Bill & Marci Hoover have lived in Zambia as CWO missionaries since 2002. We are honored to publish their two-part blog post about their family of Big & Little Nephews and how God is working through them. Watch for part two in July!
We had no doubt we were called to Zambia in 2002. God could not have been more clear. We arrived with the intention of teaching HIV education and prevention, but the Lord had another plan too.
We rented a flat that had a mini-bus station right in front of it. As we’d go out to catch the bus, we got acquainted with the young men who are called “call boys” because they take it upon themselves to “call” people to the buses. These men are typically drunk and don’t hesitate to fight each other for any tips thrown out by the bus conductors. Their goal is to obtain the equivalent of $1 each day so they can have one meal.
It seemed to us that these men wished to share their hearts with us, but not in front of each other. We decided to invite all of them to our CWO office for a barbeque so they would know where to find us if they wished to talk. We asked for all of their names so invites could be printed up and they were very excited! They asked about their invite daily until they were received! No invite, no admission was our policy.
The day arrived and all 25 young men walked through the gate freshly bathed with invite in hand…outside of one. We had a joyous time together playing games, eating, and watching the Jesus Film in their local language. At 4 p.m., when their bus station was busiest, we thanked them for coming and said, “Now you know where to find us! You are welcome here anytime!” The guys didn’t budge.
We asked our translator why they weren’t leaving and she didn’t know. Marci felt compelled to ask them, “If CWO could do anything for you, what would it be?” The translator was very hesitant to ask the question believing they would ask for money. Marci felt even more compelled and insisted the question be asked.
It turns out that each bus station is its own gang. You don’t mix the guys of different stations together. The leader of this station was Big George at that time. Big George stood up and said, “Ok, #1. We don’t know how to read so we don’t know what the Bible says. We know that the way we are living isn’t pleasing to God, but if you could teach us what the Bible says, we’d be grateful.” Marci said, “We can do that.” He continued, “#2, our families and society talk down to us and criticize us all the time. If you could encourage us, we’d be grateful for that.” Marci again said, “We can do that too.” Lastly he stated, “#3, if you could get us a new job, we’d be very grateful. Our jobs are so demeaning that we get drunk just to do the job. If you could get us new jobs, we’d be grateful. BUT, please don’t give us the job first. Teach us the Word of God, encourage us to change, and then when you’ve seen us change, give us a new job. If you give us the job first, our alcoholism will ruin it.” Then Big George sat down. We committed to helping with those three things in their lives.
Before leaving, one of them yelled, “When are we doing this again?!” We quickly calculated the cost of the lunch and activities – having thought this was a one-time thing – and suggested they come in two weeks. They agreed with cheers as they ran out the door.
That was in January of 2003. We have met with the same group of men (minus the 15 we have buried) every other Friday since then. We have added some men through the years and some have shifted to other towns, but we are still a tight knit family who loves each other through the sorrows, the challenges, and the joys of life. Most importantly, they have experienced (and tested!) the unconditional love of Christ at CWO and found freedom in His love. We call these men our “nephews” because we are called their “Auntie and Uncle”. It only seems appropriate…and makes it clear we are a family.
We cannot think of a more rewarding “job” to be given than this. Each day we get to love those who feel unlovable, and in the process, help their eyes be opened to the truth and love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Preparing for our return home by understanding we have changed and thinking about what we will do with this experience will make the transition back home much easier. It will help in setting our expectations for ourselves and for others as we return to our homes, our work or school, and our family and friends as a changed person.
This is a great way to get a glimpse of what long-term missionaries deal with on a day to day basis, helping you know how to pray for them. It can also help you know the real needs so that you understand what financial support is helpful. I have seen people go on a different short-term trip every year each time with a different organization and to a different country. They do not have a desire to understand and learn but, again, are checking it off their list.
The sending organization should first know those who are receiving a team. They should have a good enough working relationship so that they get an honest answer to the usefulness of teams. They should know the culture well enough to know if they are being told “yes bring teams” just because those asked are being polite or if they really want / need a team to come. The sending organization should also make sure that they include those receiving a team in the planning, the fundraising, and that they participate in the project.
The solution is to start with the sending organization building a long-term relationship with those they serve and then for them to understand the real need of those receiving a team. This relationship would be one built on trust and promote open and honest discussions about teams. It is best that those receiving a team are part of the planning so they have ownership and the project is accepted as theirs. One other way to help them take ownership is to have those receiving a team invest something in the project by raising funds or bringing supplies. Because this is not typically asked of those receiving a team it may seem odd but it is acceptable.
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