and I cried

When I called Mama Yoba at midnight and she told me that a well-trained birthing nurse was able to remove the placenta and that Regina was recovering, I cried.  I cried tears of joy and relief that my dear friend would be okay.  I cried tears of thanksgiving to God for hearing our prayers.  I cried tears of exhaustion.  I told Luke that I think the tears I cried were tears of all the stress and exhaustion of the last two-plus years, finally spilling over.  The dam broke, my strength was gone, and I cried.

I didn't know Regina was pregnant until about a month ago.  We hadn't been together as much and she hid it well.  When she finally told me, she was ashamed, saying it was a mistake and they hadn't been responsible.  It came as quite a surprise, as I had just recommended that another missionary call Regina to speak on purity at a girls’ workshop.  But I assured her I was there for her.  She was my friend.  And of all the Zambians I have come to know and love, Regina is probably the only real, mutual friend – almost a sister.  

Tuesday I decided to walk to Kimasala to visit Regina and Mama Yoba and some of the others out by Lusa.  I arrived to find out that Mama Yoba was in Lusaka and Regina had gone to the hospital Monday afternoon with severe cramping. When I visited Tuesday evening, she had not actually seen a doctor, but was feeling a bit better.  Wednesday afternoon I stopped in again, and she had been discharged – never seeing a doctor, having an ultrasound or anything.  Thursday morning I received a text message from her brother saying she had been sick all night.  I called and she said she wanted to rest a bit, but a couple of hours later she wanted to go to the hospital.  I picked her up, along with her cousin and the baby’s father and we went to a small clinic in town that specialized in ultrasound.  The technician said her amniotic fluid was dangerously low and we should go straight to the hospital.

Back in the overcrowded maternity ward, Regina was given one of the last available beds.  An initial exam determined she was in pre-term labor, and that was that.  There was no medication, no further analysis.  They were just going to let the labor carry on (though only seven months pregnant).  Now most women are completely alone through the labor process.  With 3-6 beds in an area, they lay there in the heat and fight through the contractions quietly and alone, until it’s time to actually give birth (which may be why many women prefer to deliver in their homes).

Visiting hours are very strict: 6-7 a.m. and 5-6 p.m.  I stood by Regina for the first three hours, holding her hand, fanning her with a notebook, praying fervently, and slowly noticing I was the only “visitor” in the area.  At 3 p.m., I went outside to ask her friend and her cousin if one of them would stay with her for a bit while I went to get a bite to eat and put gas in the car (there had been a shortage and I was running on fumes).  They told me they wouldn't be allowed - that I was only allowed because I was white.  I think the one friend made her way at least for some of the time because she was nine months pregnant and could easily pass as a patient.

I returned for 5 p.m. visiting hours, only to find out Regina had gone into the labor room.  This is a room with three beds side-by-side, in which the women lay completely naked through the birthing process.  All the women are expected to bring a sheet of plastic, gloves, and other supplies for use by the hospital.  By 5:20, Regina had given birth to a 3 pound baby girl.  The baby was taken straight to an incubator, but Regina was not in the clear yet.  A group of us waited until 7:00, but Regina had still not delivered the placenta.  One of the older caregivers for Lusa convinced the nurses to allow her to stay, but the rest of us were forced to go.  Mama Yoba was still in transit from Lusaka, and most of the day I was praying she would arrive quickly.  She called me from the bus shortly after I arrived home pleading with me to do something – to tell the nurses they needed to help Regina.  I didn't know what to do.  There was nothing I could do.

And I was so afraid I would lose my friend.  I even told Luke that if something happened to her, I didn't think I could come back to Zambia. I couldn't handle it.

After a hot shower and a few hours of tossing and turning but not sleeping, I called Mama Yoba.  Regina was fine.  Everything was going to be okay.  And I cried.

Thank you Jesus. 

Blessed to be a blessing... and blessed again

Our purpose going to Lusa today was to bless the children…and bless Mama Yoba with about $500 to finish her house, along with 300 meters of wire and a whole lot of window putty (two of the remaining needs). (Click here for that story) But I think every person with us today would agree that we left with more than we came with.

As our three vehicles turned off the tarmac into sloshy mud puddles, bumping along to Mama Yoba's house, I was overwhelmed with excitement about the gifts for Mama Yoba.  But, we decided we would give the gifts to the children first, and then surprise Mama Yoba as we prepared to leave.

