the earth beneath our feet

Welcome to our blog! We are missionaries serving with Overland Missions, bringing restoration and hope to those living in remote and forgotten places in Africa. With each step towards God, we find ourselves with new earth beneath our feet. Our hope is that you will join us on this journey! tom & becca

[tomandbecca]

Ocean exploration 🌊 #discoverangola (at Namibe)

[tomandbecca]

Feeling like a proud mama because this little one did amazing on her first flight! She used her new-found cheesy grin to make friends with anyone who said hello. ✈️ (at Washington, District of Columbia)

[tomandbecca]

Today is a win for Team Angola! The team's container is finally being packed and will soon makes its way over the Atlantic and arrive at our home in Namibe. #onestepcloser #overlandmissions

[tomandbecca]

After days of packing, weighing, inventorying, repacking, lifting, and labeling, our things are finally ready to be shipped to Angola! Ready, but waiting until we get our visas. On this long road of moving to a new country, there are days that feel like steps backwards and days we move forward. This feels like a giant leap forward! 🌍🇦🇴 #latergram

[tomandbecca]

🎶 Chestnuts roasting on an open fire 🎶 took on a whole new meaning for me today. Thank you Portugal for sending us off well!

[tomandbecca]

Thanks to our amazing teacher, Eunice, our 4 months in Portugal have been more useful and memorable than we dreamed. We are leaving a country and people that we've grown to love, but are anxiously awaiting all that is on the horizon.

[tomandbecca]

On our walk back from Portuguese class, we got a little reminder of our time in Zambia.

[tomandbecca]

On the streets of Loures

[tomandbecca]

Few things make me happier than fresh, cheap fruit! #louresportugal

[tomandbecca]

This represents months of effort towards getting our Angolan visas. Still waiting on some documents, but to have come this far is worth celebrating! #keeponkeepingon

[tomandbecca]

Want to know what we’ve been doing while in America during this season?  Watch our recent update video. 

[tomandbecca]

Title page of my new notebook. Holidays are done, staff retreat has ended, now it's all things Angola as we dive into this new season!

[tomandbecca]

When the earth turns green over night, we know rainy season has officially arrived.

[tomandbecca]

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

[tomandbecca]

Passports are stamped. Vehicles are packed. Now begins our six week recon trip to Angola and Mozambique! I cannot wait to see all that God has set before us! #overlandmissions #overland15yrs #coasttocoast

[tomandbecca]

Welcome Dinner

On July 4th, our missions base was in a frenzy, not because were celebrating Independence Day, but because we were preparing to host a dinner for chiefs from southern Africa who were traveling to Mukuni Chiefdom for Chief Mukuni's annual ceremony.  Because of Overland's long friendship with Chief Mukuni, we had the honor of welcoming them on their first night with delicious food and encouraging words from honorary guests who shared powerful stories of how God changed their lives. 

This dinner was an open door given by God for us to walk through. And we did. Through the relationships he set before us, the doors of the chiefdoms of Zambia are wide open to the gospel.  I thank God that his plan to reveal His love to all people is perfect, and that we have a front row seat!

[tomandbecca]

Highlights from the Bene Mukuni Ceremony

For three days, we had the amazing opportunity to serve Chief Mukuni, a long time friend of Overland Missions, by helping at his annual ceremony.  The Bene Mukuni Ceremony commemorates the history of the Mukuni people who settled in Southern Zambia nearly 300 years ago. 

Chiefs from all around Zambia, as well as outside the country, attend the ceremony as honorary guests of Chief Mukuni.  So, we were available simply to serve.  We drove our vehicles, served food, set up equipment, moved benches, led a church service, and most importantly, began genuine relationships with some of the most influential leaders in the country. 

I thank God for the relational opportunities He has put before us as stewards of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

(top photo): This is Chief Mukuni, also known as the Lion King of Zambia. Note his crown and necklace, a typical symbol of chiefs in the country.