Cholera ~Evacuation Update

Dear Friends

Just a quick note asking you to pray for a situation here in Zambia affecting hundreds of local families. Ever year the rains (which should be ending here shortly) cause at least some bit of local flooding usually in the same areas of town. Because development of info structure, such as drainage, is severely impeded drainage of rain water is left to the powers of the sun. This fact coupled with poor sanitation and the overflowing pit latrines consistently produces limited outbreaks of Cholera as well as forces the mandatory evacuation of those living in low lying areas. As if life is not hard enough for most Zambia some have to contend annually with the reality that they may affect adversely by such conditions.

This year the rains have not been as heavy but nonetheless we have recently seen increases of both those affected with Cholera as well as families being moved to tent cities until the waters have receded. As hospital visitation ministry has continue to visit area clinics we have witness the growth of quarantine areas that some clinics have set up in order to accommodate those infected with Cholera. These quarantines are often made of nothing more than 2" x 2" timbers with plastic sheets attached to form a barrier. They are often outdoors and patients are cared to as the understaffed medical team can find opportunity. At one particular clinic in the local compound of Kanyama we have watched as what was once a small 20' x 20' enclosure has been enlarged a couple of times to now encompassed much of the clinic's outdoor space. The actually number of those infected is a tightly held secret but one thing is for sure, the number grow each week we visit.

Along with Cholera the rains have also brought the evacuation of somewhere around 260 local families. Some of these families have given reports that their houses have water in them up to the ceiling trusses. The government has set up a tent city at the national football stadium with can currently accommodate 247 family (just over 1000 people capacity), some sleeping up to 10 people per tent. Action Zambia went out last week to meet with the Red Cross, who are running the camp, to inquire about opportunities to serve those who now called this temporary city their place of residence. It is the hope of Action Zambia that we might provide some physical and more importantly Spiritual aid to these people that have lost what little they had. There are preliminary plans to gather support from the local pastors involved in Action Pastors College and encourage them as congregations to gather supplies (washrags as well as antibacterial soaps) as well as organize a church service for the residents.









I know in light of tragedies such as Haiti and Chile the need of the situation in Lusaka seems like a drop in the ocean but to these families it is just as real and the weather forecast is calling for more rain. Please pray for these dear souls as well as Action Zambia that we would be able to hear what God is wanting us to accomplish through this opportunity before us.

Remember the greatest gift you can give is prayer and which is endless and free. Could not do any of this without you.

His Servant

Luke (for the fam) <><

visit our blog: www.whitfieldwateringhole.blogspot.com

Skype id: taziona6

March Update

Dear Friends March 2010

Well it is hard to believe that two months have already transpired this year and yet we have seen God do so much during that period. Our family continues to mesh together as our adoption of Chichi continues to move forward and we learn to live with one more in our midst. We would be lying if we suggested that it has been easy and we expect there will be some wrinkles to iron out in the future but the joy of watching one that was lost revel in being found is indescribable. We look forward to celebrating as a family Chichi’s 4th birthday on March 15th.



Elise and the kids have struggled a bit to get back into the groove of home schooling after our long vacation break earlier this year but they always seem to get it together eventually. Elise has become such an example to our family of perseverance and determination – she truly is the glue the Lord uses to keep our family together.

Elise and I have also begun to train to run a marathon this August in Zimbabwe. We will be running (Lord willing, hah) with other members from our AZ team in hopes of raising funds to go toward the development of Action Zambia’s Ciyanjano Enrichment Centre (church campsite). If you are interested in learning more or considering coming to run yourself you can find out more at our newly created Race Blog Page: http://www.kilometersforkids.info/

Ministry has, as expected, really picked up this last month for me. The building of the Ciyanjano Retreat Centre has pick up pace and we currently are in the midst of building the first five bunk house foundations. These bunk houses will have the capacity to sleep up to 50 people per campsite. It has been so encouraging to hear the excitement of the local body of Believers as they watch this unprecedented facility take shape. Keep praying that God would raise up the necessary funds and be looking for a more detailed web site about Ciyanjano in the near future. For now you can find more info about the Ciyanjano Centre by following the link to AZ’s website: http://www.actionzambia.org/ministry-areas/ciyanjano-christian-enrichment-centre/

