Here are a few stories from some of our team members:
"It was such a God moment when we pulled up to the Compassionate Vineyard in Kasempa and the leaders were inside worshiping. The sound was so beautiful. I was amazed at how well they harmonized together. It did not matter that I did not know the words; worship is worship no matter where you are." - Ana Rich
"The children in Kasempa were truly amazing! Being my first missions trip, and not truly knowing what to expect, I was blown away. I've never seen kids so excited. Just something as a touch or a smile meant everything to them. God is truly working in this place." - David Gooch
"We have come over 10,000 miles to pray fro the sick, bring clean water to the people and encourage them. Although, we came to give, we have received from them. They have showed us how to have joy and peace when they have very little according to our standards. We Americans have so much to learn." - Rich Cabiro
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sunday (April 25th) Update
Today we had the opportunity to go to some of the churches in the Ndola area.
Rich and David went to Pastor Felix's church in Twapia Compound. Rich did a teaching on healing and share his testimony of how God had healed him several times in his life. Afterwards Rich and David prayed for healing for a number of the church members and saw God do some amazing things in the lives of the people there.
Robb and Janet went to Pastor Francis' church in the Mapalo Compound. Robb did a teaching on the importance of every church member being involved in the work of ministry. This was Robb's third year to teach in Mapalo and it was like a home homecoming.
Shawn and Ana went to Pastor David's church in the city of Kitwe. Shawn did a teaching on the fact that God made all of us Missionaries and that we all have a calling to go out and share God's love with the people around us. It was an exciting time of teaching and prayer. After the teaching Shawn and Ana prayed for a number of the church members who wanted to commit their lives to God and share God's love in their own cities and villages.
Sandra, Clint, and Scott went to Pastor Damas's church in the City of Ndola. There they each shared a little testimony of what God has been doing on our trip and then had the opportunity to hear Pastor Damas teach.
We all had a great time today spending time with our friends here in Zambia!!
Rich and David went to Pastor Felix's church in Twapia Compound. Rich did a teaching on healing and share his testimony of how God had healed him several times in his life. Afterwards Rich and David prayed for healing for a number of the church members and saw God do some amazing things in the lives of the people there.
Robb and Janet went to Pastor Francis' church in the Mapalo Compound. Robb did a teaching on the importance of every church member being involved in the work of ministry. This was Robb's third year to teach in Mapalo and it was like a home homecoming.
Shawn and Ana went to Pastor David's church in the city of Kitwe. Shawn did a teaching on the fact that God made all of us Missionaries and that we all have a calling to go out and share God's love with the people around us. It was an exciting time of teaching and prayer. After the teaching Shawn and Ana prayed for a number of the church members who wanted to commit their lives to God and share God's love in their own cities and villages.
Sandra, Clint, and Scott went to Pastor Damas's church in the City of Ndola. There they each shared a little testimony of what God has been doing on our trip and then had the opportunity to hear Pastor Damas teach.
We all had a great time today spending time with our friends here in Zambia!!
Saturday (April 24) Update
Sorry this is late but we had a hard time getting good internet access!
Today Robb and Shawn taught 25 Vineyard Pastors and Leaders from around the Ndola area. We had a lot of fun teaching and sharing with them. We are always amazed at how much they trust God even with all the challenges they face.
The rest of the team did a VBS (Vacation Bible School) in Mapalo for 100 kids. We had not planned to do this but Pastor Francis requested it so everyone felt like we needed to make it happen. They did an awesome job of putting together a program for the kids. The kids were very excited to see the team and spend time with them.
Today Robb and Shawn taught 25 Vineyard Pastors and Leaders from around the Ndola area. We had a lot of fun teaching and sharing with them. We are always amazed at how much they trust God even with all the challenges they face.
The rest of the team did a VBS (Vacation Bible School) in Mapalo for 100 kids. We had not planned to do this but Pastor Francis requested it so everyone felt like we needed to make it happen. They did an awesome job of putting together a program for the kids. The kids were very excited to see the team and spend time with them.
Arrived in Livingstone.
We arrived Monday in Livingstone, Zambia. Sorry we have not updated since then, but the internet has been very very slow. Our drive from Ndola was good for a 12 hour drive on bumpy roads. The team is doing well we will have a few days of relaxation before heading back home.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Week 1 Update
The team's first week in Zambia is just about over, and God has shown up in some really powerful ways. First of all we'd like to apologize as the team doesn't have access to a good internet connection and unfortunately is not able to update the blog as much as we had hoped. However, we are in contact with them via phone and wanted to relay some things that have been happening.
