U.S. ambassador views mission team’s work in Zambia

Mark C. Storella, U.S. ambassador to Zambia, tries out a bicycle-powered water-well pump at the Mumena Christian Outreach Center. (Photo provided)

U.S. ambassador to Zambia Mark C. Storella tested his strength on a bicycle-operated water-well pump recently.
The pump, designed to bring water quickly and easily to household gardens in Zambia, is the creation of Rick Love, a graduate of Harding University in Searcy, Ark.
Storella toured the Mumena Christian Outreach Center and learned about the water-well pumps and other sustainable development projects undertaken by a church-planting team in Zambia. The team consists of five families —  Brian and Sondra Davis with sons Noah and Bryson, from Abilene, Texas; Rick and Karen Love with children Matthew, Lydia, Emily and Caleb, from Cedar Hill, Texas; Sam and Ellie Rodriquez, also from Cedar Hill; Jeremy and Whitney Davis, from Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Jason and Erin Davis, also from Chattanooga.
(Members of the team, including the Davises, have partnered with African Christians in an outreach effort to the Meheba Refugee Camp, home to 90.000 refugees, mostly from the Democratic Republic of Congo. See my earlier blog post and news item about that.)
Churches supporting the work include the Hillcrest Church of Christ in Abilene, Cedar Hill Church of Christ and East Brainerd Church of Christ in Chattanooga.
Accompanying the ambassador on his tour was the permanent secretary (something like a governor) of Zambia’s Northwestern Province, the mayor of nearby town Solwezi, His Royal Highness Chief Mumena and other village leaders.
The mission team combines its church-planting efforts with holistic ministries, “recognizing that God made humans — both body and soul,” according to a news release from the team.
Storella viewed the Mumena B School Production Unit, consisting of commercial broilers and breeding operations for poultry, pigs and goats. Team member Jason Davis, a graduate of ACU’s agriculture and environmental science program, partners with the local school in teaching these skills.
The ambassador recognized the importance of the team’s work — including the water-well pump and other innovations that can help Zambian farmers increase crop production and feed their families during the dry season, which can last for six months. The visit was capped with several speeches by local authorities as well as a “call for partnership” by the ambassador.
Chief Mumena summarized what he saw this way: “Look what great things can happen when a people of God follow his call to serve others.”

U.S. Ambassador Mark C. Storella stands with Zambian government officials, village leaders and members of a church-planting team in Zambia. (Photo provided)

• Feedback
  That’s great. I’m glad you are in the Christian Chronicle and got a visit from the ambassador. I think you are doing great work in God’s name. Keep it up!

  Aaron Brown

  September, 7 2011

  So glad to see God’s work being done! My In-laws Sam and Ellie Rodriguez are in Zambia And also in this photo! So glad to see their faces! Mom and Sam we miss you but are so proud of you! Love to you both!

  Dinah Lipe

  September, 7 2011

  I am so pleased to see this article. I am glad this can be shared with the rest of the world. My son, Rick Love and Karen (daughter-in-Love) along with their 4 children are a true inspiration to us as parents. We are so proud of the work they are doing over there. We miss them and our grandchildren but we know they are doing God’s work.

  Wilma Love

  September, 8 2011

  Please share the design of the Pump so it can be used elsewhere !

  LRPhilpot

  September, 8 2011

  I want to mention Rex and Barbara Davis, parents of Brian and grandparents of Jason and Jeremy. They are members of Brianerd Church of Christ in Chattanooga. Their love for God and their dedication to missions extends all over the world and through many generations.

  Becky Wooley

  September, 8 2011