Day One – SUCCESS
Laughter, Check. Tears, Check. A conference full of women committing to grow as leaders and develop others as well, double check!
AFMIN has officially launched its first African Women’s Empowerment Project in Zambia! This first class of women leaders met to further develop their leadership skills by taking courses in Emotional Trauma, Gender Theory, and Leadership. Dr. Chris de Wet and Lydia Brown, MA, LPC started the day with a “one-two punch” by lecturing on gender theory and the science of emotion.
Lydi
a talked about the spectrum of trauma and stress, and this in a city currently fighting against a rash of ritualized murders (read more here and here). In this place, a woman is expected to “just deal” with trauma, and stress should be silently born without complaint. However,this silence is challenged in face of continuous trauma–such as a string violent, unsolved murders. The room was quiet as Lydia stated that “it’s OK to have emotions, and no emotion is inherently sinful” but as I listened to the murmur of women discussing loss and sharing stories of trauma, I sensed a feeling of freedom start to permeate the room. This freedom grew into confidence as women were able to share stories of physical assault, rape, adultery, and death. This confidence grew into empowerment as the women began to talk about their families and their communities–and the changes they want and need to enact!
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them … -Jesus (Matthew 7:12)
There is a suffocating stigma which surrounds suffering, both at home and here in Zambia. Grief should not be summarily dismissed as unwarranted, and cries for help should not go unheeded. Even in wildly different cultures, humans experience emotion and every one of us needs to be heard. The oft judgmental and preconceived notions we have about another’s pain and suffering can lead us to calloused minds and cold hearts. When confronted with someone else’s grief I believe we should do our best to rely on the simple wisdom of the so-called Golden Rule of do to others what you would have them do to you. When someone’s silenced emotions find their way out, take a moment to think about how you felt the last time you had an unplanned outbreak, and how you wished the people around you responded. Anyways…I digress…
Today, I saw the start of change. Not a quick, emotional change, but a thoughtful one. A change indicated by insightful discussion and diligent consideration. The day ended with a Zambian mother sharing that, “I am now convicted. We are good mothers, but it is easy to get annoyed at my children. However, I now know to look for the cause of their behavior.” It has only been a day, but I’m excited to say that all good work is done a day at a time. Today, I witnessed a room of Zambian women grow together in solidarity and be unified in purpose to stand together as women whom God loves, values, listens to, gives purpose to, and use to increase His Kingdom on this earth.
We have tw
o more days of classes here in Lusaka before moving onto Kigali. I am just very excited about what is happening here. Please pray for the people of Lusaka, there are hurting women here who are starting an intense journey of being a new kind of light in a deep, spiritual darkness. Thank you for all of your prayers, thoughts, and especially for your time.