What have I done to further the kingdom this month? That’s a very good question.
First let me explain a little about Africa, specifically the concept of Africa time. Africa time means that it will happen when it happens. If our host tells us 9 AM the actual start time is anywhere between 9 and 12. This is because African culture values human interaction about schedules. So if a conversation arises that makes you 3 hours late…. so be it. It is better to engage in that conversation than to be on time to a previous engagement. Because of this some of our days are very long and some are very short. Some days we do so much and some days we do not much at all. So I am just going to list some of the things I have done for ministry here in Zambia.
Kids camp: My favorite (but also the hardest) ministry! We plan and shop and prep for these all week long. The day of we go out to the village or property we are working with that week. Anywhere from 100-300 children show up to hear about God and have fun! We have had two of these since being in Zambia. At the first one I was at the face paining station. I painted over 100 Christmas trees and took pictures to show children, who rarely see their own faces, the new creation. At the second kids camp, I was at the air gun station and taught almost 200 kids how to aim at a target an shoot!
Ebenezer Orphanage: Here we come to the orphanage and just play and talk to the kids. There is everything from baby to 18 year olds here. Each has a different story and a different role to play in God’s kingdom. I am grateful to just go there and be with them!
Women’s Bible study: This is a weekly bible study that we sit in on. These women are going through the Bible from cover to cover. They are currently in Psalms. So we read the Bible together and discus the implications of each chapter. These women have bible reading stamina that I have never seen before. They will read and discuss 10 chapters in one sitting and argue about doing more. They are so thirsty for God’s word!!
Evening Bible study: This is a different weekly bible study where there are men, women, young, and old! This study is more free flowing and we all just gather to sing worship and discuss scriptures that have been speaking to us!
House Church: our host, Sanderson, is a pastor and conducts church in our living room every Sunday! People from the community come together to hear him speak, sing, and commune together.
Manual Labor: We have also done some manual labor on the ministry’s property in order to make it nicer for surer kids camps. We planted grass, picked up trash, and did many prayer walks.
These are the official ministry opportunities we are doing this month! We have also been learning on this journey how to make ministry life. So we also talk to people at the market, our taxi drivers, waiters and waitresses, and strangers on the road about God and Jesus and who they are!
Mark 4:26-29
He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
I am called to this journey to plant seeds. That looks different everywhere and every day. All I have to do is plant the seed. I can rest in the fact that God has the rest. So I will go and do what I am asked and tell people about how awesome my God is…. He will do the rest!! AMEN
