A Tree Along the Okavango River

There is a tree along the Okavango River.
Unreached...Unengaged...Unacceptable
The Luyana-Kwangali of Namibia and Angola live along the Okavango River which forms the border of these two countries.

The majority of the Luyana-Kwangali live in remote, isolated villages without the conveniences of electricity, indoor plumbing, and shops. There are however, some small towns in this area that provide some minor conveniences.

There are very few evangelical believers and churches among this people group.
Pray that this will change.

There is no one intentionally planting churches among this people group.
Pray that this will change.

Pray that the Luyana-Kwangali will come to know God and His Word, being like the tree in Psalm 1:3

"That they will be... firmly planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in its season...

...and its leaf does not wither and whatever they do they prosper."
Join us in praying for the 200,000 Luyana-Kwangali

An Afternoon in Sinonge's Village

Charlene Hahn, IMB trustee, and I spent our last afternoon along the Zambezi River at Sinonge's village. We followed Sky as we headed south from her house, winding through the bush on a deep sandy path.
Sinonge belongs to the Totela people group. Sky walks regularly to teach Sinonge's three wives and his sister-in-law stories from the Bible. Before Daniel and Sky Scott, there was no one specifically teaching the Totela people God's Word. Thank God with me that they followed God's call to Africa.

There are over 15,000 Totela living in the Western Province of Zambia. Their rural villages dotting the floodplains from the Zambezi River to the eastern border of the Western Province.

Psalm 147:4 says, "He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them." God, our Creator, also knows every Totela person and longs for a personal relationship with them, from the youngest baby to the most elder grandmother. Pray for the salvation of the Totela people.

This is Monica and her young baby, she is married to Sinonge's younger brother, Pumulo. She has been exhibiting a keen interest and quick memory for God's Word. Pray that Monde will apply His truths to her life daily, living without fear. "In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?" Psalm 56:4

Sky has been using a storying cloth (colorful pictures of each Bible story) to remind the women of the stories that she has taught them.

Zambians are known for their love of singing. Sky is also helping them to remember the key points of each Bible story through song. Using the tune, "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus", the women make a new verse of "their" song for each story. Singing through the whole song reviews each story they have been taught.

Pray that they will pass these Bible lessons along to their families and friends through story and song.

Pray that these Totela children will grow up knowing how much God loves them . . .

. . .and His plan of salvation for each one of them!

The Scotts are preparing to go on their "stateside assignment" in a few months. Pray that they will have many opportunities to present the gospel before they leave and that while they are gone from Zambia, their Totela friends will continue to think upon all they have been taught.

Pray that Sinonge, his wives and family members and fellow Totela will call upon the name of the Lord, praising Him as their Lord and Savior.

"How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" Romans 10:15

Over the River and Through the Woods

The first morning of our visit with Daniel & Sky Scott we walked down the steep sandy beach in front of their home and loaded into their boat, which was tied up within a calm eddy of the great Zambezi River. They were taking me and Charlene Hahn, IMB trustee, to Maziba Basic School, where Sky teaches Lozi children Bible stories. There are over 600,000 Lozi living in the Western Province of Zambia.

After traveling up the Zambezi River Daniel pulled his boat into a small bay and we began the hike into the bush on the eastern side of the river. Pray for the safety, health and endurance for Daniel, Sky and their daughter, River Belle, as they travel by foot, boat or truck to teach God's Word among the Lozi people.

The Lozi children of Maziba Basic School (and the teachers!) were more than happy to see the Scotts arrive. Bible story time, on a physical level, meant stretching their legs, moving outside to the tree and singing action-filled songs. Thank God for Sky and the creative way she teaches the children, through fun songs and dramatic story telling.

On a spiritual level the children see God's love walk into their schoolyard when the Scotts arrive, they experience His joy, compassion and kindness. Pray that these children will hear, learn and remember God's truths told through Bible stories, stories that can change their lives. Below you can see one of the students helping Sky hold the storying cloth she uses to remind the children of the stories. Pray that these children would know His truth when they hear it and accept it. Pray that they would allow His truths to penetrate their hearts and they would become serious followers of Christ.Pray that these Lozi children would break free from fear and spiritual darkness by choosing to trust in Christ. Pray that they would tell the Bible stories to their families, that God's name would be exalted among all generations across the Western Province of Zambia.