Fall Update from Jako

Jako and Amber are back from Zambia and headed for the US.

They have filed the necessary paperwork to register the Orphanage after much running around and hard work. The purchased two more cows for the orphanage and provided Petros with some pastor study guides. The village also finished the Orphanage store room using our bricks from FBCW and new ones that they made.

Please pray for:
That the orphanage would be registered
That the rain would be good and enough this raining season
That God would be with the church in Mukamba
That God would be with us as we leave for the States Sunday Non19 to return Jan17th and that God would be with the project and community in Mukamba while we are gone.

Frequent Flier

Great news. Through lost luggage and all we have finally had our points added to the account and we collectively have provided a free roundtrip to Europe for our Missions team. It won't take anyone to or from Zambia, but it can certainly be used for Missions work in Europe.

Missionaries go back to Zambia

Please pray for Jako and Amber as they go back to Zambia on October 21st - Their email...

Jako and I wanted to ask for your prayers once again as we get ready to depart for Zambia early this Sat. Oct 21st. Depending on how things go there we plan to be there between 2 to 3 weeks with our main task of being to check on the paperwork for the orphanage and continue to do what needed on that. We also hope to be able to have the time to find and purchase another 8 -10 cattle, and continue on some of the building projects in Mukamba, esp. finishing the store room. Please pray for God's hand of protection, traveling mercies, grace with the officials, and guidance over all we say and do this outreach. Since we are leaving for the States not long after we return it is important that we get things ready and in a good place for us to leave for two months (esp. since it is during the start of their rainy season). For those that don't know, Amber's mother is getting remarried early Jan (after being a widow for 14 years) and they are flying us over for the wedding and the holidays. It will be a wonderful time spent with family and will also give us good chances to reconnect with supporters in the States as well. Needless to say, this outreach is an important one in order to get things ready for our absence. Thanks so much for your prayers, encouragement, and continued support.

We thank God for you often and the role that you play in the ministry,
with much appreciation and excitement,
Jako and Amber Joubert
Mission Of Love Community Orphanage

September Update from the Jouberts

September 3 - 16th Jako and Amber were in Zambia.

The primary goal was to complete paperwork for registering the Orphanage as a non-profit organization and to obtain residential work permits. After days of getting the run around requiring a Constitution for the orphanage and the title to the tribes Orphanage property their spirits were dashed. They could not even apply for residential work VISAs without the Orphanage being registered. The local Government required money in order to meet to discuss the needs and see the land. In despair, a miracle happened. The Chief was in Livingstone and Jako and Amber was able to meet with them (see picture with the Chief wearing red). The Cheif invited to his Palace in the village and promised to introduce him to some high Government officials to help with the Orphanage registration.

During the weekend they spent the time in Mukamba at Church and in amazement at the work that the local Tribe had completed. The Tonga tribe had completed 400 more bricks. Over the next few days while getting supplies the local folks dug the foundation for a storeroom. Also while there they completed a covering for the goat pen, the goats had kids and they brought there new puppies Courage and Victory to the Orphanage property where they will stay (see the slide show).

Prayer Reqest from Jako and Amber:
Please continue to pray for:
*The paperwork that needs doing and that it would go to the correct people that will help us get all that we need to live in Zambia.
*For the Chief that he will be seeking God’s guidance and not any one else’s
*For the three witch doctors (at the Chief's ceremony) that God would touch their hearts and open their eyes.
*For the orphanage project in all of its ways.
*For Amber and Jako for their health.
*For Petros and his family.
*For the farm that every thing we grow or raise will be to the glory of God.

Jako is well at home and resting

From Amber: Thanks so much for your prayers for Jako's surgery. It went well and he is now resting at home. Although it is very sore and he will probably be down and out and in bed for 2 - 3 weeks he is being very brave and toughing out the pain. Thanks so much for your prayers and support. Thanks be to God who makes all things possible!

Pray for Jako!!

