Roberts in Zambia

Our First Lot

2012-01-27T05:33:00.000-08:00

Today we got our first lot of baby chickens. Hopefully, 8 weeks from now, some of these little guys will be on our dinner table. Farm life, you gotta love it!

Putsie Flies

2012-01-25T09:48:00.000-08:00

Things you don't encounter in the States. Our new family dog "Georgia" has been attacked by putsie flies. These flies lay their eggs on the skin of animals and sometimes people. When the eggs hatch, the larva burrow into the skin and stay there for several weeks until matured. They basically feed off of the tissues in the skin.

Once matured, they form an abscessed kind of like a zit. Except they don't pop when you squeeze. Instead, when you squeeze, a little worm pops out!!! So, tonight we squeezed out 4 larva. We're just hoping one of the kids or one of us gets any.

One Last Time

2012-01-23T11:20:00.000-08:00

This past week I picked our car up from the mechanic hoping that it had been fixed enough to give us a few more months of driving before we had to find a replacement. As I drove it from the shop, it seemed a lot better. The shaking was gone, the exhaust was no longer black and cloudy and the brakes were no longer grinding.

Because it felt so good, I decided to press my luck and drive back to our home. The trip was rather uneventful until I passed Kafue and got out of cell phone coverage. It was then that the engine suddenly lost all its power and the car started sputtering. Now, being in the middle of nowhere without communication ain't fun, but doing it in the middle of the night is a little bit worse (I didn't get out of Lusaka until evening. So, it was really dark by the time I broke down).

Luckily, or should I say providentially, I was close to some local street vendors when I broke down So, I was able to use one of their phones to call Kerri and get help. But lesson learned.

It's kind of ironic. I was praying for wisdom on what to do with our car situation and God gave me His answer. When I looked under the hood, there was oil all over the engine and under the car. That coupled with the fact that the engine wasn't able to generate any power means that there is something really wrong. Translation - our car will most likely need a new engine if it is ever going to see the road again - something it's not going to get.

So, the Roberts are officially without a car. Please pray for us. Pray that God would give us wisdom in finding a new car for our family. Pray that he will provide all of the necessary funding for such a purchase. And pray for us as we continue to settle in here and start this new ministry.

Thank you

A Successful Hunt!

2012-01-23T03:33:00.000-08:00

One advantage to living here is that sometimes the boys get to go hunting for our dinner. The Reeve’s, our landlords, have a son who is Caleb’s age. So, a few times over the past couple of weeks he has invited Thomas and Caleb. This last time, Caleb had a successful few shots. Now we just need to learn how to cook them.

Discipling Young Women

2012-01-21T03:34:00.000-08:00

Living where we live, we have opportunities for ministry right in our back yard. For the past two weeks, Kerri has been meeting with a group of girls from the farm. Some of them are our workers’ children and some of them are from families from around the farm. They range in age from 13 to 17 years old. So far, they have met just to talk about their life dreams, some of the daily struggles that they face and some of the fears that they have. This last time, Kerri asked them how a person is able to spend eternity with God in heaven.

These ladies are at a delicate age in their development as young women. In Zambia, there just is not a lot of investment in youth and a lot of times girls like these have no one to talk to and be transparent with who can speak truth into their lives.

As I looked out the window at the group, I couldn’t help but be so thankful for this new life that He has called us to. Kerri has a passion for young women’s ministry, but this type of ministry just wasn’t an option for her in the city. Because of the logistics of travel and her schedule with schooling, she just had no bandwidth. But here, she has the bandwidth and travel isn’t a problem.

Please pray for her and these ladies as they learn and grow in their faith together.

Fixin up the Place

2012-01-19T03:07:00.000-08:00

Well, we’re slowly but surely getting settled and our lifestyle is definitely different here than what it was in the city. In the city, we bought all of our groceries straight from the supermarket. Here, we’ve begun growing a lot of our own vegetables. We’ve planted some fruit trees (orange, lemon, guava). We even had a church group come and do some weeding to earn money for a church trip to Mazabuka.

Next week we’ll purchase our first lot of 50 chickens for raising and slaughtering, and hopefully sometime soon, we’ll get some additional chickens for eggs. I guess you can say we’re country!

Anyways, here are just a few pictures of us doing some things around the house. Enjoy!

If you are receiving this post via email, go to the following link to view the slideshow: https://picasaweb.google.com/mzungubwr/FixingUpTheHome?authuser=0&feat=directlink

It's Official

2012-01-17T22:17:00.000-08:00

Well, it's official. We have a crappy car. Yesterday, I left Kerri and the kids in the bush in Chikankata and headed to the city to see if I could get the car fixed again. It's becoming a regular routine. This time, the whole front-end of the car shakes when accelerating, it billows black smoke while driving and there is something causing the back end to sound like it's grinding metal. I had to leave it in Lusaka with a friend last week, because I just didn't think it could make the 2 hour trip. Thankfully, we have been able to borrow a vehicle, but that's about to come to an end.

Anyways, we continue to pray that the mechanic can work his magic and make it drivable. I'll be going to spend the morning at the shop with one of his guys to see if we can get it sorted out at least so that it is drivable in the short-term. But in the long-term, we have to make a change.

I know we just finished asking for funds for the ministry in December, and I hate to do it again, but I feel it is necessary. So, with that being said, we are now trying to raise funds to purchase another used vehicle for our family to drive. If you would like to help us by being an advocate for this in the States, please let us know. We estimate that we will need approximately $22,000 - $25,000 to make it happen.

If you look at that figure and think it is high, please know the situation here in Zambia is much different than in the States. All vehicles here are imported. The Zambian government uses this to their advantage and taxes all imports rather extensively (at 96% of their value). So, a car that would normally cost us around $12 or $13,000 ends up costing a whole lot more! They used to let organizations like ours import duty-free, but about a year ago, they stopped that. So, we have no way around it.

Would you please consider helping us? Maybe you can't afford to make a donation, but know some people who might. Please feel free to tell them about us. Or if you would like to make a donation, please do so at the following link: www.CTEN.org/BrentRoberts. All donations are 100% tax-deductible.

Would you consider helping our family find reliable transportation?

Thank you

Caught In Traffic

2012-01-14T00:22:00.001-08:00

An eventful morning for the Roberts. On the way home we were passed by the vice president's motorcade. The only problem was that Kerri didn't see them coming. So, when she turned into the grocery store parking lot to pick up a few last minute items, she cut one of the motorcycle cops off. Luckily he saw her turning or it could have been a really bad morning.

He ended up taking her license and requiring her to go to the police station, which is where we sit now. The fine? $60 for reckless driving. It's been paid and now we're waiting on the officer to return and give her her license. The Things we do for fun in Zambia!

Car Troubles

2012-01-12T20:03:00.000-08:00

Well, it's happened again, another breakdown. After a long weekend in the city doing some much needed grocery shopping and loading our car to the max we headed out for the two hour journey back to Chikankata. Just as we reached the outskirts of the city I smelled something funny. Now, with five children, I'm pretty used to smelling something funny in the car, but this was a different smell. As soon as I looked at the gauge, I saw the problem. The car was running hot.

Because I'm typing this post on my phone, I'll spare you and my fingers all of the details for now, but it was quite an ordeal. It involved coming to a stop in front of a bar full of drunk men, having them then askme if I knew that my car was smoking, them climbing up under the hood trying to "identify" the cause, and then not leaving until I gave them some small bills for their assistance.

All was not too bad though. A friend and his buddy did come to the rescue, with tow rope in hand, brought us the Whitfield's vehicle, helped us switch all of our groceries, luggage and children to that car and that towed our car to the shop.

Please be in prayer for us as we head back to the city today to get the car. Our car is the most important thing we own in Zambia and it has become quite unreliable. Before we came back to the States a year ago, we had to replace the head gasket, before that it had overheated several times and now this. It's all we got. So pray that it will last for some time longer.

Anyways, here's to another African adventure!

Blessings

White Men Don't Do This

2012-01-03T02:53:00.000-08:00

Another fishing story, but this one has to do more with culture than language. The same day last week that I was fishing another interesting thing happened. I was on one side of the pond fishing beside 2 or 3 other Zambian families and Dailes and her son Milton were fishing on the other side.

As they sat there, some of the Zambians around them began to ask "Why is the bwana (boss) fishing with us wakuda (blacks)? This is not normal, that he would come and be with us."

Even today, after 40+ years of independence from British colonialism, there is still a divide that exists between black Zambians and whites. It is not common for us to actually come into their community and show them that we are interested in being around them, in building relationships with them, in investing in their lives and learning from them, in understanding their culture and knowing their language and in serving them instead of being served.

Had Dailes not been there on the other side of the pond, I probably wouldn't have had any idea how my presence at the pond was perceived, but I'm glad she was. Not only did she have an opportunity to talk about Kerri and me and tell them why we had come to Chikankata, she was also able to give us a little insight into the culture and people we are trying to minister to.

As I have continued to reflect on their statements about me that day at the pond, I have been reminded of a verse from the book of Philippians and how Christ invaded our world. How God took on flesh so that we ultimately could be reconciled back to Him. Listen to the verse: "He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross." May we all look for ways to do things that are not normal for the glory of our beautiful Savior!

A Lesson in Language

2012-01-02T03:39:00.000-08:00

On Monday, I begin the process of trying to learn a new language, Tonga. But I think I had my first unofficial lesson this past Wednesday.

As a way to mingle with the community of farm workers and their families who surround our home, I try to go fishing every once in a while. These Zambians with their fishing equipment (bamboo poles and fishing line), are limited with what they can catch usually fish smaller than the size of my hand. So, this past week, when I caught a little bit bigger fish (about 1 & 1/2 lbs) I decided to give it to the family that I was fishing beside.

The woman who I tried to give the fish to, spoke no, none, zero, zilch, nata English! So, I decided to try and tell her in Nyanja (the language we learned in the capital, but a language not always spoken in Chikankata) that I was giving her the fish. I said "Ndi patsa nsomba kwa inu. Mu patsa babanja." Meaning "I give you this fish, you give to your family." She replied rather kindly, took the fish and then left with her family. I thought, even though I don't speak Tonga yet, maybe, just maybe I can use my Nyanja to get by until I do.

Well, the next morning, I found out just how successful I was in my communication. I was telling Moverty how I caught a fish the previous day and gave it to a family. He asked me for a description of the lady I gave it too and then proceeded to tell me that the lady came by and gave the fish to him. Apparently, she thought I caught the fish and gave it to her to bring to my home. I guess I wasn't strong enough to carry it the 400 yards to my house.

I told Moverty that if he saw her again to tell her that the fish was for her. But a good lesson was learned. When people don't get the intended message in their heart language, there can often be times when miscommunication occurs and the message is not understood. Being that we have a message that brings life, reconciliation and relationship with God the Creator through Christ, it gives me all the more motivation to learn this language called Tonga!

Christmas in Chik

2011-12-31T02:40:00.000-08:00

Slideshow Link: https://picasaweb.google.com/mzungubwr/Christmas2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and pray for a good beginning to the new year. We just wanted to share a few pictures from our first Christmas in Chikankata.

Before we left the States, the grandparents packed and paid for 2 bags to be sent with us to Zambia full of Chirstmas presents. We sure are glad that they did, because the kids were so excited to wake up Christmas morning and have presents to open.

After opening presents, our kids each picked a present of their own to give to Dailes, Pauline and Moverty's children. So, we used some of the paper from the presents that they had just opened, rewrapped the presents and then walked over to their homes to have a short Christmas celebration with them. It was fun watching their children open presents.

Afterwards, the women came over to the house and helped Kerri cook a big Christmas lunch for all of the families. We ended up having chicken, fish, Nshima, rape (which is like collards), cabbage and sodas to drink. Being away from our own families during the holidays, it was nice to have other families to celebrate the day with and it turned out to be a pretty special day.

All Choked Up

2011-12-29T12:29:00.002-08:00

We had our first scare this evening. I fell asleep studying language and had probably been down for about an hour when I was suddenly awakened by Caleb screaming "She's choking! She's choking!". I kept up as quick as I could and ran into the kitchen just as Kerri was turning Gracyn around to give her the heimlich maneuver (don't know if I spelled that correctly).

As she squeezed, I prayed over and over. Apparently Gracyn swallowed a bone from a small fish she was eating and it was stuck and obstructing her breathing. After a few long minutes, which seemed like an eternity, the bone was dislodged and Gracyn swallowed it - ending our first Chikankata scare.

As all of this happened, I found myself contemplating all of our alternatives (which were few) if things took a turn for the worse. I was suddenly reminded (once again) of how dependent we are on the Lord and on the prayers which you offer up on our behalf. So, with that in mind, please remember to pray for us regularly as we pursue His calling here in Zambia.

It's Not Every Day You See This...

2011-12-27T04:37:00.000-08:00

Kerri and I went into Mazabuka the other day to do a little grocery shopping. As we sat down for lunch at the only restaurant in town, a pizza joint in a gas station, we saw this truck pull up to fuel up. I didn't know that you could fit two cows into the back of a pickup, did you?

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T04:34:00.000-08:00

We just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! We hope your holidays are a treasured time spent with family and friends! And we pray that Christ is at the center of it all!

