As I may have shared in a prior post or two, in addition to being a mommy, wife and occasional blogger, I also practice law. I’m a partner in the real estate transactions group at a large law firm. These days that means fewer new financings, new construction and development work and more dealing with distressed hotels, shopping centers and apartment complexes, receiverships, loan workouts, modifications and restructures. Did you just yawn? Are your eyes glazing over? Or are you thinking about a good lawyer joke you’ve heard lately? Don’t worry, I’m used to it. I find that it’s generally only my clients that (sometimes) appreciate my expertise and only other dirt lawyers that share my enthusiasm for such matters. But this is the profession I believe God has called me to. For now. And it seems I’m pretty good at it. And while I enjoy my work and my career has been a blessing to my family in many ways, I must admit that I’ve had second thoughts about my skill set in the context of serving others in Africa (on either a short-term or long-term basis). I’ve wondered how what I spend so much of my life doing is relevant to the kingdom and God’s plan for my life. It sometimes seems as if I’d be so much better suited to live, work and serve others, particularly in a developing country, if I’d gone to medical school or Bible school or obtained a teaching certification.
I remember reading over the itinerary for the Wiphan trip and thinking “What am I going to do?” I don’t have experience as an educator or school administrator to draw upon in discussions with the teachers and staff, I don’t have experience in the fields for which the widows are being trained, I can’t physically evaluate the children and make recommendations for their various ailments (of which we saw many), and the Lord knows it’s going to be hard for me to help put on a program when I “H” public speaking and can’t sing or dance, though my lack of abilities in that area may have some value as entertainment (mercy, was I uncomfortable when those widows tied that sash around me and stepped back to see my moves! There I stood, shaking my hips in a very non-African fashion, trying to have fun but secretly wishing either that the floor would open up and swallow me or that the heavens would open up and rapture me. Good Lord.) Of course, loving on the children comes easy and naturally for me, and I was willing to be flexible and helpful wherever needed and to be a team player, but I also hoped the Lord would give me an opportunity to contribute something special and particular to me as a member of the team.
Our team was comprised of such a diverse group of people--high school and college students, athletes, successful CEOs and businessmen, former teachers, an engineer, a CPA, a children’s minister--all uniquely gifted and having a heart to serve. It was a fantastic group of people and it was just amazing to see how, over the course of the trip, God opened doors for each person to draw upon their personal talents and experiences as they served. Wiphan's new data entry and typing program is the direct result of one Atlanta businessman's prayer to use his talents for kingdom purposes. And who would have guessed that, several days into the trip, lo and behold, Wiphan had some real estate law issues! At one campus, someone had erected a building on land that Wiphan believed it owned. At the other campus, there was concern that Wiphan might not have any legal right to use the “football pitch” (soccer field) enjoyed by the students. And in addition to that, as part of Wiphan’s partnership with TuliOne, they were interested in purchasing a plot within the compound for construction of a new TuliOne home. There was a need for someone to help Wiphan Zambia’s administrators navigate the various offices at the City Council building to determine what needed to be done to take care of these issues and assist with putting together an action plan to get everything done properly. How cool and exciting was that opportunity??? To me, VERY!!! So, with the understanding that I was NOT licensed to practice law in Zambia and would NOT be acting as Wiphan’s attorney (I wouldn’t be a lawyer if I didn’t include some disclaimers!), but that I may be able to assist in identifying issues and asking the right questions, on Thursday morning, I hopped in the car with two of Wiphan Zambia’s administrators and headed to the City Council building.
I learned so much that day! About gazetted and non-gazetted lands, title deeds and land cards, and how the government at any time might decide to “revisit the system” and change the rules. It was all so fascinating! I was the only non-Zambian at the Ndola City Council building that day. And one of the few women in the building as well. There were a number of women performing clerical-type work but only maybe one or two others (out of tens of people we saw) who actually appeared to be there “on business”. I didn’t want to stand out any more than I already was by whipping out my camera and taking pictures, but I REALLY wanted to get a few pictures, so I covertly snapped a few shots with my phone:
The Deed Registry Office:
I remember reading over the itinerary for the Wiphan trip and thinking “What am I going to do?” I don’t have experience as an educator or school administrator to draw upon in discussions with the teachers and staff, I don’t have experience in the fields for which the widows are being trained, I can’t physically evaluate the children and make recommendations for their various ailments (of which we saw many), and the Lord knows it’s going to be hard for me to help put on a program when I “H” public speaking and can’t sing or dance, though my lack of abilities in that area may have some value as entertainment (mercy, was I uncomfortable when those widows tied that sash around me and stepped back to see my moves! There I stood, shaking my hips in a very non-African fashion, trying to have fun but secretly wishing either that the floor would open up and swallow me or that the heavens would open up and rapture me. Good Lord.) Of course, loving on the children comes easy and naturally for me, and I was willing to be flexible and helpful wherever needed and to be a team player, but I also hoped the Lord would give me an opportunity to contribute something special and particular to me as a member of the team.
