Home Sweet Home

After being lost in the Twilight Zone of air travel for about 24 hours, the Zambia team has returned home.We are so grateful to you for following our adventures and for your prayers.

Stay tuned for some recaps of how our experience and ministry in Lusaka impacted us and the women and children we served.

The Least of These

In Matthew 25:40 Jesus says that whatever we do for those that are considered the "least" in the eyes of the world, it will be as if we did it to Him. Today we met a group of children that many would put into this category. Who really cares about 60 or so HIV positive kids in one poverty stricken area of an African city of 2.5 million people that most Westerners have never heard of?

Jesus cares and so do we.

Children lined up in the background waiting for lunch

The feeding program is run by Easter and Wozifera Ngoma, pastors at a large church in one of the compounds in the city. Compounds are what most of us would consider a slum, and there are many different compounds throughout Lusaka. Three times a week the program feeds children that are HIV positive in order that they are able to take their anti-retrovirals effectively and safely. Usually they have nshima and a vegetable. Sometimes they are able to provide some chicken also. The children are taught about God's love and promises, as well as given instruction on good health practices.

Many of the children live with grandmas or aunties that can be too busy to remind the children to take their medicines. Some churches in the area preach that they do not need to take their medicines if they have enough faith. The Ngoma's program exists to remove any barriers to growth and health.

Waiting for their lunch

Today when we visited the program, each child was able to take home a large bag of mealy meal (their staple corn product from which they make nshima) and a bottle of oil. This bag will feed a family of four for about two weeks.

While it was overwhelming to see the need surrounding us in the feeding program, it was also incredibly uplifting to see what a few Christ followers with little resources have been able to do. Through the Ngoma's vision, support of a few generous U.S. donors (including TLC) and community volunteers, there are over 60 HIV positive kids in Lusaka that now have a significantly better chance of growing into adulthood. Additionally the program will soon be expanding to include education and support for young adults ages 17-24 that are HIV positive.

I think that makes Jesus smile.

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We Survived Bible Club!

Here are just a few photos from our fun afternoon. About 65 kids attend Bible Club here at Camp Ciyangano each Friday. We were honored to be their special guests and they seemed pretty thrilled that we were there. The children come from the rural area around the camp. Many of their families do not attend church and all are quite poor. The children get a snack when they arrive and dinner before they leave. In between there is lots of fun - and even more fun when the mzungus (white people) come to visit.

Learning a new song - "there was a bunny, a mongoose and a crazy elephant"

Just having fun being a kid

Decorating bags with paint and stencils was a big hit

Bible story - parable of the mustard seed

Blindfolded game of Fill the Bin was crazy fun!

 

Blindfolded game of Fill the Bin was crazy fun!

On their way home with a blanket, a book and goodie bag supplied by TLC MOPS

 

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Meeting the Alumni

The APC Women's Conference Alumni Tea was held at the Action Pastors College. The air was crisp and cool, but the sun warmed us up quickly. The "tea" was an orange, jungle bar, chocolate Easter egg, cupcake and a bag of chips. The women loved their snack along with the requisite cup of black tea.

After a silly song and fun ice-breaker game, we spent the morning talking about cultivating peace when leading in ministry. For Kim and Rhonda, this was an uplifting reunion as they saw the continued joy and growth in the woman that they ministered too over three summers. Some were struggling with recent losses and others were facing challenges in their congregations, yet all had broad smiles, sang loudly, and gave heartfelt hugs..... and left encouraged.

APC Alumni Tea 2014

p.s. Rhonda is really in this picture.... somehow just didn't make it in the frame.

Rhonda shares a special bond with her Zambian friend, Patricia.

 

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Preparing for Phase 2

After a few days of fun and relaxation at Victoria Falls and Chobe Game Reserve, the team is back in Lusaka refreshed and ready to continue.

