Mark C. Storella, U.S. ambassador to Zambia, tries out a bicycle-powered water-well pump at the Mumena Christian Outreach Center. (Photo provided)

U.S. ambassador to Zambia Mark C. Storella tested his strength on a bicycle-operated water-well pump recently.

The pump, designed to bring water quickly and easily to household gardens in Zambia, is the creation of Rick Love, a graduate of Harding University in Searcy, Ark.

Storella toured the Mumena Christian Outreach Center and learned about the water-well pumps and other sustainable development projects undertaken by a church-planting team in Zambia. The team consists of five families —  Brian and Sondra Davis with sons Noah and Bryson, from Abilene, Texas; Rick and Karen Love with children Matthew, Lydia, Emily and Caleb, from Cedar Hill, Texas; Sam and Ellie Rodriquez, also from Cedar Hill; Jeremy and Whitney Davis, from Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Jason and Erin Davis, also from Chattanooga.

(Members of the team, including the Davises, have partnered with African Christians in an outreach effort to the Meheba Refugee Camp, home to 90.000 refugees, mostly from the Democratic Republic of Congo. See my earlier blog post and news item about that.)

Churches supporting the work include the Hillcrest Church of Christ in Abilene, Cedar Hill Church of Christ and East Brainerd Church of Christ in Chattanooga.

Accompanying the ambassador on his tour was the permanent secretary (something like a governor) of Zambia’s Northwestern Province, the mayor of nearby town Solwezi, His Royal Highness Chief Mumena and other village leaders.

The mission team combines its church-planting efforts with holistic ministries, “recognizing that God made humans — both body and soul,” according to a news release from the team.

Storella viewed the Mumena B School Production Unit, consisting of commercial broilers and breeding operations for poultry, pigs and goats. Team member Jason Davis, a graduate of ACU’s agriculture and environmental science program, partners with the local school in teaching these skills.

The ambassador recognized the importance of the team’s work — including the water-well pump and other innovations that can help Zambian farmers increase crop production and feed their families during the dry season, which can last for six months. The visit was capped with several speeches by local authorities as well as a “call for partnership” by the ambassador.

Chief Mumena summarized what he saw this way: “Look what great things can happen when a people of God follow his call to serve others.”

U.S. Ambassador Mark C. Storella stands with Zambian government officials, village leaders and members of a church-planting team in Zambia. (Photo provided)