Postcards
from the field
Former ISCers
now career in Zambia
Dear Friends and Family,
I had asked you all to
be praying about the Munyeta
trip, so I thought that
I would give you an update
on how things went. Let
me begin by saying things
went well and that the
Lord did work through
us, however I am glad
that you were praying
because we did have difficulties
also. Munyeta is a place
that is only about 30
miles from our home as
the crow flies, but you
have to cross rivers and
mountains, and difficult
terrain to get there.
We took our truck and
our whole family, and
our Strategy Coordinator,
his wife and another missionary
on our team came in another
truck. The way was tough,
and the rivers (at least
one) were deeper than
expected. I even jokingly
said that when we went
through this one river
I could look out my window
and see the fish swimming.
;-) It wasn't quite that
deep, but it was deep
enough. However, God is
good and we made it fine
there and back without
getting stuck or any mechanical
problems.
However, once we arrived
we found that the people
were not expecting us
and had been confused
on the dates. This required
them to get on the bush
telegraph and spread the
word that we had come.
I also helped make an
unwise decision by suggesting
we set up our camp directly
behind the church building.
It was the best place
for camp, however all
of those who were coming
from the 3 area Baptist
churches decided they
would camp there too!
Well when they say camp,
they don't mean sleep!
They sang and danced in
the church the first night
until about midnight.
Then they all got around
various campfires (some
within 15 feet of our
tent) and laughed and
joked and told stories
loudly until 4 or 5 in
the morning. Then they
had their morning prayers
and started on their day.
Did we sleep? NO! Then
the next night, was a
repeat performance, except
this time 4 youth on drums
added to the excitement,
until I finally came out
of the tent around 2 in
the morning and asked
them nicely to stop playing
for a while. Long story
short we were there for
3 days but I doubt Suzie
and I slept a total of
3 hours. Thankfully, the
children (bless their
hearts) did sleep because
God has (in His mercy)
made them to sleep through
anything. The moral of
the story is, if you come
on a trip to see us remember
to bring your ear plugs
:-) !!! Also it was cold,
cold, cold at night and
hot, hot, hot in the day.
Another surprising thing
(ha! ha!) Is that the
tent which was more than
big enough to hold our
family 5 years ago, shrunk
while it was in storage!?!
Somehow in the last five
years our kids have grown
and Hannah has come along,
and it just isn't big
enough anymore. Hannah
had her moments also,
and we were tempted a
couple of times to hang
her up in a tree somewhere
to make more room in the
tent, but we all survived
and made it through. (Smile!)
Now all of this might
sound like we had a terrible
time, but that is not
the case. In fact, we
had a great time... eventually
all the people showed
up, we were able to teach
on many subjects that
were helpful to them.
It seemed like all of
the team was doing quite
well in the language and
the Lord really blessed
our efforts at preaching
and teaching. Some people
were saved during our
time. The people were
very gracious, and attentive
in our preaching and teaching,
and had many good and
insightful questions.
We had a wonderful time
of bonding and sharing
with our brothers and
sisters there, and even
though they have absolutely
nothing, they were continually
sending us gifts of food
and other such things.
In many ways it was a
very profitable and encouraging
trip... just not without
bumps along the way :-)
But you know that is the
way it always is here
in Zambia. Africa is a
place where if anything
can go wrong it will,
however, you have to learn
to be flexible and allow
the Lord to work through
all of those things.
I am not always the most
flexible person, and I
am not really good at
chatting and visiting.
I am a doer, and a goal
setter, and not the best
relational type person...
yet in Zambia you have
to be flexible and relational,
because that is the whole
culture. For a long time
I used to ask the Lord
why he would send us here...
when someone who is more
easy going, and someone
who is better at just
chatting could be much
more effective than me.
And then he showed us
that a big part of why
he has sent us here is
not just because of what
we can do for him, but
what he wants to do IN
us!! We have learned that
if you are going to survive
here you have to become
relational, and most of
all you have to become
flexible. We have learned
to anticipate and even
look forward to the "bumps"
along the way, because
not only are they inevitable,
but they are also something
that the Lord uses in
us and in the lives of
the people to whom we
minister. Thanks for praying
us through this weekend,
and we will try to keep
you informed of things
as they come along.
Blessings,
Kevin,
Suzie, Zachary, Justin,
and Hannah
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