Encouragement

When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. — Acts 18:27

Encouragement – the act of giving someone support, confidence or hope.

We are so blessed and encouraged by you! The love, care, support, and hope we feel from the Lord that comes through your life enables us to endure. Whether it is a few words in an email, a card in the mail, prayer, or your faithful gift each month, God’s love through you keeps us going.

When the city water supply fails we can carry water from a fellow missionary’s home in barrels in our vehicle.

We traveled two hours on this dirt road to reach one Kunda chiefdom. A breakdown in this remote area could leave us stranded for days.

Skulls (one from a buffalo and one from a hippo), posted as a warning along the road, tell of danger as we travel through a very dry and hot region.

Some recent adventures we’ve had include extreme heat (we work where the hottest temperatures, 109 ºF,  have been recorded in Zambia), five days at home with no water (and still counting!), traveling 90 miles of dirt road on worn out shocks, sleeping outside in a tent with hyenas (and who knows what else!) nearby.

Each month your faithful gifts of support and special gifts come with much encouragement. The Book of Acts tells how the Apostle Paul and others like Apollos were encouraged by others on their missionary journeys. Encouragement allowed them to push forward, and when they arrived at their destination they could be of great help to those who were ready to believe in Jesus.

Everywhere we go, the Good News of Jesus has been welcomed. Thank you ALL for encouraging us and being such an important part of God’s work. Your prayers and support make missions possible!!

A recent trip enabled us to meet with the Malama Review Committee. The meeting started at 6:30 in the morning before the heat became unbearable.

People are happy to hold the Word of God in their own language for the first time.

Partners gave a gift of a generator to keep us going when the electricity fails. Power outages are common in Zambia (especially in the rainy season which is coming soon) and have lasted more than a week.

Ken and translator Morris Sasu hold an Interlinear Hebrew-Greek-English Bible that was sent by another dear partner.

Encourage your Pastor’s Family

Please remember also to encourage your pastor and his family. The Bible makes it clear:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, … acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. — 1 Thessalonians 5:11-13

The same encouragement that keeps your missionaries on the foreign field will greatly bless those who labor hard among you at home. Your pastor, his family, and all who serve over you need your encouragement!

With some friends at a church service.