[lightbox full =”https://missioncriticalintl.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/16473979_10208383292239381_3897009942121704009_n-e1486485875505.jpg” thumb=”https://missioncriticalintl.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/16473979_10208383292239381_3897009942121704009_n-e1486485875505.jpg” title=”Levi and Rebekah in Zambia” /]

The majority of people I’ve met spend most of their lives searching for God’s will for them. What I find sad about this is a lot of them never achieve the mission God has for them because they are always looking for this illusive Will of God. What I have learned is God’s will for me is the same as for anyone. Jesus gave us a very clear mission when He ascended into heaven.

[quote]“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” – Acts 1:8[/quote]
 

God’s will for my life and yours is to be His witnesses. We are to witness to what He has done in our lives. Tell others what you know to be true about God because of what He has done in your life. I can be a witness to the fact that God answers prayer because of prayers He has crazily answered for me over the years.

What can you witness about God? What do you know to be a fact about Him, no matter what anyone else says but He has proved it to you over the years? No one can convince me that my God is not good because He has proven His goodness to me so many times!

[quote]“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” – Psalm 27:13[/quote]
 

I am writing this from Project Samuel in Zambia, Africa. Two years ago when I worked here full time I would have told you that I knew without a doubt the Will of God for my life was me living and working here for the rest of my life. Because I, like a lot of people I know, had this idea that God’s will is a job, person to marry, status, or a church. I thought that God’s will for me had more to do with a location than what I was actually doing. So when I became very ill and had to move back home to Texas two years ago, I had a crisis of faith and fell into a depression. But slowly God started to speak to my broken heart and tell me He was more concerned with what my life was telling the world about Who He is than about where I lived.

[quote] “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” – Matthew 25:35-36 [/quote]
 

So I want to encourage you to speak of what God is and has done for you. Because like me when you are open to telling others of His grace He could send you to more countries than you could’ve ever dreamed about. In two years I have had the incredible blessing of sharing my testimony in six countries on three continents and I know this is only the beginning. Trust that God has your best in store.

[quote] “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” – Revelation 12:11[/quote]
 

Love, Rebekah Bullen

At Large Missionary

Mission Critical International

Photos of Rebekah’s Ministry

Rebekah depends on the donations of big-hearted people like you to continue the amazing work she is doing around the world.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

301 Pruitt Rd #1030

Spring, TX 77380

or give online below.

100% of your gift will go to support Rebekah’s missionary work around the world.

Everyone tells you, “When God closes a door, He always open a window” or “God’s timing is best”, and in your heart you want to believe them, but deep down in places you don’t even want to admit to yourself, you are afraid God isn’t going to come through for you. You’ve seen God be faithful in the lives of your family and friends but you’re not sure He cares for you enough to be bothered to show up in your life. You just know you’ve messed up your life enough times that God’s closed His ears to your prayers and you will have to figure this out for yourself.

I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore as I had to tell one more of my beloved friends, no, beloved family, why I had to leave the place I had called home for two years to start over somewhere else. I told them “God has a plan and He is calling me somewhere else”, and I knew in my heart I was telling the truth but in my heart of hearts I wondered what I had done wrong. You tell yourself “God doesn’t ask you to do something that hurts so bad or causes others such pain, so this is not of God.” “You’re just mistaken.” “You messed up and what you feel now are the consequences.” But Praise God! This is not the end of my story!

As my eyes looked over the rolling landscape of the country of Rwanda, I realized I was making all of this about ME. I was mad at God because my life wasn’t going the way I wanted it to go. I was angry because my plan of what I thought a missionary’s life was supposed to look like was not coming to pass. I wanted to get married and raise my children in Zambia, Africa. I wanted a safe life! Most people reading this will laugh at me but for me that was a safe life. I wanted the life I had already figured out. The life with no surprises or possibilities of mistakes. But God! I love that phrase! But God! had other plans for my life. His plan for me is much bigger than I was willing to believe and I am just starting to see a glimpse of that plan. Spending five days in Rwanda and seeing God show up for us in ways I had only dreamed about until now was just part of what I now know God wants to do in my life.

For now I know God wants me to assist in starting Mission Critical’s first headquarters in Bogota, Colombia and a house in Rwanda for orphans called Mercy’s House after my beloved adopted sister Mercy. But I know He has so much more in store for me and I am ready for the adventure!

