A Fun Week

Don't Give Up, Pray!
Persistent prayer was the theme of this year's mission prayer retreat. We had an awesome time with our mission family, sharing, praying, praising, and even a little playing. God is so good!

One of the highlights of this year's prayer retreat was a look at the persistent prayers of the past, as we celebrated 50 year of Baptist missions in Zambia. Two of our seasoned missionaries, Franklin and Paula Kilpatrick, shared the many answers to prayer throughout our history. It was a good reminder that many of us are in Zambia today because of the persistent prayers of those who came before us. We are thankful for those who prayed and did not give up!

As you can see in the picture, we have a large mission family in Zambia these days, and many of them are truly "young." Wes and I are now among the "older" missionaries--where have the years gone?
After the prayer retreat, we headed back to Lusaka to celebrate Thanksgiving with our mission family. We were truly a close-knit family as we met together in a small conference room. Although we did not have turkey, we had roasted chicken and all the trimmings.

It has been a great week, and ended with a graduation ceremony where two of our missionaries walked across the stage with their Zambian brothers and sisters receiving their diplomas, while Wes received his degree in babysitting--read the next article!


Who Me? Baby Sit?

Wes did'n't hesitate when I asked him if we could carry MKS, Lily and Easton, to the graduation ceremony. Their daddy, Kendall, was graduating and mommy, Joy, needed some assistance. She thought Easton would listen to Uncle Wes.

On the way to the graduation we enjoyed a detailed description from Lily of what everyone in the family was wearing. She informed us that her daddy was wearing a suit and "Zambian" shoes. It was the beginning of many smiles for the day.

When we arrived, Joy asked if Easton could stay with his Uncle Wes. Sure, no problem. We decided that the back row of the sanctuary would be best. I sat down, but Wes and Easton decided to wander around a little bit until things got started. They disappeared for awhile, but it wasn't long and they came back in. Wes was carrying a pair of little boys undies, and Easton had a wet backside. Wes didn't know that Easton had his own style of using the potty. Needless to say, things got a little wet.

I made room for the two guys on the bench, and the program began. I could see that Easton was going to be restless, so I suggested to Wes that they might want to go outside where he could move around. Wes thought this was a great idea; I don't think he was too keen on sitting there for three hours either.

After two hours of sitting on a hard bench, I got up to go check on Wes. He was outside in the parking lot playing with Easton. I asked him if he was okay, and he assured me that he and Easton were having a great time, so I left the "boys" alone.

I decided not to return to the sancturay, but stood outside visiting. Suddenly a Zambian friend came and told me I was needed by "Dad." A bit confused, I followed her to a forlorn looking Wes who was in the doorway of the Men's Room cleaning up a little boy who had made a big mess of another kind. Thankfully, another missionary who had a lot of experience with kids, came to the rescue.

I asked Wes at the end of the day if he would baby sit again. He said, "Sure, Easton and I are buds."

A Family Vacation

Last month my sister and niece came for a visit (Pam and Amanda). After showing them some of our ministry, we decided to take some time out for fun. We had a great time, and some real adventures.


First we went to Vic Falls, Zimbabwe where we stayed at a very rustic lodge called "Lokatuhla." During the day we saw wart hogs grazing on the lawn, and in the evening we ate wart hog at a place called "The Boma." We were also entertained by African dancers, played drums, and tried other interesting foods.


The next day we traveled to Botswana for a one-day safari at Chobe National Park. The first half of the day was a safari on land in an open vehicle. We saw impala, wart hog, kudu and hippo, but our greatest sighting was that of a lioness stalking a herd of impala. At the last minute she decided she was tired and plopped down on the ground to rest.


The second half of the day was spent on a small boat on the Chobe River. We had waited all morning to see elephants, and there they were, crossing the river to an island where they like to graze. What an amazing thing to watch elephants swimming.


After the elephants moved on to the island, our guide took us into a small cove where we could sit and and watch. There was also a herd of cape buffalo grazing on the island. Suddenly the elephants decided they wanted to pass behind our boat to another small piece of land. At the same time, a huge croc that had been sunning himself on the bank, decide to take a swim. Talk about feeling trapped! One elephant turned and looked at us as if to say, "Don't come any closer."


As we pulled out of the cove and went on down a narrow stretch of the river, we got in the path of a hippo. He was not happy that we had come into his territory, and he began chasing our boat. Wes was laughing at us "women" who were just a little nervous. (Don't forget to read our next blog entry to find out that he who laughs first, laughs last.)


The following day we walked with two 18-month old lions (male and female). We were supposed to walk, that is, but the lions decided to go off in search of baboons, so we ran. My sister fell into a hole and hurt her leg. How many people can say they were injured chasing a lion. I'm thankful it wasn't the other way around!


After two days in Zimbabwe, we headed back to Zambia where we spent one night. Our adventures were not over yet. As we headed to town that night for a bite to eat, we came to a sudden stop behind another vehicle on a bridge. On the other side was a huge bull elephant. My thoughts were, "What if this elephant decides he wants to cross the bridge?" Thankfully a tourist bus came around us and courageously encouraged the elephant to get off the road.


