My name is Meagan Taylor, I am 17 years old and I am from Cadwell, GA.
Just a little information about me; I was saved when I was 12. I play drums in my church’s praise band, I love pizza and my favorite sport is soccer! Over the last two years I’ve felt God leading me toward the mission field. I didn’t know if He wanted me to be a full-time missionary, part-time missionary, or if he just wanted me to pray for missionaries, but I knew that He had given me a heart for missions for some reason.
I first heard about Gospelink and its ministry in Zambia through my pastor Al Haywood. When the opportunity came for me to take a trip there, I couldn’t resist. For years I’d not only wanted to go to Africa but I felt God leading me there as well. After months of preparation our team set out to Lusaka, Zambia.
Our first week in Lusaka was unbelievable. I got the opportunity to speak with over 200 children in four different schools about Jesus Christ. Out of those about 40 were sincere in accepting Jesus as their personal Lord Savior. The more children I saw come to Christ, the more I wanted to stay with them and help them grow in their faith. My heart and prayers reach out to them even now as they try to seek God in the under privileged situation that they are in.
Also, the spirit of the Christians we met in Zambia was a true spirit of God. The joy and appreciation they exhibited by just seeing us visit was astounding.
After our first week in Lusaka, I knew God was doing a work in me, but I hadn’t figured it out yet. As our bus traveled to the Bible College in Kazemba I was amazed at the beautiful scenery we passed by. Seeing God’s creation in Africa is different for some reason, it makes me even more humble before His sovereign power. I hesitate to explain my experience at the college because I simply cannot find the words, but I will try.
The students at the college have shown me more about Jesus than I’ve ever known. Jesus is made all the more real to me because I can see Him living in the students. The way they worship is indescribable beautiful. When I worship with them I feel as though I’m right before the throne of God. The women at the college work so hard to put meals on the table for all of us. It shows me an example of what a true servant’s heart looks like.
I’m so comfortable here at the college, like I’ve lived here my entire life. The Bible College is far from being luxurious. The students live in cabins that have just recently received electricity and they don’t have many text books yet.
The medical clinic does not have proper medications if someone were to get sick.
There are many other hardships the staff and students have to face and I shudder to think of the unnecessary emphasis that we put on material things in America. Because, although their physical needs are barely met, the people at this college are overflowing with a love for God that puts me and other American “Christians” to shame.
My experience in Africa can hardly be explained through words, but I do know this because of my experience God has called me to be a full-time missionary. I don’t know where, or when, that’s up to my Savior. All I know is that I came to Zambia hoping to bless people with God’s Word, but on the contrary, I was tremendously blessed by His people.
This page is set for any of our new friends to write some about their experiences with us. It will help you understand what life here is like from many different perspectives.
I’m a college professor. I teach management and human resources at a private university in Minnesota. As part of my teaching responsibilities I spend most of my Januaries taking 30 students to Europe to study international business (I know, my mom really feels sorry for me too). My point is, we spend most of the three weeks talking about how cultures differ and how that influences everything from how people live to how businesses operate. Still, I wasn’t prepared for Zambia.
I wasn’t prepared to feel disconcerted and at home all at the same time.
The trip didn’t start out as we expected. On a lovely Saturday afternoon seven travelers, two vehicles, and almost 30 bags set out for a 30-minute drive to the Sioux Falls, SD airport. Once we got unloaded, though, we got the bad news—there was bad weather in Chicago (our first stop) and our flight there was cancelled. What’s more, after two hours of trying they couldn’t get us on flights that would get us all the way to Lusaka until Monday. Delayed two days because of weather just a few states over. So, we waited. Monday morning we went back to the airport and got on the plane heading for Chicago, which would take us to Newark, then to London, Johannesburg, and finally Lusaka. We arrived on a Wednesday afternoon, about 48 hours later with the two intervening nights being spent on a plane. Our luggage wouldn’t arrive until a day later.
