It was so much fun to be back in Zambia for the last few weeks, spending time with our team and all our kids! Every trip brings back so many memories and emotions from the years we lived there. In many ways, it’s like a big family reunion. There are so many people there who mean so much to us, and being together again is always special.
One of my favorite things to do when I’m there is run with our lions!
When we first started the Young Lions running team, there were about 18 of us on a good day. They were all teenage boys who were roughly the same age. But on this trip, I found myself running with 45 kids of all ages — boys and girls, big and small! And by the way, we have eight-year-olds running 5Ks multiple times a week! One of our ten-year-old boys recently won a 5K trail race overall, with adults competing! Some of our littlest lions are roaring loudest!
I love the competition, the giggles, the trash talk; seeing the faster runners encourage the slower ones, and helping the little ones keep their shoelaces tied. It’s fun to watch the kids pair up with their best pals, and to watch some run so effortlessly, it wouldn’t be a far stretch to imagine them competing on the world stage! Running up beside these dear kids and chatting about life and running is the best! It was all so special!
Over the years, whenever we’ve run through the northern communities of Ndola, there have always been people along the way with something to say. Sometimes they cheered, sometimes they’ve heckled. But now our running team has grown so large, with such a wide range of ages, people seem to cheer us on everywhere we go! Several times during this trip, while I was out in town wearing my Lion shirt, people recognized it. “Oh, you’re with those running Lions from Chifubu! I’ve seen you guys!” People are taking notice. Our lions are making an impact
As we ran together this month, I kept thinking about how many of our friends back in the States would absolutely LOVE the opportunity to run alongside our Lions.
I wanted you all to know that even if you can’t run with them, you can run for them!
On Saturday, October 31, at 8:00 AM, we’re hosting our 3rd Annual ROAR RUN in Las Cruces, New Mexico! This special fundraising event is your opportunity to run some beautiful, challenging miles for an incredible cause. Whether you choose the 10K, 5K, or 1-mile run, EVERY MILE MATTERS!
All the money raised goes toward building up, strengthening, blessing, and empowering kids and youth in Zambia through our running teams, daily meals, educational and medical assistance, and, most importantly, our discipleship and faith-building efforts through ROAR Church.
We’re raising Young Lions who are learning to RISE, RUN, and ROAR!
And by the way, take a look at the kids in the photos! They’re sporting this year’s ROAR RUN shirts — an early release!
Click any of the photos below to donate or register for the ROAR RUN, get your lionshirt, and join the team!
Let’s run together, lions!