Our Bush Evangelistic Outreach
Our third update and the weeks continue to speed by:
The scene before us, our camion (flatbed truck) pulls to a stop at the edge of a steep cliff. Jeff and I jump out of the back and assist an old crippled woman behind us. In front of us is the most astonishing sight. It is a village, built precariously on the rocky hillside stretching to the edge of the sea. We now see why the truck had to stop where it did: winding paths make their way throughout the village at steep angles. But what surprises us most is the color; for there is absolutely no color in this barren village. Everything is grey. The cliffs are grey, the paths are grey, the houses are grey, the roofs are grey, the fences are grey, the plots of land are grey, with barely a ragged palm tree scattered here and there. Even the people are grey, their skin and clothes taking on the color of the dirt that they live on. In contrast, the deep, rich, blue and green of the sea is just beyond the village.
“The land mourns and languishes, Lebanon is confounded and withers away; Sharon is like a desert, and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.” (Is. 33:9) The magnitude of the desolation and yet, even the next verse goes on to say: “Now will I arise, says the Lord. Now will I lift up Myself; now will I be exalted.” We were here to visit this crippled woman and assess the roof damage of her home. My first thought was, “What roof” so thread bare was the thatch upon it. But in the next few weeks a group will go, bringing not only thatch, but the Gospel. Not only the Gospel in Word, but in praise, prayer, love, and joy. (At this time, about five of the poorest in the village will be helped and ministered to. We are seeking God to provide enough to meet the need of thirty of the poorest.) God will “arise”. It is His promise.
Along with helping to organize and start up this roofing project, we continued to move forward on the well drilling. Tuesday we organized prayer in the morning over the site where the well was soon to be dug. This turned into three hours of praying, worshipping and decreeing over the land. There were over 100 of us running down the hill, “like a river flowing from the throne room” (there are pictures on our “smug mug” site). It is believed that only sea water will come, but when the fresh water flows forth from this well it will be a testimony to everyone who comes here of God’s greatness and provision.
A week ago Monday, the whole school packed up to go camping, for a time of R&R. They trucked us and all our camping gear to a private beach about twenty minutes away. Looking out from the gazebo at all the tents that were set up reminded me of my father’s pictures of Taize, France (though not quite as many tents). We enjoyed time on the beach, a meal of coleslaw, chicken, and rice (no rice and beans, tonight!), and a “dance party”. It was hilarious to do some line dancing, jumping around, crowd surfacing (way to go Nathan) and a little “rapping” to LaCray (way to go Aaron). Again, we sat through great teaching by a missionary who works in the prisons all around the world. Amazing stories of hard core prisoners seeing a powerful God heal, deliver, and save in some of the darkest places. What a mighty God we serve…mighty and compassionate.
Friday two groups were scheduled to head out on outreaches. Our group, Blue, and Nathan’s group, Orange, packed up two cameons, along with the Mozambique pastors and Bibles students assigned to our groups. We crammed in amongst camping supplies and enjoyed singing as we bumped along the road. The wind was whipping at our hair and cooling our skin from the sun shining down on us. The trip took three hours until finally we arrived out in the bush.
We set up camp in a bamboo fenced in area behind one of the houses in the village. The people had been gracious and had set up separate men’s and women’s latrines in the same area, complete with bamboo/thatch walls, a hole in the ground, a 12”x14” bamboo floor for standing on to bathe, a pot with some water and a dipper to scoop the water out!
The two groups would camp together here for the first night, but travel from here to separate villages. Nathan set off that night with his group to do a service, wedding, and baptism. Jeff, Danette, Abbey, Hannah, and Aaron climbed back into the cameon with their team of Mozambique pastors/students and traveled another hour to an even more remote village. That night our team set up to show the Jesus Film. Thankfully, the Mozambiquan’s had that piece down. We gathered and prayed before starting, the atmosphere was a bit heavy and dark. The head pastor asked for testimonies and Aaron jumped right up to share how God healed his badly sprained ankle overnight. The crowd loved him and asked for him to get back up and share how old he was. They clapped and cheered when he said he was twelve. We continued to intercede for the next two hours as the Jesus Film played, huddled together in the cold. Despite the heavy atmosphere, many came forward secretly to receive Christ and we witnessed many healed in the Name of Jesus. We traveled back through the brush (there was no real road) and arrived back to camp at almost midnight for a quick dinner (Mozambiquan spaghetti – tuna and noodles) and then to bed.