After reading my story I hope you believe that God’s unending faithfulness and grace is for you! God is never deaf to the prayers of His beloved servants! And God always opens a door when He closes a window in your life!

Rebekah Bullen

Missionary to the world with Mission Critical International!

To the praise of my Beloved Savior

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Africa

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

or give online below.

100% of your gift will go to support Rebekah’s missionary work around the world.

Little hands stretched as high up in the air as they could go. Her little voice crying softy but as strong as she could, “Mommy, Mommy”. My little niece desires to be held any time I can hold her but especially when she thinks I am going somewhere. Anytime I head in the direction of the door, she will start waddling after me calling “mommy” instead of auntie because she doesn’t want me to leave her. Aerowyn trusts and loves me completely. She trusts me to hold her, feed her, care for her and protect her. She wants to spend every minute possible with me. Aerowyn doesn’t wait for me to come find her, she follows me every where I go.

Every time I spend time with my niece who is one year old, I think of Jesus and what He said about children. “Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”Matthew 19:13-14. As well as, “Matthew 18:2-5, He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” As I read these passages I ask myself, “Do I trust God as Aerowyn trusts me”? “Do I follow Jesus where ever He goes”? “Do I look to see where He is at and do I run after Him? “Do I stretch out my arms to be held by my Beloved Father”?

I am committed to trust my Beloved Jesus and Father with the faith of a child. I am devoted to working at having childlike faith every day. What about you? Will you have faith and trust in Jesus like a child? He is worth trusting. He is able to keep you and care for you like no one else can.
“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” ’ Numbers 6:24-26

I am personally trusting in God right now for a supernatural mission trip with my dad to Zambia and Rwanda Africa. Please pray with me for support and Holy Spirit power on these trips.

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

or give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

“At least Auntie Rebekah is coming back and we will see her again” said Patricia with a tear in her eye. I was sitting on the porch the night before my flight back to the States with my arms wrapped around Patricia trying not to cry as all the children and our house mothers begged me not to go.

I hate good byes of any kind but saying good bye to these kids here at Project Samuel is especially hard because they see so many people come into their lives only to leave and never return and so they have a hard time believing you will be different. I knew with all my heart I had to take some time off because of my health but the longer I am away from these kids the more that God confirms my calling and that these children need me to show them His love.

“Auntie Rebekah read to me please, Auntie Rebekah help me with my home work, Auntie Rebekah play with me”. This is what I miss so much when I must leave our beloved children at Project Samuel. Every second I am away from them I pray God keeps them until I can hold them in my arms again.

Feeling like I do makes Luke 11:13 so hard to believe and yet so beautiful. “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give good gifts to you who ask.” If I love these children so much and I am willing to give so much to them, how much more does God love me and these children and what will He not do for us?

Pray for me as I start raising support for next year as well as my plane ticket back. I know God will provide for all my needs and I will soon have my arms around our sweet children!

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

or give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

“Auntie Rebekah, Auntie Rebekah!” I heard Lovemore call from the door as he was knocking. “I am asking for a school book because I want to go to school today!”, was his request. I couldn’t hold back a smile when I saw that he had dressed himself in a pretend school uniform. I felt like I was crushing his little dream when I told him he had to wait until January to go to school because he is only five.

Lovemore has been infatuated with the idea of going to school all year but his desire was enhanced on Sunday when we held a party for our older children to celebrate their grades in school.

After church last Sunday we were invited to come to the Destiny Training Center for a party the children had organized. They had asked me to bake a cake for them but every thing else they had planned themselves. We were seated, and with a queue from Lizzy, Daniel, the designated DJ, started the first song and all the kids came in the door paired with a partner dancing what looked very similar to a line dance.

After three sets of dances and a presentation all organized by Lizzy, all the children introduced themselves and told us their grade and position in class. We had a short time of praise and worship, then enjoyed a delicious meal and chocolate cake. All our children had a role to play at the event and I was so excited to see Alick take up the job of being our photographer.

I am very proud of all our children’s diligence in all areas of their life. As in Lovemore’s case, it is encouraging to see that our older children’s dedication in school and serving each other has inspired him.

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

or give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

I can’t believe sometimes the great privilege God has given me! To live and minister here at Project Samuel with this wonderful group of people, is an incredible blessing! I can’t find the right words to express how grateful I am to serve in a ministry that not only touches the lives of the children we care for and the community but God also uses us to affect the lives of everyone who comes here to Project Samuel to serve. We had an amazing summer this year and were honored to host three mission teams of some of the most amazing people!