Love,

The Roberts

Tried and Failed

2011-12-24T04:28:00.000-08:00

So, I (Brent) tried cooking a traditional Zambian meal the other night for my family, but failed miserably. In every home in Zambia during meal time, there is always Nshima on the table. It is made out of finely ground corn maize, but there is an art to making it correctly. I told our worker Dailes that I would try to cook before asking her.

After about 20 minutes, and some lumpy corn maize mush, I sent Gracyn to get Dailes to rescue me. The first picture is my attempt at Nshima (in the garbage). The second picture is Dailes' Nshima. Can you tell the difference in quality?

I promise that the next time I will get it right.

Don't Forget

2011-12-22T04:23:00.000-08:00

To date, we have raised nearly $13,000 towards our matching gift of $50,000. These funds will be used to develop our ministry center in Chikankata. If you're looking for a place to give year-end tax-deductible donations, look no further. By donating to this cause, your gift is automatically doubled!

To donate online, go to: https://www.denarionline.com/DonorServices/TEMPLATEPAGE.ASPX?COMP_REF=_CTEN&CONTENT=MISSIONARY&MISSION_REF=FC1339ADC5

To donate via mail, send checks to:

Commission to Every Nation

PO Box 291307

Kerrville, TX 78029-1307

**Be sure to include a separate note stating that the donation is for Eleeo Project.

Our First Few Days in Chik

2011-12-21T04:16:00.000-08:00

Here is a quick slideshow of images from our first few days in Chikankata. The kids absolutely love it here. Caleb said last night over dinner that he wants to stay at least 4 more years and Gracyn requested 6. We'll let the Lord determine our timeframe, but it is such a blessing that the kids love being here.

If you are receiving this post via email, you can view the slideshow at: https://picasaweb.google.com/mzungubwr/ChickankataHome2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Different Living

2011-12-19T04:10:00.000-08:00

We have moved and are in the process of settling in. No Internet access yet. So, we're providing updates via phone. First night we saw 6 rats. Killed the one in our dresser in our bedroom. Also had, not exaggerating, about 1,000 bugs fly into the house during unpacking. Lost electricity several times. Lost water the second day, but it has been restored. Not complaining, just trying to give you the full picture.

Please continue to pray for us. The phones will not be a viable source for Internet. So, we need to find other options. Learning to live in the African bush will probably be a bit challenging, but God is faithful and will see us through.

Blessings during the Christmas season!

Another Zambian First

2011-12-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

When my dad visited, one of the things that stuck out to him was that Zambia didn't have any drive-thru fast food restaurants. Well, Zambia is a changing! Kentucky Fried Chicken has just built a new restaurant in the southern section of the city known as Makeni. It probably will not open before we head down to Chik, but I had to snap a picture and share it with everyone else.

Think about that, a country of 12 million people getting their first escillator and first fast food restaurant all in one year. Kind of gets me excited about the "Firsts" we will see down in Chikankata. Maybe a village hearing for the first time in this generation about Jesus or a church being planted where there never has been one. Won't that be awesome!

A Maddie Post

2011-12-14T07:58:00.001-08:00

This post is for all the parents out there who wonder about the things that affect missionary parents as they serve overseas. It's never fun to see your children sick, even when it's minor.

Case in point, our 3rd child, Maddie, has recently developed some kind of rash. If we were in the States, we probably could have it diagnosed very quickly and apply the appropriate medicine. But here in Zambia, we're left kind of wondering and experimenting with what treatments we can find.

Maddie is doing okay, but she is itching a bit. We're giving her some Benadryl cream tonight to see if that works, but if you remember, say a prayer for her. Pray that whatever is causing the rash would just go away! Pray for the parents too! Pray for our peace and sanity during this time of transition.

Thank you.

How Much Can You Carry in a Wheelbarrow?

2011-12-13T11:10:00.000-08:00

Things you don't see back in the States! I saw this guy while I was out today running errands. Quite amazing! I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

Moving to Move

2011-12-12T10:57:00.001-08:00

So, we're still in the city, but hoping to complete our move very soon. Part of that process includes moving our workers (Dailes & Pauline) and their families with us to Chikankata. This past weekend, we successfully moved Dailes's possessions to a central location here in Lusaka. And Today, it was Pauline's turn.

Our goal is to get all of our remaining stuff and their stuff in one place so we can have a truck come and pick it all up. As you can see from the pictures, the move was a community affair. The family and a whole bunch of neighbors came to see and help us get the vehicles loaded. By the end of the day, we had taken three car loads (inside and on top) across town.

Please continue to pray for us. We are trying to arrange a truck to come and move us either Tuesday or Wednesday. In the States, this might not be such a big ordeal, but in Zambia, it is not the same story. Once this truck comes, we should be in Chikankata full-time, yay!

A Different Kind of Start

2011-12-11T02:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday afternoon, I met with Gilbert Masonde, a pastor and friend here in Zambia. A church in the States is trying to help him fix his vehicle so they asked if I could assist in the process. When he showed up, I was quite surprised at how he started his car. I don't know if you can see it in the picture above, but he is actually using a screwdriver to start his car. I told him that if he got into his car in the States and started it this way, the police would definitely think that he stole it.

It was good reconnecting with Pastor Masonde. The laughs I got from seeing him start his car was a welcome break to a somewhat stressful day of trying to get things done in Lusaka. Hopefully, by next week, he'll be starting his car in a slightly more normal way!

At What Temperature Does...

2011-12-10T00:58:00.000-08:00

Water Boil??? Living in Zambia, you find that things don't quite work the way they do in the States. Take a spaghetti dinner for instance. The other night, Kerri was trying to make some spaghetti and started boiling water to cook the noodles. After 20 - 30 minutes, she looked a bit perplexed. The spaghetti sauce was bubbling, the burner was on high and was working, but still no boiling.

She thought: "maybe it's the water." So, she replaced the water that she had poured from the tap with bottled drinking water. Another 20 minutes and it still wasn't working. So, in came the problem solver (me).

I decided that if it wasn't the type of water and it wasn't going to boil on the stove top, then we would just put the pot in the oven and turn the oven all the way up. Another 20 - 30 minutes and voila, still no boiling. Now we were both really confused.

Since the water was steaming, we thought it was hot enough to cook the spaghetti noodles. At least this effort was successful even though it took a little bit longer than if the water were boiling. On a side note, the next morning when Kerri was heating some water for our coffee, she put a top on the pot (the same pot we used for the spaghetti noodles). And guess what? The water boiled. Had we known that the night before, we would have been able to eat our spaghetti dinner before 10:30 pm!

Sorry for such a descriptive story on cooking spaghetti, but we just wanted to give you some insight into the small things that make living in Zambia different than living in the States.

Sweet Reunion

2011-12-08T00:50:00.000-08:00

A few days ago we had the opportunity to visit Dailes. For those of you who didn't know or remember, Dailes has been working for us since we arrived in Zambia in Feb 2008. She has become very much a part of our family since then. While we were back in the States, there were many times that Maddie would ask, "When are we going to go back to our home in Zambia and see Auntie Dailes?"

Well, they finally got that opportunity! Both of them ran to Dailes and gave her big hugs. I honestly didn't know if Ellie would remember her, but she definitely did. While it was hard to leave the States, it has helped ease the pain by getting to see our friends here.

Video Tour of Our Home in Chik

2011-12-07T11:20:00.000-08:00

Here it is, a video tour of our home in Chik. Starts in the kitchen, then to the dining room, then to our bedroom and bathroom, then to the living room, then to the school room, then to the second bathroom and finally to the boys room. The girls room is still being renovated. So, it was not captured in this video.

Enjoy!

If you are receiving this post via email, click the following link to view the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMYhGeKB8y0

Still Settling!

2011-12-06T00:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we left the girls in Lusaka and Kerri, Caleb, Thomas and I went down to our new home in Chikankata. We really didn't know what to expect, but were pleasently surprised when we walked in the home. The Reeves did a wonderful job getting the house ready, including the addition of a bed and bathroom for Kerri and me.

We hope to upload a video tour of our home very soon, but need to figure out better internet options before we can do this.

Please continue to pray for us as we settle in. We are still staying in Lusaka until we can move our workers and the last of our things down. We hope to be fully moved in by this weekend!

We're Back!!!

2011-12-02T14:02:00.000-08:00

It started with our departure from Columbia. We arrived at the airport on Wednesday Morning to find out that our flight to Washington, D.C. was no longer offered by United. Luckily they had space on a 10 am flight and were able to get us to D.C. on time.

In D.C., the antics ramped up some more. Apparently, 3 weeks ago, South African Airways made a policy that anyone flying through S. Africa needed Yellow Fever vaccinations. The only problem was that 3 of our kids vaccinations had expired and the other 2 had never received them. After going back and forth and praying a lot, we were able to convince them to let us on the flight. There was no guarantee that we would be able to board the next flight to Lusaka, but at least we would be closer.

Then, as we were finishing getting the tickets printed, Kerri realized something that we hadn't noticed the 8 months prior: our flight from S. Africa to Zambia was scheduled to fly out on the 2nd, not the 1st like we thought. Probably wouldn't be a big deal except we had no hotel reservations and we didn't know of any places to stay. But we boarded the plane and just figured that if the Lord wanted us to land in Lusaka, He would work out the details.

In S. Africa, we found a hotel after about 2 hours of searching. It was a pretty little lodge located just 15 minutes from the airport, but it was a sleeping adventure this time. The room we were given had a bunk bed and two single beds. You try to figure out how to sleep 7 with bed space for 4! Needless to say, Kerri and I snuggled all night and 4 of our children slept 2 to a bed.

The next morning and all today was pretty uneventful. When we went to the ticket counter to ask for our boarding passes, we were not even asked for our vaccination records again. We boarded the flight and landed in Lusaka at 9:00 pm.

So, itt was an adventure, but we've finally made it! What we thought was to be a 33 hour trip (including layovers) turned out to be closer to 52 hours. Had this been 4 years ago, we probably wouldn't have known how to react, but after living in Zambia for so long, we've learned to be flexible and pray a lot!

Brain Flagilation

2011-11-20T18:45:00.001-08:00

So, when a missionary is nearing the end of a year long furlough, you should never ask him to perform a complex task. Because of all of the different things running through his head (i.e. dealing with the stress of packing, leaving behind loved ones, coordinating a shipping container, etc.) he might just not have the mental aptitude to handle such a task.

Take this afternoon for instance. Kerri asked me to do something very simple, order pizza. We were throwing a small going away party for the kids. We wanted to let them have one last time to play with their closest friends this side of the ocean before heading back to Zambia and the guest list included 41 children.

So, Kerri asked me to buy enough pizza for these children. That's where the fun began. Somehow, in my mind, she wasn't asking me to purchase enough pizza for 41 kids, but, for some reason, she was asking me to purchase 41 pizzas. I don't know why it didn't register in my mind when I knew the bill was going to be close to $200, but it didn't. So, when the pizza showed up, the mistake was quite obvious! The kids were happy and full, but I felt just a wee bit dumb!

Please be praying for us over the next 2 weeks. We fly out in 10 days and things are getting more and more hectic. Pray for patience, wisdom in packing, a sweet goodbye with family and friends and a sweet reunion with our friends in Zambia.

3 Generations

2011-11-13T18:07:00.000-08:00

If you are receiving this post via email, CLICK HERE to view the video.

As part of our presentation this evening in Charleston, Mimi, Kerri and Gracyn (3 Generations) sang a song to end our time of sharing. It was rather tear jerking trying to watch this performance, knowing that we will be officially saying goodbye in 16 days. If you get a chance, check out Gracyn's first performance. She was AWESOME!!!

We also wanted to share the good news that we received this past week. We are now at 100% of our monthly budget, both one-time and monthly! Thank you to all of you who have joined our team and are partnering with us in this work in Chikankata.

Just a reminder though, that we are still trying to raise the startup budget for the ministry. This is what we received the $50,000 matching gift. So, think of us for those year-end giving opportunities.

Blessings!

Amazing Opportunity

2011-11-10T18:33:00.000-08:00

As we have ventured out in faith in this move to Chikankata, we have continually been amazed at the Lord's provisions along the way. Very recently He provided again. On Monday, a week ago, we had a couple from Texas pledge to match any and all donations we can raise up to $50,000. They requested these donations be used to cover the development costs of our ministry centre in Zambia, not for missionary support. And they have given us a timeline to raise these matching funds (until the end of 2011).

As you can imagine we are overwhelmed at the opportunity this presents. If realized, these funds we will be used to accomplish some of our goals for development sooner than later. Can you help us? Would you consider making a one-time donation of any size toward this need and take advantage of this unique opportunity to see your gift doubled?

If you would like to help us in this way, please give online at the following link: https://www.denarionline.com/DonorServices/TEMPLATEPAGE.ASPX?COMP_REF=_CTEN&CONTENT=MISSIONARY&MISSION_REF=FC1339ADC5

or send checks to:

Commission To Every Nation
PO Box 291307
Kerrville, TX 78029-1307

*Please inclued Eleeo Project in a separate note or the memo field of the check.

