Navigating What's Next

Hi everyone! What a month of major adjustments to start this year off... Being back in Grand Rapids has been a strange time; being close to family and friends that I've missed has filled me up, I've felt so loved and received by everyone. Yet adjusting to the piercing cold of a heavy Midwest winter has been a jarring experience and adjusting to the mindset of not just temporarily leaving the U.S. again but moving (probably) long term to Zambia has felt awkward internally. Reverse culture shock is real, grocery stores still make my head spin a little bit, and I do feel slightly disconnected from society, a little bit like a foreigner myself. But I think that's part of missions, in order to embrace the culture I'm called to, I have to leave something of my own behind. I miss Zambia and I'm getting more and more excited to return, not just for a trip, but to (hopefully) start life there. 

So, a little bit about where I'm going... 

I'll be returning to where I did my DTS (Discipleship Training School) last year, working at Beulah Training Centre, the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) base in Mkushi, Zambia. It's been up and running for about 3 years, and is an adventure-focused base that uses the outdoors and adventure as their main tool for ministry and discipleship. The vision is to encourage people to say yes to Jesus. 

They teach and train youth and people of all ages to encounter the love of the Father and effectively join Jesus in building His kingdom by walking on a firm foundation of Biblical truths empowered by the Spirit of God. Beulah runs one DTS a year and spends the rest of the year reaching out to ministry partners near and far in schools, churches in villages, and other missions bases in and around Zambia. 

They also facilitate camps ministering to kids from local schools, villages, and partnering ministries using the same means of discipleship through adventure and experiential learning activities. The base works closely in partnership with North Church, a multi-cultural, non-denominational, Bible-based church also located in Mkushi about a 30-minute drive from the base. North Church has about 200 or so members, with many missionaries, farmers, and local Mkushi residents worshipping together.  

What I'll be doing... 

Now, I've mentioned starting in my role... It will be mainly with Beulah Training Centre where I did my DTS. As the newest member of staff, I will be learning from all of my teammates as we navigate where I fit best within Beulah. To start off, I may be doing a variety of things. So far, I'll be helping in the office with administration, in ministry reaching out to communities near and far (evangelism door-to-door and with the Jesus Film, prayer ministry one-on-one or collectively, Bible studies and discipleship with women, youth, and church leaders, teaching in communities, and kid's programs, etc.) 

I will also be hands on with camps at Beulah May-July and the DTS July-December (this could be teaching and facilitating worship and intercession times, assisting with adventures and experiential learning activities, one-on-one discipleship/mentorship with girls in the DTS, and other miscellaneous activities where needed). I will also be serving part-time in North Church as an intern, as this is how the Beulah international staff members are approved for work permits. For this, I'll be in women's ministry leading and facilitating Bible studies, helping with the youth, and also leading worship from time to time. This will all take up about 20% of my time, most of which will be during the slower times at Beulah (in between DTS and camps).  

And a little bit about what I'll need...

I've been exploring all that goes into preparing for this transition... Starting with trainings, thinking about ways to go about learning Bemba, the most commonly spoken language in Zambia, and shifting into the mindset of building a team of long-term, committed partners rather than support for a short-term trip. As the Lord is leading me there for "a year to start" with the intention of long-term, that is what I'm preparing for. 

It's looking like I will need about $20,000 a year, to live in Zambia. This breaks down to about $1,700 per month for the total cost of living. Of course, this is my estimated budget, but this will include everything from flights and transportation, vaccines and permits, insurance, food, accommodations, etc. The goal is to return to Zambia by the beginning of May, 2026 to start in my new role. Just as I did for the DTS, I will be accepting financial contributions through my church, The Way Microchurch. They will be providing what a mission's agency would offer, proper tax forms, financial accreditation through the church's 501c3, training and coaching in Biblical financial stewardship and partnership development, etc. 

Prayer requests and praises

Please pray for fertile ground in Zambia, that the seeds God has given me to plant might take root in some and begin to bear fruit even if we never get to see it. Pray for a fresh fire to ignite in my spirit as I am beginning to grow weary with the preparations, pray for endurance for me, and for open doors with my work permit. Please also pray for those we encountered on outreach during DTS, many gave their lives to Christ and were healed and set free from demonic oppression. Pray for endurance for them, too, to keep walking in the ways of truth and righteousness and not returning to things like witchcraft. Pray also for more gospel workers to be sent to them and for the ones already present with them, for wisdom and strength and the endurance themselves to keep building God's kingdom in His strength alone.  

Stay connected 

If you'd like to learn more or get involved with this mission through a financial gift, please reach out to me. And if you'd like to be added to my private WhatsApp and/or Facebook groups to receive more personal updates and prayer requests, please let me know and I will get you added to those. Also check out the base's social media (Beulah Ywam Mkushi on Facebook, and @beulah.ywam.mkushi on Instagram). Thank you to everyone who's come alongside me in my journey with missions through prayer, financial gifts, guidance, and encouragement. As Romans 10 talks about those who are unbelieving and needing to hear the gospel by hearing it from those who are sent to tell them, I see that because of this team that God is building to partner with me, I'm able to follow after His call for my life to tell those who've never heard of Him of His unending love and saving grace. Praise be to God!!

For more information about YWAM, visit https://ywam.org

And if you’d like to learn more about my sending church, visit https://www.thewaymicrochurches.org