They are back home in South Africa and have promised an updated report on their trip to Zambia. More importantly Jako is getting his tonsils removed on Thursday the 21st so please pray for peace, healing and comfort through this ordeal. As he explained in an email to the team; he is not feeling calm about this operation and is scared. Please pray while he is in surgery early morning or in US Eastern time it would be between midnight and 6AM. He asks for God to guide the Doctors, limited bleeding and no complications so that he can keep this procedure as an outpatient procedure. He will be healing for 2-3 weeks so please keep Jako and Amber in your prayers.

Journal and Scrapbook

Thank You for coming and supporting the Team's presentation on September 10th. During the presentation and throughout my time back in the states I have been led to share my journal from my trip to Zambia. Although this is a personal Journal, I am sharing this in an effort for people to understand more about our trip and how a short term mission trip could change your perspectives.

I am also posting a scrapbook that my daughter put together for myself and the team. These files are big so please be patient (16 and 1 MB)

Please visit this link to download the PDF files: Journal and Scrapbook

Please come back soon. Know that the presentation is over, I have stories to share about Zambia and the Tonga Tribe.

Zambia Mission Presentation

You are invited to the Presentation that will be given by the Zambia Mission Team. We will be discussing our trip, work and experiences. Please plan on attending to hear about the great work, you made possible through your love, support and Prayer.

Date: September 10th
Time: 6:30 PM
Where: FBC Woodbridge
13600 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge VA 22193
(see link above for directions and additional information)

In Christ all things are Possible,
Team Zambia

So you say, miracles don't happen anymore...

During our trip to Zambia the team came away with a stronger sense of religion and a different understanding of the Living God - Jesus Christ. I have heard many people say that miracles don't happen anymore and God is on a quiet period from the New Testament. Before I prepared to go to Zambia I really couldn't recall any modern day miracles in my life. After Zambia I can recall several miracles and moving of the Holy Spirit. At a risk of hearing people explain away each event I am going to list some of the events that occured in my life and within the team as we began our mission to Zambia.

Miracles:
- Manual Labor without blisters
- Manual Labor while feeling refreshed each morning
(Nobody was flat on their back)
- The cuts and cracks on my hands healed each night (unusual for me)
- Creation of shadow puppets for the Children that were impossible
to re-create
- An incredible team without division
- An airline holding a plane for an hour for a bunch of Americans
- Success in praying for healing in Africa and at home
- Survival and safe return home during a harrowing experience inside
the Rapids of the Zambezi River while white water rafting.
- God showing us his Majesty in 10 days in the Village we saw total
darkness, a bright full moon, Winter, the start of Summer, the
cloudless dry season and the beginning of the wet season as the
clouds began to fill the sky.

Holy Spirit:
- Understanding the Tonga people and communicating without an
interpreter
- The Team encircling the Mukamba Church in prayer in unison
without direction
- Feeling the Holy Spirit protecting, healing and working
- An incredible team that was giving and had the Holy Spirit
within themselves
- Praying, listening and hearing the Holy Spirit directing our
actions in the Market

Please keep in mind that the human body is also explainable by science, but it was God's work that created the human form. Think hard, when was the last time you embraced God and prayed for something out of the ordinary (A computer, car, traffic, your work schedule)? If you believe and have faith, God will answer your prayers and show you His will. He has dominion over everything.

A woman of God

I posted a picture of Gertrude on the website earlier this week so you will have a name with the face.

During one of the evenings in Zambia we visited Gertrude. Gertrude is a widow that watches after dependent children also known as orphans. Amber and Jako thought that it would be a good opportunity to meet someone that our Mission team was targeted to help.

One year ago Gertrude had nothing, but her family. She was without a home, food or very much in the form of belongings. She was asking for assistance to feed her children. Through many blessings, God has provided for Gertrude. Although she could have claimed it was through her own hard work that good fortune came; she ultimately knows that it must be God's will and that blessing came from Christ.

