Orphan Safari

 

25 orphans.  Two safari trucks.  And me.

Here we are…in the middle of the bush.  Elephants on the left, buffalos on the right.   I am overjoyed about the amazement in the orphans’ faces.  They have lived here all their lives and have never seen big game in the wild.  Their joy and laughter fills my heart.  I am so thankful that God works in so many different ways through me, including this privilege of taking these orphans to experience God’s beautiful creation while embracing His grace.

Our local church here, New Life for all Nations, supports 40 city orphans.   An orphan means that they have either one parent or no parents, due to early death caused by AIDS, Malaria, or some common sickness that went untreated.  There are so many children orphaned they often become burdensome and neglected. 

In Livingstone it is sadly known that neglected orphans sell themselves to anyone willing to give them some food to eat, as little as six years old.  Prostitution is common here; it ibecomes a way of survival.  Abuse is also common for these children as well as being forced into child labor so the relatives caring for them can supply their drinking habit.  It is a harsh reality and when you look at the vastness of such despair you think to yourself how can anyone ever make a difference?
Then comes the answer whispered gently into my ear… only Jesus can!

I had the privilege to be asked by the church to singlehandedly chaperone 25 blessed orphans taken care of by our church, ages 2-15, on a safari through the Livingstone Game Reserve sponsored by our church and a local tour operator called Bushtracks.  They had donated the use of two of their vehicles, two tour drivers and a box of soda for an afternoon safari adventure for these vulnerable children.  This was an exciting day!  The children praised God for all of creation and the angels smiled down upon them as they could be carefree children for a few hours and completely consumed with the vastness of the glory of God.

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Disciple the Nations Zambia

Teach them the Way they should go…

 

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” And the Lord commanded us to go into all the earth and teach them the way they should go… Matthew 28:19-20

Here we are Heiko and I, living in the middle of Africa, a dream from childhood now realized by both of us. This place is addictive. Come only once and you will be gloriously ruined forever. You will dream for this place as if all of creation began here and you long to return back to the beginning.

At the same time we are surrounded by poverty, starvation, sickness, disease, hopelessness, ancestral worship of other gods, witchcraft, and multitudes of every form of total deception. It reminds us daily, very boldly, how blessed we are to know the truth and to be set free. To experience this kind of life around us and to sit in the dirt with those in it, is worth more than all the gold in the world. We are honored to hold the key that unlocks all bondages for every person’s prison, every circumstance, and every lie of the enemy. It is our blessed responsibility to give the key to all people that the Lord places in front of us. For Heiko and me they happen to be just outside of our gate. During the week we lead the poverty stricken, hungry, orphaned young men and women who have been held captive by the lies’ of the enemy into our home and we feed them and disciple them in love and in truth.

Right now we have 8 disciples. Aka, is a young man searching for a purpose and hope after an accident that left him paraplegic. His little brother joins us now too. Kefas, is young man living in a shack, with several small siblings, and no clothes but those on his back. John is living with his sister and with a serious drinking problem that is destroying his life. Nasilele, a young man searching desperately for the truth as he raises his 2 year old daughter. There is Cleopatra, the girl that works at the photo copy shop where I print my disciple teachings, she reads every word asking each week for more.  Unike is our house keeper; she is a single mom and daughter to an Episcopal Pastor, on fire for the Lord.  Then there is Peter our gardener, father of 6 and caretaker of his wife, her sister, and the sisters 5 children, and his mother.

Each week they come hungry for the word. Each week they are set free more and more. They’re stories and testimonies minister to us as we minister to them.

Here is Aka’s testimony, may you be blessed!

Aka is our adopted brother and is very special to us. He has found new hope since becoming paraplegic. Daily he comes to our home where we assist him with physical therapy. He designed a standing device which allows blood to circulate into his dead limbs.  He is constantly doing research on the internet at our home for new surgical procedures that may help him walk one day as well as praying for God’s healing to manifest in him.

 
WHO I AM

I am Kapelwa Akatumwa, Zambian born on the 22 of November 1982 from the family of four, two guys and two ladies. We just lived as a family under one shelter for short. This is because my father died, when I was 1year 8months and my grandparents took me from my mum, who died four year later. For this reason I never called any person father, and never had chance to enjoy motherly love. For my sisters and brother, each one was taken by other relatives.

