I'm writing this after what was one of the craziest days in my life.
In many ways it probably was one of the most busiest days in Linda
Compound. Light of Hope held its first ever open house. While I'm sure
God used this day for immense amount of ways (more about that later)
it was probably one of the greatest logistical nightmares of all time.
The open house consisted of an intense popcorn eating contest, a
dancing competition, quiz competitions, as well as nutrition and
health demonstrations.
We started off from town at around 8:00 so we could get to Linda by
9:30 to help facilitate the open house. What we found was over 200 to
300 people gathered around LOH prepared for the open house. Outside
Modreta and Warren, two of the soccer players traded off on the mega
phone pumping up the crowd. It was unreal. In our time at Linda, aside
from maybe the growth monitoring during child health week, there was
never anything like it.
The first 100 individuals were promised an undisclosed prize. We
decided that this prize would be either a bible for 5 to 6 months
rental from the LOH bible library that Lord willing we will be
starting this week, or one free article of clothing.
After a brief demonstration on the morning a leaf (a special leaf that
is known to cure over 100 diseases in the continents of Africa, Asia
and South America combined), the Aqua Clara Water Filter and the ISSB,
we proceeded to the local community schools for the clothing sales as
well as other programs. The prize winners soon became restless
however, which led to some mass confusion. I found myself the one who
was supposed to collect the slips and mark down what each individual
desired. The single filed line turned into a mob of people all
shouting and shoving to get to me in the center so I could write their
# down. I suppose when something is free, people will do anything to
get at it.
Clothing from the sales also went missing, as some caregivers who were
selling became incredibly overhwhelemd with too many customers. Bianca
and I did our best to work with the staff to calm the crowds down, but
to very little avail.
By around 13:00, the lord gave me the opportunity to preach to a crowd
of about 70 to 80 individuals. With much of the crowd being of the
younger age. I gave a very short message, the Lord however pried at me
share the message of salvation. While nearly 90% of the crowd raised
their hand stating they had accepted Christ, I wasn't so sure how
genuine it was as many children simply were looking around to see who
else would raise their hands.
However it was happened next that blew me a way. After the prayer, a 6
year old girl came up to me asking me to pray for her headache. After
I prayed for her she became lively again, seeing this happen, many of
the children rushed over asking to be prayed for. Soon, children
weren't just asking to be healed for their sicknesses, adults and
children alike asked for things in their lives, sins that they
struggled with, evil desires. Many of them understood their struggle
with sin.
This conversation with the young boys was truly incredible. Many of them truly understood they were sinners, but many of them also understood that it was only by the grace of God that they could stop sinning and spend eternity with them. While the days events were tough to say the least, those 15 minutes in that quiet classroom as the dancing competition went on outside made it all worth it. I'm willing to get mobbed by another 300 Zambians in the hot sun just to lead one more of those genuine young children to Christ. Their true humbleness really put Matthew 18:4 in a whole new light.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
June 24
I'm writing this in an internet cafe after what has seemed to be
another long day of many this last week. Time seems to have it's own
life. To recount this weeks home visits, bible purchases, clothing
purchases, and everything else would take hours to sort through. I've
kept notes in my notebook, but the days seem to blend together.
It's hard to believe that I'll be leaving this country in about 10
days, and yet those 10 days seem quite far away due to some of the
upcoming events.
We moved out of Light of Hope and into town yesterday. We're staying
at a mini backpackers hostel just oustide of town in terms of
convinience for Bianca to apply to medical school and for the
networking that the Lord will be allowing me to do the next few days.
It felt really strange because while it wasn't necessarily good bye
as we will be returning farily soon, coming into the town hostel has
been a strange adaptation for me. It feels strange to have the
opportunity to take a shower again, as the bathing water has been only
provided perhaps once a week in Linda. I was brushing my teeth and was
surprised to not have Jospeh's dog attack me as he didn't recognize
the smell of my toothpaste. I haven't looked at a clean mirror for
weeks. It's the strange inconvencies that I somehow miss which seems
quite strange. The hot water in the shower just doesn't seem right,
I'm sure I'll be looking for a bucket when I walk into the shower
tonight as well. I miss being woken up by Joseph deciding to turn up
the radio to full volume at 6 in the morning, and smashing into the
mud hut wall some nights. (I suppose the one thing I won't miss is
the latrine... enough said there)
But most of all I miss the people. The people of Linda taught me how
to smile when nothing was right. I even miss the little kids that
never get tired of yelling how are you and squealing as they run away
when you say fine. I miss the drunk man that i prayed for that one
night in the ditch, or even Harry, the mentally ill man who never
stops talking gibberish in english. I miss the cabbage lady who
accepted christ recently and always has a smile on her face even if
her children can't go to school and will be kicked out of her home
soon for rent, and she continues to praise god. while I obviously will
miss football players like Nicholas and Amon who spend hours upon
hours working with me on the water filter and Light of Hope business,
I even miss Kapaya. (his name means killer). The speed demon with a
smile that he's missing one tooth. As I prayed with the players one
last time as the sun set at training on Wednesday, a tear came down my
cheek as I prayed for each player, most players were acting tough
about it, but some just let the salt water flow from their eyes.