MONDAY – WEDNESDAY
The team spent the first part of their week in Kasempa.
Here, they held a pastors training conference for 60 Vineyard pastors and leaders to help assist, train, equip, and empower local pastors and leaders in the local Vineyard Churches in the area.
The team also held a one-day VBS (Vacation Bible School) for 100 kids with games, crafts, and songs.
They traveled to a leper colony in Kasempa, bringing food and cooking supplies to a group of about 40 people who are basically shut out from the rest of society. Both Robb and Rich were able to share a short message from Psalms and from Philippians. They prayed for each person in this community.
As they were preparing to leave Kasempa and travel back to Ndola, John Chelingi, the pastor of the local Vineyard Church in Kasempa, asked them to lead worship at their Wednesday night church service. The team had to explain that none of them were musicians nor could they sing really well and politely declined. But later that afternoon, the team felt like God was telling them to go ahead and do it anyway. So they practiced singing a few songs that afternoon, and that evening led worship for the church. During the first song, as they were singing the chorus the second time around, 60 Zambian voices joined with them worshiping and praising God. That same night, they prayed for people and people were healed!
THURSDAY
Thursday, they traveled to a compound called Kosango that has about 400 residents. Here they installed 20 bio-sand filters, followed up with other families who already had bio-sand filters, and were able to pray with each family they visited with.
FRIDAY
Friday, the team went to the Vineyard Church in Ndola. The church was damaged severely in last year’s rainstorms, and the team helped Pastor Damas and other local Zambians with some construction and were able to help clear a field for the church. Later, they went to the Mapalo Vineyard Church to connect with Pastor Francis and see some of the sewing and knitting projects the church is hosting.
The team is doing really well and is so excited about all that God is doing in and through them. You can really hear it in their voices (even with the static and the 5 second delay). Please continue to pray for them and the advancement of God’s Kingdom in Zambia.
MONDAY – WEDNESDAY
The team spent the first part of their week in Kasempa.
Here, they held a pastors training conference for 60 Vineyard pastors and leaders to help assist, train, equip, and empower local pastors and leaders in the local Vineyard Churches in the area.
The team also held a one-day VBS (Vacation Bible School) for 100 kids with games, crafts, and songs.
They traveled to a leper colony in Kasempa, bringing food and cooking supplies to a group of about 40 people who are basically shut out from the rest of society. Both Robb and Rich were able to share a short message from Psalms and from Philippians. They prayed for each person in this community.
As they were preparing to leave Kasempa and travel back to Ndola, John Chelingi, the pastor of the local Vineyard Church in Kasempa, asked them to lead worship at their Wednesday night church service. The team had to explain that none of them were musicians nor could they sing really well and politely declined. But later that afternoon, the team felt like God was telling them to go ahead and do it anyway. So they practiced singing a few songs that afternoon, and that evening led worship for the church. During the first song, as they were singing the chorus the second time around, 60 Zambian voices joined with them worshiping and praising God. That same night, they prayed for people and people were healed!
THURSDAY
Thursday, they traveled to a compound called Kosango that has about 400 residents. Here they installed 20 bio-sand filters, followed up with other families who already had bio-sand filters, and were able to pray with each family they visited with.
FRIDAY
Friday, the team went to the Vineyard Church in Ndola. The church was damaged severely in last year’s rainstorms, and the team helped Pastor Damas and other local Zambians with some construction and were able to help clear a field for the church. Later, they went to the Mapalo Vineyard Church to connect with Pastor Francis and see some of the sewing and knitting projects the church is hosting.
The team is doing really well and is so excited about all that God is doing in and through them. You can really hear it in their voices (even with the static and the 5 second delay). Please continue to pray for them and the advancement of God’s Kingdom in Zambia.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Day 2 in Africa
We are about to get on our 3rd plane ride to Ndola. Everyone is pretty tired from traveling and lack of sleep, but still having a good time. We will be out of touch for a few days while traveling to Kasempa. Thank you for all your prayers see ya in a few days!
Arrived in Jo'Burg
We arrived safely in South Africa around 5:00PM(10:00AM back home). It was a long flight but it was pretty uneventful. Well, except for Clint getting a piece of his ear buds stuck in his ear and the Flight Attendant having to fish it out with tweezers. He was given the nickname "Ear Bud" by our Flight Attendant and of course the rest of the team will not let him forget it.
