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
