The Rouch Family in Zambia

Jun/Jul/Aug 2006

Pastor Cheelo & Family with Rouch Family

Village Chiefteness in front of “Palace"

Dear Pastor & Church Family,

Since our last letter, things have settled down some and as always…..we have been reminded how much our Lord is in control. As you know, these first few months back on the field have tested us pretty severely. We are praising the Lord, however, that the dollar value rate to local kwacha is gaining some strength. With this in mind, we are now able to continue with plans to start some of the church building projects in the near future.

The July mission extension trip to visit Pastor Cheelo and his family and Victory Bible Baptist Church in the Southern Province was a wonderful blessing! Brother and Mrs. Peterson (new missionaries here on their survey trip) went with us. What a joy it was as we visited one of the markets near the Zambezi River. We witnessed to two men who accepted Christ and they asked us to come to their village to preach the next day. So, along with Pastor Cheelo, we drove several kilometers of very poor dirt road conditions to find a large village of 7,000 people! This village has no Gospel preaching work of any kind. “Protocol” was absolutely necessary here. In 13 years I have only had the privilege twice to meet a village Chief. This day, Bro. Peterson and I were invited to meet the “Chiefteness” of the village – a sister to the Chief. We found ourselves in the “palace.” After the normal greeting of “squatting” and clapping several times, we entered into discussion concerning preaching in the village. At the appropriate time, Pastor Cheelo (in the native Tonga language) began to witness to the Chiefteness. She assured us that she knew Christ as her Savior and even named the date. Before we left, she asked us to please come to her village and start a Baptist Church. By this time, it was late and we had to return to town before dark and before getting to preach. However, knowing of this wonderful opportunity, Pastor Cheelo is pursuing this opportunity for a baby church to start out of Victory Bible Baptist Church in Livingstone.

In the Copperbelt Province, Pastor Munkanta’s wife requested some help with shirts for their ladies choir at New Testament Baptist Church in Lubuto. Tressa presented this opportunity to one of our churches who provided these shirts for us to bring back to Zambia with us. The ladies were so happy that they were “squealing” with joy. We were once again reminded how much we have as compared to these people. Yet, they have Christ and they faithfully sacrifice and do without daily needs for the sake of promoting the Gospel. No matter how much we do here, I find myself often ashamed and humbled for ever complaining. We are so blessed!

Lubuto Ladies Choir with new uniforms!

Thank you so very much for your continued faithful support financially, as well as your prayers. A special “thank you” to those of you who so willingly helped during this crisis time of moving and extreme unexpected costs. We wish each and every one of you could spend some time with us here...realizing the awesomeness of ministry in this fruitful place of harvest.

Partners in His Harvest,
Brother Charlie, Tressa & Taylor
crnzam@coppernet.zm