Hospital Visitation Ministry has gotten back underway after a couple of months break. Many of the same local Action Zambia pastors who participated last year are back with the addition of a few new faces. We continue to go into four different area clinics over the course of the week and spend roughly and hour and a half praying for the multitudes of sick that exists here in Lusaka. From these visits more and more stories are emerging about the blessings God has bestowed upon these patients during our time with them. I want to close by sharing a testimony of a young woman who since our visit with her one Tuesday in the clinic has seen God do amazing things in her life. This young woman has since started to attend the church of Action Zambia pastor Anderson Jere who shared this encouraging note with me. Pastor Jere writes in his own words:



Dear Brother Luke

I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I want just to share with you , a testimony of how our ministry (hospital visitation) is doing in the lives of many patients we minister to. On several occasions I have received phone calls from a number of them confessing that the Good Lord has done wonders in one way or another after ministering and praying for them.

One of them is Ruth. If you can remember very well, we ministered to this lady at Kalingalinga Clinic sometime back in mid November 2009. This lady told us that she had given up serving the Lord because God was not answering her prayers. But after helping her with the Word of God she confessed and promised that she will go back to church. Towards the end of February 2010, Ruth called me, and she thanked God saying that if only it was not for the prayers and words of encouragement she received from us, she could have killed herself because she had no option left but to commit suicide. I assured Ruth that I was always praying for her since we last met, and she further told me that she was still going through a number of problems. Her father, who is an elder in one of the church denominations, is a satanist and he once raped her and he is trying everything possible so that he can make her join in his satanic activities and this has brought great problems on her life and health.

After hearing this I was very touched and invited her to our church, and on Sunday 28th February 2010 she came. I ministered to her and together with some church leaders held some prayers with her and them she felt free and shared her story, it was a moving testimony.

Brother Luke, the ministry is impacting a number of souls, even those we don’t meet or hear from them after the visit. I only wish I was in full time ministry so that I could have enough time to minister to such souls. Pray for Ruth and also pray for me so that God can give me the means to sustain my family so that I can commit all my time to ministry work. May God bless us all.

Pastor Anderson Jere




As we constantly remind you, be encouraged and glorify the Lord for He has used and is using our partnership in ways we will never know until we get there! Could not do it without you, thanks for your faithfulness!

His Servant

Luke (for the fam) <>

Whitfield Zanzibar 2010

Click on the link to see a slide show of pictures from our recent trip to Zanzibar!!


Whitfield Zanzibar 2010

Video recap of our trip to the village

Dear Friends

Thought you might be interested to view a video that my good friend and fellow travelling companion, Steve Allen (AZ Missionary), put together with some video footage he took last during our evangelistic trip to Chikankhata. Steve, you have a gift man.

Check it out (yes, it does appear to be the Luke show but I promise there were many others who God used in greater ways during the trip. Just thought you might like some cinematic depiction of what God accomplished through our (you and us) ministry. God bless and PRESS ON & INTO HIM!!

Bush Outreach Update

Ok here it is, as promised a somewhat detailed account of what occurred during our outreach over the past four days. Yes, it is long to wait until you can brew a pot of coffee and enjoy. God was so good and His faithfulness was evident each step of the way. We praise God for the part you play in this work -- Luke


Dear Friends 07/12/09

This correspondence is being written on the heels of what has been three and a half days of amazing ministry in the rural areas of Zambia’s Southern Province. A team of five men (three local pastors and two AZ missionaries) from Action Zambia spent the past few days showing the Jesus Film in partnership with Campus Crusade for Christ Zambia in the remote areas of Chikankhata (chi-kan-kata). The mission trip was also made possible through the permission and invitation of the local leader Chieftainess Mwenda who rules over the roughly 98,000 Tongas that live in her chiefdom of Chikankhata. Her Royal Highness had told us that she believed many of the people who would be seeing the film would be hearing the detailed story of Jesus Christ for the first time. She assumed that many had heard of Jesus before but the majority of her people had no understanding that salvation through Jesus Christ was personally available to them. How right she was.