MY EDUCATION

I did my junior and senior secondary under hardships for this my grades were not good to get me a place into university, but managed to go college, and did a certificate in accounting, I would like to finish the accounting course for me to get a better job or if I can have an outer native of keeping myself such as having a employment or running a business. But talking of employment, it’s not that easy because employers would prefer physically able boded persons to disabled person (like me) which is African way. Being a determined person as I am, I would have made it. But as the common saying goes “the dog plan is not the owner’s plan”

In the year 2005 applied to join Zambia police and was accepted. The training was to start month end of December 2005, in the same month I got involved in the road traffic accident in which I suffered series of injuries including spinal cord injury, therefore partial paralysis and now wheelchair based.

AFTER THE ACCIDENT

The accident happened at a place which is away from my home town.  We were four of us in the car and only I had serious injuries, such that I was half dead.  I was taken to the nearby hospital where, I spent 7 days in coma with just a friend taking care of me. We had nothing on us since the local people got away with all our belonging which is a common trend in my country, whenever an accident occurs. After which I was transferred to the bigger hospital. During all this time my relatives did not know what had happened to me or where I was.

It was only the time when I reach at the bigger hospital that I was able to open my eyes, talk and hear. This was the time I was told of what had happened.

From 8^th December 2005, I have been the hospital boy up to beginning September 2007. I was in the hospital for such a long time partly because of the pressure sores and partly because my family members didn’t want to take up on the responsibility of patient (pressure sores) and physically disabled person.

When I come out off the hospital my aunt (my father’s young sister) put me in her servant’s quarters, where I live up to this time. Thanks to her I’m out of the hospital.

LIFE IN THE WHEELCHAIR.

During the time I was in the hospital, my relationship with God was not good at all as I couldn’t understand what I was going through and I realy had many questions, like where is God to let me go through this alone, why did it happened to me and why me only since we where four of us in the that car.

During this time, I never wanted any one to tell me that ‘God loves me, that why he saved me from that accident’.

To me death was going to be better than life in the hospital. This was because:- I can no longer walk, I can’t be independent, as this is the time I was to be highly productive, and  lost most of my friends and  lost the employment opportunity.

MY COMING BACK TO GOD.

All this time many people talked to me about God, but I had made up my mind. But things changed when I met a friend called Heiko, who had time to listen to what had happened to me and then invited me to a live television church program. Then after he told me about the love for God, and two weeks later he took me with him for church service and from then I have been going with him to church with the difficulties of accessing places with the wheelchair, he has been there for me and shows me that, even if I am disabled some people still look at me as a person and I look at him as my real brother.        

 

 

Miracles of Healing

Easter Miracle

Victory! On Easter Sunday Jesus arose from the dead and showed the disciples that He had conquered.  He took upon all sickness, disease, suffering, poverty, and every other bondage, replacing it with complete freedom and eternal life. Later He ascended into heaven and sent His Holy Spirit to dwell inside every believer. This is the Spirit of God that breathed all life into existence. God spoke and created the heavens and the earth with the power of His word. His same Spirit and power lives in us and He even gave us a user manual to guide us along…

With that being said, it astonishes me how the enemy can trick us to believe we are still sick, weak and powerless prey. It happened to me.

Three months ago I was diagnosed with precancerous cells in my cervix along with discovering I had lumps in my breasts. I had even lost 15 pounds unexplainably over the past 6 months. Immediately the enemy went to work in my mind. I became depressed, the “what if” questions wouldn’t stop buzzing in my head, I felt hopeless and scared. It is probably one of the worst moments in a woman’s life to face. And here I was in the middle of Africa facing it.

Medical care in a third world country is not an option one wants for a condition as this. Heiko and I prayed as I went through the daily emotions of the unknown. We researched doctors who wanted to fly me into the nearest country with surgical facilities and cut into me and test what they found and send me on my way in a matter of days. That is just how things are done in this part of the world where care is limited to what is available. You must take what you can get here. With limited health insurance in Africa I was stuck to options here, so all the missionaries in town and my church and family back home began to pray for me.

On Easter Sunday Heiko began to pray for me. I closed my eyes and asked Jesus why this had to happen to me. I suddenly had a vision. I saw Jesus put His hand on my stomach and a beautiful warm light flooded my body. He spoke to me and said, “My daughter your faith has healed you.” I woke up from the vision and could not move. I remember thinking, my faith? I have doubted for two months in despair. Then the Lord reminded me, it was by faith that I received Him and through Him I received His Spirit, the same spirit that breathed life into existence. And within me all sickness was already conquered on the cross. All I need to do is receive what is already given to me, within me and speak the power of the word over me. 
I Am already healed!

