ambia MessQnqQrNews from Dean, Judy, and David Davis

[Z A

iFIELD ADDRESS: FORWARDING AGENTSrlP.O. Box 32184

Lusaka, ZambiaAfrica

Mr. and Mrs. Skip AllenP.O. Box 611King,NC 27021

"AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST" IN CENTRAL AFRICA. (II Corinthians 5:20)

Volume 23 April 1988 Number 1

SPEAKING HEART TO HEART ABOUT NEEDS IN

ZAMBIA

In the last issue of the ZAMBIA MESSENGER we told ofthe unlimited opportunities andthe tremendous need for more missionaries inZambia. We asked you to join with us in prayerfor at least 10 new families NOW. I want to

•repeat that request and emphasize its urgency.Just recently fellow missionary, Chris

Alexander and I went to Mongu to visit andoffer assistance to the church there. Mongu isthe provincial capital ofthe western province ofZambia and is located about 360 miles west ofLusaka. The area was opened for our churchesby Jim Davis in 1983 and the Imwiko churchwas established. It is the only one of ourchurches in the entire western province andevangelical work of any kind is sparse. SinceJanuary 1987 there has been no missionaryliving there and assistance to this infantchurch has been very limited.

As Chris and I had classes and discussionswith the leaders our hearts ached for them be

cause of their need for constant instruction and

guidance toward spiritual maturity, but withno one to provide it. We saw the need for morechurches being planted both in Mongu and surrounding areas. While we were there we beganpraying for two families to go to Mongu. Weencouraged the leaders of the Imwiko church topray for two families to come and assist them.

You may be asking why two families? Monguis a lonely and difficult place to live and work. Itwill require people of tremendous determination and spiritual strength. With two familiesthey could offer each other the support and encouragement needed under difficult circumstances. Also now that the area is open there ismore than enough work for two families in thewestern province.

There is a beautiful house ready to be occupied. There are Christians eager to learn andgrow. There are lost people needing someone totell them that God loves them and that Jesusdied for them. PRAY FOR TWO FAMILIESFOR MONGU.

NAIIONAl MISSIONARV COflVENriilN-1888September25-28

Dallas,Texas Convention Center

JUST ARRTVET)!!

Ffthruary 20, 1988David Allftn Davis

son ofJim & Cindy Davis

brother of |Michael Dean Davis ^

Graridsoo of >Dean & Judy Davis

LOOKING FORA PROJECT?

Quite often people ask us what they can do asa project to help us or the Zambian churches.The following projects have come to mindrecently.

1. Does your church have old choir robes thatare no longer used? If so we have choirswho would put them to good use bringingpraise to God. Pack them up and sendthem to us.

2. We are needing a supply of disposablf^plastic communion cups. The churches usethem over and over until they wear out andneed to be replaced. We try to keep all ourchurches supplied with these, but oursupply is almost gone.

Send the above items to Zambia ChristianMission, P.O. Box 32184, Lusaka, Zambia.

VALENTINEBANQUET

"Focus On The Family" was our theme atBerean for the month ofFebruary so we decidedto have a Valentine banquet for all the married

and engaged couples. I wasn't sure how manymight turn up so I asked for reservations inadvance. Red construction paper hearts madethe tickets, with each person getting half aheart with his wife/fiancee getting the other.No one was allowed with only half a heart. Itold everyone it had to be "whole hearted!"Several women whose husbands don't come to

church wanted to come, and I told them everyone could come who could bring their partner.Some managed to persuade their partners tojoin them for the banquet, and all really enjoyed themselves. Chris Alexander spoke to usabout "Communication," followed by aquestion and answer session. Several young

'^people said they tried to get engaged the weekbefore the deadline for the reservations weremade, but none succeeded! It was a light-hearted evening with fun and fellowship.Husbands and wives were both able to hearwhat Chris had to say on communication. Alltoo often, it's only the women who hearmessages on marriage enrichment. We had atotal of 22 and no one wants to wait until next

year to have another. And all the single peoplein the church are asking for a banquet for them,so I'll have to come up with something in thefuture for all of them. Thanks for praying forour married couples. A year ago, we had veryfew, and we can see God at work in bringingmore and more families to Berean.

