Four years of memories in just under 8 minutes... God is faithful!!!
Four years
ago, our family embarked on the adventure of a lifetime; to be missionaries in
Africa!!! We shared our story with churches and friends, we raised support, and
we were sent out with prayers, blessings, sympathetic looks and envious smiles.
We arrived on African soil, eager and ready to
change the world. We had ideas and vision on how we could save Africa.
The world had never seen such amazing missionaries. We proposed many
ideas to our director Tim Hilty. We wanted to do a child sponsor ministry. We
wanted to bring short term teams in. We wanted interns. And a funny thing
happened on the way to saving the world, our director said “No.” No to
the child sponsor ministry. No to short term teams. No to everything, it felt.
I fumed for a while. I felt stifled, held back and restrained. Do they
know who I am? A few months later, I began to understand. And four
years later, I really understand.
How grateful
I am to Tim and his wisdom to make us settle in, and learn and listen and
wait. I have seen other missionaries over the past few years who were not
as fortunate to have such a wise leader. They are burned out, over-committed, and done, (figuratively and sometimes, literally). I have learned that for God to really change lives in Africa,
it will take time, lots of time, and
patience, lots of patience, and a relentless
refusal to remain unmoved from the purposes and goals of the mission.
I liken it to planting a tree. There is not much to write about while a tree grows from a seed to seedling to a plant to baby tree to a tree to fruit bearing tree. And yet, ACTION Zambia has committed to taking whatever time was necessary to intentionally shrink the ministry so they could dig down deep, long and far enough so that we could have lasting change. AZ may not be able to do everything, but what we are going to do, we are going to do well. There’s a reason Jesus took three years with a small group of disciples. (He did have his 70 and 120 and multitude which we also had, but the majority of his time was spent with the 12.) There is much to do and undo when it comes to working the word of God into and out of a culture. A lot of money and time were sacrificed for fifteen poor, mostly uneducated, struggling pastors here in Zambia. Was it worth it? Could we have done more? Should we have done more? There is so much need and opportunity. Change the world, Steve. Don’t waste your time on these guys. Think big!
Well, another
funny thing happened on the way to changing the world. We were changed. Because we could focus
on just a few guys, we really got to know them, the needs they had, the things
they suffered, their churches and friends and problems and burdens. We were
there when their kids died, when they were robbed and sick and hurting. We
celebrated when they got a plot for their church or put another brick on their
building. We visited their churches and their homes. We got to know their
kids. They rubbed off on us in many ways and helped refine us. As
their teachers, we learned how to learn. We laughed and cried and prayed
and ministered together. And it was those “wasted” moments, that earned trust,
that opened doors, that helped us learn best how to love them and teach
them. And we did teach. Because we knew them, we knew how to
teach. We got beneath the soil and removed the weeds and put down a new
layer of fertilizer. The word took root. And is taking root. And now they
are ready to give away what they have learned, as they have already done. They
are ready to unite as a network of pastors that have crossed denominational
lines. They trust and love each other and pray for each other. They are ready
to teach and lead and go, confidently against the grain of their culture and
society. A lasting ministry that makes lasting changes couldn’t have
lasted without intentional, small, unhurried, wasted hours teaching and loving them.
So, though I
leave ACTION Zambia and return back “home”to pastor, I am changed. I covet this
experience for all pastors. My ministry back home will be different because of
my ministry here. So, thank you ACTION Zambia, Tim, Tracy and teammates,
for teaching me how to teach well. Thanks
for enduring me and refining me and sending me back to the States with lasting
memories and enduring lessons.
6 comments:
GREAT blog, Steve! Seriously, this is the best one yet. Those are some really great reflections on your 4 years here - thanks for sharing them. We'll miss you guys around here!
1000 POSTS! Watching your video is like looking at a familiar scrapbook because we've seen all these pictures through the years as they've been posted. I told the children this morning that this is the Allen's last day in Zambia and it made me sad that we can't live vicariously through you anymore. You have finished well!! It's been such a priviledge to support you as you've had the priviledge to be there! We can't wait to see what God does with your family next. All our love,
The Knifong family
Well done. Thanks for all the sharing. Love and Prayers from Megan's mom.
Woo-hoo!
Well done!
Praying you home,
Julie and boys :D
Congratulations Steve, you are now ruined! Zambia has changed you, given you new values and a deeper perspective. Be warned - you may have a challenging time fitting in with American culture (church also) now, but you already know that. I know this will greatly impact your future ministry and I wish you the absolute best as you forge ahead.
Karen forwarded me this blog, very well written. Thank you! We were one of those missionaries who were done too soon! We have prayed for the missionaries with Action Zambia often since returning to the states. Blessings on your return!
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