Thought it was time to write about what God has been teaching me over the last couple of weeks.
First of all I spent 9 days relief milking for a guy. You know, I didn’t mind the work (10-12 hr. days), actually I rather enjoyed it. God created me to enjoy physical labor. What I didn’t enjoy was the fact that I did not have any time for much of anything else. Like doing my Acts Course work, my daily readings, doing anything with the family, I missed the prayer meeting and Bible study. I just plain did not have the time or energy for it. Felt a dryness with in my soul, I got run down and then got I’m sick. LESSON LEARNED: pace myself, set clear priorities, must take time for myself and for Kelly and the kids. The work can and will get done just maybe not all today. I also worked with someone who definitely tried my patience, who did not except instruction well. I pray God wasn’t trying to show me what I was going to be dealing with over there. Maybe He hit me hard here just so I have something to look back on.
Something else I thought about now that it is harvest time. Here we don’t think about the amount of crops (food) we grow. We don’t think about the number of people we potentially feed. Once the school is complete, essentially I will be responsible for the growing of the food for potentially a 1000 people. It becomes rather personal when you put a number to it. It becomes very, very personal when you put faces and names with those numbers. Your sense of responsibility just went sky high! That is what God is calling me to do. To feed His soldiers in training (my brothers and sisters in Christ) to see that they are nourished both spiritually and physically. So that they are prepared to go out into the battle and win souls and train disciples and plant churches for Christ!
Over the last couple of weeks support (financial, prayer, donations) has been slowly coming in. And to tell you the truth, it’s one of the most humbling experiences you can go through. To know that some of these people are really sacrificing to support us and what God is doing in and through us. Saying thank you just never seems like enough. I pray that God will bless each and everyone that supports us. I pray that I am a good steward of what the Lord provides.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
a little update
Finally getting to a little update!
We have received about $7000 now for the container and start up costs! PTL!
I updated our needs list, here, with some of the donated items already.
We have started getting monthly and annual partners! I am still thinking about how exactly I will display those, so for now am waiting. Just know they are coming in! It is a very humbling experience to get a letter of support from someone for whom you know it will be a monthly sacrifice. Or to receive a commitment from someone you weren't even sure you should include on your mailing list!
We are hoping to get a newletter out in November before we go to MTI for training.
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers.
Oh yes-a question answered: No, you do not need to wait until you are able to send the money with your response form. We would appreciate the form back so we can know what to plan for.
Prayer Request/Praise: Just this week we sent out letters to area churches to request they consider partnering with us. We have been invited to speak at one of the church's next mission board meetings (actually even before the letter went out!)! A few of the churches whose members had personally already gotten support letters already had us on their agendas for the next meeting! And one churched I spoke to in the afternoon, approved a "container" gift to us that same night! YOU GO GOD!! Please pray for some of these churches to partner monthly with us.
We have received about $7000 now for the container and start up costs! PTL!
I updated our needs list, here, with some of the donated items already.
We have started getting monthly and annual partners! I am still thinking about how exactly I will display those, so for now am waiting. Just know they are coming in! It is a very humbling experience to get a letter of support from someone for whom you know it will be a monthly sacrifice. Or to receive a commitment from someone you weren't even sure you should include on your mailing list!
We are hoping to get a newletter out in November before we go to MTI for training.
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers.
Oh yes-a question answered: No, you do not need to wait until you are able to send the money with your response form. We would appreciate the form back so we can know what to plan for.
Prayer Request/Praise: Just this week we sent out letters to area churches to request they consider partnering with us. We have been invited to speak at one of the church's next mission board meetings (actually even before the letter went out!)! A few of the churches whose members had personally already gotten support letters already had us on their agendas for the next meeting! And one churched I spoke to in the afternoon, approved a "container" gift to us that same night! YOU GO GOD!! Please pray for some of these churches to partner monthly with us.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Housing Clarification
Not sure if we made this clear in our letter, so thought i would explain a little more here.
Right now at the Bible College there are over 100 buildings just about ready (not quite finished)-these are the staff houses, bathroom/kitchens, and student cabins.
