6 March 2013
Patrick & Sherry Coleman
Greetings from Luanshya!
It has been "one of those weeks!"
Malaria is very common in Africa and especially during the rainy season. It is the number one killer in Africa and we have many friends who have passed away due to this disease - three in the past few weeks. A couple of weeks ago we were in Kariba, Zimbabwe, participating in a training seminar. Sherry was bitten by a malaria-carrying mosquito and came down with her first case of malaria in 23 years. On top of that, she was diagnosed with "walking pneumonia." The two diseases literally put her on her back for three days. The doctor prescribed a malaria cure as well as a very strong antibiotic. I kept her supplied with juice, water and broth with an occasional piece of toast or crackers. The good news is that she is feeling much better and is almost back to 100%. We appreciate your prayers for us - even when you do not know all the details!
Someone asked about the Lighthouse Children's Home ministry and have we closed the doors. The last young ward is living with us now, but we are still caring for the other three young people who left us for vocational training school in January. In fact, the hostel where the boys are staying is not complete. I was told that it had a toilet, but it seems that the toilet was a makeshift arrangement where a "pit latrine" was temporality constructed over the septic tank. So… for the past week I have been at the school property working with a plumber to install a toilet, sink and shower in the house as well as pipes leading to the septic system. Yes, we are still heavily involved in the lives of "our kids" even though they are not living in Luanshya. Pray for them as they prepare for life!
We have been helping a few boys with their school fees by letting them do a bit of gardening around the church and house They have finished grade 12, but they were unable to pay for their school fees so the results have not been released to them. Working for the money instills a sense of pride in their lives. All of these boys are orphans or abandoned by their parents. While talking with one of the boys this morning he asked me if I grew up with both a mother and a father. I told him that I did, indeed, grow up in a home with both my parents he asked me, "How does that feel?" The question hit me like a slap in the face. His mother left home when he was very young and his father is a drunk who kicked him out of the house three years ago. He has been living with friends for all that time and doing odd jobs to pay for school. He did not know what it meant for someone to love him! Sadly, he is not alone in his situation. There are many young people who have been neglected, ignored, abused and abandoned here. They are looking for some kind of support and a feeling of "belonging." Please pray for Mwape. We will be talking to him about both spiritual and emotional needs as we work together.
Sherry received a CD from new friends in Australia who were introduced to us by a friend in Northern Ireland. It was filled with hundreds of Bible lessons, PowerPoint presentations and 300 books including church history, commentaries etc. She has been given permission to copy the cd and share it with local church leaders. She has been giving them to church leaders in Luanshya. One of them is a Kenyan missionary to Zambia. When he received the "library" he thanked Sherry enthusiastically and said he would take it home and look at it immediately. He said he probably would not sleep much tonight. It is SO encouraging to see church leaders get excited about the tools for their ministry! Please pray for Bro Maina. His support is from local churches in Kenya and it is barely enough for him to live, but he is passionate about serving the Lord.
For the past several days a man has been coming into the Christian Resource Centre and reading a book about becoming a Christian leader. Last Thursday as Sherry was closing up for the day he asked her if she could write him an exam on the book to see if he was actually learning anything. She told him that he had demonstrated that he had learned by the simple act of recognising that he did not know everything and wanted to be tested. This is yet another example of how God has used the Christian Resource Centre to help develop leaders in our community. Having access to books, tapes and videos is something that many leaders in other parts of the world take for granted. What is not readily available in personal libraries is as close as the nearest library or a click away on the Internet. However, when you do not have a public library or Internet access, the Christian Resource Centre is right in the middle of town and open to all who want to learn.
With Sherry's experience with malaria and pneumonia this week she has been forced to rest, but the work continues and God brings people to us from all walks of life and various circumstances. Your prayers and faithful support make it possible for us to continue…
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
