Some Favorite Pictures from the Trip

This is a group that gathered along the road when our van overheated. Notice the scooter.

Fish for dinner?

The goats have arrived in port.

The 12-year old worship leader at the Galuja church. She led--they followed.

A Mozambique boy enjoying a sugar cane snack.

Some Final Reflections

It's now been two weeks since I returned home and people sometimes ask, "What is the one thing that stood out the most in Africa?" Not sure if there is one thing, but here are a couple of thoughts that have really stuck with me over the past two weeks.

First, I continue to be amazed at the African generosity and hospitality. In particular, when we were in Pemba we concluded our services with a time of Communion. Then they began to take an offering. We were going to contribute but Jake Shenk told us that something was different and to just wait before contributing. After they finished taking the offering they came and presented it to us. I was, and still feel, somewhat uncomfortable about it all. We had been sleeping on beds for two nights, they had slept on the ground. We flew into town, many of them walked for 15 or 20 kilometers. We make more money in a month than many of them will make in a life-time. But here they were giving money to us and being absolutely thrilled to do so. It made me think of the times in America when I've heard people say, "Why should I give--they have more than I do?" This joyful generosity is a lesson I want to remember.

Secondly, being out of the United States for two weeks makes you realize how small our world is. During this time I heard almost no news from here. As I flew back into Washington D.C. I thought about all the news stories that I would have heard if I had been home and all insignificant they really are. So much of what gets our attention, and often causes us to worry, really is insignificant. At the moment it may seem important, but it really is not. This trip gave me a resolve to be more relaxed and simply enjoy life. Our hyper American culture induces a lot of stress in us over things that are very insignificant.

Finally, I continue to remember the joy that radiated from their worship. They enjoy being together to worship. And I think of some specific leaders who are joyfully and sacrificially giving their all for the cause of Christ. My mind often went to the parable of Jesus in Matthew 13 about the man who found treasure in a field and then sold everything he had to buy that field. Jesus said that this is the passion with which we should pursue the kingdom of God. I saw people who are doing just that--and their lives are marked by a rich joy.

Again, thanks to all who supported this trip in so many ways! I am hoping to return to Africa someday with a team of people from Palmyra. My current hope is to make this visit (probably to Mozambique) happen in the summer of 2009. I will be sharing more pictures, hopefully some video, and detailed stories on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at Palmyra BIC @ 6:30 PM. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Postscript: Many have asked about my luggage. It arrived on my door last Saturday night. The biggest shame is that I only really wanted 2 books, a pair of shoes, and three shirts out of the suitcase. The rest was meant to stay in Africa.

Victoria Falls

On Wednesday, May 3rd, Corby, Jen, and I had the privilege of seeing Victoria Falls. We got up early and flew out of Macha on a Missionary Service plane at 8 AM. Prior to take-off, our friendly "travel agent" Kirtchen, drove his truck up and down the runway to ensure that all goats and cows were staying clear. About 20 miles from the Falls we began seeing the mist rising. Our pilot flew us over the Falls before we landed in the town of Livingstone. At the airport we met Sam, our guide for the day. He took us through a small game park (Animals sighted included elephants, impala, zebra, cape buffalo, girafe, monkeys, a baby crocodile, wildabeast, and bush buck.) and then to Victoria Falls. The Zambezi River recently crested at a 40-year high mark and was just roaring over the Falls. It was spectacular! I've seen Niagara Falls and this is just unspeakably more impressive. We put on rented ponchos and walked through "the mist." If you look at the picture above you see where the gorge cuts through into the mist. We walked across a small bridge there and it was like walking through a driving rainstorm. I now know what feels like for the guys on The Weather Channel to stand out on the beach at the beginning of a hurricane.

What makes Victoria Falls so impressive is that it is not only big--but it just suddenly appears out of nowhere. The vast African plane suddenly drops thousands of feet into a gorge. It's as if God finished creating the plane and then took his finger and made a zig-zag for the river. The heavens really do declare the glory of God and the earth proclaims his handiwork (Psalm 19:1).