The one lady I for sure won't forget is Liz (name was changed), a lady
who brought her daughter with a tumor growing on her face. She had
heard of how the Lord had through my prayers made people feel better,
and even heal some people's sickness. She claimed I had made someone
who was haunted with bad dreams for years stop as well ( I had no idea
that this had happened, It's only by god's intervnetion). She came
asking for me to heal her daughter's tumor. Afraid she thought I was
some sort of prophet, I hesitated, for a few seconds. Sensing this
she yelled, Our God DOES NOT fail! Taken aback and after a few minutes
of discussion,she fully described to me how she didn't want a healing,
she wanted God's will. And she had faith that his will would be done,
she simply was led to bring her daughter to me. I felt led by the
spirit to pray for her daughter 3 times. While it would make a good
story that the tumor disappeared, I must say that the Lord's will that
day was not for the tumor to be healed, but Liz did not doubt, but
merely said that it was the Lord's will and she praised God even more
than before. I'm not sure if I had ever met someone with more true
faith than her.
While I am returning to Linda a couple more times for a few more
outreaches, things just won't seem the same.
This Saturday (tomorrow) Light of Hope will be hosting it's first ever
open house for the community. we will be selling used clothing staring
at 500 Kwacha ( approximately 10 cents).Based off this recent clothing
pruchasing program we project that the profit will allow us to
purchase additional clothing, but in addition allow us to give 20%
away to the vulnerable. At this rate of selling with our low prices,
we expect to be able to clothe over 150 people for free by the end of
next week.
The open house will also have an eating competition, dancing
competition, and even a quiz competition featuring "Are you smarter
than an American". (Bianca will compete against local Zambians on
American Education, should be interesting). Aside from the
community getting the opp. to learn about water purification, and
health issues, LOH has given me one last opportunity to preach
tomorrow morning. Please pray that the Lord gives me the words to
speak,and for their disclepleship training in the future. (We are
currently looking into purchasing bibles)
This next week I will also be visiting Africa's Child in Colomo (
sorry spelling is probably wrong), a ministry that is supported by
Engedi Church. I will also be visiting two ministries in Livingstone
that are connected to Light of Hope, one called Hopefiled Ministries.
A Zambian started ministries where a builder basically decided to take
in about 15 children in the community voluntarily and tries to teach
them carpentary in order to feed them.
Next Wednesday, we will also be sitting down with area clinics in
Linda that haven't worked well with LOH in the past, or didn't know
that each other existed. this is a point I feel God has really shouted
in my ear to do this past week, is to connect the body of Christ (1st
Corhintians 15 I think, right before the love chapter.)
We finish the week next friday with a VCT outreach at Linda. For the
first time in 3 years, Zambians in Linda will have an opportunity for
HIV AIDS testing in their area. Please pray that the sensitzation
program and the football touranment that we are organizing alongside
it will attract much of the community, connecting them with the clinic
in town that's sponsoring the event: Tiny Tim and Friends. Most of
all, however please pray the Lord will give us an opportunity to sit
down more and disciple those who have recently accepted christ and
connect them to a bible believing church.
We are also currently looking at investing in some vernacular bibles
for those who recenetly accepted christ as their savior.
I'll be honest I'm not sure with the given schedule that I will be
able to write another post until I get back to the USA. Until then
please just continue to pray that the Lord's will be done at all times
as we walk. Things have gotten frustrating, but it's been passages
like the ones below that keep driving me forward, as well as your
constant prayer.
Ephesians 1 ( I love this chapter)
Psalms 71:20
Philipians 3:10
God Bless.
another long day of many this last week. Time seems to have it's own
life. To recount this weeks home visits, bible purchases, clothing
purchases, and everything else would take hours to sort through. I've
kept notes in my notebook, but the days seem to blend together.
It's hard to believe that I'll be leaving this country in about 10
days, and yet those 10 days seem quite far away due to some of the
upcoming events.
We moved out of Light of Hope and into town yesterday. We're staying
at a mini backpackers hostel just oustide of town in terms of
convinience for Bianca to apply to medical school and for the
networking that the Lord will be allowing me to do the next few days.
