From the "Ouachitonian": Able Kusaloka
April 19, 2021
- Madison CresswellPreviously published in the 2020 Ouachitonian yearbook
Growing up in Zambia, Able Kusaloka, a sophomore business administration major from Garneton, Zambia, never could have imagined leaving his home and one day returning to serve the community that served him his entire life.
When Kusaloka was 15, a group of missionaries came to Zambia and lived within his community for 10 months. “They always loved on me, but I was surprised when they asked me to come back with them to the U.S.,” said Kusaloka. “I honestly didn’t really want to come because I didn’t know what it was going to be like.”
He moved to the United States when he was 16 and began his junior year of high school. “After I graduated, I wanted to go back home, but I guess God had some different plans,” said Kusaloka. “We prayed about me going to college possibly at Clemson, then God brings in OBU and for some reason I am here.”
Over the summer, Kusaloka had a student ministry internship with First Baptist McKinney in McKinney, Texas. He worked with teenagers at camp, taught Bible studies and attended mission trips in Oklahoma and Zambia.
“It was different going back to Zambia because normally when I go, I am there for my family and friends, but this time I was on a mission,” said Kusaloka. “So many people from the community recognized me and knew my family, so they wanted to learn more about God and what we were doing.”
“Sometimes I still struggle with wondering what I’m doing in the United States, but opportunities like this show me exactly why God has me where I am now,” added Kusaloka.
Kusaloka hopes to return to Zambia one day permanently to continue helping people improve their lives physically and spiritually.
Photo by Justin Trostle
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