2011: Oxford/Reading/Kitwe Zambia Adventure

 1. I flew the British Airways overnight red-eye from Toronto to LHR Heathrow, and took a morning bus up to Oxford. At Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, I dropped off a box of books kindly donated by Dr. Craig Keener of Philadelphia.

Mr. Ralph Bates - Librarian, OCMS

2. Next, I took a bus over to Reading, where I briefly visited St. Giles, where Fr. David Harris of Charlottetown PEI is slated to be the new rector. I over-nighted in Reading.

St. Giles, Reading UK

3. Next evening I flew down to Lusaka, Zambia on a 10-hour British Airways overnight red-eye flight. Was met by John and Ruth Kerr, my hosts in Zambia.

4. We drove up to Kitwe, a 5-hour drive, and settled in.

Mosquito net plus pills = no malaria!

5.  I delivered a box of theology books that I had brought for Dr. Kerr.

6. I also brought with me a spanking-new white projector screen which I had bought last summer from Staples in Charlottetown, PEI. The screen was used to great advantage during the seminar I presented, and will be an ongoing asset to the college. It is nice to come "bearing gifts"!

The projector - with some of Dr. Kerr's books strapped to the OUTSIDE of the box!

7. I taught six days at the Trans-Africa Theological College, plus exams on the seventh.

TTC Apologetics Class 2011

8. I treated Rev. Matieu Mufika of D.R. Congo to lunch at the Sherbourne and gave him some supplies including a used digital camera and some money for his ministry in the D.R. Congo, which includes churches, a small theological college, and an elementary school.

Rev. Matieu Mufika - wearing my old hat -- fits like a glove!

He needs French theological books, so I am going to have to work on this in 2011!  (If anybody knows of a source, let me know!)

9. I visited two African churches. Worship is always vibrant and enthusiastic.

Not as nice as St. Giles -- but just as precious to God

10. There were 26 students for this session. I brought them each three small devotional books and bag from Trader Joes in Arizona to put stuff in. The students included 16 4th year TTC students and 10 continuing ed. students who are already serving as pastors in African churches. It was a great honor to be their teacher; many of them minister in very trying conditions which include poverty, witchcraft, traditional religions, and syncretism.

11. I hitched a ride with Dr. John and Dawn Elliott back down to Lusaka on Wednesday, exam day.  Stayed with the Elliotts overnight. Because I was flying on a special BA humanitarian fare, I was able to move up my departure date to Thursday from Saturday!

Thank God for safe travel to/from Lusaka

12. Thursday am.  the Elliotts dropped me off at the Lusaka airport and I was "on my own" again.

Dr. John and Dawn Elliott - American AOG Missionaries

13. I made the 10-hour flight back up to Heathrow; stayed at the Heathrow Sheraton overnight (after a trip to the nearby McDonald's for therapeutic fries and a burger!).

14. The next day I took the 8-hour flight over to Toronto, and was soon home again and in the land of high-speed internet (the Internet in Zambia was at a snail's-pace!).  It takes three days to travel to Kitwe, and another three days to get back -- it is a very tiring trip!

15. My health was great -- better than expected and better than usual.

It is a wonderful thing to be involved in the spiritual thrust of the great commission.

Thank you for your prayers which fueled this adventure.