Greetings from Luanshya!
Greetings from warm, wet, malaria-infested Luanshya. Having malaria is an occupational hazard, but it is not a happy time. Every climate has its drawbacks, but at least we do not have to worry about shovelling snow, scraping windscreens or getting frostbite! I am glad to leave those “pleasures” to people who live further away from the equator.
I spent most of last week either in bed or close to it. I only got up to go to the chapel on Wednesday to show the first half of the film on “Moses” and to write our weekly update. On Friday I had a blood test done after taking my last dose of medicine and the test was “clear”, but the doctor said the headache might last a bit longer. It did. By Tuesday morning it was gone. I appreciate your prayers on my behalf.
Since the blood test was clear on Friday Sherry and I decided to go ahead with our project on Saturday to help distribute over 1,000 mosquito nets in the Buntungwa area just east of Luanshya. We were only supposed to be there for three hours, but three turned into nine and the job was not finished. On Monday Sherry and I returned to Buntungwa to continue the distribution. We are working with the Luanshya District Health Management Board, local clinical officers stationed in Buntungwa, a local community group like “neighbourhood watch”, the local Rotary Club and the church in which I have preached in Buntungwa to put a mosquito net in every house in this township. In so doing we are showing that we really do care about our community. The Zambia National Broadcasting Company came to cover the distribution. They broadcast the story on Tuesday evening and we were apparently shown helping in the distribution. I was at a meeting and missed the broadcast, but a number of people in town recognised us this morning. The news clip was broadcast nationally! Please pray that this small act of kindness will open doors for us to present the Gospel in places where we have not already visited. While helping people avoid malaria is a good thing, our primary goal is to help them avoid hell!
On Sunday morning I continued the series on Giants from the Old Testament by preaching about the servant girl who worked for Naaman (2 Kings 5). She acted even though she was a slave, an outsider, very young and a female living in a male-dominated society. She acted even though she could not do anything big and she acted even though the risk was high – both to Naaman’s reputation and to her life. In spite of all the limitations she acted. Sometimes we wonder what kind of impact we are having in this little town in this small country in the middle of this great big continent. Then I remember the story of this little girl whose name is not even mentioned in the Bible. Her faith was so strong that God included her story in His Word. It helps me to realise that nothing we can do is small in God’s eyes.
We are grateful for your prayers for this ministry. God continues to open doors for us to minister in some very unusual ways and to show His love to the poor – and often forgotten – people in Zambia. Every one of them is special and important to God. We are glad that God has asked us to represent Him – and you – here.
In His Service,
Patrick and Sherry
Dr. Patrick and
Sherry Coleman
Luanshya, Zambia Africa