Ministering on a Bike!

For now, we are going again. We are going to the same destinations, 5 bible studies over four days.  God is doing some amazing things in our lives as well as the lives of the people that we are teaching.  The storying, questions, and participation we allow from all who attend is being talked about in several villages.  Please pray for us as the wind is very strong today.  It is much cooler, and small chances of rain, but nothing significant, we think.  Pray for the Lord to continue to sow the seeds of the gospel.  Pray that these seekers will grow to the point of bearing fruit and glorifying God with their lives.  Pray for Ann and the children as they remain here in Botswana.  Also remember Ann due to the fact she has a head cold, and that can zap her of energy. 

Zimbabwe Bike Trip #2

Distance: 100+ kilometers.

Duration: 4 days

Special Circumstances: Rejection and refusal.

Outcome:  Victory and success.

I do not believe in “name it and claim it” prayer requests.  In other words, I do not tell God what to do.  He has given me a strong desire for Zimbabwe, and this past week assured me that everything would be okay concerning our upcoming trip.  In the end, He was right.

We arrived in Zimbabwe and learned that our host for the first and the third nights did not want us to come.  She made the excuse of political unrest in the area.  We did not listen because we believe that the gospel should go forward no matter the situation.  Her excuse was proven false in all areas we went through.  And she really was angry when we showed up and when we passed through her area, rode our bicycles another 6 miles for the day and stayed in the next village.  Several people, we believe, who knew her and who had worshiped with us asked her, “Why?”  Therefore when we passed back through she begged us to stay next time.  God is amazing.  Pray for this lady.  She is very weak in the faith.  We are thankful she is not the only location where we are sharing the T4T stories.  Her witness and demeanor are unstable because she is double-minded.  Pray that she will become totally focused on the people receiving Jesus Christ.

Her resistance forced us to travel 8 kilometers out of our way, but God gave us strength.  We arrived at our first night’s lodging and the young couple treated us like royalty.  With the chickens running to and fro, and Noah running to and fro because he feels so at home, we finally ate supper and settled down for a nice rest. 

The next morning we shared a shorter version of the first story with the village of Ngwana.  They were very participatory.  Later we would learn, one man went home confused.  The longer he thought about our group the more he understood our new perspective.  Everyone should understand and everyone has the opportunity to ask whatever questions they desire.  He will join us again, I believe. 

After this Bible study we traveled another 20 kilometers to Sinotsi.  We are learning so much about God’s timing, the people we meet on the journey, and the various paths through the bush.  Many people we meet testify that they have heard about us or have seen us in Bhagan.  Some people want to know why we are going past them and to the next village.  They almost seem to be offended.  One man was going to Bhagan to find us; little does he know that there will be a Bible study next time very close to where he lives.  God is doing some great things. 

In Sinotsi, we just arrived and visited two people and then rested.  The next morning we had a great Bible study.  Ann and Mooketsi fixed peanut butter sandwiches and tea for all the ladies and they loved it when Ann knelt to wash their hands and serve them.  They felt honored.  We then located the church member who walks 6 miles every Sunday to church.  We want to have a Bible study in her area.  She was walking toward the road as we pulled up and almost cried when we shared our desire to study the word of God in her home.  We will meet with her next time. 

We rode back to Ngwana had a good follow up Bible study and then spent the night.  The final day we rode 18 miles back to Plumtree.  We were sore but our victories were many.  The biggest victory is Mooketsi.  I have never met a national who is so on fire for the Lord.  He is not being paid one dime for his work.  He is growing in his faith, believes God will bless him for his hard work and even begins planning the next trip before we get home.  It is awesome. 

In His Name,

Kelly, Ann, Kayla, Namon, & Noah Carruthers