It felt really strange because while it wasn't necessarily good bye
as we will be returning farily soon, coming into the town hostel has
been a strange adaptation for me. It feels strange to have the
opportunity to take a shower again, as the bathing water has been only
provided perhaps once a week in Linda. I was brushing my teeth and was
surprised to not have Jospeh's dog attack me as he didn't recognize
the smell of my toothpaste. I haven't looked at a clean mirror for
weeks. It's the strange inconvencies that I somehow miss which seems
quite strange. The hot water in the shower just doesn't seem right,
I'm sure I'll be looking for a bucket when I walk into the shower
tonight as well. I miss being woken up by Joseph deciding to turn up
the radio to full volume at 6 in the morning, and smashing into the
mud hut wall some nights. (I suppose the one thing I won't miss is
the latrine... enough said there)
But most of all I miss the people. The people of Linda taught me how
to smile when nothing was right. I even miss the little kids that
never get tired of yelling how are you and squealing as they run away
when you say fine. I miss the drunk man that i prayed for that one
night in the ditch, or even Harry, the mentally ill man who never
stops talking gibberish in english. I miss the cabbage lady who
accepted christ recently and always has a smile on her face even if
her children can't go to school and will be kicked out of her home
soon for rent, and she continues to praise god. while I obviously will
miss football players like Nicholas and Amon who spend hours upon
hours working with me on the water filter and Light of Hope business,
I even miss Kapaya. (his name means killer). The speed demon with a
smile that he's missing one tooth. As I prayed with the players one
last time as the sun set at training on Wednesday, a tear came down my
cheek as I prayed for each player, most players were acting tough
about it, but some just let the salt water flow from their eyes.
The one lady I for sure won't forget is Liz (name was changed), a lady
who brought her daughter with a tumor growing on her face. She had
heard of how the Lord had through my prayers made people feel better,
and even heal some people's sickness. She claimed I had made someone
who was haunted with bad dreams for years stop as well ( I had no idea
that this had happened, It's only by god's intervnetion). She came
asking for me to heal her daughter's tumor. Afraid she thought I was
some sort of prophet, I hesitated, for a few seconds. Sensing this
she yelled, Our God DOES NOT fail! Taken aback and after a few minutes
of discussion,she fully described to me how she didn't want a healing,
she wanted God's will. And she had faith that his will would be done,
she simply was led to bring her daughter to me. I felt led by the
spirit to pray for her daughter 3 times. While it would make a good
story that the tumor disappeared, I must say that the Lord's will that
day was not for the tumor to be healed, but Liz did not doubt, but
merely said that it was the Lord's will and she praised God even more
than before. I'm not sure if I had ever met someone with more true
faith than her.
While I am returning to Linda a couple more times for a few more
outreaches, things just won't seem the same.
This Saturday (tomorrow) Light of Hope will be hosting it's first ever
open house for the community. we will be selling used clothing staring
at 500 Kwacha ( approximately 10 cents).Based off this recent clothing
pruchasing program we project that the profit will allow us to
purchase additional clothing, but in addition allow us to give 20%
away to the vulnerable. At this rate of selling with our low prices,
we expect to be able to clothe over 150 people for free by the end of
next week.
The open house will also have an eating competition, dancing
competition, and even a quiz competition featuring "Are you smarter
than an American". (Bianca will compete against local Zambians on
American Education, should be interesting). Aside from the
community getting the opp. to learn about water purification, and
health issues, LOH has given me one last opportunity to preach
tomorrow morning. Please pray that the Lord gives me the words to
speak,and for their disclepleship training in the future. (We are
currently looking into purchasing bibles)
This next week I will also be visiting Africa's Child in Colomo (
sorry spelling is probably wrong), a ministry that is supported by
Engedi Church. I will also be visiting two ministries in Livingstone
that are connected to Light of Hope, one called Hopefiled Ministries.
A Zambian started ministries where a builder basically decided to take
in about 15 children in the community voluntarily and tries to teach
them carpentary in order to feed them.
Next Wednesday, we will also be sitting down with area clinics in
Linda that haven't worked well with LOH in the past, or didn't know
that each other existed. this is a point I feel God has really shouted
in my ear to do this past week, is to connect the body of Christ (1st
Corhintians 15 I think, right before the love chapter.)
We finish the week next friday with a VCT outreach at Linda. For the
first time in 3 years, Zambians in Linda will have an opportunity for
HIV AIDS testing in their area. Please pray that the sensitzation
program and the football touranment that we are organizing alongside
it will attract much of the community, connecting them with the clinic
in town that's sponsoring the event: Tiny Tim and Friends. Most of
all, however please pray the Lord will give us an opportunity to sit
down more and disciple those who have recently accepted christ and
connect them to a bible believing church.
We are also currently looking at investing in some vernacular bibles
for those who recenetly accepted christ as their savior.
I'll be honest I'm not sure with the given schedule that I will be
able to write another post until I get back to the USA. Until then
please just continue to pray that the Lord's will be done at all times
as we walk. Things have gotten frustrating, but it's been passages
like the ones below that keep driving me forward, as well as your
constant prayer.
Ephesians 1 ( I love this chapter)
Psalms 71:20
Philipians 3:10
God Bless.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
June 15
This post is being written out of order, and I apologize in advance, however
the last few days have been a whirwind of busy events. I fell back into
school mode again. Before the first 3 or 4 weeks, it seemed like we would
have three to four events a day of meetings and then finish the day with
bible study.
