New Opportunitis for Ministry

Dear Friends

Greetings from increasingly hot Lusaka, Zambia. I (Luke) wanted to write a quick note and let you know the latest on new ministry opportunities and development with us. As Elise has mentioned in a previous update we have been investigating ways to “mobilize” the churches we are working with. We have realized, during our two years here, that there is much knowledge transfer going on in churches but very little mobilization of the congregation. While knowledge and study of God’s Word is essential, if that knowledge cannot be transferred into practical actions are we really helping the Zambian we came to serve? It to this end that we have been intent on developing outlet ministries that allow different congregation to see the power that exists when we take the knowledge of the Word of God to the streets. This has mainly been in the areas of door to door and open air evangelism, as well as hospital visitation.

The past two weeks I have gone over to the main hospital here in Lusaka, UTH, and spent time visiting with various patients. I always take a member from a local church with me because of the language barrier and most importantly because we are hoping they will catch the vision for themselves. Yesterday, 25/08, we went to the pediatrics ward and all I can say is that I left broken hearted. So many little ones with tubes stuck all over their bodies and anxious mother with looks of desperation covering their faces. We went to visit a little 8 year old boy named Enzo. This little guy has a significant hole in his heart which means you can literally hear his heart murmur without a stethoscope. With or without treatment the diagnosis is that Enzo will probably die in the next year but the hope is that treatment might prolong the inevitable. We went to love on little Enzo and pray a pray for healing in faith, what a privilege to serve this little one in this manner. While there we also meet a little girl name Musonda who, just like Enzo, also had a heart condition as well as problems with her lungs. As we prayed for her she labored heavily to take each new breath in, but when we finished she rewarded us with a big smile. Her mother, a Jehovah’s witness, was reluctant at first to let us pray for her but finally agreed. After we had finished we noticed that all the other patients in the ward has gotten up and left the room we were in. We took this a clear rejection of our prayers and proceed to leave the ward. As we enter the hall, Musonda’s mother came running after us and frantically explained that she was concerned that we had only prayed for her daughter, what? As I asked the Zambians who had come with me to explain what she was so concerned about, they told me that there is still much superstition towards whites (we are sometimes thought to be Satanists) and she believed bad things would happen to her daughter if we only prayed for her. We assured her that we had just prayed for a little boy in the next ward named Enzo but she would not be satisfied until she asked him for herself. These are the little ways satan has bound these people in fear and keeps them from receiving the healing message of Jesus Christ. Continue to pray that the name of Jesus would break down these spiritual barriers and that He would continue to equip us to do battle for His name sake.

We are also still organizing a meeting with the head of all prisons here in Zambian with the hope that we will be granted permission to begin work in the prison system here in the country (amazing opportunities for ministry). I continue to help lead, with my good friend Brent Roberts, a small group ministry with Great Commission Baptist Church. We are excited as we have identified two future leaders in the group and are hoping they will partner together to start a new small group within the church. This is such an answer to prayer as our mission, from the beginning of our small group ministry, has been to see replication happen (praise God). We also began work a couple of weeks ago on creating a curriculum for evangelism that will be piloted at Evangel Baptist Church, which is the church we are currently attending. I have begun a five week program on evangelism with the men’s group each Saturday morning a 7:30 and I am excited at the evident eagerness to see a heart for evangelism fostered at this church. Please pray as the long term vision for this program will be to implement it into all levels of the church—leadership, men’s/women’s ministry, youth programs, AWANA, small group, etc. Elise and I feel that this type of training and educating is why God has called us to Zambia. Also, as you continue to pray for us you might be interested to know that last Tuesday 08/19 the president of Zambia passed away in Paris, France. This has been such an interesting time as the government has decreed that there will be 21 days of national mourning which will end with his burial on my birthday September 3^rd. Things remain very stable here but the implementation of the new government would prove to be troublesome. I am sure that violence will be avoided at all costs but as we have seen in other instances bathing these types of situations in prayer is essential. Pray that Zambia would continue to remain a beacon of stability in a somewhat unstable region and that the Christian heritage they claim would continue to be the cornerstone on which this great country rests. FYI—please check out our blog at: www.whitfieldwateringhole.blogspot.com as we have added some new feature that will allow you to give online and also sign up for email updates ever time a new entry is posted. Thanks again for your continued support and prayers. We are so appreciative of your partnership.