Once we got to Lusaka, our group divided. Our men, including Rich (my dad), Greg, and Keith, headed directly for the Bible College. The college had been without power for months and the guys thought they had the parts along to fix it. The women, Cheryl, Katie, Eva Lou (my aunt), and I were taken in to the city to join the rest of the group and headed to a school for evangelism. I’m not sure about the other three, but to say I was overwhelmed would have been a gross understatement. I hadn’t really slept in days, hadn’t had a good meal in a while, and our luggage with all of our ministry materials was missing.
But, here’s what I found. I found a classroom of over 50 students crammed in desks that should have only held 30, with smiles on their faces and twinkles in their eyes. I found a teacher who seemed excited to be there and excited to have us there too. And I found a local pastor who had a burning desire to tell those kids about Christ. And all of a sudden, being tired didn’t matter anymore.
Later that night we drove to a large open field to show the Jesus film. The leaders just set all the equipment up and started the movie. This was Eva Lou and Cheryl’s fifth time coming with Gospelink and they said the kids would just come. I was totally unprepared for how many. By the end of the movie that night there were probably close to 400 there. Amazing.
After a couple more days in Lusaka we headed out for the college. And I had to think that instead of closing the Garden of Eden, God just moved it to Zambia. I had the feeling there were pretty gardens in Lusaka, but there the only glimpses of flowers I got were over a fence or through a gate. The walls meant for security and privacy also made the town feel closed off and unfriendly. The college, though, welcomed me in like a long lost friend. And every person there made me feel even more welcome than the atmosphere already had. Now, I’ll admit, much of that was probably because of whom I’m related to than anything about me. See this was my dad’s fifth trip to the college and he’s a handy type of guy. While we were in Lusaka, Dad, Keith, and Greg had managed to get the solar system and a few other things working that had been down. I try not to question God’s timing but it seems to me that if He wanted more people to pay attention to him he should have created people first and then said let there be light, because bringing electricity back to the college sure seemed to make our guys into heroes. :)
So, what did I learn? What will I always want to remember?
One insight came from Cheryl. She said that one of the ways her time in Zambia is always so different from her time at home is a lack of choices. While traveling with a group you go where the group leaders says, when they say, and for how long they say. I’ve used public transportation and a map to explore London, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, Beijing, and many others, many times alone. When in Zambia we ate what we were given at almost every meal. Tonight I decided to order pizza for supper and had to first decide between 6 different places that would deliver the pie to my door. When I take my next group of students to Europe this January, I’m going to remember how much different it feels as a group participant than it does a group leader.
But our lives are more different than just free time and food choices. Tonight my next door neighbor came home from work early, hooked up his boat, and took his kids fishing. My friend Kristen is trying to decide what middle school to send her daughter to. I’m thinking of putting a new tub in my second bathroom. My students pay thousands of dollars in tuition to attend school and I can pretty much guarantee that next semester at least one of them will skip class because they stayed up too late the night before watching movies or playing video games. What choices are they making in Zambia today? What would the students at the International Bible College think if they saw the advantages my students only turn their back on? As compared to those I met in Zambia, it seems to me that we in America have so much more and appreciate it so much less. As a single woman with a stable career and a supportive family I have done pretty much what I’ve wanted with my time and my money for a long time. I will appreciate more than ever the many choices I have, and try to thank God with the ones I make. My abilities are God’s gift to me; my choices are my gift back to him.
But I think as I look back at my time in Zambia, what I’d like to remember most was that first night at the Jesus film. I’m the director of vacation Bible school at my church and it’s coming up the last week in July. We’ve been working on this for about 9 months now. We’ve run ads in newspapers, hung up posters, and made announcements. We’ve told kids to bring their friends and parents to bring the neighborhood. We’ll spend over $18,000, bring in over 1100 kids, and declare it a huge success. But it will only be a drop in the bucket of the number of kids in the surrounding neighborhood. Why? Because our kids have so many other things competing for their attention and parents have so much competing for their time. But in Lusaka, God can have the attention of 400 kids at the spur of the moment with just a screen and a projector. It makes me wonder. What does it take for God to get my attention? Would I even notice that screen if someone set it up in my life? Would I take time to stop? Do all the choices I have distract me from the ones I should make?
