NEW LITTLE LIFE

The tiredness is all consuming. I can hardly keep my eyes open. The mornings which used to be invigorating and awe inspiring (with coffee of course) are now foggy and the evenings are hard to even get through. Outside at 2am, I wonder if I will stay awake as I sit at the picnic table so I can bring myself and the puppy back inside, after he gets done playing with that leaf of course. The howling all night is ear piercing and I am absolutely exhausted but as we are now in day 8 of the new puppy, I will say this…I am still alive. Tired but alive. Mylanta, a new little life is exhausting to watch over. New little puppies are fragile and susceptible to all kinds of dangers inside and out. You just wish they knew their crate was going to be their friend, electrical cords are bad, and that they didn’t have to worry if you were coming back to get them, but they do not know these things yet. 

This is also how it can be with a new baby believer. In the fragile lives of some of the women we minister to, their new faith is susceptible to all kinds of dangers that prowl around them. Fears of the unknown, concerns if God will really provide, a faith that is growing but not grown, and an enemy who wants them back. We worry they will listen to something false, or be tempted to believe God can’t love them. One step forward, two steps back. The struggle is real and it is real in the lives of these women who have professed new faith in Jesus. This is not an easy ministry. We must have the persistence, patience, prayer, and sometimes tough love with these women but it is all worth it because Jesus is the perfecter of their faith. God is in control and the Holy Spirit will guide and direct.  I can point these women in the right direction, steer them to the right path, the path toward Jesus, in which I know they are in good hands. 

Please pray for many of the women we minister to that have given their lives to Jesus over the past few weeks. Some of them will be making the trip back to where they are from out East soon and we will have to believe they are trained up and ready to be released. Not so true with our new little Milo yet;)

NEW LITTLE MILO

FRUIT

Upon arrival to our new house in Zambia, the realization that we are blessed to have multiple fruit trees in our yard was such a surprise! Lime, lemon, guava, papaya, bananas, oranges, avocados, and plantains are growing in our yard. As I was looking out at the lime tree I thought, these fruit trees in our yard that are all fully grown and producing fruit were planted and pruned by others who lived here before us. Other missionaries who had a vision for what now graces the yard, others that labored to bring over saplings, plant and water the trees, and pruned them to grow properly. It took time, effort, and money. It took love, patience, and faith. It took God bringing rain and sun. 

It is the same in ministry. Even though, we have been going back and forth here for years, it now seems like we are just beginning in ministry. We need to remember the truth of the fruit trees in our yard. We might be the ones just digging the soil to plant, we might plant a seed, we might be able to water it, or see it grow, but it is God who saves and does His mighty work. And just like the trees in our yard, the hard work and faith in God proves true in the fruit.  

We pray as we follow God into ministry here full-time that He would go before us into the field and that we would do whatever job He has for us. Whether that is to cast vision, dig up the soil, plant, water, or be a part of the harvest. We must be willing to see the harvest even when the field is barren and blank, just like those who saw a empty yard and labored to give us the harvest of the fruit trees I see as I look out my window of where I now call home. 

Matthew 9:37, 38-“The he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the LORD OF THE HARVEST therefore, to send out workers into HIS harvest field.’” (italics mine)

MY VERSE FOR THE YEAR

Every year I ask God to guide me to a verse I need to focus on for the year. As I anticipate what life will be like in Zambia, I realize I must keep my eyes on God. It is not going to be the same as only being there for 2 weeks, 3 weeks or a month. In my quiet time with God this month, He led me to this verse. My verse for the year. 

Colossians 3:1- “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” 

There we go. Christ is supreme and is raised and is sitting at the right hand of God. That is where my heart and mind must be set. That truth alone should be enough to keep me focused. Focused on Jesus. On not only my Savior but Lord. On the One who created heaven and earth and is sovereign and holy. On the One who chose to raise me from death to life. The One who brought me from darkness to light. The One who has hidden my life in His. This is profound. 

