What's Goin' On

Here I am in Lusaka, Zambia...who knew. Well, I guess if your reading this you probably did or just found out. So here is the scoop. I got here February 13th, 2007 and am here for one year. You may have deducted from that statement that I will be leaving in February 2008...if so, you are correct. If not, you may want to brush up on your calendar skills...but who am I to judge.

Anyway, I live in Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. I work with an organization called Action Zambia which is a faith-based organization that works with urban, indigenous churches. I have come to work with youth here in Zambia. This involves working with the youth programs in the local churches, helping develop youth programs and train leaders, and mentor/disciple the youth.

I live on a farm owned by Action Zambia in a more rural part of town. I live in a hut. Yes, a I live in a hut in Africa. It's quite "swank," as the young people say. The area, called Kasupe, has many children and youth and we have constructed a football (soccer) field and a netball field (a sport the girls play here). I have started playing netball with the girls and hope to develop a sports ministry here. As well on Saturday's I am involved in running a Bible Club for the younger kids.

Zambia is a country that has been hit hard by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Action Zambia has an HIV/AIDS ministry called the CROSS project (CROSS standing for Churches Ready to Overcome Silence and Stigma) and we are hoping to develop a youth curriculum for this project this year.

Another passion of mine is music. I have brought my guitar (and promptly dropped it within the first week...but there was minimal damage) and help lead worship for our team as well as with the church I am attending. I am also hoping to do some music education as well. I also have brought my recording equipment to record some of the local music.

Ulitimately, I am here because of the hope I have found in Christ and am here that He may use me to bring this hope to the people of Zambia.

So that's what I'm doing here in a nutshell...well, actually I am not in a nutshell, I am in a hut...but you get the picture.

W5

Who: Shannon Storey with ACTION Zambia, a branch of Action International Ministries

What: Working with youth in local churches, streetkids, and recording the local music.

When: Leaving January 2oo7 for one year

Where: Lusaka, Zambia (the capital city)

Why: To follow the call of God, bring glory to His kingdom and His hope to the people of Zambia.

Music

I have always been fascinated with recording music. As a small child I would sit in front of our old cassette deck and record onto tape for hours. In 2004 I took my first digital recording class at TWU with my digital recording Guru, Jef Gibbons from Blueshift Productions. I began to acquire my own home studio little by little. I have since taken my set up to Zambia, Africa, where lived for one year, in an attempt to record some of the vernacular music of the Zambian culture.

Here are some of the first songs I have written and recorded over the past few years:
Tonight We Come -- Christmas 2006
Were You There? -- Recorded with Ruth Langton (Vocals, Piano), Andy Langton (guitar), Shannon Storey (Vocals, Bass, production and arrangement)

Instrumental
Beginning
Belong
Come Along
Chemical Spring
Here

Who Am I?

I just graduated from TWU where I studied music and biblical studies. I am hoping to go to Zambia for 1-2 years to work with youth. I am a member of the Bakerview church family and love hanging out with the youth and being part of the worship ministry. Serving God in Africa has been on my heart for a long time. After a one month trip to Zambia in May '04 I am excited about the chance to return for a longer time. While there I hope to work with youth and local churches as well as take my portable recording studio set up there to record Zambian worship music.

I play the guitar, bass, and dabble in the harmonica. I once touched oprah and now like to tell everyone I meet about it! (She had dry hands).
I like guacamole and don't care for pickles or mustard.