“Jesus is the only man who’s ever lived who truly understands women!”

Percy, Jordan, and I were sitting in the shade outside the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAOG) in Musokotwane, Zambia. As we talked and got to know one another, we could overhear women inside singing, dancing, laughing, and talking. Abby, Maria, and Amanda had joined a group of about twenty women from two PAOG churches for some in-depth time together. Suddenly, both the women and we were quiet, and that’s when Abby’s voice rang out saying: “When you think about it, Jesus is the only man who has ever lived who truly understands women!”

Percy, Jordan, and I just laughed. We laughed because it was funny. We laughed because it was true. And, we laughed because we were glad the women were coming together. And, we laughed just because we’re men.

Jordan is the Chairperson (acting pastor) of the Musokotwane PAOG church and, along with his wife, Stacy, are leading the members in worship, pastoral care, small discipleship groups, and door-to-door evangelism. As Jordan put it, “We have learned that evangelism is not the time to confront people with what’s wrong about their lifestyle. We simply begin with John 3:16 and tell them about how much Jesus loves them. Until they know they are loved, there is no point in talking about anythIng else.”

Our first ten days here have been intense. Abby, Maria, Amanda, and I flew into Lusaka, Zambia a week ago Sunday, and then spent the first night at a lovely lodge in Kafue where we enjoyed dinner with Bishop and Mrs. Manyando of the United Church of Zambia. We learned about Mrs. Manyando’s nursing work and Bishop’s new call in Kafue. Bishop has begun translating Percy’s and our curricula into the Lozi language. It’s a total of almost three hundred pages of outlines so it will take him some time to do it accurately, capturing the true meaning of our words in Lozi. This will definitely multiply our impact in Zambia. We are incredibly grateful for his help!

Last Monday, we drove into Livingstone to our old friends at Fawlty Towers Lodge, enjoyed a night of rest, then left Tuesday morning for Mwandi Royal Village located about three and a half hours southwest of Livingstone over a very, very bad road. Percy’s mother, Gertrude, welcomed us into her home, fed us a delicious traditional lunch of village chicken, nshima (think thick grits), mbala (whole dried minnows), steamed cabbage, and tomato/onion relish. Delicious! She then took us on a village prayer walk, introducing Amanda and Maria to Zambian village life. We saw so many of our former students: Pastors Simasiku and Scuta, Lemmy, Innocent, and Aongola. In total over the last ten years, these have established a preschool, a primary school, and planted nine churches, not to mention their ongoing ministries in their churches. It was amazing to hear how our training has multiplied through the years!

While in Mwandi, we also visited our friend, Lawrence, who manages Simba Mission House, and we had the chance to wander through it, awakening so many fantastic memories of mission trips past. Too soon we left and drove home for a late dinner.

Wednesday, we rested in the morning, then visited Victoria Falls, one of the eight natural wonders of the world. Because of the heavy spring rains, the Falls were thunderous, befitting their name, Mosi-O-Tunya (“The Smoke that Thunders”). We were drenched despite our ponchos, but enjoyed the raw natural beauty, the cooling rain, and multiple double-rainbows. Amazing, as always!

Later Wednesday afternoon, the ladies were welcomed by Percy’s wife, Muyunda, into their home. They spent three hours with Muyunda, her older sister, and four friends. They got to know one another, studied the Word, prayed for one another, and enjoyed pizza! Percy and I spent the time together catching up and discussing our training plans for the rest of the trip.

Thursday morning found us driving north to Musokotwane as described above. Then after lunch, we drove southwest again to Kazungula on the border just across the Zambezi River from Botswana to visit a church and school (K-5) founded by twin brothers, Harrison and Gladson. Gladson heads the school, the kids of which welcomed us warmly. Meanwhile, we strategized about future training (2022) with Harrison who will now begin casting vision with the other local pastors.

Friday saw us return to Musokotwane in the morning once again. The women experienced exceptional prayer times on this second day there, one-on-one and as a group, with the women of both churches. Percy and Muyunda’s home in the afternoon for more relationship building and mutual ministry.

Saturday was a very full day. Abby and I joined Amanda and Maria on a local game drive where we observed elephants, giraffe, impala, zebra, crocodiles, monitors, baboon, monkeys, hippo, and many beautiful birds. Our guide, Malambo, was fantastic. We met Percy and his family for lunch, then the women headed for an afternoon visit with the wife of Bishop Kondowe, Pastor Carol Kondowe, who is herself a well-regarded local pastor, to discuss what it is like to be both a pastor and pastor’s wife as a woman in Zambia.

Sunday, we returned to Musokotwane for a lively, delightful worship service. Amanda and Maria led Bible study and I preached. Percy led worship and Abby shared words of encouragement and prayed over the church, and especially over the children. Later that afternoon, we attended a live-streamed worship service in Pastor Carol Kondowe’s church. The worship was led by their son, Nathan, and his praise band. Nathan will be traveling with Percy, Abby, and me for the next month to begin Percy’s Virtual Learning Project. We brought all sorts of video and audio equipment with us from the States and Nathan will be using it as we train. This will definitely be a learn by doing exercise for all of us!

Monday was a rest day which included a lovely sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, but it was also the day Amanda and Maria realized they were not flying home Tuesday as they thought, but Wednesday. Thankfully, they had accurately told their families they’d be home Thursday, so all was well. It opened up a wonderful opportunity for them to revisit Harrison and Gladson’s school in Kazungula on Tuesday where they delivered new blankets they had purchased to each of the sixty-five students there. They had a blast and the kids were thrilled because they are entering the cold, difficult months here now!

This morning, we sent Amanda and Maria home. It has been wonderful to have them here, for them to meet so many people, see what we do, and most especially experience what it means to do relational ministry in Zambia. I think they fell in love with the people. They were awesome here, diving right in, being flexible, sharing their hearts and the Word with their new friends, and lovingly encouraging Percy, Muyunda, and us. We pray they will return soon!

Today and tomorrow are rest and packing days as Percy, Nathan, Abby and I prepare for our six week road trip to Mongu and Sioma, Zambia, and Katima Mulilo, Namibia. We will be training pastors, elders, and leaders, leading two boot camps to train trainers, and visiting two bushmen settlements. Please pray for us as we travel for peace, joy, safety, healthy team dynamics, physical health, our first attempts at video recording our training, and, above all, for the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to be present in every relationship, class, worship service, and encounter we have.

And, remember, where we go, you go!