Return to Zambia

I, Janet, returned to the USA on February 24th after three weeks in Zambia.  My concerns about returning to Zambia were unfounded.  As soon as I stepped out on the tarmac of the Lusaka International Airport I knew it would be okay.

Jessica and I were greeted at the airport by Davidson and Dorothy Phiri, founders of Mercy Ministries International.  It was such a joy to see their smiling faces and have them escort us to our temporary home.  We were greeted by fresh flowers in our rooms and a basket of survival snacks from my friend, Marcia, as we began to adjust to the different time zone and recuperate from jet lag.

The first order of business was to distribute the contents of the Christ Feeds container.  I quickly learned that customs had not approved the contents and that we were not authorized to break the seal.  With the help of the Evangelical Council of Zambia we finally received the approval of customs to break the seal.

It took several days to receive this approval so Jessica and I took advantage of the unexpected time to scope out a place for her to live, introduce her to my friends and orient her to the city of Lusaka.  It was really a time for her to see what it is like to "live" in Zambia.

We were very excited to meet Dave and Connie Keating who were willing to open their home to her.  Their home is only a few minutes away from Mercy Ministries where Jessica will be working.  It's a great place, en suite bedroom, modern kitchen, hot water and a swimming pool!  They worked out a win win agreement for all of them.

On Friday, my RAV4 rear window shattered while Jessica and I were eating dinner. It had been repaired after a car accident a few weeks earlier but evidently was not repaired properly.  Just another problem to take care of ...  After several discussions with the vendor who had repaired it I decided that he was not going to be able to correct the problem. I would have to identify another vendor to redo the work done previously. Luckily, the insurance would cover the cost of the window and I would only have to pay for the labor.

Early Saturday morning Jessica and I went to the airport to meet Morgan Adams. Morgan arrived on time and we spent the rest of the day helping her adjust to the time change and fight jet lag.

Kanyama Pilgrim Wesleyan Church was where we worshiped on Sunday.  Rev. Dr. Alfred Kalembo is the pastor of the church.  It was a wonderful service and at the close of the service we distributed some of the Christ Feed food packages to widows, widowers and caretakers of orphans.  The food was joyfully accepted and more will be distributed to the Kanyama community in the coming weeks.


It was good to visit the Kanyama area to see the work the church there is doing.  Kanyama is a "slum' area of Lusaka. Water and sanitation are issues there and the Kanyama church has installed water tanks and  built toilets and showers as an outreach tool to the community.  They are also planning to build a medical clinic to continue their outreach efforts.  Project Connect is partnering with Kanyama PWC to see this project completed.

On Monday, February 14th, we were finally able to go into the community of Chainda, the community that is served by Mercy Ministries International.  Two teams of caretakers and MMI staff members visited 10 of the 30 AIDS patients MMI follows each week.  The plan is to supply one week of food to each patient so that they can receive a good meal daily as they take their Anti-retro Viral (ARV) drugs.  These drugs are helping them fight the disease that threatens their life.

The food will be provided for three months and their progress followed during this time.  It is believed that in three months time with the Christ Feeds food and ARVs that these patients will be healthy enough to start looking for a job and contribute to the welfare of their families. Each patient was warned that if they did not eat the food or sold the food to anyone that they would not be allowed to continue in the program.  During these visits we were able to talk with each one concerning Jesus.  Some were believers, some attended church when they were able and others were obviously lost. We prayed with each of them and assured them of God's love for them.

Mary (right) and her mother

One particular patient touched my heart, Mary.  Mary is twenty years old and wants to die. It is believed that she was raped as a child and contracted HIV at that time.  She is so tired of fighting the disease that she is ready to give up. Mary is a beautiful young woman who lives with her mother. The pain in her mother's face was heartbreaking.  Mary had not eaten for 2 weeks when we visited her. If she took her ARVs they made her dizzy and nauseated. Taking these drugs without food is just as bad as not taking them at all.

We shared with Mary that she was a child of God and that He could heal her.  We spoke of the pain her mother felt watching her deteriorate.  We explained that with nourishing meals and continued intake of the ARVs that she could lead a healthy life. Mary never showed any emotion the entire time we were with her.  I tried to get her to smile but she refused.  All I saw was a quivering lip as she tried not to break out into tears.  My heart ached for her.

People with AIDS are often not touched by others and feel abandoned by their friends and family. As we walked away from Mary I felt convicted to hug her and let her know how loved she was.  As her neighbors looked on I bent over and kissed her forehead, hugged her bony frame and told her that Jesus loves her and that I too, loved her. I told her that when I returned to Zambia I wanted to be able to visit with her again. I kissed her forehead again and walked towards the car. As I began to enter the drivers seat one of the team members said, "Janet look!"  I turned and Mary was waving at us with a huge grin on her face. I was so blessed by that grin that I broke into tears.  Some will understand this... yes, God even uses donkeys! I am just a donkey...

Nathan Banda

The next day we planned to visit another ten homes but unfortunately it was not to happen. Nathan Banda, one of the students at MMI, was hit by a vehicle on his way to school that morning. Nathan was rushed to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) for treatment.  He suffered head trauma and was unconscious and in great pain.  It was several days before he was placed on a respirator. This was not the first time his parents had experienced such pain. They had lost another son to a hit and run accident 10 years earlier as he too was walking to school.

