Zambia mission

Last May 2002, my son Chris and I, along with several other members of Silverdale Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn., were on a volunteer mission trip to Zambia. Our local hosts were the Upper Zambezi Team who live in Mongu, Zambia in the Western Province. While in the bush we shared the gospel in the village of Soloti. Brian had, in the weeks prior, visited the village to share and let them know that other people from America were going to come later and share the Word of God along with a special treat at the end of the week. The special treat was the JESUS film. Brian explained to the Soloti village that all would be welcome to hear during the week and view the film so "... spread the word to all the villages ..." Upon arrival in Soloti, we shared, taught and preached via "storying" the biblical history we had each learned since childhood: Adam and Eve, Abraham and Isaac, Noah, etc., and most of all Jesus Christ! There was a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the village. The majority of the people, including the village leaders, expressed a commitment to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! On the final night, we set up the movie screen, video and generator for the evening show. People began showing up from everywhere. Soloti village alone had about 50 members. By dusk, there were approximately 150 Zambians form the surrounding villages! About this time we decided to start and warm up the generator. One pull ... nothing, two, three, four pulls ... nothing! Five, six, seven ... nothing. I think you get the picture. We checked the oil and gasoline and discovered the oil chamber was full of gas! Probably a cracked block or cylinder. Mechanically, the generator would not run and all the precious souls present to hear and experience the story of Jesus would now be lost to this world and Satan. Brian had radio contact with his wife Terri in Mongu (over seven hours away) and contacted her to start a prayer chain reaching back to the United States. As she prayed and tried the phone lines, they were all busy! She continued to pray and continued to try with no success. At the village, each of us gathered around the generator and prayed ..." Lord if it is your will that these people be saved, only You can perform this miracle and start this generator ..." After praying, Teddy, out local Zambian translator removed an insignificant wire connector and pulled the starter. The generator roared to life to full capacity! The generator ran for a solid three hours during and after the JESUS film! We began the film at dark and after the film was completed over 75 souls were added to the Lamb's Book of Life! In His timing, not ours!! Once the generator reached civilization in Mongu, it could not be repaired and never ran again.
—G. Dale Lezu