The Nkwazi Story

Our journey to Nkwazi was one of expectation and a renewal of friendship with Pastor Jane and her husband Evaristo. Jane came to the clinic we held there on the last day in 2008. We were tight on time and so I was helping out taking blood pressure of the 100’s that came to attend it. Nkwazi has a population of 300, 000 people in a ‘ghetto’ style suburb. Mains water and electricity are virtually non-existent. Alcoholism and drugs ravaged the out of work population giving many of them over to violence and crime.

Finally our little 20 seater plane touched down on the airstrip which felt uncared for and in need of re tarmac. Before we knew it we are through the World War 2 Nissan hut to wait in the car park. Eventually Pastor Jane arrived in her sisters van to pick us up. The greeting is like that of long lost friends. I could feel the Lord’s hand on this meeting already.

We get an early start the next morning and take the walking ‘tour’ of Nkwazi. Eventually we came into the open air space where Steve Stewart conducted a mini crusade. Here in the familiar football ground many gave their hearts to Jesus the last time we were here. We wind our way down the market streets with the closely packed wooden kiosks either side and then on to the clinic. The memories of a paralysed man brought to the clinic carried on the back of his son, come flooding back. Today the clinic is as busy as ever and we met the nationals doing a wonderful work of caring for the sick. Our tour continues on foot to where we finally come to Pastor Jane’s house. Its tiny 8 x 6 foot room was very dark out of the midday sun and yet Jane and her husband’s hospitable nature filled the tiny shack. The next room was leaking due to the broken roof and this was their bedroom. The saving grace of the little dwelling was the Bio Sand Water filter in constant use. We were to later learn that the high unemployment and social problems of the area also affected Jane in that she had never been to a supermarket... and why would you when you never have cash to buy anything?!

Our greatest adventure into understanding the lives of these beautiful people was when we got to the church. I say ‘Church’ because all that could be seen of the building was the four corner-stone’s that held up the brick walls, except the brick walls were no longer there as they had been blown away in the violent hail and thunder storm just two weeks earlier. In the West we all desire to have the ‘church without walls’ and yet for most of us we never achieve connecting to our local communities. Here Pastor Jane’s church is laid bare for all to see.

Steve Stewart engaged the leaders in their vision for the surrounding farm land and I satt with a handful of the congregation. Alice was sitting quietly, obviously resting, and the wrinkles on her face telling something of her old age. As I chat I find out she has walked down from her farm with the milk from her cow. She has trekked 3 hours carrying 6 litres of milk and now has sold it in the market. When she is rested sufficiently she will walk back the 3 hours to resume looking after her 9 orphan children! The few dollars made at the market is sufficient to keep them fed and watered but nothing else. The 35 acre farm is largely left untouched as she is a widow and cannot afford help. What a surprise she would get when the Church presents her with a bicycle, courtesy of Impact Nation Partners. What an incredible difference this will make to the old lady bringing her milk to market!

Then there was Emmanuel. He is a well educated young man with agricultural abilities. He cares for over 100 street kids and was inspired with fresh vision when we talked about how he could increase his output on the land he and his father own. The possibilities seemed endless as we talked about getting the core street kids who wanted to better their situation helping him to farm. As well as helping them to restore some self respect it could mean they could be away from the vices of the Ghetto for several days at a time and see a harvest sown and grown and be part of the rewards. Getting Emmanuel on the Foundations for Farming course, lasting one month, will improve the situation dramatically. Emmanuel had spent more than a year in the UK and has a good command and understanding of English which will stand him in good stead for helping others get better results from their farming efforts.

The next day the Lord showed me to give a 100 dollar bill to Pastor Jane. I remonstrated to the Lord that I thought this was a bit too much, especially as it was coming out of my own personal funds (I know none of you have ever thought like this J).

The Lord spoke to Pastor Jane that this $100 bill represented 100 days and that within this time frame she would experience so much blessing that she would not be able to contain it. She was visibly moved as I prophesied over her as only minutes before she had been talking with Steve Stewart how she wanted to start a fritter business, frying fritters and selling them in the market. The Lord provided her with the means to start this micro business that would immediately employ one other person. I look for the outcome and success of all the Lord spoke.

It felt like the assignment had been completed in Zambia.... much of the future lies in your hands as you continue to help Impact Nations reach out to the poor, care for orphans and widows bringing in true justice for the poor. What a team you are!! Thank you.