making progress

I write to you as the power just went out. Apparently they have daily rolling blackouts to conserve electricity. So I am on battery power from the laptop and hope I will be able to post before it goes out.

 

we arrived in lusaka over 36 hours ago. today we went to the property to see how far along they have gotten with the construction efforts.  it was amazing – there was a fully erected house on the same foundation where we were building the block last year.  there were also two additional foundations laid and the framing of the house was done.  the construction team was working on the roofing when we arrived.  upon entry, i was greeted by some familiar faces. jimmy, john and charles were still a part of the team as was tembo.  gone was mr. perry who had some difficulty with the transition to compressed earth block from cinderblock and cement. sometimes you just can’t teach an ole dog new tricks….

we are gonna work on a septic system and some finishing work tomorrow.

 

 

the missionary team was excited to see the progress. some of the team members are returning after 2 years when we only had land and some members are returning after 4 years when we didn’t have property but felt God was leading us to this vision to defend the fatherless.  as team leader – and a seasoned vet after 3 consecutive summers here – i was really excited for the team.  to me, it was if i was returning to my summer home – to them i know it made them feel immediately that they are in a special place and a special time.

 

my wife is in charge of the vacation bible school this year and it starts tomorrow.  i am so thankful for God’s work in her.  she has been an amazing warrior for the ministry taking on coordination of not only the vbs, but also the church yard sale.  i am thankful that God has put her in my life and i am able to witness her growth.

 

while progress is being made on the village, we still have some things that need to be done. the constructed houses still require plumbing and electricity which can prove to be an issue as we will need to find a local worker and materials (power poles) to connect up to a transformer less than a kilometer away.   we have had some trouble with materials ‘walking away’ from the site.  while we have security on site, i am sure that if a thief needs it bad enough, they will find a way to get it.  it is somewhat difficult to manage the construction when we do not have a primary stakeholder available in the country 24/7.  we are hoping and praying that God will make way for those people to head back to zambia. we feel that with someone on site, we can establish a better accountability model and more effective and efficient project management.

 

i just wanna start providing homes to some of these kids.  michael devine, a missionary for breath of heaven children’s ministries always emphasizes the difference in value of time in our two differing cultures.  we (americans) operate on a business week with calendared 30 (maybe 15) minute time grids… filling in slots as we go about our busy days. in zambia , time doesn’t have those limitations.  they can take a couple hours to hard boil an egg.  i just pray God is gonna move mightily and make some things happen that will make the process even smoother.

 

But I know God is in control.  God shared with me Psalm 107 verse 35 -38:

 

He turns a desert into a pool of water,
dry land into springs of water.
He causes the hungry to settle there,
and they establish a city where they can live.
They sow fields and plant vineyards
that yield a fruitful harvest.

He blesses them, and they multiply greatly;

 

He takes the land that we presented and He can turn it in to a refreshing spring for these orphans.  He will draw them close and those who do hunger – not just for food, but for love and righteousness.  In Him and through Him, they will reap a fruitful harvest.  If it is in Him and through Him that these things take place, than no weapon formed against Him will prosper.

 

The light just turned on – in my head and in the compound. Lucky for me on both accounts.

 

 

 

 

 

third watch

its 3am the morning right now. in about 12 hours i return to continue the work in lusaka, zambia in africa for a third year in a row. some things are different - i am married now. some things remain the same, like this energy for the vision that God has put in my and my wife's heart. i really can't explain it. this year has been hectic. on top of working 60 hrs a week, I am this year's mission team leader. there were times where i felt like throwing in the towel. but God doesn't not put anything in front of us that we can handle.

i am anxious. more so than i have been in past trips. possible the new leadership role? i dunno. i think it might be that I am going with a feeling of major expectation. the Lord has shown me amazing things in past trips. i saw my sister delivered and people healed, confirmation and a mighty outpouring. but at a recent team meeting, someone praying for us shared that while we may have seen some amazing things, the floodgates will open this year. that just psyches me up! i can't wait to see Him move.

i am hoping to be more web 2.0 ish this trip. i have brought some goods that will allow me to do some video and an unlocked aircard that will allow me to remain connected 24/7. i hope to show you who is reading this right now what i am doing out there instead of just telling you about it.

some of you have sponsored me to be here on this trip. I thank God for you...in essence you are here with me. for my family and friends that are in support of my activities out here, I thank you. without your emotional and spiritual support, i would be incomplete.

i plan to try and be more active on the blog this go around. i would love to hear comments from you.

all for now. better get some sleep or i am not going to be a happy camper in the morning. stay tuned.