One of the highlights for me this summer was to see that even when you are doing your best to bless others God turns that blessing back upon you! One of my greatest joys is to see God radically touch someone’s life as they are serving others.

Our last mission team from Faithbridge Church in Spring, Texas, greatly ministered to us and our entire community. They even brought new shoes for all of our children! Our children were ecstatic! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a happier group of children as they ran to their house-mothers to show off their new shoes. But as I watched the men from the Faithbridge team tearing up as they gave out the shoes and as they prayed over every child, I realized we were all blessed as much, or more, than our children. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive.

Malachi 3:10,
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in My Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “ I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put Me to the test!”

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

or give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

As I stood looking into a crowd of more than two hundred hungry people eagerly waiting in line for a hot meal, I prayed that the message of the gospel we were about to give would satisfy their souls as the food they were receiving would satisfy them physically.

This saturday we had the incredible privilege of hosting an outreach with a wonderful mission team from River of Life Church in Winnsboro, Louisiana in our newly furnished Destiny Training Center here at Project Samuel. It was such a joy for me to connect on a deeper level with our house mothers as I helped them prepare our meal for the outreach. I learned how to cook Zambian fried chicken, greens, and gravy. I still haven’t learned how to make Nishima and I’m not sure I ever will.

As we were cooking, some of our team of missionaries did an amazing job playing and coaching soccer, volleyball and netball with the one hundred plus children who showed up from the surrounding villages for our outreach. As all the families gathered for our meal, we missionaries started praying for God to multiply our chicken and Nishima as more and more people joined the ever growing line of hungry people. I don’t think any of us exhaled until after the last child’s plate was filled.

After dinner everyone crowded into our Destiny Training Center to watch the Jesus movie. It was a great delight to see how real the story of Jesus became through watching His story played out on our big screen.

To close out an awesome day, Patricia and Lizzy, two of our children God has beautifully gifted with the ability to lead worship, lead everyone into the presence of God to thank Him for all blessings He has bestowed on us and our Project. I can’t wait to see how God grows our influence in this community through our ability to meet the physical and spiritual needs of these precious people.

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

or give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

Sitting in the shade of a mighty mango tree, tears filled my eyes as I watched Emelia teach our ladies Bible study. I thank God every Tuesday for our community of ladies who come faithfully every week. I am so grateful now to see them step up and teach what God has placed on their hearts. To see these ladies grow in their faith to the point where they are willing to lead and teach one of our Bible studies is an amazing blessing. I know they are closer in their relationship with God and their understanding of the Bible has grown as well.

It is also amazing to see these women grow closer in their friendship with each other. One thing about our Bible study that is unique is that these women come from many different churches and yet here we all meet together to study the word of God together. Emelia talked about how influential we, as women, are and how we should be the first ones to call our neighbor and friends to come to church or our Bible studies.

Our ladies have taken ownership of our Bible study and they are the ones who are planning ways to grow our Bible study. I am so grateful to be able to learn from these ladies as much as if not more then I am teaching them. They have already taught me so much about the power of prayer and I know they will teach me so much more!

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

or give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

The last two weeks God richly blessed me by allowing my mom, Lisa Bullen, to come on a mission trip to see the work I am doing here and to minister with me here at Project Samuel in Zambia, Africa. I loved introducing her to all of our children and showing her how I live my every day life. We painted the inside and outside of one of our children’s houses and we just enjoyed being able to talk about our lives.

One of the highlights of her time here was our weekly children’s out-reach. My mom had a great time teaching the children the story of redemption through a song and through color books. After the bible study we all had fun painting the children’s faces and I let Susan paint my face as well, she loved it!

Another highlight was our ladies bible study. My mom taught a wonderful study on Christian leadership and the ladies really enjoyed meeting my mom, they said we really look alike! I am really thankful she was able to come because now she has a better understanding of my passion for our ministry and my love for our children and the ladies we minister too. God is so good!

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

or give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

Last Saturday was our yearly March for Missions and Brenden and I had a great time participating with the children here at Project Samuel. We must have looked very funny walking down the road with our sixteen children and a few of their friends. As we were walking I remembered that we walked in the March for Missions last year a week after I came to Zambia for the first time and at that time we only had eleven children.