DAVID'S CORNER

David

Things have been moving quite fast for methis term. I have now received my first degreeblack belt in Shotokan Karate. I was thrilledafter having trained so many years for it. I planto continue in Shotokan and move on upthrough the various dans (levels) ofblack belt. Ihave also been offered a job teaching Karate atthe American Embassy School here in Lusaka.I will be starting next week and look forward tothis experience.

School is going fine this term. We just had ourmid-year exams and I did fairly well in most allof my subjects.

Well that's all the news from my corner.

Reaching one's twenty-first birthday is amilestone in the lives of most people I know. Itbrings privileges and responsibility; relief formany at being "out from under Mom and Dad'srules," fear for others at being on their own. TheBritish make it a very festive occasion. Havingone's "2rst" always means a party or celebration of some kind or another. No one wants tomiss a "coming-of-age party." Birthday cardswith the big numerals "21st" are very popular.Whether in England or America, reaching 21 isimportant for any young person. All of life upto this time has been the preparation for one tostep out—legally an adult—ready for adultdecisions and responsibilities.

Last month I told you we had completed 20years in Zambia, and we are quickly rushingtowards that 21st birthday. But every day we'rehere, it seems that we learn something new,something no one had ever told us before. InZambia, for the most part, we only learn as

things happen. You don't study a book, take anexam, pass the course, and suddenly know allyou're supposed to know about the subject.

In December and January, two of our churchfamilies had new babies bom. One died the dayafter birth, the other died after two weeks. Thefirst baby died on Christmas Eve, and we didn'tfind out until Sunday at Church. The fathertold us what had happened and we were veryupset that he hadn't told us before. He said theburial had taken place the same day. Thatafternoon I took a group of women and we wentto see the mother. On the way to her house, oneof the ladies explained their custom concerningthe death of a newborn. A newborn, sheexplained, isn't considered a real person. Infact, it's usually after a child cuts the first tooththat they are considered a person. When onedies before that time, no funeral is held, andonly a few older relatives go to the burial. Mendon't attend or even offer condolences in mostinstances. No one is allowed to wail (a customfollowed by all Zambians) and only the mothercan cry, but then only silently. The occasion ismostly ignored by everyone, which is why wewere not notified and asked to take part in thefuneral. In all our time in Zambia, this is thefirst time we have ever had a newborn baby die,at least that we know about. No one had evertold us about this custom before, because wehad never needed to know. Then I felt uncomfortable about what we should do when wearrived. Josephine was staying at an uncle's

house, as her own parents were both dead, andhe was looking after her. My "informant" saidthat it was all right for us to go and visit her aswe were all Christians, and the family wouldnot be offended that we wanted to come andpray with her.

When we arrived, no one was very sad. Therewere several people there, the house was alldecorated for Christmas (it was the 26th) andthey were still sitting around the table, havingjust finished lunch. Josephine was upstairs inbed and someone went to get her for us. Whenshe came down, she was weeping silently. Buteveryone else at the house just ignored her. Ihave never felt so helpless. She was obviouslyin deep grief. This was her first baby. I finall^^went over and sat on the floor beside her, tooKher hand, and expressed our love and concern,and then prayed with her. One by one the otherladies with me did the same. Then I asked heruncle if we could sing a chorus, and he said yes.After singing we had prayer, and then left.

Sometimes I feel as if we are still infants inZambia. Although we will never leam all thecustoms in this society, we continue to learnevery day. And even though we have nearlyreached our 21st, we have to depend on God toguide us through to a better understanding ofthe Zambian people. Proverbs says to trust inthe Lord, and not our own understanding.Thank you for your faithful prayers, and we askfor your continued prayers as we live and learnin Zambia.

Before you move, please send the mailing label with a copy of your new address toMISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION, P.O. Box 2427, Knoxville, IN 37901-2427

Mission Services

PO Box 2427Knoxville. TN 37901-2427

AOOAffSS COHnCTIOM MQUtSTgO

Non Profit Ori,

U.S. PostagePAID

Knoxville, TN

37301-2427

Permit 4374

ambia MQSSQnqerNews from Dean, Judy, and David Davis

FIELD ADDRESS: FORWARDING AGENTS:P.O. Box 32184 Mr. and Mrs. Skip Allen

P.O. Box 611Kmg,NC 27021

Lusaka, ZambiaAfrica

"AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST" IN CENTRAL AFRICA. (II Corinthians 5:20)

Volume 23 October 1988 Number 2

LETTER OF NO RETURN

(The following letter was sentto allofour supporting churches andnow we share it with alloftheZAMBIA MESSENGER readers.)

