I Have A Shelter

The last couple of months have been quite difficult for me (Stephanie). The Lord has been stripping away at areas of sin and selfishness. He has been showing me more and more of Himself as I am in a place with no distractions. Here things are so simple. There is no running, no "stuff" to hide behind, no busy-ness. I have been so very lonely despite having wonderful family here with me. The LORD is graciously showing me how I have relied on people and not on HIM and HIM ALONE. The lesson has been painfully slow but I am thankful for the fruit I see coming from it. Last week we were driving back to Livingstone from the bush. We saw this storm brewing and moving closer. As it did I spotted the rainbow. I watched this rainbow, then double rainbow, as the storm got closer. As the storm clouds moved in, the rainbow got brighter! Then as the storm clouds over took the rainbow you could see it at the bottom and top of the storm clouds, and at times even see part of it through the clouds! I kept saying to my family, "Look at that! Isn't that amazing!". But I don't think they were as fascinated as I was! In those moments, I felt as if the Lord was saying to me, "all of my promises are true! Whether you feel them or not. I WILL be with you, I will NEVER forsake you, I WILL complete the work I have begun in you & when storm clouds gather I will carry you through & my promises will shine brighter than the storm,". I needed that reminder!

We have been singing a song around our house a lot lately. Here are the words- I pray they will be an encouragement to you as they have been to us-

I have a shelter in the storm
When troubles pour upon me
Though fears are rising like a flood
My soul can rest securely
O Jesus, I will hide in You
My place of peace and solace
No trial is deeper than Your love That comforts all my sorrows

I have a shelter in the storm
When all my sins accuse me
Though justice charges me with guilt
Your grace will not refuse me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
Who bore my condemnation
I find my refuge in Your wounds For there I find salvation

I have a shelter in the storm
When constant winds would break me
For in my weakness, I have learned Your strength will not forsake me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
The One who bears my burdens
With faithful hands that cannot fail
You’ll bring me home to heaven

Joseph

Recently we were able to hire Joseph and his father, a professional mason, to plaster the earth bag wall in the camp pavilion. In four days they had finished the job. To be honest, we were shocked and thrilled at the quality of the work. And we were happy to be able to help Joseph provide for his family.

You may recall that we have mentioned Joseph in the past. I met Joseph in 2004 on my first short-term trip to the Mutemwa area. He was one of our interpreters on that trip. I would see Joseph on every trip over the next four years. He has always had a special place in my heart. (It would be difficult not to like the guy). I prayed that the Lord would open his eyes to the truth of the gospel.

Sean met with Joseph later on in 2008 at the Zambian Reformed Conference in Lusaka. He was able to sit with Joseph and go methodically through the gospel from the first two chapters of Ephesians. Joseph claims to have trusted Jesus alone for salvation after that conversation.

Shortly after we arrived last year we discovered Joseph living in another village closer to Sesheke trying to earn a living doing carpentry work. It wasn’t long before he moved back up north to Ilwendo village. Just after he moved he came down with tuberculosis and was hospitalized for nearly three months. When we finally saw him he didn’t look like the same man. He was so weak he could barely get out of the chair to greet us. We prayed for him and asked the Lord for healing. Whether by way of the medication, or our prayers, or the doctor’s care, the Lord healed Joseph and each week we saw him grow stronger and stronger.

His testimony is remarkable. He says he surrendered to the Lordback in 2008 and was convinced at that time that God was telling him to join Dominic in taking the ‘true gospel’ to his people in the villages further west, Makanda and Ngweze. But, much like Jonah, he ran from the Lord and tried to make his way doing carpentry instead. He says the Lord caused him to fail and gave him tuberculosis in order to get his attention; to bring him back on the right path again. Since we got back together with Joseph he has been attending Bible study faithfully every Sunday and brings his wife and does his best to teach the truth of scripture that he is learning to his wife and children in the home. Only the Lord knows if Joseph is truly saved but as we examine the fruit of his life we are very encouraged and hopeful.

Nathan's 15th Birthday

Nathan's 15th birthday was spent in Livingstone. He got a Settlers Of Catan board game & he and the cousins played as soon as it was opened!! (by the way, Nathan won!)
We took Nathan to ZigZag for lunch. After his favorite dinner - time for cake! chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. yum!

Christmas in Zambia

Though our Christmas and New Year's celebrations were very different from what we've ever experienced before, they were still rich in their own way. Our two families had some fun time together. We even started some new traditions. A few days before Christmas we went to visit our friends, Daniel and Sky Scott, IMB missionaries in Sioma. It was a touch of home as we shared many of our American Christmas traditions together. We read the Christmas story and sang carols around the piano among other things.

On Christmas Eve Day the boys all went to the worksite. On the way, I was struck with the realization that we were closer than we've ever been in our lives to experiencing more of the reality of that first Christmas. City lights, Christmas lights and decor, shopping malls, Salvation Army guys ringing their bells, church Christmas productions, parades, and so on suddenly seemed very far away. Jesus Christ was born a third-world peasant, in a stable and placed in a feeding trough. These days I see these things all the time. So I felt a strange connection to Christ in a way that I'm not sure I can explain.

We experienced a surprise blessing later that day. Mr. Zulu, who used to be one of the deacons at Trinity Baptist Church was on his way from Livingstone to Mungu when he dropped by the work site just to give us a gift of juice and bread. How thoughtful. So we shared it with our workers and quit a little early that day.

