::the story::2::

 ::the Zambezi River at sunset as seen from the David Livingstone Lodge::

Fast forward to 2010 when our friends, Adam and Carol, knew the Lord had called them to Zambia.  They filled in for one year for the current missionaries to come back on furlough.  Adam and Carol arrived back in the States last September, 2011.

I started to hear more about Africa [Zambia] and it didn't sound so bad after all.  No, there are not snakes around every corner waiting to bite you.  No, you may not get sick the minute you enter the country; you actually can remain healthy.  No, it's not hot + dusty + sticky + nasty, all the time.  Actually, the weather can be quite nice.  Yes, the church and the people in it are wonderful people.  Yes, life is an adventure.  Yes, it's a wonderful life to serve the Lord wherever He has you.

The Lord slowly began working on my heart.

I had heard that Leon was planning to come visit for Preaching Conference in April.  So, I began praying in October for some very specific things.  I needed specific answers to prayer.

I can truly say from the time I met Leon in April until now, God has done this:

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight:  I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:  And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.  Isaiah 45:2-3

 

::the story::1::

I have been wanting to share the story of how Leon and I met so I think I will do it in pieces to keep you coming back for more. :)

Really, our story starts years ago when my Pastor started a church in the town where I have grown up. Then, a bus route began picking up boys and girls for Sunday School through which Mrs. Gordon [wife of the first missionaries to Africa from our church] was reached. Then, a college was started. Here, Pastor and Mrs. Gordon met and were called to missions. They obeyed God's call and went to the country of Zambia, first to the villages and then to Kabwe over nine years ago. Leon was saved through the influence of a godly friend named George.  The Staal family gradually came to know the Lord over a few months time and have been at Independent Baptist Church of Kabwe since the beginning.

My parents came to Indiana in 1977 and have remained as active, faithful church members which greatly influenced my life to serve the Lord and follow Him.  My brother, Geoff, was called to missions several years ago and took a missions trip to Zambia in October of 2009.

Geoff absolutely loved his time there!  When he came back he said, "Rebecca, you would love it there." My response:  yah, right.  And, he said, "There's this really great guy in the church there."  To which I said:  whatever, that will never work.  A white guy?  In a church in Zambia?  Yah, right. 

But then he showed me a picture of this guy.

 Wow!!  He looks normal [and he's really good looking!!].......