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!

Field Trip

One of the advantages of being surrounded by a bunch of farmers who grow food and livestock is that our kids have a plethora of choices for field trips.  A couple of weeks ago, Kerri and the kids were able to visit one such farm, Simonga.

Mike and Sue Arnold were kind enough to host them for the afternoon and show them the inner-workings of their chicken egg, dairy and hay farm.  And the kids loved it.  All of them got a turn milking a cow, watching how eggs were processed and packaged and then topped the afternoon off by jumping on huge stacks of hay.

Really thankful for some of the opportunities that the African bush offers!

National Cooperation

Recently, Luke and I went to Lusaka for a meeting.  It was a meeting with Ben and Cat Frampton the Foundations for Farming representatives in Zambia.  The purpose of the meeting was to bring together some of the ministries that are using Foundations for Farming as a way of teaching and discipleship.  The hope is to be able to work together to have a greater impact across the nation of Zambia.

As we met, we talked about a yearly gathering where ideas, struggles and victories could be shared and we talked about having regional training centers where those interested in Foundations for Faming could come for more in-depth training.  It looks like our little-ole ministry here in Chikankata could be one of those training facilities for ministries working in Southern Zambia to come for training.

Exciting Stuff!

Lwindi Ceremony

(Click HERE to view a short video of the Event)

A few weeks ago, we were invited by Chieftainess Mwenda to the Lwindi Ceremony.  This is the Tonga ceremony for Thanksgiving.  They have it before the planting and harvesting season every year.

The event was much bigger that I even expected.  They had sponsors show up with banners and stands selling drinks and food.  And they had special guests from government arrive, including the DC for Chikankata (basically like a mayor).  He shared a few minutes as well as the Chieftainess.

We were able to watch some tribal dancing and listen to local music..  We also got to meet some new faces around where we live and minister.

I’m so thankful that the Chieftainess thought of inviting us as we experienced a new part of the culture that, before, we were unaware of.

Vet Visit?

So, our car has been in the shop now for 7+ weeks, but life still goes on without it.  One such task that had to be accomplished in the car's absence was getting our chocolate lab pup "Boomer" to the vet for his 2nd line of vaccines.  What does a boy do when he can't throw his dog in the back of the car to take him to the vet?

You guessed it.  He puts him in a backpack, ties it tight enough to keep him in, but loose enough not to strangle him and rides his motorbike.  Boomer didn't appreciate the ride as much as his owner.  When I got back home, he wouldn't come to me for a few minutes.  I think he was afraid that I'd put him back in the bag and back on the motorcycle.

Meet Peter

Peter is a new friend of ours.  I first met Peter through the farm owner, my friend Campbell.  Campbell is doing something quite unusual for a commercial farmer here.  He's planting 60 acres of maize by hand.  That's right, no machinery!  And Peter is the guy that will be supervising all of the workers performing this large task.

In addition to being a supervisor, Peter pastors a small congregation at a church located on the farm.  He has pastored this church for many, many years.  And it's refreshing to see his zeal for this church and for the gospel.  That's why I'm writing this post.  We have decided to partner with Peter in two specific projects over the next 2 months.

Later this month, his church will be coordinating a Jesus Film outreach at the church for the local Tongas.  We will be assisting them in training the leadership team that will do this outreach as well as setting up the equipment for the film.  We're excited to see how God will use this film through this local church to reach this community.

We're also excited about the opportunity that we have through Peter to do a demonstration plot and discipleship program this planting season using Foundations for Farming.  Peter will be planting a demonstration plot on the border of the farm and working with a few locals to plant their own plot.  Peter is super excited about the project, as are we.  We'll definitely have to post another update as things progress!

Called For Such A Time

My wife was recently invited, along with 4 other lovely ladies, to share her life experiences in faith on a new blog. Check it out if you get a chance!

Here's a link to her first post (Called to Believe):  http://calledforsuchatime.com/called-to-believe/!

