Manyinga, NW province Loloma Mission, Zambia
- Steven & Stephannie Anderson
- Jun 2
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 minute ago
The miles that have been traversed (6,416 miles / 10,326km) over the past three months have not only worn on the land cruiser (our workhorse for wherever we go) but also affected us. We have been sustained most surely in the different outreaches over many weeks and in many other towns. Being able to push forward through sickness and lack of strength to see the Lord’s hand working.
Our family and Joel began our journey south with an encouraging time of visiting believers along the way. We had the opportunity to visit with Everisto and Esther Yamboto in Kazungula and join the saints in Livingstone for a Sunday morning. From there, we headed south through Botswana, and along the way, we were encouraged by visits with the Bandys in Francistown, Raggetts in Palapye, and Logans in Gaborone.
From Botswana, we headed south to Cape Town and stayed with the Bartholomew family. They kindly made space for our entire group, including Erickson, Selma, and their children, who joined us there. A goal we had as we planned to visit there was to bring Erickson and Selma to a Bible conference in Robertson, South Africa, and more importantly, for them to see (at Hebron assembly, and for the first time) a group of believers gathered together on the first day of the week in the manner in which the Lord instructed. Erickson’s first impression was to notice a huge difference in reverence. He was amazed by the respect given to the word of God and the admiration of the Lord Jesus Christ. Having been part of “churches” in the past, everything was about the pastors and what they could do for them. It was refreshing for him and Selma to see many who believe what they believe and love the Lord as they do. It was the most encouraging time. It was heartwarming to hear the believers at Hebron assembly speaking to Erickson and Selma, telling them it was so lovely to meet them in person as they have been praying for them from a distance for some time.
After leaving Cape Town, we went to Windhoek to collect and organize 10,000 English calendars for distribution and 8,000 tracts before being joined by Jason Garrison, Danny Singh, and Mark Ritchie from West Richmond and Kanoka Kaposhi from Zambia. We spent a few days in Windhoek doing distribution and renewing old contacts. We then traveled south together as a group to spend a few days in each of the towns of Mariental, Keetmanshoop, and Luderitz, where Rodney and Joy Brown, Philip Bartholomew, and Fanni Strassen from South Africa joined us. On the way south, the Canadians plus Kanoka also took time to stop and preach the Gospel at a school we visited in the past and share calendars with the staff. Our time in the South was encouraging. Having Fanni and Rodney with us in this area was especially helpful since there is a more substantial population of Afrikaans speakers in the South. There were some good conversations with people who seemed genuinely interested in the Gospel in each location.
Please pray that the seed sown in these areas will grow. We parted ways with the Canadian and South African brethren when we left Luderitz and headed north to Swakopmund. During our time in Swakopmund, we enjoyed regular Bible studies with Erickson and Selma in the evenings. Josh, Keri Kaye, and Mark Grattan joined us in our second week. During our week together, we had Gospel meetings in the morning and Children’s meetings in the evening. With the Gospel meetings, many came to meetings before returning. This helped us have more one-on-one conversations to see where people are spiritually. So many are confused and misinformed about fundamental biblical truths. Our time in Swakopmund also included daily distribution of the Gospel calendars. We could renew contact with Moses, who professed salvation in November. Josh and Keri have remained in Swakopmund for the time being and are continuing with Bible studies there. Today, Moses will be baptized. We are sad to be away while this is happening but encouraged that the work in Swakopmund continues in our absence.After leaving Swakopmund, we spent two nights in Otjiwarango and had a Gospel meeting at the CEF building on one of those nights. Our contact there (Patricia) told us that after our visit in November, two of the ladies who attended the Gospel meetings professed salvation. Lord willing, we will follow up with these ladies the next time we are in Namibia.
We appreciate the prayers and the work of brethren contributing to increasing the gospel and ministry in Namibia. We were encouraged by a large shipment of literature from the Lord’s work trust, which we could share with Erickson and Moses. The topics of each study book are very much needed in Namibia. Subjects like salvation, dispensations, and the church have been distorted. Other brethren regularly contact Erickson and Selma, encouraging them and teaching them through scripture. Please continue to pray that the work that has begun in the country and that any who are seeking it will be brought under the sound of the gospel and be saved. After leaving Namibia, we made our way north back to Loloma in time to speak at an easter conference in Kabompo. I spoke from the first chapter of II Timothy. Joel was my interpreter for the first two sessions and Kanoka for the final two sessions of the day. I am also engaged in a series of Wednesday evening ministry sessions in the book of Jude here at Loloma. We are planning a trip to Kamapanda for a week of teaching meetings at the start of May. These people have a teachable spirit and a thirst for the word of God. This trip is about eight hours north into the bush, which is very near Angola. We bring our camping equipment so that we are not a burden on the brethren there.
This week, we are happy to celebrate 60 years of the Lord’s faithfulness in keeping Marian Ronald in the area sharing the Gospel. Auntie Marian continues to visit the hospital, sharing Gospel tracts and having conversations bed by bed.
Please pray that we will enter Namibia more regularly or permanently. We pray that the work there will continue to grow and that those who have received salvation will grow in knowledge and truth of the scriptures.Namibia is so far from the truth that those who receive salvation stand out as peculiar people in their communities.
Thank you for your support and your continued prayers for our family and the work we are involved in.
Written by Steven & Stephanie Anderson