P.S.

It's also a great time to be thinking about those year-end donations!

Great News!!!

2011-11-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

We are receiving donations and have begun filling the container. We're trying to have it filled and ready for shipping by our Nov 30th departure date. Would you consider helping?

Below are some of the items we are looking to include in this container, but for which we still need donations. Maybe you know someone who is trying to get rid of one of these items for a tax deductable receipt:

If so, have them give us a call or send us an email!

Brent Roberts

803-447-1919

RobertsinZambia@gmail.com

Personal Items such as: Bike Helmets for the kids and parents

Fishing Rods & Reels as well as tackle

Ministry Items like this Hand Drill System for Drilling Water Wells

And Larger Farm Equipment like this Gator XUV

Our First Goodbye : (

2011-10-31T14:09:00.001-07:00

As time passes, we are getting closer and closer to our return to Zambia. This weekend was a reminder that our departure is just around the corner. We were in Knoxville visiting Kerri's brother Matt and his family. Being that we don't make it up to Knoxville on a very regular basis and they don't have any planned trips to Columbia, this was the last time that we would get to spend with the Grimsley's before we fly out November 30th. While we had a wonderful visit, it was hard to say goodbye.

Returning to Zambia is kind of a "Catch 22" in a sense. We look forward to, with much anticipation, reuniting with our Zambian & other missionary friends, starting this new ministry in Chikankata and settling down in our new home. But at the same time, we don't look forward to saying goodbye to all of our family and friends. I know I've said it many times before, but it's worth repeating. The hardest part of missions is leaving behind those you love.

So, if you think of us over these next 30 days, say a prayer. Pray for us. Pray for our friends and family. Pray that the Lord would grant us his comfort and peace as we say goodbye again.

Hitting the Ground Running

2011-10-25T10:14:00.001-07:00

CLICK HERE to view the Zambia Container Project Flyer

Do you want to help us hit the ground running when we get back to Zambia? We have just started filling a 40ft shipping container that will be sent to assist us in our ministry in Chikankata. Take a look at the flyer and see if there are any items you might be willing to donate.

These items will be used in the:

Development of a Ministry Centre
Starting Clean Water and Agricultural Projects
Outreach and Leadership Training
Caring for Widows and Orphans; and
Missionary Living Setup

Also, if you would like to make a financial donation, we are trying to raise money for the shipping costs. Information for making financial donations is also included in the flyer.

Above all, please pray for this effort. We are trying to have this container filled and ready for shipping by our departure date of November 30th. Pray that the Lord would provide the donated items, the finances for shipping & clearance in Zambia to import this container!

Thank you

Story Runners

2011-10-10T19:34:00.000-07:00

So, how do you train leaders in a culture where 80% of the people cannot read or write? You tell stories! There are various groups that have put together chronological stories which help communicate the story of Jesus (beginning in the book of Genesis and working through to the Gospels). And this week, I (Brent) am in training in Orlando, Florida doing such training.

I arrived this evening just in time for the first session. Before the end of the session, we broke into small groups and practiced telling the story of the demon possessed man in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 5. It was really interesting listening to people from different cultures trying to tell this story in a way that was contextualized for their own people.

Tonight, I met two guys from Africa (Benin and Cameroon), a family from Laos, another couple now living in the states who used to work in Botswana, and many more. There are 24 people from 9 different countries here at the Wycliffe Training Center going through this training.

Would you please pray for us this week as we seek to learn effective ways to communicate the Gospel message to semi-illiterate and illiterate cultures? Would you also be in prayer for Luke Whitfield, who is in well-drilling training in North Carolina? Also pray for us next week. I will be joining Luke at Equip Ministries to learn how to install and repair water pumps. These are the last bits of training we will receive before our return to Zambia in November.

The Calm Before the Storm

2011-09-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

We are getting ready to head off to vacation with some of our friends for all of next week, but we wanted to ask you to pray for us as we gear up for these last two months in the States.

Currently, we are at 100% of our one-time funding, 89% of our monthly funding and, along with the Whitfields, are about to begin raising additional funds to ship a 40ft shipping container with much needed supplies for our ministry in Zambia.

We are now only 67 days away from leaving our family and friends and returning to our home in Zambia. Please pray for our sanity : ).

Pray also for the remainder of our monthly support, pray for the $13,000 we will need to ship the container to Zambia and pray for our family (emotionally, spiritually, physically, etc...). Pray for our families and friends here whom we are leaving behind - specifically pray for the grandparents. Leaving definitely is the hardest part of missions.

Thank you so much for standing behind us. You are such a blessing to our family and ministry.

Zambia's 5th President

2011-09-22T17:47:00.001-07:00

In Zambia, if you ever want to carry a conversation, just talk politics. Most Zambians follow their politics religiously and love discussing many different aspects of their governing body. Well, I bet there is a lot more to talk about these days. On Tuesday, October 20th, Zambia held their presidential elections. The results were released today showing that challenger Michael Sata, won the election.

As I was asked by my Zambian friend Alex, please pray for a peaceful transition in leadership and pray for the people of Zambia.

Thank you

Guest Blog

2011-09-15T06:52:00.000-07:00

A friend of ours, Danielle Cevallos, recently asked Kerri to write a guest post on her blog about adoption. If you get a chance, check it out! Just click on the picture above to be directed to her blog.

Faith at Work

2011-09-12T17:34:00.001-07:00

So how do you start a project in a remote village in Zambia and get the locals to take ownership? That is hopefully what I will be finding out this week in North Carolina. Equip Ministries International runs a week long training program called Community Health Evangelism. We're hoping this program will give us the framework for working on different projects in the villages of Chikankata.

Mulungu Ali Bwino (God is Good!)

2011-09-05T21:48:00.000-07:00

We just wanted to quickly give you an update on our finances and thank the many of you who have been praying for our return to Zambia. Last week, we shared that we were at 81% of our monthly needs and 37% of our one-time needs. Well, the Lord did some pretty amazing things this past week. We received over $14,000 in one-time donations and are now at 100% of our one-time funding!

In addition to this, our monthly support has increased a little as well (up 1% to 82%). We have also received 6 additional commitments for monthly support but we are waiting to find out the total amount of these commitments. Needless to say, we're getting close. Our prayer is that we would be fully funded within the next month so we can shift our focus to planning for our return. Would you join us in this same prayer?

Without Your Help, He Might Be Lost Forever

2011-09-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

(If you are receiving this post via email, CLICK HERE to view the video)

Please take the time to watch this video. We have a crisis. The American culture is getting to Thomas. And we believe we are on the verge of losing him FOREVER! Recently, he disappeared in the house with the IPAD and shot this a video. Kerri and I immediately went to the Lord in prayer on his behalf. During this time, we came away with only one answer: We need to get him back to Zambia.

To that end, we are planning on returning November 30th but we need your help in leaving on this date. We're still looking for financial partners who will commit to monthly giving. It doesn't have to be a lot, even a gift of $10 to $20 a month could make a significant impact in helping us reach our monthly goal. Would you consider helping us avert this crisis?

To make online donations, please visit us on the web at: www.CTEN.org/brentroberts.

Thank you

P.S.
If, by chance, you didn't catch the humor in this post, we will be in prayer for you ; )

Recent Provisions

2011-08-26T19:22:00.001-07:00

When Kerri and I decided to step out in faith and move to a different location in Zambia, with a different organization, we really didn't know what to expect. We knew that if the Lord was truly calling us to do this, then He would also move on our behalf to provide for our needs, of both prayer and finances. Below is testimony of the many ways that He has already moved on our behalf. We share these in hopes that they might encourage you to step out, wherever you are, and trust Him. Listen to what God has already done!

Before leaving Zambia, the chieftainess agreed to give our family and the Whitfield family 50 - 100 acres of ancestral tribal land on which to start a new ministry center.

The Lord provided housing, basically in the middle of nowhere, that is adequate for both the Roberts and Whitfield families. Think about that, 4 adults & 10 kids worth of space!

Since our transition to CTEN, we have received $290 a month in new pledges and many of our existing supporters came with us, meaning that we are now at 81% of our targeted monthly budget. Only 19% ($1,000) more needed before our November 30th departure.

We have received an additional $7,450 (37%) in one-time setup donations. These donations will go towards such things as fixing our vehicle, buying appliances more suitable for rural living, etc.

Then, very recently, we received two rather sizable donations:

A company in Chicago has agreed to donate new power tools and 2 generators valued at approximately $15,000; and

A church here in Columbia, is purchasing a 40ft shipping container and will be helping us coordinate shipping these tools and generators and other ministry items to "hit the ground running" in Zambia.

Don't we serve an amazing God!

Now, with these recent provisions, we also have additional needs. So, please be in prayer for us. As we mentioned earlier, we are still trying to raise $1,000 in monthly support and $12,550 in one-time setup support. In addition to this, we are asking God to find individuals, small groups & churches to assist us with donations that will not only allow us to fill the shipping container, but also cover the cost of shipping ($13,000).

If you would like more information on any of these opportunities to assist our ministry, please feel free to contact us at RobertsinZambia@gmail.com. If you would like to make a donation, please do so at the following links:

Monthly and One-Time Setup Donations: www.CTEN.org/brentroberts

Shipping Container Project: For financial donations send checks to Chapin Baptist Church, 950 Old Lexington Hwy, Chapin, SC 29036. Be sure to include "Wednesday Knights Zambia Fund" in the memo field. A list of items needed for the container will be published at a later date.

Above all we ask for your prayers as we continue to trust God and believe that in Him we will not be disappointed (1 Peter 2:6)!

Introducing the Roberts

2011-08-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

(Click the Picture Above to View the Video)

A dear friend of ours, Leon Bouknight, recently assisted us in putting together a new ministry video for our ministry in Zambia. Please take a look if you get a chance. It is meant to be a simple video introducing us and our ministry to individuals who don't know us very well. It's 9 minutes in duration. So, if you have a chance watch it and maybe share it with someone else who has not heard about us or our ministry!

Utterly Meaningless

2011-08-17T19:28:00.000-07:00

(Click Here if you are receiving this video via email)

If you opened up this post to receive a thought provoking story. You have wasted your time. While we do value communicating certain spiritual truths, ministry updates and missionary life experiences through our posts, we also believe it is important that you see our silliness as well. The above video is a prime example. It's called: Cookie Face Race. Enjoy!

Renovations Are Underway!

2011-08-09T11:23:00.001-07:00

One of the reasons we cannot return until the end of November is because we currently do not have a home to move into. The Reaves, our landlords, have just begun the addition of a bed and bathroom to our house in Zambia. This addition is scheduled to be finished shortly before we return November 30th. Anyways, we just thought you would want to see some pictures of the progress that they are making.

A Day of Worship

2011-08-04T04:35:00.000-07:00

This week I had a last minute opportunity to attend a conference in Chicago with our friends and ministry partners Luke and Elise Whitfield. Thanks to frequent flyer miles (provided by my dad) and cheap lodging (free) the trip was possible. It's been fun getting to meet the rest of the Whitfield family and see where Luke grew up. Yesterday was pretty amazing too, as we attended the first day of this three day conference. The first speaker spoke about being completely sold out to Jesus no matter what the cost. Worship in the evening was lead by Hillsong United. Needless to say, we all had a great time.

Please pray for us the next few days. Blessings!

August Report

2011-07-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

(To View the Letter, Click Here or Click the Picture Above)

We've put together an update for August. It will be mailed out next week, but we wanted to make it available online before then. We think you will enjoy the short story at the beginning of the update. Also included is an overview of the new ministry in Chikankata.

Blessings,

The Roberts

Every Man, Woman & Child

2011-07-21T11:56:00.001-07:00

(Kerri Roberts & Allison Shipman doing a little tubing on Lake Murray)

This past weekend, we had the priveledge of attending a gathering/conference on Church Planting. There was a guest speaker, Dwight Smith, who is the president and founder of Saturation Church Planting International and a few other local leaders all with a similar vision: "Reaching every man, woman & child in a geographic area with a repeated opportunity to hear and accept or reject the Gospel of Christ."

Most of the attenders were church planters who live and work in South Carolina, but our location was irrelevant. We, just like them, have been put in a specific place (Chikankata, Zambia) at a specific point in the history of the world (2012 and the foreseeable future) to repeatedly reach a people who need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Sometimes it's good to get away with people with a similar vision for ministry and dream big for what God wants to accomplish through his people. And to that end, the weekend was a success!

Kerri and I came away from the weekend very refreshed in our journey with God and challenged in our future ministry both in our family and to the Tonga People of Chikankata, Zambia.

Please do pray for these church planters who want to make an impact right here in South Carolina. There were couples present who are currently planting churches in Columbia, Lexington, Aiken and Charleston.

Sharing in Chapin

2011-07-10T14:25:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning we had the privelege of sharing about our ministry in Zambia with a combined Sunday School at Chapin Baptist Church. This is the second time we have had the opportunity to visit with our friends here. Typically when we share, we leave at least half of the time for questions & answers. Our thought is that we could rack our brains trying to figure out everything to cover, but there will still be people who want to know something about Zambia, our ministry or family life that we wouldn't think of.

