Greetings from Luanshya!
Excellent news! We received Sunday School material that had been ordered several months ago as well as Vacation Bible School material that was given to us by a church in Southern California. Both shipments came from different parts of the world but arrived on the same day last Thursday. Interestingly enough, the Vacation Bible School material came in such a state that it looked like a truck had run over the M-bag. Fortunately, nothing critical was damaged! The videotape and cd still work even though the cases were in pieces. We are thankful that God protected these shipments as they made their way to Zambia.
This past Sunday we resumed the discipleship program with Derrick and Grace. They have been plagued with various illnesses and workplace responsibilities that have prevented maintaining lessons. Derrick is a police officer and is, obviously, on call when needed. This rainy season has been especially difficult because malaria and several strains of the flu have been prevalent in our community. The rains are slowing down so we are able to resume this program once again. Please pray for this young couple as they continue to grow in the Lord.
John and Sara Bwalya have been mentioned by us often in the past. They finished their teacher's training and are still awaiting posting to a school by the Ministry of Education. Unfortunately, that posting may be at least a year in coming and there is no guarantee that they will either be posted together or posted anywhere near Luanshya. They started a small pre-school but due to the economic situation, parents have not been faithful to pay the $2 per month enrollment fee for their children. John and Sara are literally living hand- to-mouth and desperately need steady employment. Please pray for this young couple as they have been faithful to the Lord and are determined to continue serving Him wherever He calls.
Sherry's youth meeting was very well attended on Monday. This is the first week of the school break and the young people are no longer involved in their private tutoring sessions, which they usually attend during the school term. The situation is such that children who want to excel in their studies are encouraged to attend after school tutoring sessions at an additional cost. Because placements in secondary and post-secondary schools are limited, only the top students are promoted onward. Therefore, most of the young people are in school from 7:30 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening. It was good to have the kids back in the Bible study where Sherry spoke to them from Ecclesiastes 1:17 "Apart from God, the pursuit of wisdom and understanding about how life works only brings frustration and disappointment." "When a godly perspective is brought to bear, this very same understanding becomes priceless."
Finally, this evening we attended the mid-week Prayer and Bible study. Brother Chibumba has been going through the book of Exodus. This evening's study was supposed to be the second half of Exodus 20. However, verses 13-15 took nearly 45 minutes. Questions raised included: "is the executioner committing murder when the State tells him to put a convicted murderer to death?" "If a polygamist receives Christ as His Saviour, what does he do with the 'extra' wives?" The discussions on these two questions were very lively. If you want to know the outcome, let us know because that's a whole 'nother letter...
We see growth in our church and are thrilled with the level of the questions and responses. Please pray that God will continue blessing this small assembly of believers.
In His Service,
Patrick and Sherry
Dr. Patrick and
Sherry Coleman
Luanshya, Zambia Africa