Macha Hospital

Macha, Zambia is an amazing place. In the middle of the African bush there is a modern village that is literally bringing life to the Tonga people. At Macha there is a hospital, school, and the Malaria Research Institute. Satellite provides internet connection with the world, and the hospital provides wireless access to the village. (Yes, you can go to a mud hut with a grass-thatch roof and find a laptop computer connecting to the world.)

Compared to American hospitals, Macha is poorly equipped. Medicine is sometime limited, there are only two doctors for the entire hospital, and medical technology is very limited. We had the chance to meet two mothers who gave birth to pre-mature babies. (The mother in the picture is holding one of her triplets.) They have no incubators, or monitors, etc--yet if the babies are at least two pounds at birth, over 75% of them survive. When you first walk through the hospital it feels dirty. Family members just crowd into the rooms--sometimes sleeping on the floor under the bed of their loved one. You know that every day people die in this hospital. But in a unique way, this hospital feels more alive than some of our hospitals in America. The mortality rate is higher in Africa--but it feels less sterile and more relational. You are certainly not just a number on a chart at this hospital. There is no fighting with insurance--just a connecting with your family and a trust in your doctor. Please understand, I prefer the medical care and resources we have in the U.S.--but Macha hospital reminded me that relationships are always more important than always finding a cure to various sicknesses.

Finally, another amazing aspect of the Macha hospital is the work with HIV/AIDS. They are able to dispense free drugs that significantly prolong the life of those who are infected. Much of the funding is provided by President Bush's $15 billion AIDS Relief Initiative. (It was nice to see my tax dollars be put to good use!) The African culture tends to have a fatalistic "what-will-be-will-be" perspective and this kept many people from getting tested for AIDS. Obviously, this contributed to the ongoing spread of the disease. These life-prolonging drugs are challenging that perspective and now many people are coming to get tested. The result is that in the Macha area they have seen a decrease in the levels of infection.

In Jburg

Sitting here in Jburg during our six hour layover and just saw our plane arrive. Got our boarding passes and we should be home in about 22 hours. The last two days have been very good. Drs. John Spurrier and Phil Thuma gave us a tour of the Macha hospital and Maleria research center. Incredible work they are doing. Will post some pictures later..can't get my USB port to work on this airport computer. Then Tuesday I saw Victoria Falls. The missionary pilot flew us over the falls before landing in Livingstone...they really are incredible....can I say that it makes Niagara look small?? The Zambezi River reached it's highest level in 40 years this spring....this means the falls are just roaring. Walked through the "mist"....was like walking through a driving rain storm. Then we flew back to Lusaka and had an interesting night there. Be sure to check John's blog for some really cool graphics from Google Earth about what we've seen over these 3300 km in the past two weeks. It's been a great trip and I'd do it again..but I'm ready to get home:) Will post more pictures and reflections next week.

Macha and then Home

Well we are in the home stretch. It's been a great trip--but I'm really ready to see my family and church again. The last couple of days have been more relaxed. Read John's blog for more details...but we had a good time with the Miller family working with the Yao people. Really challenging environment. Then we spent most of two days traveling to Macha. Arrived in Macha after a great night at the MCC guesthouse in Lusaka (a very nice city). Today we are at the missionary retreat and then tomorrow morning Corby, Jen, and I are taking a missionary plane down to see Victoria Falls!! Then it's back to Lusaka and Thursday morning we start the long trip home..planning to touch down at Dulles at 6 AM on Friday.

The Internet Connection is slow...going to wait to post more pictures until I get home. I'll be sharing some at Palmyra BIC on Sunday morning. Then I'll post some more pictures and reflections next week on this blog. I'm grateful for this trip and for the good health we've experienced. Thanks for all of your prayers and for traveling along with us.

