Africa update...

Africa is spectacular! We traveled for 21 hours to get here on Friday and Saturday plus sitting/waiting time, so it took a bit of time for the fatigue of that to wear off. I preached through an interpreter in a church in the capital city on Sunday...crazy experience. They say you get used to doing it after a few times, but in the two times I've done it, I've had a hard time keeping my mind on track! Traveled again on Monday morning by bus to a city in the North called Kitwe and we had our first day of discipleship training at the bible college today. The students were extremely receptive (as they usually are). Much like the states, there is rarely any model in the church that intentionally develops people in Christlikeness or maturity in faith, however you want to say that. So, the church is full of evangelized converts who stay perpetually at a very infantile level of spirituality. All that to say...the students really see how the things we're teaching would really benefit their congregations. Most of them are either pastors already or training to be in full time ministry, so they are highly motivated to learn and grow.

Its always encouraging just to be here. We're at the "Christian Center for Missions" and they are such gracious hosts. Bennett and Bonnie are the married (just a year ago) co-directors of the bible college. Bonnie is a missionary from Alabama (15 years into it) and Bennett is a native Zambian man who has a passion for the church and disciple-making here. He planted a church several years ago as well. They are also developing a primary school on their base which is ikn the top 25% of the country's schools. I was able to do the devotion for the teachers this morning and its exciting to be able to observe the many ways that the kingdom is being advanced here. This is a longer post, so I'll knock off, but please be praying for my father-in-law, Dave and myself, for energy and endurance. We're both are teaching about 3-4 hours each day.