Diary12-10

Update 3/9/11 – 3/14/11

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

We greet you in the name of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

A BIG thank you to all of our supporters who love us so well. We pray in thanksgiving to our God for you and we know you walk along side of us in love and prayer as we serve here at the college.

Life continues to be a great adventure as we serve full time at the International Bible College of Zambia. It has been an exciting time with three levels of students learning, laughing, singing, praying, serving and loving others here on the campus. The students have been working hard in the gardens each morning and their labor is being rewarded as the plants are all growing and looking great. I don’t believe we will ever get tired of hearing the singing and laughter of the students as the walk past our house. We are so very blessed to be a part of these students’ young lives.

Last Sunday three people, Anna, Mark, & Rosemary, came out to the college at our invitation to join us at church and then have a tour of the campus. Rosemary is a retired nurse and wanted to see our clinic and tour the college campus. After visiting with her we both knew she was not the right fit for the campus. Still, she has some great connections with other nurses and plans to help us out any way she can.

Three of the students stopped by our house at different times this past week. They expressed their thanks to Paul & me for serving here on the campus. The students were some of the ones that went to America so I don’t know if that is why they shared but it was nice to hear.

Lucy & Iris went to town and bought many kitchen supplies. A gift was given to Lucy while she was in America to purchase things needed for the kitchen. The items will help Phoebe and the girls get the hard work done of cooking three meals a day for the students. They bought food warmers (Large insulated bowls, coffee cups, spoons, sharp knives, wash tubes, more plastic plates, big bucket with lid and other items I know I am forgetting… Lucy & Iris really bargained shopped and did get the biggest bang for the bucks.

One morning I really listened to the sounds of the morning from my patio and here is what I heard: Big generator running to pump the water, singing from a lady walking by, students talking, laughter and singing, squeaking of the wheel barrow as it is being pushed down the road, welder running, tin wind chimes, many different bird calls, goats calling out to each other, shuffling of desks in the classroom.

I finished reading “The hole in the Gospel” by Richard Stearns. It really helped me understand the many faces of poverty.

Paul is working hard alongside the students getting the football (soccer) field ready. Last year the students and Paul got the trees down and the stumps removed. I helped Paul do the measuring for the field in that I held one end of the tape measure while he pounded in all the stakes. James has used the tractor for plowing, busting sod and then smoothing out the field with a heavy steel beam. Some of the students sat on the bean as it was pulled back and forth across the field. Now at the final stage, the lines have been put in, the white iron goal posts cemented in.

A contest was held to give the field a name and MANY interesting votes were casted. The winning name was submitted by Clarence, one of the junior students: “Kolembika” = “Perseverance” in English. It will be Christened “Kolembika Field”. The students are really proud of the field and cannot wait to play their first game. Saturday Pastor Lou lead a special dedication service for the field with others taking part. We were all in a big circle in the middle of the field. After the dedication the students held a scrimmage game and it was a lot of fun seeing the first plays on the field. Sunday afternoon was the official first game played on the field and our team lost by 4 -2.

I continue to have Friday be my cleaning day, and it seems to be working out well. John takes our throw rugs outside and cleans them with a brush and gets them looking like new. I get all the rest of the cleaning done and for a day or two the house feels clean. On the laundry front I can never get the whites white, but then again I never could do that at home either. If I want something really clean I give it to one of the ladies.

Sunday morning Paul and I headed into Lusaka looking forward to picking up Paul & Diana at the Lusaka International Airport. We had breakfast at a new restaurant called The Mug & Bean in the Manda Hill Mall. It was just ok. Paul & Diana’s plane was a late arrival so after we picked them up we headed right back to the college. Paul & Diana were greeted with the official College Welcome Song “Welcome to Kazemba” by the students and staff.

Pastor Paul did not have any time for jet lag recovery as he was up early Monday ready to teach the sophomore class. Diana taught the 8 freshmen girls how to make jewelry with the many supplies she had brought with her last year and more this year. Diana is a very patient teacher and the girls enjoyed her and were very grateful to learn a new skill. We made jewelry most of the week and everything that was made will be sold in the college gift shop. The girls were all able to keep one of the items they made. Diana also taught the staff ladies and girls how to make the jewelry in the afternoons. The ladies also did these items for the gift shop.

