This is NO April Fools…

 

Some of you may think that all I’m about to say or share is just apart of another annual April Fools joke, but rest assured it’s just an overwhelming update straight from the life that I know and live here in Zambia. I’m seven months in…

 

PSALM 91

Verse 5 “You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor the arrow that flies by day.” …

Verse 7 “A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand: But it shall not come near you.” …

Verse 11 “For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.”

 

This past week has been one of a kind, in more ways than one. 

• I was accused of Child Trafficking and nearly arrested by the government,
• My house was broken into and robbed,
• I finally got ’sick’ and threw up for the ‘THIRD’ time in my entire life
• I was forced to leave my mud house by Immigration,
• I have been accepted to join a new NGO,
• Received news that I’ll be returning back to the States with in the next four weeks for training required by the NGO

 

- It all started last Saturday when Davis (a local Zambian pastor) and I took the chance to host a late night Prayer and worship with the ‘big bad MEN on the street’.  These men range from (age 20-30) and they congregate in what they call the ‘destroyer’.  The out come of our time together were a ‘few’ powerful heartfelt prayers from a ‘few’ of the men, and what I believe is another building block to change ’some’ of their lives.  

(Officials didn’t like me being on the street so late at night, as I stayed behind for awhile when Davis left)

- Tuesday I choose to take two of the ‘youngest’ Street Boys home with me for safety and security.  This spontaneous choice became a pleasant and encouraging experience, as they were respectful, trustworthy, and good helpers.

- Wednesday and Thursday I got my first dose of sickness while being here in ZA.  I had purging from dual ends of my body, with an outhouse and all… I spare the details.  I was fortunate to have the two kids from the street with me to assist during the worst of the worst.

- Friday A messenger was sent to my door telling me that the Social Welfare, Police and Immigration were ‘after’ me and assuming that I was involved with child trafficking or other illegal operations with the kids on the street. As I’ve not been as culturally sensitive individual, in their eyes.

- Friday I was forced to leave my mud house as (Immigration) knew if some one harmed me there, it would make International news and ZA would become the black sheep to many.  They want me to live in a ’safe’ (non compound) location and not among a bunch a thieves and un educated individuals. I came to stay with another missionary family that also works for HOB, and I hid out here from the government officials, until the dust settled from their many accusations.

- Saturday I was accepted to work under a new NGO based out of the United States.  (HOB) Heart of the Bride based in Niceville, Florida.  www.heartofthebride.org is the website to check into.  It’s very professional and God centered. This has come after months of prayer and faith that God would open the ‘right’ door at the ‘right’ time.  I was trying to avoid a US based organization as I feared that I’d be asked to return to the states for ‘training’, and I saw that as a ‘waste of money’, fugal to a fault, still!  However I have complete peace and joy to know that this is exactly what the Lord had in mind for me to continue ministry here in ZA, after proper training in culture and ministry. 

- Sunday I woke up to a phone call informing me that burglars used an axe to enter my home Saturday night. (Many knew that I’d be forced to move the day before, and didn’t have time to shift my items). They got away with a large bag of clothes I had set back for another time and season, my video camera, a 4GB back up chip, and my multi port USB ‘gadget’.  My neighbors ‘bladder’, or ‘God’ woke him up at 3:30Am and he was able to chase them away before they escaped with more goods.  I expect that they were planning to ‘clean house’ and take anything and everything they could, while sweeping the floor on the way out, but God has some thing else in mind. All that we have belongs to God, even the air in my lungs, so who am I to cry or be upset.  I’m just thankful that I have my daily necessities to keep on living day by day. 

- Monday, I was informed that the Social welfare, Police and Immigration had backed off their assumptions of my illegal accusations with the kids living on the streets.  And I’d be granted the entire 30 day time frame to buy a ticket and fly home before my Temporary Work Permit would expire. GOOD News.

 

So there you have it, a summarized update on the latest and greatest in my life here in Zambia. I plan to buy a ticket to the states today or tomorrow (Lord willing) and I pray for a ‘cheap’ fare.

I don’t have details on what my time frame home will be, yet I know I’m ‘on my way’!

Some training will take place in Niceville, Florida, some in Denver Colorado, and of course a visit to the Midwest to see my family. But HOB still has to set up my finances, job description for my return to Zambia, and much, much more…

PRAYER REQUESTS:

-          I’ll be able to get a reasonable plane ticket home

-          My bag of clothes or others stolen goods would be found..??

-          My new fund raising, training and schedule while back in the states will be worked out and become a blessing and not a ‘curse’ or so it could feel.

-          Those that I’ll be leaving behind (my compound, kids on the street, church, friends and ‘family’ here in ZA) will be at peace and have joy, while continuing to put their faith in God and trust that I’ll return ready to embrace them and walk beside them once again, sooner than later.

-          God will get the GLORY no matter what this next week, month or years ahead in Zambia could or will hold