Experience in Zambia

Happy end of summer!  I can’t believe it has come and gone already.  I hope that everyone had the opportunity to enjoy some fun in the sun and relaxation during the warm, summer days we had.  I have been meaning to sit down and write this letter to thank everyone for their support for my trip to Zambia; but time has just flown and it has been about a month since I have returned from the amazing trip.  I am extremely sorry for the delay, but ever so excited to share the wonderful ways that God is currently working among the Tonga people and how he graciously used us while we were there.

We had several opportunities to serve in various ways.  Since we were staying 2 hours into the bush, we all had a fun time adjusting to camp life without running water and electricity; and all the physical labor that comes with successfully running a camp to support 17 people.  In addition to helping out around camp, we had several opportunities to hang out with the children in the orphanage, who lived a short walk up the dirt path.  We taught them bible stories, some English, played games with them, made balloon animals, ate with them, prayed with them, and so much more.  We were all inspired by the children and our hearts were immensely filled with compassion for them.

Most of our days were spent doing physical work of some sort.  We created two work teams, which alternated between chopping down trees and digging out stumps; to participating in our eye glass ministry.  The eye glass teams each had two eye doctors, a person trained to distribute and fit the glasses, and a counselor.  This set up allowed us to run the ministry every day of the week and still accomplish some work for the missionaries we were there to support.  We were blessed to be able to give sight to many people who have not had it in a long time.  Some people did not need glasses, or they were already blind.  For these, we prayed over them genuinely and offered any encouragement that we could.  Everyone single person we gave an eye exam to, we made sure we shared the gospel with them.  Our counselors sought the direction of the Holy Spirit in every conversation that took place.  While the eye ministry was going on, our other team would be out in the “stump field” digging up and removing stumps and trees, so that the land may be planted in the fall.  We had very long, hard days, but God was ever so merciful in providing great weather and wonderful opportunities for fellowship and bonding among siblings in Christ.

I felt extremely fortunate to have been able to serve along side each individual that God had brought to Zambia for the weeks we were there.  I saw different characteristics of Christ in each person…it was amazing to see the face of my Savior in that way!

God revealed himself to me in many ways; but the most exciting way was His calling of me to the mission field in Africa.  He has brought me to and from this continent over the past couple years and has finally made a path clear for me to begin pursuing full time missions there.  I am praying about where God wants me to go and when He reveals it to me, I will continue the process of funding, planning, praying, packing, and anything else that will need to be done to allow things to move along.

I have started a website - www.alyssabolles.blogspot.com – where I will be blogging my future updates on my journey to the mission field.  Please check the site regularly so that you will know what God is teaching me, how he is preparing me to go, and how he is unfolding the plan for it all to happen!  I will be posting prayer requests, biblical insights, encouragement, updates, and so much more.  Please feel free to leave me messages or words of encouragement on the page; I always love hearing from all of you.  I know Satan will try to have his hand in all this, but praise God; He has already won the battle!!!

Thank you all so much for allowing all this to happen.  Your prayers, thoughts, and financial support were extremely evident through the whole trip to Zambia.  God used each of you in a unique way for His glory and I am convinced he will continue to use you in the communities around you.  I am overjoyed that God hand picked you and me to be partners in what he is doing in Africa.  Please be in prayer for me and my future in Africa!  I am excited for what God is going to do and how he will make it all come to pass.               

      Please call or email anytime:

                443-875-7886

a.lynne317@gmail.com

I love you all very dearly and am praying for every one of you!!

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

-Acts 20:24

The Calling

“You did not choose me, but I chose and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”             - John 15:16

My journey to Africa began two years ago when I participated in a 9-month missionary training program in South Africa and Swaziland.  Since then, God allowed me to go back twice, once to Kenya and once to Zambia.  With each trip God taught me more and more about who He is and who I am in Him.  He also has allowed me to fall in love with the people who live in these places and have compassion on them.  My heart is burdened for these people and I have hoped that God would allow me to one day do full time missions somewhere in Africa. 

This trip to Zambia was amazing in so many ways; however, the most significant part of the trip was the moment when God told me that I would be coming back to Africa very soon to serve Him there permanently.  The Lord began to reveal this to me through a conversation I had with a missionary there and continued to make His plan known to me through mediation on Him and words of encouragement from those who surrounded me. 

I am now seeking God’s will on where He can best use my gifts and talents to let people hear the “Good News”.  There is an opportunity for me to go back to Zambia to start and run a community school near the orphanage in the village we were in.  I would love to go support Mission of Love (Amber & Jako’s mission organization)  in serving “the local community in taking care of the vulnerable orphaned children; to bring the love of Jesus Christ and to introduce them to the Savior Christ (James 1:27).”  However, I know that God’s plans are far better than my own, so I am patiently waiting for Him to direct my feet down the path He wants me to take.  He will either confirm Zambia, or close that door and open another for me!  Once God has made the direction clear, I will begin raising support, and when God has provided monthly funds, I will be bound for Africa.

Prayer:

• That I will be patient and content serving where God has me right now
• That I will daily meditate on His word and listen for His voice
• That He will continue to grow my faith and that I will allow Him to complete His work in me
• That He will direct my feet down the path He has already prepared for me
• For the continued presence of His Spirit in the place I will be going