Into Africa: reflections

Narce and Mrs. Maloon help with triage at the
Medical Clinic

Mr. Morada shared the worship thought Sunday evening. He based his remarks off of II Thessalonians 3:13: “But you, brothers and sisters, never become tired of doing good” (The New Century Bible). “You may feel tired, but realize that you are doing what the Bible has asked you to do,” he said. He reminded the group to remember why they came to Zambia. “You and I are still writing the book of Acts. There are still stories to be told of what God is doing through you for others.”

Dr. Morada (white shirt with blue band on
sleeve) sees patients while photographer Keaton looks on.

Jacob checks a blood presurre

Encouraging the group to step out of their comfort zone and find ways of extending their ministry, he challenged the group with this question: “Why just build a church where someone else can minister when you can minister to others right here and now? It’s not just about building a build,” he said. Even with the medical ministry, which is clearly serving others right there and now, he encouraged the workers to pray with the people they were working with. “You may one day meet them in heaven where they might say ‘Remember that day when you prayed for me in Zambia?’ We have a field of people right here and now that we can not only talk to, but minister to and meet their needs.”

The evening’s sharing time reflected the very thing Mr. Morada had just spoken about:

Chaplain Rob—I stood out at the road and tried to invite people into the meeting tonight. There, I met a man named Joseph. He's apostolic but he seems very interested in coming to church. I talked with him for about an hour. He needs a tooth pulled and will come back to the

Narce checks a baby's temperature

clinic to get help with that. At the end, I took him into the meeting.

Rebeca--When I was doing triage with Mrs. Muncy, she told me to pray with them while taking the blood pressure. At first I was nervous, but then I did and it felt really good.

Daniel--When I was talking with some kids, they seemed really interested in getting a Bible.

Dr. Morada and his daughter Irene

Johann--some kids were asking me for Bibles, too.

Mrs. Muncy--Today I had a great group of students working with me and it was a such fun working with them and helping them get some good experiences.

Haley watches her dad, Dr. Muncy, at work.

Jaden--At the construction site we were waiting for the bus to show up. People that come in and work there don't get paid all that much. Three guys that we were talking to invited us (JT, Catherine, and me) to come eat with them and they offered us food. They were very nice. Also at the VBS there were these two little girls who came up behind me and jumped up and hit the back of my head. I looked around and they said "you have nice hair."

Haley--It seemed that the people we gave toothbrushes to were extremely happy to get them.

Mr. Maloon--I was playing some soccer with some kids and I asked them if they believed in God and then had a chance to talk with them about Him. I'm going to get some Bibles to them.

Arlene hands out stickers to the children.

Pastor Ralph—[Referring to Christopher] He's kind and wise and has high values.

Mr. Maloon--Cook Christi is actually affecting how the Lodge cooks work. They’ve been watching her and she's been able to share cleanliness and good health

practices and is affecting how they do their own work in the kitchen now.

Cook Christi--I talked with one of the girls downstairs and I asked her about the other two girls downstairs and she said they are the two wives of the owner of this resort. They are Muslim. We've been only talking about recipes and cleaning with bleach but now we have religion to talk about. I’m excited to see where things will go tomorrow.

Dr. Muncy--Remember that every act you are doing is your ministry. You don't have to say anything specific. If they know you are a Christian and you are a loving caring Christian, that's your ministry, that's your witness. Every single one of you is doing something that way because you are living and breathing. Every minute that you are living, you are acting out who you are and you are living for God. You don't have to pray with someone. If you can’t, or don’t, it doesn't mean that you re not ministering to someone. You are just by being here.

Ashley, Mrs. Morada, and Narce at the
blood drawing station

Pastor Ralph--Remember when Moses came down off the mountain he had a glow about him that he had been with God. When young people show others kindness, that shows them God. It bears a mighty witness to others about the character of God.

Chaplain Rob—In I Corinthians 13, Paul talks about how God loves me and how I can love others. Don't take your witness for granted... You may be the only Jesus someone ever sees.

Mrs. Pearson leads out in VBS

Pastor Ralph--I know the building project has been frustrating because we are starting and stopping on it. But the truth is we're 7 courses up on a 13 course building and we're not halfway through the time we have to work. . . The goal is to complete that wall and as much on the interior as we can. This group has done a tremendous job. You are all contributing to the effort. It takes the synergism of the whole group.

Mrs. Maloon, Brooke, Eric, and Alex share a song at
the Evangelistic meeting

Dr. Muncy—The same applies to the medical field. I may make the final decision, but I can't do anything without what you've done first.

Chaplain Rob--find time to meditate tonight or in the morning. Search for what God is calling you to do.

Flexibility Awards

Mr. Pearson leads a parachute game during VBS

Cook Christi--Eric--being a great worker—and a courageous one. When a rat ran across his foot, he jumped and broke his shoe, but he went and changed his shoe and came right back to work. Then Grant—got pulled into the kitchen and that was wonderfully flexible and then he also helped me tonight at VBS--even invented a game.

Alex--Dr. Muncy and Dr. Morada because they took care of my sister when she got stung last tonight.

Mr. Morada--to Pastor Ralph because I am a horrible brick layer. But he has shown great patience with me. In fact, he has shown patience with everyone.

Johann gives the construction site
a "thumbs up!"

Mrs. Maloon--the music team. They have had to change things up every night. Alex and Brooke had to change up their song tonight and they didn’t miss a beat. We just try to go with the flow.

Dr. Muncy--Mrs. Warren. She has been outstanding for so many reasons, but especially today at the medical clinic when it was so busy and patients were upset because they had been there a long time and she was running around and putting out fires and keeping people calm...very flexible

Haley--to my mom because she did not have the right equipment for pulling teeth, but she was able to do it with all the wrong equipment.

Pastor Ralph--Mrs Muncy has been such an integral part of making this all happen.

Chaplain Rob--you are here because of the Lord and Mrs. Muncy.

Today's photos are c/o of Mr. Maloon.

Janaai and Marilyn talk with some of
the older children at VBS

Photographer Keaton captures a priceless moment.

Jaden shares the Word

Reflections on Friday’s work and activities:

Brooke shows the children her camera and flash

Chaplain Rob—The electricity went out right at shower time and just before supper time. I needed that shower! I prayed and within minutes it came back.

Kaazmein Lodge's resident zebras

Abby—I was sick in the field today so I was sitting on the bus, taking a rest. Kids came up to where I was and I got to talk with them and make friends with them. I learned a lot about their country. One little boy asked what I wanted to do when I grew up and he told me he wanted to be a pilot and that he was going to fly to America and pick me up and fly me to Africa

Chaplain Rob--Teaching Eugene the Arizona handshake after he taught me the African handshake.

Mrs. Warren—I was incredibly awestruck by the nurse who works fulltime at the clinic in Simonga. She's the only one there. She sees about 35 a day and 150 a month. She does everything for everybody--delivers babies, sutures people, etc. She sees everything we did today. Everything we've seen, she sees on a daily basis. It's amazing.

Mrs. Maloon--When we were pulling into the evangelistic meeting today, we started hearing a noise. When we turned the corner there were about 100 or more kids who were so excited about VBS. They gave us an awesome welcome.

Chaplain Rob accompanies Mrs.
Maloon on his African guitar.

Chaplain Rob--There was a little kid who was doing the parachute who was so happy to be involved that he ran all the way out and away from the chute and back again.

Jaden--After I finished preaching I was so hot and sweaty and I got on the bus and it was air conditioned. It felt so good.