We have finally arrived in Livingstone, Zambia! After six long days of travel in planes, taxis, vans, and buses, we made it to our location on Tuesday the 14th. It’s amazing how comfortable we immediately became in our new situation. It’s like we were always meant to be here.
We started ministry on Wednesday. We partnered with a church here to go door-to-door in a nearby compound in Maramba to talk to and encourage the people. I was very nervous, as I’d never done anything like that before. I also know how different it is in America. People often don’t take kindly to unexpected visitors knocking on their doors. I wasn’t sure what I should say or do.
But the experience was eye-opening. The people of Livingstone are so hospitable and so willing to spend time with you and share what’s going on in their lives. Every home we visited, they either invited us in or immediately brought out chairs for us to sit and visit with them. Many were excited to receive encouragement, and no one turned us away.
The highlight of this day was when we went to a small plot of land and walked into the yard. We didn’t see anyone outside but decided to try and see if someone was home anyway. My partner Idah, who is a member of the church we were working with, called out to see if someone was home. A young woman came out and gave us some chairs to sit, and then sat on her front steps. Her name was Zepora. She seemed very meek, but smiled at us and was very friendly.
I was going to share some Scripture in John with her, but decided to go on to Acts instead. I didn’t know what I was going to find there and was starting to regret my decision, when I passed the chapter with Stephen’s death. I decided to speak about how Stephen, even while he was being stoned to death, prayed for the people who were killing him, asking God to forgive them, just like Jesus had. I talked about how we are called to love our enemies, even when it’s hard. Stephen’s case was so extreme, but he still was able to love his enemies, and we are called to do the same. After sharing this, I prayed for her and then asked her if there was anything in particular she wanted prayer for.
Zepora then shared that her mother had recently passed away, leaving her with the plot of land and the house. Her family was upset about this, especially her aunts, as they argued that it should have gone to them instead. There was much arguing and name-calling, and Zepora said that in the end they branded her a witch and pushed her out of the family. She said the word I had shared with her about Stephen was just what she needed to hear and that it had strengthened her and encouraged her to love and pray for her family even when they were treating her so badly.
I was amazed at this story. This poor girl had lost her mother, and now had to deal with being shunned by the rest of her family because of something she couldn’t control. But she was ready to trust in the Lord and pray for her enemies. I thank the Lord that He gave her the strength to handle such a trial.
I am keeping Zepora in my prayers, and I hope that you will too. I am encouraged and inspired by the strength of my sister in Christ, and I hope you can be inspired by her story as well. Even in the midst of trial and tribulation, Jesus calls us to love our enemies and pray for them. Can you imagine if everyone in the world was like Zepora? If even when they were being called names and shunned, they chose to take the high road and love those who were persecuting them? I think we should all be a little more like Zepora.
