Return to Zambia
AFM Month Team
Hello friends and family,
A lot has happened since I've been in Zambia, so just a warning this is a fairly long update.
After a busy few travel days, I arrived in Zambia on July 6th. Immediately, I took a 5-hour taxi out to the bush to a place called Luangwa, where I met up with my team from Africa Freedom Mission. From the start they were a very welcoming group, which I really appreciated, as I was a few days late to the trip.
At first, I was quite the stark contrast to go from the high-standards of Austria and Switzerland to a small compound in Luangwa without much running water. But I soon got adjusted and it definitely reminded me of growing up here.
Luangwa
Luangwa is a rural area right on the border of Zambia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. We stayed at a small compound with around forty of us, including our Zambian ministry partners. Everyday while we were there we would worship in the morning, and then go out to do evangelism in the rural villages in the surrounding areas. We would split into small groups of around 3-5 of us and spend time getting to know the locals personally, before sharing with them why we were there — this usually included sharing a testimony, passage of scripture, or even a short message. Many of them were excited to talk with us and share they're stories, even though many have gone through some very difficult circumstances. Many didn't speak English very well and so our Ministry Partners helped a lot with interpreting.
Although it was definitely a lot of work and quite tiring, we were able to share the Gospel many times, and it was incredibly rewarding to share the hope we have in Jesus with them. I personally grew a lot in my confidence in sharing my faith while I was in Luangwa, and experiencing the simplicities of life their was quite refreshing, both for the team, and myself personally.
Victoria Falls & Safari
After ten days in Luangwa, we took a few days rest to do some tourism in Southern Zambia and Northern Botswana. We drove a day's journey down to Victoria Falls in Livingstone, one of the Natural Wonders of the World. I have been here many times before as a kid, but it was great to come back and see it again. We definitely had a great time as a team, and many of us did the Bungee Jump and Bridge Swing, including myself for the first time (it was scary but pretty fun :).
We also went down to Chobe National Park in Botswana for a day to go on both a vehicle and boat safari. We saw impala, giraffe, elephant, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, and many other animals.
Lusaka
After our adventures, we returned to the capital, Lusaka, to continue doing ministry. We were based at a property of AFM's, and like in Luangwa, everyday we would worship in the morning, and then go out and do evangelism. We were in the city, and so ministry looked a little different than rural Luangwa. Instead, we mainly went into compounds where many people live and work. Quite a few of the people we tried talking to appeared to be drunk, and so it wasn't always the easiest to share the Gospel message with them, but we were still able to have quite a few meaningful conversations about our faith. We partnered with different local churches in different compounds and our main goal was to try and help those who were interested in knowing more to get connected to these Churches.
One day a small group of us guys were able to visit a small prison with six young men in a cell. This was a powerful time where we were able to share our testimonies and the Gospel message with them, as well as be an encouragement to them through prayer. This was mostly a temporary prison, and the people in them are usually released or transferred elsewhere in a short period of time.
Another day, a small group of us was also able to do street kids ministry more towards the city center. This was probably one of the hardest thing we/I experienced as many of these kids and young adults are addicted to a drug called stika, which is basically just jet fuel that they sniff from a bottle, which numbs the feeling of hunger and cold. This made it difficult to have meaningful conversations, but it was still a fruitful time of relationship building and time in prayer. The main goal of the ministry we partnered with was to try and get the kids off the street and back to their homes, as much of the bad influences come from the street.
Katoba
Towards the very end of our mission trip, we drove out to Katoba, a property that AFM has recently bought and are trying to develop into their main base. We camped in tents for two nights there and did evangelism ministry one day. We also went on a short sunrise hike as a group.
On the way back we had a very African experience as our bus ended up in the ditch on the side of the road. We all had a good laugh about it though and were able to push it out, and everything ended up perfectly fine.
Baptism
On the very last day of our trip, there was an opportunity for anyone on the team to get baptized if they felt like the Lord was leading them to be. I felt that way and made the decision to get baptized! You can watch the video to hear more about it.
I talked a little bit about it in my first letter, but over the last year or so, I had felt quite convicted in the direction my life was headed in. I was doing well in all the ways the world tells you is success, but felt quite lost, confused, and empty. I realized that a lot of my identity was wrapped up in what I could do or not do, instead of what Jesus did for me on the cross. My faith was not my own, and I realized that if I claim to be a Christian, that had to change. So I started being more intentional about my choices, and read a lot more scripture personally for the first time. In turn, this led me to what I am doing now, with the various Bible Schools and Mission trips I have been apart of.
Returning to Zambia, the place I grew up, surrounded by a community of believers, and in combination with this transformation in my heart, felt like the right place to get baptized and share with you all about what the Lord has done in my life. Thank you all for your support and thanks to Cooper for baptizing me!
Flying Mission
My time with AFM came to a close at the end of July and I parted ways with everyone there to spend the next two weeks or so at the mission organization I grew up at and my parents worked at. It was great to be back and see what has changed (everything was a little smaller than I remember it, or maybe I grew a little :).
During this time I was able to see a lot of people and places I knew growing up, and also to meet some new people that are now apart of Flying Mission. Thanks to Joel and Sue Bolthouse for letting me stay with them while I was there also!
Lake Kariba With Friends
Conveniently enough, a few of my friends who I went to international school with were back in Zambia at the same time I was there, and so we all went down to Lake Kariba, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, to relax and go fishing. It was great to catch up and see old friends again, as well as spend time on the lake (I definitely miss Zambian sunsets).
South Africa
As I was flying through Johannesburg, South Africa on my way back to the U.S., I decided to stay a few days and see another old friend I grew up with in Zambia. The Springboks (South Africa Rugby Team) happened to be playing the All Blacks (New Zealand) that weekend, and so we went to the game which was an amazing cultural experience! It was great to catch up and see each other after 7 years.
Prayer & Praise
My experience being back in Zambia was incredible so thank you all so much for your prayer and support for this trip! I had many meaningful conversations with so many people new and old, and I definitely gained a newfound appreciation for my upbringing (shoutout my parents :).
Before heading to YWAM Rogaland in Norway on September 17th, I am heading back to Arkansas for a friends wedding, and then Arizona for a week to see family before heading to Norway. I would appreciate prayer for safe travels along the way.
I officially received my visa for going to Norway in September so thank you all very much for praying! My discipleship training school with YWAM Rogaland starts on September 17th. I would appreciate prayer for starting again in a new place, meeting new people, and getting settled again.
I am very close to my support goal so thank you all very much for your generosity! I really appreciate it and it means a lot!
Thank you for your prayer and support!
Toby Wilson
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