When we arrived, 92 children were seated at tables,patiently waiting and separated by age. Regina told me some of the kids arrived as early as 6 a.m. (We arrived at 10.). Several of our friends from the mine came along, including four children.  The kids handed the small packets of candies and toys and noise makers to the community children. The Lusa kids waited patiently until everyone had their gift and I told them to open the goodies. Almost immediately, the whole room broke out with the sound of noise makers.  After a few minutes,Mama Yoba quieted the kids, and then had them sing to our group what has come to be one of our favorite songs.

“Come and see, come and see, come and see what the Lord has done; come and see what the Lord has done…”

handing out the gifts

Moses, son of Jillian - love this family!

Mama Yoba giving necklaces to the kids with our group

Mama Yoba prayed in Thanksgiving, and then I was confused as she brought in a small box.  Inside were several child-size necklaces that she and Regina must have made since I was last there on Thursday.  She then went to each of the children in the group we brought, and with a young Zambian girl, handed out the necklaces and helped the kids put them on. I just wanted to cry.  That woman just amazes me and I think that small act made this one of my best Christmases ever.

As our group prepared to leave, I told Mama Yoba we had a surprise for her.  As we handed her the supplies and the money, I have to say, it was the first time I've seen her speechless (anyone who knows Mama Yoba knows she is never at a loss for words).  She thanked each person in our group and just had a look of shock on her face.  Then Luke and I pulled our TV out of the trunk.  One of our friends at the mine blessed us with a really nice television a few months ago.  Immediately we had decided to pay it forward,so we had told Mama Yoba that we were going to give her our TV – but only when her new house was finished (extra incentive to get it done!).  Today, we took it with us, and I told her that it was because she should have everything she needs to finish her house now. 

Window putty for Mama Yoba's  new house

Now I just have to prepare myself because she’s been saying from the beginning that when her house is finished, we have to go out there and stay up all night praying and blessing the house and celebrating…. 

Change Takes Time

“We can make an envelope for the cash box for the renewal.”

Surprising words to come from Mama Yoba’s lips.  A year ago she didn’t like the cash box.  She didn’t think it would work, and she really didn’t like that she didn’t have access to it.  If the money went in the cash box, she didn’t think she would be able to give to help friends when there was a funeral or get anything done that she wanted.  If she received money for things at Lusa, she would use it as she saw fit instead of putting it into the cash box.  In fact, she even asked Luke one day if we didn’t trust her with a key.  Granted, Luke just responded, “If that’s true, they must not trust me either, because I also don’t have a key!”

Change takes time.  When we started the “envelope system” at Lusa, it was a sort of experiment.  An experiment Regina was willing to try.  We created 10 envelopes, labeled with things like “feeding program,” “Zesco/Mema house” (electricity/water), “chickens and agriculture,” “teacher supplies and stipend,” “savings,” etc.  The idea was that each time any income was generated, through craft markets, handmade jewelry sales, donations, or other means, that money would be divided among the envelopes and documented on sheets of paper in each particular envelope.  This idea is very foreign in a culture where people are quick to spend any money they have so that they do not feel obligated to give it to family or friends in need.  While bank accounts exist here, the majority of account holders have zero balance until pay day, at which they immediately withdraw the entire payment sum and spend it.  Others live too far from town for the accounts to be practical for every day use.  Lusa has a bank account, but putting small amounts of cash in an account five kilometers away and then withdrawing said cash for a few dollars here and there for charcoal or tomatoes became a bit irrational.

So we started the cash box – kept hidden in the office at Lusa – with Regina holding the only key.  In the last year since starting the “experiement,” the electricity has never been turned off as a result of delinquent payment, the chicken house has been completely wired for electricity, the doors have been replaced, the teachers have received occasional stipends as gratitude for their hard work, and the children have received a nutritious meal almost every week that school has been in session. 

There have been times that Regina had to stand up to her mother when Mama Yoba wanted to give large amounts for funerals of community members or wanted to buy something for the hall on a whim rather than considering the true needs.  There were times when community members and volunteers questioned the system – hoping to pocket some of the money for themselves.  But after a year, Mama Yoba is on board.  If there is a need for which we don’t have an envelope (like renewing the organization’s certification with the government), she suggests we add one so we can start saving toward said need.  If she receives money, she now gives it to Regina to distribute through the cash box.  And just this week, Mama Yoba repeatedly told me, “thank you.” 

The reason I write this is not for my own accolades.  I got the idea for envelope budgeting from Crown Financial’s Money Matters radio program I used to listen to in the States.  No, the reason I write this is in recognition of the fact that change takes time.  We could probably raise a bunch of money and build fancy buildings and hold special events and be able to create a grand list of all the things we’ve “accomplished” since coming to Zambia, but without working side by side with our brothers and sisters here, without cautious, diligent, and sometimes painful teaching, those “accomplishments” wouldn’t really “accomplish” anything in the grand scheme of things.  True, lasting change… takes time.

