Christmas Songs

driving through Nsongwe Village

I had a revelation while driving to town the other day. Have you ever noticed how many Christmas songs talk about snow and cold? White Christmas came on my ipod and I was singing along, but then I looked at my surrounding. There has never been a white christmas in zambia. Instead it's a very green Christmas. Growing up in Chicago, Christmas is cold and usually white. However, Christmas is during the summer for half of the world- Zambia included. While my family and friends back in Chicago are hoping for a white christmas, Jake, Jessi, and I are hoping for a wet Christmas. With the rains comes cooler temperatures. Dry days here are above 100 deg F- not exactly like the Christmases "I used to know." But what makes Christmas? Is it the snow and cold? Family traditions? Presents under the tree? Sure, I love all of the joys of Christmas but let's never forget our true joy: the birth of our Savior. So whether or not your Christmas this year is white, know that the true source of our joy is in Him. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Traditions

Every family has their own Christmas traditions. They're what we've grown up with, what we associate the holiday season with. It can be certain foods, midnight church services, Christmas carols, etc. You don't really realize how unique, and even how important they are to you until you're away from your family on Christmas for the first time.

This is my first year staying through rainy season (obviously also through Christmas) here in Zambia. The base is quiet, with only myself and another family making up the "foreign" staff. Jessi and I have been planning Christmas by combining all of our favorite traditions together. The first one has been the great cookie bake. Now my mom usually bakes the christmas cookies, while my sister, brother, dad, and I "help" as the taste testers. However, Mom isn't here so Jessi and I pulled together all of our favorite recipes (thanks, Mom, for sending the recipes for my favorite cookies!) and spent an entire day baking cookies. We started our baking day by laying out a game plan. After a short discussion of whether we should half the recipes or not (deciding on not) we starting the baking spree. By dinner time we had made about 20 dozen cookies. For 3 adults and 2 young kids. That's a lot of cookies!! Did we get carried away? Sure! The good part about all these cookies is now we have lots to share with our zambian and missionary friends here. There's nothing like the taste of your favorite, childhood Christmas cookie to make you feel a bit more connected to home despite the thousands of miles of separation. 

30 Day Challange

Lately I've been thinking of different topics I can blog about. I'll hopefully be back in Africa in a month and until then I'd like to do a post a day. Every time I meet with people and share with them about the ministry I do in, I get all sorts of questions. These questions can range from "what's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?" to "how are you received as a missionary by the local people?". For the next 30 days I will post a question commonly asked to missionaries with an answer from my personal experience. I hope that you all get to know me, the Zambian culture, and Overland Missions a lot more. Feel free to post questions that you'd like answered via the comments section, email, facebook, or even twitter. Look for the 1st post tomorrow!

Blessings!

Google Earth: Key Tool For Missionaries

As I was sitting here wondering what I should blog about, I decided I wanted to share more about the planning that goes into leading an expedition. I've been asked countless times about how Overland Missions finds rural villages. Aside from local guides, we use Google Earth. Yes, there is more to this program then just finding your house! :)

When planning for a expedition in the southern province of Zambia, I often start by locating our base. Here is a screen shot of where we're located.

From there I can look at the villages we've already been to in the different sectors we have running. If you're not sure what I mean by sectors, I can explain. "We divided sections of the world into 10,000 sq. mile sectors and made a focused strategy that uses each one of Overland Missions departments to recon, plan and execute the task at hand. Each sector is managed by a missionary couple that make a five-year commitment to the area." (taken from www.overlandmissions.com). These sector managers are in charge of running every project within our organizations, from evangelism, to discipleship, to humanitarian aid. They are aided by our expedition teams, staff, and volunteers.

Back on subject! :) Once I've determined where teams have already gone in, and projects are already actively running, I can find villages in the areas that we have yet to go to. Believe me when I say there are millions! I can actually find the dirt trails that we would take with trucks using Google Earth to map out our route to these places.

On the left is an image of an unknown village. This image is incredibly clear. This village is in the western province of Zambia. The western province is the most remote and unexplored area in Zambia. It's also set in the middle of the floodplains. During rainy season this entire area is underwater because of the Zambezi River. This village is semi-nomadic because of this. They move their homes when the river rises, and move back when the river is low. To get to this village, we would use our zodiac rafts and travel by river to them. There are not many who travel to these villages because of the fact that it is very challenging. I'll be leading a team in this area in late June, where we will be utilizing the river, as well as roads to get to these neglected areas. We partner with local pastors who desire to church plant among these people.

Not every village is this clear in Google Earth. In all actuality, most of them aren't. On the right is another image of unknown villages. These villages are in the southern province, and are unknown to us, as of this moment. We have done work in the surrounding areas and will probably visit these areas this year. All of the tan areas you see are homes of the locals. Huts can be located here, as well as plowed fields. This area is largely populated, especially compared to the nomadic village shown above. Each area presents it's own challenges and advantages. These aren't know until a recon is done before the team arrives. I usually go out on my motorcycle where I meet with the village leaders to assess if Overland Missions is needed in their area. The farther you get into the rural areas, the more neglected and isolated these villages are. God gave us this technology so that none can remain unreached. The Apostle Paul could never have dreamt of doing what we are now able to accomplish for the Kingdom.

Please pray for our teams as they begin to fill. If you're interested in joining a team this year, please sign up on www.overlandmissions.com. See you in Africa!

Lions, Cheetahs, and Crocs... Oh My!

Over the weekend, Dan (my co-leader) and I took the AMT students on a field trip for the day. Africa definitely has some cool ideas for field trips. We wanted the students to understand more about the wildlife and safety measures to look out for here in the bush. The way to accomplish this... throw them into the lions den. Well in this case, Cheetah and Croc den. However, we did see lions, which was amazing.

Our first stop of the Lion park in Mukuni that has just opened. Our guide took us to the lions, where we got a close up view, but seperated by a chain link fence. We also got to view their newest additions to the park, the Caracal cats. The coolest part was when the team was allowed into the Cheetah cage. There's something intimidating when you step into the home of a potientally vicious animal. However, when they start lick you and purring, it's amazing that they are justa large cat... only with paws, nails, and teeth that can tear you to shreds! Cool and scary at the same time.

We traveled from the lion park and entered the world of crocodiles. We were able to see a feeding, as well as learn about how crocs attack, warning signs, etc. The croc farm also has a cool indigenous snake exhibit where we were able to view many snakes (mostly venomous) that are from the area. Many we have living on our base, some I've even had close encounters with.


It was a great day and the students were able to put their knowledge to use that evening with an encounter with a spitting cobra found outside of our toliets here in the base. Gotta love Africa!

Women of God

Today was an awesome day! I had the chance to preach the Word at a women's meeting at Stepping Stones Church. The pastor there is a good friend of mine, Pastor Dragan Zondani. He's my Zambian brother. The church is located in Songwey Village, about 10 minutes from our base. It was such an awesome time to spend with these women. The Lord had me speak on what God can do through women; the possibilities are endless! It was awesome to encourage these women and I hope to do so again so. Just fellowshipping with them and praising God is worth everything.
Even though this is my third time in Africa (as my longest so far) I am still learning about the culture more each day. I really want to understand these people, the lives they lead, and what their hearts desires are. I want to see them on fire for the Lord and realizing they have what it takes to fulfil whatever call the Lord has on their lives. Walking on the path that He has for you is such an amazing life that it can compare to nothing! Are you walking that path?