Diana did a super job teaching the girls in the mornings and the ladies in the afternoon. We were able to send some fun plastic beads home with the little girls on campus, “Anna, Joy and Ruth” so “Christine” was able to help the little girls make a necklace for themselves. We tried not to leave anyone out. Being the teacher was a lot of work as she was always showing and helping someone and with the morning and afternoon sessions all week we were both pretty tired.

I on the other hand was the gopher and the critique of the finished products and we did have some remakes. I am a pretty good judge of color and overall balance but let me tell you I AM NOT good at making the jewelry. I am not patient enough. The girls and ladies do a super job and are very creative with the designs they come up with. Last year we had a lot of jewelry in the gift shop and most of it sold. I think we made over $600 from the gift shop last year that is put into the student fund. The jewelry making is a win/win as it teaches the girls a new skill and it profits the student fund. Dear Diana spent most evening doing quality control on the jewelry the girls did and she had to “adjust” many of the pieces that were made. It was so nice to see Diana go over the skills that needed improvement with the girls the following days.

Pastor Paul is teaching the class “Christian World View” to the sophomore class.

Paul Schlick is teaching Basic Woodworking to the male freshmen students.

Please pray for Pastor Henry’s step-father who will undergo surgery this week for cancer in his esophagus. Pray for Lucy’s mother as she had a stroke and Lucy is caring for her at one of her sister’s homes in Lusaka. Pray for Pastor David’s mother who was diagnosed with diabetes. Please continue to pray for Betty with her diabetes and Iris with her asthma. Please pray for our friend back in the states Dick Strickland, as he fell and has a head injury. Thank you all for your prayers for safety and health here on the campus as things have been great in those areas. Please continue to pray for the students as they are in class to be attentive, and soak up what is being taught.

We have a very nice Sunday service with Pastor Paul & Diana participating in the worship team. They practiced with the students during the week and the students really appreciated their participation. Pastor Lou gave a great message on Perseverance and a good reminder to all of us to stay the course God has guided us on. Some of the students did a skit and they did a super job.

After church Paul, Pastor Paul, Diana and I drove into Lusaka for the day. We had a wonderful meal at Mike’s restaurant, walked around in the market area. It was raining the whole time we walked around the market area so that took some of the fun out of our shopping. We of course consoled ourselves with some great ice cream and then took home some pizza for supper. We didn’t have to cook or cleanup for two meals so that helped make it a great day!!

One afternoon Diana and I mounted most of the water color art work the students have been doing. I think we have over 100 cards ready to be sold in the gift shop.

With all the other jobs Paul is doing right now he has not been able to get back and finish the clinic tile floor. As soon as he is able he will start back up on that job.

Phoebe continues to work very hard in the kitchen with help from the girls. With the growth of the college we continue to see changes in many areas. This year the students’ cabin assignments were done so the junior, sophomore and freshmen classes were all mixed up within the cabins. This has been received very well and it has been very good to see the older students interacting with the younger ones.

It is an exciting time to be serving here at the International Bible College in Zambia. We see nothing but growth and great learning opportunities for the young people who attend here at the college. Please continue to pray for God’s hand to be on the college as it grows and expands in many areas. Please continue to pray for Lewis & Leah Nelms in Virginia who direct Gospelink and serve the Lord so faithfully.

We are so thankful to have Pastor Paul & Diana here with us; the time is just going by too fast.

We want to thank all of our supporters who stand with us financially and prayerfully. We pray for you often and thank God for how well we are being blessed through all of you.

You are loved by Jesus and us.

Update 03/22/11

Dear Brothers, Sisters in Christ,

Thank you all for your prayers and support of us while we serve here at the International Bible College in Zambia. It has been so encouraging to us to get your e-mails, phone calls, cards and care packages!! You have been Jesus with skin on loving us so very well. It continues to be very busy on the campus. The last two weeks with Pastor Paul & Diana Hofrichter here with us has been a blur. The three classes each had a separate teacher so the student’s and the teachers all put in some long days with class time, study time and work scholarship. One of the blessings we receive here at the college is working with such fine young people, who know how to be grateful for all the Lord has given them. We never hear a complaint from the young men and they are always willing to go the extra mile when you ask them to do something.