That week I was so excited I went around testifying to all the missionaries and friends that I AM healed! I could not wait to go to a doctor for confirmation. Within days I began to feel better and gain some weight. I spoke the power of the truth over myself that I AM healed, Christ did it all! I miraculously stumbled upon a breast surgeon in South Africa who won woman of the year for her contributions to breast cancer awareness and new medical discoveries. She had opened three breast clinics in SA and worked 6 days a week 8am-8pm dedicated to her patients. I phoned her private practice and she said she could get me in. Even more of a miracle, my Insurance approved it! Within one week Heiko and I were on a plane and excited for the good news to come.

It was the best trip ever! South Africa is not known for its safety, but the area we were in was beautiful. The hotel was good, friendly, and in a blocks distance drive to the hospital. The Hospital was better than I had ever imagined for Africa! The care of the doctors was tremendous and compassionate; I wasn’t just another patient taking up time. I told the doctor I was there to confirm the Lord had healed me. She said praise the Lord and did her exam. She scheduled me for 3 doctors, an ultrasound and lab work all in 3 days. Each doctor was wonderful to me and at the end of it all I was diagnosed without any cutting and with NO cancer anywhere!!! Even the cancer cells in my cervix were completely gone!!!

We arrived home like two kids in a candy store. We were so excited to confirm to everyone the too good to be true news! It was like we had a new beginning again and the enemy had been reminded he was already defeated by the beautiful resurrection power of Christ! Praise God for His mighty love and power that lives in us!

May each of you be encouraged to begin claiming what is yours in Christ Jesus. Begin declaring and speaking it over yourself daily until you see it manifest. We have the same spirit living in us that spoke all of creation into existence. We must have faith in the word and speak life and the promises of God over ourselves, especially when the enemy tries to deceive us with despair. We must use this power given to us by our heavenly Father so the enemy can be reminded he has already been defeated and has no power over us anymore. Stand strong fellow warriors of light and speak the living word into being and watch as the Lord prepares the way to your victory…

Hope Multiplied By 15…………………………Window Into Africa 2008!

 Greetings from Zambia!!!

In a time like today people all around the world are faced with the question, “will I still have enough?”…

Can you imagine standing in front of completely empty shelves at the grocery store??

That’s what is happening here right now..

The cost of the remaining food is sky rocketing and there are numerous Zimbabweans lining up at our grocery stores buying out entire shelves of food because they don’t have any food or clean water in their country, just trying to survive.  Meanwhile here all major income sectors, mining, hunting, and tourism have decreased dramatically causing businesses to close daily.  While employed, one employee’s income feeds a total of 15 people in their extended family, now he needs hope multiplied by 15!

 More than ever people need the too-good-to-be-true news of the gospel!  

In times like this we have to keep the eyes of our hearts focused on the finished work of Cross, remembering that we are Christ’s hands and feet that He sent to reach out to those who are in need.    

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’… “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’   Matthew 25:35-36 & 40

We are prayerfully thankful for all of the supporters back in the states who faithfully give offerings to us monthly.  Your faithfulness allows us to continue to spread the gospel here in Zambia and bring hope in a time when it is needed more than ever!

Here is the link to my 2008 Window Into Africa photo gallery. May you be abundantly blessed as you view the lives you helped us to reach in 2008 with your prayers, financial support, and faithfulness: 

Window Into Africa 2008

God Bless,

Heiko & Anita In Africa

 

How Great Is The Love The Father Has Lavished On Us…1 John 3:1

Heiko Oliver Held & Anita Marie Phelps
Married on 26^th of November, 2008
Livingstone Island, Zambia

 

How do you explain?

How do you describe?

A love that goes from east to west

And runs as deep as it is wide?

 

You know all our hopes.

Lord you know all our fears.

And words can not express the love we feel,

But we long for you…to hear.

 

So listen to our hearts

And hear our spirits sing.

A song of praise

From those you have redeemed.

 

We will use the words we know

To tell you what an awesome God you are.

But words are not enough

To tell you of our love.

So listen to our hearts…

 

If words can fall like rain

From these lips of mine.

