Arriving home from a trip to Southern Africa is always a joy, not because Zambia and Namibia aren’t fantastic, but because we love our family and home, our friends and church, and it’s so good to reconnect face to face. And, it usually gives us time to rest and rejuvenate, and to reflect on our recent trip.
What stands out after being home for about three months? Several things come to mind. First, it was a really good trip. Percy Muleba was a great director, as he always is, and we experienced wonderful relationships as we trained many new and old students, met with the primary school (1st - 8th) teachers of the Khwe children in Chetto, and got to know the amazing leadership and many enthusiastic members of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP).
Second, the hunger of our new students to learn was intense and inspiring. This has always been the case over the years, but it never ceases to amaze us when we experience it afresh. This hunger, along with their intense desire to share the Gospel in their communities, makes for an exhilarating experience every time we teach. And, when we know how difficult the living conditions are for our students, our respect and admiration for them soars. It’s quite humbling.
Third, an unexpected entry point in Chetto through the young and enthusiastic teacher, Katarina, has happened. Percy and she have now had further conversations about connecting with the children via her teaching focus on entrepreneurship, especially now that Percy’s BWTC ministry has launched an Entrepreneurship Academy. It should be fascinating to see what the Lord has in mind!
Fourth, we were deeply affected by our intense two weeks with the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), by their strong leadership, passionate students, and our very real sense that we can add value to their ongoing efforts to strengthen their training of pastors, pastors’ spouses, elders, leaders, evangelists, and theological students. CCAP’s gracious welcome of us and their strong commitment to producing well-trained leaders is so exciting. The privilege is enormous, in our view, and we fully expect to benefit from this mutual mission relationship in myriad ways.
So, all in all, we are very grateful for our recent trip!
Now, we have made the decision to postpone our August/September trip to next spring. While we will not be traveling to Zambia as we had planned, we will be doing Zoom training this fall because our first foray into this was very successful in early June. We trained students from four countries, Zambia, Namibia, Malawi and South Africa. It was a huge success and Percy has told us that the students are still talking about it. Abby will teach “The Wounded Healer” and then Doug will teach “Understanding the Bible.”
We postponed our trip for three reasons. First, Zambia is experiencing an electrical power crisis and daily twelve hour blackouts are in place.
Second, it has been an unseasonably hot winter with forecasts for a very hot August/ September which, when paired with the blackouts, would be hard on our students and us.
Third, for a variety of medical reasons, including a lingering stomach flu when we first arrived home, Abby’s tough battle with viral vertigo (now clearing), and her back and knee injuries due to two falls (vertigo strikes again), and the numerous and ongoing medical tests and physical therapy appointments that have followed, we have not had the rest and rejuvenation we expected this summer.
So, after much prayer, medical counsel, and Percy’s direction, we made the difficult decision to postpone.
Abby’s ordination by CCAP has been moved to May 2025. Abby will be ordained during CCAP’s annual retreat for pastors and spouses where she will be the featured speaker and co-celebrant of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. So exciting! Below is a portion of the recent encouraging email Abby received from the Rev. Sevatt Kabaghe, the General Secretary of CCAP:
“Discipleship is key to the work of the Lord…We extend to you…to assist us [to] come up with a road map to having a stable evangelism training at Chasefu [Theological College]. We are here to help many receive Christ. Your coming in this vein will be appreciated highly. We are currently in a process to start the training of Evangelists which is key to being a well founded church in discipleship. Kindly consider this as an important aspect in the work of the Lord for winning many souls. As He sent us out to preach the Gospel, so we need also to send and equip many for the task.”
Looking ahead, our mission will be three pronged and include on the ground training, Zoom training and the annual hosting of Percy (and eventually other members of his team) for mission outreach here in the States, with the goal of opening a Biblical Worship Training Center office here by 2030 with Zambian missionary staff, the Lord willing.
We covet your prayers for Abby’s healing, our time with family, and planning for 2025. As always, thank you for your prayers and mission support. Together, we make a strong team, and please remember that where we go you go!