Our friend John has our yard looking like a downtown park!! The students really comment when they walk by how beautiful it is. They are now working hard on the area around their cabins, planting grass, plants and flowers trying to keep up with Paul & John’s hard work on compound oneJ

Diana worked VERY hard while she was here. She lived up to the “Rented Mule” status given to the workers who come to the college. She taught the freshmen girls in the morning and the ladies & younger girls on the campus in the afternoons the art of making jewelry. Now some of you might be thinking how hard can that be??? Well I am here to tell you she put in a lot of hours and even worked on quality control of the jewelry that was made in the evenings. Of course I wasn’t any help other than to be her encourager and gopher. I do not have the skill or patience for making jewelry. Some of the pieces the ladies made were really wonderful. I figured out that if we sold every piece that was made in the gift shop it would be almost $1000. Now that is what I call hard work by the female students and the staff. We even had the little girls Anna, Joy & Ruth make some jewelry out of plastic beads. They made some necklaces and bracelets and donated them to sell at the gift shop. Now how cute is that!!! When they stood at my front door and gave me the jewelry they had made I asked them if they had kept one piece they had made for themselves and they said “No”. I then asked them to pick a piece each that they had made because each of the students and ladies were able to keep a set of earring that they had made. It just really warmed Diana & my hearts to see these sweet little girls wanting to give to the gift shop for the students. The gift shop has been a great asset to the campus as all the proceeds go directly into the student fund for any extra or special need that might come up. Our American visitors all seem to be supporting the gift shop well and like it that the money goes back to the students. I also buy some items at the market in town so our visitors have more items to choose from. The water color art work that is done by the students and mounted onto cards has been received very well and all these proceeds go into the student account also. I get to have the fun of mounting their art work onto the cards and I just love that job as I get to see their art work up close and personalJ Diana was able to help me one afternoon and I must say we had a blast working on this together. It was the ONE time Paul let us sit down to do a job.

Well the last few days Paul & Diana were here my Paul thought of something fun???? For us to do. Diana and I got to paint black tar like stuff around our house and around the office building. We painted like 2 feet up from the foundation along a chalk line that Paul had made. So of course our work was inspected periodically to make sure we did not paint above the chalk lines. I must say the finished job looked great and it did pass Paul’s inspection. Diana and I did get quite a bit of the black tar stuff on our clothes of course and they had to be thrown away. If you by chance see Diana you will have to ask her why or how the black tar stuff got all over the back of her pants!!!:) I am making Paul sound like quite the task masker but he is the one who kept referring to us as “A good rented mule team”. I even heard Diana braying like a mule a time or twoJ

When Pastor Paul had a moment of free time on his last day I could not stand to see him not sweating like Diana & I. I sent him down to the gift shop with instructions to give it a good clean up. Keep in mind he is still recovering from recent shoulder surgery but I think I put the fear in him as he took my broom and ran out of the house yelling “Paul help me, help me”. I did an inspection after they left and I couldn’t believe what a great job he did!! I thought Pastor’s worked just one day a week but he showed me that is just not trueJ Now all you Pastors reading this don’t send me nasty emails as I AM ONLY KIDDING, I know how very hard you all work trying to herd a bunch of unruly, often ungrateful sheep. I just say Thank-You!!

Thank you to Nina our personal secretary who sent us a great package with some coffee, crystal lite, Bear creek soup mix, more jewelry making information, copies of our church service, more brochures and business cards and even two motorcycle magazines for Paul. That Nina is just the best!!

Friday came too soon as Paul & I had to take Paul & Diana to the airport. We were able to have a nice farewell lunch together at the Mug & Bean then we said our good-byes at the airport. I try not to cry until that last wave as they walk thru the departure gateL We thank our Lord for this dear couple who have served Him for so many years with open hearts. We miss them already!!