Malawi

It's 7:30 AM (Africa Time) and we are in Blantyre, Malawi at the Ginder's. It was great to relax with a warm shower, good bed, and some American food:) (It was the best carrot cake I've ever had! And this morning--bacon and eggs!!) Today we spend the morning with some Malawi Church leaders...then it is on to Mangochi to visit the Miller's. The next few days should be a little more relaxed. Malawi is a beautiful country. Some mountains and tea plantations (see picture at left) and the higher elevation makes the air very pleasant. Thanks for your prayers and interest. You can also learn more about the trip by checking out John's blog as well.

Youngson

One of the great joys of this trip has been the opportunity to meet Youngson. He is our interpreter and doing a fantastic job. His fluency in five languages really helps! Youngson is a missionary from the Malawi BIC helping to plant churches in Moz. He lives with his wife and daughter (pictured at left) in Beira, but travels a lot in the region. In July he will spend 6 weeks in the Pemba area helping to plant churches. You can see that he is highly respected by the youth and does a lot of discipleship teaching with them. People like Youngson are the way God extends his kingdom in Africa. They have plans to develop the church center in Beria to where it will include a clinic and a school. (I am really hopeful that my church can find a way to connect in the future and help with these plans.) If Africa is to stop the AIDS epidemic, it will take an army of Youngson's who teach the youth about the freedom found in Christ.

Galuja

We had an amazing experience on Tuesday in Guluja--about 3 hours from Beira. A very rural church--many of the children had never seen a white person. Received a welcome fit for kings--they served us goat and chicken! A few weeks ago during a storm a tree fell on their church. They hope to rebuild--but have very limited resources. We took an offering and raised about 10 percent of the cost for the tin roof. Included in the offering were pledges for one tin of nuts and one tin of maize. (Makes you reconsider how you define generosity!) They were very happy. The picture is of the regional pastor giving the money to the local church leaders.

TIA (This Is Africa)

Hi everyone. We are doing well. It's been a very busy schedule. The rest of the trip should be a little less demanding. Hopefully I'll have a little more time and internet access which will let me post more (including some pictures).

The luggage has not arrived. They say it will be sent back to the U.S.--but TIA. But I have more in my carry-on luggage than many of the people at the Galuja BIC have in their possession. I really have nothing to complain about!

Wednesday was a long day! 15 hours to go 600 miles (That's the same time it took to fly 8000 miles to JBurg!). We arrived at the Zambezi River ferry crossing at 11:45 only to discover that it is closed from 12 until 2! We were told that "the engines are tired and need a break!" But hey--TIA!

Today was a great day in Milange with a group of pastors. Then we drove to Blantyre, Malawi. Beautiful drive--mountains and tea farms! Malawi is much more developed than Mozambique.

That's all for now--thanks for your prayers. It's been a great trip so far!

Pemba

We made it to Pemba! Switched planes in Jberg within an hour. Our luggage didn't make it but it should arrive on Sunday. Weather is hot and humid, but Pemba is a beautiful town on the Indian Ocean. We were treated like kings with a very hospitable welcome. Tomorrow is the preaching through interpreter deal. Can't write more as we are on limited time at an Internet cafe. But thanks for your prayers. So far jet lag is not problem. Pray for the church here in Pemba.

When we have more time at a faster connection I'll try and post some pictures. Thanks for your prayers.

Change of Plans

We're still going to Africa but we'll be arriving 18 hours later than planned. Today we arrived at the Dulles airport and breezed through security. About 20 minutes before we were to begin boarding the plane we were told that the flight had been cancelled due to a mechanical problem. The captain did not feel comfortable flying the plane in it's current condition. Later, Greg Funk asked an airline employee about the problem and was told that it was a fuel leak. Better to arrive late than to never arrive! So for now we are in a hotel near the airport and will leave on Friday morning at 11 AM on another flight. This may change our Africa schedule and make it impossible to get to Pemba, Mozambique. If so, we'll just fly from Jburg to Beira, Mozambique and start the trip from there.

