In April 2025, I travelled to Zambia with a team from Forge Community Church and West Mersea Free Church to support the communities of Maposa and Amlew. Amlew is a lively community where I was able to run a relationship group alongside my Grandma for the 6-12 year olds, who loved to colour, play games, sing and dance. Maposa is located in a more rural area and the children I met were more reserved but loved all of the same things. They have beautiful attention to detail and care so much about all of the activities that they take part in. A real highlight from visiting these two communities has been the times of worship and prayer. Nowhere else do you get to be around so many people who share such a strong faith and just genuinely celebrate in the Lord’s presence.
For the second week of our trip we hosted a kids’ camp at Kachele Farm, where we were staying. We had 15 kids from Maposa and 15 from Amlew come to stay and be involved with crafts and activities, sport competitions, singing and dancing, as well as learning valuable lessons about Jesus. Our aim for the week was to remind the children about how much they are valued by God, and that they are worth so much just for being who they are. We led stories and had group conversations where we asked the big questions and supported the children in the best way we knew how to, reminding them all the time of the loving Father that they can all find in God.
These two weeks have been unimaginably important. I have learnt so much and gained valuable friendships from my kids team, the team I went out with and the Service Centre members who we were supporting. Since my trip I have had the opportunity to share the stories I made and the stories that I have heard with people around me by sharing at my parent’s small group, at my own youth group and through having conversations with friends, which I sparked by keeping a list of my kids team’s names in my phone case as a reminder. And, hugely, my faith has been built so much stronger as I was reminded of the importance of spending time with God, appreciating the blessings that God has provided us with and enjoying the God-given peace that comes through a relationship with Him. I am so thankful to every person who I met in Zambia, you all made the experience what it was and I couldn't ask for more. Thank you.
Jemima Westmancott