Since I missed cleaning day on Friday I was so glad (NOT) that I couldn’t put it off for a week and did it on Saturday. Jess is my faithful, constant companion and she helps me with all my work. I had to clean all the rugs myself since John was not working on Saturday. It did me good and reminded me how much I appreciate John’s help on Fridays. Paul kept busy cleaning up the area around the clinic and making trips to town to get his work permit renewed. I think it will be one more trip to town yet. He has made some back boards for the “Net Ball” game that the girls requested. I guess it is like basketball only without the dribbling. We need to find to posts yet to put the hoops on. I will keep you posted on this late breaking sporting event. It will be fun to see the girls out having some fun.

Sunday was another wonderful service with the message given by Pastor Arnot. Some of the students did another skit with a powerful message on love, and not just passing by when we see someone in need. The students are taking turns playing the keyboards and guitars and they practice hard to learn their new songs for each week. Paul & Diana were up front with the worship team for a few songs and that was just wonderful for Paul & me to see them up front singing just like at our home church. Pastor Paul is our Worship Director and Diana sings on the worship team. It meant a lot to the students to have them go to practice and then up front with them.

The name for the clinic is “Chifundo Community Clinic”. Chifundo is the word for “Mercy”. Paul & I have done some ground work for getting the clinic open but much needs to be done yet. Please pray for the right nurse to be hired so she can help with the gov’t paperwork and setting up the clinic. We have a team of 16 coming from our home church in May with some medical staff among them. We are praying for the progress on the paperwork and hiring the nurse to go as quickly and as smoothly as possible. The medical staff will serve for a few days at the Chongwe clinic and then see patients at the “Chifundo Community Clinic” for a few days. We are just so excited we can hardly stand it!!!!!

Now to change gears with some very tragic news. A good friend Dick Strickland was hit by a car yesterday while riding his motorcycle. The person ran a stop sign and hit Dick. He is in very critical condition and only God’s intervention will save him. Please include his wife Nina and his daughters as you pray for him. Dick had been to the college on mission trips and did a lot of work on the campus.

Thank you for your prayers for Pastor Henry’s Dad and Lucy’s Mom. Both of them are out of the hospital but still has a lot of recovery. Please continue to pray for them. We have had some student’s with some health issues, so please continue to pray for the health of the student body. Also pray for the campus clinic to be staffed and opened as soon as possible.

2nd Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

You are loved by Jesus and us.

March 30, 2011

I would like to open sharing some precious promises from God’s word.

John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubles; believe in God believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Vs 6, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.

Our friend Dick Strickland is in the presence on the living God. As the above scripture tell us God had a dwelling place prepared just for him. We rejoice in Dick going home to be with Jesus, but grieve with Nina, Melissa and Erin at their great loss. We ask that you continue to be in prayer for this family as they walk through the hard grieving process. Many friends from our home church have shared how they saw God work through Dick’s life in many ways. They shared with us what a wonderful memorial service that was held in honor of Dick and his service to the Lord and the body of Christ. During times of crisis and loss it is a wonderful thing to have a loving local church body to wrap their arms around you and walk along side of you. We encourage all of you to stay connected to your local church family and if you don’t have one, get out there and find a Bible teaching church where you can serve.

Paul & I were in town all day Tuesday going through the steps of getting his work permit renewed. With the help of Pastor David Daka it went well and we now await the official form, but Paul does have the receipt so this would suffice if he doesn’t get the actual permit until after the original one expires. It is our understanding that if a person lets the work permit expire they have to leave the country and start all over to get a new permit. We didn’t want to have to go through that. Before we headed home we picked up Pastor Efrain from Pastor David Nelms church in Florida. Pastor Efrain Silva from Florida will be teaching the freshmen class on “Leadership”. Pastor Raymond Bouchoc is here from West Virginia, teaching Hebrew Greek to the junior class. It is really a wonderful thing as the Pastor Julius Perry was able to be here to meet Pastor Raymond who sponsors him through Gospelink. Many times some of the American’s who come over on missions trips are able to meet the pastor they sponsor if they live close enough to get to the college. Pastor Julius has been able to attend Pastor Raymond’s class while he is here at the college.