There is no house for us right now. Brian has picked the spot where he would like to build it and we have plans drawn up for the house.
This is a picture of one of the teams last summer building a cabin. Yes, our house will be made of the same blocks. After the block is done, they plaster it, then paint.
We are planning to ship in the container some supplies needed for finishing the house: paint, steel for the roof, electrical supplies, bathroom/plumbing supplies (toilets, sinks), kitchen supplies (counters, sinks, etc.).
If you know a good place to purchase some of these things, or have a line on a discount somewhere, please let us know!
Right now at the Bible College there are over 100 buildings just about ready (not quite finished)-these are the staff houses, bathroom/kitchens, and student cabins.
There is no house for us right now. Brian has picked the spot where he would like to build it and we have plans drawn up for the house.
This is a picture of one of the teams last summer building a cabin. Yes, our house will be made of the same blocks. After the block is done, they plaster it, then paint.
We are planning to ship in the container some supplies needed for finishing the house: paint, steel for the roof, electrical supplies, bathroom/plumbing supplies (toilets, sinks), kitchen supplies (counters, sinks, etc.).
If you know a good place to purchase some of these things, or have a line on a discount somewhere, please let us know!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
questions about our support letter
We have gotten a few questions about our support letters, so thought i would answer here. Hopefully, if you have more, you will email or post it in the comment section, and we will get to it!
1) Is there any amount too small?
NO! We recognize that any gift you can give to us is a sacrifice of love and obedience and we are appreciative beyond what words can say!
2) Why so much? It's Africa after all!
Yes, it is Africa, but things really are not that much cheaper; in fact, some things are more expensive. The shops there cater to the 1% of people who have money. They charge new prices on things that are not so new. When Brian was at the mall in Lusaka, he saw washing machines at a shop that weren't even made in this decade-and those were your only options! Mattresses are generally just made from foam there, but you can get ones we have here in America, but they are super expensive for example.
3) Why all the small stuff on your list? Why not buy it there?
Again, we can, but it will cost the same or more. If someone is willing to donate an item, even with the shipping and taxes, we come out ahead. If we buy something ourselves, and pay taxes and shipping, it may come out to cost a little more, but we would then have a more reliable item.
4) $30,000 for a container!
That is our estimate, yes. It will be around $2,000 for a container, $11-13,000 for shipping, then there is duty. So that is why we are REALLY PRAYING for either our permits to be in before we ship, or Gospelink gets its tax exempt status in Zambia.
We will be able to use our container for storage, maybe even as a building later. We will not be coming back to the States for 2-3 years, so we are bringing extra clothes/supplies too, those will sit there (that also explains all the different sizes for kids clothes!)
We have also decided to go this route just thinking ahead to getting off a plane with 6 kids, and then having to go around and shop for this stuff. There would be a possibility of going over early to get some of these things (just me and Bri, or just Bri), but we like the container route instead. Just the cost of shipping our books, kids' books, bedding (have to have our air bed!)...the cost adds up that way too. Most missionaries in Zambia we have talked with say if you can send a container, do it!
5) Are used items okay?
Yes, we will happily take used items in good condition.
That's all i can think of right now; if you think of more-PLEASE ASK!
1) Is there any amount too small?
NO! We recognize that any gift you can give to us is a sacrifice of love and obedience and we are appreciative beyond what words can say!
2) Why so much? It's Africa after all!
Yes, it is Africa, but things really are not that much cheaper; in fact, some things are more expensive. The shops there cater to the 1% of people who have money. They charge new prices on things that are not so new. When Brian was at the mall in Lusaka, he saw washing machines at a shop that weren't even made in this decade-and those were your only options! Mattresses are generally just made from foam there, but you can get ones we have here in America, but they are super expensive for example.
3) Why all the small stuff on your list? Why not buy it there?
Again, we can, but it will cost the same or more. If someone is willing to donate an item, even with the shipping and taxes, we come out ahead. If we buy something ourselves, and pay taxes and shipping, it may come out to cost a little more, but we would then have a more reliable item.
