It was a rough day. I was accused of gender based violence because I have two separate clubs for boys and girls. I was happy to sit and eat nshima with my family but my dad was a bit drunk. He had a lot to say about every little thing I have done wrong in the village. My garden is going to fail. My pig pen is awful. My Bemba sucks. It was hard to listen to once but I had to hear it multiple times because of when he is drunk he repeats himself a lot. So I sat through an hour lecture in Bem-Glish understanding it all even though my Bemba sucks.
My Bataata is honestly such a kind man and does so much for me. Of course I cried a little but I am taking what he said and running with it. I know he said those things out of love and wants me to be successful. He wants my garden to reap a good harvest. He doesn't want my pigs to die or run away. He wants me to able to communicate with the people. It just came off really rude.
I stopped my current garden and moved out the field like he suggested. Yesterday my bataata, the village secretary, some kids and I went out planting watermelon. I was thinking maybe 5 plants. My Bataata has big plans for me. We planted over 100 watermelons yesterday and he says this is just the beginning. Today we are going to plant more... honeydew, butternut squash, zucinni, cucumbers, etc. He gave me a field.
I am going to get churchy really quick. I feel like this is a good example of our father in heaven. He isn't drunk. No. But just like my Bataata has been observing me, Heavenly Father is watching and ready to take our small gardens and make them into fields. He has huge plans for us. The hardest part is humbling ourselves, stopping what we are doing and ask for help.
My Bataata is also doing all the hard work. He digs, weeds and I put in the seeds and cover with dirt. I have the easy job. The power of humbling yourself and asking.
There is going to be watermelon for all,
Happy pigs,
And a msungu that can outspeak you in icibemba.
The last one probably won't happen because I wasn't blessed with a language brain but I won't give up.
Oh, Megan. This is so beautiful and encouraging. You're so right. It really is a perfect picture of how our Heavenly Father sees us. He is so good and supplied all we need from his unlimited resources. But usually, we just try to do life our way and miss so much. I needed this reminder! Thank you for sharing with the rest of us.
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