And in order to introduce change – to experiment with new ideas and go new directions in ministry – we have learned that we have to start with the youth.  In a culture where everything is tied to tradition, relationship, and the “way it’s always been done,” the youth rarely get a voice.  But they are eager to learn; eager for responsibility and trust; and eager for change.  Regina took a risk standing up to her mother, but now has the respect of Mama Yoba and several others in the community because of that stand.  She’s also learned how to budget and wants to teach others in the community and put what she’s learned into practice in her own business and personal efforts.  In the last year, we may not have built fancy buildings or touched hundreds of lives, but by pouring into one person at a time, over time, change happens.

The cash box is a very tangible example, but we see the same impact on a spiritual level.  Regina has grown to be an incredible, devoted woman of God, and is leading young girls and others in the community in the same direction.

We look forward to seeing the same kind of changes and growth in the young men and women we work with as coaches for Sports Friends, who will then become leaders and role models for the children on their teams.  Life on life, day by day, disciple-making.  And in the long run, that is far more satisfying – and glorifying to God – than fancy buildings or numbers on paper. 

A Look Ahead - Changes

If you read my last post, you’ll see that my time in Ethiopia was amazing and it gave us a lot to think and pray about now that I’m back.  Many of you have been asking what all this means for us and our ministry here in Zambia.  And what’s this talk about going to Thailand?  Well, keep reading…

First of all, as of right now we are NOT MOVING.  I wanted to say that up front because, well, you will probably see news about me (Luke) doing a lot of traveling in the months to come.  So don’t freak.  We’re not leaving.

That said, the months ahead are going to involve a great deal of changes as we look at incorporating Sports Friends into the ministry efforts of SIM Zambia.  I will be more or less coordinating all this on the Zambia side, working closely with the international trainers and developers as we start to share the vision with Zambian church leaders.  These initial stages involve Skype conference calls (woohoo for technology!), some travel within Zambia to meet with SIM Zambia leadership, and even a few more international trips, including one to Thailand in January.

 

What about Tiffany?  And what about Lusa?  While these new responsibilities will keep me quite busy and away from Lusa, I am still available to them as needed.  Tiffany, however, will continue working there, building relationships with the handful of volunteers, working directly with Regina (the Lusa administrator), and teaching budgeting and nutrition lessons.  Through time her role there may diminish, but not yet.

Hopefully this answered some of your questions.

So, how can you help out?  I’m glad you asked!

•  Please be praying for us during the days ahead, as I have a great deal of preliminary work to get done.  Pray for stamina and focus.
• Please pray for our upcoming trip to Thailand, that we may get to and from safely and that our time there may be fruitful and enlightening
• Please pray for the people of Zambia, that their hearts might be open and receptive to the Gospel
• Please pray that the funds come into our ministry account to cover the costs of the trip to Thailand and another potential training trip to Ethiopia in April (more on that one later)

 Thank you all!  You are more of a blessing to us than you will ever know!

New Opportunities; Renewed Vision

So I am crazy impulsive and have a crazy awesome idea that I should probably flesh out before I dig a giant hole of crazy. (How was that sentence for quality English?)

Anyhow, here’s a little background… When Lusa Home-Based Care was under the guidance of an organization out of South Africa, money was sent from the US to build dormitories and other facilities. We’re talking upwards of $70,000. As is so often the heart-breaking case here, that money never made it to Zambia, and we have no dormitory. The same organization apparently promised many community members around Lusa that their work (cooking, gardening, teaching, and other jobs that are considered voluntary right now) would be paid. When that money never showed up, the people didn’t see a reason to show up either. So now, Mama Yoba and Regina are running the place with a handful of volunteers – mostly women who are benefitting from the work we’re doing at Lusa. Our (unpaid) teachers are ready to throw in the towel, and apparently many people are still bitter about the money thing and blaming Mama Yoba. (Learned all of this today)

That said, we’ve started to see things turn around. One by one, people from the community are learning that it truly is better to give than to receive, and have a desire to get involved. Through donations and hard work, we now have fish in our fish ponds, maize in our maize fields, and will soon have chickens in our chicken coops. Two big craft markets at local mines in the next two weeks promise some serious income generation as our expat friends will be in Christmas-buying mode. Using Dave Ramsey’s Money Matters teaching on budgeting via envelopes, the organization actually has money when the water bill comes or other needs arise. We have weekly Bible studies and the handful of people who are coming are now taking turns leading through a book on the women of the Bible. But our efforts to help the children – what Lusa is really about – are falling short.

