Introducing Orthodox Mission Mom
You won't BELIEVE what happened to me the other day!! I finally met a woman I have admired from afar for AGES!! Tasoni Dalia serves in Africa as a missionary, has built, alongside her husband, a school for orphaned children in Zambia, and is raising two munchkins of her own.
When she and her Abouna come into town, it's instant News Feed fodder. Suddenly, I'm flooded with selfies proclaiming their arrival at churches nearly a thousand miles north of home! (Isn't the Internet an amazing thing?) I tell you this so that you understand how big of a deal this next sentence is.
She reads my blog. No, I'm serious. She practically quoted me back to me. Stop and let that sink in for a moment. For me, in the Coptic world, that's like Mother Teresa saying she read your book and enjoys it. I can't even put words together at this point to help you make sense of it. Zambian missionaries read my blog!! I'm really floored. Again, I say to you, isn't the Internet an amazing thing? (and now I really have to up my game... no pressure, y'all)
Ok, wait for it. Wait for it.
SHE HAS HER OWN BLOG! I knowwwwww, I knowwww! Oh my goodness. Wish you could see this grin right now. She's just started over at Orthodox Mission Mom, but I know she would appreciate some encouragement. Below is an excerpt from her About Page and make SURE you read the post about how women give (and watch the video).
"Yes I live in Africa but anyone, anywhere can be a missionary. In your home, school, work, community. It is a way of life. I think God brought me to Africa to bring me outside of myself and my small world. To see others. Not how I want to see them but as God sees people."
Goosebumps.
If you want to help support the very precious orphans of Zambia, visit the Meant 2 Live Foundation page and donate there.
I want to leave you with an image Tasoni Dalia gave me of these children. I asked her how many families are in her congregation. This is a pretty standard church question that helps frame the size of a priest's mission. She hesitated and said, "Well, that's not exactly how it works in Zambia." She then described to me that children come in from the villages, carrying younger siblings and friends, to attend school, Liturgy, and Sunday School. Take a deep breath for a moment. Close your eyes. Picture over 200 Zambian orphans walking eagerly toward your church doors, leading each other to God and to an educational opportunity each day of their own volition.
Where is our hunger for God? Where is our drive to grow and learn and better ourselves daily? Why have we grown so comfortable with our lukewarm lives?
When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
Psalm 27:8