We leave for Zambia at 9:45AM (2:45AM back home). We will have a slow day Sunday to prepare for our 8 hour bus ride to Kasempa.
We will post again soon!
We leave for Zambia at 9:45AM (2:45AM back home). We will have a slow day Sunday to prepare for our 8 hour bus ride to Kasempa.
We will post again soon!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
24 Hours to Departure
In less than 24 hours we will meet at the Airport to start our journey. I have spent the last two days finalizing teachings and packing supply/team bags. Every time I think I have them packed something else pops up that needs to go. It is amazing just how many supplies we need for a 16 day trip. Please pray that all of the bags make it and if they don't that we would adjust quickly and go with the flow.
Our next post will be from the Atlanta Airport!
Our next post will be from the Atlanta Airport!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
2 Days to Departure
I thought it would be good to share a little about some of the projects we are going to do while in Zambia.
So here we go:
Leper Colony Outreach - For the last year our Partnership has assisted in providing food for a group of 35 Lepers in the Kasempa Region. This colony is made up of men and women who have been forced out of their home villages because of this disease. While there our team will bring some basic food supplies like cooking oil, salt, sugar, dried fish and Nshima. We will also have the opportunity to pray for each resident of the colony.
Seeds of Hope International - Our team will have the opportunity to work with our partner SOHIP installing Bio-Sand Filters and possibly assisting on a drilling project. It still amazes me that there are people that do not have access to such a basic necessity like clean water. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with SOHIP and serve the people by bringing clean water into their homes.
Leadership Conference's - We will conduct three different Leadership Conferences throughout Zambia while we are there. It is important that we not only equip the existing pastors in Zambia but, we need to work on raising up and training the next generation of leaders. Robb Klipp and I have prepared a number of teachings on Basic Vineyard Doctrine that will help the Churches align themselves with the story God is telling in Zambia.
So here we go:
Leper Colony Outreach - For the last year our Partnership has assisted in providing food for a group of 35 Lepers in the Kasempa Region. This colony is made up of men and women who have been forced out of their home villages because of this disease. While there our team will bring some basic food supplies like cooking oil, salt, sugar, dried fish and Nshima. We will also have the opportunity to pray for each resident of the colony.
Seeds of Hope International - Our team will have the opportunity to work with our partner SOHIP installing Bio-Sand Filters and possibly assisting on a drilling project. It still amazes me that there are people that do not have access to such a basic necessity like clean water. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with SOHIP and serve the people by bringing clean water into their homes.
Leadership Conference's - We will conduct three different Leadership Conferences throughout Zambia while we are there. It is important that we not only equip the existing pastors in Zambia but, we need to work on raising up and training the next generation of leaders. Robb Klipp and I have prepared a number of teachings on Basic Vineyard Doctrine that will help the Churches align themselves with the story God is telling in Zambia.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
3 Days to Departure
Here is a short video of the team that will be going to Zambia. What an honor it is for me to lead this awesome group of people. I am excited to see them in action.
Monday, April 12, 2010
4 Days to Departure
Today the team will be taking our second dose of Malaria Medicine. One of the side effects is that it messes with your sleep pattern and can even cause you to have weird dreams. Half our team has experienced issues sleeping. Hopefully we will have a better experience this week and be able to stay rested in preparation for our departure and long travel to Zambia.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
5 Days to Departure
This weekend the team was prayed for at each of the services at church. We also went into SuperChurch and Club 456 at each service to share with the kids about our trip and talk to them about Zambia. I am amazed at how much the kids care about the people of Zambia and their desire to pray for them and our team. It was really cool to have these 1st - 6th grade kids praying for us and sending us off. To everyone that has been and is, praying for the team and the work that is happening in Zambia, Thank You.
SuperChurch praying for the Team
Sharing with Club 456 about the projects we are going to do on our trip.
The Team being prayed for in church.
SuperChurch praying for the Team
Sharing with Club 456 about the projects we are going to do on our trip.
The Team being prayed for in church.Saturday, April 10, 2010
7 Days to Departure
Today the team is getting prepared for the church send off this weekend. All of the training has been done, clothes are getting packed up and bracelets for the VBS are almost all completed. The girls have been working extra hard to make sure 500 salvation bracelets are completed and they are almost there. It seems like just yesterday we started preparing for this trip and now we are only days away from departure. The whole team is extremely excited and cannot wait to see how God is going to use each one of us.
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