Encouraging With The Word

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Romans 10:17

"And hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."  Mark 2:17

Before Mark and Christian came to Zambia to minister with us, Mark wanted to find ways to encourage people with God's Word in their heart language. He contacted "Faith Comes By Hearing" they were so helpful in donating some items that would encourage the people here with God's Word. Not only were we blessed to receive Bibles, but Faith Comes By Hearing sent Bible Sticks in Chichewa. The day that we spent in Mambo, Lupenga, and Mangowa Village we were able to share some of these things with some of the people that are terminally ill. It was an exciting day and here are some of the stories from that day!

Katherine is a precious woman. Upon my first visit with her, she admitted that she did not attend church anywhere. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and Samson and I shared Christ with Katherine and that day she prayed to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior. We left her with some tracts to read until we could bring her a Bible. When Mark and Christian came, she was so excited about her new Bible. The week after that we went to see her, Samson came to our house and told us that Katherine had started coming to New Jerusalem (Samson's church)! We were so excited to hear that she had started attending church! I can't wait to see her again next month and see what she has learned in God's Word!

Mr. and Mrs. Phiri are the most precious couple. I met Mrs. Phiri on my first visit to Mambo Village. She was stumbling her way to the borehole and as she came closer I realized that she was blind. Samson then told me that she and her husband are both blind. They became blind after a case of the measles. When Mark and Christian came to visit, Samson invited them over to eat lunch with us. We had such a fun time laughing with them and walking them back to their home. I will never go to Mambo without visiting this precious couple.

Hezekiah is the headman of Lupenga Village. It is hard to be around Hezekiah and not smile. The first time that I went to visit Hezekiah, he made me laugh so hard just because of his facial expressions and the fact that he gave me a Zambian last name...my new name is Joy Tembo! When we went to visit him with Mark and Christian, we sat down and he came over slowly with his cane made from a tree branch and sat down with us. We all greeted him and after the greetings, he immediately gave Mark, Christian, and Zeria all new last names. Mark Lungu, Christian Mwanza, Zeria Mumba...as you could imagine we laughed so hard and our hearts were full at the overwhelming acceptance and love that Hezekiah showed us. I then asked him if he remembered me and he said, "Yes, Joy Tembo!" HA! I loved it! He told us that his wife had died in April and that the pastor of his church had never come to visit and encourage him and his heart was hurting. We knew then that we had come to encourage him. Mark and Christian told him that God had brought them all the way from America to encourage him! Hezekiah's sight is not that great anymore so we shared a Bible Stick with him. It is a small, simple tool that allows him to hear the New Testament in his heart language, Chinyanja. We called his grandson over to teach him how to use the Bible Stick so that he could help his grandfather (Asculu) listen! When he began to listen to God's Word his face lit up and he smiled and didn't want to stop listening! Our hearts were flooded with happiness, precious Hezekiah! Samson told me last week that Hezekiah listens to his Bible everyday! I told Hezekiah as we left that I wanted him to have one question for me the next time that I came so that we could help him understand and learn more about God's Word! Awesome!

Elisha is a young man that has a story that is heartbreaking. Not only is he very sick, his wife left him and took his two daughters. Mark was able to encourage Elisha not only with God's Word but was able to use the gift that God has given Mark in medicine to help him with small things that would help his quality of life. Elisha was so thankful for the help that Mark gave him just in simple things that require no money. The thing that he was most excited about was his new Bible. I know that God's Word is so powerful and I can see that if Elisha truly begins to read and follow God's Word he could do some amazing things for the Kingdom of God! Pray for Elisha to grow!

We know that this is not theologically true, but this precious man of God, Samson Lungu will be in front of the line in Heaven! His heart for people in this place is unlike any that we have ever seen. He is the caregiver to these patients and has graciously allowed me to share in this amazing ministry with him. He never asks for anything and is growing so much in the blessings that come from sharing Christ with his neighbors and those in need.

Alice is a young lady that is a widow and lives alone. She is battling illness day in and day out. The first time that we visited her she shared with us many of the physical struggles that she was facing. We all prayed for her in the month that we were not with her and when we came to see her this time, she said that all of those issues had stopped and she was feeling so much better! Praise the Lord for healing her! Zeria taught her how to use her Bible Stick and she was so happy. Sometimes it's hard to tell when a Zambian is happy, but Alice was overwhelmed with happiness and didn't want to stop listening! With each Bible and Bible Stick that we gave out, we asked that next month they all have at least ONE question about what they have heard or read. This way we can encourage and teach them each time.

Rosemary...what can I say about this precious woman. The first time that I met her, the day was late, my heart was heavy and tired from all of the visits. But she met us with a big grin, a loud greeting, and dusty hands from harvesting corn. Her little boy had Yellow Fever and we were praying for his healing. This time, she met us the exact same way. Sharing a Bible Stick with her she was exciting. She didn't expect it and her face showed her surprise, no smile and trying hard to hide her eyes. She was so happy to have God's Word. The verse of Scripture that comes to mind each time I think about Rosemary is Nehemiah 8:10, "Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." I shared this with Rosemary and told her that despite her troubles that she faces she is always smiling and her heart is joyful! I love this woman and praying that as we continue to visit she will grow and know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior!

God blessed us with this amazing sunset over Mambo Village as we left that Tuesday. It was so encouraging to have Mark and Christian go with me to minister in this capacity. The one day a month that I go to these villages to visit the patients are long. They are tiring; physically, emotionally, and spiritually, but my heart is full and overflowing. God has laid it on mine and Kendall's heart to minister to these patients. We have no idea where this will go, but we are praying. As for now, we will encourage with God's Word, love, and laughter. Pray for Samson as he lives among these people that he will be continually encouraged by the Lord as he ministers to them day in and day out. Pray that we will be faithful to minister to the 15 patients in these three villages and that God would be glorified and that they would be drawn unto the Lord.