Well, we have finally heard from the Ministry of Home Affairs here in Zambia, and it looks as though I have to return to Australia by the 10th of February. Our appeal for a temporary permit has been unsuccessful, however, we were informed that I should try applying for a work permit. Unfortunately I cannot be within Zambia when an application is made for this visa, and as the initial Temporary Permit was rejected, I see little hope for success in lodging another application. We serve a gracious God though, and to ensure all bases are covered, I am going to lodge a fresh application for a work visa while I am in Australia in February.

What does this mean for the work I am doing in Zambia? Not really 100% sure - but I am praying for God's will to be done. There is a lot of work to be done here, both on the farm as well as within the community. The school is part way through construction of a new block of classrooms meant to be used for administration and future grades. As well as this a lodge meant for short term mission teams nears completion. Unfortunately, finding the money to complete these projects is proving to be difficult as the farm, which supports the community services arm, is struggling a little as we search for a full time farmer to pick up the reigns.

I still need to find time to finish what was started at Eagles Wings and MMM (the computer room and internet cafe) - hopefully this will happen around mid January.

So! The pressure is on for Sylvia and I to compelte a spousal visa application to allow Sylvia into Australia. We are currently hunting for a immigration agent with a good track record to help advise us how best to lodge the application. Anyone who can help - feel free to email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - any advise is welcomed!

I would have to say that the last 3 months or so in Zambia feel like they have been more about battling immigration than supporting and helping the locals and sharing the Word of God. Being put in the position that I have been, with the opportunity to work for and bless an entire community, is nothing short of a privilege. Its an opportunity to really make a difference to the quality of life for a number of locals by providing a range of services including education. The vision for the farm has always been to support the neighbouring community through sharing the Word of God and fostering opportunity through employment and education. This is a job I could really sink my teeth into, unfortunately immigration has other ideas. I keep reminding myself that its ultimately the Lord in control of whether I stay or go, not an official behind a desk.

Anyway, its not as though the Lord needs me to accomplish His plans for this community. We know that the Lord loves His people more than we do, and that ultimately He provides for them. Whether I stay or go, the Lord is in control and its arrogant to think that the Lord needs me here or there, when He doesn't. I think when it comes to mission work, I have found that initially you feel as though the Lord has called you for some noble purpose bigger than yourself. For sure, all who know Christ have been called to a noble purpose bigger than themselves (to know Him and share Him), however its easy to lose track of what that purpose is amongst the need of others and your own sense of self worth (ego).

When the work you are involved with, no matter how noble, starts crumbling, or you future in it seems uncertain, I think its important to remind yourself of who you really are, or more importantly, who Jesus really is. Nothing is beyond His grasp, everything submits to His authority, and who am I to think that He needs me, or my ministry to do anything. He chooses to make His glory known through broken vessels. Without the christianese this means that He is able to make Himself known as a loving, providing and powerful father through us, His people, despite our inabilities and ignorances.

Taking this further though, it is a mistake to believe that the Lord needs me; a broken, fallable vessel us to accomplish even the smallest part of His will and show Himself to be true. Like He reminds Job, '...where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?'. He used Moses even when Moses didn't want it. He used Jonah despite Jonah's rebelliousness and disobedience, He even used pharoah and pharaoh didn't know Him, or that he was being used by Him! He even used a donkey to speak to Balaam.

The point is, the Lord will have His way as He is God. He includes us in His will (whether its to give and bless or to judge and take away), however He doesn't need us. He includes us the same way a father includes an infant son when mowing the lawn - with love, encouragement and the desire to see us grow - even though He does all the real work, I think sometimes we are the ones pushing a plastic mower around the yard believing that we're in control. Just as He has provided for me, He will provide for others.

Anyhoo - I'm done. Both Sylvia and I continue trusting in the Lord's guidance, rather than our ability to determine where He is trying to take us.