The Crusades

[ Tuesday June 23rd ]

Our Zambian Safari
Our team got a chance to go on a safari, and just about everyone on our team hasn’t ever been on one. Let’s just say it completely floored our team! Our venture to the Safari plains started early, 5:30 early, as we loaded tiredly into a typical safari vehicle. We rushed across Livingstone unexpectant to the brisk and chilly air that dusk provides. We picked up two other women from another hotel to make our vehicle packed. Then we boarded the plains of our safari! We drove across a long strip of land that was parallel to the Zambezi river. We looked like the typical tourist as we held our cameras in our hands and our expectant looks on our faces as we bumped across the land. We got to see a lot of exotic animals and were stoked when we found a new one to add to our photo collection. There are only herbivores on the safari we went on unfortunately, so there were no cats. Our collection consists of Hippos, Monkeys, Ibex, Buffalo, Zebra, random birds, a wild Carter, Giraffes, Big Lizards, and other various animals. It was absolutely awesome to be able to drive around and enjoy God’s creation and was just the fill of adrenaline I needed in the morning! Side story: Every time we found a cool animal we would have to stay on the vehicle so we would stand up on the sides of it to take some sweet pictures. There is a tarp above our heads. Carter had a wild idea to sit on top of it. Our team hears a huge ripping sound as Carters butt came screaming through the tarp. After immense laughter we stopped for tea and biscuits ending our awesome safari adventure! It was quite the ride!



Biding Exhaustion
After the safari we visited a local market to do some shopping for home. Local tribes carve out local wood and Victoria Falls rocks to make really awesome carvings. They then sell them to tourists to make some money to provide for their tribe. It was awesome to see them actually cut and carve the stone or rock into a piece of art. They all have various skills in different areas but all in all it was amazing. Right when we entered the market our number of friends bolstered! It was a fight for our attention so that they would lure us into their shops. They scream, “My Friend! My Friend! Looking is Free!” Some of the team went into bartering mode while others really had a hard time saying no or demanding a more actual price. After about six shops it get exhausting explaining that you don’t want something or you do not have enough money. But it was a fun experience.

Crocs
After making friends we went to a lizard farm. We got to hold big snakes, small snakes, small crocs and touch the biggest croc on the farm. It was massive and could easily kill us. We offered the guy some money if he could let us touch it from behind and normally he wouldn’t but today he seemed willing to lose his job and let us try! It was so awesome! The thing is MASSIVE! And the whole team got to pinch the tail of a crocodile.



[ Wednesday June 24th ]

Zambian Time
Light of Life put on a seminar for us to teach the church and had it planned for quite some time. They told us that it would start at 9 and in all actuality it started at 12. It is extremely hard for our team to adapt to this. We have come prepared and yet our time isn’t being used proficiently. We are adjusting but the planning on Light of Life isn’t what they are promising it to be and can be very frustrating for the team and especially Kennedy. We are learning and they are learning so God is good.

You Are Traveling in the Right Way
At the service a woman felt lead to sing a song that she made for us. It was about how we have been traveling in the right way and sung it very beautifully. She was thanking us for traveling with God in our hearts and it was a huge blessing to us and a confirmation to what we are doing here.

[ Thursday June 25th ]

Accidental Necessary Relaxation
Due to more Zambian time incidences we decided to use our time to rest and relax from preparing sermons and just enjoy each other. So we found a place by the Zambezi river and kick the soccer ball around, rest, we got some time to do devotions, wrestle, fish, and enjoy the sunset before our time at the Crusades.



The Crusades (part 1)
Our main event with Light of Life is what they are calling the Crusades. Besides the bad name it is a really cool event for us to use our publicity for bringing people to Christ. Our first encounter with the event is the thousands of papers posted around town with our faces on them (see picture below). This is how they planned on raising awareness and from then on we were known by name in Zambia. We arrive on time in Zambia (which is 3 hours late in American time) to a small market where the event was being held. There were about 150 people in the crowd singing along with the music. It was very rally-esk in nature and was completely raw. This whole event was put together to bring people to the Lord. Bret was our speaker for tonight and gave a great sermon then Pastor Jack took us home asking those who want to accept God has their own personal savior. Dozens came up and accepted Jesus into their lives and the heavens praised! We welcomed the new believers into the family as we praised later into the night! This is an awesome event and God is doing some pretty sweet stuff!