December 3rd:

The Action Zambia team consisted of three local pastors who are currently involved with Action Zambia Pastoral Leadership Development ministry. Local pastors Anderson Jere, Patson Sakala, Bryan Zulu and Action Zambia missionaries Steve Allen and Luke Whitfield were accompanied by Campus Crusade for Christ Zambia volunteer Paul Mulenga who was an integral part of the team assuring that all the technical aspects of showing the film were taken care of.

The group arrived in the village of Chikankhata on December 3rd and enjoyed a meal and time of fellowship with the Chieftainess and her family. She detailed the following day’s event and informed the team that they would be traveling to a nearby village called Ngangula where she was born.

December 4th:

Upon arriving in Ngangula mid morning on December 4th the convoy, which was lead by the Chieftainess herself, was greeted by a group of women dressed alike and performing the traditional dance which is always performed when welcoming a visiting Chief. The team set up the film in a local Salvation Army Church which could have been no bigger than (20’ x 30’) and began to use the loud speakers to alert those in the outlaying areas of the event. In all there were probably around 200 people who turned out to view the film in their local language. The film runs for around two hours and it was amazing to see people continuously coming out of the surround bush even as the film was concluding.
Afterwards the team directed the viewers to a local soccer field and gave an opportunity for those who wanted to receive Christ to do so as well as receive prayers for sickness, demonic possession, or simply peace from a life consumed by fear. As the team prayed for the locals a huge thunderstorm developed all around the field but the crowd was never rained upon. The local people received a front row seat as God displayed His power during the prayer time through a continuous lightning show in the near distance. The team prayed for many to receive Christ as well as praying for the sick and oppressed. The two highlights though was the opportunity to pray for a little boy on crutches who came through the crowd, as one team member commented, “Just like the crippled man in the Bible”. The boy had a severely deformed right leg that was significantly shorter than his left one and although there was no visible evidence of an immediate healing the real miracle was to watch the faces of those in the crowd as team members focus so much love and acceptance towards this little guy. Disabled members of society are generally not valued by traditional Zambian culture so for the people to see these “special guests” affirming the “least of them” it spoke volumes to the authenticity of the Gospel the team had just explain. The other was a fourteen year old young woman named Desire who sought forgiveness for the bad things she had done but also expressed a desire to be a doctor. She was orphaned at a young age, and couldn’t even remember her mother or father. She became a Christian and the team gave her a new testament to read.

The team ate a late lunch in the Chieftaness sister’s home, and though they all ate at the same time, the Chieftainess was a in a separated partition of the room. Only Luke and Steve’s daughters who accompanied the team on this trip were allowed to eat with her, a privilege they relished. They love their “grandma.” That evening the team also showed the film in the village of Chikankata in a large Salvation Army hall. Around 200 mostly young people showed up to watch the film which had been advertised on the local radio. The movie ended at 11:00pm which hindered much follow-up.

December 5th:

The following morning (December 5) the team set out for the roughly 20 mile trip to visit the remote area of Simwambwa. This rural community is located in a valley surrounded by hills on all sides and is very isolated from most common forms of modern development. Upon the teams arrival they received a massive rain shower, the first in two weeks, which lasted almost the rest of the evening. The team was informed by the local Head Master of the school that they were “good visitors” because they had brought the rains (when God opens doors He puts out all the bells and whistles!). The team spent a good hour reading the Bible and praying for the evening with the Chieftainess. Her passion and love for her people is evident with anyone who listens to her pray. Among one of the greatest encouragements of this trip for the pastors who participated with the team was their time with the Chieftainess. Her unabashed love and faithfulness to Jesus and her desire to see her people be free from the darkness is evident in everything she does.

That evening the film was shown despite the constant sound of heavy rain on the tin roof above. The turnout was good and the team estimated the first showing had about 75 people in attendance who could not tear their eyes away from what they were watching. The evening also produced what could have been the biggest lesson of the trip as the team witnessed this first group’s response to the invitation to receive Christ at the end of the film. When the invitation was given to pray and receive prayer for sickness and such what had previously been a somewhat full room soon became empty with the exception of a couple brave women. The team watched as those who exited the room crowded around the few windows outside the to watched with great anticipation at what would transpire next. Murmurs and anxious comments could be heard as the bystanders offered their thoughts to one another on the events occurring inside. When the team had a chance to reflect on this phenomenon they agree that what had been witnessed was a people who had never before been presented with a genuine opportunity to enter into a relationship with Christ.