Today she has property of her own. She has taught herself how to build in her native Lozi Tribe fashion using timbers, mud and thatching (different than the Tonga style of building). She has taught her young sons (approximately 9 and 7) to build their own house to sleep in. Her daughter (approximately 12) has also built a home for herself. Today they have ample sleeping quarters and a kitchen to call home. All of this is a blessing from God. God has also blessed Gertrude with crops and the ability to grow her own food. She noticed an area that remained damp during the dry season. This area actually kept the water from the rainy season and was a wonderful area to grow crops. This blessing meant that she and her children would not have to continuously water the crops in order to provide food for themselves.

During a tour she showed the various fenced areas she has made through the blessing of God. She showed us a Garden that looked like it could have been the Garden of Eden in the middle of a dry and sandy savannah. Lush and green with tomatoes and fruits that rival those found in Virginia. She said again how God was good to her. Next year she hopes to grow Maize to further feed her family and possibly to sell to buy necessary items for her family.

The team had a chance to listen to Gertrude speak. We could hear the conviction in her voice. With closed eyes - her story flowed and needed no interpretation. Although she spoke English, it seemed to be coming out with a Washington accent that the team could easily understand. When she was done telling her story, Gertrude asked two things from us to pray for blessing from our team when we go back to America and to be able to hear clearly the words and need of Holy Spirit.

If only our own prayers were as grand. Please lift up Gertrude, the orphans and the families that support the orphans.

The entire team is now home safe

Amber and Jako are back home in South Africa! The vehicles and all the equipment arrived safely. Deon is in Thailand and Johan's mom is doing better and she is at home, but may need some follow-up Surgery.

We will be updating the blog over the next few weeks. I will probably create some different slide shows and update stories over the next few weeks. I also hope that we can publish some journals from some of the team members. I will work on digitizing mine and put most of my journal online for everyone to experience Mukamba through my eyes.

Although our mission trip is over, we are all spending time reflecting on what it meant to our own life. As Jako, mentioned to the team "this mission trip was not about changing the lives of others, although you have done that, you will realize that you have changed your own life". We will keep Mukamba, All our friends, Missionaries, Jako and Amber in our prayers always.

Prayer Stone for Jako and Amber's Permanent Tent Site

Home Sweet Home

They have returned safely.

Flight Schedule

As of 8:50 this morning, their flight #028 is scheduled to be in at 1:04pm. I have not heard from them since Wednesday, so I will guess everything is on schedule.

As far as bringing them all back home, I know alot of family members will be at the airport picking up their loved ones, but if some people don't have anyone there, there will be plenty of us to bring them back to where ever they need to go.

Rafting

Today the team went white water rafting. All went well with the exception of a few minor scrapes and bruises. Tomorrow they will spend the morning looking around Victoria Falls and shopping if there is time.

They will be flying out of Livingstone tomorrow afternoon. Four of the team members will be leaving at 1:35pm, while the remaining leave at 4:20pm. They will all meet up at Johannesburg and fly out of there at 8:00 tomorrow night.

I have been checking the regularity of the flight they are scheduled to be on from Paris to Dulles for the last couple of days, and it appears to be running approximately 30-55 minutes late each day. (Monday 1:04, Tuesday 1:17, Today 1:29). So for those planning on picking them up at the airport, please check the Air France website for the flight status before leaving. Their flight number is 028 from Paris, Charles de Gaulle to Washington Dulles International. If you have any questions please feel free to call me or email me (tracyseng@yahoo.com).

Lets all pray for safe travels and a safe return.

Day of Rest and Reflection

Today the team was able to have a day of rest. They enjoyed a tour of the game preserve that is only 1/4 mile away from the camp grounds they are staying at. They saw lots of wild animals (Zebras, Impallas, elephants and a white Rhino). They were able to get within 75 feet of the Rhino. They also were able to go on a river tour at sunset. They got to eat pizza and have coke today.

At the camp site, there are Blue Ball Monkeys that run around and can open the tents if they aren't locked. So they make sure they lock up before leaving.

Tonight they are having a group session to reflect on their trip and what it has meant for each of them. They are praying for 2 of the missionarie that had to leave. Dion had to leave to head to Thailand for another mission trip, and Johan whose mother is ill and had to leave unexpectedly.

They are celebrating Jako's and another South African's birthdays today.