The next day it was time to head back to our peaceful home in Gwembe, and then on to Lusaka to send my sister and niece back to America. It was a wonderful, sometimes hair-raising adventure in Africa, but the best part was just being with family!

Filled with Joy

I promised to write on our blog more, and I want to keep that promise.

We just finished working with an amazing team from Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri. The pastor and his family have a ministry called “Wells of Joy” which focuses on ministering to God’s servants. And that is exactly what this team did. They came to Zambia and ministered to about 50 church leaders and wives and to us and several other missionaries. It was an awesome time of teaching, preaching, and encouraging through testimonies and music. You can read more details on the Wells of Joy blog: http://www.wellsofjoy.com/blog.htm

Before the team came, we were really wondering if the leaders would come—RSVP is not really understood here. We were wondering if the Wells of Joy team would go home disappointed. Why do we worry when we serve such a BIG God! The week before the conference, the Lord just kept pointing us to passages of scripture that talked about faith. Together we decided that we were going to believe that good things were going to happen. Not only did good things happen, but “great” things happened. This was the first time in our eleven years in working in the southern province of Zambia, that almost all our church leaders came together, were encouraged and strengthened, and had opportunity to really get to know one another and find out what was happening in other places of the southern province. We were really excited to see that they got together on their own during one of the breaks to make plans for working together in the future. Our goal is to work ourselves out of a job, and that is what we saw happening. God is up to some great things and we are so privileged to be a part of what He is doing.

After the conference, when we sat with the team, we were encouraged by the Pastor, Hosea Bileyu, to include “margin” in our lives. I think he could see that this is not something we have much of. And so, we did just that. Instead of going to Lusaka to say good-bye to the team, we bid them adieu from our home. This was hard to do, but it was a good thing. We desperately needed the rest.

My 52nd birthday was on Saturday, and Wes asked me what I wanted to do. I said, “Just stay home.” Although Wes didn’t think that this was a very good birthday present, it was the best one for this time. He spoiled me! He washed clothes, helped clean up the house, baked a cake, made homemade ice cream, and cooked a great supper of baked chicken, corn and Stove Top. It was awesome!

I think I like this new idea of margin. Thanks Hosea for the tip, and thanks to the whole team for a great week of encouraging our leaders and us!

God's Word Will Never Return Void

Our last few months have been so busy with teams from the states partnering with us in various ministries. Our first team from FBC Clanton, Alabama camped in the middle of the bush, in a camping area prepared for us by our Zambian brothers and sisters. They even built us a bush toilet (down wind). We had an awesome time teaching, playing, singing, dancing and fellowshipping with the believers from the Mpanza church, who also had a campsite next to us. We ended the week with the Jesus Film, and new believers were added to the church.

Our second team from Wynne Baptist Church, Wynne, Arkansas camped on the shores of Lake Kariba in an area known as Sinazongwe. This team worked alongside us and two small groups of Zambian believers in doing evangelism, Bible storying, and teaching new believers. Two new Bible study groups were started, which means we have lots of work ahead of us.

God did great things through both of these teams, but I have to tell you the story of how God worked through this last team. It is a story that began one year ago:

One year ago, this same team, with a few different faces, came to do prayer walking, survey work, and evangelism in the Sinazongwe area. For us, it was a brand new area, and we were looking to see where God might be at work in bringing people to Himself and starting new churches.

As the team walked the streets of Sinazongwe, they talked to many people, shared the good news, gave out tracts, and prayed for people. They saw very few people accept Christ during the actual week of their ministry, although two new Bible study groups were planted from this ministry.

One member of the team, Cathy, talked to a young lady on the street who said she was a prostitute. She did not accept Christ, but was given a booklet to read. On the front of the booklet was the question, “If you died today, do you know for sure that you would go to heaven.” Cathy went home burdened for this young lady, and throughout the year prayed for her and asked others to pray as well.

On the third day of ministry, one year later, part of our group went to the town of Sinazeze to do evangelism with the Bible study group there. Just before reaching the town, the truck broke down. We walked to town and divided up into groups, going out into the villages evangelizing with the Bible study group.

After a few hours, we met back in town and found out that the truck was still broken down. While we waited for transportation to pick us up and carry us back to camp, we went into the shops and invited people to come to a Jesus Film Crusade we would be having on the weekend.

When we came to the end of the shops, we stood around talking to some people while we waited for our ride. One of our Zambian translators came to me and said, “There is a woman across the street that says you must come and see her. She wants to know why you are here.” This made me a little nervous, but I crossed the road with a few other members of the team.

The young lady that met us began questioning us. She said she worked with the town council and wanted to know who we were, what we were doing, and warned us not to be giving out things and make promises that we would not keep. I assured here that we were not here to give out things accept for the good news of Jesus. Then I reached in my pocket and said, “Well there is one thing we are giving out, and it is this little booklet.” When I handed it to her I said, “On the front it asks a question, ‘If you died today do you know for sure that you would go to heaven.”

