The Whitfield Watering Hole: August 2015

Dear Friends,

What a crazy and fun last couple months we have had. May through July was filled with Love Africa teams from the States and we thoroughly enjoyed sharing our life and ministry with them. We had a total of four teams averaging 7-12 people. We had four core team members stay for the whole two months and help us with all the logistics, such as driving, leading the kids camps, teaching Sunday school, cooking, shopping and organizing. They were such a blessing.

Each team spent 5 days/4 nights out at Ngangula our village property. They slept in simple mud brick homes, ate local food, endured bucket baths, lot of bugs, outdoor toilets and no power! They ministered to the community through meeting both physical needs and spiritual needs. They prayed and encouraged several widows in the community, held daily kids camps for the school, distributed Bibles and clothing, taught in the school classes, prayed for the sick, carried water buckets for ladies, fixed our ministry property fence and toilets, and spent time going on prayer walks asking God where to go and who to pray for. As you can imagine their stories were amazing and life changing.

Our family especially enjoyed sitting around the campfire each night singing and listening to testimonies of how God was working in each person. Each team member took turns leading a devotion time. It was such a special time of ministry and encouragement. It is a privilege for Luke and myself to host Love Africa teams and to be a part of the seeds God is planting in these young hearts. God planted seeds in our hearts for missions when we were young, and it will be cool to watch what God continues to do in these individuals.

The teams also experienced drilling for water out in the village. After two disappointing and unsuccessful attempts we finally reached water on the third try in July! We are so thankful for God's provision as this will allow us to implement Foundations For Farming, helping the local farmers grow their own gardens and maize more successfully. It will also provide water for Hyrence's family, who stays on our property. We really feel this is an open door to do more ministries and reach out to the community around us out at Ngangula. And that's what it's all about.

On the home front…………………..

We took a break from school during our two crazy months of visitors. Our kids had a great time interacting with the teams. Macie, Emma and Payton in particular formed some very special relationships while they spent a week out in the village with the teams. We are so thankful that they have such cool opportunities right at their finger tips. The three small kids, ChiChi, Tazi and Avery also enjoyed special play time and fun with the teams. We are thankful these guys came to love on our kids too!

This new school year we are so excited to be changing home school curriculums from Sonlight to ACE….Accelerated Christian Education. In July, I took a week long training in Lusaka and the kids were also tested for placement. We are thankful for ACE and how it will help us school all 5 kids in a Biblical, structured and independent format.

On the church front…..

Luke continues to preach most Sundays at our church, Mazabuka Community Church and leads the elders in pursuing Gods call for encouraging and loving this community. His passion and love for Christ is so contagious. I enjoy leading worship and helping teach Sunday school for the kids. I had my first opportunity to preach in July while Luke was away on a ministry boat trip in Zimbabwe. It was a special time and I hope to do it again.
Macie, on her own accord, has taken the responsibility of teaching the toddlers during church, which is a huge blessing to us moms with little ones. It's cool to see her servant's heart as she is getting older.

Building relationships is our heart and God heart. Its beautifully rewarding, challenging, and time consuming. It teaches and stretches us every day to be like Christ, not only in word, but in our actions. Zambia has wrecked us forever. These precious people have so little, but are willing to give so much. They have such a deep faith and trust in their Savior because He literally provides for their daily needs. It is a privilege to live here, building kingdom relationships. Thank you for your prayers and support. We love and miss you all.

Luke and Elise Whitfield