My team has been in Zambia, enjoying our time here in Livingstone. We have been renting out a 3 bedroom, 2-bathroom home with electricity and running water in the mornings and at night. Because of the cooler nights many of us have been tenting and hammocking in the backyard under the mango’s. It’s great to feel safe with our security guard and is helpful to have Veronica who helps out with laundry and is great company.
My team and team Agape have been serving with Jzone, which is an organization that focuses on relational evangelism. Many Christians in the community believe that baptism is required for salvation while, not focusing very much on needing a relationship with God afterward. It’s been amazing to not have a language barrier in Zambia, as English is a common spoken language. It’s been great to encourage the community and show them that God is in consent pursuit of us, and he has given us an amazing life to live if we say yes to him.
The race has really been stretching me, especially in the area of evangelism. When I found out that this month would mostly consist of that, I knew God would be revealing things to me. I was mostly scared that I was going to cause more discomfort for these people because it’s easy to seem as though we are interrogating or offending them at times. I was scared to pray for something that only God could fix, because what if it didn’t happen?! I don’t want to make God look bad.
What I found was that most people we came across were very polite and receptive. They were encouraged by our visit and our time. Was this because of our youth? Was it because we were white or American? Were they actually willing to listen to what we had to say?
Last month I read The Jesus Storybook Bible – which is incredible. The man who didn’t have any friends (none) tells the story of Zacchaeus, from Luke 19. This is a story of a man who was an outcast in his community because of stealing in the community with unfair taxes. One day Jesus came to town and Zacchaeus wanted to get a closer to look. So Zacchaeus climbed up a tree. And Jesus came up to the tree and called him down, and asked to come over to his house to spend time with him.
The beautiful things is that, Jesus knew the corruption that Zacchaeus had been apart of. But he still showed love by spending time with him. And because of that love, Zacchaeus was called to change.
This month I’ve learned that I don’t have to look after God, but he will provide people for me to pray over and I need to trust that it is the Spirit and not actually anything to do with me. By encouraging and loving strangers I hope I reflect Jesus and his love, and maybe even help a modern day Zacchaeus with the help of the Holy Spirit.
I am glad to be a vessel for the kingdom in prayer and encouragement.
Matt –
