I wish you could see what I’m seeing right now.
A Room Full of Hunger to Learn
We are in the middle of an Entrust training here in Zambia, and it’s honestly hard to put into words just how special it is. There are 38 women here—some from all across Zambia, and even a few who have travelled from Zimbabwe. Each one has come with a desire to learn, to be equipped, and to grow in how they serve others.
And then there are the facilitators—16 of them—from Zambia, Kenya, and the USA. Different backgrounds, different experiences, but such a shared heart. It’s been incredible to watch them pour into these women with so much care and intentionality.
Learning in Community
We’re running three different Entrust modules at the same time, which means things are busy! The women are split into five smaller groups, and I’ve loved seeing how quickly those groups have become spaces of trust, laughter, and deep conversation. There’s something really powerful about learning in community like this.
Behind the Scenes
My role in all of this has mostly been behind the scenes. I’ve been coordinating the training together with a team—working on everything from the venue and supplies to registrations, communication, and transport logistics. It’s been a lot of moving parts, and if I’m honest, there have been moments where it’s felt quite overwhelming. But seeing everyone here now, gathered and engaged, makes it all worth it.
When the Numbers Don’t Add Up
One of the biggest challenges we’ve had to navigate has been the budget. When we first started planning, we were working with an estimate of about $30,000. But with the changes in the exchange rate between the US dollar and the Zambian kwacha, our costs have climbed to closer to $36,000. That gap is not small.
We’ve tried to keep things as accessible as possible, so each participant is only paying around $165—which is roughly a third of the actual cost. The rest has to be raised, and it’s something we’ve really had to trust God for.
A Determination That Stands Out
But in the middle of all the logistics and numbers, there are moments that remind me why this matters so much.
One of the women from Zimbabwe was meant to fly in before the training began, but when she arrived at the airport, she was turned away because her passport only had one month left before expiry. For many of us, that might have been the end of the story.
But not for her.
Instead of giving up, she made another plan. She boarded a bus and travelled over 10 hours by road, arriving in Lusaka after 11 pm. From there, she waited at the bus terminal until 4 am, when she caught another bus that dropped her near the venue at around 5:30 am.
She had not slept for over 24 hours.
And yet, she came straight into the training and sat through the entire day of lessons because she didn’t want to miss a single moment.
I don’t think I’ll forget that anytime soon.
Her determination and commitment have been such a quiet but powerful testimony. She was not going to miss this opportunity—and her presence here has reminded me, and I think many others, of the value of what is taking place.
A Different Kind of Giving
What has also impacted me deeply is the example of the facilitators. Every single one of them has chosen to be here at their own expense. Most have paid for their flights, and they’re covering their own costs to stay here too. They’re not here to be paid—they’re here to give. To serve. To invest.
That has challenged me.
Why This Matters
It’s a reminder that what’s happening here matters. These women will go back to their communities, their churches, their ministries—and what they’ve received here will multiply in ways we may never fully see.
There’s a lot of joy here. There’s also a lot of faith required behind the scenes.
An Invitation to Be Part of the Story
If you would like to be part of what God is doing here—if you’d like to help us continue to subsidise this training and invest in these women—we would be so grateful. You can give through the Southern Africa account using the link or QR code below:
Support Entrust Equipping Women-Southern Africa Account
Thank you for being part of this with us, even from afar.
