Ending Well & Beginning Anew!

As we left Katima Mulilo, we were satisfied and excited. Satisfied because our three weeks in Namibia had gone so well. Excited because due to severe road conditions between Sesheke and Kazungula, Zambia we would be driving through Botswana to get to Livingstone, Zambia, including a long stretch through Chobe National Park. The prospect of seeing animals along the way would make the trip a lot of fun. And, we weren’t disappointed.

If memory serves us, we were privileged to see Cape Buffalo, Kudu, Zebra, Impala, and African Elephants as we zipped through the park. Although there was not time for photography, the joy of seeing such amazing animals made the drive a real pleasure.

Our time in Livingstone was marked by two things. First, we conducted an intense, three-day Boot Camp for members of the Biblical Worship Training Centre (BWTC) team. Abby focused on the nature of Christian discipleship in her “Receiving, Being, Becoming, and Doing” class and Doug targeted “Understanding the Bible.” Dan, Nana, Nathan, Natasha, Esau, Miriam, Cliff, and Sitwala were a delight to train. They’re all highly motivated and extremely committed to BWTC’s mission to raise, train, and equip believers to become worshippers who are transformed by the presence of God so they are prepared for church growth and mission. We are privileged to be official consultants for BWTC and to have the opportunity to build relationships with these vibrant leaders!

Second, we spent time video recording two more of our classes which will be used for BWTC’s online training which begins this fall, and will offer certificates to those who complete it. The certificates will be officially issued by BWTC in conjunction with Global Training Network (our mission agency) and the Lake Forest International School of Ministry (our church). We are pleased to be such an important part of this BWTC development.

Our final days in Livingstone were marked by debriefing and planning with Percy Muleba. We fly to Zambia and Namibia on July 31st and will return home on September 18. We’ll be training in Livingstone, Lusaka, Mumbwa, Zambia, and Katima Mulilo, Namibia. Percy and we will also be meeting with leadership of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), historically rooted in David Livingstone’s Free Church of Scotland, and active in Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. They have expressed an interest in our training, particularly Abby’s chaplaincy training, and we look forward to spending a few days with them in Lundazi, Zambia, a 90 minute flight and four hour drive from Lusaka in Eastern Zambia, someplace we’ve never been.

July 31-August 2: Travel to Zambia

August 2-5: Livingstone, Zambia

August 6-13: Katima Mulilo, Chetto & People’s, Namibia - Phase 3 Training and Outreach to the Khwe

August 14-20: Livingstone & Musokotwane, Zambia - Phase 2 Trainings

August 20-24: Lundazi, Zambia - Church of Central Africa Presbyterian’s General Conference

August 25-27: Lusaka, Zambia - Phase 1 Training

August 28-September 6: Mumbwa, Zambia - Phase 2 Training

September 7-16: Livingstone, Zambia - Video Production & Strategic Planning

September 17-18: Return Home

Please continue to hold us up in prayer as we prepare for our next trip. As always, your support, prayers, and encouragement mean the world to us. And, remember, where we go you go!

Front Row: Nanah, Muyunda, mirriam,sitwala, and natasha…Back row: dan, percy, esau, cliff, and nathan

Teaching under a tree is cooler as the heat of the day intensifies.

What can i say?