God has been so good to us this last year! He has not only given me a calling I love, He has richly blessed Project Samuel as well!. In the last year God has provided electricity, running water, our first layer chickens and now our first Aquaponics system. He truly is a great and loving Father.

A year ago I would never have thought I would have the privilege of daily caring for and teaching sixteen children about Jesus and now I couldn’t imagine not waking up to the sound of their laughter. I can’t wait to see what He will do this next year!

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

or give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

One of the highlights of my week here at Project Samuel is our weekly women’s Bible study that I lead on Tuesday afternoons.

I have developed a close friendship with every one of the ladies of our Bible study group. For the last month we’ve been studying through the Psalms and we’ve enjoyed every minute of our study.

Last week we where in Psalm 123:3

“Be gracious to us, O Lord, be gracious to us, for we are greatly filled with contempt.”

We talked about how no matter what others think of you or say about you, God will always be gracious to you and He is always for us. If God called us, no man can stand in our way. We must always believe what God says about us not what others say about us.

The ladies really opened up to how at times they almost give up because of what their family or friends have said about them and because their families don’t believe in them. I told the ladies, “Only God can give us our worth and if He is on our side we can always accomplish our tasks.”

Please pray our Bible study and pray for victory in the lives of all these ladies.

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

or give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

I am so proud of our children!
 
They’ve grown so much in the last year, both physically and spiritually. Of our older boys Isaac used to be the only one that would participate in our children’s bible study but now Zavier, Webby, and Castro along with Isaac, not only participate in the Bible study, they also memorize our weekly memory verse and are excited about what they are learning every week.

Our bible study is growing a little more every week! I am also so proud of Lizznet and Kennedy because they are doing so well in school they were able to skip sixth grade and are working very hard along with Patricia and Alick who also are in seventh grade this year, to pass their seventh grade test at the end of this school year so they can go into high school next year.

Patricia and Lizznet love singing in our church praise team and Lizznet is now able to lead us in a few songs. All of our children are doing really well in school and are growing in the Lord. I am so grateful every day that God has given me the privilege of being a part of these children’s lives.

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

Give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

I have the great privilege of tutoring students from our children’s school in the village of Mashikili. The students are from fifth to seventh grade and are eager to learn English. My goal is to help these students pass their seventh grade test, which is written in English. It is sobering to realize that I stand at a crisis point in these children’s lives.

If the children don’t pass their test they will not be able to go to high school and they will end up dropping out of school to help their family in the fields with no hope of finding a good job. At my first class two weeks ago I had the children take an assessment test and the results were shocking! Out of the thirty children that came only five could write a basic sentence.

The need is so great sometimes I wonder if I can help these precious children but I know God has called me and He will make a way when there seems to be no way. Today as I stood in front of these expectant children hoping I could give them the education they so desperately need, I prayed for God to give me His strength because I know I can’t do this alone.

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

Give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

The joy you feel when you receive a card from a family member can’t be over stated. I remember when I was a child running to check the mail box every morning a few days before my birthday to see if I had received a birthday card from my Grandparents. It is no different for the children here at Project Samuel.

Judith recently received a Christmas card from a family who sponsor her and she was like a child on Christmas morning. To know a family cares about her enough to send a card and is praying for her is a rare gift.

Hilda and Lovemore, two of the children who recently came to live at the Project, are in need of families who will not only sponsor them but also someone who will care about them. Hilda is a beautiful six-year-old little girl who loves to be held and told a story. Lovemore is a four-year-old little boy who wants to do anything the big boys are doing. All children need to know someone is cheering for them and cares if they succeed in life.

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

Give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

I don’t think I could have had a better first day back at Project Samuel. While I was back in the States to spend Christmas with my family, a team of my friends and supporters at Mission Critical International pulled together to give all of our children here at Project Samuel backpacks for their new school year.

I don’t think it is fair sometimes that I am the one who gets to see the pure joy in the eyes of these beautiful children, when it is all of you who have given so much not only to me but also you have given hope to these children.

To see Hilda our newest little one smile up at me to say thank you, is the greatest blessing I could ever have. I want to thank every one of you who not only gave us the backpacks but also for all of the support. I know God will bless you more abundantly for your sacrifice.

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

Give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

This week I was blessed with a missionary retreat hosted by Christian Hospitality Network in Zimbabwe. Christian Hospitality Network is an amazing ministry! They truly represent Jesus’ hands and feet on this earth. CHN gives missionaries from all over the world a much-needed three-day Getaway.

