Last Day in Zambia

Well, it's almost been a week since Albert and Adam left for home. Internet has been a challenge in Livingstone. We've had frequent power outages and a full schedule. Anyway, for the last week I've been attending and teaching at the ILISA National Conference in Livingstone, Zambia. Christian leaders from all over Zambia and Malawi came together to be a part of this conference. It has been a blessing worshiping, praying, learning and sharing life with my brothers and sisters from southern Africa. The ILISA conference graduation was this morning. The 30 participants at this conference have committed to training and raising up 525 Christian leaders in Zambia over the next year!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to travel to Rev. Sitali Kukungu's home village. It was a two hour drive into the bush to reach the village. After stopping in several villages to gain permission from the Headmen, we finally arrived at our destination. We were greeted with the smiles of some of Rev. Kakungu's distant relatives. We were surrounded by mud huts with thatch roofs in this very rural, agricultural community. Chairs were placed under the tree in the center of the village, and we were offered (and enjoyed) a village beverage made from corn meal, sugar, some kind of indigenous root, and water. It was humbling to receive that kind of welcome and hospitality from people who seemed to have so little. Most of our discussions revolved around community development because agriculture is failing and the poeple are struggling to survive. We also had the opportunity to share the Gospel with the men in the village and one young man accepted Jesus ... praise the Lord! Pray for this young man and the many others like him that are not educated and struggling to survive because of failing agriculture, the only occupation their families have known for generations. Also pray for the Pilgrim Wesleyan Church as they seek to aid development and spiritual growth all over Zambia.

A few more things I've learned in Zambia: we should really appreciate power and water (especially hot water), not all villages have toilets, Janet likes disco, and just because they advertise that they are an internet cafe doesn't necessarily mean they have internet access or coffee.

Well, I begin the 28 hour journey back to Memphis tomorrow. I look forward to seeing you all soon. God Bless!!

Eric