His People Church

Worshipping in Johannesburg!

Last week Kerri, myself and Sheila had the privilege of attending the His People Worship conference in South Africa! We were blessed by hours of worship, teaching and fellowship. Several years ago this church sent missionaries out to start our little church here in the bush in Zambia! It was great to connect first hand with this awesome body of believers! We are so thankful for their partnership!

Saying goodbye!

This is my friend and neighbor Tracy! She named her little girl (in her arms) after me! Today she is moving off the farm because of work troubles with her husband. Tracy has been a sweet neighbor, always bringing me local foods, pumpkins and maize. She was a part of our monthly women's tea and helped at the kids camp last month as a translator! We both cried as we hugged and said goodbye! How precious this friendship is to me.......................
A God given friendship like this gives so much meaning and purpose to living life here in Zambia!

If you build it they will come....

 The beginning of August saw the majority of construction projects here at Water Valley come to an end. During the development of the property we have built an outdoor meeting area (complete with pizza oven), bunk and shower houses and an agricultural training center. The vision behind Water Valley is to use the property as a location to host various gatherings focused on the same thing......to see His Kingdom come into the community we minister to. Thanks to all the long hours and our hard working Zambian friends, that is so much closer to becoming a reality. To all of you who were involved through prayer and support a big thank you to you as well. If you build it they will come....

Tazi and Grace

In a blink of an eye!

Avery 3 months old!!!

The Chiefteness and Avery!

Dancing in Heaven!!!

Whitfield Family Spring 2013 Update

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From: whitfieldelise@hotmail.com
Subject: Whitfield Family Spring 2013 Update
Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 09:53:48 -0500

Dear Friends

Wow is it really already the middle of May.......can't believe that today marks the twelfth week Avery has been present in our lives......so thankful for God's faithfulness towards Elise & Avery and our family over these past weeks and for His faithfulness through the rest of our lives. The past few months have flown by and we find ourselves at the end of one season entering into a new one.....not just on the calendar but also in the spiritual life of our family and the communities we have come to serve...

You probably have heard us say it before but thought it would be good to remind you all of what Eleeo Project exists to accomplish...

Eleeo Project exists to change the spiritual and physical landscape of the Tonga and White Commercial Farmers of Southern Zambia through a Christ - inspired ministry of reconciliation. We are committed to influencing every level of society...promoting a culture that through honor, respect and love strives to ensure that every man, woman and child gets a chance to experience the Gospel of Jesus Christ…

As we look over the last season of 15 months here in Southern Zambia we have noticed that much of what God has been doing cannot be measured....yet. To be honest, that can be quite frustrating as we attempt to encapsulate in words what is happening here on the ground in attempt to keep you all up to speed. We continue to learn that often with God the greatest impact is realized in what at the time might seems like insignificant events. Daily interaction.......words of encouragement and honor.......building of trust through the working out disagreements or offenses.....we are finding that these commonly are the building blocks for an environment that is conducive for a great move of God within a community. So here we are 15 months later with the construction of our Water Valley ministry center almost complete, breaking ground on the development of our Ngangula rural ministry center, the successful completion and increased awareness of our gospel - based agricultural program, the launch of a trial nutritional program, discipleship groups that touch almost every section of the local community and some great testimonies from outreaches all over the bush. While we are thrilled at all God has accomplished through our presence so far we feel the real impact is still baking in the oven...

We also stand on the threshold of several other new opportunities that God has placed before us. Luke recently return from another exploratory outreach trip on Lake Kariba, this time with the five oldest kids (Elise and Avery had to stay behind unfortunately). They spent time in a couple different isolated fishing villages along the lake's shore. God continues to expand the borders of Eleeo Project's heart to see the Tonga people experience His Kingdom. This recent outreach trip again provided ample evidence of a deep thirst for Christ among the Tonga peoples of not just Zambia but also Zimbabwe. We also will be entering into a new season surrounding our involvement in the leadership and vision of the local community of believers we have been having fellowship with. Mazabuka Community Church is an amazing gathering of believers and non believers that is well on its ways to having authentic representation from most the social groups in the Mazabuka Area. We have been asked to be more involved in areas such as vision, teaching, worship, and outreach/evangelism. We are excited at this new opportunity to expand the reach of Eleeo Project here in Southern Zambia and feel it is a God given answer to our cry to be a bridge of reconciliation between the white and black communities here. Much more to share on these fronts in the weeks and months to come...

Lastly, today marks another very important event coming up in the near future.......in just 23 days Elise and Avery will be on their way back to the States to introduce Avery to everyone as well as conduct some ministry update gatherings. The dates

  

  

for their visit will be June 12 - July 20......she will be in Dallas July 1st - 12th and Chicago (Sycamore/DeKalb) for the remainder of the time. She has a few speaking engagements already set up and would love to come and share with those interested. We will keep you posted via email and facebook as the dates become settled.

As always we close reminding you that your involvement is not insignificant..............maybe one of the greatest revelation of spending the last six plus years as an official "missionary" is that there is no such thing...............we all are in "full time" ministry. We love you all dearly and treasure the experience of walking this journey together with you...

Blessings


Luke for the fam <><

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Harvest time!!

The kids are all smiles!!! Last Thursday the kids harvested their plot of maize! Watching them over the last 6 months from preparing the soil, measuring rows, planting, weekly weeding and now harvesting and shucking has been amazing! What a great opportunity for them to see first hand the principles of Foundation for Farming!

The whole gang shucking their corn! We are so proud of our 6 big kids! Macie, Emma, Payton, Caleb, Gracyn and Thomas! They have worked so hard over the past 6 months and have seen the fruit of their diligence!

Payton the proud farmer!

Thx for a great bday!!

All the gang! (Luke is taking the pic)

Emma made a white cake!

Macie made a chocolate cake!

Avery and I off to the clinic to get her 2 mo shots!

Weighing in at 10lbs 12oz at 8 weeks!!

Sweet Avery 2 months old!!

Feeding program!

Macie and Memory measuring out a months supply of powered vitamins for the malnourished babies at the clinic.

Baby love!

Avery 7 weeks!

Tazi after the ordeal!

Guess who got their ears pierced!

Tazi has been begging us since her 5th bday in Feb. To get her ears pierced! Last week while in Lusaka she got it done after lots of tears!

Replication

Last night provided another amazing full moon for a Jesus Film showing.......more amazing yet was the group of Tonga men that set up, ran and ministered the evening themselves. Brent Roberts has done a brilliant job of mentoring these guys over the past few months and the film showing last night was part of them applying what they have learned. The film was shown here on the farm where we live and many of the viewers were people these guys see and work with everyday.......so follow up and discipleship are very practical. Just one of the many amazing opportunities God has given us in calling the destiny and greatness out of a people group written off by many in their nation........He is moving...

Campout!!

Thomas, Caleb and Payton all packed up and headed to our neighbors bday party campout tonight! We are so thankful for our friends/neighbors here in Chikankata!