I have waited too long again … get a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy the goodness of God below!

When your child is in one of those growth spurts and you don’t take photos often you will miss that stage forever. We in our family ministry with the Zambians have been in a growth spurt and I am sorry for the late snaps! (What they call photos here) I want to update you in the following areas:

1. Culture Shock
2. God’s elect
3. Zambian elections
4. Baptism and God’s sense of humor
5. Street Boys growing in grace

I just received an email of encouragement (the fuel I run on btw!) and the person asked me what was the biggest type of culture shock we were facing living in a third world country. My answer “shocked” me. It wasn’t the usual answer like dealing with diseases or new foods or malaria, the corruptness of the government or even the pitiful, uncomfortable roads to travel on etc. The biggest culture shock in addition to the extreme levels of poverty is the slow pace of life, and living in a culture that is built on deep, deep respect and generosity towards one another. Sadly, this should not be culture shock but it is. I am not saying we do not have poverty in America but it is not so pervasive and to such extreme. I am also not saying that Americans are not generous but in the way Zambians are most aren’t. Their generosity to the lesser brother here is much like the widow giving all she had. (Luke 21:1-4) However, as you can imagine this is a good type of culture shock. The presence of God can literally be felt here almost daily. As a result there is also a dark or evil presence that lingers. Both are more real here than any other place I have been. When I see the thriving ministries here without much of technology and abundant financial resources, there is only one explanation, the presence and power of God! Psalm 73:28 says: “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge; that I may tell of all your works.” We were built and redeemed in order to be near to God. There is nothing like it. Yet one day we will trade today’s nearness for being in His presence every day when we see Him face to face. What a glorious day that will be!

Teaching the book of Romans this term in the CCM Bible College has really challenged and stretched my abilities. I have 11 students and I teach 4 hours a week. BUT in order to keep up with the pace required to finish the book in 10 weeks and as well to prepare to lecture on this book in particular I am finding I need a minimum of 4 to 5 hours of study for 1 hour of lecture. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to teach such a powerful and doctrinally rich book to these young eager Bible college students. For many of them some of the great doctrines we are learning are new to them. Recently, although we were not far along in Romans, they were bracing themselves because they knew it wouldn’t be long and we would be tackling the doctrine of God’s elect. Some wanted to circumvent and go straight to the passages where Paul teaches on the elect. I said we would wait and tackle it when we got to it in later Chapters. Then we got only to Chapter 3 (not the usual place to find direct teaching on God’s elect) and Paul pretty much levels the Jews and strips them away from trusting in their heritage or lineage for their salvation. He then teaches that there is” no one who is righteous, no one who understands and no one who seeks for God.” Romans 3:10-11 and before we knew it we had backed into God’s elect! Paul is so clear that the effects of sin are so thorough and pervasive that although our will is free no one after Adam has had free will like him. Adam was free to choose good or evil. You and I however due to the ravages of sin freely choose sin every time. The reality is if anyone finds themselves saved and spending eternity with Jesus it is always only by God’s own choosing and complete doing. It is truly amazing grace.

Well, we made it through the 2011 Zambian National Elections and at times it was scary. Zambians are peaceful people and they pride themselves in this fact. They are also resilient. In the midst of daily oppression, poverty, disease and an extremely corrupt government they remain hopeful and optimistic and others centered. However, when they have a chance to vote it seems as though at that moment they are one voice and they have a chance by their vote to improve their daily conditions and they are serious. I have learned that for each Presidential election (every 5 years) there is tension but never as much as this year. Zambians who are 40 or older have lived to see the massive deterioration of their country caused mostly by government corruption and the younger generation is not as tolerant. The area we live in known as the Copperbelt Province was the area of the country most vocal and ready for a new president. It is densely populated and is very industrial. Twice we were unintentionally caught near a few political rally’s and one time our car was banged on by a mob and the second time we could not pass the roads anywhere and had to hide out in a public building (guarded) parking lot and wait for things to settle down at least an hour or so. The US Embassy sent out a warning letter to Americans here with advice and safety directions. We also met some other missionaries who left the country all together. During the election week we decided to go and stay in Garneton (much more rural) with our new friends the Walker family. They have 10 kids and two missionaries staying with them. So there were 22 of us there! They have a few small apartment type houses on their property and we were safe and had a great time of fellowship at the same time. Our entire family has thoroughly enjoyed this family. There is a lot of like-mindedness in many areas and the ages or our children match up nicely. Becoming friends with them is yet another example of God going before us in ways we could not have asked or imagined and showing us His goodness.

