25 February 2009

“We are loved.”

Greetings from Zambia!

It has been a few weeks since our last update. This is due to busy schedules and Internet issues. ZAMNET has been having problems for several months and our connection has been intermittent and poor. This past week the system was “spammed” and the entire mail server was shut down. We mention this because much of our incoming mail was lost in “cyberspace” so if you sent a message and we didn’t respond, please send it again. We have come to rely on the Internet as a form of communication and information gathering. In 1985 a letter took 6-8 weeks to go from Zaïre to the States. The response was equally slow. The turn-around time was 3-5 months. Today we are accustomed to responses coming within the hour (when time zones allow) and “instant messages” via FACEBOOK. It is truly a different world!

Two Sundays ago a young man came to me after the service and said he really wanted to be baptised. We spent some time together and he will follow the Lord in believer’s baptism in two week’s time. This gives him time to invite his family and friends to witness this event. He is very excited about this next step in his spiritual life.

Last Sunday I preached to a new congregation meeting in a school. The school is called “Twatemwa Basic School” so the new assembly of believers will use “Twatemwa” in their name. It means “We are loved.” I think it is a great name for a church. Nearly a third of the congregation of 101 people (including 25 babies) spoke Swahili so I felt right at home. The people have been meeting in the school for about 3 months. They asked me to spend time with them teaching them from the Bible. I gave them 500 gospel tracts and promised to arrange a schedule when we can meet for a Bible Institute. They also made a simple request: The would like to have some plastic communion cups. Even as a new church they realise the importance of remembering the Lord’s Supper. I don’t have any at the moment, but perhaps that can be sorted out soon.

We spent a couple of days over the past week travelling to and from Lusaka (the capitol city of Zambia). Sherry received a message that her “Entry Permit” had been approved, but her file had been misplaced. We made duplicates of all the papers and delivered them to the appropriate immigration officer. We return to the office five days later to collect her permit. This certifies Sherry as a “permanent resident” of Zambia. She has been here for over 18 years and the officer said “Welcome Home!” Zambia is, indeed, “home” to us and we are pleased that this milestone has been reached and her contribution to the community has been recognised.

Sherry also has a prayer request. She has had a persistent pain in her left shoulder for some time. Two weeks ago it got to the point that she could not move her arm without severe pain so she called the doctor. X-rays were taken and there is an obtrusive calcium build-up on both the upper arm and shoulder. She had extensive physiotherapy at the local hospital, but the doctor said surgery was required. He said it could not be done in Luanshya so we are going to go to South Africa next week to see an orthopaedic surgeon there. Friends of ours there have made the appointment and assure us that the surgeon has the highest recommendation in Johannesburg. Please pray for Sherry (and me) as we travel to Johannesburg for this operation. From what we have been able to ascertain it should be “routine” – but any time someone cuts it is not “routine” for me!

Blessing and challenges – Both come our way and we are thankful for those who stand with us in this ministry.

Together in His Service,

Patrick & Sherry