Here are the Pictures!

Hi Guys!
I hope everything is just fine with every one of you that is reading this blog. Thank you very much for coming back to read and see the pictures of what I have been doing in Zambia and before. Like I have promise last week that I will post some of the pictures of what we have been doing in Zambia so far. Well I kept my promise and I did it you can click to this link address if you want to see the pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/Manianga/MissionToZambia2007 Basically, we have been working with APPLE (AIDS Prevention Plus Life skills Education) Ministry for the last two weeks. I have been preaching and teaching the Word to high school students in two different school. We have to teach them the value of life, their promise and purpose in God and most importantly the self- esteem concepts based on the Word of God. HIV/AIDS is a very big issue here. People are dying at the rate you cannot imagine. Just yesterday, one of our Zambian Team facilitators has lost his uncle due to the disease. The subject is very taboo that they must do everything that people do no find out that he died of HIV. They have to say something like he died of TB. If people come to know that the person died of HIV the family becomes isolated. No one would like to talk to them or greet them by hands fearing that they too are infected of AIDS. People are dying but no one is disclosing the real cause behind their sickness which is HIV/AIDS. The hide it behind other names of diseases.

10 Days in Zambia already!

Hi every ones. I am very excited you must forgive me if you notice it. I just wish I could be able to post my pictures and show you in images what I have been doing and involved into. So many things have happen since the last time I have updated this blog and many things are still happening. I will do whatever it takes (and I mean it!) to post the pictures for you.

God has been so faithful to all of us and we are very grateful to Him to allow us serve Him in ways we have never considered before. When we have arrived here in Mongu last week we did not know what to expect. But as the things began to unfold we began to see the greatness of God and His provision for the poor of Mongu. With the team, we past three days in Katongo village with the sick, orphans and refugees mostly from Angola. Poverty and despair were every where. Poorly clothed kids were following us literally everywhere and all the time. Those of my team members who are whites saw themselves surrounded by dozens of curious and unschooled children who chantted "MOKWUA!, MOKWUA!!". That is how they call white man here. It is not an insult but it is a word for white man in their language, the Lozi language. Immediately we began to practice ourLozi, the few words that we learned from our Mission mentor. You may not believe it but people were happy to see us and just to have us stay with them. In the midst of poverty and despair we found songs of praise, sincere worship and dances of joy for the Lord. Most of us we broke in tears seeing the joy of the people who had almost nothing. Their houses where made of grasses from the top to the bottom and they did not complain. Their woman were full of dignity and greeted us with a lot of respect and esteem. The elders came out, greeted us and told us how they appreciate our visit and our coming to talk to their youth about HIV/AIDS and Life skills. That was what we did also there. for the three days we stayed in that village.

Yesterday, we went to visit the local hospital. We have volunteered doing manual labour in the hospital taking sick to X-Ray or Ultrasound for and back. We have started by praying and sharing the word of God to the sick. There were a lot of cases of stomach pain and chest pain, TB, AIDS, etc. But God was so wonderful.

I will stop here for now to continue next time as I promise with pictures. Till then May God bless you all that are reading this blog all over the world. This experience has changed me completely. I am a new man, I'm born again. I saw people delivered from demonic possession after we prayed for them; I saw people with stomach disease having water expelled from their stomach after we have prayed for them. I saw people giving their lives to Christ after hearing the Gospel. I spoke to High school student about their promise in God and why they must preserve their lives (Ps.119:50). I saw poor people doing things that we in North America we will not dare to try without making sure that we have all the resources and funds in place. That has transformed me and my way of seeing God promise and provision. If one thing is sure of this trip: is that it has wiped out all my excuses to start doing the things that God has ask me to do for Him and for His people.

May you all rest blessed in His peace wherever you are, knowing that His promise preserves our lives (Ps.119:50)

I'm alive and well in Zambia!

Heh Guys!
Sorry for this long time of silence. I did not mean it. I was caught into the Zambia trip preperations. At least we made, with the last member who arrived this morning. We all made it travelling from Toronto through London, England then Lusaka, Zambia. We left Toronto last Sunday arround 9.30 pm. We arrive at Heatrow airport at 9.30 am. We spend 8 hours in London. I took profit of that opportunity to visit some friends that are living in London and that I met long long time. It was a great moment of reunion, ah! I was very happy to see those faces again after five long years in Canada.

I remember that I have promise you updates onthis trip and behind. Don't worry, I'll do it. I only wish I can be able to show you some interesting Zambiam pictures I took. I am using a cyber Café and they do not have the equipments for posting pictures. Once I find a place that have one I will post you pictures and their stories. But for now please content yourself with words (letters or texts) only :)

Zambia is a great experience and a story to live. I will write more in days to come. We are living tomorrow for Mongu, a village in the Wester Province. They said we can find internet café in the surrounding town there. Please, just hold your breath for now.