Praise Notes!

Thank you so much for praying! God answered your prayers.

This past Monday, Meghan (a short-term volunteer) and I made the 160 km round-trip on the bumpy road to Livingstone to renew our visitor visas. We were in and out of the office with our new visas in 20 minutes. That's a record! She had done this process 3 times before and it always took her days to get a new visa.

After taking care of that, on Wednesday Dr. Joan and I traveled 5 hours northeast to Lusaka to pick up a work team. We stopped in at the head immigration office to check on my employment permit. Usually it takes at least 6 weeks to be ready for pick-up, but some missionaries have waited 4 months or more for their work permits. It was ready and I was able to pick it up (another record). I can now take up my full responsibilities and can be in the country for two years without having to go through this process again. Praise the Lord!!

Keep up the good work. Your prayers do make a difference!!

Orientation is Over

I can't believe I have been in Zambia for a month already. Though I continue to learn many things each day, the orientation period is over.

This is a diverse country with many languages and peoples. Because of the English influence, people usually have a Zambian name and an English name; like Edith, Susan, and Fred. However, one will also find Defensity, Averager, Lonely, and many more. In a place where the meanings of names are important, I wonder why some have the names they do.

In the last month I have had the full picture of what my responsibilities will be while in Zambia. I will be responsible for the running of the Zimba Mission, which includes overseeing 8 Zambian employees, organizing and hosting teams, and the finances & bookkeeping. I will also be the business manager for Global Partners in Zambia. Responsibilities for this include the paying of taxes, and finances and bookkeeping. These two positions were held by two different missionaries and have been combined to make a full-time position while those missionaries are on home ministries back in the States.

What does all that look like? It means trips to Livingstone (which is about a 160 km round-trip from Zimba on a rough, dirt road) to get groceries and other supplies, banking and paying bills, as well as picking up and droping off teams at the airport. Zimba has only a small shop where we can get bread and very few other items. A trip to Livingstone takes all day because there is always many errands to run and things take so much longer to do here than in North America. Working with teams include the communication, planning, and preparation prior to their arrival and then I help our cook, Edi, prepare meals for them and when she is off, I do the cooking.

This is my part in the overall ministry that takes place here in Zambia. The teams come to work at the Mission Hospital, do construction or repairs, or VBS, etc. This could not happen without someone organizing on this side of the ocean. Also, the other missionaries are doctors and are needed at the hospital. Someone is needed to keep things running so they can focus on the health concerns of people.

I have learned so much since my arrival. My chitonga (language) is coming along. I have learned the ins and outs of my various responsibilities, and also about various medical things. I assisted an eye doctor by logging patients at a rural health clinic and will have other opportunities to help at the rural health clinics. However, I still have much to learn about the people and culture here, cooking for teams, and the way business is carried out in Zambia.

Prayer Requests:

- Before you wake up tomorrow (Monday), I will be in the immigration office renewing my visitor visa. This is a simple process of them taking my paperwork and stamping my passport, however, usually it takes two or three trips to the office before they do that. Please pray that it will take only one trip because there are many other things to do this week.

- On Wednesday I go to Lusaka (5 hours from Zimba) to check on my work permit. Pray that it will be ready and that I am able to pick it up. Without it, I am not legally allowed to work. I have been assisting another missionary while I'm waiting for it. Once I have it I can be doing everything I'm meant to be doing.

- Please continue to pray for my adjustment to Zambia and that the relationships that have been made would continue to grow. Pray that I will find a close friend here much like I had in Swaziland.

Step 2 Complete

Greetings from Zimba, Zambia!!

Thank you for your prayers! God has answered them and will continue to do so. The journey here was long, but uneventful and I have finally arrived at my destination at the Zimba Mission in Zambia. Zimba is a small town about 1 1/2 hours from the nearest city of Livingstone. The road from Livingstone to Zimba is mostly dirt and very rough. You know you have reached Zimba when the good, paved road starts, but if you blink you may miss it.

Today I had the grand tour of the mission compound and the hospital, which is just a little ways down the street from the mission. Right now I am learning my way around and meeting the people who work at the mission and the hospital. Bit by bit, I am finding that there are many things I will be responsible for, such as paying the taxes, overseeing the running of the mission and hosting teams, but I have yet to know the full extent of what I will be doing.

My first tasks are to start learning the language and to get acquainted with the area and the mission. For the next month I will be working with Dr. Joan Jones as she helps me to transition into my work and she transitions out. She has been covering my responsibilities, until I could get here, as well as her medical duties at the hospital. Come November I should be in full swing of things and Joan can spend her time at the hospital, but she will still be around to help when needed.

Please pray for a smooth transition into my new country and responsibilities. Pray also for the doctors and nurses at the mission hospital. They see hundreds of patients everyday.

Step 1 Complete

Greetings from Swaziland!

This is just a quick note to let you know that I made it safely to Swaziland. I have been enjoying visiting with my friends and played on the worship team last night and this morning during services. My church had prayer for me to send me off to Zambia and I will head there later this week.

Thanks you very much for your prayers!!

Are you ready for the journey?

Soon my team is headed out on a brand new journey; one of new experiences, new friends, new languages, and new growth. This journey will have everyday routines and exciting ways in how God is working, trials and victories, perhaps sometimes a step back, but two steps forward. Are your ready?

Here is the itinerary:

Sept. 24 Halifax to Washington DC
Washington DC to Johannesburg
Sept. 25 Johannesburg to Swaziland

No, I haven't forgotten we're going to Zambia. The first stop isSwaziland to pick up my things, but more importantly, to say goodbye to friends there. Further travel arrangements will be made once we arrive in Swaziland and then we will continue on to our final destination in Zambia.

Yes, I realized that my team is not, necessarily, physically going to Zambia with me, but as part of the team, we are in this together. By covering this ministry in prayer and continuing to give faithfully, you are doing the work as much as I am. A team is at its best when all the teammates are practiced up and giving their all in the position they hold. I am so thankful to have a great team!!

Please pray for safe, uneventful travels, strength as one chapter closes and love and tears are exchanged both here and in Swaziland, and grace as another chapter begins in Zambia; to learn a new language and culture, make new friends, and to fit into the work already there. Pray also for the remaining needed travel arrangements and for the team already in Zambia. We have a great team there and I'm looking forward to working along side of them in Kingdom work!

So, are you ready for the journey? We're on our way!