Our New Adventure

We as a couple have felt called to serve overseas since we first met 28 years ago. All in God's time. God has now called us to serve in Zambia beginning August 2011.

In Zambia, Jim will work with the CDC Global AIDS Program with the main task of integrating HIV, TB, maternal child health, and malaria activities at the grass roots level. The hope is to use the considerable resources committed by the PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief) to improve the health of the Zambian people while building their public health infrastructure. In addition, we have been in contact with the PC(USA) mission co-workers, Rev. Dr. Dustin Ellington and Nancy Collins in Zambia, and they are excited about the possibility of Jim volunteer teaching at Justo Mwale Theological University College in Lusaka. Jim was ordained as Minister of Word and Sacrament here in the Chicago Presbytery July 31st.

Amy, Ruth and Miriam, will explore the activities of the CCAP in Lusaka and see where they might be of the most help as volunteer mission co-workers. John and Christopher will attend the American International School in Lusaka.

We anticipate as a family a time of adjustment and exploration as we see exactly what God will have us do during our time in Zambia.

Zambia is a country in sub-Saharan Africa with a population of about 14 million people. During the colonial era it was known as Northern Rhodesia. The area is slightly larger than the state of Texas and is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Using the Oxford Multi-dimensional Poverty Index, Zambia ranks as the 21^st most impoverished nation. 82% of the population lives on less than $2 per day. Like many countries in the region the population is young, with a median age of 16.5 years. The life expectancy is 52 years with an infant mortality of 66.6/1,000 live births. The major health problems facing Zambians include food and waterborne diseases, malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Current estimates are that 15.2% of all adults are infected with HIV, with approximately 600,000 orphans as a result. There are 152,000 people on therapy for HIV with an estimated additional 330,000 persons in need of anti-retroviral therapy.

An estimated 85% of the population professes some form of Christianity. Another 5% are Muslim; 5% subscribe to other faiths, including Hinduism, Baha'ism, and traditional indigenous religions; and 5% are atheist. The majority of Christians are either Roman Catholics or Protestants. Currently, there is also a surge in new Pentecostal churches. The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Synod of Zambia (a PC-USA partner) traces its origin from the Livingstonia Mission of the Free Church of Scotland. The Livingstonia Mission was formed in 1874 in memory of Dr. David Livingstone who died in 1873 at Chitambo, Northern Rhodesia (present day Zambia) after his three missionary and exploratory journeys.  As of August 2010, the Synod has 67 congregations in eleven presbyteries, 58 ordained ministers and 9 evangelists with a membership of more than 65,000. Theological training is available at Justo Mwale Theological University College in Lusaka.

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