Hello, friends and family alike,
If you were wondering why you weren't seeing us around for Christmas services and seated at some of your tables for Thanksgiving, it's because we are still in Zambia! This year, we have had the joy and privilege to be a small piece of the Overland Missions Rapid-Fourteen Base Rainy Season Crew, or OMRFBRSC, for short.
For a little context, it's important to note that the rainy season refers to several elements of what our lives have looked like for the past four months, and most importantly, the weather! It's called the rainy season for a reason. Zambia, as a country, runs primarily by hydroelectric power, making the heaviness or lightness of any given year's rainfall a very important factor for many people's quality of life and the prosperity of Zambia as a nation. The reason for this is that the majority of the population here live as subsistence farmers. This rainfall comes from November to February: the “rainy” season. For the past several years, Zambia has received less than average rainfall, leading lakes and rivers to lower and the water table to drain. This is what is referred to as a drought and Zambia has been in one for a few years now. This directly affects us most prominently in the realm of electricity. The National Power Organization (ZESCO) plays no favorites and is hard to predict. You could lose power in the middle of the night, forty-five minutes into your favorite movie, or even during a church service. Our base however supplements this by powering a large generator. This privilege allows us power for the other twelve hours in a day when Zesco is not sending us any. Thank God for the generator y’all!
This year the rainfall was average or slightly above average in most of the country; an important step in the right direction in combating the drought. Pray that the rest of the rainy season proves fruitful and Zambia experiences God's faithfulness through the miracle of rainfall!
Victoria highlighted what life has been like in the slow season here, in the last update. Seeing as most of the members of our global team have been in the States for a while now, our life has not changed much since the last update. If you are curious to know more details about what our life currently looks like, check out our last post.
But now the slow season is gradually building into the not-so-slow season, as members of staff start to make their way back to Zambia. In the next month or two we will see the population of the base skyrocket, from around fifteen people to around fifty to sixty by the end of March. And so in the last few weeks of the slow-paced life we have lived, we as a team are battening down the hatches for the rush. This year will follow suit to the last few, hundreds and hundreds of Americans will travel in and out of this base on thirty or so different expeditions, and they will drive thousands of miles in the trucks that we are taking care of here on base. Long-term missionaries will spend months here as they make final preparations to move into their long-term rural assignments. Chiefs and Kings of various tribes and nations will be hosted and shown the hospitality and intentionality of the Kingdom of God.
In the slowness of the season, it has also been a beautiful time for Victoria and I to focus on our relationship, and prioritize one another. On February 3rd, we were able to celebrate our second wedding anniversary! These past couple of months have been quite a different season than the last half of 2024 when we traveled to over ten different countries in the span of only five months. Overall, we have loved the opportunity to slow down, be a family, pursue creative endeavors, and grow spiritually together.
I believe we have accomplished that.
This time has also been such an important one in my relationship with God. In the quiet and in the peace, I have learned to slow down. I strongly believe that God is such a dynamic person. He is a father, He is a husband, He is a comforter, and He is a counselor. And like a friend of ours says, He is a missionary God! (Shoutout to Tom Hinton) God sent his Son to a land far from his home, to preach good news to those who desperately needed it… that’s kinda what we do too!
But one aspect of God's character that has ministered to me the most in this season is this:
God is a homebody. As much as he is a traveller he also believes in the sanctity of home. He makes breakfast for his friends on the beach, he asks David to build a home for his presence, and he walks alongside Adam in the cool of the garden.
As we have had the opportunity to experience home (unlike most of last year) we are constantly reminded of God's love for family, relationships, and intimacy. All wrapped up in a neat package called: A home.
The last couple of months, we have been so blessed to be able to look after the house of one of our friends who are one of the missionary families that live as permanent residents here. We have so enjoyed their backyard, beautiful kitchen, and living room, but most of all their animals. Two cats and one dog. Our new furry friends have been good company when we wished we could hug our family over the holidays.
This temporary home has been such a blessing and relief to us, it has brought us closer to each other and to God. As we get to fellowship in it, drink tea in the evenings, and coffee each morning. Watching movies with friends, or sharing a meal for the holidays, we are reminded of God's intention for our family and for every family.
We have so appreciated your continued support throughout this season and all the others. We can’t wait to be back in America, with you later this year, to laugh, cry, celebrate, and whatever else with you. Recently your giving has helped us pay to replace our windshield, as it was busted and cracked by rocks that flew off a truck while driving back to base one day from town. Thank you so much!
You can continue to keep us in your prayers regarding finances, health, safety, and direction.
We are also praying for you! Please feel free to reach out if you have any specific prayer requests that you want us to partner with you in!
With love,
Ethan
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