A Team of Doctors, Counselors, and Chiropractors paid their own way to come all the way to Africa and volunteer their time to bless us.

Words can’t express how encouraging this week was to me! To know Christians care about the work we are doing and are willing to show us how much they love us. Worshipping in English in a room full of other missionaries was a little piece of heaven! Worshipping God in a room full of people who have given up so much because they love their Lord and the people they minister to so much is incredible.

I loved meeting missionaries from all over Africa. I had a long conversation with a couple that has worked in Livingstone, Zambia for fifteen years. I appreciated all the wisdom and advice they gave me. There is nothing like being able to ask someone who has been where you want to go, the best way to get there. I can’t thank CHN enough for the wonderful week of rest and renewal.

I know Our Heavenly Father will richly bless them. Matthew 10:42, “The one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home. She will be returning to the U.S. December 12, 2013 to extend her visa and raise the plane fare to return to Zambia indefinitely. She needs our help to continue the work she is doing there.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

Give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

Rebekah & Mode

When I was planning for my internship here at Project Samuel in Zambia Africa, there where certain things I knew I needed to prepare myself for; for example the time difference, and the hot summers. I had been on many mission trips before and I thought I knew what being in a third world country would be like. But I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was!

I wasn’t prepared for how desperate the children are for basic education and the great need there is for teachers. I wasn’t prepared for how AIDS and other illnesses have devastated so many families. I know so many children who have lost a mother, father, or sibling to treatable illnesses. I wasn’t prepared for so many families going with out what I called basic necessities. I wasn’t prepared but I was willing for God to use me and after almost seven months I can say, “He has been so faithful!”

Zavier is one of the children I tutor, six months ago he couldn’t read or write basic three-letter words but today in my class he wrote a whole paragraph and was able to identify all the nouns, verbs, and adjectives in his paragraph.

Mode is a boy who lives in a village by the Project, knows he can come to me anytime he is hurt or needs books for school and I will do every thing I can to help him.

It is amazing to me how giving a child basic things like books for school can give them a chance for a better life. Mode has also started coming to church with me and comes to all of our weekly Bible studies. I know God has great plans not only for Project Samuel but also for all the people we influence by the work we do here.

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

Photos of Rebekah’s work in Zambia

Like many missionaries, Rebekah has no source of income other than love gifts from back home. She will be returning to the U.S. December 12, 2013 to extend her visa and raise the plane fare to return to Zambia indefinitely. She needs our help to continue the work she is doing there.

If you would like to help Rebekah you can mail a check to:

Mission Critical International

11743 Northpointe Blvd #1025

Tomball, TX 77377

Give online below.

100% of your gift will go to Rebekah in Zambia.

For the last six months it has been my privilege to teach at Project Samuel in Zambia Africa. It’s a great joy everyday to wakeup to our children singing as they are preparing for school.

Dorothy is one of the many children I tutor at Project Samuel. She is ten years old and is in the third grade. When I met Dorothy she couldn’t read or concentrate on a subject for more than twenty minutes. Her teacher at the village school once told me that she wasn’t sure Dorothy would ever do well in school.

I started reading with Dorothy everyday to help strengthen her ability to concentrate. When we started, we read basic three-letter words together; that is when I noticed if she wasn’t able to read a word right away she would give up and expect me to give up as well. Instead, I encouraged her to keep trying until she succeeded.

Today I am proud to say Dorothy can read an entire children’s book almost by herself! However, more importantly she has a desire to learn and truly believes she can. Yesterday Dorothy received her grades from the village school. She is in the top ten in her class and received an 80 on her English exam. I am so proud of her.

I know God has a great plan for Dorothy, and I am grateful to be able to help her find that plan for her life.

I believe God has called me to Project Samuel for children just like Dorothy. He has called me to help change their lives by sharing His love and being a voice of encouragement in their lives.

Love,

Rebekah Bullen

 
[quote]Educate a boy and you educate an individual. Educate a girl and you educate a nation. – African Proverb[/quote]
 

 

It will always amaze me how quickly a little bit of love and care changes a child.

When our new children arrived at the project this week, they were reserved and sad. But after only a week they are laughing and playing with our other children.

Today as I was walking all of the kids to the church for praise practice, Oliver, our new eight year old, was walking beside me and he held my hand the whole way to the church.