In recent months, we’ve restarted weekly feeding programs for the 30 or so kids (of about 80 we have on a register) who are coming for school each day. But school has turned more into a loosely run day care. The kids show up at 7. When the teachers show up, it’s usually by 8. Then they finish at 10. We have kids ages 2 to 15 all in the same “class” and there is little structure or anything by way of a lesson plan. And, Lusa has been serving the same kids for several years. Some are single or double orphans; some are sick; many are vulnerable; and some just come to Lusa because their parents would rather send them to us for free than put forth the money to get them into school. We’ve discussed raising the funds to provide first term school fees and uniforms to put 40 or so of the kids into the public school system (about $15 each). Assuming we can get these kids into school, here’s where the idea comes in…

The purpose of Lusa is not just to provide a helping hand to the community, but also to share the love and grace of Christ. The purpose is hope. We don’t have the man-power nor motivation from the community to run Lusa as a school – but what if we go in a whole new direction? What if our efforts at Lusa get people excited about working there, and allow them to forget the bitterness they might have from the previous problems? What if we stop trying to be mediocre in an area (school) where the kids would be better served in the local school system, and focus our efforts on being awesome and glorifying to God with something that’s definitely a need and not one that’s being met elsewhere?

So here’s the idea. Similar to what Child Evangelism Fellowship does with Good News Clubs, turn Lusa into a community center – an outreach center – a place where kids and teens can come to hear about Christ, play sports and games, hang out with each other off of the streets, and realize that people care about them. Rather than run a school for 3 hours in the morning for 30 or so kids, we could have club meetings throughout the day or with different ages every day and be open to the entire community. For example, the grade 1 kids in the community might get off school at noon, and then come to Lusa for activities; and then the grade 9 and 10 girls might come at another time or on another day. We would still help the most vulnerable community members through our income generating projects – helping supply food and school fees and visiting and caring for them – but we would also be able to reach, minister to, and love on potentially hundreds of kids each week. And, hopefully, inspire and lead these kids to be Christ-loving, God-fearing, generous, loving adults.

Would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear your thoughts and have your prayers. We are discussing the idea with a local pastor whom we respect and admire (and happens to be the chairman of the Lusa board) tomorrow. Also (NEWS FLASH!), Luke will be going to Ethiopia in early December for training in an SIM ministry called Sports Friends, which would be a huge part of the new focus if we go that way.

I personally haven’t been this excited about the potential at Lusa in a long time. We were actually quite discouraged with the state of things when we first came, but ever so gradually have been able to see a way moving forward. Will you pray with us as we continue to seek the Lord’s direction in this?

comforts from home

We’ve had a lot of people ask us lately what they can send in care packages, either for us or for our work here.  We figured that making a list on our blog would be an easy way for you to get ideas.  It’s amazing what is available here – and we’re blessed beyond belief.  So the things for us certainly aren’t needs as the Lord has provided for all of our needs.  Some are just comforts from home, or close substitutes for said comforts (since you can’t ship a tub of Cool Whip….).  The second list is items that would be helpful in our ministry at Lusa.

For us:

Foodstuffs:

Dream Whip – closest shippable thing we’ve found to CoolWhip

Great Value (Wal Mart brand) Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese (you can even keep the noodles and just send the sauce packets – definitely a favorite for Luke)

Great Value or Crystal Light sugar free drink mix (the kind in the tubs that you mix w/ a pitcher of water)

Fat Free No Sugar added pudding mixes – vanilla, chocolate, lemon

Parmesan cheese (or other cheeses that wouldn’t need refrigeration in sending)

Splenda

Marshmallows.  We have them here but they just are all flavored – they taste great but don’t work so well for baking or making s’mores!

Extra Spearmint gum

Taco Bell Sauce Packets (just save your extras when you hit the drive thru!)

Coffee

Kashi GoLean Cereal (the original – not any of the special flavors or anything)

Seasonal goodies – candy corn, peeps, jelly beans, etc

Spices: Jamaican Jerk, allspice, cinnamon, chili powder

Dried fruit - Prunes, cranberries, etc. (Raisins are easy to get here and we don't like banana chips though!)