4) $30,000 for a container!
That is our estimate, yes. It will be around $2,000 for a container, $11-13,000 for shipping, then there is duty. So that is why we are REALLY PRAYING for either our permits to be in before we ship, or Gospelink gets its tax exempt status in Zambia.
We will be able to use our container for storage, maybe even as a building later. We will not be coming back to the States for 2-3 years, so we are bringing extra clothes/supplies too, those will sit there (that also explains all the different sizes for kids clothes!)
We have also decided to go this route just thinking ahead to getting off a plane with 6 kids, and then having to go around and shop for this stuff. There would be a possibility of going over early to get some of these things (just me and Bri, or just Bri), but we like the container route instead. Just the cost of shipping our books, kids' books, bedding (have to have our air bed!)...the cost adds up that way too. Most missionaries in Zambia we have talked with say if you can send a container, do it!
5) Are used items okay?
Yes, we will happily take used items in good condition.
That's all i can think of right now; if you think of more-PLEASE ASK!
Monday, October 8, 2007
papers sent!
Our work permit papers are FINALLY on the way to Zambia!! Please pray that the approval process will go QUICKLY! Pray that they won't have any questions or need more information. Pray the approval will come before the end of the year (ambitious, yes, but GOD IS BIG!) If approval comes before we ship a container, we have been told we can ship in some things duty (tax) free. If not, we are still praying for the next item below.
Pray for Gospelink's tax exempt status to be approved in Zambia. The papers have been there for over a year, they just haven't received any word back on them, and until you have paperwork in hand, you can't claim the status. It would save Gospelink thousands of dollars every year, allowing them to be better stewards of their money. It would also allow us to send our things without taxes as well, saving us thousands too.
Continue to pray for God's hand on people's hearts as He leads those whom He has called to be our monthly financial supporters, out-going gift supporters, and prayer support. We have received some amazing gifts of generousity for our out-going support, and our first monthly supporter!! We are praying that that one was just the beginning of a windfall of monthly supporters committing to partner with us.
Thank you for your prayers and support-it means SOOOO MUCH TO US!!!
Pray for Gospelink's tax exempt status to be approved in Zambia. The papers have been there for over a year, they just haven't received any word back on them, and until you have paperwork in hand, you can't claim the status. It would save Gospelink thousands of dollars every year, allowing them to be better stewards of their money. It would also allow us to send our things without taxes as well, saving us thousands too.
Continue to pray for God's hand on people's hearts as He leads those whom He has called to be our monthly financial supporters, out-going gift supporters, and prayer support. We have received some amazing gifts of generousity for our out-going support, and our first monthly supporter!! We are praying that that one was just the beginning of a windfall of monthly supporters committing to partner with us.
Thank you for your prayers and support-it means SOOOO MUCH TO US!!!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Will you partner with us?
Are you, or have you raised any children? We are right now raising six of them in our home. What a blessing it is to have this responsibility. One of the things that we try to teach them is to obey the first time. Obedience is one of the goals that we all have as parents. Did you know that God also wants us to obey Him as His children? Recently God has asked our family to obey Him with a very challenging request. God has asked us to move to Zambia, Africa and to join Him in a very exciting missions ministry called GOSPELINK. We have said YES!!!
Gospelink is a missions organization that was established for the purpose of advancing the gospel throughout the world. However their means of doing this is different than most. They feel this can best be accomplished by assisting national preachers who are actively involved in evangelism, discipleship and church planting. Through prayer and financial assistance national preachers are empowered, their evangelistic outreach is enhanced and their church planting efforts are accelerated. You can learn more about this ministry by checking out the website at www.gospelink.org.
Our role with Gospelink will be to help further develop one of their newest ministry endeavors. This is the establishment of an international Bible college in Zambia, Africa for over 500 students per year. This
college is needed so that more men can be trained to be pastors of the growing church in this land. It is very common for one pastor to be leading three to four churches. This leaves very little time for discipleship and thus many churches in Africa are very shallow spiritually. It is also common to see men leading churches who have had no formal Bible training whatsoever. The goal of this Bible college is to strengthen the church in Africa.
