Stateside Reunions

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We're very fortunate to have a strong support structure of churches who love God and love people.  While Kerri was back, she was able to catch up with our friends from some of these churches.  The above video is of her singing "Bless the Lord" at Northeast Presbyterian Church.

This particular Sunday was her last in the States and turned out to be a really special time.  Many of you don't know, but Kerri was struggling with some wierd health issues while she was home.  She had high blood pressure, high platelette counts, diziness and fatigue.  She had multiple tests, but no conclusive diagnosis was made.  So, Pastor Crow and some of the other leaders from Northeast Presbyterian gathered and had a time of prayer for Kerri.

As a husband, who was on the other side of the planet, I am extremely thankful for them encouraging her and me in this way.  And I'm so thankful that their prayers on our behalf were answered.  From this past Sunday, until now, all of the symptoms that had been there for the previous 2+ weeks are gone.  Thank you Pastor Crow, Manny and the many others who loved on my wife this past Sunday through your prayers!  And thank you for your partnership in our lives and ministry in Zambia!

Stuck

I'm on my way up to Lusaka to pick Kerri up from the airport and thought I would give you a view of road work Zambian Style. Most of the major roads here are only 2 lanes. So, when they decide to make improvements, it means that someone has to cut a path through the bush.

For some reason, I'm at a standstill. Well let me modify that statement. I just had a friend pass going the other way who told me it's going to be a long wait, because up ahead on my side of the road, there's a car broken down.

It sure is hot today. I guess I should have stopped for a coke or something before taking this detour.

It's Not About Me

Being home for a bit is always nice. Wonderful time spent catching up with family and friends, sharing great food, and enjoying all the conveniences that home offers for just a little while. It’s refreshing! One of the most special times is being at home with our church family. We are blessed to have a sending church that feels like family – that truly loves us and cares for us. Here is where our spiritual roots grew deep, where we learned the value of community, where our hearts learned to be transparent. Here is where we were when God began to pull away the scales from our eyes, to teach us who we are in Him, and where He showed us that our “yes, Lord” would take us to Zambia. Here are those who prayed for us, prepared us, walked with us, sent us.

Last Sunday I was able to be at our home church, to help lead in worship, to give a ministry update, to be honored and held and prayed over by those who send and pray and hold the ropes for us every day. It was a soothing balm to my soul. And I appreciate it deeply. AND I really struggle with being “honored”. I always feel like it’s wrong for me to be standing up in front of a crowd being honored for my “yes, Lord”. There’s nothing special about me. It’s not about me. I know that my church is not really honoring me but glorifying God in me. They know we are still broken, still struggling, still learning, still growing, still reaching. Still and always.

But there are those that have said to me over the years, “I could never do what you have done.” My heart’s cry is yes you could. Because it’s not you. It’s not me. Even the willingness to say yes comes from Him. (That’s another blog for another day) Living overseas doesn’t equal spiritual superiority. I know people all over the world, in all walks of life, who are saying “yes, Lord” everyday, and they are doing things that are much more difficult than working in Africa.

I got passionately stirred up in my heart about all those people I know. That THEY should be standing up being honored before the church. They should be the ones being held and wept over and prayed for. Is the church holding the ropes for these people like they do for us?

Then came Monday and I ran into a friend. A friend who told me the story of a guy he works with - a guy who is brand new to this faith, and he had attended my home church for the first time on Sunday. And as he watched this family love me, rejoice with me, weep and pray over me, God revealed Himself to this guy. And he saw for the first time how God loves His children and how He wants His people to love each other. He saw a community he wanted to be a part of. And God whispered, “See, Kerri, you’re right, it isn’t about you.” Thank you Lord.

We're Connected

One month to go and we're almost ready for our first full team! This past week, we connected the water supply to the shower house. As you can see from the picture, we had to "make a plan" to get it done, but it was a success.

Now to install the hot water heater, toilets, roofing and lighting and we'll almost be done. I just hope we can finish before our friends from Empower Dreams arrive!