26 September 2007

Growing Up

Greetings from Luanshya!

The power cable to the broadband antennae "died" yesterday, so we are back to s l o w Internet access!

This afternoon young Andrew, from the Lighthouse Children's Home, came into the Christian Resource Centre with a very serious question. He is the youngest child in the Home and probably the most brilliant. He sat us down at a table and said he was taking music lessons after school and would like to use the keyboard that Colin used when he was still living at home. There are 16 students in his music class and he realised that he really does not get enough time to practice during that one hour. He has heard Colin play and wants to be "just like Colin." We explained the rules: only he touches, he only touches what he is supposed to touch, and he only touches when he's supposed to touch it. So, tomorrow I will set up the keyboard and Andrew will come in several times a week to practice his lessons. We are thrilled to be able to have this opportunity for Andrew to learn. Please pray for him as he continues to practice and use his talent for the Lord.

Earlier in the week a friend came to see us with a very heavy heart. His 14 year-old son was swimming with some friends over the weekend during church camp and drowned. Victor and his wife are heart broken with this tragedy. His comment to Sherry was that every place they look in the house they see the memories of their son: his shoes, his toys, his clothes, even his school books lying open on his desk bring tears to their eyes. The only encouragement they have is that they will one day see him again in heaven. Please pray for brother and Mrs. Zulu, their family and their church as they go through these deep waters. Pray for us as we encourage our friends.

Last week we mentioned the fact that we were planning to put the roof on the Buntungwa Chapel sanctuary. We also mentioned the fact that we would be gone for a few days and that the work would begin this week. While we were gone another missionary, who has never been to that particular assembly of God's people, showed up with a group of his friends. When he realised that the timber for the trusses was there and a lot of the work had already been accomplished, he offered to do the job for them. When the Christians there said Brother Coleman has a team coming on Tuesday to do the work he told them that he would do it instead and have his team there on Monday.

We are not really geared up for competition between missionaries. Nevertheless, we are deeply disturbed when people who are supposed to be colleagues step in and assume a ministry in which they have never had a part. This particular missionary has a dislike for anything "American" and Americans in particular, but his actions are inexcusable. We are also disappointed by the actions of the local leadership who did not have enough integrity to insist that the work had already been started and his interference was not necessary or appreciated.

In the final analysis it is important to remember that there will be a roof on the church building. The building belongs to God. We have many other areas in which we serve and this will ultimately be water under the bridge. It does, however, sting when brothers and sisters compete in ministry. Please pray for the leaders of the church in Buntungwa and the offending missionary. This kind of activity could have been a victory for Satan.

Finally, we have received a picture of Colin, our youngest son, in his United States Air Force uniform. We have, of course, shown it to anybody we can stop long enough to take a look at the photograph. One of our good friends who is known to Colin as “Uncle John” Kanyakula remarked, "Our little boy has grown up." He has indeed and we are proud of our youngest son. Please pray for him as he continues his preparation for service to God and country.

In His Service,
Patrick & Sherry