Break Every Chain

Yesterday afternoon, we had the privilege of attending a pastor's conference in the bush.  Luke was invited by one of the pastors that we work with to share.  It was a pretty lively conference attended by guys that even drove in from Lusaka.  But it wasn't the conference that was the most impactful part of our day.  It was a time of prayer that we had afterward.

After the conference, we were told about a young woman (Yvonne), who had gone mad.  She lived in a house less than 100 yards from the church.  She had become so violent that she was being chained to a pole in her house to keep her from harming herself or others.   

In the West, we're more prone to see a person like this and say that she has some disease or mental disorder.  And I'm not saying that some people have real disorders and real diseases.  But I'm telling you that some people are also possessed and she was possessed.  

Based on what we learned from the family yesterday, it actually started several years ago when her, her mother and her brother were all bewitched by some of her family.  She had done something to offend some of her relatives.  So, at the funeral of her grandfather, they put a charm that the witchdoctor had given them in with the body.  Shortly after, both her, her brother and her mother all went mad!

And if this story wasn't believable, we also noticed some other evidence in the writings she had made on the wall inside of her house.  Yvonne, who had no idea what a pentagram was, had engraved one on the wall just above where she sat.  When we asked the grandmother if she knew what the symbol meant, she had not clue.

Because of her state, we didn't know what to expect when we (Me, Luke & 3 other Zambian Pastors) walked into the house.  We knew that we had Christ's authority, but we just didn't know how she would react.  As we walked through the low-hanging door and our eyes were able to adjust to the dark room, we saw Yvonne sitting there.  And as we walked in, she just started weeping.  

I wish we could say that we prayed, she shook violently and then sat up clear-minded and speaking coherently.  But she didn't.  As we prayed for her, she actually became extremely relaxed to the point where we had to gently lay her over on some bedding nearby.  When we asked the grandmother if this was usual, she said that it wasn't.  So, I believe that Friday was a first step.  I believe that God wants to set this woman and her family free from the Satanic oppression that they are facing.  

Would you believe with me?  Would you please pray for Yvonne and her family?  We will be going back to this village in the next few months to show the Jesus Film at the church.  We're planning on visiting with her again then.  Please pray that her physical and spiritual chains are broken and that this young woman will be freed to live a full life in Jesus!

Needing a Little Reminder

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life."

If I'm honest, I'm a person who is much more comfortable with concepts and ideas, with doctrines and theologies.  I'm an introvert by nature.  Kind of an oxymoron - an introverted missionary, huh?.  I'm a processor.  I love to strategize, connect the dots, figure things out.  But with relationships, I a novice.  I struggle.  I'm comfortable with sharing surfacy things, with shooting the breeze about sports, but exposing the inner-man is something I'm not good at.  I struggle with intimacy.

As I was on Lake Kariba, one of the biggest things that God impressed upon me was that Jesus is a not a book, he's not a bunch of rules, or a bunch of good deeds (caring for orphans, the needy, etc.).  He's not some theological concept or sound docrine either.  Jesus is a person.  And my highest calling in life is to experience Him in a personal and intimate relationship and share that experience with others!  I knew this in my head, but I just needed a little reminder that this reality needs to sink down to my heart.  Maybe my reminder can be yours today as well!

Jesus desperately wants you to experience Him today!  Will you?

Like a Radio

As we shared from God's word with the community, I had something happen to me that hasn't ever happened before.  As I looked around the crowd, there was a young man who I sensed was deeply hurting.  I didn't see anything physically that would make me think he was hurting.  I just sensed it in my heart.  And the more that I looked at him, the more I actually felt his pain.  At one point, I actually felt the pain so much that I was literally crying myself. As all men do, I pride myself in not crying.  So, I knew God was trying to show me something. 

As I sat there I prayed about the best way to handle the situation.  I didn't want to embarrass him by addressing him in front of the group.  So, when we were done, I just shared with the group that God had shown me that someone in the group had been hurt deeply and that God wanted to bring emotional and Spiritual healing.  

