Journal

What can I say about the first expedition? That it was my first time doing open home to home ministry, that we saw physical healing and deliverance from demonic forces, that we shared the Gospel with people who had never before heard Who Jesus is or what He has done for them, that people surrendered their lives to Jesus, that I discovered a gift which I never knew I had, and that I experienced the wonder and confounding nature of the Gospel for the first time through others’ eyes; all of these and more, I am witness to. Lock in. This is a big one, but I’m sure this testimony will bless you.

—-

The journey was a grueling one, 14 hours in a giant, repurposed military transport, traveling on the commonly known “worst road” in Zambia, Sesheke road, a present and all-encompassing testament to potholes around the world —it was like all the worst roads in the world became sentient and decided to have their global conference in one place, Zambia, on Sesheke road itself. Imagine an amusement ride meant to jostle you around until you feel like losing your lunch. Now imagine that continuing for 6 or more hours with no AC as dust from the slow-moving trucks in front bathes you through the open windows. “The joy of the Lord is our strength” found a new meaning in us. Songs, word games, trying to figure out what fits in a green glass door or why the third object isn’t or is a stick —if you know you know. I won’t spoil it for you ;) All of these kept us going as we endured the hardship of the journey. Suffering is always enjoyed best in godly company. In all reality, we had a great time mixed with a little nausea here and there.

When we arrived in a village just outside of a town known as Sioma (best described as a scorching beach without water and inhabited by snakes, scorpions, and territorial elephants), our giant truck got stuck in the sand. Praise the Lord because we were just pulling into our campsite, an open ground with sparse trees and little thorn-pod plants buried beneath the sand. I got plenty of those little buggers stuck on my butt to learn to check the sand before I sat in it.

The village itself was a collection of dispersed mud/wood/hay-thatched-roof huts with uneven planks set up as fences around some as a barrier to the outside. It wasn’t long before we garnered a crowd of children as spectators as we set up the camp, putting together our tents, setting up tables for food, starting a fire, and all the other things campsites include. If you didn’t know, sand —and a sand which hides thorn pods— can make for a pretty miserable camping experience if you’re not prepared for it, but something interesting took place. 

I mentioned in an earlier newsletter that it is now the dry season here in Zambia. At the end of our first day of ministry, as we were preparing to host a night revival meeting for the village around a bonfire (we did one most nights of the week), dark clouds gathered, the wind picked up, torrential rain started pouring down, then hail started to fall with it. A tent of one of our ministry partners literally started blowing away. Where did we shelter? Well… We all congregated inside the truck, and as the storm raged outside, we broke out into musical worship. One funny memory was made in the truck when someone started singing “Let It Rain” to the feigned disgruntlement of other team members. Of course, I know some of you reading this now are wondering why we might not have sung, “God Bless The Rains Down In Africa.” Ha! Original. I don’t know. We had a great time. It was a blessing in disguise. Misadventures always are if you’re willing to take on the right perspective. In the sand which we use to slip and sink into, we now stood on as dirt for the remainder of the week, save for the last day of ministry.

In this organization, the ministry has one primary aim: to share the Gospel with as many people as will listen. Anything else is secondary. There is a common pop phrase among the American church which is said to come from the words of Saint Francis of Assisi, “preach the Gospel, and when necessary, use words.” The truth: he never said these words, nor did he write them. The mysterious-in-origin phrase has come to represent the attitude of many western Christians (the idea that one can draw people to Christ through their actions), but this is the problem: we don’t bring the Gospel to people with wise words of man or actions (even secular organizations can do great things); we bring the Gospel in the demonstration of the Spirit and the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). 

Here is a short testimony from a base missionary here in Zambia which will paint this picture well. Imagine rolling up to a village and there you see a nicely built bathroom structure with a big white cross painted on its side. You walk up to a villager and ask them about the structure. They tell you that missionaries came and built it for their village. You then ask them if they already know Jesus. The answer: who? You find out in conversation that the Gospel was never shared. A nice, charitable action was accomplished and a nice white cross was left behind for people to look at, but nothing was actually said about the Gospel. This is the logical conclusion of the apathetic Western attitude of “my actions will lead people to Christ.” The problem: actions are only the fruit of what we believe. Powerful conversion is in working alongside the Spirit of God, allowing for Him to lead the encounter; because when we allow the Spirit to lead, people encounter the living God.

Our ministry time in the village contained many examples of these kind of encounters. We went hut to hut, split into smaller teams of 5 or 6. In these visits, we encountered diverse examples of beliefs and understandings ranging anywhere from no knowledge of who God is at all to people of an apostolic faith (“works will save me”). Missionaries had, in fact, reached this village before and there were a few established churches around. The apostolic faith was prevalent, but the understanding of the Word was often very limited and we encountered very few people who actually had access to a Bible.