[ Friday June 26th ]

Livingstone Orphans
This morning we got to hang out with the orphans in Light of Life church and speak to them and give them the rest of our clothing. We gave them wristbands and took their pictures to be able to send all for all of those who have supported them by buying two bracelets as a reminder to pray for us and the orphans. That is exciting aswell.

The Crusades (part 2)
The second night of the Crusades had me as the speaker. It was a very good experience for me. I felt lead to speak during the Crusades and to give an alter call (which I have never done and was kind of intimidated by). I got pretty nervous the closer we drove to the market. Yet despite my nervousness, I felt that I was sent to give this message at this time to these people, so I was really excited. My excitement fairly outweighed my anxiety. When we arrived we danced and singed through a song for 25 minutes. Then we got introduced by Pastor Jack. One by one we got up on the small stage out looking roughly around 230 people. Then Kennedy explained our story and how we got to be where we are today and then asked the team to leave so he could introduce the speaker (me). Then I silently prayed to God giving the message to him and asked that hew would simply use me. As the team was leaving they left me alone with Kennedy, the mic, and hundreds of hidden Africans staring at me in the night. I opened my message with a prayer and then introduced them to the cheesy American greet and hug. After hugging and introducing I gave the message God had for them. The Holy Spirit did his job and used my passage on trials then moved it along to one about salvation. (I used the following verses; they helped me in trials and will help in bringing someone to Christ as well)

James 1:2
I Corinthians 10:13
Hebrews 12:10-11
James 1:3
James 1:4
Hebrews 12:5-6
Romans 5:1-5
Matthew 7:13-14
Romans 10:9-13

After the message posing the question on what road to you tread? One towards life or destruction? I asked the Light of Life leaders and our team to come to the front so that they would be able to pray for those who would want to accept Jesus as their personal savior. So I then asked the question I have never asked a large group of people before. Do you want to accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior? If so come to the front. Complete silence swept the onlookers as my team scanned the area for anyone to join the family. I looked to the translator in slight confusion hoping that it was just a translation issue. But it wasn’t. I felt lead to push through this hard silence. So I started asking again, explaining, and encouraging and remained unsatisfied. It was a real partnership between Holy Spirit and me. I had hope that they would come and that there we those who needed to be saved. It was very scary. I looked out and saw one person slowly come forth out of the dark. Then one more came, then another, then another. Soon enough a couple dozen were in front of our team. I passed the mic over so that one of the Light of Life could lead the people to the Lord in Bimba their local tongue. It was a beautiful moment and you could see God in the orchestration. After the prayer Pastor Ruben and Jack both noticed a woman acting funny in the line of new believers. Pastor Ruben jumped off stage said something and pushed back on her head as she fell to the ground. Pastor Jack then almost instantly told the scared looked new believers and some skeptical teammates that she was manifesting a demon. I have had some experience with demons through our church and camps before but never one so close. They took the squirmy lady off to the side and started praying for her and declaring the name of Jesus to make the demons uncomfortable. I only know what was happening because I talked to Pastor Jack about what was happening because I could not hear due to my position and the loud noise of the chorus. Pastor Ruben asked the manifested lady how many demons are present and they replied, “We are three.” He then started the 25 minute process of deliverance (in her scenario) as some of our team on looked and some prayed. Pastor Ruben was demanding that they would leave and the demons said, “we are leaving we are leaving.” Trying to prevent him from praying. The persistent pastor kept on praying and as the last one was about to go it said, “If she goes back to her sin we will come back.” Then she gagged and woke up from being unconscious. She was instantly confused and was wondering where she was. It was a powerful witness to the spiritual realm. It was powerful to be apart of this process and Pastor Jack explained the questions we had. It was an intense and scary time but made me feel so thankful that we serve a God that delivers and saves! He has given us power over demons and evil. Praise his name! Pastor Jack said that there will probably be more tomorrow. So our team is prayerfully preparing. If demons are manifesting at our parties we know we are doing something right!