While we do field some of the same questions, I am amazed at how many times we get questions we haven't been asked before. For instance, today, a couple wanted to know about how the kids were schooled. Something I wouldn't think to cover in a presentation, but something of interest to those hearing about our ministry.

We enjoyed our time with Chapin Baptist this morning and are thankful for the relationships that God has given us with some of the members of this church. But in order to fulfill His vision of reaching Chikankata, we need additional prayer and financial partners standing behind us in this work. It is through speaking engagements such as these that the Lord has and continues to build our support network.

How about you? Do you have a church, small group or a few friends who might be interested in hearing about our ministry in Zambia? We would love the opportunity to share. Please contact us at RobertsinZambia@gmail.com if you would like to set something up.

Our New Ministry

2011-07-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

Above is a video introducing Chikankata and our new ministry. Please take the time to watch if you get a chance. It's just under 5 minutes in duration.

If you are receiving this post via email, please go to the following link to view the video: CLICK HERE.

A Four Year Summary

2011-06-30T22:34:00.000-07:00

Our friends and partners in ministry are about to make the trip back to the States to join us in support raising for the next several months before returning to Zambia in the new year. Above is a pictoral summary of their ministry over the past 4 years. It's a really good video of the impact their ministry has already had in Lusaka and beyond. Please take the time to watch.

If you are receiving this post via email:

CLICK HERE to view this video

Saved a Life, but...

2011-06-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a post that our friend Steve Allen wrote a little while ago. It gives great insight in to the cultural stigma attached to HIV/AIDS in Zambia. Difficult, but great read!

======================================

I saved a life this week... And it probably won't matter. (It didn't)

I don’t write these kinds of blogs very often, but I really need to give you a sobering look at HIV/AIDS in Africa. This is probably going to hurt a bit, but I think if you can hang in there long enough, you might be able to save a life as well.

Last Sunday, I was picking up ACTION missionaries Paul and Patrick from a church in a compound near my house. When I arrived, I asked the pastor how his niece was doing. His mother was carrying this little girl and when I approached her to pray for the baby, I was shocked by the size of her face. On Friday night, the baby began crying, and as they later discovered, had sores all over the inside of her mouth and then her face began to swell. When I saw her on Sunday, she hadn’t eaten anything in a day and a half. She has been to two clinics. I stood there, by my car, in this dirty, crowded compound, with this desperate mother and whimpering child, gawked at by all the Zambians, wondering what I should do.

I spoke first to the pastor, saying, “Why don’t you call me in the morning and if she is still bad, I can take her to a private hospital.” But, I thought, she might not be alive in the morning. I have witnessed too many babies dying of such preventable causes that I just couldn’t leave her but, honestly, I also didn’t want to give up my Sunday afternoon nap. (Just being honest.)

After praying for this sister-in-law of the pastor, she walked towards the house of the pastor. I was very conflicted. What do I do? I got in the car, and began driving out of the compound, but said, “I need to take her to the hospital.” And so I got the o.k. from my guests and pulled over by the house. I saw my pastor friend and told him what I was thinking. The mother with the child and the wife of the pastor came along with the pastor and we all headed out the hospital, over bumps, through gullies, alongside little raggedy shops, kids yelling out and waving, with this dying little 2 year old dying in my car.

We made it to the hospital and I left them waiting for a consultation. An hour later the baby was admitted to the hospital for what would become a four night stay. The baby had HIV. They found that out after the second day when I had to convince the pastor to have the baby tested. With medicine and ARV’s, the baby could have a chance, unlike the sister before him, who had died around the same age.

If the mother had been tested any time in the past few years, and had taken ARV’s drugs, this baby could have been born without HIV. If the baby had been taking ARV’s from the beginning, it could have been saved from this traumatic event. But, what is even more maddening, is that, the baby will probably not live, because they will probably not either be faithful to give the baby the ARV’s or will refuse to, out of fear of stigma and mistreatment of people in the community or some other obstacle that happens so often.

I am not kidding. The fear of HIV/AIDS runs so deep that people will choose to live in ignorance and denial rather than receive a free test, free counseling, free medicine and free follow-ups for the rest of their lives. Please pray for Zambians and African in general.

--------------------Update-------------------------

After four days in the hospital, and a relatively healthy month, the parents stopped giving their baby medicines because they couldn’t afford the “review” price. If there is one thing you can't do with HIV medicine is miss even a day. I was in the states at the time. They finally got the money to go and switched to a free government clinic. A few weeks later, though, the baby got sick one Friday afternoon, went to the clinic for a blood draw and then died that night. That was three days ago. I didn't go to the funeral. I am not sure why. Maybe I am still to angry. It conflicted with my own family schedule. I am still wrestling with all of that. I should have gone. It was the right thing to do culturally. Anyway, we move on... Will the mother finally get tested and get on ARV’S? It remains to be seen. Such is the life we live here... Pray for us, too... I apologize if this was a little too raw. Sometimes, reality cannot be ignored.

One more thing, my title was a bit of an exaggeration. It did matter. She got another couple months with her only daughter. She learned that the cause of the death is HIV related (whether she will admit that is another situation altogether) and hopefully as a result she will get tested, thus allowing her to live a healthier life and give birth to more children who are healthy. Maybe I didn't save the life of this baby, but perhaps I will allow a life to live if there is another baby.

So how do you play out in all of this? Could you pray? Check out our HIV/AIDS ministry that I am more and more sold on as a significant way to help fight this war against AIDS in Africa. Lastly, do a little inventory of your own life. Is there anything you are too afraid of checking into that you would rather (literally) die than deal with?

Timeline for Our Return

2011-06-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

One of the most frequently asked questions we have had thus far since being back in the States is "When are you scheduled to return to Zambia?" I don't know if it is because people are ready to get rid of us ; ) or if they are just curious, but we figured we would write this short post to give you a timeline for our return.

If you're someone with a short attention span, don't like to read more than two paragraphs, or just want a high-level answer, then you can stop reading here: It's November 30th

=================================

If you're a details person and want to know how we will be spending the next few months while here in the States, then here is the longer answer:

While we are ready to return tomorrow and we can't wait to get back to Zambia, there are a few things that are contributing to our return date being November 30th:

Rental Home Renovations - Our rental home in Zambia is under renovation. Being that this house is the only one in the area that can accomodate our family, we must wait for the renovations to be completed. To that end, we are hoping they will be complete upon our return. (If you are receiving this post via email, CLICK HERE to view a video tour of our rental home in Chikankata)

Various Training Opportunities - Luke and I are scheduled to attend several training sessions in September and October that we see as vital to this new ministry. These include:

September 5 - 9: Community Health Evangelism,

October 3 - 7: Hand Drilling Water Wells

October 3 - 7: Chronological Bible Storying for Illiterate and Semi-Illiterate Cultures

October 10 - 14: Water Pump Installation

Support Raising - Based on where we are moving, we will have a few one-time needs in Chikankata that we didn't have in the city (i.e. generator, satelite internet, etc.). In addition to this, our montly support could use a boost and we need to raise ministry funds so that we can fulfill the vision to which the Lord has called us. So, over the next few months, we will be trying to meet with individuals, small groups and churches in order to raise these much needed funds.

On that front, please be in prayer for us. While this new ministry is a great opportunity and God has given us and the Whitfields a heart for the people of Chikankata, we need financial backing to do the work. Pray that God would raise up financial and prayer partners over these next few months who are committed to helping us fulfill this vision of reaching every man, woman and child in these 240 villages of Chikankata, Zambia!

A Third World Project

2011-06-22T08:01:00.000-07:00

While I was back in Zambia, we were able to finish construction on the hammer mill. A hammer mill is used to process Maize (corn) into mealie (Zambian's staple food). This project is expected to provide the community with a nearby location for processing their maize while at the same time provide in-country funding for AZ's ministry centre.

We just thought you would like to see this Third World income generating project and how it was started. So, above, is a video of the project from the beginning up until implementation (opening day). If you are receiving this post via email, you can view the video by going to the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reox2ZOCMew.

Thank you to all of you who sacrificed to support this project.

It's Official

2011-06-20T20:51:00.000-07:00

www.CTEN.org

It’s official! We have finished our commitment with Action International Ministries and have signed on with a new sending agency (Commission to Every Nation) to go back to Zambia.

www.EleeoProject.Org

We will be moving from the city (Lusaka) to rural Zambia (Chikankata) to start a new ministry. Working alongside the local tribal leader, we will seek to address the physical and spiritual poverty of the Tonga people through various biblically based ministries. We have given this new ministry the name Eleeo Project. Please take the opportunity to find out more about this ministry at www.EleeoProject.org.

Future Speaking Engagements:
If you are associated with any churches, small groups, individuals, etc., who might be interested in hearing about our new ministry, we would love the opportunity to share. Please contact us at RobertsinZambia@gmail.com with any inquiries.

Orientation

2011-06-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Kerrville, Texas! We arrived here on Monday afternoon for our three-day orientation with our new sending agency, Commission To Every Nation. We had a great first day, getting to hear more about the vision of CTEN from its founder, Richard Malm. We also heard from each of the pastoral care team members and received some encouragement and instruction in the areas of Partnership Development and taxes! Of course, we also had the privilege of meeting about 25 neat people who God has called to various work around the world. We are already very excited about this new partnership and look forward to learning more over the next two days. Please pray for us, as well as for our kids and parents back home in SC!

Do They Look Alike?

2011-06-09T17:17:00.000-07:00

I am one of those people who will watch a movie and then people watch to see when people look like movie stars. Well, tonight, I think I found a movie star in my own home. Kerri's favorite movie is Dumb and Dumber. You can ask her about that one. But as I sat there and looked at Ellie sitting in her seat, I kept thinking of Jeff Daniels from Dumb and Dumber. Do you see the striking resemblence to his character in the movie? I think it's time for Ellie to get a hair cut!

Zambia Report

2011-06-08T09:06:00.000-07:00

We are in the process of shifting gears in terms of a new ministry and support raising, but before posting anything on the new ministry, I wanted to give an update on how things unfolded on my most recent trip back to Zambia.

As you recall, the trip had multiple purposes: to move our household goods into storage in Chikankata, prepare Action Zambia for their year-end financial audit, a few other administrative tasks such as switching the ownership on the motorcycle, planning for the new ministry in Chikankata and finally starting the hammer-mill business at Ciyanjano that I had been working on before returning to the States last December.

Well, in terms of getting everything done that I set out to accomplish, the trip was a success! We moved our home the first week I was back in Zambia, started the audit (which was wrapping up when I left) in the third week, changed ownership on the bike (with the help of a Zambian friend Chilito), made significant progress in planning for the new ministry with the Chieftainess and 3 days before I left, opened up the Ciyanjano hammer-mill business with a free day for the community.

I must say that spending 6 weeks away from the family was not easy, but I was thankful for the time that I had to be back in Zambia to get these much needed things completed and to reconnect with our friends and teammates.

Prayers for a family

2011-05-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

A friend and supporter, Sam Moore, lost his battle with cancer this past week. Today, was the first that we had heard about it, but we wanted to ask you to lift his wife Rita and the rest of their family up in prayer during this time. Sam was a man who loved life and loved Jesus. He will be missed, but is now enjoying his life after this one with Jesus!

Below is his obituary as posted in the State Newspaper:

============================================

Samuel Edward Moore

| Visit Guest Book

COLUMBIA - Samuel Edward Moore, beloved husband, father and Papa slipped quietly away on May 9, 2011, to be with his heavenly Father. He will be greatly missed by many but left a legacy that will not soon fade from our memories.

Sam was born in Columbus, Ohio, on November 20, 1945, to Russell Arthur and Betty Jane Loudermilk Moore. After serving in the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers, he graduated from Ohio State University. He began his career at Nationwide Insurance in Columbus and later moved to Columbia with his family in 1977. He retired in 2004 as Director of Training and Development with HCS Tricare Division. However, he longed to be among his many co-worker companions at Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC and returned to assist with projects for several years. For the past two years he was honored to be part of the Informatics Corporation of America proposal team in Nashville, TN. He was President of SEMcon, LLC and a Capital Partner with Wallick Investments, LLC.

As a member of Windsor United Methodist Church for 33 years, he served faithfully in many capacities. He leaves behind many friends who will miss his bright smile and warm hugs every Sunday. He also left a special secret for the children who loved "Mr. Sam".

He is survived by his wife, Rita; daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Michael Brown of Burlington NC; daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and James Vanderslice of Taylors; grandchildren, Jacob and Phillip Brown and Emma and Palmer Vanderslice; sister and brother-in-law, Rachel and Larry Nichols of The Plains, OH; brother and sister-in-law, Russell H. and Lyn Moore of Phoenix, AZ; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins all of whom were so special to him. He was predeceased by his brothers, Frank and Don Moore and sisters, Bertha McCollum and Pamela Mascari.

A memorial service for Mr. Moore will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, May13, 2011, at Windsor United Methodist Church, with visitation following in Harbor Hall. Dunbar Funeral Home, Northeast Chapel, is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be made to Epworth Children's Home, P. O. Box 50466, Columbia SC 29250 or to Windsor United Methodist Church Fowler Scholarship Fund, 9500 Windsor Lake Blvd., Columbia, SC 29223.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.