If I have a thousand years

I will still run out of time

 

So if You listen to my heart,

Every beat will say,

Thank you for the life,

Thank you for the truth,

Thank you for the way.

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________

 
The Kiss
 By Heiko Oliver Held

My whole world is reduced to one kiss…
I am kissing the bride.

I have only one sense remaining – the glorious feeling – of her lips on mine,

soft, very gentle, yet demanding, hoping.

 

The darkness behind my closed eyes is complete. Only feeling remains. Her body close to mine, her arms around me.

We are holding on to each other tight – very close from the edge where the Zambezi river usually drops with great thunder into the Batoka gorge.

 

We are on Livingstone Island, called so in honour of his name, yet no water surrounding it now in this November.

Eleven days (and 103 years..) later after David Livingstone arrived and spoke his magnificent words:  “.. as beautiful as flying angels, looking into heaven.”

I truly am  – right now in heaven here on earth.

Because my whole world is reduced to: The only sensual feeling of this kiss.

Time fades, nothing else matters. My being, my whole self is reduced to – nothing.

Just then my bride hears Gods voice in her heart, saying “everything!” , and all I feel is her lips gently removing from mine, uttering softly only one word: “everything”.

 

And in my rejoicing heart the eternal equation of life unfolds:

 

Jesus plus my nothing equals everything!

 

 

Wedding Day Video coming soon!

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Taken up to Heaven

Hear the voice of the Father… don’t let anything hold you back…Father… He is calling you…come up here, come up now…my Beloved. (These are the words of a song by Jason Upton…they ushered me in to the presence…)

 

I heard Jesus speak to me, “ Our Father has created you for me.  You must give yourself to me wholeheartedly. As my Bride, the one I love so much.  I am so in love with you, passionately, intimately.  You are my chosen one.  I have chosen you to be my Bride out of all the Princesses.  I have chosen you to be my Bride, My One, My Chosen.  I am so madly in love with you, you are all I can see, and you are the most beautiful.  I am your completeness, your full measure of Love filling you and over pouring, never ending.  You are my delight, my Queen, My one Holy passion that the Father has sealed with a Holy kiss.  You are My Pure Joy… My Reward for My faithfulness on the cross.  My Beloved.  So come up here to me My Bride, My lover of My soul, come up here to me and stand with me before the Father. Be bound to me for eternity as your Husband, your lover, your intimate passion and desire, your true provider, your all and all, your everything, your completeness in the Father.  You are My Beloved.  I have made you beautiful Forever.”

 

Then suddenly He took me up into the Heavens before the throne of the Father…I stood before him in a white flowing gown.  He was in a white fluid shirt and pants.  He wore a golden crown of garland.  He said, “ I have been waiting for you all your life.  I watched you from the beginning in your mother’s womb.  I took you into our secret garden when you were a child and I watched you grow.  I was there with you every second of your life.  You are so beautiful; you have always been so beautiful.  I have been so in love with you as I waited for you to grow.”  He placed a beautiful crown of white flowers intertwined with gold and green garland on my head.  “I have crowned you with beauty and splendor that can never fade.  I have crowned you beautiful… forever.  You have always been beautiful, you could never have been tarnished.”  He gently touched my face as I touched His and He kissed me on the forehead. My eyes gently closed to linger in that moment a little longer, to feel his Holy lips on my forehead.  I fall to my knees and He joins me, never for one second looking away.  “I have waited a long time for this moment,” says Jesus.  “I am with you always, I can never leave you.”  We stood up and He began to dance with me before the Father.  He said, “ I have placed all the desires in your heart in our secret place when you were a child.  I filled you with all of your hope and love.  You have been promised to me from the Father even before you were born.  I have loved you all along.  You are My Holy passion and one desire.  I love you my Beloved.”

 

 

I stood mesmerized before Him with the warmth of the Father looking upon us, filling us, overflowing.  “There have never been ashes, you have been beautiful to me all along.  This is all I could see when I look at you, from the beginning before you were born, through your youth, until now and for eternity.  I have loved you so much that love is all I could ever see in you.  There is nothing you could do or nothing you have already done that could change that, nothing.  Come up here so I can heal all the scars with my love.  I fill them all with my love that is never ending and flowing and pouring onto you whenever you need it.  I am your full measure, your completeness, and your wholeness.  I am right here by your side for all eternity My Beautiful, My Beloved,” says the Lord.  “You can always come up here, I will be anxiously waiting for you.”