So, when we are stranded on the road because an axle broke on our car, or the water isn’t running, or a dust storm whipped buckets of Zambian red dirt into my house, or a snake has bitten one of our animals (or one of us), or a girl in our community is abused, or I am robbed (or worse), or one of my precious friends in Chibolya loses a baby, or our ministry team is struggling, or there are set-backs in a project that was moving forward, I will keep my heart and my mind set on Jesus. And I will remember that my life, which is His to begin with, is fully known and acknowledged in the very life He lived on earth and does live now at the right hand of God. It is safe and secure. He knows it all and wants my response to be to be Christlike, because I have set my heart and mind on things above and I know where my life is tucked away. Therefore, I can not set my mind on earthly things. I must die to those thoughts and the desires that breed from even one stray moment. 

Lord, In this, we need You, Your Holy Spirit to take over and empower us to make right choices for right living, through right thinking, as we pursue a life hidden in you! Hidden so only You, Lord are visible, not me.

MY WORD FOR THE SEASON...

The Christmas Season has caused me for many years to stop and reflect on a word God gives me. A word that has some specific meaning or something God wants me to know about Himself or about what He is doing in my life. Over the years God has given me words like, sacrifice, Light, reveal, renew, rejoice, and surrender. Words that challenge me and move me closer to Jesus. This year again comes a word, a word that reflects what we believe. 

It is word that actually has been following me around for a while now. It is a word I find myself speaking in conversations and in my prayers. It is a word I speak to myself on dark days, and one I challenge others with. It is a word that really represents our theology about God. 

There is such upheaval in the lives of so many today, in people’s personal lives, in marriages, extended families, in communities, and the world. Pain? Financial hardship? Loss? Trials? Job difficulties? Prodigal children? Aging parents? Health problems? Relational hurts? Jesus is ENOUGH. He is ENOUGH because He is all we need. John 16:33-“I have told you these things, so that IN ME you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Over the years we have experienced many trials, heartaches, and hardships. As God has enabled us to have the faith to continue on the journey and as we have chosen to stand with Him, we have come to find this one thing to be true in all circumstances, all the pain, all the unknown, and all the tears-that Christ is ENOUGH. 

In our American existence, we are not privy to the extent of suffering, trials, and persecution others around the world face and those who have walked before us in Christian history have experienced. I try and remember this reality often as I thank God for testing me in another crisis so I can continue to say, Christ is ENOUGH for me. Will I ever experience true persecution? I don’t know, but my prayer is if it happens, with the help of the Spirit, Christ is ENOUGH. If Jesus is not ENOUGH for me in the regular trials of life here in the States, then He will not be ENOUGH overseas or when persecution does come. 

There is a final chapter to history and in the meantime we are to point those around us, despite our circumstances, to the only One that matters, Jesus. Who came to earth and walked among us…Immanuel, God with us!  That is ENOUGH for me. May Christ’s ENOUGH-NESS be the present you accept and unwrap this Christmas. 

https://youtu.be/teUxQpnhezY

A LOST SHEEP NO LONGER...

Florence, Angela, Noriah, and I

It was one of those nights out on the eerily dark streets and bars of Chongwe. My partner on the ground, Noriah and I were bewildered at how “quiet” it was. We had talked to a few people and stopped on the dimly light stoop of one of our usual bar’s and wondered what God wanted us to do. Were we to call it a night? I asked the Holy Spirit to guide us. I felt we were to go down the road toward the truckers. So we did. As we walked, we saw a lone woman obviously waiting for a customer standing out in the middle of a dirt parking lot; we went to talk to her. 

Once again, all of the time, effort, and cost to be there at that moment reveals itself in a woman named Angela. She was from a far away village, now living in Chongwe so she could “work.” Her lipstick fresh, it was clear she was prepared for a night of men using her as she pulled out multiple condoms from her bra. We prayed for her and invited her to church on Sunday. 

On the corner of the intersection Sunday at 10:15am there she stood, ready to be picked up for church. I was truly amazed. Angela went with Agness to the youth service and then came into church. Afterward it was clear something was different. Tears streamed from her eyes. The sermon was clearly for her that day. A life transformed. The tears were a mix of joy, peace, and the knowledge that everything she had done was laid bare in front of the only One who could make it all right. She was overwhelmed. The tears did not stop through lunch, pictures, more talking, hugs, communication with Florence who would now come along side her, and the drive home. It was beautiful. Then she came to church the next Sunday and I was able to give her a Nyanja Bible. God is amazing. 