Double rainbow from Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls

Lots and lots of swimming elephants

Tomorrow we will be having tea with the alumni of the women's conference whose husbands graduated from the APC program three years ago. With songs, games and prayer time, we hope to encourage these pastors' wives and learn about their ministries and how they have been able to apply principles that they learned at past conferences.

 

 

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Bittersweet Goodbye

The women's conference ended today with lots of encouragement, fun, and a discussion of leadership principles to help prepare them for success in ministry alongside their husbands.

We started the day with an encouraging devotion on how to cultivate God's peace in our lives and a wonderful worship time. We finished up the blankets and cooking project - both having very practical applications for their lives. Lastly we ended the day with a discussion, led by Kim, that gave the women some practical and valuable information to guide them to success as pastors' wives in their church communities.

Amy and Mary making blankets with Alice

 

Betty and Alice cooking chipatti with Rhonda and Trisha

Betty and Alice making chipatti with Trisha and Rhonda

Making lunch from Amy on Vimeo.

After a lunch of nshima (see above video) we gave the women certificates of completion as their husbands graduate APC this year. There were many smiles and long hugs - and of course singing - as they headed home.

Goodbye from Amy on Vimeo.

And then we began our preparations for the kids Bible Club later this week after a little rest and relaxation.

 

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Better Life Through Love and Vegetables

The program for day two of the conference was full - we had a devotion, three workshops, cooking and blanket making. After dinner we had movie and popcorn.

Mary spoke gently, yet truthfully on domestic abuse issues. Heidi gave a transparent and practical talk on alcoholism and how the women can deal with the alcoholics in their lives. The women were very receptive and there was great discussion and interaction. The women really appreciated their perspectives.

Karen, one of the Action Zambia missionaries spoke on "What is a Better Life?" based on Proverbs. Aspects that make a better life include: fear of The Lord, wisdom, integrity, a good name, and......vegetables? A bowl of chocolates and a bowl of cucumbers were passed around and each woman was asked to choose which one they wanted. Not surprisingly all chose a chocolate. Then we read Proverbs 15:17 "Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred." It was a very encouraging message to these women who have an abundance of love and other valuable characteristics, but few material possessions or resources.

And they loved the chocolate.

All of the lovely ladies at the conference

 

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Hope for the Future

On the morning of the first day of the conference, the team waited expectantly for the pastor's wives to arrive. It was a chilly morning, but crisp blue sky. We carefully wrapped our chitenges around us (some of us ending safety pins to keep them in place) and waited for our guests to arrive. It was a joyful reunion for some and a sweet introduction for others.

Greeting from Amy on Vimeo.

The conference theme is Hope for a Future and the day was overflowing with hope. Some aspects of Hope that were presented:

• Hope does not disappoint
  
• Hope produces joy
  
• Hope proves our faith is genuine
  

And these ladies certainly display these characteristics.

We ended the day with some simple (for Zambians) worship.

Worship from Amy on Vimeo.

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Ready, Set, Go!

The Zambia team has arrived in Lusaka (and met up with last team member, Amy). We have settled into our comfortable headquarters at Ciyanjano Camp and are busy preparing for the arrival of the women tomorrow. Notebooks and "goodie" bags are assembled, chitenges set out for distribution and a dozen chickens are defrosting in a bucket of water on the kitchen floor. We are also made a sample of the blankets that we will be making with the women.

This afternoon we went to have tea at the homes of two of the women that will be attending the conference. Tea was actually sodas and cookies, but it was a great opportunity to spend time with the women and their pastor husbands. We were able to see where they live in the compounds, which are areas severely impacted by unemployment and poverty. It was so helpful to hear about the challenges that they are facing in their ministries and gain some understanding of what their world looks like as it is vastly different from ours. And we also had the opportunity to meet some of their adorable children.

 

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Trust in Action

by Kim Breuninger

It was Sunday on the first of day of my seventh trip to Zambia. I eagerly anticipated my reunion with a dear friend Setilda and her husband Alfred, pastor of the homegrown church we would attend that morning. The team was excited to hear what the Lord might say to us this first day of our adventure.

