CESA Field Orientation - 40 Days and 40 Nights

Once again Central, Eastern and Southern Africa's field orientation program named "40 Days and 40 Nights" has come to a close. After spending 30 days and nights together in various living situations learning from Zambians, 24 missionaries debriefed their varied experiences and all they have learned. This hands-on, experiential learning took place in an urban city, district capital, and in the village. The new missionaries experienced living together in a cramped dormitory, in a tent with no running water or electricity, and finally culminating in 3 nights living with a Zambian family.

"I realized what life is like for the African and I learned by living it", one participant shared. Another young man said, "We came to their village with our $80 shoes and lived with the family where the son wore the same clothes all three days and had no shoes", as he tried to grapple with the disparity.

"Africans make time for people and train their children to be so respectful", shared another missionary as he related the importance of relationships to the African people. One young woman's missionary partner was sick and had to return to the base camp and so the wife of her host came and slept with her so she would not be lonely or afraid. Another young man shared that his host worked very hard, had 7 children but only 1 living and yet he asked this young man to be his best friend. What a gift for these new missionaries, successful by American standards, to share in these friendships!

An older woman missionary, overwhelmed by the difficult life the women of Africa endure, was humbled by the preparations made for her. "They gave us their best", she shared. What better motivation to give the best by sharing with them the Good News of a Savior! Pray for these new missionaries that as they return to their assignments and their homes, that they would be under obligation to share the hope of the Gospel with the people they are living among.

Thank God for both the missionary and Zambian leadership in this field orientation program and ask God to grant them grace and wisdom as they prepare for the next group of 43 new missionaries that will experience "40 Days and 40 Nights" during April and May of next year.

Jon