06 April 2005

News from Zambia - 6th April 2005

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in
green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my
soul." (Psalm 23:1-3a)

It is one thing to read the above verses. It is yet another to put them
into practice! After learning a week ago that our son, Colin-age 16,
broke his femur just four inches above the knee during a rugby game at
school, it's been a trying couple of days. I state equivocally that the
"Lord is my Shepherd" and rest in the vital truth and state that where
He leads I will go. However, in my motherly state...I want my son's leg
to be better...NOW and that rather tarnishes the "I shall not want"
portion of the verse! "He makes me to lie down in green pastures". Well,
I'm lying down but I certainly do not see the "green pastures" at the
moment. Everything looks a bit burnt and I feel rather wilted with all
the phone calls going back and forth between home and the medical clinic
where Colin has been until yesterday afternoon. An ambulance transported
him to a private hospital in Lusaka (4 hours from home) so that a metal
plate and pins can be put in place through surgical means tomorrow
afternoon (Thursday). Patrick left for Lusaka this afternoon to be with
Colin. "He leads me beside the still waters." My waters are more like
giant waves that seem to be pushing me around. But, I know that with
each passing day, the waves and billows will abate as God is in control
of the situation and He will direct the orthopaedic surgeon's hands. "He
restores my soul." Having re-read these verses and gotten my ranting out
of the system, I feel better. Thank you for praying and continuing in
prayer on behalf of Colin, Patrick & the surgeon as well as I.

Since Colin's "little" incident, Patrick has been travelling back and
forth between home and the Mkushi Medical Clinic. While he's on the
road, I've been pretty busy in the Christian Resource Centre listening
to people's memory verses from lessons, collecting those same lessons,
distributing new lessons and enrolling even more students. Looking back
at the month of March as a whole: 526 lessons were corrected, 660 were
distributed, 41 certificates of completion were issued and there were
121 new students enrolled. Needless to say, there has not been a lot of
"quiet time" in the library these days. Don't get me wrong. It has been
a pleasure meeting new people and listening to various spiritual
problems and having the privilege to share God's truth with so many.
Yesterday I may have sat down in the office a total of 5 minutes in two
hours. The afternoon session was not any better!

A local church leader came to me last week asking for material on
"Dating & Marriage". I showed him what was available and he devoured the
information. We discussed a few details in depth pertaining to Zambian
culture etc. and how scriptural principles could be applied to
"boy-girl" relationships. I then encouraged him to obtain a list of
seminar attendees (he was scheduled to speak to a group of young people
on the weekend) so that those who attended the sessions could then come
to Christian Resource Centre and enrol in the "Dating, Love & Marriage"
courses that are available. This also will expose many more youths to
the Word of God and His ultimate plan for their lives. Pray for the 35
young people who are set to meet with me some time in the next couple of
days.

Two young Peace Corp Volunteers (both female), have been visiting with
me regularly. They actually stayed at our home last week, in Patrick's
absence. We enjoyed our time together and this provided opportunity for
the girls to ask a number of questions concerning eternal issues. Both
have been attending the Friday night College and Career sessions I
moderate. Sometimes knowing the truth and applying the truth are two
very different issues. The girls will be back on the weekend from their
service site in the bush (jungle). One will head off to Lusaka for her
annual medical exam. She will take time out to visit Colin in hospital,
if he does not have to be medivaced to South Africa. I can trust him to
carry on with sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and His love during
the visit. He pulls no punches in such conversations. The other young
lady will stay at our home for the week thus exposing her further to
what we do, how we live from day to day and another Friday evening with
the College & Career group. Please pray for the volunteers as spend time
with us and God's people at Fellowship Chapel and in the various Bible
study groups.

Thank for your continued prayers for our family and ministry!

In His Grace,
Sherry (& Patrick in absentia)