Hey everyone!
Things are going really well here in Livingstone, Zambia! Ministry has been awesome! We are serving at least three different churches in evangelism. Sanderson is our ministry contact and has been awesome by giving us many opportunities to serve and talk to people about who Jesus is. He drives us everyday to where we are ministering and has been really helpful in making things run smoothly with the house we are staying in.
We have had a few opportunities to serve at his church. My teammate Micah gave a message on Wednesday for a service that evening. We also served there on Saturday through a youth service. Derek taught them a message and then we broke out into groups to talk to them about what is going on in their lives.
My team has also been working with another church that is led by Pastor Teddy. We have gone around to people in the area from the church to encourage them through the Word and just to have conversations with them. It was really cool to just listen to what the Holy Spirit was speaking to me to encourage these people. While walking around the area we kept hearing kids say, “Mazunga!” This basically means “whitey”. We are basically the only white people anyone sees so were kind of like celebrities.
A few days ago we went to an orphanage that has about 200 kids. We spent an hour just playing games with them and getting to know them. I am really excited about getting to know them a little better this week when we go back. Today we went to the orphanage to minister to the “mothers” that are caring for these kids. They are so awesome! They each live in a home with 15 kids and take care of them each day. They wake them up, make food, help them with homework, and do Bible studies with them. Can you imagine being a mother to 15 kids!? Also, they are all different ages. To top it off, they only get 4 days off a month. On these days, a lot of them are often visiting their own children. God has blessed these kids with mothers who truly love them and are showing Jesus’ love to them.
This morning we went with Sanderson, his family, and some great people from his church to tell people about Jesus in the marketplace. The cool thing about Zambians is they are so open to listen to what people have to say. They are actually interested in hearing and don’t automatically assume you’re trying to “sell” something to them. Sanderson and I visited a man in his shop and spent an hour talking with him about Jesus. His name is Patrick. I really enjoyed talking with him because he was genuinely interested in learning about Jesus. He didn’t just go along with what we were saying or refused to listen to us. He asked questions and was making a real effort to understand who Jesus is and what it means to have a relationship with Him. I felt that when we left him, he was really starting to understand that God wants a relationship with him. He had more questions he was going to write down to ask us when we see him tomorrow.
Pray for him that God will release him from any fear or anxiety he has about following Jesus. Pray that God will work on his heart so that he truly understands how much he is loved by God!
Also be praying for the ministry that is being done here. While we are ministering to others they are also ministering to us. I don’t have time to describe all that God is doing in my heart these days but in Part B I will be sure to let you know. Pray that God would continue working on my heart to know and serve Him more lovingly.
Amy
