June 2026 - Abiding in Him: A Day of Painting , Prayer, and Holy Home Visits

Monday marked the beginning of what will likely be two or three days helping to paint the Kamaila Community Life Centre. But before brushes were picked up, the day began in prayer.

We gathered with African leaders Pastor Peter, Mama Cecilia, and the Hands at Work team for their Monday morning rhythm of praise and prayer.

This week's focus was praise, and we spent time hearing reports from communities across different countries a timely reminder that what we are part of here in Zambia is part of something far larger.

After a brief stop in town for painting supplies, we made our way to Kamaila, where the care workers and caregivers welcomed us off the bus with singing, dancing, and worship.

Inside the life centre, worship continued under the leadership of a careworker a woman whose love for Jesus was impossible to miss.

What struck us most was not the songs themselves but the sincerity with which they were sung.

Gradually, she moved from quiet prayer on her knees to something more fervent and heartfelt, and before long many of us found ourselves joining in praising God in our own languages, in our own voices.

It is a moment our team will not soon forget.

The presence of the Spirit did not stay within those four walls.

Hillary's then shared a message from John 15.

An encouragement to abide in Christ, and a reminder that our strength and fruitfulness come from remaining connected to Him.

The message landed deeply with many of the caregivers, who know better than most what it means to draw on that strength when little else remains.

Careworkers then led us in a Zambian rendition of How Great Thou Art and it was both humbling and beautiful to witness worship spilling out onto the dusty roads of Kamaila Community as we split up and head out for Holy Home visits.

One group visited a young man 20-years-old living with significant physical disability, his mother a careworker in Kamaila Community.

Though he was understandably shy, we were able to sit with them, listen to their story, and Andrew shared from John 4 the woman at the well an encouragement for his mother before praying together.

The visit surfaced a quiet but powerful reflection: regardless of geography, circumstance, or available resources, God sees every individual.

Nothing about this young man or his mother's life, or faithful care for her son, is unseen by Him.

Another group visited a mother of five whose husband had abandoned her. She barely made eye contact as she spoke her posture carried the weight of a crushed spirit.

We listened and then shared the promise of Revelation 21.. that one day every tear, every pain, every sorrow will be no more.

That because of Christ, there is hope beyond today's hardship.

We prayed over her, and reminded her that she is seen, known, and loved by the Father.

Another group was brought us to a woman some of us had met the year before who welcomed us with her characteristic warmth and a firm Zambian handshake.

This woman cares for five children and four grandchildren on her own.

And yet, when asked about her strength, she simply sang. Her favourite song: Nimwefyeshimweka Yahweh — "God Alone Will Fight Our Battles."

The Zambians on our team joined in. The rest of us listened with full hearts.

Here was a woman carrying immense weight, singing with unshakeable confidence. We left having received far more than we gave.

Following holy home visits we shared a lunch of nshima and soybeans with the care workers and the afternoon opened up into something lighter.

A skipping rope came out, then bubbles and the children's delight was immediate and infectious.

One moment stood out above the rest: a child who had not smiled during last year's visit broke into a wide grin.

It was a small thing, and it was everything.

Psalm 126:2 came to mind: "We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy."

Meanwhile, another group got to work painting the exterior of the community centre the base coat going on quickly thanks to the many willing hands that joined in.

With the plan for the the colour and designs go up the following day.

We ended the day with a stop at the Monday market before returning for dinner and our evening debrief.

We ask for your prayers.

Some on the team are tired, and all of us are still holding the stories we have been trusted with turning them over quietly in our minds.

Pray that God would help us remember not just what we felt, but who we met.

That the names and faces of these faithful people would stay with us and move us to pray and advocate for them well beyond these weeks in Zambia.

The ones quietly laying down their lives for the children of Kamaila, often unseen by others but not forgotten by our God. The contents of this media represent the sole views and opinions of the author, not of Hands at Work or any other groups or persons.