The Lord has always led us throughout our time in Zambia, and it’s been quite the journey! And even now, as we start a new chapter in our lives and ministry, our prayer is for wisdom and the Lord’s guidance. 

Everyone has a tribe that they belong to. When you hear this word, you might envision a primitive people that live in some remote, African village marching off to do their daily fishing ritual. I can’t imagine that your particular social group is going to break out in a fishing dance later today at the office. However, in the broader sense of the word, you do in fact have a tribe. It could be with family of whom you share common ancestry or perhaps with friends that come together with shared interests and goals. Other factors such as religion and faith play a vital role in people’s lives, with those they share a common belief system with often becoming their people. Belonging to a group and gaining identity is certainly a good thing to have, that’s community. But what happens when our loyalty to our tribe becomes greater than it should to the exclusion of others around us? This is the danger of tribalism.

Africa has a way of captivating our hearts. Its rugged bush, untamed wild-life and open savanna almost have a romantic quality that filters through every experience and moment. But behind the novelty of its people and diverse culture, there’s a darkness that lies just beneath the surface.