Janice Bingham – affectionately known as Ba Janice by HIZ students – has been affiliated with the HIZ program since its inception in 2007. Herstatus is legendary among past HIZ groups, and even more so among thepeople at Namwianga Mission. I got the opportunity to sit down withher and grill her with some basic questions about her history with themission and the program.
Ba Janice’s personal history is a lengthy one and a good one, filledwith incredible stories of her extensive mission experiences in
Africa.”The first time I came to Africa, certainly I was very muchlike a HIZ student as far as having it change my heart and my life,”she said.
From that first experience onward, Ba Janice has accumulateddecades of service as a medical missionary. All of that experiencecombined with a long-lasting, fiery passion for missions fueled BaJanice to volunteer for the role as one of the first leaders of theHIZ program.
“They wanted someone medical, and I love missions, so Ikind of volunteered,” she said.
And she hasn’t looked back since. Every fall semester for the lastnine years, Ba Janice has blessed “HIZzers” and Zambians alike withher presence in Namwianga. I don’t mean to make her out like she’s asaint, but she’s pretty darn close. Countless lives have been affectedbecause of her influence at HIZ alone, be it at the Namwianga clinic,in the classroom or at the dinner table. As a result, Ba Janice hasgrown into her position at Namwianga, and established eternalfriendships along the way.
“Obviously any time you come for that longyou develop a good relationship with the people here. A lot of thenurses and people at the clinic I’ve gotten really close to because ofworking with them. Obviously with Maegan, through the Haven. Shealmost always has children that are sick,” she said.
Ba Janice failed to mention how much she loves her students, particularly this humble author, but we’ll allow her a misstep or two.But Ba Janice isn’t in this business for herself.
“I think my favorite part is seeing the difference it makes in students’ lives, I really see that happening,” she said. “You leave the states as one person and you come back a different one. Seeing that change in students kind of keeps me dragging this tired, old body over and over back to the missionfield.”
That change isn’t only applicable to us; Ba Janice has experienced her own growth because of her involvement in HIZ.
“I learn something new every year, as far as learning from the African people, such as their idea about relationship and how important that is,” she said. “I learned more about relationships more than I do at home, because we don’t really emphasize that much at home. It’s changed me in many different ways, even my view of God. I’ve seen God work in a really personal way, I’ve seen people get well when I knew it wasn’t what I did that made them get well.”
But Ba Janice, just like the rest of us, is only getting older, andthis could potentially be her last season with HIZ. She’s brimmingwith countless advice and stories, but her advice to future HIZstudents and leaders (and really anyone in missions) was simple butnecessary.
“As far as advice, I think you should just learn as much asyou can about the culture and really be fully involved,” she said. “Everyday you should wake up and think, ‘Man, we’re in Africa, wow! Let’s experiencethis.’ Build that relationship with the people you’ll be working with.Love them and they’ll love you right back. Just enjoy theexperience. There’s so many things to learn, so many experiences tohave. It’s kind of boundless out there.”
If I had to describe Ba Janice with one word, I would refuse anddemand more. But one I might consider would certainly be boundless.Politely put, she’s at an age ripe with experience and wisdom. Sheneeds only to be asked, and all of her stories and advice would beaccessible. Ba Janice is a cornerstone of the entire HIZ program, anda gem in a pool of pebbles.
