SPOTLIGHT ON MISSIONS: Mickeal & Sharon Quillman • Zambia

The last few weeks here in Zambia have been quite busy, but very rewarding. In mid-October, we hosted a leadership conference and a VBS program for the children in the villages where we are currently working. Pastor Clinton Morris and his wife, DeAnna came for a visit and helped lead these programs. During the leadership conference, we talked about what it meant to be a spiritual leader in the home and in the leadership of the village council. There were several local headmen from neighboring villages, as well as senior headmen who oversee large districts within the Sekute (seh-koo-tay) Chiefdom. Along with the headmen, we had over 60 men and women in attendance. During the training, we had several breakout sessions to dig deeper into spiritual questions that arose from the teachings.

The men were instructed and challenged to be the man God has called them to be as a husband, father and follower of Christ. Through this teaching, the issue of polygamy was raised. Even though polygamy is technically illegal in Zambia, it only applies to contract marriages and not traditional marriages. The majority of those living in the villages only have a traditional marriage, so polygamy is widespread, especially among the older generations. They have a term for men with four or more wives — a Tonga bull — and with this title comes an elevated “social status.” The women in these relationships have no voice in whether their husband takes another wife.

My wife, Sharon, and Clinton’s wife, DeAnna were able to speak truth into the lives of the women and give them a voice to be heard about their concerns with this old practice of multiple wives. Clinton and I also went through the biblical explanation for multiple wives in the Old Testament, and instructions in the New Testament for leaders in the church. Even though this is a widespread tradition, the teaching was accepted very well. Our prayer is that, through continued teaching and prayer, the men and women will continue to grow spiritually.

The week after the leadership training, we began our VBS program. Our expectation was that we would have around 100 children in attendance. The word spread around the area to many neighboring villages. I began the first morning driving around in my seven-passenger vehicle to pick up children. As I drove into the first neighboring village, which is a 60-minute walk, I was shocked. There were 30 children standing there waiting for me to pick them up! We packed everyone into the 7-passenger vehicle — yes, all 30 of them, including 3 on my lap as I drove. Little did I know that those 30 children were not going to be the most children I could fit in my vehicle.

For the next 4 hours, I drove from village to village collecting children for our VBS program. Many of these villages were new to me and much deeper into the bush than we have gone. Thankfully, I had my chainsaw with me since I was literally creating new paths to share the gospel. I wish I could post the video of the children unloading from my vehicle so you could see my VBS “clown car” in action.

We had well over 200 children who attended our VBS and heard the clear message of the gospel. This also opened the door for me to go and meet the families in those villages and the local headman over each village. The door has been opened for us to begin weekly Bible studies within each of these new villages and a new chiefdom — Musokotwane (Moo-soak-oh-twa-nee).

In the following weeks, we have begun the new Bible studies in areas closer to these villages. We have set up “stations” that people can walk no more than 45 minutes to, so it is not as difficult for them. Within “walking distance” here is something we have to clarify before going with any of our friends within the village. Daniel, from Kainyandela (kah-een-yawn-dell-ah) offered for me and Sharon to take a 90 minute “quick walk” to go and see his home and Headman Raymond from Chibinga (chee-bean-gah) village walked 14 hours round trip in 1 day to go and collect a cow.

Speaking of cows, the last two weeks we have had an outbreak of anthrax in cattle, goats, sheep and pigs in Zambia, and it is also spreading to the people. Currently, we have over 300 cases of anthrax in humans and have had 10 deaths in our area, with even more hospitalized. Vaccinations for these animals is too expense for those in the villages, but these animals are the difference between life and death for their families.

Sharon and I were able to locate some vaccines from a local vet and purchased enough to treat 200 animals. We spent the whole day yesterday, about 13 hours, giving vaccines to their animals. They do not have “catch chutes” here like we do in the US, so you must wrestle the cow to the ground and hold it while giving it an injection. Now, I am not a cowboy, nor have I played one on TV, but I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in the past. At the end of the day, around 200 animals were treated, and Sharon and I only received some minor scrapes and bruises. Who knew that cows would not enjoy being stuck with a needle? We were able to take a break in the middle of the day to have a Bible study since we had so many people there with their animals.

On Nov. 14, we plan to go to Simoondo (see-moan-doh) village for another day of treating 200 animals and a Bible study. Simoondo is about a 60-minute walk from the Chibinga area, which has become our “home-base” for ministry. Thankfully, Simoondo will have an area to trap the cows in one at a time, so we shouldn’t have to wrestle cows.

In addition to providing vaccines, I brought in a friend who is a welder. With his welder and my generator, we were able to spend two 12-hour days repairing ox carts, plows, fire pit stands for cooking and sharpening plows and knives. This outreach has given us the opportunity to talk with other men and women in the area. One of the main questions we are asked is, “Why do you care so much for us? You have just met us. We have never had anyone do this kind of thing for us.” This has opened the door to so many conversations about God and His love for everyone. We always tell them, “This is not us, and all praise and thanks goes to the One True God.”

We would ask that you continue to pray for us as we continue to minister here in the Southern province of Zambia, specifically within the Sekute and Musokotwane chiefdoms.

We would also like to invite pastors and people from your local churches to come and visit us here in Zambia to see firsthand what God is doing. Charles Costa gave me some advice when we were first going on the field here. He told me that newsletters are a great way to spread information, but having people come and minister alongside you is the key to growing your ministry. If you would like more information about planning a trip to Zambia, Sharon and I would love to speak with you.

Even if you cannot make it to Zambia, Sharon and I would love to speak with you. Hearing voices from home is encouraging and we get so excited when someone reaches out. The best way to reach us is through a free app called WhatsApp. With this app, we can video chat, receive texts and phone calls, or you can send us an email. However you choose to reach out, we would love to hear from you.

Please join us in praying for these specific prayer requests:

• Headman of Simoondo for salvation. His wife is one of those recently saved and she has abandoned the “traditional religion” of the witchdoctors. Her husband is still under the satanic pull of this false religion but is still allowing us to minister to the people in his village.

• It is now planting season for us here and it is all done by hand and with oxen. One bad crop can cause an entire village to die of starvation.

• Pray that the outbreak of Anthrax can be controlled.

Here are some current needs we have if you can help:

• Funds to purchase vaccines and vaccination supplies.

• Bibles in local languages.

• Audio Bibles in local language.

• Monthly supporters.

(pastorquill@gmail.com)