Finally - we have the internet!
posted on: Saturday 12 April at 02:41 PM
We arrived in Zambia safely, after many delays and a few storms. We arrived at the base Monday at 4pm for showers and were taken back by the awesome view of the zambezi gorge.
Tuesday we hung out at the base finding our feet and adjusting to the temperature. We had orientation and learned about their culture and some useful phrases – mawuka buti?!
Tuesday afternoon we went to Victoria Falls and got soaking wet! We saw full-circle rainbows in the falls it was an amazing experience. We then went to the Game Drive and saw lots of animals, wilderbeast, warthogs, elephants, hippos, monkeys…
Ok this sounds like a holiday – but Wednesday we got to the missions stuff. We moved our tents to the bush – near the village of Masukatwana. We had to cut down some of the bush with machette’s, assemble the tents, build a bonfire and get cooking.
On the way there one of the trucks got stuck in a ditch – in the pouring rain and we had to stop and pull it out. After two attempts (and having pulled it straight into another ditch) we were back on the road, but the delay meant that we couldn’t go into the village that afternoon for a meeting.
Thursday we separated into four teams to go into different parts of the villages and minister to families, going door to door. We clapped (instead of knocking as they don’t have doors) and were welcomed into houses with a mat (sackcloth) where we sat and talked about Jesus, our testimonies and their lives. We’ve seen lots of people saved and have prayed for healings. We invited everyone to the evening meeting where we saw more people saved and introduced ultimate frisbee to the kids of Africa, along with the very british (Eveie) phrase “nice one!”.
Every evening we discuss the day as each person experienced it, around a bonfire. We have four local pastors with us who translate for us, both language and culture. They are very gifted speakers who have helped us communicate the gospel in a passionate way. They are a real blessing. They have also shown us some local fast-food, like cooking crickets, found on the grass, on the bonfire which taste like beef crisps :-)
Friday more door-to-door evangelism in another village, we saw people baptised in the Holy Spirit, helped free people from addictions, and of course more prayer for healing. One team were met by over 70 residents from two different villages who had walked for hours to sit under a tree and to hear the message of Jesus Christ.
Again we had another evening meeting, we were so welcome in their village. The children keep touching our white skin, pulling our t-shirt sleeves up to see if it’s all over, and touching our hair. They also love to sing to us and teach us dances.
Today is Saturday, we have travelled all day. You can’t imagine the effort required to stay in a seat on a journey. The trucks are crazy, taking on “roads” that you wouldn’t want to walk on, throwing the passengers around all over the place!
Now we’re back at the base, waiting to shower, we are all covered in mud – we had thought it was a tan until we saw soap and water for the first time in four days and the dirt is washing off.
We are going to church tomorrow, in the local village I think. We’re missing our church family very much. Sunday is our day to chill and then Monday we’re heading back to the bush, to visit a village that has never seen a white person before. When Overland visited the head man to ask permission to come, some locals were so frightened of the white skin that they fell off their bikes and ran!! It’s going to be an interesting trip.
We will hopefully speak to you soon – internet is not easy to get to and so we’ve not been able to contact our families personally, so hopefully this blog will assure you we are all alive and smiling. And we love you!!
Keep praying for us, we are doing well but some of us are struggling with sickness (probably the heat). Team are bonding and looking after each other. Overland team are spoiling us.
Matthew 4:4 “Man can not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” This has become evident to each member of the team this week.
We’ll keep you updated when we can. Good days ahead!