My church’s automatic bank withdrawal helps me steward my money. Why is it so much harder for me to steward my time and my choices? Zambia is helping me figure that out.
And that’s what I did on my summer vacation.
By Bethany Opsata
My first trip to Zambia was in 2004. Since then, I have had the privilege of returning five times. Each trip has been different, but yet there have remained some constants. It never fails that the students in the public schools and most of their teachers are eager to have us in the classroom to share the gospel. The students are attentive and respectful. Many teachers and students desire to have a copy of God’s Word. The national pastors who accompany us are a privilege to work with. Spending time with pastors we have met on previous trips and getting to know those whom we had not yet met is special. They have a passion for the lost that you oftentimes don’t find here in the states.
On that first trip, a group of national pastors and their wives were waiting at the airport in Lusaka to greet us. They cheered as we exited the plane and walked to the terminal, but at the time, we didn’t realize it was part of our welcome. I was humbled to tears when we got through customs and left the terminal. These precious brothers and sisters in Christ greeted us with singing and dancing which they continue to do each year. I wept at the nationals’ joy to see us and their expression of love. I am always newly humbled by their generosity and care of us. They have so little in comparison to us, and yet they constantly give of their time and possessions for our comfort. And they are so content with what they do have!
In 2004, we did much more school evangelism because Kazemba had not yet been given to Gospelink. The following year I was asked how I felt about building much of the time and only going to a few schools. I replied that I had no problem with that! I wrote in my journal as follows: “I thoroughly enjoy fellowshipping with the national Christians. And I still have a part in spreading the gospel, not just through personal or classroom evangelism, but also while placing mortar between cement blocks that will become buildings to house students who will be trained to reach their own with the gospel and to disciple and educate the national Christians. I have had an active, physical part in spreading the gospel for years to come!”
Imagine my excitement at returning year after year - especially after having been there and walking on the property and praying over Kazemba before any work had begun - and seeing the construction progress that had been made as cabins, bathhouses, and kitchens went up. In 2007 we graduated from living in tents to staying in the cabins which would house the students. Soon there were classrooms to work on, and the library in its beginning stages. Then there was greater excitement when the first class of students was to begin in January 2009, followed by meeting these young men in June. This is what we had been working toward for four years! At the present time, these students are sophomores for a few more months, and there is a second freshman class, but before long there will be a third one. These are a great group of guys and girls! They work hard on their studies and their work scholarship jobs desiring to learn all they can and grow deeper in Christ! They also like to have fun, and I enjoyed being a part of some of their antics, and hearing the girls call me “Mom-Stacy”.
This year, 2010, was the first that there were no pastors on campus attending the classes taught by visiting American pastors. It has always been a great joy to spend time with our Zambian brothers and see the depth of their Christian character, so it was a disappointment that they were not present. Many of the ladies who worked in the “kitchen” were sisters whom I met in the first years. It means much to me to able to connect with these ladies who graciously spend most of their time gathering produce from the garden, around the charcoal pots cooking meals, and serving us. This year, I was able to participate in the ladies’ Bible study. This is a fairly new and exciting ministry that Lori has begun with the ladies from nearby villages. It is well-attended and enjoyed by all!
