Abe's African Adventure!

For those of you who know my life story will probably be going, "Oh! New entry! What has he got to tell for his next chapter now?"! Well, this part of my life story just has to be told the way it is. It may sound as though told 'African style' but stay with me. I pray it will bless you as you read it...

After months of waiting on what God would have me do after my 5 years of youth ministry at Godmanchester Baptist Church, I decided to visit my family back in Africa last summer. Part of my purpose was to get away from the distractions of the West and spend time listening to God concerning what He would have me do next! I sensed in my spirit that God would speak to me. One of the words I was given at GBC when I was leaving was Isaiah 30:21, “Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether you turn to the right or left.” Three days before I left for 'home', I got an email from a Zambian pastor friend with this sentence in it: "Thanks for the update. We wish you a lovely and productive 3 months as you visit Zambia. I trust the Lord will clarify your future options and direction during this visit." So I went expectant!

Well, for the whole time I was ‘home’ the Lord seemed silent! Anyone know that feeling you get when you desperately need to hear from God and He seems silent? Then suddenly, a week before I was due to return to the UK the Lord put these words in my heart, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts...and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT).


That night my heart’s prayer was as King David had prayed, “Show me the right path, point out the road for me to follow” (Psalm 25:4). The following morning I had this gentle whisper as I was having my quiet time, “Maybe you could give up 2 years of your time and come back home and serve with Mission Direct."! We all like to hear God speak with lightning and thunder don’t we? So doubts began to flood in: ‘Was that really God speaking to me or it’s just me?’ I picked up my devotional book, and the reading for that day was spot on:
Start Where You Are!
'...The Child grew and became strong...' Luke 2:40
When do we get our first clue that Jesus knows He is the Son of God? In the temple when He was 12 years old. His parents are three days into the return trip to Nazareth before they notice he's missing. The temple is the last place they search, but it's the first place Jesus goes. By the time Joseph and Mary locate their son, He has confounded the most learned scholars in the temple. As a boy, Jesus already senses the call of God. But what does He do next? Recruit disciples and preach sermons? No, He goes back home and learns the family business. That's what you should do! Before you attempt to do great things for God, go home, love your family and take care of business. 'But I'm called to be a missionary,' you say. Good, because your first mission field is where you live! What makes you think you'll be believed by those who barely know you, if you're not credible to those who know you best? Charity begins at home! The Psalmist says, '...I will lead a life of integrity in my own home' (Psalm 101:2 NLT). For His first 30 years, Jesus' neighbours remembered Him as a worker. '...He's just a carpenter...' (Mark 6:3 TM). Jesus spent years developing a work ethic, sharpening His vocational skills and supporting His family. '...He had to enter into every detail of human life...' (Hebrews 2:17 TM). Why did Jesus do it that way? So He would know how we feel, and so we'd be confident in going to Him with our needs, knowing He's qualified and able to meet them. So, start where you are! (UCB Word for Today, 25 Aug 2010).

A day before I flew back to England I went to say goodbye to a friend who works at an orphanage in the outskates of Ndola on the Copperbelt province of Zambia. As I drove down the road I was talking to God asking Him to confirm if all this was of Him. After a nice visit and just before I drove off, my friends boss runs to my car and says to me, “You know just when I met you I felt the Lord lay this on my heart for you. I don’t know you, I have never met you before and I don’t know where you are at in life but if the Lord is speaking to you about coming back you need to obey...”! WOW! He couldn’t be more accurate in His confirmation could He?!

So after much thought, prayer, discussion, advice, and generous financial support from friends, I’m heading off to Africa on Sunday. I have made a 2-year commitment to work with Mission Direct (www.missiondirect.org). From beginning of February until end of March, I will be working in Zimbabwe alongside the Country Manager, Geoff Spiller. We will lead a team who will come to build a children’s community centre in a town 4 hours east of Harare. Then I will move to Lusaka, Zambia’s capital where I will be mainly based. From the end of May to mid June I will have the privilege of taking a Medical team to my village (Luampa Hospital) helping Linda Lauermann, the Medical Mission Manager. I’m really excited about this medical mission.

My specific role will be being part of the overseas staff team, hosting volunteer teams from the UK. I will be responsible for their pastoral and spiritual support, in-country orientation, pre trip set up for projects, work with local partners establishing the needs of the projects and what Mission Direct can do, work with local pastors about Mission Direct’s involvement in the churches.