The team demonstrated unity in the Spirit as they all confessed that rather than responding in discouragement they would decide to pray that the Holy Spirit would work in the hearts of those who had been fearful and bring them back Sunday morning (December 6th) when the team would show the film again.

December 6th:

It had been announced Saturday evening (December 5th) that there would be another showing Sunday morning in Simwambwa at 7:00 AM sharp. Bit by bit people began to emerge from the surrounding villages and by the midpoint of the film the room was almost full. Again, there continued to be a steady and constant flow of people arriving even as the first showing was concluding. One of the Action Zambia pastors was told that even though the film was ending there was word that people were still coming from the far outlying areas. With this in mind the team decided to have a brief time of explanation of the film which would be followed by another showing to accommodate any who were still on their way. It was truly humbling for the team to witness so many who traveled so far to hear about Christ’s love for them.

By the conclusion of the second showing on Sunday the Chieftaness had arrived back from a short trip she needed to take to attend a meeting with Rupiah Banda who is the current President of Zambia. She informed the team later, that she had totally missed the meeting by the time she arrived but that they should not be concerned because to her, the mission of Action Zambia’s trip had great eternal value for her people. With Chieftainess Mwenda in attendance the team once more gave an invitation, with the help of the Chieftainess herself as the interpreter (the team was informed that this is an unheard of honor), for the roughly 150 present to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The response was uplifting as the crowd was encouraged to stop living under the fear of tradition and witchcraft and chose to receive the everlasting peace that exists in Jesus alone. Many decided to pray to receive Christ as well as receive prayers for sickness and demonic oppression. There was even an opportunity to anoint and pray for one of the local Headmen (local government leader) who had been complaining of continuous demonic oppression and attack.

Later that afternoon the team was lead by the Chieftainess to the nearby village of Chikani, which although was only 10 miles away took the team almost two hours to reach. Chikani was to be the last location for the team to show the film before departing back to Lusaka. The drive took the team through mountain streams and travelled some of the most rugged road any member of the team had seen in Zambia.
Along the way the Chieftainess suddenly stopped the convoy to get out and listen to the trials of one of her tribesmen. This man who name was Robson, described how his grass thatched roof had burned after a lightning strike that also hit his son Emmanuel. He wholeheartedly believed it was the work of a witchdoctor and had stopped the Chieftainess to request her to send for a “witch hunter”. The Chieftainess asked the team to pray for this dear man and his family to be delivered from the fear they daily live with. After listening to the team give witness of God’s love for them the whole family, maybe fourteen in all, joined hands with the team and prayed to receive Christ.

As the team arrived in Chikani it was clear, by the group of people already assembled, that word had travelled ahead of them detailing their visit and the showing of the film. The team quickly assembled the equipment and began the viewing. Within a span of around forty minutes the room, which could not have been much bigger than an average American garage, was filled with what seemed to be well over a hundred people. By the conclusion of the film the room was so packed that when Paul Mulenga, the team’s film technician, tried to get back in to monitor the projector the occupants told him to wait and let them finish watching this film.

The Chieftainess once again translated as the team shared with a large crowd of people the hope and eternal peace that existing in the name of Jesus. Once more there was a positive response of those wanting to receive Christ into their daily lives and they also clearly requested that Action Zambia return with the film since many more still on their way had not gotten the benefit of viewing it. After packing up the team followed the Chieftainess through another fifteen miles of the remote wilderness that makes up much of her chiefdom. One team member reflected, “all through the valleys we have seen there are hundreds of huts all containing people who need a chance to see what we have just shown others”. What an accurate account of what exists in this vast area that God has given Action Zambia great favor to minister in here in Southern Zambia.
Another great highlight was an opportunity that Luke and Steve had to sit down with the Chieftainess and to hear her hopes for her people and her desire that AZ would partner with her in not only reaching the kingdoms using the Jesus Film, but utilizing Action Zambia’s HIV/AIDS team, our Community School teams and AZ’s PLD pastors to put on conferences, camps and meetings. She shared which villages AZ should start with so that teams could then begin to reach the truly unreached villages that bordered the area. She shared how her eyes have been opened by the suffering her people are enduring and she welcomed AZ with a wide open blessing to come and join her in ministering to her kingdom.

