Teams Travel

We enjoy more sunshine, more "sh'ma" (the Zambian favorite cornmeal dish) and plenty African smiles.
(Following are personal greetings from a few team members.) Brian Shaw is a great leader! We've accomplished more this year than previous years, and we are all keeping up and motivated, too!

The Ndola orphanage team departed Thursday and the teachers team met up with them Friday.
The rest of us are in Lusaka making a series of several day tours into remote villages.

The outreach team spent three full days in the first village of Chilamwe. On the third day Brian Karrick braved the cold water (despite leeches) and baptized 12 new believers in the river. Beth, Liz and Roxann taught the women the gospel and about prayer. Beth commented, "These women were such good listeners almost to the point that we didn't think they were understanding up, but they returned the next day for the baptism. Our interpreter said that is common for the women that they just stare blank faced at you." For Roxann the encounter was "awesome"!

A separate event for the outreach team went to a soccer clinic at a nearby school playground (partnering with Athletes In Action). While half the team played soccer with some 250+ youth, the rest of the team walked in and out of classrooms talking to the teachers and children. The highlight happened when the team reunited on the playground field where everyone gathered and Ashley shared the gospel to 300+.

Kristy, Amy, Marilynn, Sheryl, and Dave lead a highly successful conference for 100+ teachers grades K-12 in downtown Lusaka last week. Many of the teachers of K-10 never finish high school. The teachers liaised with Gavin Brennery from South Africa whose aim is to create a teacher certification program throughout Africa. The OPC team paved the way for officials to associate with the conference and for future collaboration with this kind of certification. This was a remarkable endeavor which proved the teachers conference more effective and production that even planned for.

Fred accomplished a successful training conference. The majority of church leaders and pastor's wives have zero training in the Bible whatsoever. The closing assignment Fred gave were for pastors to present some examples of preaching following the training. One exuberant pastor had us all laughing when he grabbed the microphone
and began preaching exercise so charismatically that pastors had to remind him, "Brother, we are already pastors!" We both agree this kind of training is especially beneficial because so few church leaders and pastors are actually ever trained. As for microphones, well, the saying goes:
"Give an American coffee
Give an Englishman tea
and give an African ... a microphone!"

Diane lead a two day women's and pastor's wives seminar on Bible Study Method. We were able to distribute Bibles for every participant, which was truly an exuberant moment when they realized the gift for them. I almost went deaf when burst out a shrill sort of yelling sound between their tongues and roof of their mouths.The word is out that we passed out Bibles and more people are asking for one. One grateful pastor's wife told me that she never felt excited to read her Bible until now after she has received this kind of Bible insight and training.

The outreach team finish the second village outreach today. The first day there were countless drunk adults, even some pastors, but the team pressed on and shared the gospel. The second day the team formed separate groups one for women, another for men, and another for children, and Brian Shaw taught the pastors. All encounters were much more positive and receptive. Today Fred, Diane and Marilyn will join the team. Fred is leading a one day pastor's seminar and Brandon is helping reach the pastors.

Liz: Please pray for endurance to keep up the pace of the busy schedule. Rod, I hope you get the oven fixed. Don't let the kids starve.

Beth: Thanks for praying for me and continue to pray for me and the team. I cannot wait to share the stories.
I love you and miss you, Joe!

Roxann: Family & Friends, We are at the orphanage [in Ndola]. All is well here. The sun shines everyday. Miss you.

Kristie Reeves: We are very excited. Please pray that the kids are as excited as we are and we can share together. Please pray for good times sharing and encouraging the Lord together.

Sheryl: We are doing great. We've been blessed with good health, energy and much happiness!! My specific prayer is that my bag would arrive. I am getting by with donations from team members. See you soon. Love, Sheryl

Successful journies

More sunshine, more sh ma (our cornmeal staple meal), and more successful stories for our team. Everyone is well.
Dave arrived safely yesterday and joined the teachers team who are reaching some 100 K-12 educators. Gavin from South Africa with a education NPO met our team to investigate the possibility of a collaborative effort to bring teacher's certification through African universities, which is a very positive venture. Cheryl, Amy, Kristy, and Marelyn each share positive reports from their sessions.
The Zambia University with Campus Crusade staff and our outreach team was very positive yesterday. John is seasoned with CC from Michigan, but was really glad to see how receptive the students were to our team. Clark and Erica were motivated that this encounter was much more positive than their attempts in the States. Darcie daily improves her ability to speak some Bemba (one of 70+ Zambian languages).
Brian will lead the outreach team to a village where they have ministered in the last few days and will have a baptism service in the river today.
Fred is on his 3rd successful day training to some 100 pastors in Kalingalinga at Deliverance Church.
Diane will lead the women's and pastor's wives conference starting at the same location as Fred tomorrow. We are able to give 100 Bibles to the with women participants and pastors.
Lee and Trina lead the orphanage team who are eager for their several day ministry in Ndola departing tomorrow.
We will keep you posted, but unfortunately the pictures are unable to be uploaded to this blog from this location. Please pray that the time is effective and productive and we keep progressing forward strongly. Love to all the families and friends from us all.

We Are in Zambia!

Dear Family and friends of the Zambia 2007 team,

Thank you for your prayers and support! After a grueling 24 hour+ flight we arrived safely in Lusaka on Saturday. Unfortunately, our bags were not quite so timely and it took another 24 hours for our checked luggage to arrive. Everyone had a great attitude about it though, and we jumped into ministry. The place where we are staying is right on the campus of the University of Zambia. Everyone is healthy and we are even overcoming our jet lag! The teacher's conference, village outreach, and pastor's conference are in full swing. All are well attended and we will keep you updated with stories. One of the highlights of our visit so far is the night we stayed with Zambian families. We got to eat "shma" (pronounced "sheema") a Zambian staple made of corn maize, and we exprerienced warm Zambian hospitality. We will fill you in on more details as they come. Please keep praying for us - God is answering your requests by allowing us to already see positive results in our work here and keeping us in good health. We love you and we will post more info on here soon!