Only the love of Christ can give a child life and I pray that we are giving these children the love they are desperate for.

Love Rebekah Bullen

For the last three weeks we were blessed to have a team of Relationships For Christ missionaries working with us here at Project Samuel.

Since they where coming to work with us for a whole three weeks, Amanda and I went to our kid’s school to ask if we could assist the school in any way.

To our surprise the head Mistress, Christen, asked us if the school bought the paint if we would paint the whole out side of the school.

We were thrilled to be given the chance to improve the learning environment not just for the children from Project Samuel but for all the children who attend the school in Mashikili.

I think it would be hard for anyone to have as much fun painting as we did!

We only had one sturdy ladder and the rollers we were using were as old as you can imagine.But I wouldn’t have traded the time we spent with all of the kids for better equipment.

The teachers thanked us for giving the kids the opportunity to learn in a better environment.

Love Rebekah Bullen

The Teachers

Living here in Zambia Africa has given me a new perspective into what it must have been like for Jesus to wash His disciples feet. After wearing sandals all day my feet are covered in dirt and I have to scrub my feet for quite some time every night to clean all the dirt off.

One night as I was cleaning my feet, I thought of my Lovely Lord Jesus humbly kneeling at the feet of one disciple after to another washing their feet and I understood for the first time how truly beautiful was Jesus example of sacrificial love and service.

A team of missionaries came to work at project Samuel this past week to work with us and as a part of our out reach we invited all of the children from the near by villages to come to the project for a fun day of activities and a bible study.

We had about a hundred children show up! The men played soccer and netball with the boys and with the girls we we wanted to do something very special.

Most of the girls here have never had their nails painted so we decided to paint their toe nails.

Most of the children here don’t wear shoes except to school and church so before we painted the girls toenails we washed their feet. The girls where so happy!

As I was washing each little girls feet I prayed she would see in me the love of Jesus who was willing to give up every thing for her and become a servant. We prayed for every girl to come to know The Lord Jesus who loved us enough to lay aside His glory to come and wash our feet.

Love Rebekah

Last week at our children’s Bible study I asked if any of the children wanted to get up and sing a song before we closed, to my surprise Judith, Susan and Silvia volunteered. They are usually shy but they stood up in front of all the kids and sang song after song. At one point I was almost in tears as they sang, “I will shout it out from every roof top for your goodness knows no bound.” Because of Judith, Susan and Silvia’s example the older children asked me if they could sing “In Christ Alone” at this weeks Bible study.

To hear praises to your Lord sang with such innocent faith inspirers me to worship my Savior with that same innocent passion. I love worshiping at the church here, even though I don’t understand the language just hearing our children worship their Father God with everything they have, there is nothing like it. I was sitting with our children this Sunday when at the end of the worship service our pastor had a time for everyone to pray together aloud, as I was praying I heard the voice of Isaac praying his little heart out. It reminded me of the verse in Psalm 8:1-2, “O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength because of Your adversaries.” I know I am here at Project Samuel to teach the children and show them the love of God but most days I believe they teach me more then I am teaching them. I can see the love of Jesus in the eyes of little Samuels we are raising up and I pray they can see His love in my eyes as well.

On Pastor Timothy’s recent visit he brought a children’s Bible for me to read to and with the children.

I have never see anyone as exited about having a Bible as these children were.

With the limited English they know they couldn’t understand the New Testaments we had given them but they still wanted me to read the Bible to them.

So now having a Bible they can understand and with pictures of the stories is the best gift they could have been given. It is also a great blessing for Patricia and Kennedy who are able to read the Bible for themselves. All of the children here are so enthusiastic about learning anything about Jesus and the Bible. They ask me every day to read the Bible for them and to sing a worship song with them. Even though they can’t always understand the words I am singing they still want me to sing about Jesus with them.

I have taught them the song Here I am to Worship and they know Open the Eyes of My Heart, so anytime they are playing or walking home from school I hear them singing to the top of their voices.

There is nothing like hearing children worship God with innocent and pure faith.

I am reminded of Mark 10:14, Jesus said to them, “permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

I want nothing more then to encourage and strengthen that child like faith in the children here at Project Samuel.