She looked at me and said, “You asked me that same question last year. You don’t remember me, do you? I met you in Sinazongwe in front of the shops and you asked me this same question.” I had to admit I did not remember her.

I then asked her, “Well, what was your answer last year?” to which she replied, “No, I do not know if I will go to heaven.”

A young Zambian believer who was standing with me said to her, “Why don’t you know, you’ve had a year to read the book. Why haven’t you responded?” I can’t remember what she said, but I asked her, “What is your answer this year?”

She replied, “I still don’t know, and I haven’t responded because I have some hidden sins that I need to get rid of first. I am an adulteress (prostitute).”

Seeing a table and chairs nearby, we sat down together. I then explained that she did not have to wait until she quit sinning before accepting Christ. I explained that if she would give her life to Christ, He would help her to put away her sinful life. This young lady was ready to give her life to Christ, and right there with two men at the next table watching and listening while they drank their beers, this young woman accepted Christ .

By now you have probably figured out that this was Precious, the same young lady that Cathy had witnessed to the previous year. Wow, what a great God we serve. He is at work in the hearts of people even we do not see it. It may take a year, or longer, but His Word will never return void! I can’t wait till next year to meet others whose lives were touched by the ministry of this team this year.

A Zambian Valentine’s Day

Okay, I know we haven’t written in a long time; we hope you haven’t given up on us. We have had phone problems off and on since Christmas, which means we have had email problems since we still use the old-fashioned dial up. Now that our phone seems to be working, we will try again to blog. Let us begin by telling you about our Zambian Valentine’s Day party.

We often have parties for the youth from our church on special occasions, because we meet with them weekly for Bible study. However, for Valentine’s Day we decided to do something special for the adults of our church in Gwembe. Although Zambians have Valentine’s Day on their calendar, in the rural areas very few celebrate it or really know what it’s about.

We put up the few decorations we had for Valentine’s Day, baked up some biscuits (scones in Zambia) in the shape of hearts, made a strawberry cake, popcorn, and of course a red drink, and prepared some games. We had no idea how many would come. In Zambia, even if you ask the people to RSVP, you would never have an accurate count. We just prayed that we wouldn’t have too many or too few. The Lord answered our prayers, and we had 16 adults arrive for the party.

We started out with a game called, “I Have Never” in which each person has to stand in the middle of a circle and think of something they have never done that they think everyone else has done. In America we might say something like, “I have never been to Red Lobster.” Here it was things like, “I have never eaten a field mouse” or “I have never tasted lion.”

The next activity was writing a fill-in the blank love story together. We went around the room and I asked each person to help us fill in the blanks. Although they did not know why I wanted adjectives, verbs, people, places and things, they were very ready to help. When we read the completed story, they laughed and laughed. Zambians have difficult lives, so it was great to see them laughing so much.

Our final indoor game was a simplified version of “Family Feud.” Instead of families, we divided into teams. We had polled one of our Zambian friends for the answers. Just to give you an idea of the questions, “Name the top 5 gifts that Zambian women want to receive on special occasions?” The answers were similar to answers we might hear from American women, but one stuck out to me—cell phones. In this day and age, to have a cell phone in Zambia is to have status.

The final game, Hillbilly Golf, was played outside; it was a great hit. We had two teams, red and blue. Each team won a game, so there were no losers.

We ended the party with food and a short Bible study on God’s awesome love. Just as it was pouring down rain during the Bible study, so Wes explained that God pours out His awesome love on us who have chosen to believe in His Son Jesus. “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” I John 3:3.

As we ended the party, we gave each participant a button to wear on their lapel that said, “I am loved.” You would think we had given them a million dollars. It was a great Valentine's Day in Zambia!

The Rolling Truck

Recently we were on our way to a Bible study about two hours from our home when we happened upon an accident. A tractor-trailer had gone off the road and hit a tree, possibly due to the rains. Two other trucks had stopped to help and as we went around the first truck, we had to stop behind the second truck which was not completely off the road. Another tractor trailer was coming in the opposite lane, so Wes was waiting for this truck to go by so he could go around the parked truck safely. Suddenly I noticed that the parked truck was backing up straight toward us. Wes didn’t seem to notice so I said (of course in a very calm voice), “Wes, that truck is coming straight at us!” Wes, hooted his hooter (the Zambian term for honking your horn), and assumed the truck would stop. When it kept coming closer and closer, I said (once again very calmly), “Wes, you have to do something; it is still coming straight at us!” Wes made a quick decision to squeeze between the truck coming in the opposite lane and the truck that was backing up toward us. There was just enough room to pass through, and when we got up to where we could see the cab of the truck on our left, we noticed that there was no driver! We continued on down the road praying that the people standing on the road would see the truck backing toward them. We also said a prayer of thanksgiving, realizing that the Lord had truly protected us from a bad situation. Sometimes God allows us to “see” His protection, but how many times does He protect us from dangers we never know!