Stories From the Field

Simwatachela Outreach

In our last village outreach we traveled again to the Simwatachela Kingdom. We set up a 500-seater tent to host meetings. We were able to build upon our previous visits and see more ground taken for the Kingdom of God. We sent seven teams out in different directions to minister hut to hut and invite families to large group evangelistic meetings each afternoon. My team hiked over 10km (6 miles) to distant mountains and got to share the gospel with families and individuals who few ever visit.

We came upon an elderly man (“mudala” in Tonga), Amos, who had lost his wife years prior and had no family to care for him. Aged and feeble would be an accurate description of his condition. He was at least 85 years old but couldn’t remember the exact year he was born. Five years ago, his house burned to the ground and since then he has been working hard to rebuild it. He has had to pay his neighbors to help him rebuild his homestead little by little with the money he earns each month ($12/month). I asked why no church has helped him and was told it was because his wife was accused of witchcraft, which is taboo in Zambian culture. I was mildly annoyed to see traditional beliefs tying the body of Christ’s hands, and after sharing with Amos how God loves him and would look after him, I was able to convince several pastors to volunteer to rebuild his homestead for free.

Our team also donated money to buy him one month’s worth of millie meal (corn based staple in the African diet), salt and soap. That afternoon he limped through the mountains on his walking stick for three hours to come hear the Word of God preached, only to arrive after the meeting had ended. I was sad to see him miss the meeting but was highly blessed to see his commitment to hear the Word of God. There are many vulnerable men and women like Amos all over Africa who live outside of the care of governments and most missionary efforts. Our calling at Overland Missions is to minister to people like him. We will continue to visit Amos as we minister in the Simwatachela Kingdom. Please pray for a Sector Management team to be raised up in this area and bring the gospel and humanitarian aid to these people.

Another team of two that went hiking that day was Marcos, from Brazil, and a local village headman (similar to a city counsel head). They left at 7am and did not return until after 5pm, after visiting eight villages. Marcos preached eight different times that day. He returned tired but thankful to be able to share with so many people. Marcos demonstrated the principle of being ready at any time to give an account for the hope that is in us as Christians. Marcos passed that test with flying colors that day!

Our team also saw a seven year old girl, Cece, (pictured above) who has been confined to a wheel chair since birth and is mentally slow. We met her in July during our first visit to Simwatachela. When we first met her she could not speak, had little mental function, didn’t sleep at night due to tantroms and didn’t even respond to her name. Her condition has improved dramatically as we have prayed for her. She is now able to sleep through the night without tantrums, her hair has turned from grey to black, she spoke her first words the other week, has use of her hands and she now recognizes us, can focus her eyes and smile at us! It was very encouraging to see her progress and I believe she will walk and speak of God’s full healing in her life.

Final AMT Outreach

The final AMT village outreach will be from November 13th-18th and the students will go alone. They will minister in eight villages and will have to implement all of the skills they have learned in three months. In that sense, it is their AMT “final exam”. Rachel and I believe they are ready and will come back having experienced God’s love and grace poured out upon themselves and the the villagers. Please pray for the students as they go and minister to these needy villages.