Off and Running

What an amazing first ten days! We arrived in Livingstone, Zambia on Friday, June 10th after a surprisingly restful flight and overnight in South Africa. Fawlty Towers welcomed us warmly and we began adjusting to the six hour time change.

On Saturday, Percy Muleba and his daughters, Thabo and Nsala, joined us for my 65th birthday dinner. His wife, Muyunda, and new daughter, Mwendabai, rested at home.

On Sunday, June 12th, we traveled an hour outside Livingstone to worship with our old friends at Musokotwane. Abby taught, I preached, and Percy translated. It was an awesome worship service with wonderful praise and prayer. We’ll be returning to Musokotwane later this summer for two weeks of leadership training. Our trip home was exciting. Two trains almost crashed head-on near Musokotwane. It was close (200 yards), and the engine of one derailed. Of course, this blocked our route back to Livingstone so we headed across country down bush trails, over a plowed field, through a quarry…Well, you get the picture. We made it in time for a late lunch with our friends, Elder and Wisdom.

On Wednesday we drove eleven hours to Mumbwa, located about two hours northwest of Lusaka. Thursday afternoon was spent with Biblical Worship Training Centre's (BWTC) Southern African Coordinator, Dan Mayeya, and his wife, Nana. BWTC is Percy's ministry in Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and...

Thursday evening, we met with the Executive Council of the local Pastor's Fellowship where we were delighted to meet Pastors Simon and Isaac, Rev. Bishop, and Bishop Bishop. That’s right! Both their first names are actually Bishop, but one is a Rev. and the other is a Bishop. So Rev. Bishop and Bishop Bishop. Bishop Bishop is, appropriately, the Chairperson of the Executive Council. Such fun! And great people.

Friday morning, we cast vision with the entire Pastor's Fellowship for future training. It seems likely in 2023. Then on Friday afternoon, we began a three day retreat for local worship leaders and their teams with several of their pastors present. Percy, Abby, and I are all teaching, Percy on Worship Warriors, Abby on Wounded Healers, and I on Guilt, Shame, and Fear. All the training has been adapted to worship leaders.

This morning, Abby teaches and I preach at Calvary Church, Dan and Nana's home church. Then, we’ll finish the retreat Sunday afternoon followed by dinner at Dan and Nana’s, along with their husband and wife co-pastors, Peter and Agnes.

Monday, we’ll drive about eight hours to Mongu through Kafue National Park. (Hope we see some animals!) We’ll spend one night in Mongu and say hi to our old friends, Yuyi and Mercy Mundia. Then, Tuesday, it’s two more hours to Sioma where we’ll be holding our Phase II Boot Camp for our Master Trainers, Pastors Titus, Martinet, and Pelekelo. We’ll be in Sioma for about two weeks.

It’s been an exhilarating start to our training. We’re grateful we’ve been resting very well at night. Please keep lifting us up in prayer. And, remember, where we go, you go!

Pictured below: Abby teaching in Musokotwane; a mother and daughter during small group break-out in Mumbwa; BWTC local leaders Oscar, Nana, and Dan; our host church, Calvary, in Mumbwa.