72FALL INTERNATIONAL IN HIZ HANDS Harding University in Zambia and Greece come together for five weeks when travel restrictions occur in Zambia. HARDING UNIVERSITY IN ZAMBIA (HIZ) changed its program in fall 2021 in order to adapt to the ever-changing COVID-19 restrictions, expanding the program to include Greece and Egypt. Travel restrictions in Zambia and operation restrictions at the Namwianga Mission, the location where students usually stayed, prevented the group from traveling in Zambia for the full semester in 2021, as was originally planned. In order to give the students a full semester abroad, the international programs office added Greece and Egypt to the HIZ travel itinerary. “This became a frustration for our group at times because it was not what we initially signed up for,” senior Trevor Holt said. “In hindsight, the experience and relationship-building that we didn’t get to have as much as we would’ve liked in Zambia was accounted for with the great connections we made with those in Greece.” The HIZ program joined the students studying at Harding University in Greece (HUG) for about five weeks, with two weeks at the beginning of the trip and three weeks at the end of their travels. Students not only experienced the many historical sites of the country, but they also worked with Hellenistic Ministries, an organization helping with homelessness and refugee missions. “That was one of my favorite experiences from the whole trip,” sophomore Hallie Davis said. “[We] got to sit down with some Afghani and Irani men, and they told us about their journey from their countries and their walk with faith. It was truly amazing to hear their stories and get to share our own.” Though their time was limited, the group spent four weeks in Zambia, where they experienced the daily lives of local families, volunteered at the local schools, and hospitals, and explored natural wonders. “The most memorable experience was spending several days with a family in Zambia,” sophomore Destiny Hendrix said. “We got to see how they worked, how they cooked and how they followed God. It was beautiful meeting these people who gave us so much of themselves.” In addition to their travels in Zambia and Greece, the HIZ program visited Egypt for about two weeks, a permanent addition to the program’s travels. After Egypt, HIZ rejoined the HUG group for the final three weeks of their semester abroad. Despite the major changes the HIZ program underwent, students continued to encourage others to participate in the experience. “Do it,” Hendrix said. “If it seems that God is calling you there, do it. If it seems scary, do it. You will go to Zambia expecting so much, and much more than you could ever imagine will be given to you.” WRITTEN BY GRACE HURT
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