The last week has been about 7 to 8 events a day of discipleship meetings,
water filter construction, spreadsheet working, basketball lessons, and much
more. Zambia normally operates on Zambian time, what I mean by that is
that if you tell somebody to come to a meeting at 11 in the morning they
will show up at 1 in the afternoon. While it's most frustrating, it's
something that we had to deal with the first few weeks.
At times during the weekend I feel like I'm a interim pastor, although I
have no idea what that actually feels like, and I really haven't given
sermons longer than maybe 10 minutes at Exodus before, I find myself giving
upwards of 3 to 4 maybe even 5 sermons to large groups of people from Friday
afternoon until Sunday evening. It's been incredibly draining, but the Lord
is showing fruit from it. Just this past week about another 5 soccer
players, ones who had accepted Jesus as their savior, came to bible Study.
In addition, many of them are showing much more interest in working for LOH,
and the desire to help us out(although a lot of this comes from the Aqua
Clara Filter deal that I made with the soccer team).
Light of Hope Gospel Church as nearly doubled its congregations size. It
seems as many individuals from the nutrition group from Saturdays have
started coming the services. Many of the caregivers also have started to
show up as well. Preaching to these groups have been a huge blessing to not
only have the opportunity to lead many to the lord afterwards, but also a
great blessing with a translator. It's great I may add as it gives me time
to also think more about what i'm going to say next as well as process the
information to a much fuller extent.
However somehow the last week or so, what we have seen is that the
productivity as well as the willingness to work has changed. Bianca and I
have hired the soccer team that in exchange for paying for transport for
them to travel and play soccer in some of the local areas they will help us
wash sand and rocks for 6 to 7 different Aqua Clara Water filters. These
filters will be placed in local buildings such as schools and health clinics
to provide clean water to many of the local residents, many of which refuse
to drink chlorinated water because of the taste.
This past weekend another 5 individuals came to the Lord after the Lord
allowed me to preach a message on Solomon, on Saturday Night. This week the
Lord has also given me the opportunity to go around the compound visiting
many families and praying for them. The majority of these families are
individuals that accepted Jesus Christ as their saviror recently at one of
the Nutrition Classes. Hearing them profess their faith in the Lord was
something that really was a blessing to me and a reassurance. As I learn the
local vernacular and many of the key words such as Love (Chikondi) or God
(Mulungu) has also been a huge blessing as they truly understand what it
means to commit their lives to Jesus Christ and what it means to accept
Jesus as their Lord and Savior, as this was something that was always
difficult for me to accept as a child.
The locals here have also inspired myself and the LOH to Lord willing,
look into a children's program here at LOH in the near future. While some
church's have sunday schools, most of these children can't go to school, and
many of them have working single mothers, who are taking care of 7 to 8 of
them. If LOH could provide perhaps some daily care and also perhaps bible
classes, I feel it would make a huge impact on the children's lives here.
While these ideas are still in the making, the LOH staff has expressed a
large interest in starting such a program. Please pray that the Lord would
guide us on how to proceed.
In the next few weeks also we also have the grand opening of out internet
cafe as well as LOH open house. The open house will attract much of the
community as it will hold eating competitions, dancing competitions, quiz
competitions, and also sell very cheap used clothing and give out free
chlorine and display our AQ water filters.
Please pray for our safety as well as good decision making led by the
spirit.
-Sam
the last few days have been a whirwind of busy events. I fell back into
school mode again. Before the first 3 or 4 weeks, it seemed like we would
have three to four events a day of meetings and then finish the day with
bible study.
The last week has been about 7 to 8 events a day of discipleship meetings,
water filter construction, spreadsheet working, basketball lessons, and much
more. Zambia normally operates on Zambian time, what I mean by that is
that if you tell somebody to come to a meeting at 11 in the morning they
will show up at 1 in the afternoon. While it's most frustrating, it's
something that we had to deal with the first few weeks.
At times during the weekend I feel like I'm a interim pastor, although I
have no idea what that actually feels like, and I really haven't given
sermons longer than maybe 10 minutes at Exodus before, I find myself giving
upwards of 3 to 4 maybe even 5 sermons to large groups of people from Friday
afternoon until Sunday evening. It's been incredibly draining, but the Lord
is showing fruit from it. Just this past week about another 5 soccer
players, ones who had accepted Jesus as their savior, came to bible Study.
In addition, many of them are showing much more interest in working for LOH,
and the desire to help us out(although a lot of this comes from the Aqua
Clara Filter deal that I made with the soccer team).
Light of Hope Gospel Church as nearly doubled its congregations size. It
seems as many individuals from the nutrition group from Saturdays have
started coming the services. Many of the caregivers also have started to
show up as well. Preaching to these groups have been a huge blessing to not
only have the opportunity to lead many to the lord afterwards, but also a
great blessing with a translator. It's great I may add as it gives me time
to also think more about what i'm going to say next as well as process the
information to a much fuller extent.