Tomorrow they will be going to see Victoria Falls and go white water rafting.

Greetings from Livingstone

Good Afternoon America,

We are in Livingstone, Zambia. The team has completed the work in the Mukamba Village today. The team layed block and set the corners for the permanent tent site for Jako and Amber. We were blessed to be part of this work since it is an important part of letting the local villagers and officials know that Jako and Amber are very serious about their work with the Tonga Tribe.

The team broke down camp today after living in the Mukamba Village for the past ten days. Many gathered to say goodbye as we left the Village. Many of the team realized how much the Village and relationships with the Christian brothers and sisters had been built. Many tears were shed, especially for Pastor Petrus and his wife who stayed with the team during the Mission making many personal sacrifices on our behalf.

We also left a prayer stone for Jako and Amber that read, "You will always be in our prayers - FBCW 2006".

Day 9

Today they had their second Sunday service there. Mike prepared some bread and juice to serve for Communion. Five people came forward to accept Christ today. Jako gave his testimony also.

After the service, they spent time playing with the kids. Mike did some juggling. They played frisbee and Red Light, Green Light.

Tomorrow they will pack up and head to Livingston, after working on the permanent shelter. I asked if they were excited to go sleep in a hotel for a change. They said they are going to be staying in a "Hotel Tent", in which they will still be using their sleeping bags, but they will have running water.

Day 8

Today they finished the footers for the permanent shelter, which will be used as a school as well as Amber & Jako's home when they visit. They also made a prayer block that reads "You are always in our prayers FBCW 2006", to use as a corner stone for the shelter. The village cannot get teachers to come and teach the children unless there is some sort of permanent place to do it. So that is why they have been concentrating on building the foundation for them instead of concentrating on building bricks. They have made around 300 bricks total so far, and they say it will take approximately 5000 bricks per structure (school and orphanage).

Today they went to see the goats in the goat pen, but when they arrived Oppey, the goat keeper, was yelling "the goats are loose". They looked around for about 15-20 minutes, but were unable to find any. Then they couldn't find Pastor Petros either. A few minutes later Pastor Petros came up the hill with all 9 goats.

They visited a widow named Gertrude. They say she had an amazing testimony. She has a garden in an area where the ground is not great for growing things. They say that her garden is beautiful, reminding them of the Garden of Eden.

Some of the members from camp walked to the main shop (about 3/4 of a mile), that sells some basic food supplies. They were able to buy 2 bottles of Coke, which were actually cold from sitting in the cool water. When they got back to camp to open the bottles, they realized that they didn't have a bottle opener. One of the Tongans opened it with his teeth.

Tomorrow they will have their church service and play with the kids in the afternoon. Monday they will lay the corners and finish the foundation. They will also pack up camp and head out to Livingston that night.

Day 7 - The Assistant Chief visits

Today they finished digging the ditch to lay concrete for the footers for the permanent shelter for Amber and Jako. They delivered the cow and Andrew helped corral it. They slaughtered the cow about 150 feet from camp. Alex and Andrew watched. (Gross!!) For dinner, Ryan cooked the beef and Richard cooked the liver. They also ate cabbage and Nshima.

The Chief was unable to come, so the Assistant Chief came instead. Sara was given permission to meet him and take his picture. Jako went to a meeting and got to see the Palace.

Tomorrow they will lay the concrete for the footers for the permanent shelter, and visit a lady that will be helping take care of the orphans. On Monday they will be breaking down camp and heading back to Livingston.

Day 6

Today they finished the goat pen. They had to clear more land, and they found a place where they can get more sand to make more bricks. Mike got a turn at driving the Land Rover, which probably won't happen again. He had a hard time adjusting to the steering wheel being on the opposite side and kept driving into the bushes. He scared poor Hannah.

They are building a permanent platformed tent that will be for Amber and Jako, to show their committment to the village. They will also be using it for a school (I think).

Tomorrow the Chief is coming and they will be slaughtering a cow to eat for dinner. Alma and Reed helped in the slaughtering of the chickens the other day. I don't think anyone from the team had to help with the goat though.