Stories from the Field

July 2003

Almost 200 saved in Zambia!
By Chris Mcilravy in Zambia, Southern Africa

I am out in the bush and haven't showered or changed clothes for five days. It is the missionary’s life for me. Woo Hoo!! The second group of student volunteers is out here right now. We are at a place called Luwangwa. I have seen hippos, baboons, crocs, and elephants. It is pretty cool. We have had great response to the gospel in this area. Almost two hundred people made decisions to follow Christ only and get saved!

Luwangwa is such a key place because of its borders with other countries. It is at the border of Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Praise God that it is the most responsive area to the gospel of any area we have been in yet.

There is one guy name Chris, a Zambian who works for the guesthouse where we are staying. He was a Jehovah witness. We all begin to share with him the truth when around him. After three days he told us he wanted to receive Christ and is going to put down the Watch Tower magazine in order to follow the truth. The last night we were there, he prayed with us and thanked God for showing him the truth in Jesus. We serve an awesome God!

Salvation in Luwangwa

The first day one of the student volunteers, Drew, went with his Interpreter to a village called Chidada. He waited to talk to the headman of the village as is customary and he and his translator received permission to tell the good news in the village on the following day at two o'clock. So at two the next day he return and the whole village (family about 50-60 persons) showed up.

They meet under a huge tree. We sang some songs and then Drew preached the gospel. Most of the men and one woman accepted the Lord and he and I stayed the rest of the afternoon for answering their questions. While we where there the Lord was doing great things in two other countries. We had sent the other three students with translators to Mozambique and Zimbabwe. They were carried along by faith. They had just enough money for visa and transport across the river. Then the fruits of their effort showed as groups of people who had barely heard the good news before accepted the Lord into there hearts.

Surviving Elephant Attack for Salvation

About twenty kilometers up the Zambezi River from Luwangwa, there is a village called, Cebalumanga. The river is the only good access to this village. There is a road to it, but it is washed out from the rainy season and almost impassable, not to mention the anti-tank mines that are thought to still be left over from the war. We wanted to share the Gospel in that village so we paid for transport up the river. I felt a bit like Huck Finn. On the way up we saw about thirty hippos and some crocs. When we arrived we asked the head man if we could preach the good news there, he permitted us.

This village of 2000 or more people was filled with elephant tracks all over the ground. After witnessing to the first lady (67 years old) she said, “I now know why God did not let me die when the elephant attacked me last night . . .so I could hear His message today.” She responded by faith in Jesus. Wow!!

I talked to 7 people in hour-long gospel presentations. All seven respond by faith in Jesus. My wife, Mallory, was on the other side of the village and had 21 people respond to the Lord in faith. This area is so responsive the IMB will most likely put a missionary in Luwangwa. Praise be to God!