However somehow the last week or so, what we have seen is that the
productivity as well as the willingness to work has changed. Bianca and I
have hired the soccer team that in exchange for paying for transport for
them to travel and play soccer in some of the local areas they will help us
wash sand and rocks for 6 to 7 different Aqua Clara Water filters. These
filters will be placed in local buildings such as schools and health clinics
to provide clean water to many of the local residents, many of which refuse
to drink chlorinated water because of the taste.
This past weekend another 5 individuals came to the Lord after the Lord
allowed me to preach a message on Solomon, on Saturday Night. This week the
Lord has also given me the opportunity to go around the compound visiting
many families and praying for them. The majority of these families are
individuals that accepted Jesus Christ as their saviror recently at one of
the Nutrition Classes. Hearing them profess their faith in the Lord was
something that really was a blessing to me and a reassurance. As I learn the
local vernacular and many of the key words such as Love (Chikondi) or God
(Mulungu) has also been a huge blessing as they truly understand what it
means to commit their lives to Jesus Christ and what it means to accept
Jesus as their Lord and Savior, as this was something that was always
difficult for me to accept as a child.
The locals here have also inspired myself and the LOH to Lord willing,
look into a children's program here at LOH in the near future. While some
church's have sunday schools, most of these children can't go to school, and
many of them have working single mothers, who are taking care of 7 to 8 of
them. If LOH could provide perhaps some daily care and also perhaps bible
classes, I feel it would make a huge impact on the children's lives here.
While these ideas are still in the making, the LOH staff has expressed a
large interest in starting such a program. Please pray that the Lord would
guide us on how to proceed.
In the next few weeks also we also have the grand opening of out internet
cafe as well as LOH open house. The open house will attract much of the
community as it will hold eating competitions, dancing competitions, quiz
competitions, and also sell very cheap used clothing and give out free
chlorine and display our AQ water filters.
Please pray for our safety as well as good decision making led by the
spirit.
-Sam
Monday, June 6, 2011
June 6
I really have nothing to add to the writing that I've written the past
few entries, as I finish typing this blog up. Although if you would
please pray for our water filtration progress as well as open house.
Each morning I wake up at 6:00 to go fetch 40 liters of water from
Nick in order to create a biological system for the Biosands filter.
It's quite a tough system, but, we're hoping to be able distribute
these throughout the compound, as there are many individuals in the
compound who refuse to drink chlorinated water as they pretned they're
"allergic" or they believe that chlroine is bad for them.
We came into town today to check e-mail as well as try to establish a
few connections for LOH. The progress for the LOH internet cafe is
slow, but under the current projections, we are confident we can have
something set up or even Lord willing have it operating by the time we
leave! Please pray once again that the Lord would show us how to spend
our time the most wisely in our remaining time here.
few entries, as I finish typing this blog up. Although if you would
please pray for our water filtration progress as well as open house.
Each morning I wake up at 6:00 to go fetch 40 liters of water from
Nick in order to create a biological system for the Biosands filter.
It's quite a tough system, but, we're hoping to be able distribute
these throughout the compound, as there are many individuals in the
compound who refuse to drink chlorinated water as they pretned they're
"allergic" or they believe that chlroine is bad for them.
We came into town today to check e-mail as well as try to establish a
few connections for LOH. The progress for the LOH internet cafe is
slow, but under the current projections, we are confident we can have
something set up or even Lord willing have it operating by the time we
leave! Please pray once again that the Lord would show us how to spend
our time the most wisely in our remaining time here.
June 5
Under the insistence of Pastor Phiri, and by the Holy spirit's
guidance, I gave the sermon at Light of Hope Gospel Church this
morning. With only a crowd of about 20 individuals, the experience
wasn't very scary, as much as merely just draining. With a translator
at the side, and an obvious communication barrier, the Lord still
allowed me to deliver a message on the basics of Christianity and the
Good News. What's interesting I think about each of these situations
has been the fact that in each situation, as much as I prepare, the
Lord always seems to allow my mind to connect the dots in some new
revelation. I will give a better example in the future.
The soccer team unfortunately tied today in a match of 1-1. It was
quite an exciting game, and most interesting seeing that I've gotten
to know all of the players through practicing with them Monday through
Friday. The coach says he wants to feature me in an upcoming friendly
sometime soon.
