The Zambian Road Trip

By Abner and Jonathon, South Africa

Looking me squarely in the eyes, he said, "I'm Aaron." Those words sent chills down my spine, but at the same time my heart raced with excitement. It was amazing how the Lord had engineered our meeting.

Three months earlier, on another faith trip to Zambia from South Africa, our team of four had spent the first night in a small town close to the Swaziland border. When praying about where to go the next day, we all felt led to contact some of the Home's old contacts.

We knew of a family, Patrick and Arlene (aliases), who had helped some Family teams before, so decided to visit them. This family really loves the Lord, and though Patrick was a doctor, he believed more in Jesus than in medicine. They didn't go to church, as they felt that the churches were compromising. This put them at odds with others in the town.

Patrick and Arlene had also been targeted by some of the most powerful witch doctors in the country, and several attempts were made on their lives. They were real fighters and continued to live what they believed despite such opposition. We met them that evening and stayed up till late in the night listening to their testimonies of how the Lord had saved them through many odds.

The next day, we prayed over their house and property, claiming the keys to rebuke the demons who had been attacking them, and to protect them from any outside attacks. We used the best and sharpest spiritual weapons we had, as we called on the names of spirit helpers and attacked with the keys. It was like this family had been holding out till reinforcements would arrive and the Lord had brought us to them just in time.

The next day we had to leave, and we promised that we would pray for them and keep in contact. Over the following days, we were faithful to pray for them, particularly against any outside attacks and for their health and safe-keeping.

Early one morning, I was woken up by an urgent phone call. It was from a sister who said Arlene had just called. The sister explained that in the call Arlene had whispered to her, "He's trying to kill us! He has an axe!" Arlene was hiding under the bed covers and was praying to not be discovered, which was why she had to talk quiet. She whispered that their son, Aaron, was threatening to kill them.

We immediately prayed for them, desperately asking the Lord to protect them and rebuke the Devil from this attack. Our whole Home got together and we held vigil for this family.

Later on we phoned Patrick and Arlene and received the full details of what had happened. They explained that their oldest son, Aaron, was staying with them for a few days, as he had been having some difficulties. But each night he would go out and come home very drunk. That night his drunkenness caused him to get very violent with his dad, yelling at him and pushing him around. Patrick had explained to Aaron that if he was to go out drinking again, he could no longer spend the night at their home, which erupted in his furious outrage. The Lord did a miracle and kept them safe through it all. We continued to pray for Aaron, specifically that the Lord would work in his life and bring him closer to Him.

Three months later, our small team of five traveled back from Zambia, and stayed in a lovely lodge near Victoria Falls. We had claimed the Lord's supply for our dinner, when I went to the reception desk to make a phone call. Another man also came up to the reception, with a cigarette in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other, and started getting jolly with everyone there. I had the urge to talk to him and ask him where he was traveling to.

He explained that he was on a bus tour of the continent, starting in Cape Town and going up to Nairobi. He asked what we were doing, and I told him that we are missionaries on a faith trip, heading back to South Africa. I asked him where he was from, and he said Swaziland. I replied that I had never been there, but that I had stayed in a town called Peit Retief, which is right on the border. I asked him if he knew anyone there, and he replied, "Just a few people." I told him that we had stayed with a couple, and told him their names—Patrick, Arlene, their daughter Lorraine, and their son Aaron, whom I had never met.

"I'm Aaron," he stated. This was the son that we had all heard so much about, that by a miracle of God we now had a chance to meet, although three thousand kilometers from his home!

We didn't bother with small talk, but straightway got into deep topics of conversation. The Lord put it on my heart to share my testimony with him, and although he was a little wary, he listened politely. I told him that we had been praying for him, and that God had a special plan for his life. This really convicted him, and he agreed that it was not just a coincidence that we had met.

We talked for a little while, but then he had to go, and he suggested we talk more the next day. I wondered if that would really work out, but then I remembered that the Lord had brought us together in completely different countries, so He could certainly bring us together the next day. I ran back to the rest of the team, and with a big smile on my face and eyes as big as saucers, said, "You won't believe what just happened!"

"You provisioned dinner?" they asked hopefully.

"No!" I replied. "Something much better!" Once I had told them of the amazing coincidental encounter, they were all as shocked and encouraged as I was. This encouraged our faith to go out and provision dinner, which now seemed like an easy feat after what the Lord had done for us. We were flying high for the rest of the evening.

The next morning, I went out to look for Aaron. I made my way to the restaurant and passed by the bar, and I saw him sitting there with a coffee in hand. We talked together a bit before I asked if I could pray for him, and he agreed. The Lord led me to pray that he would find direction in his life and that he would have His protection as he continued his tour. After praying, he thanked me with deep sincerity. Before leaving, he gave me his contact information so that we can stay in touch and continue to feed him.

I believe that the Lord is already working in Aaron's life, and that we will soon hear of the amazing testimonies. And any time that you think of Africa, please pray for this dear family.