13 October 2011

News from Zambia - 12 October 2011

12 October 2011

Greetings from Luanshya!

The rains are here! For the past 18 years that I have been in Zambia the rains have not come before November, but we have had several strong storms already this year causing damage to houses and shops in Luanshya. It has taken the community by surprise and residents are busy finishing their building projects and repairing the damage caused by these early storms. Plans made by men are always subject to God's plans. 

The Youth Fellowship on Friday has been "packed" for the past few weeks. Several of the young people have invited their friends to hear something more than they hear elsewhere. Some of the young people have asked for time with Sherry to talk about their family situations. In some homes children are raising children and parental input is simply non-existent. Please pray for these young people and for Sherry as she counsels them.

The building of the Sunday School "nsaka" is progressing. The frame is up, the roof will be on this week and the walls will be completed next week. It will be dedicated the last Sunday of October when the church will have a "Fellowship Day" after church with music, lunch and volleyball. These fellowship events have been great ways of reaching into the community and sharing our faith with our neighbours.

The new congregation in Mukolwe is looking forward to their first baptism on 30 October. (It was originally scheduled last month, but "election activities" interfered.) This past week a group of us visited the "Head Man" of the village to ask for a plot of land for a building where they can build a small chapel of their own instead of meeting in the school. The men in this village have built their own homes and are not novices at building with mud brick and grass roofs. It is exciting to see and hear them make plans for their own chapel. We are planning a visit to the "Senior Chief" in two weeks to confirm the land allocation. We met the chief last year and received his permission to stat the church, but this meeting will be specifically for the land. It is a procedural matter and we expect no problems. The chief is a Christian and was very pleased to know that we wanted to start a new church to share the Gospel in his kingdom. Please pray for his meeting.

Please know that we appreciate your prayers for us as we remain...

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

05 October 2011

News from Zambia - 5 October 2011 A

5 October 2011

Greetings from Luanshya!

Spring has come in like a lion! The official rainy season does not begin until November, but yesterday we had a violent storm in Luanshya that tore to roofs off of several houses and businesses in town. I was working on a Sunday School building when the storm came upon us and watched as portions of a neighbour's galvanised steel roof simply lifted into the air and flew into the church property. There was some minor damage to the fence, but nothing serious. Fortunately, the people standing near the house were not in the path of the flying roofing sheets. The pieces of the roof were gathered and taken to another neighbour's house for safe keeping until the owner (who was not home at the time) can collect them and repair his roof. The wind was so strong that the front door of the Christian Resource Centre flew open and shattered the glass in the door. This morning I replaced the glass with wood - both cheaper and safer than glass. It promises to be a looooong rainy season!

Today was an exciting day for our youngest ward in the Lighthouse Children's Home, Andrew Silungwe. Yesterday was his 16th birthday, but today Sherry took him to get his National Registration Card. He is now an "official" Zambian citizen - and he is proudly Zambian! He is looking forward to finishing his high school education in 2 1/2 year and then studying computer science. He is also our "Mr Fix-it" who asks for broken appliances from friends and neighbours so he can take them apart and try to repair them. Your support of the LCH has made it possible for Andrew and the rest of the Lighthouse family to grow physically, emotionally and spiritually. Keep praying. They are still with us and have a few years to go!

A few weeks ago we mentioned the fire that destroyed the grass roof and all the personal goods of a man in the Kafubu Block farming community. Because of a gift from a friend in California, the "Shikulu" (grandfather) now has a new grass roof, a bed and several new kitchen items. Even though he is over 80 years old, when I went to his house this afternoon he as sitting on homemade scaffolding made of bamboo putting a small roof over his front door. He thanks us and his unknown friend for helping to make his modest mud-brick home into a "mansion."

Over the past few weeks there have been many changes in Zambia. After a rather tumultuous week following the national elections, there is a new president in Zambia. the ultimate handover of power was generally peaceful and a real example to neighbouring countries in the region. We appreciate your prayers for Zambia and her new leaders.

Thank you for your prayers and support on our behalf. Because of you we remain...

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