Dear Christian Friends: , . r- i i r xuGreetingsfromZambiain the name ofourSaviour. We are praying that this findsyourworktor the

Lord progressing in a way that is pleasing both to you and Him. ri.wrr,r^T^-K-rWhenwe return to the States in July 1989wewillhave beenwith ZAMBIA CHRISTIANMISSION

23 years. They havebeen happyand fruitful years. God has blessed usfarbeyond anythingwe could/^iever have expected. Some of the very first people to become Christians after we arrived are still

faithful to the Lord and are dear friends to this day. And through the years wehave become "closerthan a brother"with many ofthe ZambianChristians. The love wehavefor themis a bondthat willbe shared throughout eternity. , . r ,i

We are writing this letter to inform you of our decision not to return to Zambia following ourfurlough in '89-'90. You havefaithfully supported us with your prayers andfinancial gifts throughmore than 20 yearsand we wantyou tobeamong thefirst to know ofourdecision. Thishasnotbeenan easydecision oronehastilymade. We beganfeeling duringourlast furlough that we were abouttofinish what Godhad called us to Zambia to do. Not that there is nothing more to do. Our hearts stillache for the many people who do not yet know our Lord. The country is wide open for plantingchurches, and leadership training that will bring those churches to maturity. We are prayingdiligently (andaskingyou to pray) for at least ten more families to come and takeupthetask here.But wefeel that Godhas other plans forourlives,soweare nowmaking final a decisionthat has comeafter much soul searching and prayer. Leaving what has become home to us, and these we havegrown to love so dearly, will not be easy.

We do not know where the Lord is leading us. However, because of our constant interest andconcern for missions we are praying that we can be used in a significant way to further worldevangelism. We are waiting uponthe Lordto showus in His own good timehowHewants touseus.

We would like to ask you, our faithful co-laborers, to do four things:1) Please pray with us for God's direction to the area of service where we can be best used by Him.2) Please continue your prayers and support for us and the work here during the next year as we

bring this phase of our ministry to a close.3) Please keep the option open for a continuing relationship and support should the Lord direct

into another area of mission work.4) Please WRITE US NOW if your church would like for us to report on the work in Zambia

and/or participate in your Mission Emphasis, Faith Promise Program, or Revival duringour furlough.

We will be available from the first of September 1989 and would like to begin working on ouritinerary for reporting to all of our supporting churches as soon as possible.

Thank you for being our friends. Thank you for your constant love and concern for us and the workin which we have been involved. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your sacrificial gifts.Thank you for your involvement in world evangelism. May God richly bless and use you in Hismighty Kingdom.

Yours For World Evangelism,Dean and Judy Davis

JOHNSON BIBLE COLLEGE "DECLARATION" IN ZAMBIA

July 26, 1988 we met a British Airwaysplane at Lusaka International Airport topick up Wilbur and Linda Reid, Dr. JillAllen and six of the finest young people ithas been our pleasure to be with. Thisgroup was arriving from Poland wherethey had been ministering to churchesand Christian camps behind the ironcurtain. Wilbur is Director of PublicRelations, Linda is Secretary in AlumniAffairs and Dr. Allen is the Professor ofMusic at Johnson Bible College. The••DECLARATION" was made up of sixpersonable, talented, enthusiasticstudents who inspired and encouraged allwho heard them.

During their 14 days in Zambia theysang, preached and gave their testimonyfor Christ in eight churches, held a three-day youth revival, appeared on nationalradio and television and held a publicconcert. They also got to do someshopping, see some wild animals and visitVictoria Falls. Then we spent three daysin Harare, Zimbabwe where this group ledin the preaching and singing at theSouthern Africa Missionary Retreat.There were tears in our eyes as theyboarded the plane for London the night of

August 11. We had been encouraged, we hadlaughed, we had been strengthened in our faith, wehad been challenged and we had been ministered to.Thank you, Wilbur, Linda, Jill and the "DECLARATION" for a time that will long be remembered andcherished. We love all of you.

THE DECLARATIONLori Snyder, Danny Harp, Cindy Berry, Dina Bonomu.'l'imMcBride and Angela Branigin.

