News from Zambia - 5th January 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

2004 has officially closed. There was no excitement in our little town.

Everything was shut down and depressed. I spoke to three businessmen

this week who are ready to "pack it in" and look for greener pastures.

Still we see God working, especially in the lives of the people who

utilize the Christian Resource Centre. In the Source of Light Bible

Correspondence program we enrolled 29 new students, 280 lessons were

distributed, 232 were corrected and 29 certificates of completion were

awarded. Colin has been helping in the Resource Centre for the last few

weeks while home from school. It has given him an appreciation of what

happens in Luanshya during his absence. It has also helped him to

realize that there are a lot of young people in our area who have a real

hunger for the Word of God. He leaves to return to school this coming

Sunday. Please pray for him as well as our students in the weeks to

come.

One particular man, named Mr. Zulu, was reading our copy of "Active

Spirituality" by Chuck Swindoll. He came into Sherry's office convicted

about what he was reading. He requested extra time to review the book,

read the Scriptures and pray over changes that needed to occur in his

life. Please pray for Mr. Zulu. He is a professing Christian but his

church is not in line with biblical doctrine. He is on the verge of

making some changes in his life.

The week before Christmas we put together a box of duplicate books. When

regular users of the Resource Centre came in, we gave each one the

opportunity to choose two books for Christmas. The thrill of seeing

their faces as they received their surprise is more than we can express.

Being able to equip national believers for ministry is why we are here.

Please pray that these tools will be utilized effectively.

Malaria and cholera are present in Luanshya in a very big way. On Sunday

morning brother Chibumba sent word that he was unable to speak because

he had malaria. It does not happen often, but it pays to be prepared!

;^) Yesterday afternoon we heard that several people have contracted

cholera and at least four have died from this extremely contagious

disease. We are boiling our water and have told the members of the

churches with whom we work to do the same and to be extremely careful

about letting their children play in dirty water. Nevertheless, children

being children, this is always a dangerous time of the year. Please pray

for the health and well-being of the believers. Most of these families

do not have a consistent source of clean water. Many of them have to

carry water in used oil jugs often up to three or four kilometres. We

are blessed that the Lighthouse Children's Home has it's own well so our

children are not drinking contaminated water. (By the way, brother

Chibumba is feeling better tonight and was in the Wednesday Bible

Study/Prayer service.)

For the next few weeks I will be doing a study from the 23rd Psalm on

Wednesday evenings. The Sunday School is studying relationships focusing

on jealousy this week. The younger children will be discussing

temptation. On Sunday I will begin a series discussing the "Purposes"

for Christ's suffering on the Cross. I am looking forward to this

particular series as I have been studying it for the last few months.

All that we do is made possible because of your prayers and support on

our behalf.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry