What was it that defeated the most famous giant of history? An army? The largest, bravest, deadliest soldier on the good-guys side? Some great strategy?

No.

Five Little Stones and a little shepherd boy who trusted The God of Little Stones.

Africa today is being destroyed by the most daunting of Giants.

•  AIDS – with 10 % of the world’s population, they suffer 70% of its AIDS patients – the only region in the world where life expectancy is decreasing – 38 years in Zambia. 
• Hunger – half of all Africans live on less than $1 per day; the GDP of the entire continent is less than Mexico’s. 
• Corrupt Leaders – costing Africa $148 billion USD annually. • War – 1 in 5 Africans live in direct fear of conflict – making it the world’s most dangerous place to live. 
• Ignorance – the only region in the world where illiteracy is increasing. 

But all of these are merely symptoms of a deeper problem – Africa has lost her soul. Like a rape victim (a very keen likeness to what has actually happened to her on many fronts over the past 200 years), Africa has lost her identity, her tribal meta-narrative. Somewhere in the rubble of village and family life one may find the carcass of self-restraint and conscience. Immorality, corruption, and passive dependence have taken their place. Where once a vibrant morality, initiative and accountability guided the African societies, now many Africans seem resigned to a degenerating social conscience.

How can God turn around this onslaught?

• Foreign Aid? – already 300 billion USD invested into Africa – and we are still the poorest continent, and getting poorer. 
• G8 Summits? – get all the greatest nations and minds together – but it is apparent the world is experiencing “aid fatigue” from lack of progress. 
• International pressure for reformation? – ha – look at Zimbabwe! 
• Missionaries? – there are countless mission stations around Zambia and Africa, and the people in the surrounding villages are just as beat down by the Giants as anywhere! 

Could it be there is a little shepherd boy with a sling we are overlooking? Where are the Five Little Stones with which God is going to defeat the Giants?

1. I believe orphans are one of those Little Stones! What if this army of 20 million little feet were raised by African Christian parents who instilled the Soul of Jesus into them, a reformed world-view (without animism and passive dependence) , a good education and skills training, and a motivating vision to become the evangelists and leaders of tomorrow? What if their influence in 20 years would tip the scales to a new type of African leadership that could change a continent? 
2. I believe simple, grassroots, discipleship oriented, clusters of Jesus followers are another Little Stone! Africa is literally dying for lack of Real Christianity – in the village church they bow to the witch doctor; and in the city church they bow to the Prosperity Garble. Few are real disciples of Jesus. 
3. I believe backyard gardens are another Little Stone that could turn the Hunger of Africa into Abundance! If every rural African had a productive garden that’s all it would take. Is that so hard? 
4. I belive an army of simple health evangelists could be a Little Stone that would turn the graph of life expectancy back to north again! 
5. I believe the quality 12th grade education of rural children could be a Little Stone designed to slay continent-sized Giants. Education empowers, period. It cuts the feet from under animistic witchcraft; it broadens horizons of possibility and strengthens confidence in personal initiative. Then make Christ the center of education and transformation is within reach. 

God – the Same One who did the job of creating galaxies with a simple Word; the Same One who was born in a cattle stall and lived in obscurity, and yet in his brief 33 years, planted a Little Seed that shifted the axis of the Universe; this Same One who strategized to use 12 hillbillies to start a movement that would revolutionize Empires – THIS IS THE GOD WE SERVE!

So church! Let’s mobilize around these Little Stones.

1. Orphans – we are building our first children’s home and gathering clusters of kids (Lift Groups) in the villages to disciple and love into fruitfulness. Are you called to come and gather a group of kids, mentor and love them? Are you called to sponsor another children’s home? 
2. Jesus Cells – we are spread thin – so many potential disciples, a few committed disciplers, six villages we are currently working in. This is the most difficult task of all – emptying yourself, becoming one with them, living among them, eating their food, learning their language and names, loving their children, struggling with them thru the demons that choke them. It takes real passion for Jesus and Christian maturity, exceptional prayerfulness. Are you called to devote your life to reaching the lost with the Freedom of the Gospel? Are you called to join our prayer team and seriously devote yourself to intercession, without which this work just will not happen? 
3. Gardens – it seems so simple to think that poor hungry people should have gardens – but oh so difficult in reality! I have heard that the number of gardens has multiplied since we have come, but it is still not near what it should be. One of the Lift Groups has taken on a garden project – the kids are so excited as we train them to do it well, do it to please Jesus, and in the end the potential to sell the produce and have some money to get uniforms and shoes and go back to school. Are you called to come and devote yourself to gardening? Are you called to sponsor some gardens? 
4. Schools – we have 4 simple “classes” brooding now under the trees – English literacy for adults, first grade level and third grade level; an intern just started a conversational English class; and one of our Lift Groups is getting the ABC’s a couple times a week. Are some of you called to give your lives to empowering the poor in this way? The community is begging us to start a school – but we are waiting until God sends the ones to make it happen. 
5. Health – we have done nothing with this yet – we haven’t the staff – though the people need it so desperately. Young parents are dying from AIDS because they refuse to believe it. Instead they choose to believe the witch doctor who says some uncle put bad medicine outside their door and they stepped over it. So they get a blood test from the hospital telling them they are HIV positive, but then hide the medicine under their bed until they die. The pills are then buried with them. Has God gifted and called you to serve these people in such a way?

Pray – -  Give – - Go – -

Contact us at allnationszam@gmail.com to join the prayer team, to give or to go.

A story I delivered to the 2^nd gathering of cells at our property 9-6-10

 In the beginning God planted a tree, called the Tree of Life. In later generations and other lands it was variously known as Tree of Knowing God; Tree of Child of God; Tree of Nearness to God; Tree of Life Fruit, among others.

 This tree was given for the Life and Fellowship of man with God. It was a majestic and mighty tree that could propagate easily, by just taking a twig and planting it in other soil, so it soon spread around the globe. The fruit was beautiful and ever ripe, and when eaten, produced a sense of joy, inner strength, thankfulness, kindness and even of nearness to God. When people ate it they went away better people – their families flourished, their business prospered, their health blossomed, they had more confidence and creativity, and they tended to long life.

 One thing only was required to bring the fruit on the tree: a tear of sorrow and a tear of thanks. It was not strange or difficult – when a person saw the majesty of the tree and the healing grace of the fruit, tears were a natural response.

 The Tree of Life flourished around the world for many ages. However, over the eons people forgot about the need for tears, and the trees, though majestic still, grew no fruit. People still flocked to the Tree, hearing the legend of the blessing it bestowed. They would sit and worship at the Tree, sing special songs, build special sacred items and offer their vows. But the Benefits of the Tree lessened in most villages of the world – disease ravaged, families scattered in hate, witches prospered in their magic, immorality was rampant. Those who went to the tree regularly lived no better than the others, though they tried harder to pretend. Villages would worship the Tree on one day then live in blatant opposition to all that the God of the Tree required.

 Soon the people made schools where people were trained in the skills and theories of growing and maintaining the best trees. They developed such a system that only special graduates were allowed near the tree, so fences were built to allow only the special ones to draw near. And the Benefits of Life, the Knowledge of a Friendship with God became merely a distant theory or myth.

 One day a young girl lost her mother in death, and late one night, not knowing the rules of the Special Tree Keepers, she entered beyond the fence and approached the Tree of Life. She sat at its base and poured out her heart. “Where are you, O God? I have heard stories of your promise of friendship with man, but you are distant to me! I hunger for your touch! I need you now to come and comfort me!” And she shed her tears of longing and grief at the base of the tree.

 Immediately the Great Magic began to stir, and a fruit grew on a branch near her. She reached out and took the Fruit of legend, and ate. The magic went deep within her and began to comfort the deepest part of her being. Deep tears of longing and regret cleansed her soul and in a moment the course and the very foundations of her life were altered. New hope welled within; new awareness of the nearness of God – now she knew He was indeed her Father; new devotion to live forever in service to Him who gave is Life for her – she was in fact a new person! She rose from that tree forever changed.

 The next day her hope and joy sparkled. Her friends and family wondered what had happened to her. And she could not contain it! She began to tell of her encounter with the Tree of Life. People thought her mad. But a few of her friends could not deny the Benefits that were daily making her into a better person. They too longed for such a transformation. So one night they conspired to climb the fence and pour out their longing for Friendship with God. Their tears were genuine sorrow and hunger for Him, and His fruit again appeared, and again they ate and were transformed in a moment.

 The trickle became a ground swell – soon the neighbors and friends, then the parents and teachers, then the whole village began to steal away in the night and encounter the Living God at the Tree. Even the Special Keepers of the Tree began to long for the True Fruit of the Tree more than the theory and strategies of tree maintenance, and they became revolutionized in their thinking – tearing down the fences and rules that prohibit access. And then the people of that village began to tell the news to other villages and the ground swell became a flood – traveling from village to village, nation to nation, until the world again was brought into Friendship with God.

Feeling like there is finally some order to our lives! We have been so harried lately – going in a thousand directions at once. Garden projects, micro loan followup, building project, so many house bible studies, cpx team mentoring, intern orientations, etc, etc, etc… The same dilemma – we get going in so many directions, then feel like we are out of control and doing nothing well. Regina is getting “finished”, as they say here. So our last Z Team Mtg we wrote the names of all the staff (7 of us now – 4 long term, 3 interns, and another coming in 2 days) and designated out all the little and big jobs. It felt soooo good. Now we must keep reminding each other and empowering each other to do what we have decided.

Went to the village today – 15 people working for me plus 4 without wages (just hoping for work).  7 working on wall, 7 making cement blocks for the orphan home, 1 cooking their noon meal and starting a large garden. Rock work on the wall will be finished in two weeks prob. Then wires and reeds. It will be beautiful I think. Thanks Father for a good builder, a good forman, harmony on the crew, enough money to keep going for a while. The land looks good. It feels good to be able to hire these guys – I know each of them and the desperate lives they live, struggling to get thru another month, finding some way to feed their families.

Since Agrippa died last month (AIDS) I have been praying for a way to empower his widow and 6 daughters who have no apparent means of getting food other than depending on family. And family is not looking good – Biggie looks like the later stages of AIDS and unemployed, Kojack is a fisherman and there are no fish this time of year when the river is in flood stage. I don’t know how they eat. So I employed Kojack as a brick maker and the 17 year old orphaned daughter of Agrippa, Sandra, to cook the noon meal for the workers, and start making a large garden for us. Had a wonderful talk with Biggie about the gospel – praying that before he dies he will know Jesus as a friend, not just a distant god.

Nice big garden area that could be expanded to 3 times as large. They got the oxen out there and plowed today. Will do orchard eventually – I have 30 mango trees, 2 guavas, 12 papaya, 3 avocado, and other misc trees.  Lord, would you give me a tractor? Could I ask you for such a thing? Build a road from the tarmac, build a road around the compound, pull out trees a plenty, clear and till ground, make a dam, lift up a water tank, dig a fish farm pit, etc… So many uses for a good tractor! Jesus, this is what I am asking for – along with a construction foreman.

I am just really feeling comfortable there – the people love us, idolize us possibly. I love just sitting by the river with the little boys all sitting around me talking to me in Lozi, not understanding why I don’t talk back. Looking at the birds, watching the river, looking for crocs or hippos. I could live there I think.

Hippos have been visiting the CPX team at night. They say one rubbed against their tent – highly unlikely. But two were fighting on the flat near their tents the other night – they and lots of village folk got up and stood in the field for 45 minutes while they snorted and made a mess of things. Fortunately they  did no damage to the new cement blocks or the camping area. It looks so cool down there under the trees – stone path, campfire ring, tents by the river, home made kitchen structure, shower enclosure and toilet enclosure…

Had a good power encounter with the enemy today – Jesus came thru in an awesome way! A witch doctor from Western province came to heal 80 year old George (must have been a stroke – has trouble walking and talking and thinking clearly). He was mad that we were there praying for him, doing bible study and discipling him and Queen and their orphans. When I heard a witch was there making trouble I went right over. They were all sitting in a circle talking nicely – never would have known the guy was a witch by looking at him. He was 40ish, Made some threatenings when Nimisha was in the bilbe study. So when she came to teach English a bunch of us went over there. The guy was saying he was going to call down rain. In fact it started raining. I felt the faith to pray against that, and that God would chase the rain and bring sun. The rain abruptly stopped. We told the guy he was powerless to fight God. He said it was just while we white people were there, but we said and prayed that God would thwart anything the guy tried, especially after we left. We heard that after we left the old man George told him, “you are of the devil and we want you to go.” Great!

Then the bible study was great today – talked about Early Ch life – the story of Paul and the church he started in Corinth – the issues they faced as a church – kicking out the unrepentant sinner, resolving their differences in the church, marriage issues, spiritual gifts, men and women issues, communion – lots of practical things. Lots of discussion. At one point we were talking about who gives the Holy Spirit – man or God? Some were saying apostles –  that is their doctrine – apostles are the only ones authorized to give HS, the only ones authorized to go out and preach, probably the only ones with spiritual gifts, etc. One guy said that even after we leave someone may pray in our name for others to get HS, because we are apostles too! I was aghast and set them straight – anyone could pray for another to get HS. Paul as an apostle never baptized any – let all others do it.

Everyone is completely exhausted after village ministry – why? The poor CPX guys – they are out there 5 days and come back like zombies. But it is so good to come back and feel like God is moving, walls are coming down, light is entering into the dark places, people are understanding a new way, people are grabbing onto a new way of living, a new hope for the future. God, we are hungry for a spiritual flood and will continue to ask for it. But water rising slowly is not bad either. Thanks Jesus.

Mission statement:

To be a community that is the hands and feet of Jesus in the dark places of this world; through our vital connection with Jesus, extending His transforming love to the fatherless, the poor, and the lost.

In a word:

Loving the Least and the Lost

Our vision:

That every orphan be raised in God’s transforming love, to become tomorrow’s leader. That every village be filled with simple, self-reproducing, discipleship -oriented house churches. That every Western believer has an opportunity to be forever changed by involvement in God’s work among the poor.

Our values:

1.        Dependence on Jesus – we cannot do anything of value apart from His initiative, His power to accomplish, and His indwelling holiness to use these human vessels. We believe our vital connection with Him is our only hope for effective ministry for him.

a.      Daily Prayer – we will give ourselves to daily private and corporate worship and prayer.

b.     Guidance – we will not move apart from God’s Words of timing and direction, trusting His ability to get through to us, more than our ability to figure things out.

c.      Altar of Continual Sacrifice – we want to respond to the desire of God for a continual fire upon the altar of our devotion to Him. We have set apart a Room of Prayer, and at times will give ourselves to extended times of prayer, fasting and worship.

d.     Sabbath Rest – we have set apart one day for unhurried devotion to knowing and loving God. We will not allow chores or pressures or social interaction to invade this time of solitude.

2.        Community – our connection to Jesus as well as our response of love to the world, are to be lived out in the context of a loving community. Our church culture has taught us to value individuality, but the Spirit of God is calling us to reignite His value on Corporateness – Oneness. Body life in community is God’s way of refining and empowering – we give ourselves to it, even when it is uncomfortable to the self-life.

a.      Daily Living – we will live in close proximity, sharing life, sharing our belongings, our feelings, our good and our bad. We will live vulnerably with one another, allowing our humanness to be refined by our brothers and sisters.

b.     Accountability Group – we will encourage each person to be committed to another one or two for mutual accountability and personal growth.

c.      Commitment – we will invite each person, whether long or short term, to commit to a term of partnership. This gives strength to the refining work of body-life – not allowing easy escape when things get tough.

d.     Mutual Discernment – we will submit our sense of direction to the group, trusting Jesus to speak and confirm His plans.

3.        The Fatherless – God’s Heart is indentified with the most vulnerable in this world. As we serve them, we serve Jesus. The HIV pandemic, the worst human tragedy in history, is presenting an opportunity and obligation for the Church of Jesus we cannot miss. The giants that oppress Africa (HIV-AIDS, corrupt leaders, an undiscipled church, poverty, etc) can be overcome within a generation by millions of transformed, highly educated, empowered orphans sent out to lead the continent.

a.      Kids’ Homes – we are building clusters of financially self-sustaining homes for small families of kids who need the love of forever parents and the love of God to allow them to reach their potential.  We will locate these clusters with partners around the world with similar vision and values.

b.     Kids Empowered – we are also building systems to nurture and empower vulnerable and orphaned children living with loving relatives.

c.      Kids Educated – we believe that education is a key ingredient to overcoming poverty and a worldview that keeps people oppressed by fear and hopelessness. We will find means to bring a good education to the areas that do not have it.

4.        Sustainability – Non-dependence – We believe it is better to train a man to fish rather than give him a fish. Therefore we value training, equipping, giving dignity by encouraging personal responsibility. And we discourage giving gifts, creating dependency, creating passivity and beggar mentality.

a.      Farming – we are partnering with Foundations for Farming (formerly Farming God’s Way) in training in conservation farming methods while discipling them in habits for success.

b.     Business – we are encouraging, equipping and supporting business endeavors in the village through micro-finance loans and training.

c.      Giving Gifts – in an effort to counter-balance the dependency (beggar) mentality bred into African society through generations of well-meaning aid, we are assiduously guarding ourselves and our associates from giving gifts. We rather allow the needy one to contribute in whatever small way he can, before assisting him with what he cannot attain. Our goal is to give dignity by rewarding initiative and effort. 

5.        Indigenous – the job of the Western missionary is to empower the local people, thereby working himself out of a job. In everything we do we are trying to make our systems as simple, reproducible, and transferable as possible.

a.      Local Leaders – We are empowering local emerging leaders to take ownership of the work we are doing, training them locally, and sending them to our training center in Cape Town SA.

b.     Grassroots – our method of evangelism and discipleship is built on training local people to lead their own movement.

6.        Simple Church – Jesus’ Body on earth is meant to reflect his historical, earthly body – Simple! Not organizationally or materially powerful. But simple groups of believers encouraging one another and worshiping their God. This is the best way to insure sincere faith and mutual discipleship. This is the best way to enable a movement that is sustainable.

a.      Training For Trainers (T4T) – our main effort in evangelism and church planting is in training others to do it. The local people will best reach and build up their own people.

b.     D Groups – we do not talk so much about starting house churches – this can be a distracting term. Rather we encourage Discipleship Groups.

c.      Simple, Reproducible Methodology -  we are training people to lead in a way that will allow and encourage participation and initiative by all.  It is also simple enough that it can be transferred to generation after generation of disciples.

d.     Celebration – we enjoy a monthly meeting of all the disciples coming together to celebrate the broader work of God in the area.

7.        Missions Equipping and Sending Base – millions of young people are disengaged with the church and spiritual things because they have never seen the church being relevant to the issues and needs of the day. As we invite Western young people to come and help in our efforts, we sense the Heart of God to ignite again the youth to dynamic action, leading the world in the cause for Christ. We want to give ourselves to empowering, training and sending of those God sends to us.

a.      Base – we have been given a unique base in a beautiful and adventurous natural setting, while also in the middle of primitive villages – a perfect place for young people to find their own uncharted heart’s purpose.

b.     Fathering – many youth need only the loving input from a Father and Mother to release them to their fullest potential. This is our gift to many whom God sends to us.

c.      Training – we are providing a simple training to those who come to help us, and an opportunity to put it into practice in real Africa. This is the best training one can have. For those wanting to go deeper with us we will refer them to the training center in Cape Town, South Africa – All Nations CPX.

Her face is angelic – like I would imagine the young Mary who acquiesced to the angelic pronouncement with such gentle resignation, yet revealing an underlying strength in her questionings. She is only 11, yet has seen more in her young life than ever a child should. Yet somehow, miraculously, she 

seems untouched by it. Maybe it is because of her physical deformity.

Her left eye is just a cavity of flesh which has attached itself over the eyeball. The right eye is a cat-eye – the pupil a vertical football shaped affair – with some of the same flesh attaching itself to ¼ of the orb. It seems her best vision is about at about 70 degrees on her right side, and that is limited. So if you are standing in front of her she will often turn her head to the left and check you out from the side of her right eye.

 Her name is a mystery. If you ask one person it is Abigail S – the surname of her grandfather. Another will say her name is Peggy J – the surname of her mother’s husband. If you ask her mother she seems to consider for a while before she decides on the Peggy J option. What is the story behind this, I wonder? Was she conceived of another man, or born before wedlock? Or, a more sinister twist that would not be hard to believe, knowing the grandfather as we do, that perhaps it is his child?

But we call her Abigail. She is such a special, gentle dove. She comes to English class and nestles under the wing of a benevolent woman. I watch her from behind and see her trying her hardest to comprehend some of it, quietly asking occasional assistance of her matron. When I ask to see her homework, she is shy yet proud to show me it is complete – by whose hand we never know. I wonder if she has ever had school, yet she understands English more than some, betraying a quick mind.

 Regina has found a special clinic about 2 hours from the village where Western Doctors fly in periodically for surgeries. We have found a time when ophthalmologists are coming and schedule an appointment for her and another critical case we know of. We ask the family to do some little things, while we assist with transport. But as the time approaches the little things are not being done. Things that cost nothing but a little effort.

 We begin to imagine what a life could be like for an Abigail with full vision and beautiful black eyes. We see small signs of excitement in her – she realizes she is important to us – to somebody! She begins to come out of her shy shell a tiny bit and trust us with an occasional smile.

 The day arrives when we are to make final arrangements to meet them at 7am the following morning in town – they may come with us now, or take a taxi early in the morning. As we are leaving the village I happen to ask if all is in order with them and find that it is called off – the parents have not prepared themselves! I am furious! I storm over there and find the grandfather – the patriarch of the clan – squatting on his little stool, watching over his little fiefdom.

 The guy is despicable. He is my archenemy. (I admit this is not the attitude a missionary should have towards anyone – more grace, Jesus!) He is wearing tattered clothes with 5 days stubble and probably the same time since he has washed. Yet he is the patriarch. What is worse than his personal hygiene is his morals and decisions and how they affect a wide circle of people who are required, in spite of what he does, to show him respect and allow him ultimate authority in their lives.  He used to be the headman of Singanga, but blew that responsibility royally, so they appealed to the Chief to be replaced. Now, every time I make a property payment, he is squabbling to get the biggest share so he can run off to some village to drink and pillage for a few weeks! Then he comes back broke, bringing AIDS and all kinds of demons in tow, only to beg and moan to me and every other white person because of his pitiful state.

 One of his daughters lays every day on a matt in front of their house, in the last stages of AIDS. She one day told Nimisha that when she was young her dad used to take her to the Zimbabwe side of the river and offer her to the guards to have their way with her, so that he could do some hunting for meat.

 This is the man who is now telling me he has no money to get a taxi into town tomorrow to bring Abigail to us. Well come with us now, then! No, he’s not ready. Well let us just take her and we will allow an intern to spend the night there if she needs to stay for a major surgery. No, it must be a relative. Is there no relative? No. Ok, then I will pay for the taxi – my glasses are starting to steam up at this point – and you can work for me to work off the money. He cracks a big buck toothed smile, reaches out to shake my hand and says, “Yes boss!” I am so angry I just shake my finger in his face and say, “Mr. S. If you do not show up tomorrow morning at 7am with this girl I am going to be VERY ANGRY AT YOU!!!” I don’t know if he even got the message – all he knew is that now he had a job from the white man who would take care of all his problems from now on!

 They arrive at 7am! And we get to the clinic and finally get in to see the Dr.

Then the blow falls – they examine little Abigail and tell me there is nothing they can do! I am shaken to the core! What is she going to do? How will she ever survive, in such a world where only the strongest make it? The nurses start chattering at me, oblivious to the emotional precipice I am standing on. They ask me who we are and what we do, etc. I try to answer but cannot – I am trying to hold a dam of emotion. They think I have forgotten my name and occupation! They load her down with treats and colors and book, and out the door we go.

 All the way home I am numb. Regina reminds me of two other blind people whom God has used in such amazing ways, and a third I remember too. Jesus, is it possible you can use Abigail as a demonstration of your amazing grace in the state she is in? Is it possible that you have withheld your hand of healing so that you might show your greater power of transforming Life and Grace in spite of adversity? Dear Lord, I pray that she might be a pillar of radiance in your household forever, and that in fact, “NO GOOD THING WILL (YOU) WITHHOLD” from her. Amen

THANKS GIVINGS

• We just received a wonderful donation for the full cost of our first orphan home! $25,000. Thanks for the wonderful church in Grand Rapids – Crossroads Church.
• I have been praying for a tractor recently. Yesterday I talked to a farmer at a big banana farm near our area – amazing story of God’s providence – how we met last year when I came to confront him with his small pay to the villagers we were working with. Today he is head of a much larger and more advanced farm and more than willing to allow us to use his many tractors and equipment. Thanks Jesus – it would still be nice to own one myself, but this is good too.
• I have been praying for the orphans lately – in the pressure of all the other more urgent issues we have done little for the orphans in the area. So I have been asking for some way to open to us to reach them. Enter Jeremiah and Missy Weismann! They have been here only 3 weeks but what a difference they are making – meeting with social services and NGOs in town; meeting with headmen and school headmasters to identify and find ways to help orphans and vulnerable kids; meeting with a group of young listless guys who have nothing to do – starting hunting expeditions, English classes, etc.  Thanks Jesus!
• I am still praying for a job foreman.
• We just lost another camera to the water! Ugh.

If you want to come visit us it would be really good to freshen up on your Lozi. check out the Lozi Phrasebook on our Teachings/Articles page.  Mike Lungu our Zambian team member did this. Here is a sample: 

This is an exciting and scarry day for us at LD/AN. We have dreamed and planned and saved and sacrificed for this day. And it is finally here.

Today I am ordering materials for our first orphan home! 

The diagram here is a bit skewed, but close enough to tell. It will be a two story, 3 bedroom simple house with a playroom loft that is open to view from the sitting room and kitchen.  

Jeremiah and Missy Weismann (social worker majors – a couple of dynamo’s!) have just arrived for the next 3 months and will be in charge of getting us approved by social services, setting up systems,  and selecting the parents and the orphans before they leave hopefully. We are almost there!

May I ask you to prayerfully consider getting on board with us financially with this major project. If you want a bite sized piece of the project (we will be building 4 like this so don’t worry, there is plenty of pie!):

• $7000 – the main structure
• $8000 – the roof system – really nice thatch that will last 15 years.
• $3000 – furnishing it – including tub, toilet and kit sink, beds
• $2500 – very simple water, sewar, power systems.
• $1500 – 2 cows, 4 goats, 20 chickens and large gardens to make it self sustaining within one year. 

  Here are some ways you can help:

• Construction supervisor wanted! I know there is a godly retired contractor who never imagined himself a missionary – just right for this task. Or perhaps a 20-something with a smattering of construction… 
• Bring a team of workers. Nothing better than a bunch of testosterone slinging bricks together! We have a trained builder and lots of avaliable helpers, but a team of hard workers and some experienced ones would double the output and have lots of fun getting to know village life at it’s best. 
• Share the vision. Many benevolent businessmen, rotories, churches or small groups would get excited about getting on board with something like this – really making a difference in this world. Contact us and we will put some materials in your hands. lovesdoor@gmail.com  We want to build 4 houses in our village, then another 4 with our friends in Ngwenya, another cluster in Zimbabwe with our friends there, another  in Lesotho and more in Swaziland… We will equip them to be self-sufficient within a year to allow us to continue to reach another 40 kids in another location. Click here for a SELF SUFFICIENT ORPHAN HOME PROPOSAL document.
• Donate. God has been such a faithful Father, and you, the Body, have been faithful to hear and obey. We have not yet gone without. We keep pressing forward even when we do not see large surplus – but by the time we get to the due date we have always had enough! Bless you! If you have not yet jumped in, try it out, it is great fun to be a part of this hilarious gift to Jesus. Click here to donate. 

As I walked past the cluster of huts along the village road I heard my name called, so I diverted my journey for a moment that turned out to be one of those providential “interruptions” that shift Kingdom property boundaries.

I didn’t remember her name, though I knew who she was. Nimisha does Bible study with her and has often commented on her amazing grace in adversity. Two weeks ago, on that “Sad Day in Singanga” (see previous blog) Katherine’s husband was slashed while on guard duty at a tourist lodge. Thru the funeral proceedings, which are grim and depressing, Katherine has remained strong in her trust in Jesus. Today as she sits here on the dirt of her shaded courtyard, cutting her harvested corn into little flakes on a seed bag with an orphaned grandchild draped over her leg, she proclaims, “Ahh – I love Jesus! He is my Home.”

I love that! It reminds me of that song of my heart that states,
Here O Lord have I prepared for You a Home.
Long have I desired for You to dwell.
Here O Lord have I prepared a Resting Place.
Here O Lord I wait for You alone…”

As I visit with them I am speculating about the familiar odd assortment of people in the apparent household – Katherine looks to be about 60 and in good health; one who turns out to be her daughter of about 40 speaks good English and does the translation service for us; an old man of 80ish with a missing eye sits passively – seems he is the late-husband’s elder brother; the baby of 18 months; then two young guys about 16 – good looking, strapping, yet clearly the passive village look – they could sit by their grandmother all day doing piddly errands for her; just as I am getting them all categorized in my mind, in walks a young girl of 17 who is obviously of a different class – “educated, city girl, well bred” are words that come to mind. Who is she? She, like all the others, is an orphan – dependent on Katherine. But she was the fortunate one – a European sponsored her to go to a good high school in town.

How many live with you here, Katherine?

It takes a moment for her and her daughter to calculate – “Fourteen,” they say matter-of-factly.

Katherine and her husband had 8 children, of which only two survive. When the national life-expectancy is 38 this is not a surprise. So the children of all of these who died are living with grandma – the one who had a good job – until her husband was murdered two weeks ago. (A good job – well, steady at least – he worked there 20 years. But he made about $80 a month. No death benefits, though he was murdered doing his job!)

The amazing grace Nimisha spoke of is shining on me – she has no look of “please pity me” about her. Her slight smile melts my heart. You know she has to be wondering how she will survive – how all the ones who depend on her will fare. But she says nothing about it.

I try to change the subject and ask about her harvest which she continues to chop with a kitchen knife into little flakes. “Ahh..” she shakes her head, not looking at me. “Not good.”

As we all sit in a deafening silence with our eyes on our feet, we both know I am in a corner, and so is she. It is safe to just talk about spiritual things and not ask about living conditions. Once the door has been opened and we begin to look at the mess within – how can you walk out without giving some hope? But where does one begin? It is too complex. It breaks your heart.

So finally she asks – the young girl who had a sponsor until now – he will no longer provide.

Pause.

Will I sponsor her?

Of all the things Katherine could have asked for, this is the easiest. I could go to the ATM and draw it today. I have turned away from similar requests before because of fear of setting a precedent, because of our value of sustainability and empowering people for individual and community responsibility. International sponsorship is a short-term band-aid for a cancer in Africa’s vitals. Our vision is to build a community of people who will commit to doing everything in their means to solve the problems they face, and only once they have done their part will we pitch in with resourcing their efforts.

