TWR-Africa recently received this inspiring letter from a listener in Zambia. He writes:
"I greet you in the name of our Lord, Christ Jesus, who is coming soon.
"I am a keen follower of most of your programmes on the radio whenever I have a chance to listen. The simplicity and depth of your programmes have inspired me and given me strength. Especially now that I am HIV-positive.
"I am a 46-year old male and married with two children. I live about 220 km. from Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia, in a rural setting - Kayawe is the name of this small settlement which is situated in the western part of Southern Province. It is right in the famous Kafue National Park Game Management Area; on the west is the mighty Kafue River.
"The reason I am writing to you is that I want to learn more about God. I am currently an elder in our local church and I have been given a few opportunities to preach. All I am able to do is read the Bible and try to explain to the best of my ability what the Scriptures mean. My heart tells me that there is more to it than what I know. For example: I don’t know how to explain to my congregation the basic principles of why, how and when one should fast. When fasting, can one drink water? I do fast because I believe that it is a way of spiritual strengthening. Initially it was not easy for me (mainly because I am on antiretroviral medication and I need to eat for my medicine to work efficiently.)
"God has done miracles in my life from the time I was diagnosed with HIV. I was very sick with TB (an opportunistic infection.) After being kept in hospital for nine months, I was left paralyzed from the waist down and with very painful legs. I feel that this happened because I delayed going for Voluntary Counseling and Treatment. I have since gone public with my HIV status.
"In spite of all this, the Lord is slowly giving me back my strength. Now I am able to stand at the pulpit for a few hours and minister the Word of God! I can also cycle for short distances on my evangelism outings. God is great!
"Most important is this: I became ill in 2005, around June, but if I had died then, I would have been in hell. God gave me a second chance to live and work for Him. My motivation is not the fear of dying, but rather God giving me a second chance to live and showing me the light. I am not afraid, because I know where I will go if I were to die today!
"Currently we are a moderate church of 60 members on a good Sunday. We are lacking in many basic things like chairs, Bibles and a decent shelter for a church, but with the way God is moving in the church, slowly we will achieve these goals.
"My request is to please send me some Gospel literature that I can learn from and so be able to teach my congregation."
Published 26 September 2008 |