DAVID'S CORNER

Things here are going really well. I've juststarted my senior year of high school. I'vereally been looking forward to it. There's a lotof work but it looks like it will be a pretty funyear.

I've been doing a lot of track and field andhave had quite a successful session. At theInternational School of Lusaka I now hold thehigh jump, 100 meter and 200 meter records. Ialso entered the Lusaka junior athleticscompetition and took first in high jump, andthird in both the 100 and 200 meter sprints. It

,^^as a lot offun to seehow I compared to otherKids around my age group.

Karate's also been going well. I'm trying toearn a second black belt in a style calledSeidokan. I have to master several weapons,and fighting techniques before I do, though. Iam also hoping to compete in a junior Karatecompetition in Bophuthalswana this montii.

Well that's about it from here, till next time.Bye.

Jung'sJune through August were exciting and busy

months for all of us, and Dean has already toldyou about some ofour visitors (and I agree 100%with everything he has already said) butspeaking personally, June was tops! On May•il we were at the airport bright and early to.iieet our daughter, Cyndee, and grandchildren,Joshua and Shandyn. With them was DawnHoling, granddaughter ol' Cliarlie and MarieHathaway (the Hathaways were herein 1986 tohelp build the Sunday School classrooms atBerean Church of Christ -- see December 1986issue of ZAMBIA MESSPINGER). They werehere for three and a half weeks, but the timewent by so fast it seemed as if we picked themup one day and took them back to the airportthe next. Joshua and Shandyn had awonderful time. Joshua seemed to think thatLovemore, who works for us, was just aboutthegreatest friend he has ever had. One day whenhe woke up from his nap he was inconsolablebecause Lovemore had gone while he wassleeping and he hadn't gotten to tell him

David and Cyndee

goodbye. Only continual assurances from all ofus that Lovemore would be back the next daybrought any comfort.

Most of you who have been receiving ournewsletter for many years remember that whenJoshua was horn, he was our first grandchildand the Zambians all said he was Dean's first"walking stick." Grandchildren are very muchloved in the African society so everyone herewas happy to meet our two American ones.

Judy with Joshua and Shandyn

When Jim and Cindy were still living in Zambia, the church was always thrilled when theywere with us in church so they could all seeMichael •• who everyone says looks like Deananyway. With every grandchild, our staturehas increased in the eyes of our Zambianbrothers and sisters. I have only one "walkingstick" since we only have one granddaughter,Shandyn. But she is a delight and I am soproud of her. She is the only one whose actual"birth" I was present for, I was able to be withher on her first birthday (just a few days beforemy back surgery last summer) and shecelebrated her second birthday here in Zambia.With David's birth last F'ebruary, Dean gainedhis third "walking stick" so I will have to wait

David and Michael

awhile for any more. But no grandparentscould be any prouder of their grandchildrenthan we are (I bet you couldn't tell that fromreading my articles lately!). The book ofProverbs says, "children's children are a crownto the aged ..." and here are our four "crowns."

Dean with Joshua and Shandyn

THANK YOU

We want to THANK all of you whoresponded to the appeal for communioncups. We have received enough cups tosupply all of our churches in the Lusakaand Mumbwa areas for some time tocome. The Zambian Christians aregrateful for your concern and generositywhich prompted these gifts. THANKYOU VERY MUCH.

Belurt' you move please senO Ihe mailing laDel Delow along Wilh a copy ul youi new adOiesMISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION PC Boi 2427 Kno.villtf TN 37901-2427

Mission Services

PO Box 2427

Knoxvllle. TN 37901-2427

AODMSS COft/HCTIOM HtQUiSTiO

L. D. DAVIS ^ ^ -/-ZAMBIA CHIIISTIAN MISSION , _ ,

P.O. BOX 321#4 LSILUSAKA. ZAMBIA

THINKING ON MISSIONS

Text; "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in

heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and

make disciples of ail nations, baptizing them in the name of the

father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to

obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I wiil be

with you always, to the very end of the age. "(Malt. 28:18-20)

What do you think about when you think of MISSIONS? The great

commission? A banner streached across the front of the church proclaiming

the theme of your missions fair? Some long winded missionary who went on

and on and on? Or do you picture in your mind people in a foreign land of

different color, different language, culture and dress? Or do your thoughts

turn to the dear old saint in the church who has pushed and encouraged

(sometimes against great opposition) for prayer and support in behalf of

those carrying the message around the world? Is your mind flooded with

thoughts of a friend or relative who has given his or her life for service in a

foreign land. Or do you think of missions as an intrusion in your church

program? What are your first thoughts when you think of MISSIONS?

