Serenje Zambia, September 29 2008

3 Steps Forward, 2 Steps Back

Our African friends are accustomed to disappointment.  Life's journey is full of potholes and ditches for them.  Every advance forward is met with countless setbacks.  It makes their faith resilient and strong.  They have Hebrew 11 faith ... the kind that does not get defeated when God's promises seem elusive.  

All these were still living by faith when they died.  They did not eceive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.  And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

Hebrews 11:13

This week it was Navice who again strengthened my faith.  I wrote to Navice to let him know that Dave and Zack would not be joining him in Serenje in August as we had planned - a last minute change of plans.  In fact, we are really not sure when we will be able to get some help over there to build the Hope Center's first facilities. 

I worried that Navice would be discouraged.  I worried that he would question the strength of our resolve to bring help to them.  I guess I wondered if he would have the same lapse of faith I was experiencing.  Here is the response I received from Navice...

I am equally aware of the Devil's attacks on God's work but also strengthened that he is a defeated enemy.  Let us continue praying.

Clearly I am in the seat of learning under men like Navice.  And I am eager to be taught more and more.

Please pray as we seek wisdom and direction from God as to who should go and when.  I am comforted by the words God gave to the discouraged people of God who saw the completion of the second temple as daunting and discouraging.  Through Haggai and Zechariah God let His people know, "I am with you!"  And that's enough for me!

Another Step Forward

Having just completed another trip to Serenje, Zambia, I can report to you that the need has never been greater, nor has the work ever seemed more rewarding!

I had the joy of being on a terrific team of people - one of whom was my wife, Teresa.  All of us on the team were able to get a foretaste of what the Hope Children's Center is going to be.  

The children who have been orphaned in Serenje are beautiful and easy to love - they so long for physical touch and care ... and food.  Our team had 50 of these orphans to play with, teach and love while we were there.

Pastor Navice also used these days to gather in over a dozen pastors-in-training plus over sixty key leaders from the churches they have planted.  I spent the most time with the pastors who are so eager to learn.  After a full day (7:30 - 5:00) of instruction I said, "Aren't you men weary by now?"  They popped up and one man said, "How can we be weary when we're learning so much?!?"

Pastor Tom Nesbitt from Cornerstone was like a lightening rod of energy as he taught the leaders.  When he was done teaching they would burst into song!  

Now we are preparing to build the facilities that will house the Care Center and Training Center.  Zack Ludwig and Dave Lubbers (both from Cornerstone) plan to move to Serenje the first week of August.  Zack is in Serenje even now trying to get things ordered, prepared and even find some housing for their several-month-stay.

The work can seem daunting - but God continues to go before us and lead us along

Back in Zambia

After several months away, I (Jeff) am back in Zambia!  I am accompanied by some first-timers: Tom and Marie Nesbitt, Mike and Kristi Despard and my wife Teresa (overseas for her first time!).  Zack Ludwig is along as well as he makes plans to move to Serenje this June to manage the construction of the Hope Children's Center.  This is a huge step forward for the Center as Zack brings a lot of experience with him (having worked for eight months at Kazemba).

We are in Lusaka to join up with eight other Cornerstoners who have been on a Gospelink trip and will now go to Serenje with us this afternoon.  

We hope to make some progress toward building the Center this week.  We will also be teaching pastors, leaders and their wives as well as caring for about 50 orphans who will one day be the first children at the Hope Center.

What a Gift!

Our friends at Brookside Church in Omaha took a special offering for the Hope Children's Center. When we first introduced their leaders to the vision, they had hoped to steward a small piece of the project. Maybe they would dig the well. Or perhaps they could even raise enough to construct one of the modest buildings on the site.

And so Brookside's leaders prayerfully introduced the vision to the Brookside church family. I guess God's people caught the vision. After the offering was taken and accounted for, they FAR surpassed even the most ambitious guesses. The total offering ... $130, 476!!!

Immeasurably more than than all we ask or even imagine... (Ephesians 3:20). This is God at work!

And so we continue to take steps forward. With wisdom, but with boldness. God is with us.

Partners in the Work

One of the sweetest blessings we've seen as God leads us to build this Care Center is the new partnerships that have been created. When we work together we can accomplish so much more and it is a display of God's grace - a unified front of God's people working together to accomplish His goals.

A strong partnership has been forged with our friends at Brookside Church in Omaha. Here is a note from John Alford who is leading the way for that church:

Thanks Cornerstone for allowing Brookside Church to be a part of this Hope Center project! We have great respect for your church. A number of our high school students have gone on to SALT company and have been discipled by you guys. Not only that but your pastors have frequently served us in a teaching capacity for our retreats.

Thanks for all you are doing for the cause of Christ! You are carrying your torch well. The Hope Center has truly engaged our hearts and we sense that God’s hand is all over it. We are leaning into a year of emphasis called, “Justice and Mercy.” God seems to be awakening in us a passion to do more to help the poor and to help restore the broken. So thanks for giving us opportunity to partner with you and to learn from you!

John Alford (Brookside Pastor)

Pray and Not Give Up

After my last post I was challenged by the story of "the persistent widow" (Luke 18). Here Jesus teaches us to seek the favor of God - even cry out to Him day and night, to ask Him to display His justice and to grant mercy. Specifically I began to pray in this incessant manner for the land we need for the Center.

God has been good! Navice discovered a parcel of land immediately adjacent to the one we originally eyed - even closer to the market and school and also bordered by the same small river. And once the negotiations began a very sweet miracle occurred - the city of Serenje GAVE us the land - five hectares (~12.5 acres). Incredible! Then our friends took Navice to Lusaka to get the appropriate papers drawn up for the center, and a lawyer there agreed to do her work for FREE.

But we have hit a snag. The family who owns the original and adjoining piece is unwilling to sell. Though it is discouraging, it is not time to lose heart. The two parcels owned together would be almost exactly what would be necessary to grow and raise the food necessary for the children. We believe it to be the right choice. And so we continue to ask God. Who could doubt His generosity? Who could doubt that He is for us? The fact that He is choosing to say "not yet" on this second piece of land only gives us opportunity to demonstrate a grateful heart and a persistence in prayer. He is good, and He cares far more for these orphans than even we do. He will do what is right -and we will wait on Him.

Please join us in praying for the Hope Children's Center. And don't give up. He is going before us and knows best. Pray that we will find His timing impeccable and THANK HIM for what He has done to bring us to this point.