The people themselves are very hospitable, and they are also very stoic in their outward expression, so much so in fact that they sometimes don’t express any emotion at things westerners would —not always the case, but it is typical of their culture. A funny story one of our missionaries encountered comes from when they met a lame man. He was, of course, immobile and laying on a mat. After they prayed for healing for the man, he said in a flat, emotionless, monotone voice, “I am healed.” He stood up, and began to walk through the village. The man later came to the revival meeting that night in the village. It can be a bit off-putting for us westerners who are used to super emotive personalities.

That uncanny —to us— stoicism is exactly what we encountered at each hut, give or take one or two exceptions. One woman who had invited us to sit with her outside of her home was not even facing or looking at us as we sat together. Though in America, that would show someone's disinterest, it is not so in Zambia. This woman was ready to hear the Word. She explained that she only ever heard the story of the fall of Adam and Eve. Imagine never hearing anything beyond that: humanity has fallen away from God. Oh well… But praise God Who brought us to her home! She listened as we shared the rest of the story, that God came to redeem humanity through His Son Jesus, and now offers us to become sons and daughters of God, reconciled to Him, forgiven of our sins, and living out of a new life that He has given us (2 Corinthians 5:17). When we finished, we asked her if she had any questions or if she wanted anything to be clarified; then we asked if she wanted to receive the new life that Jesus was offering her, and she said yes.

Many such encounters were had. Men and women began to seek us out, often doing so because they wanted to know who Jesus is. People were just hungry for God’s Word. It was amazing. I began losing track of the salvations that I witnessed personally on the week-long expedition. In total, 156 people gave their lives to Christ through our ministry! With this organization, there are already people in place who will stay in this village to continue the discipleship process. We also have 19 confirmed supernatural healing moves of God. One such healing testimony in particular portrays God’s power and intercession. A woman had been bed ridden for an indefinite amount of time. By the time one of our teams reached her hut, she was non-responsive to the point where flies were flying in and out of her open mouth. The team prayed for her healing. Later that evening, a messenger came to our camp, saying the woman had awoken, was eating again and asking for the team to come back and visit her again the next day. When they went back, she told them how she was only an hour from death, but God saved her through them. 

Another encounter involved a Roman Catholic priest who was dealing with severe back pain. When the team prayed for him, his back was healed, he stood up and began throwing punches. He attended our leaders meeting (a meeting for all of the village leaders and pastors) later in the week at which I was asked to speak.

At one home (really, this was common) we visited, we discovered a whole family ready to hear the Gospel. One of the men present told us that he had a dream in which God told him Holy people were coming to his village with a message that God wanted him to hear. You can’t make this stuff up! 

Towards the end of our sharing, a seventh-day adventist showed up and began debating with our group, trying to make a case for why we have to follow the Old Testament law in order to retain salvation. I turned to Galatians 3 and had the translator read the entire chapter in Lozi (the common tongue of the village) so no one would be confused. He continued debating, talking about dietary restrictions and how we were breaking the law. I then asked him if he was wearing a shirt with two fabrics. He said yes, then I pointed out to him that, according to Old Testament law, he was a law-breaker because his clothing is supposed to be made from one fabric. I did this only to show him that following the whole law perfectly is impossible for man, and that's the whole reason Jesus came. He then pretended he couldn’t understand what I said and continued trying to argue his case. For the sake of not continuing a debate with someone closed off to our message while we’re supposed to be going from hut to hut, we decided to wrap it up there and move on, but I told the man to read Hebrews 8 when he had time. I don’t know if he listened, but I believe there is freedom for him in the true Gospel. Jesus paid it all for him just as much as He paid it all for me.

I spoke and/or shared the Gospel at each home, and personally witnessed/participated in several healings. One woman with pain in her legs began to skip around after we prayed for her, then her and her family accepted salvation. Another elderly couple who were already fully established in the faith (the only such people we encountered in the village) had never heard about the Pentecost and accepted the baptism of the Spirit after we prayed for their healing. The woman’s chest pains were completely healed and the man’s eyes were partially healed, having regained part of his vision after we prayed in faith.

The leader’s meeting, what I thought was just going to be the other students, AMT leaders, and ministry partners, turned out to be all of the village leaders and pastors, and a bunch of other villagers and kids. Because the apostolic pastors were there, I felt compelled to change the beginning of my message and share the whole overarching narrative of the Bible: the redemption of man through faith* in Christ alone, an idea which directly contradicts the persuasion of works-for-salvation. Then, I jumped into the actual message: how do you perceive and disciple people through God’s eyes? I strove to bring a fresh perspective on Matthew 13, pulling verses from 1 Corinthians 3 & 15 and 1 John 3. I won’t write the whole message here, but the basic summary is that one must learn to look beyond a person’s present circumstances to see the offer of the new creation on their lives, even those who have before heard the Gospel, and did not receive or retain it (seed that fell among thorns, rocks, or the path. “For we no longer regard anyone according to the flesh… If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation…” For example: is there a drunkard? Let us look through God’s eyes to see the freedom and satisfaction of the new life Jesus offers them instead of seeing them through the perspective of the world. It is no easy task, but we are empowered to see through God’s eyes by the work of the Holy Spirit… The message was well accepted, even by the apostolic pastors which was an encouragement to me.

