Growing up in Zambia
A Journey of Faith, Family, and Self-Discovery
I was born on April 11, 2000, in Chingola, Zambia, a small town in the Copperbelt. My mother, a budding long-distance runner, relocated to the United States when I was just 1 year old to pursue her athletic career, and my grandmother became my primary guardian.
At age 2, we moved to Ndola, another town in the Copperbelt, where I grew up in a Christian missionary community called GLO. My grandmother worked as a mentor and teacher to local women, and although life was financially challenging at times, from her raising me she taught me the invaluable lesson of contentment and trusting in God's provision.
When I was 14, my grandmother took on a new role as a dorm parent at Amano Christian School in Chingola, where I attended high school from 8th to 12th grade. Amano, a boarding school, gave me the chance to meet people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. However, being in a Christian environment with my grandmother as a staff member came with its own pressures to be "perfect," which I often struggled with, but it helped shape me into who I am today.
In 2017, I graduated high school and took a gap year. I volunteered at my school, completed a 3-month discipleship course at FCE, and joined a mission road trip across Africa with a group of 10 people from around the world. That experience deepened my love for Africa and ignited a passion for serving others.
In 2019, I enrolled at Northrise University in Ndola to study law. University life was a mix of excitement and confusion as I navigated the challenges of academia and personal growth.
Then, in 2021, after 20 years of being apart, I finally reunited with my mother. I left Zambia behind and moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to start a new chapter of my life in the United States. Adjusting to a new country was a big change, but it opened up new opportunities and experiences that I am excited to share in the coming months.
Thank you for reading my story. I hope it encourages you to trust your own journey, no matter how unexpected the twists and turns may be.
With Love,
Tina.