Missions is not an imposition upon the church but belongs to her

nature like grapes are natural on the vine. Missions flows from the very

inner character, design and calling of the church we find in the New

Testament. When I think of missions I think of four words.

SENDI God's plan for the expansion and outreach of His people is

sending. When He started his chosen nation "The Lord said of Abram,

Leave your country, your people and your father 's household and

go to the land / will show you. I will make you into a great nation

and I wjJJ bless you: I will make your name great, and you will be

a blessing. (Gen. 12:1-2) After Isaiah's convicting experience he "heard

the voice of the Lord saying. Whom shaii i send? And who wiii go

for us?' And I said, ifere am f. Send me!' ife said, 'Go and teii

this peopie '." (Isaiah 6:6-9) "The word of the Lord came to Jonah...

Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its

wickedness has come up before me '." (Jonah 1:1-2) Each time God

wanted to reach out and expand His witness He sent someone.

God's plan, from the time sin destroyed man's relationship with

Himself, was to redeem mankind and save them for eternity. And "when

the time had fuiiy come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born

under the iaw, to redeem those under the iaw, that we might

receive the fuii rights of sons." (Galatians 4:4) Jesus came into the

world to seek and save the lost, but it is interesting that in His prayer

recorded in John 17 that he specificly said "i am not praying for the

worid, but for those you have given me..." (verse 9) Does it mean that

Jesus wasn't interested in the "world"? Why wouldn't he pray for the lost

for whom He had such a burden and for whom He was soon to die? The

explanation is in verse 18 when He says, "As you sent me into the

worid, I have sent them into the worid." Jesus didn't ask us to pray

for a lost world...He sends us to that world with His message of

salvation! Praying for the lost will never save them if they have not heard

the message of His love so they can believe and respond to that love. This

explains the last command of our Lord sending His followers to "go and make

disciples of all nations". And as the Antioch church in Acts 13 sent Barnabas

and Paul to "proclaim the word of God" so every assembly of believers today

is challenged to send out those who will tell the good news around the world.

-z-

LOST! The apostle Paul reminds the Ephesians that before becoming

Christians they "were separate from Christ without hope and without God

in the world". (Eph. 2:12) It seems that the iosl word of the church is lost.

Have we been Christians and members of the church so long we have

forgotten what it means to be lost? Have we forgotten how serious it is to

be separated from God with no hope, drifting in a meaningless, purposless,

sinful, selfish life? If people without Christ are not lost and can be saved

without His death, then what He did on the cross was a foolish exercise that

should never have happened. But, the Bible tells us over and over again that

those without Christ are lost. How concerned are you for those who are lost?

Your relatives? Your friends and work mates? And the countless millions

living under the dominion of Satan in fear, superstition and hate? Are you

concerned that they will be forever separated from God and everything that

is good? Paul was so concerned about the lost Jews that he said " / have

great sorrow and unceasing anguish in wy heart. For I couid wish

that I myseif were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of

my brothers, those of my own race, the peopie of Israei ". (Romans

9:2-3) What would we be willing to give up if by so doing someone could be

saved? God sent Jesus to seek and save what was lost. Jesus sends us to tell

His love to the lost.

NOW I The third word I think of when I think of Missions is now.

Paul told the Corinthians "I teii you, now is the time of God's favor,

now is the day of saivation ". (II Corinthians 6:2) We often quote this

passage to people who are hesitant about making a committment to Christ

and it is certainly applicable to them. However, it also applies to the millions

in this world who are dying with out the knowledge of Christ and His

salvaiton. Right now an old man without Jesus is dying in a grass hut in

-5-

rural Zambia. Right nos?: young peopie without Jesus are dying in America's

cities of drug overdose. Right now people without Jesus are starving to

death in drought stricken areas of the world. On and on we could go. They

are lost now! Now is the only time they have and if we don't reach them

with Christ now it will be too late.