Published in The State on May 12, 2011

True Religion

2011-05-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

I was reading a book this morning and really encouraged to examine my heart and its motivations. I thought I would share an excerpt that may encourage you today as well.

Blessings

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"Yet a man may both abstain from outward evil and do good, and still have no religion. Further, two persons may do the same good outward act--as feeding of the hungry--and one be religious, while the other is not. This is because one may do the act out of love and the other for the love of praise. Although real religion leads to good works and words, its real nature still lies deeper. Real religion lies in the hidden heart of man.

I say of the heart, because religion does not consist of right opinions or orthodoxy. While such matters are not necessarily outward things, they are not of the heart, but of the understanding. A person may be orthodox in every point, espousing right opinions and zealously defending them; he may think correctly concerning the Trinity, and every other approved doctrine taken from the Scriptures; he may agree with all of the historical creeds, and yet have no religion at all. He may be as orthodox as the devil, and still have no more religion than a pagan. He is indeed a pagan if he is a stranger to the religion of the heart.

This alone is religion as it is truly so-called. This alone is of value in the sight of God. Paul summarized religion in three particulars: righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit"

~ John Wesley

Something Funny

2011-05-04T02:05:00.000-07:00

The other night, I was out for coffee with two of my friends here in Zambia (Luke Whitfield and Todd Meyer). On our way home, we stopped to fuel up the car. As we were sitting there and the gas was being pumped, we noticed some Zambians catching these rather large grasshoppers that were attracted to a nearby light. They were catching them for food! Yes, grasshoppers are eaten by many people here.

Anyways, as we talked with these guys, we began to hear Luke gagging profusely in the back seat. Luke got the bright idea that he wanted to identify with these Zambians in this endeavor of eating grasshoppers. So, he took one and, on the spot, popped it into his mouth and began to chew. The end result was many tears from me and Todd as we were laughing uncontrollably at Luke's gagging and a puke stain down the side of Todd's car as Luke eventually threw up. Gross, but extremely funny!

Mothering Encouragement

2011-05-03T02:02:00.000-07:00

Kerri here. I had a great bit of encouragement from God's word concerning my job as a mother, and I wanted to share it. I'm sure that many of you friends can relate to my feelings and I hope you'll be encouraged by this as well.

Being with my kids 24/7 is an awesome privilege, but also a huge challenge. How often I fear that I am damaging my children when I don't walk in the Spirit, when I sin, when I lose my patience with them. How often I fear that they won't turn out right, that my efforts to lead them to Christ will fail, or that they will grow up to have negative feelings about their childhood. But God's word gave me the most awesome picture that puts those fears to rest. My friend and teammate from Zambia, Karen Singleton, is a mother to 4 grown children and she had often encouraged us younger moms by saying, "remember, girls, He gently leads those who are with young." So, finally I went to find that verse and read it in context. Here's what it says (in NASB):

"Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arms He will gather the Lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes." Isaiah 40:11

This is an awesome passage talking about how God will restore Israel. But do you see the incredible promises to us as mothers? He gathers the lambs and carries them in His bosom. And He gently leads me - the nursing ewe. I guess I've always had the image in my mind that I was the one responsible for carrying my children. That as I follow Christ, I carry my kids along with me - A tough job that I'm called to do. But as I read this passage I see that in reality He is the one carrying them and loving them. They need not be a burden to me. All I need to do is surrender myself to the Shepherd and follow where He leads. He, the good Shepherd, will not stumble, will not drop His lambs, will not let them down or sin against them. He does not lose His temper, or shout, or slam things, or grumble at them when they whine. He is completely trustworthy and He loves them with a depth that I can't even comprehend. God still gives me the responsibility to "nurse" the young lambs He has entrusted to me. I get to love them and pour my life into them, but I also have the promise that He will carry them and that He holds them close to His heart. As I follow Him and watch Him, I will learn and become more like Him as I nurture my young ones. Cool, huh?

I thank God for leading me, for making me more like Himself as I follow Him, for being a God in whom I can place all my trust, for giving my husband and me the privilege of joining Him in the task of "nursing" our children in His word and His ways. I hope you are encouraged along with me and strengthened as we move to the end of Isaiah 40 and read:

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might, He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:28-31

Back to Reality

2011-04-27T07:42:00.000-07:00

Loveness
It seems like you cannot be here too long before you hear about another death. A few days ago, one of Action Zambia's workers, Mwape's wife (Loveness) died. She had been very sick, but it still was unexpected. Please be in prayer for Mwape and his family. Loveness leaves behind her husband and son.

Update on Warren:
As I wrote about last week, Warren Carr, my host, wrecked my motorcycle and broke both bones in his lower leg. Today, he will be checking into a local clinic for a Thursday morning surgery. They will be fusing the bones back together with metal plates and pins. Please pray for him and his family during this time.

Sometimes you gotta love your country!

2011-04-26T19:34:00.000-07:00

Kerri here! Today I had the amazing pleasure of getting my driver's license renewed. Fortunately my license expired while I happened to be here in the States, so I was able to take care of it on time! We all sort-of dread going to the DMV because you never know what kind of wait you might find and how long it might take. This time I was in and out in 20 minutes! 20 minutes! Let me tell you, after having the experience of getting a driver's license in Zambia, I will never, ever complain about the DMV here! Some of our AZ teammates, Kelly and Tricia Huckaby, documented the process not long ago and I thought it was so funny I'd let you read it too! (Check out the Huckablog for regular, hilarious - and often poignant - episodes of daily living in Zambia)

How To Get a Zambian Driver's License in 50 Easy Steps

Go to Road Transit Safety Authority (RTSA) on Lumumba.
Go to the "Information" desk.
Ask for a medical examination form.
Go to Makeni clinic.
Overpay an unscrupulous doctor.
Go to RTSA on Lumumba and be told that they no longer except exams from Makeni andthat you have overpaid.
Go back 3 steps.
Or skip numbers (4-7) and go to one of the following approved government clinics:

Kamwala
Chilenge
Kalingalinga
Chawama
Kanyama
George
Mtendere
Chipata

Make sure this list is current!!
Pay k50,000 if you have an ARC.
Pay k1000,000 if you do not have an ARC.
Make sure you are meeting with one of the doctors who is "qualified" to administer the exam.
Take your date stamped medical form and receipt of payment to RTSA on Lumumba.
Be sure to bring at least two copies of your: ARC, passport, work permit, and US drivers license.
Get in line for Room 1.
Be sure to ask around and make sure you are in the right line and that the people who appear to be standing in that line are actually in line.
Plan on being here for anywhere from 1 hour to 4 hours.
When you reach Room 1, show them your documents and explain that you are seeking aconversion license.
You will receive a form for a provisional license.
Fill this out.
Take this to Data Capturing.
Then go to Rooms 2 or 3 for photographing.
Try to smile, you're almost halfway there.
Go to cashier (room 15 or 26)
Pay k63,000
Exit RTSA and purchase a King Pie from the cart.
Eat pie.
Return to the same window after 24 hours to set an appointment with RTSA Ridgeway branch for a competency/conversion test.
Pay k47,000 booking fee.
On the day of your booking go to RTSA on Lumumba go early!
Go to Room 7.
Be told to go see Mr. Mwamba across the street.
Drive into the black gates where everyone is lined up in their vehicles.
Skip the line.
Park.
Go see Mr. Mwamba in the booth.
Arrange for a drive test.
Even if RTSA on Lumumba "booked" your test for a certain time, this means nothing, plan on waiting at least a few hours.
Pay someone k15,000 to outfit your vehicle with "L" plates for your drive (this may be optional)
Pray
Do your drive test.
If you passed, go back to Mr. Mwamba and give him your paperwork for stamping.
Take this paperwork to RTSA on Lumumba after 24 hours.
Go to Room 25 and give them your forms.
Go to Room 26 and pay k79,000.
Exit RTSA
Buy a King Pie (Ham and Cheese is nice)
Eat pie.
In four weeks you can pick your card up at RTSA on Dedan Kimathi Rd.
Celebrate.

Please Pray

2011-04-20T09:49:00.000-07:00

Our dear friend and my host while I am here in Zambia, Warren Carr, was injured when he was run off the road this afternoon driving my motorcycle. He suffered a broken leg and several cuts and scrapes. He and his wife Vicki are at the hospital now. Please pray for him and his family during this time.

The gods are amongst us

2011-04-14T07:15:00.000-07:00

I was at a bible study with some friends when I met a visitor from the UK. John Paul Witt is a missionary working up in Northern Zambia. He told us this story below which I copied from his website. Just thought you might enjoy reading about how the Lord is working here to advance His Kingdom.
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Sometimes you hear a story of God that stops you literally dead in your tracks. This is such a story. This story was told to me by 3 people yesterday at a Life area leaders day.

In October last year in the area of Kamwale, some 30km south of Nchelenge, Northern Zambia and close to the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo, children were mysteriously dying at a school. Nobody knew what was causing the sickness, 17 children in all died. It seemed to be some kind of disease that gave haemorrhaging and violent stomach pain. The disease was fatal.

People in rural Africa, quite rightly believe that mysticism and witchcraft has power and is not load of rubbish. Confronted with this situation, many believed that the chief of the area wanted to gain more power and had bewitched the children, to demonstrate his power. At this a mob rose against the chief, and went to his palace to beat him. There was one other group that the mob rose against and this was the group that my organisation Dignity, had helped Augustine to create for the community. The groups study the Bible, pray and work for the good of the community. They seek to bring together many from different groups and reach out to those who are ostracised. Earlier in 2010, the crime zone of the village had dropped dramatically in response to the conversion to Jesus of many criminals in the area due to the activity of the group.

As people paid more attention to the Life! Group, it caused opposition from church groups that see them as a threat and often they are branded satanists, simply for wanting to help. As such it seemed to some of the people in the village that this “new” groube could be satanic and be causing the deaths at the school.

At that time Jo Hardy who works with Dignity was visiting the area with Augustine, a community activist, as part of a visit to encourage those there. As part of their visit, prayer was held, and I don’t honestly think that Jo was aware of everything that was going on. That’s not a lack of observation, it can be difficult to piece everything together when working through translators.

The bottom line is this. They prayed in the morning, those that died before they prayed were the last children to die of the unidentified deadly disease. No child or adult has died since. People in the area, have literally referred to Augustine, Jo and some of the group as “gods”, when they saw in the days afterwards the answer to prayer. The funny and humbling thing is that Jo does not know anything about it. (maybe she does now)

The very much relieved chief has ordered all his representatives to talk to the group in Kamwale to look at starting groups in many more areas, simply because God has defended His people, His honour, and more than that, stopped the needless death of children from a merciless disease.

3 people told me this story yesterday, and I have checked it more than once. It is true.

This amazing story reminds of one of the greatest leaders in the history of the Church, Paul and his visit to Lystra. “In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. [9] He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed [10] and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. [11] When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”
Acts 14:8-11 (TNIV)

The other day a friend said that he would pray that God would show me something noble, something upright, something to encourage me. I think he has and God has answered his
prayer.

I’m very proud to be a servant of the Living God and my mission is to take His freedom, His message and power to everyone, everywhere I can.

Landed and Swamped

2011-04-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

Packing our Home in Lusaka

Our Belongings Loaded into the Truck

The Truck the Next Morning

Unloading Our Belongings in Chikankata

I arrived in Zambia early Saturday morning and haven't stopped since. I've now been here over 108 hours and have only spent 12 of them sleeping. But we're finally moved! Monday night, we loaded a 17 meter truck bed with our entire home and drove to Chikankata. The driver was hesitant to drive at night because of thieves. Apparently, there was a stretch of road where some trucks drive really slow because of the steepness of the hills. It is here where bands of thieves will jump on board and take what they can. As we drove through this area, I was praying for extra power for the truck. I figured that if we didn't go slow enough for them to get on the truck, that we would be okay. Well, not only did we have enough speed, but we didn't see a sign of any thieves. We arrived safely in Chikankata (at 11:30 pm) after a short 2 hour trip.

Yesterday was a busy day as well. We had to unload the truck and put our belongings into storage - some into a room of the house we will be renting and the rest into a shipping container that us and the Whitfields are sharing.

The Roberts and Whitfields' Shipping Container

Moving the Shipping Container (Zambian Style)

Preparing the Foundation for the Container

We also had to offload the shipping container from a different truck that had delivered it the night before. This was a fun process. Being in Zambia and in the bush, crane operators and fork lifts are not available. So, we had to be creative. The farmer, whose houses we will be renting, had a loading dock nearby. So, we used one of his tractors to pull the shipping container from off the truck and then used this same tractor to drag the container about 1/4 mile to its final resting place. Once there, we used an adapter on the tractor to lift the container (one side at a time) so we could place supports underneath. After it was in place and on its temporary supports, we poured cement pillars under each of the corners. We will go back after they dry and lower the container on to these more permanent supports.

