply.  Just as rafting on the Zambezi is vastly different from life on dry land, life in Zambia is vastly different from life in the US.

The third thing that we were given was a paddle to move and steer the boat, reach out to a person in the water, or whack a crocodile if necessary!  “…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17)  The word of God is what helps me steer through life here in Zambia through the joys and challenges. I confess that I need to spend more time in His Word.

The fourth thing that we were given was a guide. We had never met before, we had never even spoken before.  He came recommended by the company we had booked our tickets through but we didn’t have any prior knowledge of this guy.  The only thing we knew was that per his word and his colleagues he was “a great guide!”  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”(Proverbs 3:5). So with great faith in our guide off we hiked down into the gorge down to the river, no turning back.  Here we are living life in Zambia following our Lord’s leading each and every day.  He knows best how to guide us through all of the situations we find ourselves in and we are trusting in Him each step of the way.  It is always difficult as we truly like to “lean on our own understanding” but it is best when we follow our guide and humbly submit.

The fifth and final thing that we were provided with was a raft.  It was inflated on the rocks next to the swirling “melting pot” where we were to enter the river. It looked sturdy enough but who knows what one crocodile tooth could do to this raft?  I’d love to tell you that we all got into the raft, were pushed off of the rocks and dropped into the rushing water with our guide steering the boat to calm waters…but that’s not what happened.  Mark, Holly, and Naomi got into the raft (ours was the last raft to go in) and there was a huge miscommunication right at the start.  Life is full of miscommunications here in Zambia: not only because we don’t speak Tonga.  Their pronunciation of English is also very different. So back to rafting! Since the raft is on a scraggly rock next to the water, as people get into the raft they move up to the “front” of the boat while guides hold onto the back of the boat.  Everyone keeps on moving up up up to the “front” of the boat until it is hanging over the edge of the rock so that when they let go the raft can drop into the river.   Our guides kept on yelling “back, back, back” to Mark and the girls.  They understood “bounce, bounce, bounce!”, thinking that our raft was stuck on the rocks.  Jocelyn barely hopped into a bouncing raft but, before I could even get close, the guides couldn’t hold onto it anymore and it dropped into the river, rushing down the rapids without neither me nor the guide.  Life in Zambia is often just like this.  Filled with different ways of doing things, different expectations and definitely surprising outcomes.  So my very first experience on the Zambezi rafting trip was jumping into the “melting pot” and letting the rapids carry me down the river!  I started off the trip outside of the raft!!  Once again I didn’t know whether to be apprehensive or exhilarated to be having this experience.  On the flip side of this, once the raft reached calm waters, the four in the raft wondered where I was?  And where our guide was as well as he also had to jump in and catch up to his raft.  Sometimes you get left behind in life and just have to jump right back in no matter what.  This is life in Zambia. At a moments notice you can feel left behind but have to make the choice to jump right on back into it. “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

The Zambezi is like life.  It has varying classes of rapids with rocks, whirlpools and crocodiles but it also has calm and peaceful sections when our arms could rest and we could enjoy the beauty around us.  Even though we did our best to listen to and obey our guides instructions at times the waters flipped the rafts over sending people into the swirling rapids. However, with everyone working as a team and the help of safety kayakers, all were collected and returned to their rafts.  “In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3b). This is not always easy anywhere in life but here in Zambia when people are constantly and I mean constantly knocking on your door, asking for something, this command is often difficult to follow.

I’m very glad to report that we made it all the way down 25km of the Zambezi river going through 23 rapids (except for rapid 9 which is a class 6 so we had to portage around it) and enjoyed every minute of the experience.  So as we continue our life here in Zambia I will often think of our ride down the Zambezi and along with much prayer and patience continue this journey going forward. “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand….And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:13,18)

Added note:  this link shows what can happen on the Zambezi (this is not our boat and didn’t visit happen this way on our trip event though rafts did flip over quite a few times) and in life, but notice how long the guide stayed in the raft!