All of you who pray for us and support us were apart of Angela’s transformed life. Angela gave me permission to share her story with you all. It will only be in heaven that we all will know the full extent of the lives that will be touched through her and her story. Thank you…

Independence Day

Today is Zambia’s 53rd year of Independence. A special day to be sure.  Zambia is so young, yet so firm in it’s identity. Zambia is fiercely nationalistic and loves it’s football but for many there is a deeper yearning for more. More for this country that holds my heart and breaks it all at the same time. More for this country where dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, partners in ministry, and my loving oldest daughter live. More for this place that has so much to give and yet struggles to overcome the poverty and darkness that seem to overtake so many on a daily basis. 

Coming off a big week in Zambia with the National Day of Prayer just last Wednesday and now today the Day of Independence, I know we share the hearts of many of our friends in Zambia as we pray for this country to be open to what God wants for it. My brother in Christ and ministry partner, Pastor Luke B, shares in a Facebook post a prayer that I would like to share-

“We continue to declare an open heaven over Zambia. May your glory God rise upon this nation and let all our enemies be confounded and put to shame in the name of Jesus. We pray for a release of wisdom, foresight, knowledge and understanding, a release of courage and confidence to our political leaders. We declare the government of the Lord Jesus Christ and his kingdom to increase upon this nation. We speak the spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness. May God establish this nation.”—Pastor Luke Buleya. 

My heart wrestles in prayer for Zambia in the same way. It is not by accident that God is battling over this place to rid it of it’s past demonic darkness and the sins of man today. The spiritual battle is raging and I believe for an important reason. Zambia is ripe for harvest. It is ready to receive the wisdom and understanding of God, but it will take people to get in the trenches with those like Pastor Luke and us. Those who will fight against the mixing of religions, the tribal and traditional witchcraft practices that mingle with going to church on Sunday. Those that will fight against the poverty and lack of medical care that rules people’s lives and the abuse and violence against women in marriages, families, and communities. The lack of trained pastors and a false sense of salvation from a nationalistic standpoint keeps many deceivingly comfortable. Fighting against the mass influx of the prosperity gospel from the North, which is at an all time high, is a full time job as well. 

There are seven countries that boarder Zambia and I believe God is fighting for more than just Zambia. It is for the bigger picture, the impact Zambia could have on the surrounding countries in terms of physical, emotional and spiritual needs. The word I hear for Zambia is REFUGE. And Zambia could be a refuge, in terms of food production, care of displaced people’s, and the spiritual teaching and guidance it could give to those who would come to this country of peace. But it must rise above where it finds itself at this moment in history. And this is why we must battle on to bring the Kingdom of God against the kingdom of darkness. We can join God where He is working, where we see the battle being fought. God is moving around the world and it is so exciting to think that God might be setting up a nation like Zambia, to be a light in the middle of Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Join us in prayer for Zambia and what God is not only doing throughout the country but in the village town of Chognwe and in the community of Chibolya. 

WONDER

The miles wore on as we neared the end of our trip out West. I tried to stretch a little still bound in my seat and though tired of driving, a smile spread across my face. A childish smile I have been more aware of wanting. It comes when we see God in new things, things He has created and given us to enjoy. His creation, His beauty and the vastness of His diversity in this world is utterly amazing. I feel concerned that we do not have a sense of wonder about God and all that He has created and is doing and is holding together as we go about our lives. 

Though curiosity may have killed the cat, I believe curiosity and having a sense of wonder is essential to our spiritual walk. To my surprise, I am not the only one pondering these things. The next morning after returning home, I opened my email and a blog I subscribe to for missionary women, touched on this exact concept. Confirming that this is not superficial or unimportant for those in ministry or otherwise. The author shares a quote from Andy Stanley which states, ”Everything in life conspires against our sense of wonder: age, experience, our jobs, even our church.” Let’s look at what is sucking the life out of our wonder and curiosity and then let’s do something about it.

We must look up and out, beyond our computer screens, beyond our houses, our neighborhoods, our cities, and yes, beyond our own countries. This is because God is out there! Being awestruck by a waterfall in Zambia or by a mountain in Wyoming is giving glory to God for what He has made. Even being a little scared as we drove up and over a mountain in the dense fog was, I have to admit, I little exhilarating. Stopping to see a rushing river cutting through a mountain cavern and giving God glory for his handiwork shakes the spiritual realm. That my friends, is the result of our wonder….worship of God, the creator of all things. Let us never lose our wonder that we may worship!