Greetings from Luanshya!
This week we have a special guest with us. Brenda Rains has been a friend of my family since the 1980's. She is currently teaching at Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya. During the school break at RVA, she is visiting students in Zambia and has taken the opportunity to come by and see me and to meet Sherry. It is always good to have friends from "home" come to visit. Brenda's first words as she got in my car this morning were, "I never expected to visit you in Africa and now I am ministering here as a missionary." It is always exciting to see young people grow into the Lord's service. Please pray that Brenda will have a safe trip as she travels around Zambia as well as when she returns to school.
The Bible Institute classes have been going very well. Two other men have shown interest in joining us. The most enthusiastic student is the youngest one. He is learning the difference between just answering a question and giving a full answer to the question. My explanation to him is "if you cannot fully explain what the Bible says, then you need to go back and redo your research." He has written pages and pages and he said to me last Monday, "I am just about ready to begin this." Please pray for these men as they continue their preparation for meaningful ministry in the local churches.
The young people in our church (and across Zambia) have been doubling their efforts in school. The test results from last year in grades 9 and 12 were not marvelous. The government is stressing the need for students to study harder. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is stressing the need for teachers to actually show up in class and not rely on extra tutoring sessions to supplement their income. Even still, it is not unusual for a high school student to leave home before 7 o'clock in the morning and not return until late in the evening. This seriously interferes with Sherry's youth class on Monday evenings but we fully understand the anxiety of the young people as they prepare for their exams. This week they are taking their mock exams so a lot of children are very stressed out at this particular time. Please pray for our young people as well as for the education system.
The Christian Resource Centre has been very busy with both children and adults. We have had several men coming in preparing for messages over the weekend and we have enrolled nearly twenty new students just this week in the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School. A number of these children come from homes where parents would never let them come to our Sunday School, yet they are excited about doing their bible courses which are, obviously, Bible based. We appreciate those who have kept this particular ministry in their prayers because this is a way for us to reach into the homes that would never allow us to present the gospel in any other fashion.
Finally, please remember our children at the Lighthouse Children's Home. They have all had their annual dental check up. "Most" are doing better but we have had a few problems with regular dental hygiene. While this may not seem like a very important issue to some, we are responsible for the complete care of these children and we know that oral hygiene can lead to more serious health issues in their lives. It is also important that we maintain the children's care because we have a testimony to protect in the eyes of the Social Welfare department of the government. Currently, the SWD is very pleased with the progress of the children. Brother Chibumba has even been asked to serve on the advisory board for one of the largest orphanages in Zambia. It is always nice to be trusted!
Again, please know that we thank you for your prayers on our behalf as you remember our ministry before the Throne of Grace.
In His Service,
Patrick and Sherry
Dr. Patrick and
Sherry Coleman
Luanshya, Zambia Africa