All in all, the week of ministry in that village bore much fruit for salvation, healing, and revelation of the true Gospel. This is not even everything that we did or witnessed while there. I hope these testimonies have been encouraging to you. If so, consider signing up for email updates to follow the journey. For now, farewell Nomads, and God bless you!

- Z

Arriving at the final airport here in Zambia was such a relief, especially for the reason that I just can't seem to sleep while I travel through the air. It also doesn't help that I am exceptionally tall and every year the economy seats give less leg room—maybe I should raise enough funding to fly business class... Just kidding, but it's tempting. During the layovers that I had getting here, I was able to meet and spend several hours with part of the team of classmates coming in with me. Having that chance to bond before arrival turned out to be exactly what we needed. There is a big difference between getting to know 11 people and 47 people. The most encouraging part of meeting them is that each one has some form of missional calling. Most already know that God has given them the commission to the ends of the earth. It is hard to describe the feeling of trying to explain my calling to those who have no framework for it, but with most of the travelers here, it is not hard to relate to them at all, and it drives forward my confidence in my own calling. Stories and testimonies abound of how God has led each of us to this place, and how He is leading us forward to whatever international field He is calling us to. Making friends has not been an issue in the slightest.

So what was my first impression of Zambia? Well, as I stepped out of the airport, I learned real fast. In the shade, it is nice and cool—at least right now—but in the sun, it is scorching. The heat here in the beginning of the dry season is… well… it’s dry and the UVs are intense... and did I mention this is the beginning of the dry season? The first two sunsets I’ve seen have been like desert sunsets, very orange, and they have been beautiful against the rocky, yellow savanna and the river gorge, bending with roaring rapids that lie below our base—the gorge reminds me of Yellowstone Canyon. Also, Victoria Falls is not far away. We can see its plumes evaporating in the distance. Already, I have seen a herd of African elephants, Kudus, Impalas (one that startled me when it jumped and ran as I was walking past it at night). I have yet to see my distant cousins, the giraffes, but I will find them, and I will take pictures.

With so much happening in these first few days, everything feels blurred together. I have testimonies to share already of what God is showing me about my future, but I will wait until the thread of this tapestry is completed to reveal them. I know the picture is not yet complete. I will, however, share one testimony.

At the end of a layover, with only ten minutes before boarding, I went to the restroom. There at the sinks, I found that a man kept looking over at me, even as we left the restroom. I just said, “Hi.” He stopped me to introduce himself, a man named Taz—he even referenced Taz the Tasmanian Devil, a Looney Tunes character, which was pretty comical. He discovered in conversation that I was on my way to become a missionary. “A man of God!” He exclaimed. “Z, I am from Iran. I am Muslim and gay, and I have lost everything, and am now living in London. I just feel lost, you know. I want to know what you think.” … 

I said, “Taz, it is not an accident that we met. In fact, I believe God has brought you to me so that I can share this message with you.” Then I explained the simple Gospel to him, how as Christians, we believe that no one can meet the standard of God, and that puts us under His wrath. But the good news is that Jesus, God incarnate, came to Earth, lived a perfect life, died for our sins because He loves us, and so that we can be reconciled with Him.

He responded with a common argument: relative truth. “All paths lead to God.” This was his shield against Christ. I then shared with him Jesus’ own words, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. There is NO way to the Father except through me.” With limited time, I asked him if I could pray for him, and he accepted. He may have not given his life to Jesus, but it was* a divine appointment for him. God was reaching out to him as he was searching for the answer that we all must discover. Jesus is that answer.

Thank you to all who continue to support my mission. You will henceforth —why am I using this word. You will henceforth* be known as “nomads.” As these following weeks unfold, and even as I’ve been typing out this newsletter, God has been and will do amazing things and bring me into encounters with amazing people. Already, I have two more stories to share and will post them sometime within a week from today. Bye for now. God bless you!

