I just finished the second meeting with Mr. Kapya who is the man the Lord has provided as my representative at Immigration in Lusaka. His services are not cheap but he is experienced in dealing with Immigration in Lusaka. I have invested a significant amount of time with him and in gathering the daunting amount of required documents needed in order to obtain a 2 year Work Permit. Ba Kapya will leave tonight and travel most of the night to Lusaka and then be at Immigration first thing in the morning when they open. Although Ba Kapya is a veteran negotiator and rather shrewd in his dealings, he and I just prayed to the Lord of Glory for His favor to be upon the documents we have assembled and as well to go before him as he meets with the Immigration officials. We are not trusting in ourselves or the documents but in the name of the Lord. Psalm 20:7 reads “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Will you join me in this prayer? It is critical to the work and ministry of my family and me because if I am not granted this work permit we will have to leave the country. On the entry Visa that I have I can only stay in the country for 90 days without other arrangements. I am on day 62! Please pray for this urgent need.
About two days after my last update I had a touching experience and opportunity for real mercy ministry that just surfaced in the middle of my day here in Zambia. Last week in between PE classes Lydia and I were sitting outside on the grass just chatting when we noticed a man standing at the gate. The gate was a distance away so we could not tell what he was doing. The fact that he stopped to look at us was not unusual but the fact that he remained for so long was. He eventually made his way to us and I greeted him. His name was Max. I spent about 10 minutes discussing his situation with him. He was tired and hungry (not uncommon) but also needed medical attention and was 5 hours away from any family members. He thought that I was in charge of the Trust school and College, and all he wanted was to work some in order to earn enough Kwacha to get home. He was humble, somewhat contrite, jittery, and not asking for money. I liked this man but knew that more discernment was needed. I decided to walk with him into the Bible College so that I could inform the Bible College Registrar of his situation. First, to verify it, and second, to see how we or I could help. On the walk into the building, I asked why the hospital in Lusaka released him to go home with his family before the medications that he needed could be administered? He said that it was because of the strength of the medications. As we were entering the building, I learned that he was HIV positive.
The next 30 minutes were a privilege to be a part of. Kelvin Chiti, the Registrar, who is a believer, said we have to be careful because it is becoming more and more common for stories to be made up in order to get Kwacha but Kelvin said that he wanted to talk with him. So I brought Max into Kelvin’s office. Kelvin was so skilled and so compassionate as he learned more about this Max’s situation. He spoke to him mostly in Bemba and would translate for me from time to time. There was something different about Max and I think Kelvin and I both sensed it. Kelvin verified that Max’s situation was real and urgent in that what Max needed more than even a good meal was a bus ticket back to his home so he could begin his treatments. Kelvin also informed me that there was no Kwacha left at CCM to help Max. I asked Kelvin that if the Lord would provide the Kwacha for him to get home would there be a CCM general worker who would be able to accompany Max to the bus station to buy his ticket and put him on the bus home? Kelvin said yes and that he would make those exact arrangements. All I could think about was how much money the Lord had provided for me and that certainly some of it was for Max. I told Kelvin that I would be delighted to pay for Max’s bus ticket to his home as well as for the round trip bus ticket for the CCM General worker to and from the Kitwe bus station. Max was thrilled to know that perhaps even by that evening he would be in his hometown or village area.
Then while Kelvin went to get the head general worker, Simon Chintu, I took Max outside to talk to him about Christ. At this point I felt very much as though I was just a small tool in the Lord’s hands. Knowing Max’s future compelled me even more to share the gospel with him. I was just beginning when Simon came, and oh how much at this point I wish you knew Simon! Those of you who do will be in tears as you picture what happens next. This is an uneducated humble worker at CCM. He was the very first employee ever to be hired by CCM. Although this man is a blue-collar worker with not much education or training he is amazing to be around. He is so godly and so humble and so respectful in all his ways. The joy of the Lord is clearly his strength. As I was beginning to share Christ with Max, Simon knelt down in front of Max putting both of his hands on Max’s knees as if to say I am here along with Dave to love you and to show compassion to you. As I shared Christ in English then Simon translated it into Bemba (the vernacular where there is most comfort and understanding) and we learned something amazing. Just a few weeks ago, as Max was in the hospital in Lusaka, a pastor came into his room and shared Christ with him and Max converted at that time to Christ. Simon and I knew that the Lord was caring for Max in a special way and we were glad to be a part. I then prayed for Max and shared encouragement with him. I told Max that there was no difference between his past sins and my past sins in that we had both been forgiven and redeemed. I also shared with Max that there was something even greater than our social or economic status and that before God we stand as brothers both forgiven and both now slaves to Christ. I then went to the little food stand and purchased some milk and cookies for his travels, and Simon and Max left to walk to the bus stop. We all three were smiling as we knew God had ordained our meeting for His glory and for our good!
Our God is omnipotent,
Dave