All this to say, even though it was not the best of conditions for a move, God was faithful. We are now moved out of our old home and beginning to move into the new one. Thank you for all of your prayers during this transition.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

2011-04-06T22:06:00.000-07:00

On Thursday at 3:00 pm, I will be boarding a plane to return to Zambia for 2 months. I'm really excited to be going back to Zambia, but, at the same time, know that I am going to miss Kerri and the kids. Would you please be in prayer for our family over the next several weeks?

Please pray:

For safety in Travel
That I will be able to move our belongings 2 hours south to our new home in Chikankata
For unhurried times with the Lord for both Kerri and me
For our children, that they would be obedient and helpful in my absence
That I would finish Strong with Action Zambia Ministries

Thank you!

That's not a Rat! This is a Rat!

2011-04-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

Posted by our Director yesterday. All I can say is "that is one HUGE rat!"

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Some of you may have seen the rat that was killed in our backyard a couple months ago. It was rather large and I thought the gardener was a little crazy to suggest that there were larger rats yet…that is, until yesterday! Our gardener trapped it with his patented paint can method. We measured this rat to be 80cm from tip of tail to the tip of the nose that’s over 30 inches!! Half of the length was the tail and half the body.

Last November when I first saw this type of rat (Cane Rat) I freaked out and told Tim it was the size of a cat. He didn’t believe me. I told him it was as big as Tristan…again, he thought I was exagerating. At the time Tristan was two months old. Well…here’s the proof!

Hurrying to Process

2011-04-01T03:30:00.000-07:00

This is a recent posting by one of our friends in Zambia.

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I never know quite what to expect when I go teach my three days a week Bible class. Sometimes, I go, I teach, I go home and its pretty normal. Other times, memories happen. Like, today, for example. I got there a bit early and we were talking about homework. My pastors aren’t super faithful about doing homework and I get frustrated about it at times. But, today I got a little perspective of the kind of “excuses” a pastor might have. Patson told me a story about what happened Monday night. This is a recent posting by one of our friends in Zambia.

Around 11pm, a women across the street from him starting yelling for help. Her nine year old son was not feeling well. Sadly, as Patson hurried over there and tried to get a taxi for her son, he died. Seriously. Patson thinks it may have been a double dose of medicine, one from the pharmacy and then one from the clinic, a lack of communication, and a lack of life, just like that. He wasn’t feeling well during the day. He dies at night. Patson, at midnight, took the body to the mortuary at the hospital, via taxi, with a few other guys. He gave some money to the taxi driver who was going to wait for them. The taxi driver didn’t wait. So, at 2:00 am, Patson and a few guys walked from the hospital back home. Probably a good 25 minute drive during the day turned out to be a two hour walk in the middle of the night. He told me that at the beginning of class. O.K., now teach. We talked about the book of Hebrews. I think it went o.k.

So, I gave Patson a ride home today. It is always such a significant time. Every time with Patson is significant. He starts telling me about his pastor’s fellowship meeting he goes to on Monday nights. The pastors switch off in preaching and the pastor who preached went way long and went here and there and didn’t have a point, according to Patson. Every since Patson took the preaching class I taught, he said, “I understand better how to preach and when people are not explaining the Bible right and how they should preach. I went up to him after and said that you need to put you in the message.” One of the five points of preaching that I taught is making sure that the message you preach affects you first. But I like how Patson put it: “You need to put you in the message.”

Anyway, we talked about doing a preaching seminar for a few pastors in his compound as we drove through his compound. . And then I get to his street and there are huge puddles covering the entire road, and people waiting at the community water station and then I see a crowd of women near Patson’s house gathering for the child who died. And, I am just overwhelmed, trying to smile for the 20 kids that are in the road yelling “Mzungu” and waving to me. Everything was a bit in slow motion. I drove home, slowly, through the poorest place you’ll never visit, listening to some slow, somber worship music, taking it all in. It is a different world, here. And, my processing is this blog, so please forgive if the grammar isn’t right and it doesn’t quite make sense. I’m not sure what does make sense these days. And then tomorrow, I start again. I need to hurry up and process because another day is coming.

Steve Allen

ACTION Zambia

The Details of Our Move

2011-03-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

(Our Rental Home in Chikankata - Ready in November 2011!)

It's in the mail, but we also thought we would include it on our blog. Below is a link to our March newsletter giving all of the details of our move to Chikankata, Zambia. It is rather lenghtly (3 pages), but we wanted to make sure we covered as much as we could. Please take the time to read it and get caught up with how the Lord is leading us to this new work in Zambia!

Click Here to view our March 2011 Newsletter.

Foundations for Farming

2011-03-19T17:56:00.000-07:00

Below is a post from Luke Whitfield on Foundations for Farming (a.k.a. Farming God's Way). When we return to Zambia, Luke and I will be trying to implement this program in Chikankata. So, I thought you might find his write-up about an international conference he attended in Zimbabwe interesting.

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Dear Friends,

It has been a while since our last update and so we wanted to take a few moments to fill you in with what has been going on in our lives. I, Luke, specifically would like to share about a recent trip I took to Zimbabwe to attend a week long seminar to be trained in conservation farming with a Christian ministry called Foundations for Farming. It was an amazing experience to be a part of a group that represented 16 countries including places like India, Mexico, Ukraine, Sudan and many more. One of the coolest stories was that of a very tall man name Michael from Southern Sudan. Michael shared about his dream to take what he had learned and begin teaching school children in Southern Sudan so that through the younger generation his people’s future might be a bit brighter.

I want to start by sharing some statistics. Over the past 50 years it is estimated that close to 2.3 trillion USD has been pumped into Africa in the form of aid. Africa also possesses 30% of the world’s natural resources. Sub Saharan Africa (where we are) has a great climate, bountiful rainfall, fertile soils and plenty of people to work the land. Despite these facts Africa’s total Gross Domestic Product only represents 1.3% of the world’s total. Poverty continues to grip the vast majority of the continent’s peoples resulting in Africa’s population growth exceeding agricultural production. Bottom line, Africa continues to be the hungriest and most malnourished continent on the planet.

Foundations for Farming is all about seeing Africans go from being the world’s beggars to becoming a blessing to the nations. Since the vast majority of Africa’s population are small scale farmers the vision is to teach productive farming techniques to these individuals with the net result being the production of enough food for families as well as extra income to aid in the development of economic growth. At the heart of this vision is a focus on achieving these outcomes through a heart change of the people. Based upon a Biblical perspective promoting stewardship with what God has given them the course encourages participants to farm on time, at a high standard, no wastage and most importantly with joy! This is a very simple explanation of what Foundation for Farming is all about and we would encourage you to take a second and learn more about this amazing and revolutionary ministry by visiting their website at: www.foundationsforfarming.org .

So why are we sharing all this with you? As we detailed in our February update, 2012 will see some major changes in our ministry focus. Upon our return to Zambia in January of 2012 we will be moving down to the rural area of Chikankata to begin full time work assisting the chief of that area in expanding the Kingdom of God amongst her people. As we have planned for this shift one of the unanswered questions has been what would be the best way to enter into the community and gain the trust of the Tonga people. After my trip to Zimbabwe we feel like Foundations for Farming is God’s answer to that question. Our hope is that as we are able to train the people of Chikankata to be more productive and profitable in agriculture a door will be opened to share Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We will be sharing many more of the details surrounding this shift in the months to come and are excited about this open door God has provided us with to reach the lost in Chikankata. Again thanks for your continued support and prayers. We love and miss you all dearly and are looking forward to reconnecting upon our return to the States in July 2011.

Blessings

Luke (for the fam)

Follow-Up Blog Post

2011-03-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

We had almost completed our next mailing when the software on our computer blew up. We have ordered a software update and should be receiving it soon. So, once we receive this update, we will send our newsletter detailing everything that is happening as we transition our lives and ministry to Chikankata, Zambia. But until then, we wanted to provide some follow-up to our last email/blog post.

Answering a Common Question:

Since we sent our last email/blog post, several people have asked us the same question: Should we continue to support you through Action International Ministries? The answer is yes. We are currently missionaries with Action International Ministries. We are in the process of switching to another sending agency, but we have committed to ACTION Zambia to finish out this current term with them. In due time, we will share with you about the new sending agency and give you all the information you will need to change over your support.

Why the Switch:

ACTION Zambia is a wonderful ministry that has and continues to make significant impacts for the Kingdom in Lusaka. We have a tremendous amount of love and respect for ACTION Zambia and the men and women serving in this ministry. We are not leaving ACTION because we are upset or discontent with their ministry or because of any broken relationships. We are stepping away because ACTION’s philosophy of and approach to ministry in the city wasn’t a good fit for the ministry to which we see the Lord calling us in rural Chikankata. Again, shortly, we will be sharing with you all of the details, but we just didn’t want you to wonder about what was happening on that front.

Save the Date:

We want to be available to answer all of your questions. On June 26^th, 2011, shortly after Brent returns from a 2-month trip to Zambia, we will be hosting a gathering at our home church (Columbia Crossroads Church – St. Andrews Campus). We want the opportunity to share with you about our move to Chikankata, Zambia, and the ministry going forward. We will provide dessert and coffee, show a brief video, and then have a time for questions and answers. Our hope is to share all that God has done to call us in this new direction as well as to answer any questions that you might have concerning our new ministry in Chikankata. We will send out an official invitation as the date approaches!

Thank you:

Thank you again for being patient with us during this move. We cannot express just how much your love, encouragement & support mean to us.

Let's Reach A Kingdom

2011-03-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

If you are receiving this post via email, CLICK HERE to view the video.

I've written about Chikankata in the past, but I wanted the opportunity to share this short 3 minute video with you. This is an interview of of a local chieftainess where she is discussing the spiritual and physical needs of her people. There are a couple of reasons why we are sharing this video with you. One being, we want you to hear from a Zambian chief, who loves Jesus, as she shares about the needs of the people that God has placed under her care. The other is because of a calling that we feel the Lord has given our family as it relates to this southern chiefdom in Zambia.

Just to refresh your memory, Chikankata is a 100 sq/km Tonga speaking chiefdom located about 2 hours south of Lusaka. In this part of Zambia, there are little to no evangelical churches and few Christian believers. Some of the villages in this area have had no exposure to the gospel in over 40 years! The people live in fear and bondage to witchcraft and animism, most live in abject poverty, HIV/AIDS still affects nearly 20% of the population and children die every day from preventable illness.

When we return to Zambia, we will be moving to Chikankata. We, and the Whitfield Family (Pictured Above), have felt God calling us to go to Chikankata to live and work full-time. We will be leaving the city and getting a taste of the country life. The ministry that we have been involved in over the past 2+ years will be changing as well. There are many things that the Lord has done to confirm His leading and we are excited for what the future holds! Our desire is to see Zambians, some for the first time in their lives, have the opportunity to know and love Jesus, for churches to be established and strengthened, and for the needs of the poor and vulnerable to be met.

Very soon we will be sharing all of the details with you, but we wanted to make this announcement so that you are aware that changes are in the works. Please be patient with us and in prayer for our family as we transition our life and ministry in Zambia.

Not Your Normal Baby Dedication

2011-02-28T19:12:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday our home church, Columbia Crossroads, had a baby dedication. For those of you who don't know, all of our children have been dedicated at our church - all but one, Thomas. Needless to say, he was by far the biggest child dedicated on this baby dedication Sunday. We are deeply grateful to be able to dedicate our 5th child to the Lord and ourselves to raising him up to know and love Jesus.

Family Pics

2011-02-21T13:45:00.001-08:00

We recently had the opportunity to take some family photos. A friend of ours, Lindsay Alexander, came to Columbia to help us get some shots of the children and the family. Just in time for prayer cards and other important communications : ). Anyways, if you're ever interested in having some photos made of you or your family, we highly recommend her work.

You can see some of her galaries at: http://www.lindsayalexanderphotography.com/

Above are the pictures that she took of our family at Riverfront Park. If you are receiving this post via email, you will need to visit our website to view the pictures: www.RobertsinZambia.Blogspot.Com.

Got Me Day (Friday)

2011-02-17T17:54:00.000-08:00

This post serves two purposes. One, being that we are completely done with the adoption/immigration process. Thomas is officially a Roberts and officially a U.S. Citizen!!! Yayyyy!!!! Thank you to everyone who has prayed for our family and for Thomas during this process. We are so thankful with how things came together once we arrived in the States.

The other purpose of this post is to share about why tomorrow is a very special day in the life of the Roberts family. Tomorrow marks the 1 year anniversary that Thomas came into our family. Kerri and I were talking about it this afternoon. It just doesn't seem like its been that long since he joined us. It's been difficult at times and fun at times, and we are so thankful that God chose to make Thomas a part of this family.

Fear Not

2011-02-07T17:03:00.001-08:00

A Post from the Allens:
==========================

We Allen's had a busy day today watching three extra little ladies of some friends of ours who were moving. We had a blast playing spoons and making projects. But, that isn't what I want to blog about. Today I went with my friend Luke to pray for one of our pastors in our program. Patson's wife Patricia had been suffering with some pretty intense stomach pain for a while. So, we went to their house way back in the compound and into the church/school that he built. After finding out from Patricia what was wrong, Luke began to ask some questions. He asked if there was fear she was struggling with and then begin asking about dreams. He uncovered a lot of struggles going on in her life that were both physical and spiritual. The Holy Spirit gave him insight into situations that were more than just physical and she was so surprised that he could know things that he or she did not know. (Often here in Zambia, physical pain is a result of something going on spiritually. Maybe that is even the case in America as well. It is always good to think spiritually in these times, at least that is what I learned/am learning.)

