Next Stop: Zambia

It's hard to believe that our journey to Africa begins in just a few days!  It's amazing that after so much talking about and planning for this trip, it's finally here.  It doesn't actually feel like a trip; it feels a more like a move, probably since we'll be there for so long.  This week is shaping up to be pretty hectic as we try to fit in last minute visits with friends and shop for all the items we'll need.  It's kind of hard to even know what things we'll want while we're there.  Our whole frame of reference will be shifted while we live overseas for three months.

I am so excited for the work that God is preparing for us in Mpulungu.  There is such great need on so many levels, and I can't wait to be used in serving in different ways.  There are a variety of ministries in place including: missionary training for Zambians, the orphan school, a prison ministry, and a medical boat.  Hopefully we'll be able to serve in all of these areas at some point during our time there.

Missions is more than trying to cram the knowledge of God into people's heads.  It's more about living out the gospel and being the hands and feet of Christ in areas of need.  I think we can be more reliable witnesses for Christ when our lives reflect the gospel in tangible ways.  What good is it to preach about the love of God if we don't love the people we preach to?  And how can we show love but to serve them in ways that meet their needs.  You can see this when you look at the life of Jesus during his earthly ministry.  He came preaching about the Kingdom of Heaven, but he also gave a visible demonstration of it as he loved on and healed the people around him.  I think his model shows us that the gospel is about ministering to the whole person; on a spiritual, and physical level.

One of the really incredible things about actually going on missions trips is that it puts a face to all these global issues we talk about like poverty, child starvation, AIDS, and the like.  That's certainly what our trip to India did for me, and I know our time in Zambia will be similar.  When you no longer think in terms of world poverty, but you can put faces and names to the problem, it becomes personal to you, and you feel empowered to actually do something about it.  We might not be able to solve all the world's problems, but we can certainly serve in the areas where God is sending us, and we can make a difference in the life of the people there.  I'm just grateful that God has called us and allowed us to be part of this great plan!