change of plans Sophomore Chloe Anderson's plans to study abroad in Zambia were interrupted by a medical condition. AAsa freshman, French major Chloe Anderson prepared to begin her sophomore year at the Harding in Zambia (HIZ) program to determine if she would pursue medical missions long term. However, a few months before she was set to leave, a medical report indicated she had a herniated disc in her spine, requiring surgery. While sitting in the doctor's office, Anderson said she immediately knew studying abroad was no longer an option. "If I had gone to Zambia and had some sort of accident, then I. would have to have had surgery within three days, and if you have surgery in Zambia, then there is a good chance that you don't come back home," Anderson said. Instead of studying abroad in fall 2019, Anderson stayed home to recover from her operation, but she kept in touch with her friends in Zambia and sent words of encouragement. Senior Cailin Chenault, who attended HIZ in fall 2019, said she kept Anderson in the back of her mind every day as she worked in Zambia. "I think that she would have thrived in this atmosphere because Chloe is a person who pours herself into other people and is just very generous with her spirit, and that's very much the nature of this program," Chenault said. Sophomore Maddy Hall, Anderson's friend, said she remembered the day Anderson told her she wanted to study abroad at the HIZ program. "I felt that it was a very spirit-led decision and that her desire to go to HIZ was out of the belief that she could serve God well there," Hall said. When Anderson learned she could not serve in Zambia, she said she was disappointed because she longed for the opportunity to depend on God and grow spiritually by serving others. "I have a huge passion for wanting to help people, and I thought that [Zambia] would have been a beautiful opportunity for me to help others in a place outside of my comfort zone," Anderson said. Anderson used her recovery to seek God in her own life and to minister to both friends from her hometown and at school. Chenault said she believed God fulfilled Anderson's desire to grow spiritually and serve others by keeping her home. "Knowing Chloe, knowing her heart for people and knowing the humble way she carries her heart, I have no doubt that her impact is not limited by being at home but magnified because she is so dependent on the Lord," Chenault said. "She is making an impact, just not here [in Zambia]." As for studying abroad in the future, Anderson said she was unsure if she would be able to travel to Zambia because of her degree plan but remained hopeful for a future opportunity. "I don't know what the future holds, but I do know that God can use me anywhere," Anderson said. story by Caroline Lea people 159
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