Then Luke said, "Before we pray, I feel like the Spirit is saying that there is one more person in your family who is also struggling with fear and who also has problem with nightmares. Patson and Patrica looked at each other and both said together at the same time, "Joyce." So, they brought her in to the room. Joyce, a pretty little 10 year old, was understandably shy and nervous. Luke kneeled beside her and began to tell her that she was in God's hands and that no one could do anything to touch her because God would protect her. Right then, I had this sense that we shouldn't just assume that she was a Christian. So, I stopped Luke mid-sentence and said, "Do you want to make sure she is a Christian?" He stopped and said, "Yes, good point." We looked to Patson and said, "Is she a Christian? Are you seeing any fruit of the Spirit to signify that she is?" They both said, "No. She is not a Christian." Luke came back to sit by me and said, "Why don't you help her Steve to become a Christian." I was instantly reluctant because I didn't want to take Patson's place as both father and pastor. But, Patson said something like, "No, Steve, one thing you don't know is Zambian pastors don't know how to do this very well." In essence, what he was saying was that they knew how to pastor other people's children, but no their own.

Well first of all, that was a huge insight and helped me in terms of thinking on how to help this cultural issue with pastors and their own families that I had no idea about. But, secondly, I had a chance not just to lead her to Christ, but to help model how to do that for Patson. I asked for the Spirit to help me and I was given the amazing privilege to lead her into a relationship with Christ through her father as a translator. It was awkward, not really cultural and with words I have learned over the years. It was what it was. But, she prayed the prayer and even better, we were able to encourage her in her life. I saw something of a picture of her teaching one day in this classroom we were in. We prayed over her future as well. Anyway, that was amazing and we hadn't even prayed for Patricia yet. So, Luke wanted the whole family in so he brought them in and they all held hands. Then Luke and I prayed for her, for her stomach and her teeth that had been hurting. And guess what, her stomach pain was healed! I know this was real because she said her tooth still hurt. Sometimes when we pray for Zambians we wonder if they are telling the truth. If they are just trying to make us feel good after we pray... Well, in this case, we could see it. Not only was just healed from stomach pain, but I am confident that her dreams and fears were dealt with as well. Anyway, it was a really blessed hour we spent there... (Note: I just got a text from Patson that Patricia is free from the pain and Joyce slept through the night.)

Please continue to pray for Patson and Patricia who are on the leading edge of community development through their church and community school. Truly, a light on a hill!

God's Word Daily

2011-01-21T06:19:00.001-08:00

In life, there always seem to be those people who God places in your life at just the right time and my life is no different. There are a handful of people, who I can point to, that have really played a key part in shaping who I am today. One of these people is Brad Bird. Now, hear me when I say that I'm not trying to idolize this man. He's a man just like me, but he is a man who has continually allowed the Lord to use him in the lives of others through his gift of teaching. And he's also a man whose life has mirrored what he has tried to impart to others.

Kerri and I met Brad and his wife Melissa over 13 years ago while attending a local church's college ministry. During this time, Brad made it a point to invest in my life through discipleship. He and Melissa were there to counsel Kerri and I through our engagement. He was the pastor who officiated our wedding ceremony. He was and is a person who I have always felt like I could be myself with, someone who was fun to be around, a good friend. We've spent countless hours on the golf course trying to beat each other and enjoyed ribbing each other whenever USC played Tennessee (Well, he did most of the ribbing). He and Melissa were there when Kerri and I went through a really rough patch in our marriage. In fact, he was the first person I talked to about it. He and Melissa have been there through the hard times and they've been there through the good times. Honestly, I cannot express to you just how much Brad & Melissa's friendship and Brad's teaching have changed both Kerri and my lives.

Brad is a gifted teacher who has an unswerving desire to "see the saints revived through the power of the Word." Recently, through his ministry, Brad released a daily video devotional. For 5 days a week, you can have a 5-7 minute devotional sent straight to your inbox. These devotionals are expository in nature (meaning they center on going through the Bible by book by chapter and letting the Word speak for itself). There is a small cost involved, but it is well worth it.

Brad is currently the head teaching pastor for Columbia Crossroads Church downtown campus. He is also the president & founder of Market Life Ministries. If you would be interested in finding out more information on how to receive his daily devotionals, you can visit: www.DailyVideoDevotional.com. If you would like to learn more about his ministry to the marketplace you can visit: www.marketlifeministries.com.

We know how much his teaching has affected our lives and thought it might have a similar impact on yours.

Rejoice in the Wife of Your Youth

2011-01-04T15:38:00.000-08:00

Two years ago today, I was in a hospital emergency room watching my wife lose function in her arms and legs. I was scared out or my mind not knowing what was going on. Knowing it was serious, but not knowing just how serious. I still remember sneaking away from the room to cry - sneaking away so she couldn't see the fear in my face. I remember the fear of possibly losing the person who has and will forever mean the most to me (apart from Christ).

But today, a week before our 12th anniversary, I'm still waking up to my beautiful and vibrant bride. And I love her more now than I ever have in the past. A lot of times we learn the most through trials and this trial was no exception. This one event has truly opened up God's word to me in a new light. There is a verse in Proverbs 5:18: "May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth." This verse has taken on so much more meaning in my life. Today, I thank God for this gift He has given me and rejoice again in the love of my life.

May you also rejoice in the wife / husband of your youth!

1st Snow Ever!!

2010-12-30T12:37:00.000-08:00

In Zambia, it doesn't, hasn't and will never snow. So, needless to say, this was the first time Thomas has ever seen the cold white powder. On Christmas day, we traveled to visit Kerri's brother and sister-in-law (Matt & April) in Knoxville. As we drove up, it started snowing in Spartanburg, but started sticking to the ground and roads in Ashville.

By the time we got to Knoxville, a few inches were already on the ground. And by the next morning, the children were raring to go outside and play. Aside from Thomas, it was also the first time Ellie and Maddie had an opportunity to play in the snow as well.

It was a good visit and we had a great time spending time with the Grimsley family. The only downside to the visit is that we had to cut it a little bit short because Matt got a stomach virus and we decided to "run for the hills" and hope that we were not exposed to the virus.

It's good to be home

2010-12-21T15:18:00.000-08:00

It's good to be home. Here's a quick snippet of our children singing with the Brocks and Ballentines during church on Sunday. We sure have missed our friends and family and are so thankful to be home to see them again. We'll enjoy it even if it is only for a short time.

God sure is good!

If you are receiving this post via email, you can view the video at www.RobertsinZambia.Blogspot.com or CLICK HERE.

The Cat is Out of the Bag

2010-12-15T11:30:00.000-08:00

Well, the cat is officially out of the bag! The last post about missing family during the holidays was a hoax. A few months ago, Kerri and I decided that we would come home for a surprise visit in December. The primary reason was to finish Thomas's adoption stateside, but it was an added benefit to get to see our family and friends over Christmas. Please forgive us for all of the lies. We've been telling everyone, including our families that we would be home in May, but we knew all along that we were flying home in early December.

Above is a video that we put together from all of the surprise visits we have made over the past few days. It started with showing up at my parents front door and ended at Kerri's mom's church Sunday evening. That surprise was by far the best. We had the music minister play a video from us in front of the whole church. She thought it was just a video wishing her a Merry Christmas from Zambia, but near the end of the video, we told her that we had one more surprise. At that point, the video started showing pictures from our trip home with Thomas looking at our plane. Finally, we all walked into the church and stood behind her until she realized that we were there!

It's been a blast seeing our friends and family again and we're so thankful to be home for the holidays. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

Many Blessings!

P.S. If you are receiving this post via email, you can view the video by CLICKING HERE.

It's Beginning to Look a Little Like Christmas

2010-12-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

Well, Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is on the way. And in the Roberts house, it's beginning to look a little like Christmas. So far we have hung the stockings, not over the chimney, because we don't have one, but over the window facing the back yard. When our children were born, Mimi (Kerri's Mom) made each of them a stocking for Christmas. Thanks to the postal service, Thomas just received his and boy was he excited.

Now on to putting up our 3 foot tree and celebrating Christmas in 100 degree weather. No white Christmas here. Christmas just isn't the same without being around those you love : (. But we are happy knowing that we are here serving the One for whom we celebrate this special holiday. Blessings to you all this Christmas season.

A Zambian Worship Set

2010-12-06T12:30:00.000-08:00

Sunday, two weeks ago, we had a great time of worship. So, we thought we would share some of it with you. This video is a condensed version of the worship service (about 7 minutes). Kerri is singing with the worship team on one of the songs. CLICK HERE to view the video.

Oops!

2010-12-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

Thomas had his first big breakage playing football. He was in the back yard trying to kick the football over the house into the front yard. Needless to say, he missed! He put a whole straight through the girls window. This is the second window I have had to replace in the past 3 months. Caleb broke the other one.

I guess these boys are trying to give their daddy practice at being a window repair man. I must say that this is one of the easier fixes here in Zambia. You measure the window, drive to the glass shop in town, they cut it to the size you specify, you take it back home, you chip out the old glass and window putty and then put the new one in. Voila! Just like new.

Put that on my list of things I never knew a missionary did while serving on the field in another country.

Year-End Giving???

2010-12-01T06:29:00.000-08:00

Are you planning on a project or ministry to give a one-time gift to this holiday season? Are you looking to do some year-end tax deductible giving? Well, please consider your favorite missionaries in Zambia, Africa. : ) Year-end gifts are a very helpful way to support missionaries and the work that they are doing overseas and we are no exception. We welcome your love & encouragment through financial gifts.

If you would be interested in making a donation, you can do so by sending a check to Action International Ministries at P.O. Box 398, Mountlake Terrace , WA, 98043-0398. Please specify that the donation is for Brent & Kerri Roberts.

You can also make a donation online. Simply CLICK HERE and you will be routed to our online donation page at www.Actionintl.org.

Learning About Home from Afar

2010-11-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

"Sometimes you have to immerse yourself in an unfamiliar world before you can understand your own."

I heard this quote recently and it really got me thinking about all we have learned about ourselves since coming to Zambia. While we have learned a lot, here is just a snippet:

Before coming here, I had ideas about the importance of family, but it wasn't until I saw the way Zambians value family (not just nuclear, but aunts, uncles, cousins, etc...) that I learned what many of us in the States are missing out on and what we seemed to have forgotten. Family matters!

I thought I understood how well off we were in the States materially, but then I saw poverty first-hand. And I realized that I didn't have a clue. I didn't nearly understand the plight that most of the world struggles with on a daily basis and I didn't feel the responsibility that comes with such blessing ("To whom much has been given, much will be required").

I thought I understood many portions of Scripture, but then I have been able to see these same Scriptures in a whole new light - through the eyes of another culture. It has really given me a more holistic view of God's word. I'm not saying that I understand it all, but I am saying that the Lord has used our time and experiences here to reveal more of Himself to us through His scriptures.

Before coming here, I thought I understood sacrifice. But having to leave close friends and family for the sake of the gospel has made sacrifice a reality. While holidays are still celebrated and enjoyed, they just are not the same when you are away from those you love most.

I thought I understood what it meant to trust Christ. But then I met pastors who go without food for days just so their families have something to eat. These same pastors are not walking away from their faith, but are praising God for his faithfulness. I'm beginning to see that I have very little understanding as to what it means to trust in the Lord, but I am learning p'ongono p'ongono (bit by bit).

The Best Kind of Ministry

2010-11-19T23:24:00.000-08:00

Chieftainess Mwenda of Chikankata

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to take Caleb with me on an outreach trip. In a continued relationship with a chieftainess in Chikankata, we were invited down to show the Jesus Film (In Tonga) at a local market. Chieftainess Mwenda has a vision to see her entire kingdom (approximately 20,000 families / 100,000 people) reached with the gospel of Christ.

After visiting with the Chieftainess, we headed to the local market to setup for the film. Before sunset, we were really unsure as to whether or not people would show up. Just before it started getting dark, there were only a handful of people congregating around the movie screen. But after it got dark and we started the film, people started pouring out of the local village. By the midway point of the film, we probably had close to 350 people hearing the story of Jesus in their own language.

After the movie, we invited people up to the front, some to receive Jesus for the first time and some to pray for physical healing and release from spiritual torment. During the prayer time, I told Caleb to float between me and Luke and just be available to pray with people. At one point during the evening, Caleb ran up to me and said "Dad, we just prayed for this woman who was having leg and chest pains and when we finished praying, she was healed!!! Dad, she was healed the first time that we prayed for her."

As I reflected on this evening of ministry, I came away most encouraged not by the response to the gospel (which was great) nor to those who were healed and/or received deliverance through prayer (which were many), but I came away most encouraged about being able to participate in this wonderful ministry with my son Caleb. I came away with great joy after seeing just how excited my son had become while sharing the love of Jesus with these Tonga speaking people of Chikankata!

We Struck..... Water??

