Happy Sadness

This is always the happiest saddest time of year for us missionaries. Celebrating Thanksgiving and setting up for Christmas while missing our families and friends.

I know we are a week early, but we're really missing some special people back in the States this week.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!

Love,
The Roberts

Another Kerri Post

http://calledforsuchatime.com/10-things-africa-is-teaching-me-so-far/

Insightful lessons we've both learned while living in Zambia!  If you get a chance, take a read.

http://calledforsuchatime.com/10-things-africa-is-teaching-me-so-far/

Everyday Boardroom Meeting

As someone who worked in Corporate America for 10 years before coming to Zambia, I know a thing or two about boardroom meetings.  But boardroom meetings take on a different flavor here in Zambia.

Instead of the nice chairs, hardwood tables, whiteboards, overhead projectors and the such, we have a bit of a different setup.  Ours are usually under a tree in 100 degree whether with no comfort to speak of and my attire usually consists of a T-shirt, shorts and riding boots for the motorcycle.

But regardless of the environment and the attire, I really do enjoy them very much.  Probably because of the company we keep!

Zambian Led Field Day

Our goal as missionaries is and will always be to train Tongas to reach Tongas.  It is them, not the white missionaries, who best understand the culture, the struggles and mindset of the people.  And it is them who can best contextualize the gospel so that it is relevant to the people, but still true to its very foundations.

A few weeks ago, we realized a bit of this goal, as three of our guys led a majority of a field day for Foundations for Faming in Mazabuka.  It was awesome to see them not only teaching technique, but addressing the heart issues of their brothers and sisters.  Terren, Lloyd and Movety each brought something different to the table that day, and each did a magnificent job.

Hopefully, we’ll be able to hand this ministry off to them and other guys like them to run with in the future!

One Church, Zambian Led Outreach

The other night, we held a Jesus Film outreach on one of the local maize farms.  Our friends the Greens are busy establishing this farm as one that makes a profit, but also reaches out to the Tonga community at the same time.

It was fun watching our friend Campbell, share with this church his heart to see the Tonga’s thrive in Zambia for the glory of Christ!  And it was also encouraging sharing with the church the idea that there is only one church in Zambia and that the local churches have to be unified in one purpose of proclaiming Christ to the nation.

This was the first outreach that we have had where two churches partnered together to reach a community with the gospel.  It was also the first outreach where we were just the spectators!  And for that we were truly thankful.  One church got the word out and trained leaders for the event while the other church came alongside and provided some leadership with the prayer time afterward.

Truly a step in the right direction for our Jesus Film ministry!