Love, Rebekah Bullen

Well after seven weeks of teaching the children here at project Samuel in Zambia Africa I know without a doubt I am right in the middle of God’s will for my life. I have never known with such certainty that I was making as great of an impact in so many lives before. When I started teaching English lessons Susan and Silvia two of the cutest twins I have ever seen could not recognize any letter in the alphabet except the letter a and now after almost two months of classes they know more then half of their alphabet. Also Dorothy on of the sweetest girls here at project Samuel when I started teaching her how to read she had trouble knowing the letter sounds and now the other day she read me an entire children’s book. I thank God everyday for putting me in the lives of these children because I know without God’s grace and strength I would not be here or be able to give these children a chance at a better life. Please pray for me for guidance and confidence. Amanda and Chris will be going back to the states this week and so I will be teaching both of our woman’s Bible studies for a month by my self. I know with the Holy Spirit I have nothin to worry about but I have to admit I am a little nervous because this will be my first time to lead a bible study. Thank you again for you support and prayers. Every time I feel afraid or I am alone all I have to remember I how many friends I have back home cheering for me.

I am so blessed to have this opportunity to pour God’s love into the children at Project Samuel every day. I love how every minute of every day is filled up with either reading or playing with these amazing children. The last two weeks all of the children have been on vacation from school, so I have been teaching an English class to all of the children every morning and in the afternoons we are starting an art class with them. I am still in awe at the eagerness to learn every child displays. I could spend all the time in the world teaching them and they would still ask to learn something new.

For our first art class Chris, Amanda and I made a hand craft with all of the children for pastor Timothy. The kids had a blast. Especially Patricia and Lizanet, who after the craft was over played patty cake with each other with the paint still on their hands. Every day after my classes are over I will sit on our front porch and read as many of the new books that Pastor Timothy brought for the children as I can before lunch. I couldn’t have imagined how quickly the children here would capture my heart with their love and need for companionship. Please pray for the new Bible study Amanda and I are leading for the teachers at the children’s school in the village.

Here the children are making a puzzle for the first time in their lives.

Saturday was our first outreach with the children. We all had a blast! I couldn’t believe almost forty kids came! Before the Bible study we played some games with the kids. We tried to teach the kids how to play freeze tag but they would play for a few minute and just stop. We also taught them how to play red rover and they really liked it. After the games we sat all the children down and Pastor Tendai taught on Christ’s death and resurrection, the kids where amazing attentive and they answered all of the questions with incredible accuracy. For an activity I gave all of the kids a necklace in which all of the beads represents a different aspect of salvation. Pastor Tendai explained what every bead meant and then the kids were able to bead their own necklace. Right before we dismissed the children we taught them a memory verse that went along with the Bible message. I can’t wait to see how many children come next Saturday.

I have always known God had a special calling on my life and now I can say with great joy that I know I am living it here at Project Samuel in Zambia, Africa.

I love everything about my life here, especially how peaceful and quiet it is!

I started my first English and Math class with the kids this week. Their eagerness to learn is amazing! I teach the boys and girls who are in third and fourth grade in the morning three times a week. I also have an afternoon class with three of the most beautiful little girls you can imagine, who are in first grade. I could not hope for more attentive or energetic students.

We will also be starting back up a weekly outreach for the kids in the near-by villages. I will be responsible for planning all the games and bible study for the out reach.

All of the children here love to sing, so I will also be teaching them a song every week along with a memory verse. Please pray for our first outreach this Saturday! I can’t wait to tell you the out come.

Love, Rebekah Bullen

Wow! I can’t believe I am able to write you from Project Samuel in Zambia, Africa. God is so amazing! I can’t thank you enough for your prayers and support. Project Samuel is an orphanage in the bush of Zambia, Africa. Instead of the kids living in one big house with limited supervision, here the children live in smaller houses with house Moms. Only eight children live in a house with their house Mom. At this time we have eleven children here at Project Samuel. I will be spending six months teaching English to the children here at Project Samuel. I will also be leading a Vacation Bible School on Saturday afternoons with all the kids in the villages around Project Samuel. Today for the March for Missions we walked with all the children to one of the villages. I walked hand in hand with Judith and Dorothy, two of the sweetest girls you could imagine. We sang songs and laughed all the way to the village. After we got back, I sat in on a Bible study the kids have every Saturday with Pastor Tendai. He has been teaching on prayer. I loved hearing the kids recite the Lords Prayer in English. Then we had our traditional Saturday movie with the kids. I know God has called me here and I can’t wait to see what He is going to do through me.

Love Rebekah Bullen