Can you smell it...?

...smells like change. Guess it depends on who you are whether it is a sweet savor or obnoxious odor! Change is exactly what is happening at Kafulafuta Baptist Mission. The big change is that John and Lorna will be moving to Lusaka. With that change is ushered in a whole bunch of others...

After two years of working in Zambia I believe the time has come for GCMS to begin to lessen and Zambian men to take a greater role. This one transition is likely to be the most difficult. As a missionary, I see my role simply as a soul-winner, teacher, discipler, and church planter. The idea is to target a specific area, accomplish these goals, and move to the next area of spiritual need. We have been at Kafulafuta for the last 20 years and I believe the Lord has blessed... now it is time to transition, and move to the next area of spiritual need!

Many pastors are embracing this change as empowerment and liberty - they see the opportunity and the possibilities that come along.... of course, there are others that think the system is working fine. Many still believe if the American missionary leaves there will be great problems. Obviously we are trying to rectify this and show the churches in this area that strength does not come from the mission station or from the States, but completely from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Little lessons...

After service at Kafulafuta Baptist Church on Sunday - I was waiting for a friend to finish up with some discussions and found a couple little girls interested in the missionary. Although communication was limited to a bunch of smiles, giggles, and handshakes - we all became friends that day! It is so easy to get caught up in the "real" part of life (flooding, starvation, disease, poverty, sickness, corruption, power-loss, preaching, teaching, going, doing, living) that we sometimes miss the most precious part of "real" life.

As I looked at these little girls, they had no concerns for the rest of their day, week, month, year, or life - in fact, they were just thrilled with the moment they were in. Of course Jesus said, "take no thought for tomorrow..." and we are often encouraged to live in the present since our life really is a vapour. I walked away from these kids being taught an adult lesson - smiling & giggling is a lot of fun that doesn't need to be left in childhood. I realize we are to be sober in this life - but at the same time, these little girls reminded me of the simple joys that can be found around every corner --- thank you girls!

Zambia, here I come

The last few weeks have been a virtual blur... from deputation travel, to ordination, to commissioning and everything in between - wow! Through it all, the Lord continues to show Himself strong and in my weakness and inability the Lord blesses with grace, peace, hope, and abundance!

Please pray for the following:
- Immigrations/Customs. My paper work is in Lusaka which may cause some problems.
- Jet Blue / British Airways. I am bringing more luggage than the free allowance. Would be nice if they didn't over charge me and it all arrived on time and intact.
- Smooth transition back to the Zambian culture
- God to be exalted as His word goes forth
- Wisdom, discernment, God's presence, and a harvest of souls for God's glory!

Love you all! Thanks for partnering with me as I go to minister in Africa.

Trust the Lord

Psalm 125:1 "they that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever." The issue of trusting the Lord is a recurrent theme throughout the Scripture. At the very base level each of us struggles with wholly committing our will and life to the Lord and authority of the Scripture. At a more practical level, many of us struggle with trusting the Lord with day to day issues and often don't even think of how we should trust God in each new circumstance. At a personal level, I find myself on the edge... leaving for Africa for the next 3-5 years, leaving behind family, leaving behind friends, leaving behind church, leaving behind country --- all of this begs the question - can I trust the Lord?

As the Psalmist writes, I could not help but think of mount Zion. A mountain is an immense object. A mountain is something that endures. Something that is of great strength. Something that can bring great security. We are told that trusting in the Lord is like a mountain - he emphatically states, "cannot be removed". With this in mind, trusting the Lord with my upcoming obstacles doesn't seem so difficult. In truth, trusting the Lord seems the only reasonable course of action. Trusting the Lord provides me with new stability, strength, and security... praise God, He does not leave us nor forsake us. Praise God, His position is not one of weakness but overwhelming strength.