The Long Road to Mongu

The long-awaited move to Mongu has finally happened—we are here!

As I write this, our bodies are tired, our muscles are aching, and there are still a hundred jobs waiting to be done. Yet our hearts are full of joy. We have finally arrived at the place that we believe God has been pressing on our hearts for so many years. After years of praying, planning, and preparing, our move to Mongu, Zambia has become a reality.

Getting here has been a long, tiring, and often messy journey, filled with unexpected hurdles, but through every delay and disappointment the Lord has faithfully brought us to this point. We can’t wait to share a little of that journey with you.

“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”

Psalm 126:3

The Journey Begins… Again

Caleb and I (Renee) arrived back in Lusaka on the 30th of June while Michael remained in South Africa to prepare himself—and the motorbike—for an ambitious adventure: riding all the way from Cape Town to Zambia.

We knew it would be a huge challenge, but I had every confidence that if Michael set his mind to it, he could do it. On the 1st of July he set off from Cape Town full of excitement. However, after about 200 km, the reality of riding such a large, heavy motorbike over such long distances became clear. After speaking with a few trusted friends, Michael made the difficult—but wise—decision to turn around and head back to Cape Town.

Although we were disappointed that the adventure ended sooner than expected, we were so thankful that he arrived home safely. We stored the bike in Cape Town, booked him a flight to Lusaka the following day, and trusted the Lord to provide another way of getting the bike to Zambia in the future. (If you’d like to hear Michael share more about the experience, you can watch his video update here.)

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”

Proverbs 16:9

Wrapping Up Life in Lusaka

Once Michael was back in Lusaka, the real work began.

Most of our house had already been packed before we left on Home Assignment, but there was still plenty to do—especially packing up the last of the kitchen. Before leaving, our wonderful SIM family surprised us with a very special farewell. They prayed over us, shared Scriptures that had encouraged them, and sent us off with so much love. We left feeling incredibly supported and reminded that we are part of a much bigger family serving the Lord together.

On our final Sunday in Lusaka, Michael also had the privilege of preaching one last sermon at Christ Church Lusaka. It was a bittersweet moment as we closed one chapter of ministry and prepared to begin another.

One More Member of the Family

Just before leaving, we made one more important addition to the family…

Meet Shamar!

Shamar is an adorable German Shepherd puppy who, Lord willing, will one day become a strong guard dog for our property in Mongu—especially when Michael is away for extended periods on the plains. For now, however, he’s simply bringing us plenty of laughter, puppy cuddles, and the occasional bit of chaos.

Not everything about preparing for moving to Mongu, was as straightforward as we imagined it.

One unexpected hurdle was discovering just 3 days before we were supposed to move, that Zambia requires official stock movement permits whenever animals are transported between districts. Since we were travelling with three cats and one very excited puppy, we had to scramble to get all the paperwork in order before we could even think of moving to Mongu.

Moving Day Surprises

We expected the moving truck to arrive during the afternoon, but in true African time it only pulled in as the sun was setting. As we began loading, we quickly realised another problem—the truck wasn’t big enough! What a crazy problem to have.

Four years ago we arrived in Zambia with everything we owned fitting onto one Toyota Hilux. Now, four years later, we couldn’t fit everything into a ten-ton truck!
Of course, not all of the furniture was for our own home. Much of it was intended to furnish the guest house and ministry office on the property in Mongu. Even so, we couldn’t help but stop and marvel at how abundantly the Lord has provided over the years.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us…”
Ephesians 3:20

Late that evening, after squeezing every possible item into the truck, we finally shut the doors, locked them, and hurried to finish cleaning the empty house before grabbing a few hours of sleep.

Our plan was to leave at 5:00 the next morning.

We woke up early, loaded our cats into their crates, packed Shamar into faithful Abraham (our Toyota Hilux), got Caleb dressed and ready, and set off just before 6:00 on the long ten-hour drive to Mongu.

Our furniture truck, however, followed a different plan…

Although it was supposed to leave with us, the driver was nowhere to be found when we pulled out of the SIM base at 5:50 am. They eventually left Lusaka after 7:00 a.m. and, travelling slowly and carefully with our belongings, only arrived in Mongu well after 10:00 that night.

That meant our very first night in our new home was spent camping in an almost empty house. Thankfully, after such a long day, none of us struggled to sleep.

Ready to Unload

The following morning the truck arrived at our gate ready to be unloaded. Because our driveway is so steep, everything had to be carried by hand from the road down into the house. Amazingly, almost everything survived the journey intact—apart from one broken mirror. We were especially grateful that our solar system arrived safely and was installed that very same day.

Keep an eye on our YouTube channel for video updates about our move to Mongu…

Finally Home

It has now been two weeks since moving to Mongu, Zambia, and the mountain of boxes has disappeared.
The solar system and internet are up and running. Caleb has started school. We’ve begun our Lozi language lessons. Little by little, Mongu is beginning to feel like home.

There is still plenty to do. We are learning to adjust our expectations and simply tackle one job at a time.

Michael spent the first week fixing leaking taps, repairing faulty electrical wiring, and making sure all of the outdoor lights were working to improve security. He also built us a rubbish incinerator since there is no municipal waste collection here. Everyone burns or buries their rubbish, and the incinerator he built burns so efficiently that very little ash remains. I continue to be incredibly thankful for my very capable husband!

Night watchman for security

We’ve also been advised that having a night guard is essential for security.

Michael spent time interviewing candidates, and we believe we’ve found the right person. Lord willing, he will begin working with us on the 1st of August.

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

Looking Ahead

As we look around our new home, we see unfinished projects, unpacked dreams, and plenty of hard work still ahead. But more than anything else, we see God’s faithfulness.

After years of praying, waiting, planning, and wondering how it would all come together, we are finally here.

The boxes will eventually all be unpacked. The house will slowly become a home. Ministry on the Western Barotse Plains is only just beginning. But one thing is already certain: the God who faithfully brought us to Mongu will continue to be faithful in all that lies ahead.

Gratitude

Thank you so much for praying for us, encouraging us, and supporting us so faithfully. Although we are far away geographically, we genuinely don’t feel alone. It feels as though you are here in the trenches with us, sharing in every challenge and every joy, and we are so grateful.

Please continue to pray for us as we settle into life and ministry here in Mongu. We are praying for you too, and we look forward to sharing what God will do in this new season.