Thanks for all who are praying for us. I'll keep you updated when I get a chance after we arrive in Africa.

Here is John Brubaker, Corby and Jen Brubaker--patiently watching the luggage while we wait for a hotel voucher

Let the Packing Begin

Now it's really starting to hit--I'm leaving in two days! Today I finished my sermon for Mozambique. (I learned today that there will be two interpreters--one for Portuguese and one for an African language.) Undoubtedly there will be some last minute changes, but for the most part the human side of that task is done and all that's left is pray for God's Spirit to transcend the cultural and language barriers.

Tomorrow will be spent wrapping up a few details in the office and then packing. I was considering getting an Ipod for some of our long travel days. However I decided that I'd rather just take in as much of Africa as I possibly can--so the Ipod will wait.

I want to say "thanks" to all those who have been supporting me and my family in so many ways. I'll do my best to update this blog regularly so that you can "travel along." Beginning Friday, April 20 after 4 PM you'll be able to daily access our schedule for the next day by going to John Brubaker's blog. Until Africa, God bless you with a great day.

The Countdown

It's starting to seem real now that I've only got one week left until leaving for Africa. Today I learned that one of my assignments will be to speak twice in Mozambique for 60-90 minutes on the topic of salvation. Speaking through an interpreter will be a new experience for me. Even though I've given nearly 500 sermons in my life, this one has me a little nervous. But, I'll just pray and try to relax and see what God can do in spite of my human limitations.

I'm including here a map from Google Earth that will help you get a sense of where I'll be traveling. We begin in northern Mozambique (Pemba) and are there for a couple days. Then we fly to south-central Mozambique (Beira) for two days. From there we go overland up through Milange, then into Malawi up at least as far north as Lilongwe. The last leg of the trip goes west into Zambia through Lusaka and ends at Macha.

African Culture--What Little I've Been Told

It seems strange to write about African Culture when I've never experienced it. Nevertheless, I can share what I have been told. To begin with, I was told that anytime I speak in a seminar or church setting I need to wear a tie and preferably a coat. A veteran missionary said, "The coat and tie do not have to match, but you need to have one." Apparently this goes back to the British culture that was imported to Africa during the Colonial era. (British judges to this day still wear those fancy wigs.) My plan is to take an old sportcoat that I have not worn in years and then give it to one of the leaders in Africa before I return home. This veteran missionary also said that the handshake is very important--no "cold fish handshakes" allowed!

As for the food I'll be eating. Rice, rice, and more rice--along with some beans, corn, and maybe a little chicken. In some places I'm told that BBQ rat is a delicacy. That's one food choice I would rather not encounter!

They tell me that the weather should be pleasant. Mozambique will be hot as it is a low elevation right on the Indian Ocean. But Malawi and Zambia are on a high plateau which creates a dry, pleasant climate.

It's hard to believe I'll be in Africa in three weeks. My son asked me today if I'll go to Africa again:) I told him I don't know--for now I'm just excited about this trip and anxious to see how God uses it to touch and shape my heart.

My Itinerary

Here is a copy of the most recent Itinerary I've received. It's hard to believe that I'll be in Africa in just three weeks! If you have Google Earth, type in these cities and you can get some perspective as to where I'll be traveling. My boys thought that was great fun.

April 19 LV Dulles

20 AR Joburg, South Africa ~ overnight stay in Joburg

21 LV Joburg for Pemba, Mozambique

Meet Jake and Nancy Shenk, Youngson the interpreter

22 Pemba – Meeting and seminars with Mozambique church leaders

23 Return to Beira for meetings with land group

24 Day in Beira – Drive to Milanje at the Malawi border

25 Meetings in Milanje. Depart for Blantyre, Malawi.

26 Meetings in Blanytre visit Theological College

27 LV for Mangochi and visit the Yao mission work

28 Overnight in Lusaka, Zambia at the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) guesthouse. Brief meetings with MCC workers.