Conclusion:

In all the Jesus film was shown six times in three different rural communities to roughly somewhere around 600 - 700 people who for the most part had never even seen a moving motion picture before. Many made an indication of needing to change their current way of living through putting their trust in God. All were expose the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and all this occurred for the cost of what many of us would spend on a weekend trip. The best part: The chance that even one of these dear souls found eternal rest from a life that is constantly filled with pain and struggle is of course: PRICELESS

There is much more to share and praise God about surrounding Action Zambia’s recent exploratory trip to Chikankhata. The team hopes to get a more detailed report of the trips events in the very near future. The Apostle Paul reminds us in II Timothy 4:2: Preach the Word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching (NLT). There were many an opportunity to put this verse into practice over the last four days and the team was amazed to see God provide opportunities to glorify and advance His Kingdom when they least expected it. There is no doubt that the spiritual need of the people of Chikankhata is enormous and the work needed to be completed will not be accomplished through a few quick evangelistic trips.

To those who prayed consistently for this trip, please know you are the real horsepower that allows the hands and feet of Christ to ministry to the masses as occurred in Chikankhata over the past few days. We are all part of the Body of Christ and each part is essential in the advancement of His kingdom throughout the darkness that suffocates much of the world we live in. Please continue to pray for Action Zambia and Chieftainess Mwenda as they continue to seek the Lord’s will in this divinely appointed relationship.

Luke (For The Team) <><

A Last Frontier

Dear Friends

We wanted to take a moment and make you aware of a unique open door that God has provided our (you and us) ministry here in Zambia. Romans 15:10-12 reminds us of the Apostle Paul’s desire to preach the Word where it had not been preached before: My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in Scripture, where it says, “Those who have never been told about Him will see, and those who have never heard of Him will understand” (NLT). What Paul is describing is an opportunity that is becoming almost unheard of as the global community we know grows closer and closer together. That is in part why we are so excited that God has given Action Zambia ministries and opportunity to participate in an evangelistic outreach to a rural village in the remote areas of Zambia’s Southern Province.

Some of you may remember us writing a while back about a rural area called Cikankhata (Chicken Cutta – is almost how is sounds) which is located roughly two hours south of Lusaka. God has given us extreme favor and a growing relationship with the chieftainess of the area and we have been given an open door to be developing and growing the non-existent church in her chiefdom. We have included some pics of a recent trip Elise the kids and I took this past week to visit Chieftainess Mwenda and discuss the details of our upcoming outreach December 3rd – 6th. During the course of three and a half days we will be showing the Jesus Film in the local dialect of Tonga. The Chieftainess believes it will be the first time her people will be hearing the Gospel message in at least one of the villages we will be visiting (what an opportunity). We will also be hoping to identify and empower local elders who might develop into the spiritual leaders of any church body that may develop as a result of the outreach.

This ministry will include the participation of ten local pastors who are currently involved with programs within Action Zambia’s Pastoral Leadership Development ministry area. Some of these pastors have prior experience and some do not, so it will be a unique environment to watch their different experiences and gifts work together to advance Christ’s Kingdom here in Zambia. We are also planning Lord willing, to spend one on one time praying for the sick and oppressed that we are sure to find in these far outlying areas.

Would you begin to pray that God would, even now, be working in the hearts of those who will have (maybe for the first time) the opportunity to respond to the wonderful message of the salvation found in Jesus Christ! It is our hope, Lord willing, that these types of trips to the Cikankhata area will become a more regular part of how Action Zambia is being used by God to strengthen the local believers here in Lusaka.