In the evening, Warren and Nicholas revealed to us some pretty
interesting things about charms and witchcraft involved in soccer. It
was quite an interesting conversation, and while it's difficult
hearing about all of the different spells that some of the teams'
coaches cast on other teams. Apparently LOH last year used spells to
win games or something strange like that before some players stepped
up and asked the spells to be stopped as they wanted to win on their
own accord, even if it meant losing some games (it was quite decision
I must say). Bianca and I both concluded and were able to tell them
both that our God is not only greater than these charms, but will be
victorious through those who have faith in spiritual warfare.
guidance, I gave the sermon at Light of Hope Gospel Church this
morning. With only a crowd of about 20 individuals, the experience
wasn't very scary, as much as merely just draining. With a translator
at the side, and an obvious communication barrier, the Lord still
allowed me to deliver a message on the basics of Christianity and the
Good News. What's interesting I think about each of these situations
has been the fact that in each situation, as much as I prepare, the
Lord always seems to allow my mind to connect the dots in some new
revelation. I will give a better example in the future.
The soccer team unfortunately tied today in a match of 1-1. It was
quite an exciting game, and most interesting seeing that I've gotten
to know all of the players through practicing with them Monday through
Friday. The coach says he wants to feature me in an upcoming friendly
sometime soon.
In the evening, Warren and Nicholas revealed to us some pretty
interesting things about charms and witchcraft involved in soccer. It
was quite an interesting conversation, and while it's difficult
hearing about all of the different spells that some of the teams'
coaches cast on other teams. Apparently LOH last year used spells to
win games or something strange like that before some players stepped
up and asked the spells to be stopped as they wanted to win on their
own accord, even if it meant losing some games (it was quite decision
I must say). Bianca and I both concluded and were able to tell them
both that our God is not only greater than these charms, but will be
victorious through those who have faith in spiritual warfare.
June 4
Today I finally passed the 3 week mark in Zambia of the amount of time
that I've spent in Zambia in comparison to two years ago. It's been
quite interesting seeing how this time around has been so different
than before. For one, the Lord has really blessed me with a desire to
learn the language here, last time around, I was quite shy and really
had no desire to pick it up, but this time around the children seem
very intent on teaching it to me, including Taka, a 10 year old who
never stops smiling. In other reflections, its just been nice to stay
in one place and be able to minister, last time around we visited
almost 5 different venues in the time that we've spent at LOH. What a
big difference!
The isolation here at LOH is nice, while I don't know who's in the NBA
finals (okay now I do after coming to the internet cafe) nor do I
know much about the news except for the Zambian news that blares on
the radio every evening and throughout the night because my host
brother loves listening to the zambian BBC the entire night
This morning, I got another opportunity to give a sermon to the
nutrition group. It was quite an experience as I gave a sermon on
hypocrisy. As stunning as it was to have the opportunity to lead 15
individuals to the Lord on Saturday, it was more stunning to see 16
adults at the end of the sermon today indicate that they had accepted
Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and that they wanted to commit
their life to them. Who would have thought a sophmore in college who's
a spanish degree at Hope would have that kind of opportunity? It's
only by God's grace.
In the recent news for food, after being offered fried caterpillars, I
was offered a fried mouse with enshima today by John, one of the
younger boys. I found it's a common practice for this to served and is
sometimes even considered a delicacy! Fortunately, I had already eaten
with Nicholas, and was able to respectfully decline. Cateripillars
yes, because I can't recognize them, but a mouse with its head and
tail sticking out? I just can't say yes yet. You can ask me later
perhaps and we'll see if I decline the opportunity.
that I've spent in Zambia in comparison to two years ago. It's been
quite interesting seeing how this time around has been so different
than before. For one, the Lord has really blessed me with a desire to
learn the language here, last time around, I was quite shy and really
had no desire to pick it up, but this time around the children seem
very intent on teaching it to me, including Taka, a 10 year old who
never stops smiling. In other reflections, its just been nice to stay
in one place and be able to minister, last time around we visited
almost 5 different venues in the time that we've spent at LOH. What a
big difference!
The isolation here at LOH is nice, while I don't know who's in the NBA
finals (okay now I do after coming to the internet cafe) nor do I
know much about the news except for the Zambian news that blares on
the radio every evening and throughout the night because my host
brother loves listening to the zambian BBC the entire night
This morning, I got another opportunity to give a sermon to the
nutrition group. It was quite an experience as I gave a sermon on
hypocrisy. As stunning as it was to have the opportunity to lead 15
individuals to the Lord on Saturday, it was more stunning to see 16
adults at the end of the sermon today indicate that they had accepted
Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and that they wanted to commit
their life to them. Who would have thought a sophmore in college who's
a spanish degree at Hope would have that kind of opportunity? It's
only by God's grace.
In the recent news for food, after being offered fried caterpillars, I
was offered a fried mouse with enshima today by John, one of the
younger boys. I found it's a common practice for this to served and is
sometimes even considered a delicacy! Fortunately, I had already eaten
with Nicholas, and was able to respectfully decline. Cateripillars
yes, because I can't recognize them, but a mouse with its head and
tail sticking out? I just can't say yes yet. You can ask me later
perhaps and we'll see if I decline the opportunity.
