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Learn & Grow Mission Field From the Zambia Mission Field
Learn & Grow Mission Field From the Zambia Mission Field
| From the Zambia Mission Field |
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(entered into Gerri Helton’s journal, Sunday, August 24, 2008) THE SCRIPTURES BURNED INTO MY HEART Fasting on Friday and (birthday) partying on Saturday makes for a “hyper” old lady, but I was able to get myself awake at 4 AM...Devotional...Finished getting things ready...Breakfast...Sent text message to Mutemwa “I’m starting. Meeting you and the others at church.” At 5:45 I left my house behind...We arrived in Kasheke by 9:00...I was prepared to teach the adults...But God had other plans!...Mr. Mate whispered that Sepiso had a testimony to give...I gladly relinquished my time! Mr. Moola introduced what had previously transpired…"Last time Bo Liseli was here, she told us, ‘You need to deal with Mr. Sepiso. He is a naka (witch doctor) and driving people from his church.’ So we leaders went...we talked...we prayed...and Mr. Mate left some scriptures for him to read. Then Sepiso rose and (as part of his testimony) began telling how God had allowed many trials/troubles/suffering...that he had once prayed to receive Jesus...but, even though he had tried to do right, he wanted to keep his idols and his “business” to make a living...He continued taking medicines, smoking, drinking, etc… But when the leaders came to see him he began to be sorry…"The scriptures burned into my heart, so I went to Mr. Mate and told him to come to my house on Wednesday that I was going to burn all my idols. He was unable to come, so yesterday I took them all outside, I gathered firewood, and I burned them...everything!" Sepiso finished by saying that the late President Mwanawasa had much wealth… “But now he is dead...And he cannot take any of those things with him….all his money, all those things are still here...the only important thing is to have Jesus!” (Then with a big gesture of his arm, he spoke louder than I had ever heard him speak.) “IT IS JESUS ALONE!” Mr. Nyundu then went up and asked for prayer because he is facing the same situation. He is a naka...He needs his “business” to make a living...He fears leaving all that behind...His wife immediately spoke saying that we need not only to say with our mouth...but we must believe in our heart… I could feel the spiritual battle raging in that place… Moola was asking, “How do you go from doing these things to accepting Jesus?” I asked for permission to speak. Using the story of Peter walking on the water (Matthew 14:23-32) I first explained that Jesus told Peter to come to Him, just as the Holy Spirit is calling you to come to Him.’’ “Now is the hard part...Peter had to step out of the boat...you folks know what would happen if you were on the Zambezi and you stepped out of your canoe!!” (They all showed agreement.) “That is where you have to put ALL of yourself and your trust in Jesus!! Even if you do take your eyes off of Jesus, He is still there! But the hardest part is to take that first step and let Jesus “take over” and provide for your life!” After church, I encouraged the leaders to go to Nyundu’s village and to prayer walk around it...to keep praying for and encouraging him...and Sepiso...because folks will still fear him… I was “wiped out” when I got back to Mongu at 5:30...but what an awesome time in Kasheke!!... |