I’m really excited about what God is going to do in and through me in the next 2 years. I will really need all the prayer support you can offer. I will be writing regular updates as to how you can pray for me while I’m in Africa. If you would like to receive my updates please let Dorne McAngus know on dorne.watson@googlemail.com and she will add you to the mailing list. If you wish to get in touch with me you can email me on avilahama4jc@gmail.com it will be great to hear from you. Internet permitting, I will try to update my blog as often as I can so you can follow my African Adventures!

Mom's Promotion To Glory

I have just returned from Zambia where I went to spend time with my family after Mom's sudden death exactly four weeks ago today! Gosh! It feels as though it's such a long time! She died just after her 76th birthday (she doesn't look it, does she!) after a short illness. She had a tumour which possibly could have been cancerous! She was on her way to see a specialist in a town hopspital where my sister works. Unfortunately she didn't make it. Although she experienced a 9-hour painful journey, my sister Lucky, who was travelling with her, tells me she died in peace!

Before travelling to Zambia, I got many cards and messages from friends and my home church family. Most of them atleast had these words in them, "Sorry to hear of your Mom's passing..."! Words which stayed with me though were words a good friend of mine who is a retired vicar said to me. He knocked on my door on the morning I was flying out to Zambia and said, "I hear your Mother has been promoted to glory? I want to pray for you that you may experience God's peace!" I had those words of comfort ringing in my head all the time - as I went to see Mom's grave, as I travelled to the village where she lived, as I visited my family and spent time with them, there the words were: "...Your Mother has been promoted to glory"! Hence the message I sent to be read at her funeral service which I missed as I couldn't make it in time:

A ship sails and I stand watching till she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says “She’s gone!” Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large now as when I last saw her. Her diminished size and total loss from my sight is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says she is gone there are others who are watching her coming over their horizon and other voices take up a glad shout “Here she comes!”

That is what dying is. An horizon and just the limit of our sight. And that’s what has happened to my dear mother. A woman I loved so much and held dear to my heart. She has departed from this life, but has arrived in eternity, where she is waiting to welcome me – I can’t wait to get there!

Hmmm! It seem's my earthly loss has been heaven's gain! However, one thing I can testify to is an answer to my vicar friend's prayer and to the prayers of many who love me and care about my family! I can't explain the unusual peace of God I have experienced in the middle of my pain! Who says it should make sense? Doesn't the Word of God say, "...you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7, NIV)? And didn't Christ Jesus promise us a different kind of peace? He said, "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid" (John 14:27, NLT).

I'm grateful to God for:
- His peace I'm experiencing despite the pain of my loss I'm going through
- All the caring friends who love me and my family and are praying for us as well as mourning with us
-The life of my dear mother and for all she was and meant to me and my sibblings
-Jesus who not only knows what I feel but sympathises with me in my grief and is here feeling with me; and becuase of Him, one day I will see Mom when I see Him face to face. And in that one look into His face, all my questions will be satisfied for all eternity!!!

Exactly three weeks ago today, the team started work on the building site! A phrase I warned the team to be aware of was T.I.A! Any of you ever seen 'Blood Diamond' - it means 'This Is Africa'! In fact one of my American friends told me his family version of it: T.I.A.B. - This Is Africa Baby!:) You wake up in the morning longing for a cup of tea (British people LOVE their cup o' teas - even when it is hot!) only to realise there is no electricity! Or you have just finished hard work on a hot day, you are sweaty and smelly, and all you want is a cold shower but you get to the guest house and there is no water! :( To make the African point English: I'm sorry you didn't get to read my updates while we were in Africa. The internet connection was never reliable. Well, didn't work at all! So you will get my thoughts on the highlights of my 3 weeks in Zambia. To start with though, I thought I should give you the thoughts which some of the team members gave me after our first week in Zambia:
Zambia July – average temperature 23 degrees, precipitation nil! Get used to no rain but plenty of clouds that look like rain, dust storms that whip up at a moment’s notice and suddenly the warmth of the sun! Get used to being called ‘Muzungu’ (White person) everywhere and being made most welcome with smiles, hand shakes, and even hugs! Get used to African time nothing quite happening when, where, or how you expect. And extremes of poverty with the love of God shinning through! A life changing experience. – Annette

