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Oct 27
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To Zambia with Love posted by jwatson on Oct 27, 2016

Zambia is derived from the word “Zambezi” which means: “That which belongs to God”. What an appropriate name for the warm and friendly country in Africa. My family roots run deep there. My grandparents met and fell in love and my Dad was born there in the early 1920’s. My grandmother was a mathematics teacher and my grandfather was a Dutch Reformed Minister in the Luangwa Valley on the eastern border of Zambia. I presented Kids Evangelism Explosion training in Livingstone and Chipata before I was married to Steve in 2003 when I drove with my Land Rover Defender through Africa. This was a journey back in time filled with wonderful memories of camping in my rooftop tent under the African sky and meeting unforgettable local people who made it an adventure of a lifetime.

A few weeks ago when I received an appeal for trainers to help with an evangelism workshop in Livingstone, Zambia, the call was irresistible and soon I was on my way to Africa again. A ragtag team of eleven trainers from the US went to help the African leadership team with equipping a group of around sixty local pastors and choir members from Lusaka in training others to share the Gospel. It is an empowering evangelism multiplication tool. During the on-the-job training we saw the transforming power of the Gospel working in a mighty way. Many people came to faith in Jesus. The angels were rejoicing.

My team consisted of Lucky, Derick and Lloyd, dedicated young men, eager to learn and it was a pleasure to serve with them. On Tuesday we met a lady named Grace in a small wooden box-shaped Hair Salon next to the road leading to our Training Center. Deep sadness and pain was written all over her face. She invited us in and we shared the Good News with her. We prayed together as she recommitted her life to the Lord. When I went back during our tea-break on Thursday to see how she was doing, I hardly recognized her! Her face was beaming with joy and she couldn’t stop praising the Lord for setting her free and giving her new life in Christ.

On Wednesday we went to a church nearby where our “Glasses for Missions” team was making reading glasses for those with diminishing eyesight, fulfilling a great need in the village. There were wonderful reports of many whose eyes were opened, seeing Jesus for the first time. Every day overflowed with praise reports and a spirit of joy filled the air.

Friday we visited Victoria Falls just a few miles down the road. It was a refreshing experience even though it is dry season and the water levels are very low. The usual thundering wall of water was down to a few cascading streams. But still, it is a sight to behold. We enjoyed soaking up the warm African sun and the cool mist surrounding the falls. On Saturday we visited the Mosi-oa-Tunya Game Reserve on the banks of the Zambezi River and were impressed by their wildlife conservation efforts.

This was an exhilarating mission where we experienced firsthand the life giving power of the Gospel and marveled at the amazing grace of the Lord. We are delighted to know that the Gospel is multiplying and the nations are rejoicing to the glory of God!

Thank you very much for your prayers.

Joyfully in His service,

Elise Stimpson

Psalm 96:3 “Tell of His glory among the nations. His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.”




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