Zulu, Evelyn Olivia Zulu
Evelyn Olivia Zulu is an international Global Mission Fellow with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, engaged in a two-year term of service.
The Global Mission Fellows program takes young adults ages 20-30 out of their home environments and places them in new contexts for mission experience and service. The program has a strong emphasis on faith and justice. Global Mission Fellows become active parts of their new local communities. They connect the church in mission across cultural and geographical boundaries. They grow in personal and social holiness and become strong young leaders working to build just communities in a peaceful world.
A lay member of Pilgrim Wesleyan Church in Lusaka, Zambia, Olivia is a member of the youth group. She earned a diploma/certificate in registered nursing.
Born and raised in a Christian family, Olivia established a personal relationship with God at a tender age. She gave her life to Christ and was baptized.
“My personal experience in spiritual growth has been to trust God,” Olivia said, “and this trust has directed my spiritual life. I read my Bible regularly, and this helps me to learn more about God, grow in my faith and find guidance. Prayer has served as a vital tool for my spiritual growth, as it acts as a direct line of communication with God. Prayer also has helped me grow spiritually as it allows me to seek guidance, deepen my relationship with God and activate a more mature faith through consistent introspection and alignment with God’s will.”
Pastors, deacons and Olivia’s Christian siblings play a crucial role in her personal spiritual growth by offering encouragement and praying with her. Pastors provide guidance, teach biblical principles, facilitate community, and are available for counseling or support. They also help her to apply Scripture to her daily life and deepen her belief in God.
Olivia’s call to mission is an act of obedience to God’s command to spread the gospel. “It is also my mandate as a Christian to use my gifts and talents God has given me to serve others and make a meaningful impact,” she said. “My passion is to help others experience the transformative power of faith that I have experienced.”
Inspired by Global Mission Fellows she as met in Zambia, like Henry James Kebbie, Albarka Wakili and Albina Paidamoyo Gunduza, Olivia is especially interested in providing health care to the vulnerable.
“I want to reach out to the less privileged and help them in any way I can, both spiritually and socially,” she said. “The program will help me learn about diverse cultural beliefs and traditions that are totally different from mine. This will also give me an opportunity to impart the knowledge I have to the people I meet.”
She especially wants to help people who struggle with social problems such as gender justice, alcohol abuse, early marriage and AIDS.
Olivia listed other reasons she feels positive about Global Mission Fellows. She anticipates that being away from family and friends will draw her closer to God. She will learn to handle new situations because she will experience different cultural norms and traditional beliefs. Living in a country unlike her own, she will become equipped to live in a different environment among different people.
“I understand myself to be a person who is genuine, empathetic and spiritually rooted with values and principles to which I adhere,” Olivia said. “I have set a boundary line in my life of spiritual, social and economic values that define me today. I have a unique strength of being a good listener, empathetic and a problem solver for the marginalized in society.”
Olivia’s training in health and psychosocial counseling will enable her to perform HIV counseling and testing, help people with stress management, assist the bereaved, reach out to people living with sexually transmitted diseases, administer immunizations, and treat people with diabetes, hypertension, cancer and infertility.
“My education,” she said, “will be put into action by sharing my expertise with the community. I have learned how to [serve] people from different walks of life. I am patient enough to listen to people’s social issues and try my best to solve their problems. Having volunteered to work as a nurse in a level-one hospital, I conducted regular blood pressure checks and provided lifestyle counseling. Administering vaccines and promoting immunization awareness is another skill.”