15 August 2014

News from Zambia - 15 August 2014

15 August 2014

 

Greetings from Luanshya!

 

Yesterday I walked through the village of Kamafwasa with Bro Simwanza. The name means "little ant hills." This is a fishing village on the edge of the reservoir created by Kafubu Dam between Luanshya and Ndola. What really impressed us was the incredible number of children. Bro Simwanza remarked that the "little ants" were running all over the village. We caused a bit of excitement when I went into a small house and visited with a family that walks about an hour to go to church. Apparently a "mzungu" (white face) is rare in this out-of-the-way village.

 

Our purpose for visiting the village was to see a woman who had received a wheelchair about a year ago. The chair is fine and the woman is able to go to church in the dry season when the path is not mud-locked. What we realised during our hour-long walk is that there is a remarkable opportunity for the newly-trained Child Evangelism Fellowship teachers. We spoke to several parents and they were enthusiastic about a "Good News Bible Club" being started in their village.

 

I asked about churches in the village and was told that there are three – none of them Bible teaching churches. One is a small cult in the area. There are many, many small bars scattered throughout the village. They are little more than huts with children sitting in the shade in front of them. We were told that "most of the men are drunkards and most of the women are pregnant." One man said, "Nobody wants to hear the Gospel." I said, "Nobody has shared the Gospel."

 

Next week Bro Simwanza will be returning to Kamafwasa with a team of CEF teachers to start the first "Good News Bible Club." He said, "God keeps opening doors for the Word of God!" Indeed He does and we are excited about walking through those newly opened doors! Pray for this new outreach!

 

By the way, Sherry will celebrate the 11th anniversary of her 39th birthday tomorrow. She said she does not want a party. We are attending a training seminar with about 50 people so… I suspect there will be a cake and singing! I am so blessed to have Sherry at my side sharing and expanding this ministry. God is good!

 

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry  

08 August 2014

News from Zambia - 6 August 2014

6 August 2014

 

Greetings from Luanshya!

 

Over half of Zambia's population is under the age or 15 years of age. Many of these children are being raised by extended family members or older children in the family because of the death toll caused by AIDS, malaria and other causes. Hence, many of these children are growing up without a positive, consistence role model. As we travel through the villages and township around Luanshya we see hundreds of children playing in the streets, roads and streams without any parental or adult supervision. It is a major concern for us.

 

Bro Simwanza has a real burden for these children and enjoys teaching them Bible stories when we visit these rural churches each week. In the photo he is using a Bible storybook from Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF).

 

A few weeks I met with the regional coordinator of CEF for Southern Africa. He is based in Luanshya and an elder in his church. He is also a very good friend of ours. I took him out to three of the rural churches where we teach and he met with the parents and church leaders with a plan to extend the CEF ministry there and to train Sunday School teachers in those congregations.

This week he and his team are meeting participants from all three churches at a centrally located home every morning. In a few weeks CEF is hosting an international training course and at least one delegate from each of these congregations will attend that conference. We are VERY excited to see Zambians training Zambians to teach Zambians! Please pray for Stephen Kabamba as he leads this vital ministry in cooperation with us.

 

Early this week Richard, the Luanshya District Police Chaplain, visited the Christian Resource Centre. He had heard about the facility and walked by the building often and on this day decided it was time for him to enter. He said to Sherry that he was wondering if he was allowed to access the study materials and be able to prepare Bible lessons for the police constables. Sherry encouraged him to visit and use the materials whenever he was in town. Richard left greatly encouraged after taking a walk through the Reading Room and seeing the wealth of literature available at no cost.

 

The high school class has gone on break giving Sherry a couple of weeks to relax on Friday's. Of course she'll actually be preparing more lessons for the young people having finished a series on character studies. Pray for the teens as many prepare for their exams in grade 9 and 12. This will deplete the class greatly but may encourage those lost in the midst to speak up and participate more willingly. Pray for Obed and Nathan in particular. Both are young men without fathers and are finding the temptations of being a male youth in today's society particularly trying.

 

We appreciate your continual prayer on our behalf and the many projects under our direction. Your prayer and support encourage us to continue…

 

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry