While our posts here are few and far between, please know our hearts are always with each of you, our readers. Our lives in Zambia get beyond busy, and when we have time, internet often says "NO", and so delays turn in to much time between posts. Our guest writer for today is Jaymeson. God has shown her that she can use writing to share how He is working in her life. Enjoy!  

My name is Jaymeson, and I am 15 years old. My story is not what most people see every day. In fact, until a few months ago there were so many pieces in my story that didn't seem to line up. Things that I was unsure of how God was going to make something beautiful of them. To tell this story right, I need to start back in a big concrete room in 2018. 

 In March of 2018, a 9-year-old girl is sitting in the back of the cafeteria at the Tree of Life Children's Village in the capital city of Lusaka, Zambia. She's a bit excited, a bit sad, and a whole lot uncomfortable. She has lived in Zambia with her family since she was four, but she has just recently moved to Lusaka. 

Her family switched ministries and it was exciting to move. It was exciting to start a new life in the bustling city. However, the bush that she had lived in for the past 5 1/2 years had become home. Her heart ached as she thought of the old storytellers she had left behind, the noise of cow bells tinkling in the morning air, and Gogo (grandma) dancing on Sunday morning. Yes, it was a lot to process for a young girl, but one question echoed through her mind more than all the rest. How in the world am I going to connect with almost 800 street kids from Lusaka? Not only did she wonder how she could connect, but she also didn't really want anything to do with them. They definitely didn't have anything in common with her. She was more than content to sit in the back, stay at home, and have as little interaction as possible with those kids. After all, the "Zambia mission" was all her parents' mission; there was nothing a young girl could do in Zambia.

She stayed this way for a few years until her dad started up a farm at the Tree of Life. Her family had to help out a lot there at first, and she enjoyed the work. However, it made her have to interact with the kids. She slowly began to come out of her shell...as long as they talked first. Through that time, she made some good friends. 

Once her dad got some reliable staff, her family didn't have to go work so much and life settled back into the "comfortable" routine. Life was good. She didn't have to talk to anyone or go out of her comfort zone for a little while. Then, in 2021, the program manager for the Tree of Life called her mom so they could have a meeting in the library. The kids just weren't reading like they should. That afternoon went smoothly with nothing unexpected. That evening, her mom got a message from the program manager. He asked her if she would start teaching literacy lessons to the kids that were just coming in to the facility. The little girl was shocked. Yes, she wanted to do what God wanted her to do, but there must be some mistake. She was a little bit excited and a whole lot uncomfortable. 

The next year and a half caught the little girl up in a whirlwind. Having the two babies in the house come and sit on her lap while she did school soon turned into her teaching three babies for a few hours a day each week. Somedays it was enough to just have them all sitting in their chairs nicely instead of one crawling on the floor, one running out the door, and one teething and in tears on her hip. Life was good. She wasn't just a little girl anymore. She had her thirteenth birthday and was in high school. Her heart was wide open to these kids, and she was loving it. 

In October of 2021, two children came in that would change her life forever. They were nine-year-old twins; their names were Bridget and Emmanuel. Bridget had been severely abused by men in her family. Her mind and body were so damaged, and that's why Emmanuel came in. He had not been abused but he was her caregiver. It was an instinct for him to look after her, and it was more than just a loving brother. There are no words to explain the level of care that Emmanuel provided for her. 

The now teen girl received them just as she had all the others. She was determined to show these kids her love for them. The care they received from October to December was incredible. In two months, Bridget's body mass index went up two points and she had begun trying to speak. She was learning to read and write her name. She was trying to sing and dance in church. Yes, life was good, and the girl's heart was full. 

On December 29th, the girl had been asked to teach the group that Bridget and Emmanuel were in, and in one activity Bridget did the best in the group. She was definitely improving. However, that was the last class that Bridget would ever be a part of as that evening they got the call that Jesus had called Bridget home. When the girl heard, she felt like she couldn't take another breath. How could Bridget just be gone? That night was one of many tearful and questioning prayers. It was one thing she could not make sense of. Over the next few days, the girl came to a few conclusions. She had loved too much. She had let her heart be too open just to let it be shattered. Also, God was wrong. He was definitely the enemy now. He had asked me to do something and I obeyed. Now this? 

God gently asked the girl to trust Him in this. He had bigger plans; He would make something good of this. She turned her head and told Him, "No". She justified it by saying she had trusted in Him before and He hurt her. She went so far as to wonder if she even believed in Him. Was this something a God of love would even do? However, God gently told her that she was being selfish for feeling this way. Bridget was in pain. She was sick. She couldn't even run and play like the other kids her age, and she wanted her back. 

