I will be living on the outskirts of a compound called Overspill in the suburb of Twapia, one of Ndola's (a city in Northern Zambia) poorest communities. For the next year or two, I will be working primarily with two missions, Mobile Mission Maintennance (MMM) and Eagle's Wings (EW) operating within this area. As I work for mission, I wont receive an income from any work performed, rather I will be living off savings and any support I can raise throughout my time in Zambia.

My formal role will be to set up and maintain a computer room for each mission, get a decent internet connection (please pray!), and teach basic computer skills as part of MMM's vocational training program. Depending on the quality of the internet connection, there is a chance that one of these rooms can be used as an internet cafe to raise money for MMM.

As well as spending my formal qualifications for a Zambian benefit, I also hope to encourage other members of our Christian family in Zambia, as I have endeavored to do here in Australia. I am looking forward to sharing the Lord with members of the Zambian community as only He can bring true contentment and peace amidst suffering.

Back here in Australia, we may not share in the more immediate needs regarding health, food, and education to the degree Zambians do, however we are just as attuned to the emotional and spiritual need to connect and engage with Jesus. We are all made in God's image and so we are all made to be in relationship with him.... thats just the way we are built. If we try to find our own way, or create our own truth to live by its like using a hamster as a hammer, or fitting a square peg in a round hole. It just doesn't fit, and we are left feeling disjointed, interrupted, insufficient and incomplete. Sometimes we need to suffer to know that something is not right. We know we have a broken leg if we feel the pain it causes, and there are many different ways of suffering.

As Christians, we know that the Lord sometimes uses suffering to teach us perseverance and bring us into maturity (James 1:2-5). The Lord does sometimes alleviate our suffering by taking us out of it, however, a lot of the time, He meets us IN our suffering. Paul learned the secret of being content no matter what his circumstance (Phil 4:11-13), whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Paul learned that he could do everything through Him (Jesus) who gave him strength, and so it was in that strength that he trusted, and found his contentment no matter what the circumstance.

However, purpose in life is not to suffer, rather we are to alleviate the suffering of others. If we see a need and we can help, we should do just that - and for the glory of God, not ourselves. The ultimate example of this is Jesus himself who ultimately suffered to death so that would would not have to (die). Scripture is littered with instruction and examples of how we are to deal with one another in love, and how to do so, ESPECIALLY between those who believe (Gal 6:10). Zambia has openly declared that it is a Christian nation, and after visiting Zambia a number of times, I would have to conclude that there is definitely an acceptance of Christs message there that is not experienced in the west. Is it acceptable then as Christians that we see our brothers in need, and hesitate in assisting? By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.(John 13:35)