Knowing the Ends

Greetings from Luanshya!

After weeks of anticipation and delays, the bricklayers arrived on site this afternoon at 2:30 to begin putting up the walls of Fellowship Chapel. Richard Musonda is the foreman/teacher of the four students who will be getting their on-the-job training. Much of my day was spent collecting the workers and their tools and making final arrangements for the building supplies that we did not dare purchase until we knew the workers were going to be ready to work. Please pray for a swift and safe construction period. (Estimated time to complete the walls = four weeks.)

The young people at the chapel are studying the final judgment this Friday afternoon. After a prolonged series on End Time Events, they have now reached this point. This has coincided with seven weeks of films that focus on the subject. Last Friday we asked the young people what the series has meant to them. One of the young ladies said that it emphasized the need to tell her friends about the love of Christ before it is eternally too late. This is, of course, exactly why we talk about these issues. It is not our intention to set dates or to make some prophetic announcement about when the Lord Jesus Christ is coming. It is, however, our intention to warn the believers and unbelievers alike about the impending tribulation and the events thereafter. Thank you for your prayers during this series. We hope it has had an effect on the lives of those who have set through the lessons and the films. The kids in the youth group are looking forward to the final lesson, in two weeks time, covering The New Heaven and The New Earth.

A few days ago I heard someone shouting my name from across the street while at the post office. While this not an unusual event in a small town, it is unusual to have someone shouting at the top of their lungs over and over. When I turned around I saw a young man that I have known from nearly my first week in Zambia, over thirteen years ago. He was almost naked and had on a pair of boxer shorts that were several inches too big for him. He was dirty and obviously not clearheaded. I said, "Mark, what is the matter with you?" His first comment was, "Well, I was killed..." I stopped him and said, "Snap out of it son." He continued to babble on until finally a hint of recollection came into his eyes. At one time Mark was a brilliant engineer in the Luanshya mine. He was also a faithful church attendee and claimed to be a Christian. He began running in some unsavory circles and found himself today in a state of confusion. The solution to Mark's condition is obviously in the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sadly, his years of false profession and acting have caught up with him. Still, we pray that Mark will be able to get away from the activities that fry his mind and continue to confuse him. Please pray with us in this situation.

A very special friend of ours here in Zambia has just found out that he has cirrhosis of the liver. As a young man, he lived a very rough life. In later years he came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and his lifestyle changed dramatically. He has spent over ten years in ministry here and has a fantastic testimony among the local believers. This is an example to the young people that even though we are forgiven by the Lord Jesus Christ, there are consequences to our actions. Our friend knows that He is a child of God and is absolutely certain that when he passes away he will open his eyes in Heaven. His family is suffering but they, too, know that his pain will soon be over. Please pray for his family and for those with whom he serves.

It has been a marvelous week. God's goodness is all around us and we appreciate your faithful prayers and support as we continue...

In His Service,
Patrick & Sherry