By Emma Combes, team member, Holy Trinity Church Cambridge's trip to Zambia.
I want to thank Tearfund for the amazing opportunity I had in going out to Zambia with others from my church through Transform Yourself and working with Tearfund’s partner the Jubilee Centre. It was an amazing, enlightening experience.
From my studies in geography I had heard the pessimistic and depressing view of the world and development issues. But from my trip to Zambia I have discovered that with the love and power of God, change is possible and is certainly happening there: the Jubilee Centre is successfully mobilising local churches to work together to help their communities.
Going to Zambia was a big challenge for me. The differences in wealth were often shocking. We spent a day with a family, experiencing village life – we helped to collect water, wood (on our heads), and helped cook a full meal. Meeting and making friends with these people makes poverty in Africa reality, puts faces to the statistics we so often hear.
I feel I now have a better understanding and relationship with God: so many times we had to trust him, and each time he provided abundantly. This trip pushed me beyond my comfort zone, broke down boundaries and really got me involved.
I have met some amazing people and made some great friends. I have been encouraged by their vibrant faith, their great passion and the excitement they have for Jesus.
It has been a privilege to be involved in the Jubilee Centre’s work, and I am so grateful that I can be kept up to date with their work and be associated with them. It excites me to know that change is occurring, and that people like the Jubilee Centre are doing so much good, helping those who are suffering the most.