Zambia covers an area slightly larger than Texas, but is sparsely populated with about 10.9 million people, of which a large proportion live in the cities.  The majority come from Bantu tribes and over 70 dialects are spoken.  While English is the official language, the local dialects are essential for rural evangelism.  Half of the population is under 15 years old.  Missionaries are permitted to teach Bible in the schools as part of the required curriculum, but having a teacher's qualification is necessary in some schools.  There are five large mission hospitals, one of them currently without any doctor.  The number of orphans is increasing at an alarming rate due to deaths from malaria and HIV-related diseases.  There are a large number of foreign assembly-commended workers in Zambia, and well over 1,000 assemblies with many national workers.