Deputation Notes
Special Edition – Survey
Trip
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph. 6:12
We would like to share some of the events
leading up to and during our survey trip to Zambia, Africa and why Ephesians
6:12 has been made so clear and real to us during these two weeks:
During
the month of April and on May 1st we were busy with deputation
meetings in Illinois. During the last
week, our children and John came down with colds. We were thankful since we had just been at a conference where
most everyone else was battling with the stomach flu. On Sunday, May 1st after our meeting, we traveled back
to Ohio to pack our bags and settle the children in with Grandparents. After getting several last minute items,
stuffing things into the suitcases and saying goodbye to the kids we made our
way to the airport on Tuesday evening to begin our trip to Zambia. John now had a sinus infection. Our flights took us from Cleveland, Ohio to
Washington D.C. and then to London, England.
In London our schedule included a 12 hour layover before we embarked on
the nearly 10 hour flight to Zambia. We
arrived Thursday at 6:15 am in Lusaka (Zambia’s capital) well worn from the 35
hour trip. All the take-offs and
landings had left John with terrible ear aches and a worsened sinus infection.
Steve Hafler, our GFA co-worker in Zambia, met us at the airport and drove us into town to meet his family at a mission guesthouse where they were staying. They had recently found a home to rent, but would not be able to move in for several weeks. That day Steve showed us around several parts of town and lined up a rental agent to show us several houses available in Lusaka. He also shared an experience he had the previous evening… having gone to one of the markets to get supplies and food, someone stole his pouch with his passport, work permit, $80 in kwacha (Zambian currency) and other personal papers. After talking with the security guards and their supervisor, Steve promised a finder’s fee if he could at least get his documents back. He suspected one of the guards, and said he would pray that the Lord would deal with the one who took his items. Later that evening Steve received a call – someone had left his papers wrapped up in the parking lot. Recovered were all his papers, even family photos; he only lost the money and the pouch. The Lord had spared Steve several days of work it would have taken if he had to replace his documents.
Thursday evening we enjoyed supper
with the Hafler family. However our
enjoyment quickly ended. As we were
about to start cleaning up, Isaiah (the Hafler’s youngest child) started
choking. Steve quickly turned him over
and started pounding on his back.
Though Isaiah was still slightly able to cry, his breath was just a
wheeze as the air tried to pass around whatever had lodged in his throat. Both Steve and John tried to hook the object
with their pinky fingers, but could not dislodge it. Steve continued to strike his boy’s little back. Isaiah turned several shades of color from
blue, purple to ashen grey, yet he continued to weakly cry. We were all praying as Steve continued to
pound on Isaiah and Toni (Isaiah’s mom) ran to find a nurse. Little Isaiah stretched his hands down to
the floor, seeming to try to help his dad support him while Steve struck his
back. As Toni and a lady from another
guesthouse came back, Isaiah calmed down and seemed to breath fine. We knew the Lord had just spared Isaiah’s
life. Welcome to our first day in
Zambia.
Friday morning John woke up with a fever so he slept while Sophie went with the Haflers. While out, she was able to obtain some antibiotics from a pharmacy for John (no need for prescriptions in Zambia). John felt a little better in the afternoon and was able to talk with another missionary on the compound. Mark is serving in the remote western province of Zambia, but he was at the guesthouse recovering from typhoid fever. While they talked about the ministry and needs of western Zambia Mark noticed that John was not feeling good and commented “It is obvious the devil does not want you here!” Up to this point, John was not getting a good impression of Zambia and was almost to the point that this was not the place to minister. But the Lord used this fellow missionary to show how much Satan was determined that we not have a good trip. Saturday morning we left on a five hour drive north to Kitwe in order to see more of the country and visit more missionaries. John slept most of the way and having taken his second dose of antibiotics was feeling much better when we arrived. Sunday we were able to be in two different ministries: in the morning we were in a city church and in the evening went out to one of the village churches. John was feeling so much better that he was able to preach during the Sunday evening service. Monday was spent visiting an orphanage ministry and a missionary nurse a half hour away from the city of Kitwe.
We were keenly aware of the spiritual oppression against us during the beginning of our trip to Zambia. We know that the devil was fighting hard and trying to discourage us and keep us away from this ministry. However, as hard as Satan was fighting, the Lord was causing us to look past the hindrances and see the spiritual need of the people. Our survey trip was filled with the blessings of seeing various ministries and meeting many missionaries. Our hearts were burdened with the people we met, and we are excited about being able to return to Zambia and continuing the ministry for the cause of Christ. Though we know the battle against us rages on, how can we fear when our Savior is near and guides us along the path He has for us. Pray that deputation will go quickly and soon we would be on the front lines of that battle for souls in Zambia!
We have revised our prayer cards for Zambia including a new family photo. If you would like to receive one of our new prayer cards, please contact us.
Your Missionaries to Zambia,