News from Zambia

Sometimes "getting there" is NOT half the fun, but it can be worthwhile just the same. We had taken a group of 10 volunteers from Arkansas out to Fundo (FOON-dough) for evangelistic outreach. Like most of the unevangelized regions of Zambia Fundo was hard to reach. Four-wheel drive trucks were required by the "mountains" (hills to those from Tennessee), loose rock, and rocky creek beds. (You can't get there at all in rainy season.) Also, the villages we wanted to reach were scattered along the Luangwa (loo-AHN-gwah) and Lusemfwa (loo-SAYM-fwah) Rivers. This meant river crossings in little dugout canoes (and we had some big volunteers). Thankfully no one fell in, especially since there are crocodiles in these rivers.

Our teams began visiting villages to share the gospel. My team stopped in a picturesque hamlet and was immediately welcomed with a chair in a shady spot. Almost everyone gathered to hear God's Word. We passed out tracts, and one of those receiving a tract was Maxwell. After reading the tract on the way home, he met another team talking with his wife. Maxwell willingly made a profession of faith in Christ. We interrupted another man who was guarding his fields from invasion by baboons. It took some time of witnessing, but he turned from drinking and prayed to accept Christ as well. The same was true of many that day. That night we showed the JESUS film to 200-300 people who crossed the rivers and paths to hear. The next morning Maxwell and the "baboon guard" were among those who came to be taught how to grow as believers.

When asked later about the most meaningful part of their mission trip, our volunteers did not mention the breathtaking spectacle of Victoria Falls or the excitement of seeing African animals in the game park. They all said the "best" part was Fundo. Maybe not the easiest, but the best. They wanted to stay longer next time. If there is something "not easy" in your life today, in God's hands it can still be the best. "Getting there" may be hard, but certainly can be worthwhile. Pray for the new believers in Fundo. Pray especially that God will call out someone to disciple and protect them from temptation and discouragement. Like so many responsive areas here there are so few laborers to disciple new believers. But He used 10 Arkansas volunteers and He can call out others into His work. Maybe someone like you.

John McPherson