June 3
I'm writing this as the third funeral procession this past week passes
by Light of Hope. Choirs were singing from it. I only mention this
because it's cruel but yet true reality that while children can be
playing over here alongside the bench I'm writing on over here in
front of Light of Hope, their friends on the block down the street
are weeping over another lost relative.
Today has been a pretty uneventful day, although it was the third time
I was served caterpillars with enshima. For those who don't know
enshima is a white paste made from ground up maize and looks like mash
potatoes but is much thicker (Bianca's definition), and you eat it
with your hands. Bianca couldn't eat the fried catepillars, while I
winced trying to eat half of one. On a side note our diet here
actually is pretty helpful. Some meals all we get is simply water,
vegetables and enshima. Almost just like Daniel and his friends while
they were in Babylon.
On a side note we also recently started a newsletter with Nicholas and
Joseph's help recently. With my past journalism skills, Bianca and I
have been helping the organization design certain newsletters for the
organization as to better inform the community about LOH. I guess
those journalism weeks spent in northwestern were good for something!
by Light of Hope. Choirs were singing from it. I only mention this
because it's cruel but yet true reality that while children can be
playing over here alongside the bench I'm writing on over here in
front of Light of Hope, their friends on the block down the street
are weeping over another lost relative.
Today has been a pretty uneventful day, although it was the third time
I was served caterpillars with enshima. For those who don't know
enshima is a white paste made from ground up maize and looks like mash
potatoes but is much thicker (Bianca's definition), and you eat it
with your hands. Bianca couldn't eat the fried catepillars, while I
winced trying to eat half of one. On a side note our diet here
actually is pretty helpful. Some meals all we get is simply water,
vegetables and enshima. Almost just like Daniel and his friends while
they were in Babylon.
On a side note we also recently started a newsletter with Nicholas and
Joseph's help recently. With my past journalism skills, Bianca and I
have been helping the organization design certain newsletters for the
organization as to better inform the community about LOH. I guess
those journalism weeks spent in northwestern were good for something!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
June 1
The Aqua Clara Filter was in full operation as of Monday for the first
time, we were able to have 40 Liters of water flow through the system.
It's been a long process, but one that has been a great
experience.It's going to take another about 20 days before the water
is entirely clean, but many of the health care workers are really
excited to have the opportunity to have clean water without having to
drink chlorine.
Please pray for our next few weeks. There are a lot of potential
projects that Bianca, myself and the staff have stumbled upon while we
are here. And it's going to take a lot of manpower and obviously the
Lord's direction for any of it to happen. LOH just has so many
projects going on, and it's going to be by God's leading for us to see
where exactly he wants us to go as well as which ones to precisely
tackle. While I would prefer typing them all out to you, time for my
internet at this cafe is running out, and I hope the Lord would
provide another time to tell you about it.
Please also pray for those who recently accepted Jesus Christ as their
savior, as Pastor Phiri has warned myself and many of these
individuals, that many new believers as of recently have been
experiencing very intense spiritual warfare.
time, we were able to have 40 Liters of water flow through the system.
It's been a long process, but one that has been a great
experience.It's going to take another about 20 days before the water
is entirely clean, but many of the health care workers are really
excited to have the opportunity to have clean water without having to
drink chlorine.
Please pray for our next few weeks. There are a lot of potential
projects that Bianca, myself and the staff have stumbled upon while we
are here. And it's going to take a lot of manpower and obviously the
Lord's direction for any of it to happen. LOH just has so many
projects going on, and it's going to be by God's leading for us to see
where exactly he wants us to go as well as which ones to precisely
tackle. While I would prefer typing them all out to you, time for my
internet at this cafe is running out, and I hope the Lord would
provide another time to tell you about it.
Please also pray for those who recently accepted Jesus Christ as their
savior, as Pastor Phiri has warned myself and many of these
individuals, that many new believers as of recently have been
experiencing very intense spiritual warfare.
Sunday, May 29
We visited Light of Hope Gospel church for the second time today.
While we were praying as a church body today, it honestly felt like
there were maybe upwards of 100 to 300 people in the room praying out
loud when it was only about 20 people. The sound that filled the room
to me sounded more like tongues louder than I ever expected that would
come from 20 people. I will take some time to fully describe it in
another journal entry.
The soccer team traveled to Chelston today. Many of the individuals
that gave their lives over to Jesus Christ last night were there, and
even stopped to talk with me. The team took a nail biting 2-1 with the
team scoring in the 80th minute. On the way back, Bianca and I rode
back in a pickup truck. The team sang about 50 different songs on the
hour and a half bumpy ride back to Light of Hope. It was quite the
experience to have so many men singing different soccer songs. During
their chants they would throw in our names into them, as good as I
have been at trying to learn Nyanja, the local language here, it was
most difficult to comprehend what they were singing, although they did
insist on calling Bianca Beyonce in most of the songs, which was most
amusing.
While we were praying as a church body today, it honestly felt like
there were maybe upwards of 100 to 300 people in the room praying out
loud when it was only about 20 people. The sound that filled the room
to me sounded more like tongues louder than I ever expected that would
come from 20 people. I will take some time to fully describe it in
another journal entry.