His Servant

Luke <><

August Update

Dear Friends

We trust you are all well and resting in the provision of our Lord and Savior. Wanted to write (this is Luke so don’t get excited about details, hah) and let you know about what has been going on over the past few days. Elise and Tazi are currently in Lukulu (Uncle Jim that about 200km south of Chit) which is about 120km East of the Angolan border. She has been participating in a children camp, with a group from Dallas, which has seen numbers as high as 2000 participants. They have been concentrating on teaching local leaders on how to teach and evangelize the local youth in the area. She is very excited at the lesson she has learned and can hopefully apply to our ministry here in Lusaka. The first night they were there they had over 1000 youths attend a praise and worship service (God is moving!). She is due to arrive back in Lusaka tomorrow (Friday 14^th) but will miss the kids and myself as we will be heading to Kufue National Park to camp (yes nylon tents) amongst the lions, hyena, and elephant. Macie has reminded me that if God could close the mouths of the lions for Daniel He can do the same for us (what a little woman of faith). We continue to work with Great Commission Baptist Church here in Lusaka. We have just received permission, from the largest hospital in Lusaka UTH, to begin doing hospital visitation three times a week with the members from GCBC and other churches AZ works with. We also are going to meet with the head of prisons here in Zambia in the next couple of weeks in hopes that we can also get permission to begin prison ministries with the churches we work with. This past Saturday (the 3^rd August) we were invited to participate in a fellowship that the congregation at GCBC planned to honor those from Action Zambia. What a humbling experience to hear the testimonies of how these dear brothers and sisters have been bless by our work with them. Just another reminder that all God needs to do His work is a willing vessel and He does the rest! I am also developing curriculum base on Ray Comfort’s Way of the Master that can be used to teach local churches how to begin to cultivate a spirit of evangelism in their congregations. Please pray for me in this area as I do not feel gifted in the area of teaching or necessarily enjoy the development of curriculum.

On a side note we need to petition your prayers concerning our current support levels. We have been so blessed by the consistent support of all of you who partner with us in this call God has placed on our lives. As I know is also the case in the States, we have seen a great increase in the cost of living due to the global financially crisis. This has resulted in us being very much under supported at our current levels and left with the realization that we will need to raise an additional $1000 - $1500 a month to remain on the field for another term (it is really only 15 people committing to $100/mo or 30 committing to $50/mo). We know that God has already gone ahead and secured this support through individuals like you who see the importance in what God is doing for His Kingdom here in Zambia. We are planning on raising much of this support during our four months home while on furlough, and would love the opportunity to speak with any one or any church that you feel would be open to allowing us to share about what God is doing here in Zambia. Please consider how the Lord might use you to continue our partnership in reaching the lost here in Zambia. For more information about how you can partner with us please send us an email and we will be sure to get you all the necessary info. For those of you interested in meeting with us while we are home our dates again for Chicago are: December 1^st – 22^nd; February 15^th – April 1^st; Dallas December 28^th – February 8^th. We are planning on travelling to see those of you who live in adjoining such as Wisconsin, etc. We are home to share with you what God is doing through our partnership so please take us up on our offer of spending some time fellowshipping together. We love you all and look forward to hearing from you soon. Remain in Him as He calls us Heavenward in Christ Jesus. PRESS ON & INTO HIM!!!

His Servants

Luke (for the Whitfields) <><

Prayer Needed

Dear Family and Friends,

What a great August it has been so far! We are all over our sniffles and the weather is starting to warm up again. By the end of this month it will be hot and I am sure I will be wanting this cool weather……but as for now it is nice!!!! Last Friday we welcomed back our house helper Pauline and her little baby Grace. It is such a blessing to have her back to help us keep our crazy house in order. It is so fun to see little Gracie and we all love holding her. She is two months old and we are excited that her and Tazi get to grow up together. Thank you all for your prayers for Pauline and her family.

I am especially excited this week because I am headed off to the bush to help with a kids camp. I will be going with a team from the states and we will be gone for a week. We leave this Saturday and arrive back the following Saturday. Tazi will be coming with me and sharing in the adventure. I am excited to see how this large kids camp is run and get experience for the future. ACTION Zambia is expanding and adjusting the child evangelism and discipleship aspect of ministry and I am excited to start helping them in this area. The camp is organized by local Zambians and we (7 muzungu’s or whites) will be helping in any ways we can. They are expecting several hundred kids and it will be amazing to be a part of this week. I will be in touch when I return home and share all the details and pictures with you all. Please pray for our protection not only on the 7 hour bus trip to the village of Lukulu but while we are staying in the bush. Malaria is more common the further you get outside the city so PLEASE pray for protection from that specifically. Also pray that I will be used how God wants me to be used and I will be sensitive to His Holy Spirit. Thanks so much for covering us in prayer. Luke will be home with Macie, Emma and Payton so pray for him too!!!! He, the kids and other team mates are going camping and on a night safari the following weekend so they are all excited. That will be a fun and special time for them.

Please pray for our vehicle situation. We found out today that the insurance company is not going to pay to get the car fixed, instead they will buy the car from us because it will be less expensive than fixing it. The insurance companies here are different than in the states and more difficult to work with. They are not buying the car at the same price that we did and so we will have to raise more support to buy a new car. As many of you remember we imported this Land Cruiser from Japan and it took several months and a ton of paper work and phone calls. It was a great deal price wise but a big pain. So we are again trusting God to provide for all of our needs as he has been so faithful in doing these past 18months. Please pray for our frustration this week as we work through this whole procedure. Pray that we will find a new vehicle soon and at a good price. Our God is big enough to do anything so that is what I am praying for as of today. We are praising God for our friends Andy and Robyn Davidson who have let us borrow their second vehicle while we get all this figured out. Thank you Jesus for such great friends!! Please keep these prayer requests in your hearts for us. Also this month we have seen a drop in monthly support so please remember us in your prayers as we depend on Christ for our monthly income. Thank you for your faithfulness, continued support and prayers, e-mails and notes of encouragement. We are excited to watch and see how the Lord provides for us again. We will update you soon on all the camp details and how the car situation is coming. We love and miss you all and look forward to hearing from you.

Your family in Christ, Elise&Luke, Macie, Emma, Payton and Marley Whitfield