My Fun Sister Carol called this week is express her sympathies to us in losing a good friend and it was so good to hear her voice.

One day this past week I had some village ladies come to my door for medical assistance. I think we have had at least 6 students at our door recently needing pain pills, cold medicine, ace wraps, eye drops, and ear drops, so the clinic cannot get open soon enough. It is so good that I have a small supply of medicine that some of the visiting Americans have left for us. It has all come in handy and served the people who have come to our door. We have taken 3 students into clinics, and one had malaria, one had an ulcer and one had a possible appendicitis.

It seems to Paul like he has had to fix most of the new things we have bought here before we even used them. We are thinking that Zambia gets all the reject stuff from China and Japan as most of it is not good quality. We have gone through 3 fans in 1 ½ years. The first one lasted a year and the second one 2 months and this last one didn’t work when we took it out of the box. It is not so easy to exchange something here and hardly worth the hassle or trying to get it done.

We had Pastor Raymond & Pastor Efrain over for French toast and scrambled eggs one evening, and then dessert one other evening. It is always such good fellowship and a blessing getting to know these Pastors who give of their finances and time to come serve at the college. We pray for a special blessing a protection for the men and their families.

Pastor Efrain was able to share the message on Sunday at our church and it was a wonderful reminder to get back to the basics of our faith in Jesus Christ. We all need a good strong foundation to build the kingdom of God.

Well, call me Betty Crocker as I baked oatmeal bars, brownies and homemade bread this week. I am not sure what got into me. We really appreciate the special food items and other gifts that the visiting American brings us. The cookie/brownie mixes are so nice to have around and it makes it so easy for me to look like a good cook. I once again marvel at God’s sense of humor having me here in Zambia. I never liked to cook or bake back home and now I cook 3 meals a day, and lots of dishes when you are cooking and baking, something so new to me. I am trying to keep my focus on the big picture of serving the students and not grumble too much. I do ask for God’s forgiveness when I get a bad attitude as Paul & I are SO blessed to have a cute little staff house to live in. We have a propane fridge and stove, hot water and soft beds. We have money to buy food and gas for our vehicle. We could not ask for anything more. We have been given above and beyond by our supporters back in the states and all we can say is THANK YOU for loving us so well. It is a good thing when we are able to help our neighbors with some of the many requests that come to our door. We ask God for wisdom in when and how to help with the requests. It does hard know what help is really needed and what is just a request from the rich white American’s. We are thankful God continue to give us wisdom in this process.

We had a good meeting with all the women on the campus and the female students about the process of feeding the students. I would say this has been the biggest challenge so far with the new students. Having enough food in supply and just the process of preparing and feeding so many. I know we are in the beginning stages and each month we hope to see the process improve.

Lucy, Faith and I did an inventory of the medicine/medical supplies to forward to the medical team that is coming over in May. It is just so exciting to think about the clinic actually being open within the next few months we pray. Paul & Kevin built the clinic in the spring of 2008 so you can see that getting things completed here just takes a lot of time. Paul has 4 rooms to finish tiling in the clinic and then that will be done. He is hoping to have it done by May but he does have a lot of plates to keep spinning, as do all the staff here at the college.

It is exciting to see the students eager to get to class and study under each teacher that comes. I do think they have all gotten the message that being on time to class if very important and they have been doing great. It is starting to cool off a bit and got down to 65° last evening. I just love it. The students think it is cold at 65° and start wearing their winter coats after I am here awhile maybe I will do the same thing. It is hard to imagine since I am hot most of the year but you never know.

Paul has made the back board for the girl “Net ball” game and they are playing that some. The nets need to get stretched out a bit as the balls get stuck in the net It is fun to see the girls out there doing something fun and healthy for them.

Well I best sign off and get to “cooking” lunch once again. Today is grilled cheese and tomato soup. Chad & Amber should be back next week and we can hardly wait. They will still be living in a cabin for a while as a lot of work needs to be done to staff house #6 to have it completed. They are young and I know they look forward to helping to finish the house and put their own personal touches inside.

God Bless you all for your prayers, love and support. You are here walking along side us and we never forget that.

You are loved by Jesus and us.