The soccer team traveled to Chelston today. Many of the individuals
that gave their lives over to Jesus Christ last night were there, and
even stopped to talk with me. The team took a nail biting 2-1 with the
team scoring in the 80th minute. On the way back, Bianca and I rode
back in a pickup truck. The team sang about 50 different songs on the
hour and a half bumpy ride back to Light of Hope. It was quite the
experience to have so many men singing different soccer songs. During
their chants they would throw in our names into them, as good as I
have been at trying to learn Nyanja, the local language here, it was
most difficult to comprehend what they were singing, although they did
insist on calling Bianca Beyonce in most of the songs, which was most
amusing.
May 28
PRAISE GOD!!! I really am speechless as I write this down in my
journal I really don't know how to describe how neat of opportunity
the Lord presented me today. It took quite a bit of courage and
pushing from the Lord before I finally committed to give the sermons
that he gave me the opportunity to give today.
Last night after coming back from town, the Lord kept prying at me
that it was time to share the good news, it just happened so the next
morning as I walked into Light of Hope, Uncle Pozo, one of the local
caregivers asked me to give a message to the local nutrition group (
they meet every Saturday) While it is true that I have opened the word
and gave sermons to this group the last two Saturdays, normally, I am
given the night's notice before I give a message, making this a very
last minute type deal. With little preparation and under the
insistence of the LOH staff, I opened my bible and found myself in
Romans. I then prayed for the Lord's guidance as I promised to keep my
message short to save the audience's time, but also because I wasn't
entirely sure what the Lord would have me say.
What came next was the gospel, I presented the Roman's Road to
Salvation starting in Romans 3:23 about how ALL have sinned and fallen
short of the Glory of God, and talking about how in 6:23, the wages of
sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life though Jesus Christ
our Lord. The audience was most attentive, and I couldn't help but
notice that many including the director of LOH were crying after the
message, while I didn't ask for the audience to raise their hand
during prayer time ( not sure why the Loird didn't) Pastor Phiri and I
will work this next week to meet with those who did accept the Lord to
follow up on them and help them understand the decision that they
made.
In the evening I was given a similar opportunity to preach to the Soccer
Team. Attendance this time around was quite high, and out of the 30
people in the room ( players, coaches, local community members) about
20 of them raised their hands after I lead them in a prayer to
salvation. Time will tell to see how God will work in their lives in
the future for obvious reasons, but I could really sense the spirit
moving this evening. And while I want to tell you that I'm pretty much
speechless at this current moment, I suppose my writing doesn't really
reflect that. Please pray for us the next few days, as many
individuals prayed the prayer that is the most important decision they
could ever make. We just hope that the Lord would reveal to them how
truly amazing of a decision they all made, and what could be in store
for them in the future.
journal I really don't know how to describe how neat of opportunity
the Lord presented me today. It took quite a bit of courage and
pushing from the Lord before I finally committed to give the sermons
that he gave me the opportunity to give today.
Last night after coming back from town, the Lord kept prying at me
that it was time to share the good news, it just happened so the next
morning as I walked into Light of Hope, Uncle Pozo, one of the local
caregivers asked me to give a message to the local nutrition group (
they meet every Saturday) While it is true that I have opened the word
and gave sermons to this group the last two Saturdays, normally, I am
given the night's notice before I give a message, making this a very
last minute type deal. With little preparation and under the
insistence of the LOH staff, I opened my bible and found myself in
Romans. I then prayed for the Lord's guidance as I promised to keep my
message short to save the audience's time, but also because I wasn't
entirely sure what the Lord would have me say.
What came next was the gospel, I presented the Roman's Road to
Salvation starting in Romans 3:23 about how ALL have sinned and fallen
short of the Glory of God, and talking about how in 6:23, the wages of
sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life though Jesus Christ
our Lord. The audience was most attentive, and I couldn't help but
notice that many including the director of LOH were crying after the
message, while I didn't ask for the audience to raise their hand
during prayer time ( not sure why the Loird didn't) Pastor Phiri and I
will work this next week to meet with those who did accept the Lord to
follow up on them and help them understand the decision that they
made.
In the evening I was given a similar opportunity to preach to the Soccer
Team. Attendance this time around was quite high, and out of the 30
people in the room ( players, coaches, local community members) about
20 of them raised their hands after I lead them in a prayer to
salvation. Time will tell to see how God will work in their lives in
the future for obvious reasons, but I could really sense the spirit
moving this evening. And while I want to tell you that I'm pretty much
speechless at this current moment, I suppose my writing doesn't really
reflect that. Please pray for us the next few days, as many
individuals prayed the prayer that is the most important decision they
could ever make. We just hope that the Lord would reveal to them how
truly amazing of a decision they all made, and what could be in store
for them in the future.
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