Our Latest Email Update

Dear Family & Friends,

We are nearing the end of another month here in Zambia. It is quite amazing how the months continue to pass by. It is only by God’s grace that we are here and still walking with Him daily. It has been somewhat of a quiet month for us, although the heavy rains this month always make things interesting. The only major traveling we have done has been to pick up a friend of ours who is visiting with us. Jenny is a good friend from college and we've enjoyed having her for almost a month already and she will stay another two months. The door is always open for more visitors!

We have continued with our formal work as we try to get CBI, the business group, off the ground. It is taking longer than we would like, but sometimes that is what it takes to have the local people take ownership of it. I (Kyle) hope to start some business training with the group starting in May. Bethany remains involved with the Christian school primarily working with the administrator to develop his strengths and bring more organization to his position. We also continue to foster relationships between the staff and the board as well as the relationship between them and the American school they are partnered with. Next month, we will also be making a trip to Mozambique to participate in meetings that will share best practices among various Southern Africa partners. It will allow us to see a different part of Africa and learn how other people are addressing the issues that face this region through job creation and ultimately through Jesus. Bethany also has a formal position related to this as she will be assisting in coordinating the meetings and developing evaluation tools for the grant. Before our trip to Mozambique we hope to take a small break to visit Victoria Falls in Southern Zambia. It should be a good time to go since the water will be at its peak.

With not much happening this month, it can be frustrating/ discouraging at times to see little progress and to question whether being here is truly helping or hindering. We must rely on God’s strength and leading and not our own, though. So please pray for our work to continue with the business group and the school that they can make an impact in the community for Jesus. Also pray for our travels in April as we will be driving and flying around a lot.

I am reading a book right now that is called Living Water. It has spoken to me in many ways. It is written by a Chinese believer and he has some powerful insights into the Western Church. Here are some excerpts I want to share to encourage/challenge us all with: “The Christian life is supposed to bring fresh water and blessing to those around them but after some time, many start to lose contact with the living water of the Holy Spirit. The vessel that was created to bring refreshment can become contaminated. If you have become a tired, exhausted Christian, burdened with the cares of the world, then I have good news! Jesus loves you, and He wants you to cast all your cares on Him. Repent, and He will forgive you and receive you back into His fold. An overburdened Christian will never be able to experience the living water of the Holy Spirit flowing from within. Let’s spend time with Jesus and lay down those things that He never asked us to carry.

Jesus wants to take your burdens, not add to them. If the soil of your heart has become hard and you rarely experience the joy of the Lord, I encourage you, dear friend, to confess your sins to our Heavenly Father and cry out for His help. The Holy Spirit will start to change you by softening your heart. Remember that God desires an intimate relationship with you, and He loves you more than you can imagine.” -Brother Yun. “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified” John 7:37-39

This really challenged me to look at my life and whether the living water of Jesus is flowing through me and if I refresh those that I meet on a daily basis or do I keep it to myself and become stale, contaminated water. I pray it spoke to you in some way or maybe while reading it you thought of someone that you can pray for and send it to. Feel free to pass it along to those that could benefit from it. You can find more of what I quoted from in the attachment. Thank you all for your continual prayers and support on our behalf. You’re definitely being used in that respect to refresh us so that we can refresh the people of Zambia. May God be with you and may His love and grace be revealed more to you on this day.

Peace & Love from Zambia,

Kyle & Bethany Stob