Setilda and Alfred were waiting outside when we arrived and, after a warm greeting, guided us into the dimly lit cinder block room. The front row of wooden benches resting on the dirt floor had been reserved for honored guests. Worship had already begun so we joined in, dancing and singing, even though the songs were sung in Nyanja.

Not quite into the second song, I felt a tap on my shoulder; I was needed in the back of the room to speak with Pastor Alfred and Kelly, the missionary who’d escorted us that morning. Kelly and I had previously discussed the possibility, and cultural probability, that I would be asked to say a word or two in greeting, which I was prepared to do. As I stepped outside into the sunlight I was sure we were going to confirm that. However, the words I heard next quickly drained me of all confidence.  Pastor Alfred was informing Kelly that I (as in, “Who me?!”) was going to be giving the message to the church that morning! I did my very best to politely decline the honor, but there was no convincing the good pastor that this honor should pass me by. It is their tradition. 

It came to me then that this is what Moses must have felt. He did his best to talk God out of the plan He had for him. (Ex. 3-4) Moses came up with excuses like, “Who am I?”  And, “What if they don’t listen to me?” and, “I don’t have the words!”  And finally, “Please send someone else to do it!”  My mind thought of our missionary guide, Kelly. I said, “You can do it! You live here, it’s what you do!” But that didn't work; Kelly was not the honored guest, I was.

Mission trips are planned with projects in mind; tasks the team will accomplish. I’m a big planner and very task oriented. I had planned the trip for my team, a women’s conference for pastors’ wives, and to be part of a full day of fun for 80 orphans. But God’s plan had more in mind.

God is teaching me that He doesn't send me to be a worker, He sends me to grow in my faith. My life verse is 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” I suppose God felt this was a good time for me to put that verse into action. 

Remembering God’s promise to give Moses the words he would need when he needed them, I prayed, stepped up to the podium, and God did the rest.  I spoke on God’s sovereignty, which had been the topic of our team devotion that morning.

That night as I reflected on the day’s events, I reread what I had written in my journal that morning before we left to visit Setilda’s. It said, “He always knows how things will go for you. Trust Him. He has it worked out ahead of you.”

This is my prayer for our whole team; that we would each trust that the Lord knows just how to stretch each one of us. He knows just where to put us to encourage our growth. And He knows just what to ask us to do to bring us closer to Him and deepen our love for Him. 

Will you pray with me? 

Africa? Really?

by Rhonda McEntee

It is hard to believe that this will be my 5th trip back to Zambia! It was about six years ago that I decided I was ready to be part of a Mission's team. I remember praying that God would choose the right place for me. Then the day came...the day when Kim Breuninger asked me to be part of a team she was taking to Zambia, Africa!

My first thought was, "Really, Lord? Africa!" I was planning on something more like Mexico. Africa was not part of my plan. It was, however, part of God"s plan.

So off I went, wide-eyed, excited, (and a little scared) and eager to see how God's plans would unfold. And unfold they did. Our last four trips have been so fulfilling. Never in my widest dreams did I think I would be going back to Africa for a 5th time, let alone go there in the first place. Each year I go prepared to teach, help, inspire the people I will work with,  but the funny thing is I'm the one who learns, is helped, and inspired. Going to Africa changed me, and it continues to change me each time I go back.

I am not a Pastor or Biblical expert. I am just a willing servant. I go because I feel God has directed me to go. I love the relationships that we make with these beautiful people. We may have a lot of differences, but our commonalities, our faith and love of Jesus make us the same. I feel honored and privileged to be part of this wonderful ministry.

Daunting Task

by Heidi Heath Garwood

When Kim Breuninger called me last summer from Zambia to ask for my "expertise" on how she could help Zambian Christians deal with the alcoholics that were coming into their churches, I paused and thought, "who me?"

I joke about my "expertise," but God does not. I am a recovering alcoholic myself and realize that God got me sober 10 years ago for "such a time as this." Because of my past struggles, I can share that God is the only thing that will fill that hole that we try to fill with so many things in life—including alcohol.

