Going into this trip we were most excited about visiting The International Bible College of Zambia of Kazimba. The college is the long term goal for reaching the unreached territories in Africa. The vision is sponsored by Gospelink. Gospelink has the vision to school local people to be pastors, and send them out to share the gospel and start churches. The vision requires only a fraction of the cost of sending Western Missionaries and reaches far more people. But westerners are not left out of the equation. They need well educated people to spend a few weeks each year at the college and teach a couple of courses. This is what Orie and I are excited about. In the years that lie ahead we are praying that we may return to teach some classes or discipleship groups. It was great to see the depth of the vision and how many churches across America have already taken pieces of this project as their own. Our church Grace Fellowship is one example of this. They started 5 or 6 years ago funding and sending missions teams to build a compound consisting of 5 student houses, 1 staff house, and a wash house (bathrooms and showers). This is the first of 15 compounds to be completed as of yet. It was awesome to see how when we gather our resources together from different churches no matter the denomination what can be accomplished. God is being glorified through this immensely! The college is free to the students who are hand picked to go through the program. Along with the 30 hours of school, they are also required to work the crops on the campus. The crops are used to make their meals and one day hopefully to fund the upkeep of the college itself. While we were there the students along with a few of the workers sang for us and in turn we sang for them. They were infatuated at the guitar and told me one morning that the top story at the college is how we play and sing at the same time. God put it on my heart to take time and teach them a little guitar. Orie, David, and Christian helped me make fake guitar necks out of scrap wood so they could all practice. Christian and I taught them the basics, which was nearly 3 hours of class, and at the end I gave my guitar to the college. Although I was very sad about leaving my guitar I knew they would be very blessed and encouraged. That night we heard them practicing and passing the guitar around and trying to play. Orie heard them practicing before breakfast and then after breakfast they carried it with them as they walked to the field to work in the crops.
Prayer Request
At the college we had the privilege to spend time with a missionary family from the US. They are a young couple with 7 kids. They shared with us the blessings and struggles they have experienced since they moved there last year. One of the toughest things is relationship. They long for friendships and a sense of family there, but haven’t found it yet. Please pray for them and their family.
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