October Newsletter 2024
- Alexandria Lodge
- Oct 24, 2024
- 5 min read
"...so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:17
(Overland Missions Base Rapid 14, Zambia)
Overland Advanced Missions Training (AMT)
For the past several weeks, I have participated in a Missionary Training program with an organization called Overland Missions. It has been a privilege to be surrounded by people of God who all work towards the same goal to see the gospel preached and souls saved! While being among these men and women of God, I am also being discipled and equipped to partake in the calling God has placed on my life to be a missionary. Every day, I have been challenged to die to myself, carry my cross through the truth of God's word, and speak it over myself and others. We also have been challenged with being sensitive to God's voice and obedient to His plans and ideas, asking essential questions such as, how will I steward and carry the gospel of Christ to the nations? What practical and spiritual tools can I use to be an example of Christ to others? What strategies will I take to reach a people group and nation?
After a week of classes, my team and I went on our first expedition in the bush near Chipepo, Zambia, to experience and practice what it is like to reach groups who have never even heard the name of Jesus and know nothing about the gospel. We went door to door in these little hut homes and sat with them as we explained the love of Christ laid out in scripture, even from the beginning of creation. We empowered them with who they are in Christ and how God sees them and values them as children of God. It was surprising to me how hungry the people were to hear the word of God and how easily they saw the need of God in their lives! Many of them asked for Bibles and were eager for Overland to come back and visit them soon.
Once our expedition ended, we returned to the classroom. We studied practical tools such as Cross-Cultural Communication, Missionary Medicine, and Mechanics. In Overland, we say, "Any Road, Any Load, Any Time." Sometimes, that means we are in the middle of nowhere, and there is a possibility that our vehicle will malfunction or someone in a village has an emergency and needs immediate care. How will we let God use the current circumstances to further His kingdom and preach the gospel? With these tools, we can further reach a person by being of service and can say, 'God had his hand in this'! I enjoy learning the practical strategies and knowledge of handling extreme situations that could be evident in the mission field. I trust that God can and will use this in my life.
(AMT August Class 2024)
(Kids Ministry First Expedition)
(Learning a fun dance)
(Campsite out in the Bush)
Second Expedition Testimony
At the halfway mark for my 3-month training, we took another expedition to experience what full-time on the mission field looks like. My group visited the city of Chipata, Zambia, and learned from the missionary staff at a developing sector base. We had the opportunity to meet the ministry team, go with them to the villages they visit daily, and minister to the community. I again got to practice what I had been studying and preach to two groups.
One of the groups I spoke at was a women's bible study. I encouraged them with the principles and truth from the books of Ruth and Esther. God called them for such a time and blessed their faithfulness and obedience. My challenge was for the women to see themselves how God sees them. After my friend Jenna and I shared our messages, an older woman came up and asked for prayer. Her legs had been hurting badly and caused her to limp everywhere. We prayed for her and saw her completely healed! She testified to the women around her, who cheered and leaped for joy! It was such an incredible moment to witness and experience the goodness of God through these women!
(Jenna and I with the women we saw healed from leg pain)
(Chipata Expedition Team. From left to right: Clarissa, Lynda and Charlie, Jenna, and myself)
(Me preaching at the Women's Bible study)
Vision for Next Steps
I have about four weeks left of my training and will then return to the States for a brief time. During my time in the States, I will prepare to join staff with Overland Missions and officially move overseas full-time. In December, Overland is hosting a fundraising seminar in Cocoa, Florida, and they will help me strategize what I need to prepare for and how to fundraise. I will be looking at raising monthly supporters to fully sustain and support the mission God has called me to long term.
After praying and talking with leadership, my vision is to launch within Zambia to establish my foundation as a missionary for the first couple of years of ministry and work towards later launching in the country God places on my heart. My goal is to help further discipleship within the communities that Overland has been reaching, equipping men and women to carry the gospel message to their families and neighboring communities. Once a people has been reached and discipled, we will search for more towns and places to establish a base and minister to more communities.
Prayer Requests and Announcements
Thank you for your continued prayers and support! In the following newsletter, I will include more details on how to support me full-time once the fundraising seminar is complete. In the meantime, I appreciate your prayers as I prepare for the next steps in ministry. I trust the Lord to continue providing everything I need in life. This season is going to be exciting and faith-building!
For the next few weeks, please pray for:
Provision for fundraising (travel, temporary housing, funds, opportunities to speak at churches, connections, etc.)
My mind to be at peace and constantly reminded to trust in the Lord
Sensitivity to God's voice
Wisdom within the strategies to move further in Missions
Once again, thank you so much for lifting me in prayer! I am so blessed to have you as part of my ministry team and be a part of the mission! If there is anything I can keep in prayer for you, please submit a form on my prayer requests page on my website, and I will continue to keep you in prayer as well.
I look forward to updating you on my progress next month! God bless you, and may his peace be upon you!
- Alexandria Prell
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