She wrestled with this for the next two years growing more and more angry. Angry at God. Angry at the ones who had hurt Bridget. Angry at the world, and even angry at herself. She didn't like to feel so angry, but she didn't know how to let it go. Her family stopped working at the intake house that year due to some health issues with her mom. Her opportunity to connect with the kids was gone. 

She had become so numb and bitter that she had just gone on living until August of 2023 came around. She was sitting back in church. One of the grade 12 girls had started an interpretive dance team earlier that year. They were truly beautiful. The girl had always loved dance, and that Sunday her mom pulled the grade 12 girl over to give her some music ideas. She loved the music and asked if we could bring it the next Monday when they practiced. She also specially invited the girl to come. The girl was ecstatic. She couldn't wait. For the first time in awhile she felt like she might be able to connect with the kids. 

The next afternoon came and she was a little excited and a whole lot uncomfortable. They learned their dance and the girl made some new friends. By the next week she was teaching them a dance all by herself. Life was good. Her heart was back open again. Once the grade 12 girl graduated, the girl was teaching the dancers all by herself. She was looking forward to each day of practice, ready to dance but also to be with new friends. Friends who had been through tragedies and dark nights but still believed in Jesus.

This is my story. A story of how God took broken pieces and made something whole. I now can see why God had to take Bridget out of this world. I hadn't given my whole life to Him; I was still holding a little bit back. I was willing to follow Him in the good times; trust Him in the good times, but my faith was not founded in the rock. When the storm blew, I saw that my faith was built on sand. It was built on going to church on Sunday, saying my prayers, and ultimately putting on the "Christian" girl face. It took tragedy to make me stop in my tracks and see what I was really building my life on. 

If you are reading this right now, even if you're not going through a tragedy like I did, I want to leave you with one word: Wait. God is still in control even if you can't see it. There is so much more working behind the scenes. The end is so much more beautiful when you can believe it is coming. 

Seven Years in Zambia

Seven years ago today this VERY TIRED family arrived in Zambia, Africa, after almost three days in an airplane or in airports due to layovers and plane malfunctions. We could never have imagined all that God had in mind when we said, "Here I am...send me." His ways are perfect and have been planned since before time began. We have experienced some of the most beautiful things and people we could have ever imagined and we've experienced ugliness that we hope to never pass through again. We've celebrated and praised through engagements, weddings, marriages, births, graduations, new jobs, educational opportunities, and most importantly, seeing God save His people and help new readers learn to read the Bible for themselves! We've also grieved and prayed
through abuse, neglect, divorce, death, illness, miscarriage, broken relationships, spouses and children falling into sin, job loss, mistreatment, failing grades, unfulfilled opportunities and much more. Through it all, God has shown Himself faithful. The friends who have become like family on both sides of the ocean will forever be treasured as we all work together to sharpen each other for the cause of Christ. We are so thankful for both ministry opportunities that God has brought us to in our short time in Zambia. Each day is new with challenges and promises for all of us. To all of our friends and family in the States -- we love you and miss you all so much! Thank you for your faithful prayers, notes, and partnership in so many different ways. To all of our friends and family in Zambia -- we love you all and pray God will continue to challenge us and grow us into exactly what He needs for His glory! Press on, dear friends, press on!

Here's to the first day of year #8. We're Yours, Lord, everything we have, everything we've got, everything we're not....just living and loving for you!

One month.....at times it can seem like the blink of an eye and other times it can seem like a year or longer.  This past month has been some of both for the Evans family.  It's been one month since we landed back on the beautiful soil of our home in Zambia.  One month of relearning where we put things and reminding ourselves that we "stay left" when driving instead of "stay right" as we did when we were in the States.  One month of cleaning layers of dirt and debris and reminding the lizards, geckos, and spiders that we are back and they can go now (thanks for watching over everything while we were away).  One month since we said our final good-byes while in the same country as our first-born and took one more step of faith knowing that God has her in the palm of His mighty hand.  One month of trying to adjust to different prices as inflation is hitting Zambia hard.  One month of reconnecting with friends who are family this side of the ocean.  One month of celebrating God's faithful protection and care as Jaymeson continued to heal from having surgery in the States to remove her tonsils and Joel fell from a ladder to a play loft at a friend's house and came out with just a few bumps and bruises and a small fracture in his wrist.  (The cast comes off today!)  One month of learning what it now means to be just a family of five as we live, work, and learn together.  One month of starting back to school and work after being gone for over three months.  One month of worshipping the Lord Jesus each week with singing and dancing! 

One month of talking with friends electronically instead of face-to-face and wishing we could hug many of them through some real struggles that have come into their lives.  One month of working through the struggles of having a house with plumbing, but having no water.  One month of learning that the national power company has exchanged "load shedding" with "load management" (somedays they 'manage' a little longer than others). One month of watching God answer prayer needs before we even knew the need existed.  One month of tears as sisters are separated for the first time in their lives and they learn how to work through that aspect of life.  One month of creating new recipes, as some of the foods you knew and loved are no longer available.  (Maybe next week??)  One month of getting back into a routine after starting school late this year and trying like mad to catch up days where we can.  One month of watching friends pack up and leave Zambia as God is constantly moving in the lives of His people.  One month of crying with and praying with friends as they have "reentered" the USA changed inside and out...forever.  Praying God will provide them with people who will not try to give them advice, but will try to walk alongside them realizing that they can't just step back into this river of life, as they now have a new blended culture that makes them truly unique.  One month of grieving over friends and family who have passed on and celebrating with others over new and upcoming births!  One month of celebrations......Independence Day, graduations, weddings, births, moves to new ministries.....for our friends on both sides of the ocean.  One month of growing closer together as a family because of the struggles of going to the States and the readjustment back to life in Zambia after you return.  One month of health struggles for Jolene as October is the most difficult month for her autoimmune disorder.  One month of watching God remind you of things you prayed before you left and how he amazingly says, "I didn't forget...NOW is the right time for that." 

One month of praying when prayer is the only help you can offer someone.  One month of seeking what God has next as we work with and for Him daily.  One month of watching some of the worst corruption that we've seen exposed in our nation since our arrival over six years ago.   One month of watching a greater armed military and police presence than we saw before we left and helping our kids understand that God is the ultimate authority and He never changes or leaves us.  One month of hearing story after story of people letting people down and watching God redeem the situations for His glory!  One month of sweating and feeling every drop of moisture being sucked from your skin as the days near for the rainy season!  One month of praying for a nation that is suffering from the effects of man's greed.  One month of seeking God's answers to many questions that have come up regarding where He wants us to live and what we are to do each day for Him and His name to be glorified.  One month of hearing all about what we missed while we were away.  One month of trying to get sleep patterns back in place and still arrange to call people in the States even through time changes.  One month of watching Jesus show Himself through others who selflessly give of themselves, their cars, their house, etc. just so we'll have a meal, a car, or a shower when days get rough.   One month of watching God grow our marriage and family through new and unexpected challenges which He turned into joy.  One month of struggling through some health challenges with Josette and Jim and watching God provide with a friend and doctor who still makes house calls!  One month of learning new things from God's word and getting to share that with others.  (Remember, He never pours anything into us just to keep it to ourselves ---- we are poured into so we can pour out into the lives of others.) One month of counting it all joy when we face various trials.

 One month........what will the next month bring?  As we prepare for the rainy season in Zambia and the celebration of the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, we look forward to each new day with great anticipation of what He is doing in the lives of our family, our ministry, and the world.  We don't always understand, but we strive to obey and go where He sends, whether it's to a house, a school, a meeting, or just a "chance encounter" with someone who just needs to know the truth of God's word, may we always be available and ready, willing, and able, to "be the feet".  "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" Isaiah 52:7  God has been so real this past month; not that He hasn't always been real, but He has carried us through some tremendous trials over the past month and showed His love in new and unexpected ways.  We are so humbled and thankful for His great love, care, and provision, even when it's just a random "hey, I know this guy who can help with that need".  Nothing random about God!  We will praise Him in the good days and bad; how else can we share Him in "real time" in "real life" with those around us who truly need to see and experience the truth?  Until next time...... when another "one month" will pass. 

Here are some ways you can be praying with us:

            1) Please be in prayer about where God wants us to live.  We are having a lot of struggles with our current location and are seeking other options. 

            2) Please be in prayer for healing for our family as many have been injured or ill over the past month.

            3) Please be in prayer for the work we do daily with the kids and that any program developed or plan put in place will bring glory to God and bring each of them closer to the Lord Jesus and help them grow in their personal relationship with Him.

            4) Please be in prayer for Jeanna stateside and the other five of us here as we all adjust to this new life away from each other.  (So thankful when technology cooperates and we can see her face and chat.) (And you can wish her a happy 19^th birthday on Thursday, 9 November.)

            5) Please be in prayer that we will continue to grow in our knowledge of God's word that we can help disciple those God brings into our lives so that the whole body of Christ will be healthy and growing day by day. 

**Daily struggles are Zambian culture, American culture, church culture that all need to bow to what the Bible teaches us as Christian culture.  God is still in the 'changing us all for His glory' business! 

Thank you for your continued prayer support -- you'll never know this side of heaven how much that means.  Please let us know how we can be praying for you!  We love you all and look forward to.....until we meet again.