When we asked if that word that I received was for someone, he came forward. He was set free that day and I was encouraged!  Encouraged, because it was confirmation that the word the Lord gave me for this young man was, in fact, from him and not just something I drummed up on my head.

I heard something recently which I think really applies to this story and be an encouragement to all of us.  Think of a radio.  Music is always playing from a radio station.  It doesn't stop.  But we cannot hear the music unless we have our radios turned on and are tuned into the right station.  The Spirit of God is much like this.  If you're a Christian the Holy Spirit lives inside you.  And he's not a quiet spirit.  He is speaking all the time.  Sometimes it's just that our radios aren't turned on (we're not available to Him) or that we're tuned into the wrong frequency.

But that's not God's desire.  He wants us to be switched on and tuned into Him!  He wants to speak to us more and more.  Don't you want to hear him?

Lion Kill

About the lions, while we were on Lake Kariba, we parked the boat in one of Zimbabwe's national parks at Elephant Point.  We decided to take a walk in the bush, just to explore.  As we were getting close to where the shore ended and the bush started, Bruce heard something that sounded like a hippo in the near distance.  So, he pulled out his Binoculars and when he did, he saw a pride of 11 lions (adults and cubs) about 200 yards away.  His demeanor quickly change.  He told everyone to slowly walk back to the boat without turning our backs to the lions.

So, we slowly walked back to the boat hoping not to peak their interest.  When we got back to the boat, and knew we were safe, we rode around to where they were.  The lions were on the shore of the lake eating something, but it took us a few minutes to figure out what.  Eventually, we saw a foot stick out of the pile of hungry lions and determined that tt was a baby hippo.  That's only the second time since being here that I've witnessed lions just after a kill.

As we sat there watching them fight over this baby hippo, we knew we had been pretty safe during the experience, because they wouldn't have left a kill to bother with people.  But, earlier, as we were walking back to the boat, I wasn't a happy camper ; ).

I'm Jealous

Yesterday afternoon, Kerri, Elise and Avery boarded a plane to head to Johannesburg, South Africa.  They, along with another friend who's already down there, will be attending a worship conference.  The church that originally planted Mazabuka Community Church invited them down a few months back.

As a missionary, am I allowed to say that I'm jealous?  Jealous for the worship that they will be experiencing and yes jealous for 1st world civilization (restaurants, good roads, etc.).  They will return on Monday, but I'm super excited for the opportunity that they have to build relationships, learn more about worship and just have fun!

Does It Still Happen?

I know this is a touchy subject in some Christian circles and seen as craziness by those who are not Christians, but I'll share on it anyways.

The past two weeks were truly an amazing time of ministry.  Firstly, God did a lot to soften this hard heart of mine.  If I'm honest, I think that I was getting a little burned out.  And I'll share a little about that in a later post, but I wanted to process on blog, some other things that God impressed upon me on this trip.  The following story is coming from me, a Christian who traditionally is more reformed in my theology, who believes in the demonic, but if I'm honest, equates much more of this world's and my problems/ailments to cause and effect or a battle against our sin-filled human desires.

So, without further adue...

This past week, in the fishing village of Nakatundu, while we were sharing and teaching, I noticed a young man in the back who had been there the previous year.  In fact, God had done a lot in his life during that trip.  So, I was eager to find out how he had been doing.  But when I looked at him, he wouldn't make eye contact and quickly disappeared after the first visit.  During our second visit, we asked if anyone needed prayer and he was one of the last to come forward, still having a somber look on his face.  I asked him how he had been doing and how we could pray for him and the only thing that he said was that he had a pain in his chest.  I sensed something was not quite right with him, but didn't know what it was, until we prayed.