We woke up to heavy dew on the tents, a rooster strutting amongst us announcing morning loudly, the bang of pots and the soft voices of the Africans. We gathered with the pastors for prayer and singing and set off to participate in our first baptism. We crowded around a small pond underneath a bridge with much singing, rejoicing and preaching. About 10 people were baptized in that muddy stream, but you would have thought it was the freshest lake. The sacrifice these people were making by taking this step is incomprehensible. Will they survive this next year?
Back at camp we had a quick breakfast of tea and rolls, and then it was off to dedicate the church in the village. Hours of prayer, preaching, singing, and rejoicing were followed by a wedding. The couple had been living together and had children and had never known a wedding ceremony. The pastor encouraged them and spoke what it means to hold marriage sacred. In the culture the word for “wife” is the same word for “lover” or female person you are living with or in relationship with. A whole new meaning needed to be taught and caught. A type of “premarital” counseling ensued before the actual celebration began. After that was a feast of rice and goat. I noticed nsima was also set aside for some of the Mozambiquens and inquired about it (it’s my favorite food from Zambia) they were so excited that I knew what it was and liked it that they gave me some. They ended up making it for every meal (with rice) after that!
Later in the afternoon we had a debriefing time with our group of “akunas” (whites) and Mozambique pastors/students. The pastor in charge shared how they follow the Holy Spirit’s leading on how to do an outreach at each village depending on the spiritual atmosphere. It was a great time of “give and take” about our different cultures. We then had an awesome time of praying and singing together in preparation for our outreach in the village that night.
This outreach had a totally different feel than the outreach the night before. There was a receptivity and openness in the atmosphere. We did a skit on the Prodigal Son which got everyone involved and laughing. Testimonies were shared and the Jesus Film shown. This time, people were willing to raise their hands to receive Christ and the healings came fast and easy. Abbey, Hannah, Aaron and the rest prayed for backs, legs, arms, stomachs, headaches and saw the people healed. One young boy came pushing forward for prayer. Jeff quickly saw why. The boy had a huge tumor/growth on the side of his head. Jeff lifted his hand over the tumor and before he could even say a word the tumor totally shrank and disappeared. The look of amazement on the boys face was priceless. He touched his head and turned and ran! After that music was played and everyone was dancing and singing. Yea, God!
The next morning was Sunday. Again, we woke early and enjoyed tea and rolls for breakfast. The pastors/students and the team all gathered together as we prayed, sang, and shared testimonies from the past two nights. Then they prayed over Danette in preparation for her to preach in the service.
In typical African style, church started late and lasted almost three hours. There was much singing and dancing. Danette shared from Matthew 11:28 and the power in the very first, short word of the passage: “COME”. The invitation is for all of us, not just once, but continually, all day long. Being one with Christ, letting Him carry the burden and receiving His rest. There was a powerful time of prayer afterwards as people were invited to “Come” to Jesus and give their burdens over to Him, whether it was for physical healing, emotional healing, or for rest. After that, there was a time of blessing over the pastor of the church there. It was amazing to see these poor people giving out of their own poverty to bless the pastor. He had been unaware they were going to do this and you could see how touched he was by their generosity.
A quick meal of nsima, rice, goat, beans followed and then it was time to pack up the cameons and head for home.
On Monday we had an awesome time celebrating Abbey’s 17th birthday. The whole group sang to her in the morning session and prayed over her. Throughout the day she received small gifts and we made hamburgers and chocolate cake at night. A new year ahead!
The days continue. We continue to be challenged and stretched. This week we have Paul and Cheryl Black speaking and encouraging us in what it means to be “sons of God” and not slaves. Oh God, teach us. Teach us what it truly means to walk in all that You have given to us!
We hope you are blessed by what you’ve read. We hope that just as in Revelation 4:8 that you continue to bow before the throne singing “Holy, Holy, Holy” and that as you begin to rise from your knees again that God touches you and gives you a fresh revelation of who He is, so that all you can do is bow once again and cry, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who was, and Who is, and Who is to come.”
Hey also we’ve posted a lot more pictures including picture from our bush outreach - check them out. And hey all! We miss ya and would LOVE to receive an email of something.
Email: jjfamily.zambia@gmail.com
Pictures: http://jjfamily.smugmug.com/
Bless you all,
The Johnsons