3 August 2011
Greetings from Luanshya!
Fourteen years ago on Monday Sherry Welch became Sherry Coleman. With one simple ceremony she became wife, mother and grandmother. She has handled the transition incredibly well and been a fantastic partner in life and ministry! However, Sherry does not remember dates very well. She planned a leadership seminar on Monday because it is a national holiday in Zambia so "we had the day off." I did not say anything and she realised it only a few days before when she was reading the announcement aloud at a meeting. So... On our anniversary we worked from 8:00am to 4:00pm, then she made pizza while I did some laundry. Doesn't THAT sound romantic!? By the way, the pizza was delicious and I washed the dishes. What a team we make!
On Sunday we had a visit at the new work from the village headman in Mukolwe. He said he had been looking for a "church like yours" for several years and had been attending another church in the area, but did not like it. He welcomed us to Mukolwe and said he would be coming with his family starting on Thursday at the Bible Study. We are making progress slowly. Brother Simwanza is very encouraged by the fact that young people are coming. We also have a large group of children coming for the Bible stories told by Brother Nyimbili... and, as Brother Simwanza noted, "we haven't even given away bubble gum!" One new development: The deputy head-master (vice principal) of the school where we are meeting is being promoted and transferred to a new school about 20 miles away (1 hour by rough road) to the other side of the district. This man and his 15-year-old son both made professions of faith and want to be discipled. He has invited us to start another church using the class rooms at the new school. Now I need more days in the week and more godly men with free time and energy! I am having a hard time being in two or three places at once!
Sherry's youth class was "maxed out" last Friday with every bench filled. Sadly on Friday night one of the boys that had just started coming was standing near a bar and was beaten to death by a group of drunken "youths." The legal drinking age in Zambia is 18 years, but apparently no bartender in town (perhaps in Zambia) asks for identification when serving alcohol to customers. (We have actually seen children buying brandy "for their parents" in our local grocery store.) The details of the murder are not all clear, but our young people are shaken by this event. The boy was well known and well liked at school. His parents are staunch Jehovah's Witnesses and would not allow their son to come to church, but they allowed him to come to the youth meeting. He had not made a public profession of faith, but he had heard the gospel. Sherry will be talking to the young people this Friday about their eternal destiny. Please pray for her as she comforts her class.
A personal note: At 1:30 Friday morning (New Jersey time) our 12-year-old niece, Jordan West, slipped quietly into the arms of our Lord. Jordan struggled valiantly against Huntington's Disease for several years. Twenty-two months ago the doctor said her life would come to an end "in a matter of moments" when she was taken off the respirator. Time and again she beat the odds and gave everyone around her nearly two more years of smiles, laughter and joy. On Friday she woke up without the pain and limitations than caused her so much suffering. She is no longer sitting in a wheelchair and being fed through tubes. She is dancing, singing and - if there are horses in Heaven - she will be riding a pony... That is, of course, unless she can find a unicorn! We will miss her and look forward to seeing her again with a healthy body when we meet her in the Master's House. Sherry was able to spend some time on the telephone with her sister laughing and crying at the precious memories of Jordan. Please pray for her Mom, Stacy, and her Dad, Ron, as well as the rest of the West/Welch family. Parents should never have to bury their children.
We are sometimes too far from our family to share the hurts with them, yet God has placed us here to represent Him to a lost and dying world. We share the good news of Christ's love and you help make it possible with your prayers and faithful support. Thank you!
Together in His Service,
Patrick & Sherry
Patrick & Sherry Coleman
P O Box 90010
Luanshya,
Zambia
Off: 260 212 512359/512539
Res: 260 212 510033
Cell (P): 260 966 780113
Cell (S): 260 966 780112