Our team was comprised of such a diverse group of people--high school and college students, athletes, successful CEOs and businessmen, former teachers, an engineer, a CPA, a children’s minister--all uniquely gifted and having a heart to serve. It was a fantastic group of people and it was just amazing to see how, over the course of the trip, God opened doors for each person to draw upon their personal talents and experiences as they served. Wiphan's new data entry and typing program is the direct result of one Atlanta businessman's prayer to use his talents for kingdom purposes. And who would have guessed that, several days into the trip, lo and behold, Wiphan had some real estate law issues! At one campus, someone had erected a building on land that Wiphan believed it owned. At the other campus, there was concern that Wiphan might not have any legal right to use the “football pitch” (soccer field) enjoyed by the students. And in addition to that, as part of Wiphan’s partnership with TuliOne, they were interested in purchasing a plot within the compound for construction of a new TuliOne home. There was a need for someone to help Wiphan Zambia’s administrators navigate the various offices at the City Council building to determine what needed to be done to take care of these issues and assist with putting together an action plan to get everything done properly. How cool and exciting was that opportunity??? To me, VERY!!! So, with the understanding that I was NOT licensed to practice law in Zambia and would NOT be acting as Wiphan’s attorney (I wouldn’t be a lawyer if I didn’t include some disclaimers!), but that I may be able to assist in identifying issues and asking the right questions, on Thursday morning, I hopped in the car with two of Wiphan Zambia’s administrators and headed to the City Council building.
I learned so much that day! About gazetted and non-gazetted lands, title deeds and land cards, and how the government at any time might decide to “revisit the system” and change the rules. It was all so fascinating! I was the only non-Zambian at the Ndola City Council building that day. And one of the few women in the building as well. There were a number of women performing clerical-type work but only maybe one or two others (out of tens of people we saw) who actually appeared to be there “on business”. I didn’t want to stand out any more than I already was by whipping out my camera and taking pictures, but I REALLY wanted to get a few pictures, so I covertly snapped a few shots with my phone:
The Deed Registry Office:
Sample new and improved form of Land Card following Ndola’s recent “revisiting” of the system: 
Sample Certificate of Title:
"CCR"s:
Ndola's "Public Records":
On the desk of the man who told us that an application for title deed of gazetted government land (the “soccer pitch”) would take “about 3 months” to process (the stack of papers was about 3 inches higher than what I could fit in the photo; judging by the fading and the fraying of the edges, some of those files had been there for quite some time!):
3 months from what point in the stack? Gotta love “Africa time”!
There were no lines, appointments, or computers. I did see some old-school typewriters and people using carbon to make copies. There were papers and files all over the place (I have to add that, just this week, my teammate Kristin--who will be in Zambia through December--accompanied one of the Wiphan Zambia administrators back to City Council to follow up on some of the issues we looked into. They asked him if he could remember where HE last saw the Wiphan file to help them locate it!)
It’s been almost 2 months now and I am happy to report that progress is being made on the action plan! A plot of land has been purchased near the Sinia campus and construction of a brand new TuliOne home is underway! When complete, TuliOne will employ a widow and pay her to live in the home and care for 4-5 of Wiphan’s orphans that otherwise would be on the streets. Click HERE to learn more about TuliOne. And click HERE to visit the blog of my teammate Kristin. You can follow the construction of the TuliOne home HERE.
I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to help Wiphan’s administrators answer some questions and to play a small part in making some of Wiphan’s visions a reality. I don’t want this journal entry to seem like I’m tooting my horn, because my role really was a small one. But to me, the fact that there were some real estate issues was a little “God wink”– a reassurance that I’m on the right track and that He sees my heart. I don’t know why God hasn’t called me to be a stay-at-home mom or to move to Africa or to run a charity. Maybe one day He will. Those things would be right up my alley and they would surely be a part of MY plan. But maybe HIS plan involves me having a long career as an attorney, and for me to spend many crazy years as a working mom (Lord, help me!). All I know is that I am certain that for now, I am where He wants me to be. And as far as the future is concerned, knowing that "God doesn't call the equipped, but equips those He calls" gives me a sense of peace that He will take care of the details required to manifest His plans for my life. It’s not my job to know what the future holds, but to walk with Him each day, to be joyful where I’m at, and to give my all in everything I do. And though I know all this, it's good to be reminded every now and then to trust in the Lord and in His timing and to believe that His plan for me is bigger and better than—and probably looks nothing like—anything I could plan for myself. And I thank God for giving me that reminder in Zambia.
loved this post and how God affirmed your role in His kingdom work :-) haley
ReplyDeleteI love that God sent a lawyer to complete His mission here! Thank you for being tender to his call!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Mrs. B. I appreciate your self depracting humor and the insight into local governance in Zambia. The photos you snuck are facinating really. Interesting the contracts are in English! Gives me chills to read that a need so specific to you and your gifts came up on your trip. What an affirmation. What does it take to get licensed in Zambia?!
ReplyDelete