— Z

Sitting here at the airport, it is always a surreal feeling, especially when you know that you will be away from home for an extended time. It was a recently discovered friendship in my life that inspired in me the feeling I now experience in leaving home, a feeling which can only be described in the Portuguese language by the word, “Saudade;” that is to say, I feel the bittersweetness of the end of this chapter in my life. I leave behind a stable career, communities of friends, my family, the trees and the great river that runs just minutes from my childhood home, the four seasons of the year, the great American cheeseburger… —sorry, I couldn’t resist :D— and so much more to pursue this journey. But I am moving into the calling that God has placed on me and I could not be more ecstatic; eleven years in the making… And I know* that I am not alone. God always brings people into our paths to bear with one another the burden of our journeys through life. Even now, I sit next to a young person from Brazil who just so happens to not only be Christian, but from the same denomination. They too, have a calling for missions, specifically in the United States. “There are people here who don’t know the Lord. They are pursuing other religions and beliefs, looking for answers in the wrong places. I have a heart for these people in your country,” They told me. We talked and suffered together the long and uncomfortable wait in the check-in area (where there are no seats) for more than five hours and were even given an opportunity to pray for another struggling Brazilian who did not know Christ. I haven’t even left the country yet! God is good. I am so thankful for everyone who contributed to this journey, who prayed, who gave, who cared. To all of my family and friends and the church of God, thank you. For now, farewell and God bless!  

Use your email to sign up for my newsletter below if you haven’t already and follow me as I take the Gospel to the Ends of the Earth.

Eleven years ago, I finished reading the Gospel of Matthew and opened the book of Acts for the first time. One verse changed the direction of my life.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH." (Acts 1:8)

In that moment, I was struck with a desire, what I believe was God's call to become a missionary.

That calling never left me. Through my young adult years, I participated in a many short-term mission opportunities, but my life decisions didn't always reflect my calling.

Like Jonah, I spent a couple of years resisting God's call to the nations as I pursued my own ambitions. His calling became secondary while I focused on building an alternative future I thought would be better.

When the elaborate sandcastle of my own little kingdom finally collapsed, I thought everything was lost, that I ruined God's plan for my life. I had forgotten just what kind of God I serve.

He still had a plan.

The call on my heart to missions remained.

So I prayed:

"God, if You can still use me, confirm this calling once again."

I applied for a missionary training program. Months of prayer later, I was accepted.

"Okay, God. I have the spot in the program, but couldn't just anyone get in? I need to know that this is you and not just me. God, if Your presence will not go with me, do not send me."

As the months passed with the same prayer, He confirmed again and again that this was where He was leading me. Now, with only a short time remaining before beginning missionary training on the other side of the world, I have a confidence I haven't experienced in a long time. God is behind this life transition.

So what exactly am I preparing for? The questions I've asked myself the most on this journey are, "How can I bridge the gap between the reached and the unreached?" and "How can I bring the Gospel to those who have never heard His name?"

As I wrestled with those questions in prayer, God began to make my role more clear. My heart has always been for the truly unreached, and this training will prepare me to fulfill that role through learning the skills necessary to engage in cross-cultural ministry, living among unreached peoples, and facing the practical realities of taking the Gospel where Christ is not yet known. I'm excited to learn, to follow wherever He leads me, to be a tree bearing fruit in His vineyard.

So where does Xia Nomad fit into all of this?

The name has been with me since college graduation. It's a shortened form of "Christian Nomad," and it captures something I believe is true of every follower of Christ. We may travel different roads, but wherever we go, we carry with us the fullness of the blessing of Christ. (Romans 15:29)

For years, I used the Xia Nomad name to refer to myself in newsletters that share stories from mission trips and testimonies of God's faithfulness overseas.

Now, with the help of a few friends, Xia Nomad is becoming something more.

Xia Nomad is on its way to becoming an apparel brand with a vision to help bridge the gap between the reached and the unreached.

Clothing is simply the vehicle, and it is only the beginning.

The mission is to help fund missionaries, ministries, and Gospel-centered projects serving people who have little or no access to the Good News of Jesus Christ. My prayer is that, over time, Xia Nomad will become a catalyst for Kingdom expansion around the world.

As an apparel brand, I also hope to create meaningful, stylish, and practical clothing that people can wear anywhere. Some designs will boldly display Scripture or explicitly display our faith. Others will be more subtle, carrying only the Xia Nomad name or designs that invite conversation. Whether you can openly share your faith or must do so more carefully, my hope is that Xia Nomad will equip you to represent Christ wherever you are.

As for me, I'll continue following the direction I believe God is leading.

I've never dreamed of becoming some kind of CEO for the sake of building a company. My desire is to take the Gospel to unreached and remote communities throughout Asia, then bring back stories of God's faithfulness to encourage believers here at home, and I will pursue that calling as long as God leads me to it.

For a season, I resisted this calling.

But even when we are faithless, God remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).

By His grace, He has brought me back to the path He planned for my life all along.

Xia Nomad exists to come alongside that mission: to help bridge the gap between the reached and the unreached, support Gospel work where Christ is not yet known, and share stories of what God is doing around the world.

If you share a similar vision of getting the Gospel to the truly unreached, I invite you to join the journey. Sign up for updates, follow the mission, and help us carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

This is only the first step.

— Z