After returning from Zambia, Kim asked me to put together books and materials for the people she had worked with so they could start an AA meeting. I found out that the nearest organized AA meeting was 100 miles away, so I went to our own recovery AA group here at Twin Lakes and they donated the money to buy and send books to them. We shipped them off, but they got stuck in customs and never arrived.

Soon after, God spoke clearly to me that He didn't just want me to just send the books, but He wanted to send ME. I told Kim that I was ready to go with her team to Zambia where I will be teaching at the women's conference on issues around alcoholism. We will also be bringing books and materials to give to them, including a book on recovery that I have written myself.

Daunting task.

Teaching the women truths about alcoholism........
Helping them to understand the alcoholic(s) in their lives....
Giving them tools to help during the fallout and abuse that occurs when alcoholism is present.........

I see so many obstacles - language barriers, different customs, societal pressures and stigmas -  and all seem insurmountable. Yet, I know God is equipping our whole team for this mission trip, He is putting women together to accomplish His purpose SO much better than I could have planned.

I am responsible for the surrender and He is responsible for the outcome. All praise and glory goes to our precious JESUS!

Me, A Missionary?

by Mary Boddy

Mama and Me on her 92nd birthday.
Below: enjoying my grandkids

My earliest memories are of sitting on the couch cuddled up to my mother as she read missionary stories to me. I believe those were the ONLY storybooks she read. (I’m serious!) Her deepest desire was for me to grow up and actually BE a missionary! In my young mind, missionaries' lives were full of dangerous rivers with crocodiles, dark jungles, swords, wild cats, witch doctors, strangely clad natives, and threats of cannibals. I loved these exciting stories, but had absolutely NO desire to actually BE a missionary myself. I preferred living vicariously through the books from the comfort and safety of my couch.

But, like so many other things I never saw myself doing, here I am going to AFRICA! I keep trying to write my own story, but God takes the pen and has a different plan. I feel incredulous, unqualified, and nervous, (like at the beginning of every story) and yet, at some point I quit saying, “Really God?! Me? Are you serious?” I have learned that God writes my story much better than I can and by the end of each chapter I would not change a single paragraph. HE is amazing, faithful, exciting, and all sufficient; if I had not allowed HIM to write my story I would never have learned that I can do anything that HE calls and enables me to do.

God started a new chapter in my life a little over a year ago when He moved my husband and me to California from Georgia; far from all that was familiar, comfortable and loved. God opened the door for me to be trained as an advocate for survivors of domestic abuse. He has given me a passion for helping women suffering from abuse and the ability in me to serve those He places before me. Now He is asking me to go to Zambia to share what HE has been teaching me about abuse so that His children there (my extended “family”) will be safer.

My dear, missionary minded mother is now 92 and is eager for me to RETURN from Zambia and sit safely on the couch next to her. Hahaha! How the tables have turned!!
                       

Renewed Focus

by Amy Hanley

When I tell people that I am going to Africa for the fourth time this summer they usually look a little perplexed.  They ask, "What do you do there?" My inclination is to give them a quick summary of the things that I have done (and will do): educate women and build their faith at conferences, help with repairs at orphan centers, teach children about health issues and how much God loves them, provide shoes and supplies to needy children.

But that doesn't really get to the heart of why I keep returning.

The children of Zambia were as intrigued by my hair as I was by their joy

What I really do in Zambia is learn about hope in the midst of suffering, heart-felt worship, true and humble servant-hood.  By spending time with the people and dealing with the some of the day-to-day hardships and challenges that they experience, I discover deeper gratitude, peace and joy. I am pulled out of my self-focused life full of first world problems and am changed.

However I have found that after a few months home from Africa, it is easy to once again be absorbed by the demands and routines of my life. Some of that gratitude turns to grumbling, some of that peace turns to worry. So that is why I return again and again - to renew that focus and be inspired to love better, trust more, embrace gratitude, and sing loud!