When we got back to camp we found that the girls had decorated the camp with luminarias and paper chains and so on and we enjoyed a meal with Christmas music playing in the background.










On Christmas morning our family had Christmas in our tent. Had to use lanterns and headlamps to see! We gave thanks to the Lord for His provision and faithfulness to us in the past 8 months and reminded ourselves of the true meaning of the day. We opened stockings and gifts. We laughed and had a good time.










Later on Christmas Day about twenty of us had dinner out on the lawn at Mutemwa Lodge, (nine of us and then the Johnsons and their guests). The temperature was about 85 degrees F, and the breeze was blowing across the Zambezi through the Palm and Waterberry trees. It was nice to be reminded that there is still beauty in Africa.














On New Year's Eve day we had a devotion with our Lozi workers and I discussed Rev. 21:5 with them ;- And He who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new. Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Trutstworthy and true. I was reminded that there will be a day when the Lozi nation, in part or in full, will be made new. This strange, dark land that has been destroyed by sin will be restored to original perfection for the glory and pleasure of God and His people.

We spent that evening back at the Lodge celebrating with the same group of people.
Here is a picture of the river at sunset. It was really beautiful. We are grateful to the Lord for His provision this last year. We are eager to see how He will work and move this new year in our lives and in the lives of the Lozi people.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

First Experience wtih a Black Mamba!

Last Saturday we were driving back to camp from the build site. Our families had spent the day on the lodge grounds with the Johnsons. We got a text message that they were watching a large snake in a tree, so we hurried to take a look. Sure enough, high in a tree near one of the tents (where we'll be sleeping for the next month looking after the lodge for the Johnsons while they vacation in South Africa) was a big snake. A few well-placed shots from Gavin Johnson with a high-powered pellet rifle paralyzed the snake and it fell to the ground. Two more shots finished it off. It was a 2.5 meter long (8 feet) black mamba, the most deadly snake in Africa. Also that day, the staff killed a stilleto snake in the lounge and Alicia saw what may have been a spitting cobra near the lounge where all the kids were playing. 3 venemous snakes in one day. Granted, that is extremely rare, and I don't tell this to be dramatic. But in case you haven't prayed for our safety lately, this would be a good reminder. We grow more and more comfortable here, but there are occasional reminders that we live in constant potential danger from crocs, hippos (our friend Vincent's brother was recently attacked by a hippo and nearly lost his arm), hyenas (their tracks are on the lodge road), leopards, and snakes. We are grateful to the Lord for His daily protection.











Thanks Sean, for text and Michael for pictures.

God May Have Purposefully Delayed His Power

There has been progress on the pavilion but it is incredibly slow. Christmas is almost here and we are not even close to moving in. The ring beam (or bond beam) is finished. All seven cross beams are in place. The earth bag wall that creates the structural anchor for the building is finished. Three king posts and the ridge beam in the back section have just recently been set. And the back storage room is fully enclosed. We still do not have official approval (on paper) from the senior chief in Mwandi. And there have been many disappointing challenges in our relationships among the Lozi people of late.

I have been reading The Christian In Complete Armor by William Gurnall. It has been very encouraging to me during these days as we stay busy but continue to wait on the Lord to do what only He can do. Here is a small portion from that book - "God May Have Purposefully Delayed His Power."

"When you have waited as long as you are willing to wait and God still has not answered, do not let your own impatience accuse Him of negligence. Instead, say to yourself, 'my Father is wiser than I, He will send what I need when I need it. I know if He withholds His hand from me at present, it is only because He knows best.'

One reason for postponing deliverance is to give your faith an opportunity to grow stronger. When a mother is teaching her child to walk, she stands back a short distance and holds out her hands to the child, beckoning him to come. Now if she exercises her strength to go to her little one, the child is ill-served for his unsteady legs are denied the practice they need. If she loves him, she will let him suffer a little at present to ensure his future health. Just so, because God loves His children, He sometimes lets them struggle to strengthen the legs of their unsteady faith.

Not only that, but He can also use trials as the occasion for great demonstrations of His power. Suppose a child is toddling along the rivers edge, slips, and is in real danger. What does the mother do? She rushes at once to rescue him! And her arms never seem stronger nor her embrace more comforting than in such a circumstance.

You may be a poor, trembling soul, weak in faith and ever on the brink of sinking; yet to this day your grace lives on, though full of leaks. Is there a greater demonstration of God's strength than to see such a pitiful storm-tossed ship towed past an armada of sins and devils into God's safe harbor at last? What a tribute to HIS power for so weak a vessel to foil all the battleships of Satan."

I said, "Let me walk in the field";
God said, "No, walk in the town",
I said, "There are no flowers there";
He said, "No flowers, but a crown."
I said, "But the sky is black,
There is nothing but noise and din",
But He wept as He sent me back,
"There is more," He said, "there is sin."
I said, "But the air is thick,
And smog is veiling the sun"
He answered, "Yet souls are sick,
and your work is yet undone."
I said, "I will miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say";
He answered me, "Choose tonight,
If I am to miss you, or they."
I pleaded for time to be given;
He said, "Is it hard to decide?
It will not seem hard in Heaven
To have followed the steps of your Guide."
I cast one look at the field,
Then set my face to the town;
He said, "My child, do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for a crown?"
Then into His hand went mine,
And into my heart came He;
And I will walk in a light Devine,
The path I had feared to see.

George MacDonald