Thanks to all of you who joined us in prayer for Nathan.  He remains in the hospital to this day. He had been conscious in the last week but still experiences tremendous pain. Pray for his parents to be comforted and that Nathan will be healed completely.  Life is difficult enough in the community of Chainda as a normal healthy child but much worse for one who suffers some type of disability.

As my time in Zambia was coming to an end I traveled to Zimba where I had lived for two years. It was great to visit with my Zambian family and friends and other missionaries. I was also able to inspect the 10 staff houses that were built while I lived there. It was great to visit with the occupants and see how much they appreciated the houses where they lived.

After a day of rest in Livingstone with Jessica, Morgan and Lindsay, I returned to Lusaka to complete unfinished business. Jessica moved into her new home, we received quotes for the RAV4 repair, we packed up my grandmother's rocking chair and I said goodbye to the staff and children of Mercy Ministries.

Jessica, Morgan and Lindsay

I left Zambia knowing that there will always be a place for me there.  My return to Zambia is God's timing and that I will be content during the interim.

My reunion with Jim in Nashville was quick as we had to travel to Memphis the next day.  Christ United Methodist Church was holding "Missions Weekend".  Jim and I would be attending church services, participating in Missions Blitz and speaking in Host Homes to help educate the congregation on Zambia and missions.

This was a great opportunity for Jim and I to share our vision of returning to Zambia and introduce them to Project Connect. Several people asked how they could be a part of our ministry and fulfilling God's plan.

Many of you may be asking the same question...

Jim and I are willing to live where God wants us and to do the work he is providing through Project Connect. We feel strongly that God will accomplish this in His time and in His way.  We also believe that he wants each of you to have an opportunity to be a part of this ministry and our journey. It is through your prayers and financial support that we will be able to accomplish this work. Please consider one or more of the following options:

1) Make a commitment to pray for us as we strive to obey God's plan for us (please email us at siscojan@aol.com and let us know that you are praying)
2) Consider making a one time or monthly donation towards the funding we need (instructions are on this blog)
3) Host an event in your home or church with your friends/family allowing us to share our vision for Project Connect and give them an opportunity to be a part of it (contact us via email or call us to schedule such an event)

It is such a joy to share our life and adventure with you and we welcome you to join us in whatever way you feel you can.

Be Anxious for Nothing

When I traveled to Zambia in 2007 I had prepared myself for a different culture and being away from all that was familiar to me. I was prepared for "culture shock" but really didn't feel like I experienced it.  I must have been too boastful about this because I have made up for it these past 5 1/2 months.  "Reverse culture shock" is something you know exists but you don't really think it will happen to you.  I wasn't prepared for it.

Since I returned to the states as a married woman it has been a whirlwind of activity and adjustment. Within weeks of my arrival Jim was sequestered for three weeks on a capital murder case. As soon as he was released from that we traveled to Oklahoma and Texas to visit his daughters and their families. (I had met his sons but I had not had the pleasure of meeting the girls before the wedding.) Next was Thanksgiving, then Christmas and here it is the end of January.  The time has flown.

Imagine, when we married we thought we would spend six months in the USA and then return to Zambia.  What a pipe dream that was! Six months is not nearly enough time to adjust to the many changes in our life (especially mine!).  It has been a time of joy, sadness, love, depression, happiness and uncertainty but through it all God's grace has been sufficient.

On February 2nd I am traveling to Zambia for a three week visit. My home church in Memphis, TN, Christ United Methodist Church, shipped a container of goods to Zambia in October. It contains over 200,000 meals, school uniforms and children's shoes. It arrived the first week of January.  I am going to assist in the planning and distribution of these goods. For more information visit  Christ Feeds


I will be traveling with Jessica Johnson from McKinney Bible Church in Fort Worth, TX.  Jessica plans to stay in Zambia for 12-18 months to work at Mercy Ministries.  I will help her find a place to live and to settle in before I return on February 23rd. You can follow Jessica's journey in Zambia by clicking here.

Jessica and I will be joined by Morgan Adams on February 12th.  Morgan is the daughter of one of my dearest friends, Joan Adams.  Morgan has a heart for children, especially orphans  and I will introduce her to the different ways that Zambians manage the orphan situation in the midst of the HIV epidemic.

I will also use this time to meet with the leaders of the projects that Project Connect is currently sponsoring.  This will give me an opportunity to visit friends at Zimba Mission Hospital, leaders of the Pilgrim Wesleyan Church of Zambia and the children of Mercy Ministries.

I am a little anxious about this trip since it will be the first return after leaving (places are never the same when you leave and return) and also because I will be leaving Jim behind. I know he will appreciate calls and emails of encouragement while I am away.

As far as when Jim and I will return together to Zambia is in God's hands.  We have been talking with different mission organizations trying to decide whether to go independently or to sign on with a "sending agency".  Regardless of this decision, we cannot go to Zambia until we raise the funds necessary to live abroad and conduct the ministry God has for us. There are several obstacles to overcome before we can go but we are trusting God to handle the details. Our return will not be before the date He has picked out for us.

Please pray for my trip in February...travel mercies, the success of the container distribution, Jessica's transition into the Zambian culture, Morgan's time with the children and Jim as he survives without me.  Pray that God will use this time to grow us closer to Him and to each other.

Once again, thank you for your encouragement and love.  We cannot do this without you.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"  

Philippians 4:6-7