As my friend Shaun and I layed our hands on his chest to pray for him, I experienced something that I haven't experienced before.  His chest began to move underneath the skin, like something was trapped and was trying to escape.  And it wasn't the type of movement that a person could do on their own.  This thing was literally crawling and jumping underneath the skin.  I've seen people opressed and possessed by demons before, but have never had one manifest as I was praying for someone.  Well, this demon was manifesting.

And the way it was happening was in such a way that the young man we were praying for could not have been faking it!  It wasn't happening before we laid our hands on him.  Immediately, when we laid our hands on him, it happened and continued for a short time.  Then, through the authority that we have in Jesus, Shaun and I told it to leave this young man and it did.  The movement stopped and the pain in his chest went away!  We didn't scream or struggle against it (as you see happen in some movies).  We just said in a quiet and calm voice to leave.

As I stood there processing what had just happened, God reinforced a truth that I had known for many years:  It was as if God himself was telling me, again, that I am His son, a son of the King!  And, as such, I carry His authority.  He has literally given me authority in this world.  Not because of anything of myself, but because of Jesus in me!

He was also showing me that a lot of the problems that I would chalk up to the explainable, might be caused more by the unexplainable or the demonic.  Now, don't hear what I'm not saying.  I'm not saying that all sickness, disease, hardships, etc, are caused by the demonic.  I'm just saying that maybe more of them can be attributed to the demonic than I admit.

And if that's true, how does that change how I minister to people?  How does it change my dependence on the Holy Spirit to get to the root causes of problems instead of just dealing with the surface?

I try to imagine what the solution would have been if this same young man came to me in the States and said he was suffering from chest pains.  What would I have done?  Would I have even dared to pray for him first before offering advice?  Would I attribute the cause of his issues to the natural or at least consider that they might be attributed to the supernatural?

These are just some of the kinds of questions that God has me asking myself from this experience.  Maybe He's asking you some of the same?

A Wonderful 10 Days

Lake Kariba 2013

The past 10 days have been so refreshing.  I cannot tell you how much I needed to get away, to be encouraged and built up and to just spend some time sharing God's love with our Tonga friends on Lake Kariba.

I'll be blogging shortly with some of the experiences/insights from the trip (walking up on a pride of 11 lions eating a hippo and hurriedly walking back to the boat so as not to be desert, hearing God confirm his love for me through some of my friends on the trip, seeing God show up and change many lives, etc.), but I won't share all of them right now.  I just wanted to take the opportunity to quickly post some pictures of our time on the lake.

Additional link for slideshow: CLICK HERE

Kids on Outreach

I really liked my job in the States, but there is one (of many) distinct advantages to my job here in Zambia. My children get to join me! Yesterday, the boys and I went out for a little practice on the trails on the motorbikes. We had an awesome time just exploring and finding some of the more out of the way villages around us.

Now, all we have to do is learn to speak Tonga conversationally and we'll be set.

Ready for Our First Official Team

Team Bunk House

Tomorrow marks the end and the beginning.  The end to development and the beginning to giving others vision for how they can impact Zambia for the gospel!  Many, many thanks to Luke Whitfield.  He's been amazing throughout the whole development.  As you will see from the pictures, a lot of these realities sprang from his creative brain.

Inside Team Bunk House - Sleeps 12

We hope to use this facility for the benefit of visiting teams from the west, but we also envision using it to host retreats and intensive training sessions with some of our Tonga friends.

Shower House

Tomorrow we pick up our first official team from Dallas, Texas.  They work for a ministry called Empower Dreams and specialize in partnering with overseas ministries like ours to further the work of the Church.

Inside Shower House - 6 Showers & 4 Toilets

There will be 10 ladies and gentlemen on the team and will be serving with us in ministry for the next week.  We're excited to finally see what we've been working on for so long, be put to use.

Covered Outdoor Eating Area

Pizza oven and Grill

Fire Pit

Over the next week we have an extremely busy schedule.  We'll be visiting our rural ministry center, reaching out to widows and orphans, running kids camps and other things.  Our hope is that this week, we can dream together of how to best reach a nation!