School holidays have started. The children are enjoying their freedom. Very often the first week of the holiday shows a marked decrease in the library because the kids are just too tired to leave home. In the next few weeks we will see activity increase as children look for a place to read. This is also a time when many children travel to visit relatives in other parts of Zambia. There have already been incidents of overcrowded and overloaded vehicles being involved in accidents where several passengers have been killed. Please pray for the youngsters that occupy the Christian Resource Centre as they move from place to place.
We will continue the Friday afternoon Youth Meetings. Those who have been attending have specifically requested that we not go on break as well. It is encouraging to know that the young people desire to know more and to have fun in the Youth Centre. New faces crop up from week to week alerting us to the fact that those who have been attending regularly are inviting their friends.
Last Sunday I was in Buntungwa at one of the rural churches. The building program in this village continues to progress. They have made all the concrete blocks for their foundation while they meet in a temporary grass shelter. This fellowship has a full program of ministry through the week including two mid-week Bible studies and a separate ladies Bible study. Everything they do must be during daylight hours because there is absolutely no electricity in that region. The day starts at dawn and everything ends at sunset. Continue to pray for this group of believers as they reach their community for Christ.
The building program at the English speaking chapel has reached slab level. Pictures are available on our website. We are meeting with the membership to determine the next step. There are several options open to us. There are two large ant hills on the property which can produce enough bricks to finish the building up to the roof level. Please pray as we make these decisions.
Several of the young men from the Sunday morning Caddy Chapel are planning to come and chat with me about baptism. As you may recall, these young men work on Sunday as caddies at the local golf course and are unable to attend Sunday morning services. I began going to the golf course early Sunday mornings to have a Bible study. About 12 of these young men have made professions of faith and are concerned that they cannot come to church to be baptized. I am going to teach them about baptism so they fully understand what it means and then we will arrange for a baptism service during a weekday. Please pray for these young men. This is a big step in their lives.
Sherry's children's meeting has been studying various family issues. A few weeks ago they discussed "Obedience". This past week they focused on family problems and that all families have difficulty but work it out. Realizing that many of these children are orphans, they recognize all too well that families are different. Next weeks lesson will deal with the fact that there are problems in families and that we need to depend on the Lord to be our "very present help in trouble". (Ps. 46:1) Pray for the programs that involve children. Their lives are so very unstable from home situations to school to friendships.
We have another full week in the offing. I will be making a trip to Kafubu Block to assess the progress on that particular building project. We appreciate your partnership in this ministry.
In His Service,
Patrick & Sherry