The Bible college campus is situated in a rural setting on over 300 acres of land. Gospelink has asked our family to join them in spearheading the agricultural development of this campus. Each student that comes to this college will need to earn his way through school by working the land for his ow
n food but also learning how to get the best yield from the land so that some of the produce could be sold to help pay for his tuition. The land at the college has unlimited potential but there is a need to teach irrigation skills, fertilizer techniques and also the importance of rotating crops. The work is challenging as most farming in Zambia is still done completely by hand with very little help from machines. There will be students on the campus year-round, so there will also be a need for food all year long. When farm work is at a slower pace, we will help with ongoing construction, landscaping projects, and equipping of pastors.
What’s most exciting to our family about this ministry opportunity is the relationships that will be built with the hundreds of pastors and their families that will be sent out to be missionaries. They will leave equipped to meet the spiritual needs and the physical needs of local villagers through the biblical skills and agricultural skills learned at the Bible college. We know that thousands will respond to the gospel through the graduates of this school. We are excited to be a part of that.
So where are we at right now? Recently the Elder Board at our home church approved us for their “Transition to Ministry” program. For the next nine months we will be working towards being equipped to superbly serve in our roles at the Bible college. There are three areas we will study: Zambia (such as adjusting to life in a new culture, dealing with isolation, marriage and family issues); the agriculture operation (researching farming in Africa); and equipping 1000 pastors (even though our main focus is agriculture, Brian will be having an impact on hundreds of pastors over the years and wants to have some knowledge in various aspects of a pastors role and ministry to impact them in whatever way he can).
Now we are asking you to pray about joining us in this adventure of obedience. We need people like you to pray for and financially support our ministry with Gospelink. We sold our herd of milking cows in May of 2007 and we are living by faith that God will meet our needs through His church. If you would like to become one of our financial and prayer partners with Gospelink we would greatly appreciate it. To do that all you need to do is fill out the response form and mail it to us. We are in need of monthly support for this transition period and while in Zambia. We will also need funds for our outgoing costs as outlined below. We believe our finances are such that we will not need to begin receiving support until January of 2008. At that point we will use monthly support to pay for living expenses, training materials and programs for our transition plan. Any support not utilized during this time will be saved and used to help cover outgoing costs when we are ready to leave (these costs in moving overseas include: a home, a vehicle, airfare for a family of 8, and other miscellaneous start up costs such as passports, insurance, and work permits).
Enclosed you will also find a needs list. We plan to ship a sea container to Zambia that will have personal items, household items and fixtures, and equipment needed for the Bible college. We have selected a target date of moving to Zambia in May of 2008. In order for this to happen, this sea container needs to leave here in early January 2008. It should arrive in April, which will allow for time to finish building the house before the whole family gets there. We would ask you to please pray about any items you would be willing to donate or any funds to purchase items. The cost of the container, shipping, and taxes will be approximately $30,000. We have already started collecting items and are being blessed by the generosity of God’s people!
We are also in need of a prayer team beginning right now; we are praying for 100 committed partners to pray for us regularly.
If you have any questions that you would like to ask me, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. I will look forward to hearing from you! May God bless you as you serve the King of Kings! If you have a bible study group we could share with, we’d love that as well. Perhaps you think this is something your church mission board could get behind. If you can provide us with a name, we will gladly make the contact to see if we can set up a meeting.
We thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and trust that you will prayerfully consider what God may have you do in regards to our ministry with Gospelink.
Serving God in Obedience,
Brian & Kelly Jo Kallevig
Cybil, Mariah, Greta, Hailey, Joseph, Myron
Gospelink is a missions organization that was established for the purpose of advancing the gospel throughout the world. However their means of doing this is different than most. They feel this can best be accomplished by assisting national preachers who are actively involved in evangelism, discipleship and church planting. Through prayer and financial assistance national preachers are empowered, their evangelistic outreach is enhanced and their church planting efforts are accelerated. You can learn more about this ministry by checking out the website at www.gospelink.org.
