Renee, Caleb and I went to Mongo in February 2025 for a 2-week vision trip. My primary ministry role during these two weeks was to teach a course on the Pentateuch at the Barotse Campus. However, we had many wonderful opportunities to learn about other exciting ministries and to meet amazing people serving the Lord in various ways in Mongu.
Sunday night at Roy’s Camp
We left Lusaka immediately after church on Sunday 16th of February and headed for Roy’s Camp where we spent the night before continuing to Mongu on Monday. Roy’s Camp is a favourite spot for us because it is rustic and right on the banks of the Cafe River. Hippos and crocodiles swam by as we cooked our food on the fire. The stars at night were bright. The sounds of the wildlife ignited our hearts with excitement and peace. We really do love stopping by for a night at Roys Camp.
However, as it was during the rain season and Roy’s Camp was very muddy. We didn’t want to stay any longer than necessary due to the mud. We were happy to leave at 7h40 on Monday morning.
Mutoya Mission Base in Mongu
We arrived in Mongu at 13h10. Carine received us well at Mutoya Mission Base of the Zambia Project Mission. David, the gateman, remembered us from last time. He gave us a friendly greeting as we drove through the gate; “welcome back”, says he.
We stayed in a two bedroom cottage with minimal backup power. It was comfortable and cosy. This would be our base for the next two weeks.
Carine and Kevin invited us for dinner that evening. Caleb got on very well with Carine and Kevin. We had a lovely time of fellowship and catching up.
During dinner Kevin and Carine beamed as they recounted the joy of the translation work that they support. This translation work arose out from the church planting work that the Zambia Project has been doing in the remote areas. The people want to learn about Jesus in a language that is familiar to them – their heart language. This is why they want and need a Bible in their own language.
Barotse Campus – Pentateuch Lectures
I taught 10 lectures over the next two weeks at the Barotse Campus. I taught on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
The students maintained keen focus and asked good questions which also allowed me to get to know their context better. One question in particular intrigued me. Bernard asked about the offspring produced by the sexual relation between Eve and the serpent!!! Apparently this is a fairly common belief here.
As I was teaching through Genesis this question about the Serpent Seed Theory of the Branhamite cult popped up. At first I was quite shocked that this theory was even known here in this part of Zambia. But as I spoke to the students and others in Mongu, it became apparent that this is a prevalent teaching here in lots of churches. I was able to do research that evening in order to come up with a clear answer to this false teaching. I trust that God will help these men as they go back to their villages and their churches and have conversations with other people that they will be able to convince them of the truth.
Most of the content of these lectures came from the GWC Explore Course Module, Explore the Books of Moses. I had to adapt the content for the context in Mongu and for the level of English and education of the students. The two quizzes I gave the students gave me a great understanding of their capabilities. I have given them an assignment to write which will hopefully give each of them to demonstrate what they have learned in the course in their own unique way. I don’t think that an exam will be fair to them given their diverse academic capabilities.
“I led someone to Jesus today”
One of the highlights of our time at Barotse Campus was the young lady who surrendered her life to Christ after Renee had a chance to speak to the ladies. “I led someone to Jesus today!”
Renee met with the ladies on two different afternoons. She spoke about the gift or the righteousness of God which he gives to us through faith (Romans 3). One of the ladies, Mildred, asked, “how is it possible for someone to be born again and yet continue doing evil things?” Renée shared her personal testimony of salvation of how she came to discover this free gift of God’s righteousness. One of the ladies, Lisa, realised her need for this gift and asked how to receive it. Renee was able to lead her to understand that it is only Jesus who can make that change in her life. She must put her faith in Jesus. And she did!
Patrick, the principal of Barotse Campus, mentioned that they really need Langham Preaching here in Mongu as well as Simeon Trust and the Explore Course. He also said that he would really like it if I would teach more in the future. We also discussed the need for English teacher teaching for students – something Renée could do.
Other Missionaries and Ministries
Whilst in Mongu, we had wonderful opportunities to meet with some of the missionaries and learn about the ministries they are involved in. We spent time with Cindylou, a SIM missionary involved in trauma healing and art ministry; we visited the Mongu Youth Centre and learned about the vision and challenges that they are facing; we also visited the Zambia Project and learned about their church-planting vision, their Bible-translation work, and their ministry to vulnerable children.
Cindylou loved meeting Caleb
We went to visit Cindylou for afternoon tea. She loved getting to know Caleb. She gave him gifts of various toys and had fun playing with him. Caleb even eventually got along with Shamar (a HUGE Alsatian dog)! Initially he was terrified of Shamar because of his intimidating size. However, Shamar was really loving and gentle with Caleb and they soon got along like great old friends.
We also had dinner at Cindylou’s home together with some of her staff Kaleu, Martha, Happy, Simon, and Robert. We had a lovely dinner of fish, shima, greens x3, corn , tomato relish, and sweet potato. Afterward we had watermelon for dessert.
Moses Kalenga
We had a great time meeting Moses Kalenga and chatting about his vision and ministry at the Mongu Youth Center where Moses serves as the director.
Visit to MONGU YOUTH CENTER
Our visit to the Mongu Youth Center highlighted the great need for youth ministry. The MYC is about 15 minutes to drive from Mongu Town centre. The four staff members serving at this youth centre, Moses, Kenneth, Mercy, and Betty have been doing wonderful work with the youth. This youth centre was founded by SIM missionaries Rich and Laurie Weiandt.
Kenneth seemed to be able to engage the youth well and connected with them as he shared a Bible talk with them. They were quite responsive.
I spoke at the staff meeting at MYC on the theme of unity from 1 Corinthians 12.
Visiting Ministries of the Zambia Project
Renee and I had an insightful meeting with Brad Sinclair who is the director of The Zambia Project. He made excellent coffee for us as we chatted about missions in Zambia and how we both came to be in Mongu and Zambia.
Their call as The Zambia Project, which began as a church-planting mission, is:
“To plant a life-giving church within walking distance of every village in Western Province.”
Zambia Project has a goal of planting 2500 churches before 2040. This means that they are very strategic and how they hope to achieve this goal. Out from this vision came Hope Family Church and Village of Hope.
The Village of Hope is a child-care facility caring for vulnerable children in Mongu. They have 6 homes on the mission base where they can care for 48 children. Each home cares for 8 children. The Village of Hope also has a school where more than 800 students attend as well as a clinic where they care for the health needs of the children.
Village of Hope Clinic
We had a great time meeting Marelize and Samuel Murray and their two young boys, Christo and Noah. They are also from Cape Town, South Africa. Marelize and Samuel Murray invited us for a coffee at their home on the Mutoya Mission Base. We had a great time chatting with them and getting to know them whilst Caleb played gleefully with Christo and Noah.
Sam is a medical doctor serving at the Village of Hope Clinic nutrition centre. The clinic has a church-based healthcare focus and is mainly on helping kids and youth. Sam envisions that the clinic is going to be including prenatal care soon as well.
We were really encouraged by meeting this friendly family. Renee and I are grateful that when we move to Mongu later, there will be community and friends for Caleb.
Hope Art Room
While I was teaching at Barotse Campus, Renée and Caleb went to visit the Hope Art room and met the ladies who worked there – Carol, Annie, Rosemary, Doreen, Irene, big Irene, and Chilombo. At Hope Art, the ladies make various crafts and arts that are sold to raise support for the vulnerable children at the Village of Hope. The ladies were very friendly and enjoyed Caleb who also enjoyed them.
Hope Family Church
On Sunday we went to the Hope Family Church together with Carine and Kevin. The church is massive, beautiful, and friendly. They meet in an old warehouse which has been converted into a beautiful church. We were met by ushers holding welcome signs at the gate as we drove in “Welcome Home”, ushers at the door also with similar signs, and again two more ashes in the foyer also with signs and friendly smiles.
The church is massive! I estimate about 500 chairs were sent out (and this wasn’t even half the capacity). Seems like it is mostly youth who are attracted to the church. However, they were about 100 adults.
The worship was loud and huge with an enormous screen, bright stage lights, and a worship team of five musicians and seven singers. The preaching was focussed on family, what it means to be part of the family of God and how to be a godly family at home.
Discussing Bible Translation with Andrea Sinclair
We had to Mutoya to meet with Andrea Sinclair (Brad’s wife) who is overseeing the Bible translation work on five languages currently being translated. The New Testament is complete for one of the languages, Mashi (completed in August 2024). The other languages are not far behind for the New Testament. The Old Testament translation has begun for the Mashi.
Local language national translators work on translating the text from Hebrew/Greek whilst at regular intervals, teams of international translation consultants come to Mongu guide the translators and discuss the translation progress.
Andre suggested it would be good if I am able to be here and meet with the consultants when they are here in June 9-29 2025. This will work perfectly with us since we have already scheduled another trip to Mongu in June.
Birthday Lunch
Sunday was Renee’s birthday so we decided to go out for lunch to a restaurant that Kevin recommended called Apex Restaurant. We had a lovely meal there. The waitresses took good care of us and got on well with Caleb.
An Unexpected Funeral of a young boy
Tragically, while we were in Mongu, Cindylou received news that 12-year-old Muyunda died. She really had a heart for that boy. She was quite devastated and distraught! Cindylou had been caring for Muyunda and helping him to know Jesus for 4 years. Sadly, he suddenly got ill and died during the night.
We were grateful to have been in Mongu during this difficult time for Cindylou so that we could spend time with her and comfort her in her grief.
Cindylou asked me if I would say some words and be the pastor at Muyunda’s funeral. We had to prepare for the funeral – I had to prepare a talk, Renée had to prepare her heart. She really doesn’t like funerals.
I preached from Ecclesiastes – There is a Time for Everything reminding everyone that we all are given time. Time to live, time to die. How are you using your time?
After the funeral we went to the funeral house to greet Muyunda’s kuku (grandmother). I went into the house to pray for her.
Road Trip back to Lusaka
We headed down to the cottage to pack for our journey back to Lusaka. I parked the truck down by the campsite so that we don’t have to carry our gear up the steep hill.
After waking at 05h00, we were on the road by 05h55. We reached Kaoma by 8h20, filled up the tank with diesel and pushed on Mukambi Lodge. At Mukambi we enjoyed a cup of coffee and the beautiful views and then headed on towards home to in Lusaka. We arrived home at around 16h30.
Calab was a champ the whole. He slept a lot and seemed to be loved to sleep by the bouncing vehicle.