2010-11-13T13:18:00.000-08:00

Construction is still underway at Ciyanjano. This past week, we drilled the 2nd borehole for our water project that is just starting. We have plans to run irrigation to the campsites and income generation side of the property. Above is a picture of the machine that drilled the 50 meter hole. Needless to say, they found water!

Lanton Zimbia

2010-11-10T20:43:00.000-08:00

Below is a final update on Lanton from Steve and a thank you to the many of you who prayed for this dear boy:

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Just want to let you know that Lanton is doing very well. He is home, eating and becoming himself, again. I have never seen Mirriam so beside herself with worry, sorrow and desperation as I did at the hospital that night. She couldn’t even focus. It was as if she had seen this before and now it was her own son, and she was so afraid that she was going to lose her son. (This is such an awful reality here. I just can’t even begin to describe how often we hear about another child who just died because of some disease or illness.) And, then to have him miraculously recovered like that was an almost too incredible to believe...

So tonight she sent me this text that I wanted to share with you: "Thank you so much again for your help both spiritually and financially. I don’t know what I would have done without you. I know that there were a lot of people you asked to help pray for me. I didn’t have strength to talk to my God but you guys did it for me. What a miracle. I have no words that I can use to explain what has happened to my son. Thank you again."

Thanks again for partnering with us overhere in Zambia.

Steve

Njoka Maningi (Many Snakes)

2010-11-09T10:29:00.000-08:00

Click Here to View the Video on You Tube

Mom, don't read this one : )

So, this week has been the week of many snakes. On Sunday, a lady who is staying on the Allen's property was walking out of her cottage in flip flops. When she stepped off the porch, she stepped either on or near a snake. The snake immediately turned and bit her flip flop an wrapped itself around her ankle. She quickly kicked her flip-flop and the snake with it into the yard. They weren't quite sure what kind of snake it was (they were guessing either a boomslang or black mamba both deadly snakes) so she was rushed to the clinic. Needless to say, she was undone!

Then yesterday, while I was at Luke's house, we got a call from Steve. He had a snake cornered in some bushes and needed help killing it. When we got there, we found a 4-5 foot mamba. Instead of trying to explain what happened next, I'll just let you watch the video above. But let me say, this is one of the fastest snakes that I've ever seen in person!

Then today, we got a call from some of our other friends, the Carrs, who live just down the road from us and the Allens. Their gardener found a cobra in their yard. I don't know why so many snakes are showing up at one time, but I'm glad that they have found a way to stay away from our home.

Thank you for praying

2010-11-08T21:45:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a difference a day makes with lots of prayer. Lanton was discharged yesterday at 4:30 pm. Nothing short of a miracle. Lest there be any doubters out there, the symptoms were really bad. But today is a new day and he is in his right mind, eating and feeling o.k. Amazing. Thank you also for the prayers offered up on his mother's behalf. They were very much needed. In the midst of not knowing what was happening, she had to sit for her grade 12 exams. She's now 30 and decided to go back to finish up school. If she didn't sit for the exams, she would have had to wait another year to sit. So, know that your prayers also got her through this tough day.

As for Lanton, the tests showed no cerebral malaria, and they don’t think it was meningitis. But, they do think it may have been a type of malaria that stayed in his system from a previous bout. Anyways, we are praising God today for His faithfulness in watching over this dear boy and his family.

Please Pray

2010-11-07T20:25:00.000-08:00

Please be in prayer for Lanton Zimba. He is the nephew of Dailes (Our worker) and son of her sister Mirriam (The Allen's worker). He is currently at a local clinic with what appears to be either Cerebral Malaria or Meningitis. Either of these are very serious and potentially deadly. Pray that God would heal this dear boy either by His power or through the wisdom of the medical staff attending to him. Pray also for his mother and family to be surrounded by God's peace during this time.

Thank you

You'll Love This One

2010-11-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

Inswa! This is a word that means Termite. In Zambia, just after the first rains of rainy season, these bugs come out in droves. And they don't go to waste. Inswa is a seasonal delicacy here. The people love to eat them. So, this morning, while I was at our ministry center, I noticed a ton of Inswa crawling all over the place. Since I had never tried them before, I asked one of the workers if they had a container that I could use to take some of them home for lunch. He not only gave me a container, but he went around and filled it up with about 500 of these termites.

Needless to say, Kerri was surprised when I got home and the kids thought it was great. I asked Charles how to best cook them and then I went to work. Just a teaspoon of oil, some salt, cook them on high heat for about 5 minutes and voila! A delicious little afternoon snack. For what it's worth, they might look gross, but they actually tasted a lot like bacon bits. Anyways, here is a short video showing the bugs before, during and after being cooked. Enjoy!

Click Here to view the Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvd-CyX6j4I

The Rains Have Come

2010-11-02T20:38:00.000-07:00

Well another 6 months without any rains has ended! The picture above is from the beginning of last rainy season, but you get the point. Usually, you wouldn't be excited about rain, but when you go so long without it, it's kind of exciting. Kerri and I enjoyed watching our youngest, Ellie, experience her first Lusaka rainy season as a toddler. The expressions she made were priceless.

The only problem now, with rainy season being upon us, is that, I have to fix the broken window in the girls room. This past Sunday before church, Thomas had his first accident with a football and put a big hole in it. If it would have been during dry season, I could have procrastinated a little bit longer, but if I don't fix it soon, the girls might drown ; )

In other news, please be in prayer for our vehicle. It has been sitting in our yard now for about 3 weeks unable to run. There is a part that has gone bad that we are having trouble finding in Zambia. We may have to ship it in from S. Africa or have a friend bring it from the States. I am going to a parts store this morning to see if I can find it, but things do not look promising. Other than that, the Roberts are doing well!

Death by the Preventable

2010-10-29T22:41:00.000-07:00

This week, tragedy struck one of our friend's workers family. Their son, who was 4, had been diagnosed with a combination of Chicken Pox and Measles, but seemed to be be fighting the sickness with success. He was running a fever, but still had an appetite and was drinking plenty of fluids. Then on Thursday morning, he told his mom that he needed to vomit. Shortly after vomiting, he passed away.

I can't overemphasize just how often people die here from the preventable. On a daily basis, I pass people in wheelchairs who have been rendered crippled because of polio. It's common to hear of infants of HIV infected mothers who die from severe diarrhea because of being exposed to unclean drinking water in their formula. As we've wrote about in the past, children and elderly die often here because of Malaria. And yes, children die here every day from chicken pox and measles and other preventable diseases. Sometimes, it's just hard to swallow.

So what's the reason or cause? And yes, I know I keep coming back to this subject, but a lot of times it is poverty. Zambia is one of the poorest populations in the world. A majority of the population lives on less than $1 per day. Look at these statistics from the World Health Organization:

+ Measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children even though a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available.

+ In 2008, there were 164 000 measles deaths globally – nearly 450 deaths every day or 18 deaths every hour.

+ More than 95% of measles deaths occur in low-income countries with weak health infrastructures.

+ Measles vaccination resulted in a 78% drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2008 worldwide.

+ In 2008, about 83% of the world's children received one dose of measles vaccine by their first birthday through routine health services – up from 72% in 2000.

Many Zambians just cannot afford simple medicines and vaccines that would prevent a lot of the diseases that are killing people each day.

We have visitors who come from the West all of the time and their reaction is to say "being here shows you just how blessed we are to live in the West. We are very fortunate." While this is very true and a commendable observation, I think it stops a little short of where God wants us to take it. He wants us to be the "Good Samaritans," to go the extra mile, to make the sacrifices necessary to help these who are suffering. I believe he desires for us to say, "Lord bless me so that I may bless others or Thank You for blessing me, how may I use what you have given me (both materially and spiritually) to show your love to those who are hurting." He's calling us all to more than thankfulness.

One way that you can be a blessing to this family, today, would be to lift them up in prayer. The funeral is at 8:00 am this morning. Pray for peace and comfort for the parents and siblings as they mourn the loss of their dear child & brother. Pray also for Warren and Vicki as they mourn and minister alongside this family.

Testimonies from Action's Hospital Ministry

2010-10-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to write this post for a week, but haven't had the opportunity to sit down and gather my thoughts. Please take the time to read it as it details some encouraging ways that God has been moving by His Spirit through Action Zambia's hospital ministry:

A Teenager's Ear Ache:

Last Wednesday, Luke, Patson Sakala (a Zambian Pastor and friend of Action Zambia Ministries) and I went to do ministry at the local clinics here in Lusaka. I have been a few times before, but, honestly, a lot has changed since my last visit. When we arrived at the clinic in Ngombe, there was a crowd of people. Usually, there are about 10 - 15 people waiting to be seen, but this day there were around 60 - 70. Luke addressed the crowd and let them all know that we were there to offer prayers and that we would be coming by to each of them during our time there. So, Patson and I went together to one end of the line and Luke, along with another Zambian that he recruited, went to the other end.

As we progressed down the line, Patson, would introduce us both in vernacular and then ask why they were visiting the clinic and whether or not we could pray for them. Zambia is a little different from the States, in that when you ask if anyone is interested in prayer, most usually respond favorably. As we progressed down the line, we found that many different people were there for many different ailments. About halfway down the line, we came to a teenage boy who had problems hearing from his right ear. He said that he had been slapped in the ear and since then couldn't hear very well and was in pain. As we began to pray for him, I placed my hand over the hurt ear and prayed that God would provide healing to this boy's body. After a short time of prayer, we asked him if anything had changed. At this point he said that when I put my hand over his ear, he felt something different than he had been feeling, but the pain was still present. So, we asked him if we could pray again for his ear. This time, Patson prayed over him and as he ended the prayer and we opened our eyes. The look on the boy's face was completely different. Instead of looking sullen, he began to smile. He said that the pain was gone and that he could hear fine! We told him that God had healed him because he wanted to show His love for him. I can't tell you what an encouragement it was to see God heal someone right before my eyes.

A Muslim Woman:

A little later, there was a Muslim woman who was there with her child. She told Luke that her baby had been having diarrhea and wasn't generally feeling well. So, Luke asked if she would mind if he prayed for her baby, to which she accepted. After he prayed for the baby, he asked her if there was anything bothering her. Apparently, she had been suffering for weeks with eye pain. She said that both of her eyes were hurting. He again asked her if he could pray for her. As he prayed, he said a simple but bold prayer that through Jesus and Him only would God heal this woman so that she could know that Jesus was the reason for the healing. As soon as he finished praying, we all looked up. Again, the look on the woman's face was one of astonishment! She said that the pain was completely gone. It was an amazing opportunity to show this woman, who believed in a different god, the love that the God of the bible has for her through His son Jesus Christ.

A Girl and Her Mother:

I tried to save the best for last. A few weeks ago, Luke and a few of the pastors were at the clinic when they came across a young woman who was bed ridden. She had not been able to get up for several weeks because of severe pain in her back. They asked if they could pray for her to which she was very happy. As they began to pray, they prayed that God would release his healing power into her body and that the pain would go away. After praying for her they asked her to try and sit up. And she did! They then asked her to get out of the bed and try to stand. And she was able to do this too. She was so thankful for what the Lord had done through the prayers of these men. But this is just where the story gets interesting.

Luke and these pastors try to make it a point to visit the same clinics the same day of the week just to be available if anyone that they previously prayed for decided to come back to find them. Well, two weeks after this particular visit, the mother of this young girl came to the clinic looking for the men who had prayed for her daughter. She went straight to Luke and said "I saw my daughter before you prayed for her and I saw her afterwards. She is completely different than the time before you prayed for her. I wouldn't have believed it if I wouldn't have seen her with my own eyes. God healed my daughter! Now, I am HIV positive and I believe that the Lord who healed my daughter can heal me of my HIV. Would you pray for me as well?"

So, without hesitating, Luke prayed for her and told her to let him know what the results were when she got tested again. Well, this woman's eagerness to see what the Lord had done showed in how quickly she setup a time for her next testing. A few days before she came to visit Luke she had been tested and her CD4 count at that time was around 100 (typical of someone with full blown AIDS). Two days after being prayed for, her CD4 count had risen to over 800 (typical of a healthy adult). The lady, needless to say, was ecstatic about what the Lord had done!

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I hope these few testimonies will serve as an encouragement that we have a God who cares for each one of us deeply and is still in the business of performing the miraculous! My intent is not to point to the miraculous, but to glorify the One who is behind the miracles - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. May it never be that we seek God for His miracles, but that we simply seek Him for Him. And may we rejoice not in the miracles, but rejoice that our names are written in Heaven (Luke 10:20)!

The Past, The Present & The Future

2010-10-18T09:32:00.000-07:00

We recently finished putting together a ministry video for our home church. They were doing a dinner for the members of our church to get more acquainted with their missionaries that are serving the church across the world.

After putting it together, we thought it would be good to share it with you as well. It gives an update on our family and ministry life here in Zambia and our future plans as we continue to serve here in Zambia. If you would like to view the video, please go to the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRueuKrJONU

We also had our children put together a video for the youth at the church. You can see this one at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogm--oibWiQ

Thank you to all of you who support us through your prayers and finances to serve here in Zambia. Blessings!