29 Drive to Macha Mission for Missionary Retreat

30 Retreat - and visit Macha Mission

May 1 Retreat – visit hospital and Malaria Research Centre

2 Retreat – visit secondary schools , church, etc.

3 Private plane to Lusaka from Macha Airport

LV Lusaka 14:35 – AR JNB 16:45

LV JNB 17:55

4 AR Dulles 6:00 a.m.

Mozambique Visa

I got my Mozambique Visa today. Greg Funk ran to Washington DC to the embassy in order to ensure that we received them before we left. Here is a copy of the letter from the Mozambique church leaders that Greg used with the government officials in order to get the visas approved quickly. Reading it will help you get a better sense of what we will be doing on the trip.

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What Will I Be Doing?

Why go to Africa? That is what my daughter is wondering! She can't figure out why I would leave my family for two weeks and not even be able to talk with her over the phone. (She is slowly coming to accept the trip--but you can still pray for her). I'm going on what is called a Pastor's Vision Trip. The purpose is to expose North American pastors to the mission and relief work in the 3rd World. I'll also have some teaching input at the African churches.

I'm still waiting for a finalized itinerary, but here is an outline of where I'll be traveling. We leave from Washington-Dulles airport on a direct flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. This is a 15-hour flight going over, and 18-hour flight coming back. After an overnight stay in Jburg, we fly to Pemba, Mozambique. Pemba is an Indian Ocean coastal town in the far northeast corner of the country. We've been told that the beaches there are some of the best in the world. Hopefully we'll get a chance to experience it! From there we fly to southern Mozambique to the town of Beira. On April 25th, we begin to experience the African roads. Traveling overland we will visit Milanje, Blantyre, and Mangochi. All of these cities are in Malawi. We then go west into Zambia and end our trip at a two day missionary retreat at the Macha mission near the city of Choma.

The places we are visiting have a rich history. This area is where much of the earliest Brethren in Christ mission work took place. It was also the region were the famous David Livingston spent much of his life. I am convinced that I will receive much more from this trip than I will ever contribute to our African friends. Since I have never been to Africa I know very little about the culture. But what little I have been told, I will share in my next post.

Thanks for the various ways that many of you have supported this upcoming trip. I know that many of you are praying and so I would like to give you three specific prayer requests. First, pray for my family as they are paying a price by not having a dad and husband around for two weeks. Second, pray for safety in travels. Third, pray that God would speak to me throughout this trip and that somehow he would use the opportunities I will have to encourage our African friends.

The "Big Ask"

This all began in January when I had lunch with my good friend, Greg Funk. (Greg is the pastor of the Manheim BIC Church and the father of our Youth Director, Kurt.) As we left my office on our way to enjoy the lunch buffet at New Chinatown Restaurant, Greg said to me, "I've got a big ask for you." We had a great lunch but no "big ask". I thought maybe I had missed it. When we pulled into the parking lot back at the church Greg said to me, "Well, here is the big ask." That was when he invited me to join him and John Brubaker (Director of BIC World Missions) on a two-week trip to Africa.

The decision was an easy one. My wonderful wife gladly supported me (as she always does) and I quickly agreed to go. It's interesting, when I was a teenager I had absolutely no desire to visit Africa. There was a song back then titled, Please Don't Send Me to Africa. It could have been my theme song. But over the last two years God has been stirring something in my heart for the needs of the 3rd World--and in particular--the needs in Africa. I'm increasingly convinced that if I am to be faithful in following the call of Christ on my life, I will need to do more to make a difference in this part of the world. God has a heart for the poor and in our modern world the poor in Africa are my neighbors that I must care for.

I'm really grateful for this opportunity and for the many ways that people are supporting me. The church leadership has been very affirming and I know that many are praying, giving, and some are even planning ways that they will encourage my family while I'm gone. My prayer is that God can somehow use me in Africa--but more than that, I pray that I'll hear what God wants me to hear while I'm in Africa.