The property, Kazemba, quickly became home because of the love, acceptance and unity we shared with our Zambian brothers and sisters. It is also a joy and a privilege to work side by side with the nationals, because though we have very different cultures and lifestyles, we are united in our purpose to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. This bridges any gap and creates a oneness that must be a little bit of what heaven will be like with people of every tribe, tongue, and nation worshipping the one true God! Now it is Kazemba International Bible College. And it is more a part of me than ever! Even now as I write, I am longing to be there. God allowed me the privilege of an extended stay this year. I stayed at Kazemba two weeks longer than my team did. I was granted more time with the pastors living on campus and their families, time enough to learn just how special the Schlicks and the Loves are, time to put a name with the face of every student. It is a wonderful place to be! It is awesome to watch over the years what God is doing at Kazemba IBC! He continues to bring to fruition the vision he gave to Lewis Nelms and I am delighted that He allows me to be a part of it!
by
June 2011
After coming home from Zambia, I have enough stories to fill a book or two, but I figured I would go ahead and share some of my personal feelings towards this short two week trip to Zambia, Africa.
Before going to Zambia, I was "prepared to be changed" as many people are before going to a foreign mission field, but what I didn't know was that I was going to be changed in a much different way than I anticipated. I was expecting poverty. I was expecting to see things that were heartbreaking. It is also shocking to me how hearing stories compared to see them take place can be so drastically different. Many children in the capital city have no shoes... but in the outside villages, the majority of children have no shoes. I was definitely shocked by this, but what really shocked me was the attitude these people with so little have toward life. I never heard a child complain about his circumstance. The people smile and laugh and just love life! And it made me think, "Wow. We, as Americans, have so much wealth and prosperity, yet I don't see joy like that back home." and it made me sad for Americans, even though we are "the lucky ones." My view on thankfulness and being content has changed. Since coming home I have seen all the things I have previously (and still) complain about... and it truly makes me sad that I complain about the smallest things. So, I definitely am praying that God will continue changing my heart on that.
Probably the most incredible thing I was able to experience while in Zambia was the Bible College. Wow. What a ministry. Around 60 absolutely incredible students. My dad and I were both invited to join in prayer with about 6 of the students in the mornings... doesn't sound strange right? Except that they woke up at 4:30 in the morning to pray and sing praises to God. My dad and I joined them every morning at 4:30 to pray and sing and listen to a short devotion. I can honestly say... these people understand prayer. They never prayed for more than what they had. They never prayed for financial support, instead they prayed for heart change. They prayed that God would make them more like Jesus in the way they live. They Thanked God in every way! And, man, did they truly Thank God. Listening to their prayers was a complete inspiration. I would've gone through all that traveling if the only thing I would've been able to do is pray with them. It was incredible. I wish every person could witness their prayers.
So many different things happened that it would be impossible to share all of them. There is so much work to be done in Zambia, but God is blessing the ministry that Gospelink has set up abundantly. I would like to thank each person that supported the trip financial but most importantly in prayer. Thank you. I plan on returning to Zambia next year for an extended period of time, most likely the whole summer, so if you would continue praying that God would open doors if it is His will for me to pursue staying in Africa for the summer I would greatly appreciate it. I am pleased to say that all the support that was given was repaid fully through the work that was done.
Again, thank you to all who supported me
In Christ, Nathan Larsen
June 2011
Kazemba, Zambia. The International Bible College of Zambia. This is a place like none other. I traveled to Zambia this summer unsure of what I would discover. Lions, snakes, poverty, villages? Much to my surprise the Lord surpassed of all my expectations upon my arrival at the International Bible College in Zambia. I was blessed to spend 2 months in Zambia. I have been humbled and blown away at the passion of the men and women that are rising up to be men and women of God. The students are not only wise beyond years in their biblical knowledge but far surpass in faith and intimacy with our Lord and Savior. They encourage, they speak truth and they have blended hearts of a lion and a lamb. They are both courageous and strong while still gentle, humble and meek.
The college is now equipped with a library, classrooms, multiple cabins, a kitchen, outdoor dining and a medical clinic. As a nursing student I was given the opportunity to work a few days in the clinic. The students could not thank the efforts of the medical staff enough for their simple physical exams. People walked for miles from various villages to receive the care being provided through the bible college’s clinic. Kazemba is a special place. One that was set aside and prepared for a special purpose by the Lord. It is an experience like no other and I cannot wait to see what else the Lord has in store for this place.