What an amazing experience! I really feel we are seeing the real Zambia. It’s a great privilege. The school project is making great progress too. – Louise

Chris has been learning brick laying. Chenda has learnt how to make cement scraped paint work and escaped to play games with the children. The scope for what one could do is enormous – the challenges of what we have seen manifold. Zambia – we are enjoying this place…children everywhere and so many people serving God. Pray for us all though as many have had upset guts – including us.– Chenda

Over the last week I have had so many different experiences and met so many different kinds of people, each with their own stories to tell. However, one thing unites them – through out their troubles and suffering, they are still praising God – I have so much to learn from these people! T.I.A – This is Africa!!! – James
Zambians have so much more than us (British)! Their values are so deeper and internal and I have been blessed to experience a world which is much less materialistic. There are no distractions and focusing on God seems much easier. Man I love this place! I also love the feeling in the morning of having a purpose for the day. I pray I can make my purpose to serve God each day. – Javan

I have found that through great difficult and poverty, the hearts of the people of Zambia are some of the most warm and welcoming I have ever met. The joy and hope that they hold in Christ is a testimony of their faith in walking with Him. – Simon Martin

Hello bloggers. This is Dorne in Zambia. I am very happy here now I have recovered from something I think I picked up courtesy of Egypt Airline food. We are having amazing experiences and everywhere we go meeting inspirational people who have given their lives to serving others. Highlights so far have been worshipping with Abe’s family in a church building made of a corrugated metal roof attached to tree trunks with plastic sheeting for the sides. Painted in red on the plastic sheet at the front was JESUS IS HERE. The welcome we got was unbelievable. Also meeting a 12 year old girl who worked as a prostitute who shared with me everything she had which happened to be a bag of crisps. Everyone should do a trip like this. I’d love to hear from you. dorne.Watson@hotmail.co.uk or via the blog . Much love from Lusaka. x

Well what can I say?! Africa has blown me away and I can’t wait to fill everyone in, in detail when I get back. But I just wanted to share a few of my thoughts: Through all our visits the poverty of people here has really struck me and made me realize the privileges that we have back home and how we should thank God for them!

The highlight of the trip for me so far has been the Kumbayah feeding programme. The reception we received from the whole compound was overwhelming and I felt honoured to help and participate in a work that is helping so many children. – Rachel

The first thing you notice arriving in Zambia (after customs of course!) is the smile on people’s faces! Whether rich or poor, these are smiles to greet you. A small gesture that goes a long way. People of the UK try it! It’s FREE! I will state it now: One day I want to bring my whole family out here. We have so much to learn. Thank God for Zambia. – Dave

An excellent insight for the whole family of three teenagers and one 10 year old with Africa, poverty, Christianity in another place and working together with others on the building project. Good to see it all in real life! – Hyde family xxxx

Shangwe Mwane!

I recently found a Youth Magazine which my young people used to produce when I first started my Youth Pastor's job. I flicked through the pages and found an article entitled, "Interview with Abraham"! "What's this?", I thought to myself as I started to read through the opening paragraph: "Joanne here interviewing Abraham, Godmanchester Baptist Church's new youth pastor. I have some sensible questions and some not so sensible. But hey, carry on reading to find out more interesting facts about our new youth pastor."

"Gosh!" Actually, I literally said that out loud! "That was about three years ago!", I exclaimed. Here is one sensible question which blew my mind away: Joanne - "So, do you have any dreams or goals you want to achieve in your time here at Godmanchester Baptist?" Abe - "Apart from helping the young people come to a point in their lives where they will truly love the Lord Jesus, I would love to take a short-term mission team to Zambia one summer." When I read that bit my eyes just grew wide. Oh my word! I couldn't be more specific than that could I! As I was processing what I had just read, the Lord put prophet Habakkuk's words on my heart: "For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay" (Chapter 2:3 NIV).

Well, that revelation, vision, 'prophesy' or a guess or dream, whatever you want to call it, is about to come true. For the next 3 weeks, I will be returning to my country with a team of about 23 people, 10 of which are from my church. We will be building in a local school in Lusaka, Zambia in partnership with a charity called Mission Direct (www.MissionDirect.org). Check out my blog to see what we will be up to.