Greetings from Luanshya!
I was going to start this letter by saying it's been a really busy week. Then, as I look back at the last dozen or so letters, every week is a busy week. So, telling you this is a busy week is redundant. So, let me tell you how the Lord has blessed in this yet another busy week...
A big part of our time was spent preparing for our workday last Saturday at the new church site. Brother Chibumba and I had to cut a number of asbestos roofing sheets so we could lay them over the stones that serve as the absorption point for the soak-away pit of the septic system (if you don't know what this means... never mind). On Saturday morning we did not really know how many people were going to show. This is the hottest time of the year. Temperatures hit the mid nineties by 11 o'clock in the morning. I was pleasantly surprised to see twenty-five men and youth from the church show up ready to work. We broke stones, placed them around the tank, placed the asbestos sheets, covered them with soil, cleaned the plot and by twelve o'clock we were all exhausted, sore, and two of us were sunburnt...Colin and me. It is exciting to see this project progress. It is slow, but it is all being done with local funds.
On Sunday morning it was my privilege to speak at the annual Remembrance Day service honoring the WWII veterans of Luanshya. There are six of these senior gentlemen still with us. Present at the ceremony were a number of civic leaders as well as representatives from various businesses and the military. It was an opportunity to share the gospel and also to honor the memories of those who had given their lives in service for freedom.
Sherry continues the preparation for Vacation Bible School. We only have four weeks to go. Her team of volunteers is busy every day doing something. Our young artist, Edgar, has just finished the first wall mural. He has four more to go. He is quite a skilled artist. We are pleased to have him in the church. Please continue to pray for this particular ministry. The children in the Sunday School are telling us that we do not have enough room in the church because they are inviting all their friends from school to join us for the program. They were serious! Who knows...maybe next year we will have our Vacation Bible School at our new facility.
Sherry's youth lesson on Monday was from John 15 - The Vine. She stressed that keeping close to the Lord produces godly results in a believer. She brought the thought home by reminding the young people that as they develop fruit their fruitfulness will be seen as they serve in Vacation Bible School.
Finally, we have one special prayer request. Last night, Tuesday, I met with the Regional Security Officer from the American Embassy. We were told to be careful, as Americans, and he gave us suggestions on how we can be a bit more watchful with the circumstances around us. We are fortunate to live in a very peaceful part of the world, but there are "hot spots" all around us. We don't live in fear for our daily safety. At the same time, it is always good to remind ourselves that we do live in a cursed world and the evil one is keeping his eye out for how he can hinder our ministry. Please continue to pray as we continue to serve. We would not want to be anyplace else but here and we love what we are doing. Obviously, God is blessing the ministry in Zambia
Thank you for your prayers on our behalf.
In His Service,
Patrick and Sherry
Dr. Patrick and
Sherry Coleman
Luanshya, Zambia Africa