This is our vision. We are systematically working the plan.

But until then – here is Christophinea Malambo, 17 years, grade 11, who needs $400 for each of the next two years to complete her High School and have a chance at college and a decent job. Can we sacrifice her for our vision? Or will we sacrifice our vision if we help her? Is it possible to put on the band-aid while we are working on the cancer?

I pray so. I cannot tell Katherine no. The mercy of Jesus is too strong.

If someone wants to sponsor Christophinea you can donate on our Paypal account (on the side panel of our blog) – MAKE A COMMENT OF WHAT THE DONATION IS DESIGNATED FOR (we will email you if there is no comment)!

or send a check to:
Love’s Door c/o Open Door Church
339 NW Sherman St
Sheridan, OR 97378 USA

The first person to respond will sponsor Christophinea. If you would like more correspondence with her we will see what we can do.

There are numerous others who need the same help. Any other donations designated for school sponsorship will go to them. If you want correspondence you can write and ask for it at lovesdoor@gmail.com .

Our goal is to start some kind of a sustainable business that some concerned community people can operate to keep them in school thru 12th grade! (This is unheard of now. In all of the villages we are working in there are probably 3 or 4 who have completed 12th grade.) If we get enough money for this we will be able to start such a business.

• A word of thanks to those who have so generously donated to our long term team members Mike and Nimisha – their year has been paid in full! We are ecstatic! God has such a cool Body! We are thankful to the Head and the Body.
• A team from South Africa has joined us for 7 weeks. They stay in the village ministering to the kids, starting Bible studies, loving the least and the lost.
• And an intern from Oregon has arrived. She will give herself for the next 3 months to developing a ministry to the young children in the villages.
• Pray for us as we begin to build our first home for orphans.
 A manager – to carry the projects that are threatening to consume me!
 Finances of course. If you would like a detail of our plan and the cost, please write.
 Long term workers to share some of the load.

Would you pray for our village. 3 days ago a 35 year old man named Agrippa (Shabbatie his African name) died. He had TB for sure, probably AIDS as well. He had gone to the Dr at some point, but since there was no immediate cure offered, he hoped the witch doctor could help him. So his final wish was for people to scrounge up $100 to get to a witch doctor. That is where he died. Of course the African Dr told him someone had bewitched him – put some bad medicine outside his door which he stepped over, causing him to come down with the fatal illness. So the remedy is not only to get cured, but to find the one bewitching him. For some reason, they usually divine that it is a near relative – an uncle or even a parent!

But unfortunately, he died there at the witch doctor’s little hut. He left a wife and six children.

We went the next day and hoped to comfort the widow – but she was in a small hut with the old ladies, a blanket over her head as custom dictates, for the whole day. As common as death is in these places, it is a very depressing affair. What will happen to the children and the wife – when it is so hard to survive at the best of situations, this is very depressing indeed.

Then, as the funeral was just winding down, a fight broke out in a “shabine” – a little bar – in the next village. 2 young guys from Singanga were fighting one guy from Shandunda, the lights were turned off, and by the time they came on, the Shandunda guy – Abram – lay with his brains seeping out his nose and ears. Who did it? Was it Austin or Mike from Singanga? Or as some suggest – was it Abram’s own parents – who thought they were beating the other guys with a stick, but instead they killed their own son? No one knows. So the police come for Austin (he is one of our gardening families) to take him into custody until trial. He freaks out and runs for it! We were in the village, talking to some friends when we see him running by, and a squad of police after him. He runs over to our property and jumps in the river! Will he drown? Will the crocks find him? Will he ever be found? We finally left with the whole village depressed because they figured he was a gonner. Fortunately, he was hiding in the reeds on one of our islands. So the next day the headman talked him into turning himself into the police.

Well, as if that were not enough, that same night the man was murdered in the bar, another resident of the village was murdered at his work! He was a night guard at a big river lodge, and some thieves broke in and killed him. So in just a few days three deaths, and two young men locked in jail for who knows how long!

Funerals here are traumatic events – often times there can be fights and accusations. If a person dies of AIDS the family may fight with the family of the spouse for killing her or him. If a person is suspected of bewitching there are harsh words at least. It all comes out at the funeral.

Would you join us to pray for the village?

I can share at least one bright story from the sadness – one of our friends who operates a shabine has decided to quit selling beer! Zeta is a widow with 3 kids, and has no other income than this. But out of respect for what we have been telling her, and the sadness of what just happened, she asked us if we would help her start another business. We did. She will be selling sweet potatoes and dried fish. Praise God.