Before the Rains Come

September has been another month of settling into life here in Mongu, and as we look back over the past few weeks, we find ourselves thinking about preparation.

We’ve been preparing the property for the rains, preparing ourselves for the heat that is coming, preparing for ministry opportunities, and continuing to prepare ourselves as we learn Lozi and adjust to life here. But through all of it, we’ve also been reminded that while we’re preparing, God has already gone before us.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Seeing God’s provision

One of the biggest reminders of God’s provision this month has been with our security.

In our last newsletter, we shared how we had thought that we would not be able to keep our night guard because we didn’t have the budget to continue paying for him. We shared how grateful we were when the Lord provided additional funds that allowed us to keep him on for a few more months. But God has done more!

We received a phone call from one of our supporters asking about the cost of keeping our security guard long term. They committed to increasing their support specifically to cover this cost. Say what?!

We were honestly a little speechless.

There was such a mixture of relief, gratitude and awe at God’s provision. We know God’s promises and we know that He has promised to care for us, but there is still something so incredibly humbling about seeing Him answer a very specific need right in front of us.

“The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life.”
Psalm 121:7

Small green shoots

One of the things that has brought us a surprising amount of joy this month has been watching the grass grow around our home.

It might sound like a very ordinary thing, but when we first arrived, so much of the property was simply dry, dusty sand. We’ve been planting grass around the house to help with the dust, heat and soil erosion, and slowly we’re starting to see green lawns appearing.

There is something incredibly encouraging about seeing those small green shoots pushing their way through the dry ground and beginning to create a beautiful green lawn.

Perhaps part of why it means so much to us is because it feels like a picture of what we’re experiencing here.

We’ve come to Mongu with a desire to see ministry grow, but we also know that we’re still at the beginning. We’re still learning the language. We’re learning the culture and still figuring out how things work. There is so much we don’t know yet.

Sometimes it can feel like we’re putting in a lot of work without seeing much immediate result.

And then we see a little green shoot.

It’s a small thing, but it reminds us that something is happening beneath the surface.

We may not yet see what the finished landscape will look like, but we can see that something is growing.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”
Zechariah 4:10

Preparing for the rains

We’ve also been spending quite a bit of time trying to prepare the property for the coming rainy season.

Because our property is on an incline, there is quite a lot of potential for soil erosion, and we’ve already seen evidence of how quickly the water can move across the sandy ground.

We’ve been putting in gutters and cement drainage channels to try to direct the water into places where it won’t cause as much damage. The early rains we’ve had this month have actually been helpful because they’ve shown us where the problem areas are and where we need to make adjustments before the main rains arrive.

We had two or three days of rain earlier than expected, and the local people have told us that these are the early rains. We had hoped this might mean the cooler weather was coming, but apparently it could mean something quite different—October may be even hotter!

We’re already feeling the heat building, and there are definitely times of the day when it is difficult to do much at all. So please pray for us as we adjust to another change in season.

“He said to the crowd: ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, “It’s going to rain,” and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, “It’s going to be hot,” and it is.”
Luke 12:54-55

The reality of life in Mongu

Not everything this month has been about projects and preparation.

We also had to say goodbye to our cat, Charcoal, after he was run over on the road.

It was a sad and unexpected reminder of some of the realities of life here. Moving to a new place means adjusting to many things we can’t control, and sometimes that simply means saying goodbye to something we love.

We’ve also had a little sickness in the household. The combination of the changing seasons, the heat and simply adjusting to the climate seems to be taking its toll on our bodies at times.

We’re thankful that nothing has been serious, but we would appreciate prayer for continued good health as we adjust to life here.

Preparing for what’s next

While we’ve been settling into life here, we’ve also been looking ahead to some of the ministry opportunities coming up.

Michael has spent much of September preparing to teach through the book of Revelation at the Barotsi Bible Campus from 5–16 October. It’s been a significant amount of preparation, and we’re praying that the Lord will use his teaching to encourage and equip the students who will be there.

I’ve also been busy beginning preparations for next year’s Entrust training hub. Even though it feels like we have only just finished this year’s training, the planning for the next one has already begun! There are budgets to work through, finances to consider, and lots of preliminary planning that needs to happen in preparation for the new year.

It feels like there is always something ahead to prepare for.

But perhaps that’s also part of what God is teaching us in this season.

We prepare, we work, we learn, we plant—and then we trust Him with the growth.

Looking back with gratitude

As we look back over September, we keep coming back to those little green shoots.

They’re easy to overlook. They’re small, and they don’t change the whole appearance of the property overnight. But they’re there.

And perhaps that’s where we are too.

We’re learning and adjusting. We’re still figuring things out as we put down roots in a place that is very different from where we lived before.

But there are small signs of growth.

We are hearing and speaking more Lozi while becoming more familiar with the community around us. We’re learning how to manage the property in the changing seasons. Ministry opportunities are beginning to take shape.

And through it all, we’re seeing God’s provision.

So as we head into October—with the heat, the rains, and new ministry opportunities ahead—we’re trusting that the One who began the work will continue it.

Thank you for continuing to pray, give, encourage and walk alongside us. We are so grateful that we don’t have to do this alone.

Thank you for walking this journey with us!