September 2011

“God, give me work until my life shall end and life until my work is done”Anon

As I sit down to write this blog I cannot believe that the we are already in September.  Where has the year gone!  So much has happened in these last two months that I have found very little time to actually sit down and record it.  Before relating what has happened, I must give praise to God for  His wonderful provision and protection.  It is amazing what we have been able to do with what resources we have.

During the month  of July I was once again able to visit some of my students.  Again BaJonas, our Evangelist, and for the first time Renata, the Ladies Teacher, were able to accompany me. Most of these students live at least 60 kilometres (on bad roads) from the town and have to cycle in to the classes twice a year.  Visiting them in their homes and spending some time in prayer with them is a very humbling experience, you realise how little they have and yet they are so content.  It once again challenged me afresh as to how we take so many things for granted.  Just to sit on a flushing toilet is such a blessing when most of the community around us only have pit latrines.  I must confess that I have  absolutely no desire to crouch and read a magazine while busy on the loo in a pit latrine.  The modus operandi is to get in and out as soon as possible before you are completely overcome by either the smells or being carried away by the millions of cockroaches that make their abodes in these structures.  Visiting the students was so appreciated not only by them but the whole community in which they live.  We came back with many gifts ranging from  wild honey to live chickens, not forgetting bags of maize and beans.Thank you Lord for the experiences!

It was also time to start the classes on the College Land for the year. We have about a 4 month window period where we do not have rains or the students are not busy harvesting their maize. So when we hit these months it is go go go and more go. Hence you have not heard from me in a while. My voice actually  becomes a little huskier from all the talking and then recovers the rest of the year. Oh but it is so worth it when you see the Mighty Hand of God at work. What am awesome experience to see God at work! In July we met with the students Basic Discipleship Course. This is the first level of education with the College and we meet four times in all. It is wonderful explaining the basics of the Faith. Each time it reminds me of what a GREAT SALVATION WE HAVE FROM SUCH A GREAT GOD!

It was then time for the annual Church Conferences which are held in August. The first was the Baptist Conference where some 650 folks camped out in the bush for 4 days sitting under the Word, singing and dancing to the Lord. Many folks come with problems of all sorts and this is the ideal place where people find Jesus and are freed from their “demons” both figuratively and literally. I was asked to be the main speaker and it is so wonderful to watch how God begins to work in their lives as we move through the various sessions. The theme was “ Being Intimate with Jesus”. I preached using accounts we find in the Scriptures where Jesus met with people and how their lives changed after an encounter with the Saviour. Tears come to my eyes when I recall the folks responding to Jesus. Oh how the angels were rejoicing in Heaven! We keep on praying that God will tear down the strongholds of the evil one! COME LORD JESUS COME IN POWER! It was also such a wonderful privilege to baptise both Joel and Jack with many other folks at the conference.

It was then back to the College for another week of teaching with the Christian Worker’s Certificate folk. Only the Lord had other tasks at hand for me. The second day a Pastor in the Baptist Church lost his mother and so we all spent the morning at the mortuary comforting the family. They then proceeded to the village for burial. We did not accompany them but returned to class. Well the following morning I received a phone call informing me that a European farmer had been shot on his farm about 40Km from us. He is the only European farmer in our area. And so it was a day spent serving the family trying to get Paul to Lusaka, where his family lived. He just used to come up once a month to pay wages and see that things are ok. He continued to live in Lusaka with his family. Well praise the Lord he lived after being shot at point blank range with a shot gun. He had 25 pellets in him and none hit any vital organs. Clearly a miracle! Pray that this is the opportunity the Lord uses to speak to his heart about his relationship with the Lord. What a privilege to be in a position to be of service for people and the Lord.

Ok I told you things have been busy! Unfortunately, we could not finish the Christian Worker’s Certificate, but we will meet later again this year and then there will be a bit of catching up. And so it was off to the bush again to the Evangelical Church Conference. Wow, Satan has no power against the MIGHTY HAND OF OUR GOD. During the first 2 days it was really ploughing such hard ground with the Gospel. I could feel the heaviness and even the Evil One mocking me as I stood to preach the Gospel. The theme was Salvation, and what a sweet message! But on the last day the Heavens opened up God’s Spirit came down upon the group. What a difference! Even my interpreter went forward to be saved! Never had that before but praise God! God even uses the unbelievers for His purposes.

We now face a full September with three separate week courses to close off the year of teaching for the rural folks as the rains are just around the corner. Another blessing is that I have received my Entry Permit which allows me to stay in Zambia on a permanent basis. And yes we were also able to buy a new hot water cylinder. Clean baths at last! Some days my life up here is like a Country song. Our dog has a lame leg, the vehicle needs new tyres, the tumble dryer has blown up (needed to kill the putzi fly eggs that are laid in wet washing hung outside and hatch out as worms eating into your skin.), the well is drying up and the work needed to be completed exceeds the hours in each day. But then in typical Country style each problem will get sorted out in time!! Fortunately, we live in Africa and so there is no time limit.

These last 6 weeks we have had some great help from Jack, a young man from Cape Town, who has come up to help us. He has been superb! He’s been helping with school, painting and been our driver to pick up  supplies in town for the house and farm. At the end of this month I will be taking him back to Lusaka to fly out back to Cape Town. We are sure going to miss him!

Well, God is good all the time and all the time God is good! The family is doing great despite the onset of the hot season. The girls just love playing outside kitchen. Joel and Jack have been repairing a motor bike and that has been keeping them busy. Lynne is still producing the miracles in the kitchen and trying to keep the daily tornado in the house under control. We have had visitors from Russia, Tasmania and Burundi visit with us besides folks from Kasama passing through. Lynne has such a gift of hospitality!! We just keep being blessed with visitors. Take care and God bless you all.