As always we share this with you to remind you that your partnership with us is being used to accomplish amazing things both now and for all eternity. We are truly blessed to have your prayers and support. Of course we will be taking cameras along to document the events of the trip so you can expect some photos and an update upon our return. May God bless and keep you in His grace and mercy.

His Servant

Luke (for the fam) <><

September Update

Dear Friends

It has a few weeks since our last update and there is much to inform you about. The month of September is always special as it is the only month in which we have two birthdays (Luke’s 29th, Emma 7th) and Payton celebrated his 5th the end of Aug. We have been enjoying some hotter weather which was perfect for Emma’s Hawaiian themed party which was held her in own tropical backyard (we included some pics for you). We also enjoyed a recent visit from Luke’s Uncle Jim and his fiancé Jacki who were in Lusaka with Willow Creek Church in Chicago conducting a seminar on Biblical Church Leadership. It was great to see and reconnect with them and see how God used them help strengthen the Zambian Church.

September also saw the completion of the first 2:7 discipleship class, which Brent Roberts and Luke had been facilitating over the past few months. Along with the Roberts we hosted the graduates to a barbecue where they received their certificates of completion as well as being encouraged to remember to always lead by serving first. With the completion of one class also came the recruitment and enrollment of a new group of students who, Lord willing, will complete the 2:7 course over the next year. Please continue to pray for these leaders as they go out to make disciples of all men.

AZ’s Pastoral Leadership Development Team (PLD), also saw the addition of another Zambian to its consultancy staff to specifically be working with Brent and Luke in the area of Discipleship and Evangelism. Pastor Wozifera Ngoma will be the fourth Zambia to come on staff with Action Zambia and we are very excited about God adding him to our team. He is a wealth of cultural insight and wisdom and it is AZ’s hope that he will help us to serve the Zambian people in a more effective way. Please take a moment and visit Action Zambia’s website: http://actionzambia.org/ to learn more about Pastor Ngoma’s story.

Hospital Ministry has also flourished over the past month as Luke has seen many new doors open up. The AZ team, along with local pastors, are visiting patients in five of the local area clinics and hospitals. At one particular clinic Luke visited this past week, the head physician informed the group that because there are so many patients who are medically untreatable the need to ministering to them spiritually is immense. He actually said that most of his patients are really more in need of spiritual attention than they are medical (Amen). Luke said the best part of the day was to see the excitement on the faces of the local pastors he had traveled with who could not believe the opportunity God had opened right before their eyes. Praise God with us and continue to pray that He would raise up an army of Churches here in Zambia who will compassionately reach out to the sick and dying in Christ’s name.

Moving from ministry to school, Elise has seen such an improvement in the kids’ involvement and retention of schooling material. Although she would deny it, much of the credit goes to her amazing amounts of patience and love that she exhibits towards the kids and their sometime infuriating learning patterns (praise God for kids). School has also gotten easier now that our house helper Pauline is watching Tazi during the morning school session. One highlight from this past week was Macie’s acing her Math exam which, as we would expect, she is very thrilled about. God has also blessed the kids with the opportunity to participate in classes at the International School just up the road from our new house. The biggest blessing is that the school offers some of these classes for free to homeschool students. Macie and Emma are doing swimming classes and Patyon is in beginner’s football (soccer).

As a family we are well and blessed and enjoy learning daily more about our dear Zambian friends and their culture. We have decided to try our hand at raising chickens, much to the delight of our chicken-eating dog Spud. Yes we have already lost two chickens to mortal wounds inflicted by this savage beast; but amazingly, the kid’s love for Spud really does cover a multitude of sins. We continue to praise God that He has faithfully keep us healthy and malaria free as the mosquitoes have become horrendous over the past few weeks.

With that we say goodbye for now but please know we love and miss you all dearly. As always thanks again for being such great supporters and teammates of what God has called us to accomplish for His sake here in Zambia. Please keep praying without ceasing for us as we are always in need and could not function without them. We would love to hear from you or maybe talk sometime -- for those of you on Skype you can reach us at username: Taziona6 . God bless and keep all of you and remember to forget what’s behind and press on to the things He has called you Heavenward in Christ.

Lesa Masuma Nshito Shonse (God is good all the time)

The Whitfields