As you know the Lord has opened the door for me to serve as a leader at Agape Baptist Church. This is the Church started about 5 years ago or so by Bonnies’ husband, Bennett. Our entire family enjoys this Church and the dear folks at Agape have loved us so much. This Church is serious minded about theology, worship, and the things of God. Their areas of biggest need are areas I am confident and experienced in (except one and I will explain). I have been meeting with the leaders every week to help them administratively like developing much of the infrastructure that has been missing. In addition, I have been preaching once a month, teaching their adult Sunday school class from time to time, and as well presiding over the Lord’s Table each month. The most humbling chance to serve came in an area where I am least confident, baptism. Bennett asked me if I would teach a baptism class because they were very over due for a baptism service. There is just one area of doctrine that I am torn over and it is baptism. I am so persuaded by both Reformed views on Baptism, that being that of Covenantal infant baptism and believers baptism. I am still wrestling with this one. So I told him no. Within a few days one of the leaders in the Church went to Bennett and requested me to be the one who baptizes him. While the leader waited in Bennett’s office Bennett came to my office and asked me if I would. I was immediately humbled by the request and felt saying no to it would be wrong. What a sense of humor the Lord has. As it turned out I ended up baptizing a total of four people, I prepared the order of the service and gave an 8-minute teaching on the Biblical foundation for believer’s baptism! The service was beautiful. I have had the joy now of baptizing another and I can say I have never participated in anything so meaningful and so humbling. I praise God for this honor and for His work through me and in me.

I mentioned very early on in a previous post, the boys on the streets of Kitwe touched my heart. I was buying extra food and feeding them regularly. The ministry the Walker family has is to the Street Boys! It is a truly an amazing ministry to learn about. The week we stayed with them we got to spend time with the street boys who are living full time at the Nehemiah Boys Ranch since it is also in Garneton. There are about 24 boys there from age 9 to 18 or so and these boys are living in community with one another, trading their addiction to the drug on the street called “stika” for a relationship with Christ and they are growing in grace. It is hard to describe what being around these boys is like but I can tell you it is wonderful. The opportunity for discipling and teaching them is enormous. They are hungry to learn about life. Many of them were not only on the streets but are also orphans. Since there are several older ones now there is a great need to teach them about all areas of life. Because of their circumstances they know very little if anything about relationships, making solid decisions, their future, supporting themselves, fixing and repairing things and on and on. The Walkers created an opportunity for me and I am now spending three hours on Wednesday afternoons teaching them a “Life Skills” class. I am so thrilled about this opportunity to teach them and to be with them and am praying that the Lord will open the door for me to meet one on one with a few for more in depth Discipleship.

It seems almost everyday God shows up in the most amazing and unmistakable ways. It also seems everywhere we look we see ministries like the Nehemiah Boys Ranch that are established here amidst the ruins. It is such a reminder that although God has chosen in a unique way to establish His kingdom using His worshipers He will get it done with or without you or me. For this season of our family’s life it is incredible to be in Africa and a part of His work and presence here. Although you can see more pictures on Lydia’s Face book page I have included a picture of me baptizing my friend and fellow Churchman Mr. Patrick Chapotamo and as well a street boy that I have become friends with and hope to disciple named Joe Katoka. The week of the elections while we were hiding out in Garneton Joe and I worked on a small construction job together at the Nehemiah Boys Ranch. He is a great young man full of honesty and integrity and simplicity.