Now is the time the resources are available. More Christian people

without jobs who could go. More money per capita in the U. S. A. than ever

before. We have greater access to speedy travel and methods of

communication than ever before. Robert Moffat, the great pioneer

missionary, once said "We shall have all eternity in which to celebrate our

victories, but we have only one short hour in which to win them". I recall a

man excitedly coming up to me at a National Missionary Convention saying

that he and his wife had decided they would like to go to the mission field. I

began telling him about ail the work that needed to be done in Zambia and

opportunities for service there when he interupted me to say that they

wanted to get their kids through school first. When I asked their ages he

said they were two and four. The lost to whom Jesus is sending us need the

message now. They don't have time to wait until we have done everything

we want to do. Jesus indicates that we are working under a time limit. He

said "... we must do the work ofhim who sent me. Night is coming,

when no one can work(John 9:4) When the last grain of sand has fallen

through the hour-glass of time and we break through the spirit barrier into

eternity IT WILL NOT MATTER THEN how much rest you had on the

weekend; how many meals you consumed; how good your job was; how big

your pay check was; how nice the house and furniture were; what kind of

car your drove; who won or lost the ball game, all that will matter then is

whether WE DID "THE WORK OF HIM WHO SENT US". "Now is the day of

salvation."

PR^ENCE! Jesus said "And surley I will be with you always,

to the very end of the ageWe are not asked to do the task of world

evangelism by ourselves. The blessing for doing His work of discipling the

nations is his continued presence. I believe this promise is conditional on

whether we are obeying the command that proceeds it. I often wonder if

the reason some churches are not growing and experiencing His blessings is

that they have little or no interest in reaching beyond themselves with the

gospel message of salvation.

One thing I know for sure from experience is that He who calls and

sends also assumes full responsibility for His servants who go. He supplies

every need, physical, emotional, spiritual. He protects and preserves His

ambassadors in every danger and through every difficulty. In our years in

Zambia we have experienced life threating situations, heartache and

dissapointments. But it was during those times that we were most keenly

aware of His presence with us.

What do you think when you think missions? All of us have been sent

to the lost. Now is the time to respond and experience His Presence as you

reach out for Him. The big question God is asking is "Whom shall I send and

who will go for us?" Will it be you?

A WOMAN'S TOUCH

When I was a little girl, I often visited my cousins on their farm justa few miles from town. They were actually second cousins, several yearsolder than I, but with a far more exciting life, at least in my eyes. Theirfarm was about twelve miles from the "square" ( didn't all mid-westerntowns and even cities have the "square"?) and I loved going out there in thesummer and getting a taste of the country life. My mother and father letme visit often, and it seemed as if it were a million miles from my house.It seems like I stayed with them for months, but looking back on it now, Iknow that two weeks was the longest I ever stayed. Everyone had to workon the farm, and jobs that I hated to do at home were finished in recordtime so that I could be free to ride the horse or play in the corn crib. Ieven felt more grown up there, maybe because everyone else was olderthat I but treated me as if I were just the same. The pleasant memoriesof those few summers have remained with me, yet I know if I went backnow I would be surprised at how close to town that farm really was, andthat shopping centers and malls have taken the place of the "square". Andwhat to me was a fun-filled summer, was a summer of backbreaking workfor my uncle, aunt and cousins. As children we don't always see realitywith the same eyes as our parents and adult friends and relatives. As Paulput it, "when I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, Ithought as a child." Now as an adult, I wonder at the impression I make onthe children with whom I come in contact.

ACanadian friend of mine came to Zambia two years ago with herhusband and son to establish the YMCA in Lusaka. They are on loan fromthe Canadian headquarters of the Y. They like working overseas, and if itweren't for the education of their teen-age son would probably stay longerthan their three year contract. Karen was especially happy to come toZambia. I asked her one day why they had accepted a post in Zambia, as itis usually hard to get a family with school-age children to come. She saidshe had wanted to come to Zambia as long as she could remember. I musthave looked a little skeptical because she quickly went on to tell me abouta close friend of her mother's who was a missionary in Zambia and spentmany years here before her retirement. "As long as I can remember, I havewanted to come here because everytime she came back to Canada onfurlough she spent time at our house and I would listen for hours to hertelling about her life in Zambia. She made it so exciting and real thatwhen the opportunity came along for us to come to Zambia, it was thefulfillment of a life-long ambition."