Otherstuffs:

Lexmark printer cartridges – black 14 and color 15

Razor blades – Venus for Tiff; Schick Quattro Pro for Luke

Anti-perspirant –Lady Speed Stick; Old Spice High Endurance (not red zone)

Flea collars and/or tubes of flea treatment (frontline or advantage or generic) for dog and cat

Recorded sermons

Books – novels, anything

Cookbooks or cooking magazines

Workout videos/DVDs/Wii games – High energy cardio type stuff

CDs or DVDs – we’ve been here over a year and a half now- what’s new?

For Lusa:

Balls (deflated) and a pump

Nice wooden, glass, metal, or even plastic beads for jewelry making

Craft wire and other jewelry-making supplies

From our experience, first class mail items take about six weeks toarrive and cost varies by weight. Flat rate shipping is one rate based on the size of the box, so if you're sending heavier items, it’s more cost effective AND it arrives in about two weeks.  We also enjoy receiving letters and pictures!   All packages and mail can be sent to us at PO Box 110079, Solwezi, Zambia.  Thank you in advance.  Again, these are just ideas for those who have asked – please don’t feel like you have to send anything.  Blessings and Love!

Your Questions... Answered

As much as we try to cover everything about our ministry in our prayer letters (see previous post), we don't want to put you to sleep with pages and pages of text. But, we realize, people have questions. So after getting some facebook feedback and collecting some of the questions you've sent our way, we've compiled the following list of FAQs. Did we miss anything? Ask us. Anytime.

Q. What will you be doing?

A. We will work at LUSA Home-Based Care, a ministry started by a national Zambian woman named Mama Yoba to share the gospel, provide basic education and food to orphans, home visits and encouragement to people dying of AIDS, and life-skill training to members of the community. We will be developing additional programs for the kids, discipling the caregivers and helping those learning life skills to learn how to make a living from what they produce. (There is a fish farm, chicken coop, sewing machines and some basic agriculture.) We will also be facilitating/hosting teams coming through.

Q. What is included in your monthly financial support?

A. Your gifts go toward our monthly salary for our basic living expenses, housing, taxes, international health insurance, a retirement plan (403(b)), transport to and from the field, and administrative support from SIM.

Q. How much do you have to raise?

A. Our support requirement is approximately $5,050 per month. This covers the needs listed above for us plus one-to-three children. (So we aren’t short on funding if the Lord blesses us with a family during our ministry!) We also have a ministry account to cover expenses specific to our ministry (postage, gas, educational supplies, vehicle repair, outreach for AIDS sufferers, etc) that will be about $450 per month.

Q. Are my gifts tax deductible?

A. Yes! SIM will send you receipts for any donations, as well as a yearly receipt for recurring online gifts.

Q. When should we start giving if you’re not leaving for several months?

A. The earlier the better! Any funding that comes in prior to the month of our departure goes toward our relocation expenses. If possible, please sign up right away. (If you know you will be giving monthly gifts in the future, but are not able to start yet, will you tell us how much you plan to give? We have to have 100% of our monthly funding “pledged” in order to buy our plane tickets!)

Q. How long will you be there (and if I want to support you monthly, how long does that continue)?

A. Our commitment is long-term, so we plan to serve as long as that is what God is calling us to do. However, we will return for several months of home assignment after every 2-4 years in the field. Ideally, your commitment to support us will be for the duration of our ministry but pledges are as God guides you and provides for you to give.

Q. Is my support covering any past debt or loans?

A. No. God has graciously provided for all of our needs and we have absolutely no debt!

Q. I want to be part of your ministry to AIDS orphans in Zambia. How do I get started?

A. Sign up for automatic bank withdrawals at www.sim.org/giveusa. Be sure to include our name and the account: #23444. You can also mail a check made out to SIM USA (Memo: #23444 - Wessler) to: SIM USA P.O. Box 7900, Charlotte, NC 28241. Please do not hesitate to ask us for any clarification, forms, etc.

Q. How can I share what you're doing with my family/friends/church so that they can have the opportunity to support you guys?

A. You are welcome (and encouraged) to share our letters and website (http://www.wesslersinzambia.com/) with them or send them directly to us via phone (309-363-2722) or e-mail (luke.wessler@sim.org / tiffany.wessler@sim.org). Also, if you provide us with their contact information, we will contact them and set up a time to get together or talk on the phone. Please share – your referrals and networking are very much appreciated.

Anything else?

New Ministry Video!

At our last small group meeting we were given the opportunity to present the ministry we are preparing for in Zambia. Since the other members of the group already know us, and since they have already seen our support video (check it out in the side bar), we decided to put together a new video more specific to what we will be doing in Solwezi. Check it out!