Our role with Gospelink will be to help further develop one of their newest ministry endeavors. This is the establishment of an international Bible college in Zambia, Africa for over 500 students per year. This
college is needed so that more men can be trained to be pastors of the growing church in this land. It is very common for one pastor to be leading three to four churches. This leaves very little time for discipleship and thus many churches in Africa are very shallow spiritually. It is also common to see men leading churches who have had no formal Bible training whatsoever. The goal of this Bible college is to strengthen the church in Africa.The Bible college campus is situated in a rural setting on over 300 acres of land. Gospelink has asked our family to join them in spearheading the agricultural development of this campus. Each student that comes to this college will need to earn his way through school by working the land for his ow
n food but also learning how to get the best yield from the land so that some of the produce could be sold to help pay for his tuition. The land at the college has unlimited potential but there is a need to teach irrigation skills, fertilizer techniques and also the importance of rotating crops. The work is challenging as most farming in Zambia is still done completely by hand with very little help from machines. There will be students on the campus year-round, so there will also be a need for food all year long. When farm work is at a slower pace, we will help with ongoing construction, landscaping projects, and equipping of pastors.What’s most exciting to our family about this ministry opportunity is the relationships that will be built with the hundreds of pastors and their families that will be sent out to be missionaries. They will leave equipped to meet the spiritual needs and the physical needs of local villagers through the biblical skills and agricultural skills learned at the Bible college. We know that thousands will respond to the gospel through the graduates of this school. We are excited to be a part of that.
So where are we at right now? Recently the Elder Board at our home church approved us for their “Transition to Ministry” program. For the next nine months we will be working towards being equipped to superbly serve in our roles at the Bible college. There are three areas we will study: Zambia (such as adjusting to life in a new culture, dealing with isolation, marriage and family issues); the agriculture operation (researching farming in Africa); and equipping 1000 pastors (even though our main focus is agriculture, Brian will be having an impact on hundreds of pastors over the years and wants to have some knowledge in various aspects of a pastors role and ministry to impact them in whatever way he can).
Now we are asking you to pray about joining us in this adventure of obedience. We need people like you to pray for and financially support our ministry with Gospelink. We sold our herd of milking cows in May of 2007 and we are living by faith that God will meet our needs through His church. If you would like to become one of our financial and prayer partners with Gospelink we would greatly appreciate it. To do that all you need to do is fill out the response form and mail it to us. We are in need of monthly support for this transition period and while in Zambia. We will also need funds for our outgoing costs as outlined below. We believe our finances are such that we will not need to begin receiving support until January of 2008. At that point we will use monthly support to pay for living expenses, training materials and programs for our transition plan. Any support not utilized during this time will be saved and used to help cover outgoing costs when we are ready to leave (these costs in moving overseas include: a home, a vehicle, airfare for a family of 8, and other miscellaneous start up costs such as passports, insurance, and work permits).
Enclosed you will also find a needs list. We plan to ship a sea container to Zambia that will have personal items, household items and fixtures, and equipment needed for the Bible college. We have selected a target date of moving to Zambia in May of 2008. In order for this to happen, this sea container needs to leave here in early January 2008. It should arrive in April, which will allow for time to finish building the house before the whole family gets there. We would ask you to please pray about any items you would be willing to donate or any funds to purchase items. The cost of the container, shipping, and taxes will be approximately $30,000. We have already started collecting items and are being blessed by the generosity of God’s people!
We are also in need of a prayer team beginning right now; we are praying for 100 committed partners to pray for us regularly.
If you have any questions that you would like to ask me, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. I will look forward to hearing from you! May God bless you as you serve the King of Kings! If you have a bible study group we could share with, we’d love that as well. Perhaps you think this is something your church mission board could get behind. If you can provide us with a name, we will gladly make the contact to see if we can set up a meeting.
We thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and trust that you will prayerfully consider what God may have you do in regards to our ministry with Gospelink.
Serving God in Obedience,
Brian & Kelly Jo Kallevig
Cybil, Mariah, Greta, Hailey, Joseph, Myron
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