As I listened to Karen telling about her missionary friend, I wonderedabout the children who have listened to me talk about Zambia Have I madeit seem exciting and real, a place where they would like to come, or have Ibeen discouraging and talked only about the problems and shortages, thedisappointments and frustrations that one may face on the mission field. !know that when we are on furlough, so many of our dear friends and loyalsupporters make comments such as" you have to give up so much!", or" Iknow you have to make so many sacrifices." While we are always quick topoint out that we really haven't sacrificed anything at all, there is alwaysa small suspicion in the back of my mind that maybe we missionaries haveleft the wrong impression and that many of you do think we have left thegood life behind when we board that jumbo jet that ends our furlough andtakes us back to the land of "over there". Is it because we head for the

nearest fast-food restaurant or spend two hours agonizing over whichbrand of dish-washing liquid to buy when we first come back from "overthere"? Or perhaps because many of you have noticed the tears slidingdown our cheeks when we stand to sing the doxology in English,accompanied by the organ and piano( in tune, yet!) for the first time inthree or four years. Maybe its because a precious grandchild holds outlittle arms to hug tightly and say, "I missed you, granny." as we step offthe plane for a long-awaited furlough.

We do miss these things, and chocolate chips too. But we wouldprobably take most of them for granted if we had them all the time. Wehonestly don't feel that life on the mission field is a sacrifice. There arethings we leave behind, things we wish we had, family and friends wewould like to see often, but no doubt we would feel like that even if welived next door to you. And as an adult, even though we may yearn for thethings we have left behind, we know that the blessings we have receivedfrom 6od far outweigh all else.

And there are things that we have had to give up, choices that havebeen made that we would not have had to make if we lived in the U. 5. At

times we wonder if we made the right decision. Probably no twomissionaries think exactly the same on any given issue. I'm sure thoughthat if you ask any of them what is the most difficult choice to make, itwould probably be that of what to do about the education of missionarychildren. Just yesterday we were talking to a former missionary toZambia who has gone to another field, primarily because of the educationof his children. In Zambia, there is no adequate secondary educationcomparable to that of a U.S. high school. His statement was, "probably theonly thing we could possibly consider as a sacrifice is the education of ourchildren...". This remains a constant concern of missionary parents. Somefamilies are able to educate their children in the country where theyserve, others have to send them to boarding school, while others use

correspondence. Still others return to the States until their childrenfinish their education. Not one of these answers is right for everyindividual. Some children adjust very well to boarding school, andrecommend it highly. Others fail. Some children are able to adjust to ahigh school which uses a different system of education and grading andmanage to do fine. Others can't. Some children love correspondence andhave the discipline it takes to make it work. Some don't. Even children inthe same family can't always do the same thing. But God does have ananswer for every family. We just have to be willing to accept that answerand trust Him for working it out for the good of all concerned.

Several years ago in trying to be as objective as possible in writingto a new mission family, 1decided to make a list of all the positive andnegative aspects of life on the mission field. While being objective wasmy intention, it was still my own opinion. In all honesty, I could only findone area where I felt it was really a sacrifice to be here. And that wasthe education of our children. And if I were to write the same list today,I would still see it the same way. We still have one child in school, and Istill ask myself if we have made the right choice for him. In this area,perhaps I am still thinking "as a child", yet trusting God to show us Hisanswer, and accepting it for the good of all of us.

Life on the mission field can be difficult. Life in Tennessess, Texas,Illinois, or Timbuctoo can be difficult. And life can be rewarding whereever we are, what ever we do. I want the children who may hear me talkabout Zambia want to see it. I want the children who may hear me talkabout God want to see Him. I want the children that I may influence towant God in their life, whether it be in Africa, Europe, United States or onthe moon should they happen to go there someday. I want to uplift God, inZambia, or where ever he wants me to be. I want to love as He loves.

Twenty-one years ago when we first arrived in Zambia, I felt veryalone and frightened. I wrote down a prayer asking God to give me a lovefor the Zambian people. Oh how he has answered that prayer! We haveloved ones here in Zambia who have become so dear to us it seems

impossible that we are not related by physical birth. We have seenchurches started, struggle to grow, and then almost overnight it seems,outgrow their buildings. We have been blessed by being in Zambia. We seeGod at work in the lives of men, women and children, and we see thosesame people using their lives for God. We have seen answers to prayer,sometimes even when we doubted. We have seen good come from bad,blessings out of situations that could destroy lives. We have seen God atwork in our lives in Zambia. And we praise Him for it all.