It’s been raining, pouring(and the old mans been snoring) here in Chipata just about everyday since we’ve arrived. The roads are rough but the plants, grass and trees have been as green as ever:) Some locals are grateful for the healthy rain season that they’ve been getting and yet some already want them to stop. Unlike our homes in first world countries, many locals don’t have cement slabs for their foundations and when the rains come in hard, they have water flood into their homes and many personal belongings get soaked(such as mattresses and blankets). Imagine sleeping on a soggy/dingy smelling mattress at night…if you’ve had sleepless nights due to little ones waking, you most likely had the comfort to come back to your warm, DRY bed after. Today-and everyday- I am grateful for all the little things we take for granted…clean beds are on that list! The rains have been a tremendous blessing starting with little to almost no power cuts! This is our families first time enjoying power each day without interruptions(we shall see what happens when the rains finish). The locals field crops have been thoroughly enjoying all the rain as well as the rivers-they have been filling up nicely!
As our family has jumped back into the flow of life and ministry, we’ve found that it’s so easy to lose track of time and we are constantly feeling like we are playing catch up. We’ve been implementing several things in order to get us into a solid structured routine. Kids have jumped straight back into school and they are doing pretty great. Although our school year has had an awkward time frame in regards to starting and ending the year, we choose to take it one day at a time and let the Lord do the rest. He’s called us into this and promised that our children will never lag behind in their curriculum (before we launched into the field, our kids went to a christian private school and I as their mother had no intention of taking them out…ever lol) and I believe that He is faithful. The children are currently in grades 6,4/5,2/3, and Moses on pre-k/K (we have been incorporating two grade levels in their lessons to challenge them in their strength courses). The last two weeks have been a big family-bonding time and we’ve enjoyed slowing down in the evenings and playing a board game and/or drinking tea and chatting(such a slavic thing:).
Our EP team is slowly trickling back into Zambia. Dalton and Rachel (plus little Elliott) arrived several days before us and are now waiting and excited to receive the rest of the crew as they arrive into Chipata this evening. Kyle and Janea(newly married) and Tess(engaged to be married this year) are almost in the house!:) Please pray for safe travels as they make the drive up from Lusaka. A little more on our team news, in the beginning of this year, we were met with our leadership and were informed that the Moores family will be shifted out from Chipata and into a stateside assignment to replace another Overland Missionary that just married and is being deployed into Africa with his wife-therefore needing that critical position he managed so well- to be replaced. Dalton and Rachel will be taking on many important responsibilities that take attention to detail, communications, and a bit of everything else to make the office running smooth. This is what keeps an organization organized and happy- leaving the other missionaries across the world focused on their reach outs, expeditions into new territories and revival meetings. They will be joining an amazing crew of OM-ers that are full-time in the OM headquarters in Cocoa Beach, FL. We will miss them greatly, for we’ve become like family- encountering hurdles that we’ve had to overcome together as well as the sweet moments we shared that we will treasure. They leave mid-May so we ask if you can please keep their family in prayer as they figure out all the logistics before their departure. We are excited to see them thrive in their new assignments!
As we plan out our extremely eventful year of ministry, we are again faced with the question “how will we manage?”. I feel as if the Lord puts these ideas, visions, and opportunities on our plates not to overwhelm us, but so that we bring the victory to Him and when all these things are being fulfilled, He is the One receiving all the glory because we KNOW that it could NOT have been done in our own strength. Isn’t that amazing? Sometimes we bring our own agendas to the table that God has not commanded or asked us/you to do. That’s where you get overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious. Phil Smetherst once said, “If you have too much on your plate, then you need to get a bigger plate!”. Ha! Isn’t that genius?! The key is to stay connected to the vine-Jesus. If your walking closely with the Lord, then you will ask for His direction and leading in all that you do. And if the Lord has asked for you to do something, then He has also given you the grace to complete it as well. That’s how ministry/family/ relationship can function in a healthy manner- without the burn out. STAYING CONNECTED TO THE VINE. Hearing what He is saying, and obeying that which He has spoken. Can you apply that to your current life season?
Our vision as an organization is to reach the near and far, the close and the extremely difficult areas to get to with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Any road, any load, any time- that’s Overlands slogan. We preach Jesus- the resurrected King who reigns today and forever…the One whose coming back for His spotless bride. We as His co-heirs are on a mission to make Jesus known. “Jesus didn’t say- Go and make converts, He said go and make disciples.” -Daniel Kolenda. I’ve also heard this phrase before-“The currency of heaven is people”…”Jesus doesn’t speak russian or english, He speaks heart”.
Thank you to our new partners who have recently joined or upped their giving! Our family is so grateful for each of you and your families that choose to support us. We are completely reliant on the Holy Spirit to provide and that the Holy Spirit has moved your hearts to financially bless our home. We know that God’s store houses are endless and He chose to put His Spirit in man as He also chooses to send out the gospel through man as well. That’s you and I! If you would like to become a partner with us, you can follow the link below in order to do so: In donation memo add our name- “Gorlachevs” in order for your giving to be directed to our family.
http://www.overlandmissions.com/donate
We love you friends and are so blessed to have a giant army of warriors standing with us on the battlefield. May the Lord expand your territories as you sow, bless, encourage the body. May your faithfulness in the little open doors to greater things in the natural and super natural. The Word speaks about faithfulness, serving, and humbleness countless times. I’ve first hand have witnessed being faithful in mopping the floors in ministry and picking up dead cockroaches for years and now we are placed before kings, queens and high leadership to declare the Word of the Lord in the nations. For daily/weekly story updates on ministry and family life, you can follow us on instagram @ yana.gorlachev and/or Facebook. Be encouraged friends, God is good and His mercy endures forever! May He receive all the glory!
All our love,
The Gorlachev Family
