5 December 2012
Greetings from Luanshya!
It hardly seems possible that we are in the last month of 2012. Didn't we just take the tree down a few weeks ago?
The three "youngsters" from the Light House Children's Home that have completed grade twelve (Nancy, Dickson and Shadreck) are preparing to start classes at the Mobile Mission Maintenance Vocational Training Centre (www.mmmzambia.org) in January. They are packing their clothes and getting rid of what does not fit (or is not fit to wear). We visited the centre (yes, it is spelled "re") last wek and they met some of the teachers. They are both excited and anxious. Shadreck said "We are a family! We need to stay together!" Of course, growing up means learning to go out on their own and we are preparing them for that next jump. While we will not have them "under our roof" for the next year, we are paying for this year of school. We appreciate those who have made this particular ministry a priority in your prayers and support. We proud of our "kids" and the progress they have made over the past 12 years.
Staying with the youth ministries, Sherry is completing her lessons on the Old Testament with, obviously Malachi this Friday. Speaking for God, Malachi stood at one of the most significant dividing points in history. Prophets had come and gone, but the culture about him did not bear the evidence of their labors. The priests were corrupt (1:6--2:9), and the people, with some exceptions, were no better (2:10--4:3). But God was still on the throne--sovereign. He was the father (1:6), the master (1:6), a great king (1:14), the heavenly governor (implied in 1:8), the giver of promises and commandments (2:5; 4:4). As the God of judgment, He had brought about the doom of Edom (1:3,4). His curse was upon the unfaithful priests (1:14; 2:2,3,9) and those who had robbed Him (3:9). He would cut off those who intermarried with the heathen (2:12). There would be swift judgment (2:17--3:5). The Day of the Lord would consume the wicked (4:1,3).
Yet as the God of grace He would bless the faithful remnant, for a story of grace lay behind His love for Jacob (1:2), His covenant with Levi (2:4,5), His forbearance with the sons of Jacob (3:6), His offer to those who had been unfaithful stewards (3:10), the book of remembrance (3:16), the rising of the sun of righteousness (4:2), and the promised coming of Elijah (4:5,6). The Day of the Lord was coming, said Malachi. It would be a glorious day for the righteous (3:16,17; 4:2,3), but a day of destruction for the wicked (4:1,3). Yet between the lines can be read these words of grace: "Turn back, turn back from your evil ways; why then will you die, O house of Israel?" (Ezek. 33:11).
Sherry's lesson will leave the young people with four practical and lingering lessons found in Malachi.
- First, we tend to "cool off" or forget our promises when we begin to rationalize our sin.
- Second, those who are involved in vocational Christian service must be alert to the temptations of carelessness, cynicism, and corruption.
- Third, when the minister lowers his godly, biblical standards, many people suffer.
- And fourth, God never deals lightly with selfishness.
The final lessons of the year will be: "Celebrating God" and finally "Trusting God".
In Mukolwe the believers have completed planting the garden and are very thankful that the rains have finally started on a regular basis. All of them have their own gardens as well, but the take a day per week and work the church garden. In a few weeks they will begin harvesting some of the green beans and okra and use those funds for benches and doors for the building. A very special thank you to those who have contributed toward the building of the chapel Bit-by-bit we are seeing progress on the walls. The roof will be a challenge, but all in God's time.
Fellowship Chapel has started helping some of the boys in the Sherry's youth group with their school fees. High school education is not free in Zambia and a few of the boys come from poor families. They church has the boys do work on the property in return for school fees being paid. One young man worked for a week and his bill was paid. Another one of the boys, Alex, was asking questions about how one knows that he is truly a child of God. As we worked together mending the fence at the church we talked about his family and church background. He quoted much of Sherry's previous lesson from the week before and asked me how he could have that assurance being God's child. I showed him, step by step, how he could know beyond all doubt that he had eternal life. There by the fence of the chapel Alex bowed his head and became a child of the King. We look forward to seeing him grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
This month is filled with activity. In it all, we remember that we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour. Thank you for your prayers and support of the Lord's work here in Luanshya.
In His Service,
Patrick & Sherry
Patrick & Sherry Coleman
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
