Tim and Chen's Trip to Africa

Tim and Chen Anz, along with their children, recently returned from Africa. During their time abroad, they spent time with the church in South Africa and a group of believers who had traveled from Zambia. They also travelled to Uganda with Gert Schuitemaker to encourage a fledgling group of believers there.

Tim and Simeon Adams had visited Zambia last year, where they first met these brothers and sisters. Tim observed that Zambia is home to many churches.

He shared, “On Sundays, the streets are lined with people walking to church. You can hear powerful worship and singing emanating from the small buildings. The African people know how to worship—they praise using every verb in the Psalms! At least an hour before church is scheduled to begin, people arrive to dance, sing, shout, and pray—ushering in the presence of the Lord. I’ve never heard singing like I heard in Zambia.”

The Zambians experienced a wonderful time of fellowship and worship in South Africa. They hiked, visited the ocean, shared meals, and deepened bonds with brothers and sisters.

On the last night of their visit, they shared a meal with Tim and Chen. Tim asked them, “What is the kingdom of God? How can we be part of it?” The Zambians had thought of the kingdom as a heavenly reality.

Tim continued, “The gospel means good news—revolutionary, life-changing news. As we bring every part of our lives under the dominion of the Holy Spirit, we begin to live in the kingdom of God.”

The Zambians began to examine their lives through this lens and returned home with a deeper understanding of the gospel of the kingdom.

The Anzes left their five children in the loving care of Joe and Caity Cobb and the South African community and traveled with Gert to Entebbe, Uganda. From there, they crossed Lake Victoria—the world’s second-largest freshwater lake—by boat.

It was the beginning of the rainy season in Uganda, and although about midway through the lake crossing the wooden canoe tossed precariously on waves blown up by the rapid approach of a rain squall, they arrived safely.

In that part of Uganda, rainfall and fertile soil are abundant. When children are hungry, they climb a jackfruit or banana tree to grab a snack, but most crops yield little profit. Marijuana is an exception: it can legally be sold for triple the return of other crops.  

Cultural norms assign physical labor largely to women. When Brother Robert—baptized last year—helped his young wife wash their clothes, neighbors mocked him. It was unheard of for a man to do “women’s work.”

Several couples gathered at Emmanuel's home, requesting Tim to counsel them. Tim sat beside Chen with his arm around her shoulder, while the ten African couples present sat several feet apart. Public displays of affection are foreign to their culture. But as they watched, the couples began pointing to the space between themselves, and a few sheepishly moved closer to one another. Even such a small step took great effort.

Tim taught about three Greek words for love: eros (passion, desire), phileo (warm affection, friendship), and agape (self-sacrificial love)—saying that only the latter kind of love can make a marriage endure. As Tim spoke, a young couple was moved and began a journey of reconciliation. All of the couples present were deeply convicted and moved by the vision of what their marriage could be in God.

Though our brothers have visited Uganda before, this was the first time a couple from our community had come. It was a cultural experience for everyone.

Chen was surprised when they were invited to dinner at a couple’s home. They arrived at the appointed time only to be greeted by a smiling African man with a machete, on his way to the chicken coop. “Would you like to watch?” he asked.

After the meal, Chen rose to help clear the table and began washing dishes. A circle of African women gathered, videoing her with their phones. “You know how to wash dishes?” they laughed.

“I wash dishes every day at my house,” she told them.

“We thought you had machines for this!” they said in surprise.

When she picked up and carried one of the local toddlers, the women were  amazed again. “You know how to carry babies?“ 

A few days later, Sister Margaret—a single woman who leads worship—invited Chen to her home. She lives with her daughter and grandchild in a small windowless hut with a metal door. She graciously offered Chen her only plastic chair. After they prayed for each other and had a lovely visit, they walked back together.

When Chen arrived, the women rushed to bring her a seat. “Is that the longest walk you’ve ever taken?” they asked. Many Africans have only known white visitors who treat them as masters or patrons. They were deeply moved to see an American Christian woman who serves her family just as they do.

On their final night, as Tim, Chen, and Gert shared a meal with the believers, they felt a profound connection. Tim once more asked, "What does the kingdom look like? How can we be part of it? Unless we are born of water and Spirit, we cannot even see the kingdom."

He explained that the kingdom of God is love—infusing, animating, and motivating every part of life. Like the man who found treasure in a field, we must act with urgency and joy, giving up everything to possess it.

Please continue to pray for our wonderful brothers and sisters in South Africa, Zambia, and Uganda!