21 December 2011

News from Zambia - 21 December 2011

21 December 2011

Greetings from Luanshya!

Two men died this past weekend from heart attacks. One was a tyrant - Kim Jung Il... The other was a saint - Goodson Matanda.

The dictator of North Korea was known for his immorality, cruelty and bizarre behaviour. His name was mentioned on every international news channel. The world is worried that his death will cause chaos in his country as well as in neighboring countries.

The church leader in Kafubu Block is known for his kindness, dedication to the Lord and consistent lifestyle of service and Biblical teaching. His name was not mentioned by any news reporters, but he was met at the gates of Heaven by the Lord. The entire community of the Kafubu Farming Block came to his funeral to say goodbye to this man of God. Nobody is concerned that his death will cause anything disruptive, but filling his place in the local church will not be easy. He was one of the men I have been teaching every Wednesday for the past two years. He was the one who always had questions at the end of the class. Constantly learning, he was a good friend and colleague.

At the same time, a new life was started as Alexious called on the Lord to be his Lord and Saviour last week. He has been attending the youth meeting and church services for several weeks. When he came to see me on Friday afternoon we began talking about his spiritual life and what he had been hearing in class and during the messages. I asked him if he knew that he would go to Heaven when he died he answered "No, but I want to." From there we opened the Bible and I was able to show him, from God's Word, how to know the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord, Saviour and Messiah. The angels rejoiced!

This week we will celebrate the birth of the Christ child as much of the world will be contemplating either events surrounding political and economic turbulence or advanced commercialization of the "holiday." Goodman Matanda is celebrating his new home. Alexious is celebrating his new life in Christ. Because of you we are able to continue to be  part of the lives of senior saints and new believers in Zambia. We appreciate your prayers and support as we remain...

Sincerely 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

15 December 2011

News from Zambia - 15 December 2011

15 December 2011

Greetings from Luanshya!

On a small piece of paper on the wall in my office are the words: "The smallest good deed is better than all the good intentions." It reminds me that even the "small" things that God allows us to do are part of God's plan for His Kingdom and our service to Him. I received a note from a man in Alaska thanking me for praying for his 30-something year old son who suffered a stroke earlier this week. His son, Nathan, is in Albany, New York. As a father with two "30-something" year old children who live a two-day flight from us, this was a more poignant prayer request. I remembered the dark days in 1991 when Christopher was seriously ill in the midst of our evacuation from Zaire. We were staying with friends in Zambia two hours away from home along with several other familes. I was making trips back into Zaire in hope that we could return home as well as taking Christopher to the hospital in a town one hour away every few days in hope of finding something that would allow his body to begin to heal. As I read my friend's appeal for prayer I remembered our situation 20 years ago.

My friend sent me another note:

"I don't know if you even remember but in the early '80's when you were in Bloomington, IN and we were at the church there for  a meeting presenting our ministry that we were starting at that time in Scottsburg.  Well that afternoon, Nathan about 2 at the time fell and hurt his knee.  You scooped him up made over him and took him in the office to fix up his 'ouchie' with a band-aid.  He came back out with you all cheery.  I remember he had on little red shorts and a white jacket that day and he was proud of his first band-aid.  You were his hero that day, and if he were awake I'd tell him that hero is praying for him tonight on the other side of the world!  Thank you for praying and knowing my heart felt twinges."

I have to admit that over the past 35 years there have been many little boys and girls with scratched knees and elbows. As a teacher, I have applied a lot of antiseptic cream and bandages to "ouchies." I never really considered myself to be a "hero" for doing it. However, to a little boy and his parents this "small deed" was memorable. Please remember Nathan Shoultz in your prayers today. Pray for his parents as well. As of this writing they are on the way to their son's side from Alaska to New York.

As we come to this particular season of the year we remember an event that took place in a small town in Israel about 2,000 years ago. Most of the political and religious leaders of that day were unaware that the world was about to change. They went about their lives with the same careless and egocentric attitudes and we see in many leaders today. "Stuff" was more important than the Saviour. Personal power and prestige was their ambition. The coming of the Messiah was not even on their minds. Yet there were the few - Zechariah & Elizabeth, an old man named Simeon, an 84-year old widow named Anna and a young couple named Joseph and Mary who knew that this "small event" would change their world... and ours. In God's plan there is no "small deed."

We know that the birth of the Christ Child was probably not on 25 December. Nevertheless, we celebrate that event in 10 days with special services at church, singing Christmas carols and watching children re-inact the manger scene. Christians will commit small deeds of kindness in their neighbourhoods. We will be taking small toys to children in the local hospital and sharing with their parents the love that only God can demonstrate through the sending of His only Son - our Messiah - to bring "peace on Earth and goodwill toward men."

So, as we are "decking the halls" and "a-wasailing among the leaves so green" (we have green leaves here in Zambia!), we want to thank you for your support during the past year. Your part in the ministry here is not "small" by any definition. Every prayer, every dollar is significant and we appreciate your faithfulness.

Sincerely 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

07 December 2011

News from Zambia - 7 December 2011 A

7 December 2011

Greetings from Luanshya!

"It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas..." Zambian style, that is: Rain, mud and more rain. As we walk through the grocery store "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" comes over the PA system while we walk through a maze of Chinese decorations, plastic Chinese toy trucks and yellow Chinese dolls. Yep! "commercialism" has arrived in the heart of Africa!

Last Friday during our weekly dinner with the Lighthouse family the kids helped me decorate the Christmas tree. Sherry took pictures, but later found that the memory card in her camera was corrupted so we don't have those pictures. However, the kids had a great time and enjoyed the Christmas film as well.

At the request of the youth class members, Sherry's class will continue through the end of the year school holiday. They are continuing their study Romans 14 this Friday - "Putting Grace Into Action." The discussion of "weaker brother/stronger brother" promises to create some interesting comments.

The roads to the village churches are getting worse as the rains intensify. The 20-minute drive now takes 30 minutes. By January this will increase to 40 minutes. Last week I had to repair a shock absorber (and order a new one). One of the challenges of living here is getting from place to place. Thankfully, we have an "army" of supporters praying for us!

Thanks to a few special friends who have given us special gifts, we will be able to give the Lighthouse boys bicycles this Christmas. These will give them better transport to school and church and given them a sense of freedom as they grow older. Sherry is preparing to give Nancy something "just for her" since a bicycle isn't exactly something she  wants.

As we prepare to come to the end of another year we want you to know how much we appreciate your prayers and support on our behalf.

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