Diary7-11

9/9/11

Yahoo! God is good and life is good and HIS word continues to grow the students here at the college. Pastor Arnot, Pastor Henry, and Pastor Lou continue to teach the three separate classes. It is always fun to hear the students when they leave class time. They come out of the classroom just talking a mile a minute. As they walk across the campus back to their cabins talking, singing, and being an example of youth, energy, and love for God's word.

It has been a fun week with Arnot & Betty's 7-year-old daughter Mocha visiting her Grandpa and Grandma. She is a fun child and has sat with Betty and me as we crochet on our patio. Betty is injoying crocheting her first afghan and we have both been enjoying the time with each other and with Mocha. We also have spent some time sewing up holes in mosquito nets to keep any nasty critters out.

I had a nice birthday visit with my "older" sister Gayle. I won't say her age, but she is eligible for retirement :) Gale will now have some more time for us to spend together when I am back in Nebraska next month. It won't be long and I'll be back home having my bucket filled back up from all the people who love and care for Paul & me. Please pray for Paul as he stays behind and works at the college and walk along with the staff and students. Pray for my time in Nebraska to be refreshing, yet profitable in sharing the ministry of the college.

Paul has been doing dirt work and of course some landscaping down at the Chicken Palace. He also has been getting the screens placed in the frames that go on the classrooms. This past week he spent time on the financial part of his responsibilities.

Lucy shared with some of the ladies about the messages she heard at the recent ladies convention she attended. Ladies from six surrounding countries attended. I think Lucy said over 5,000 ladies were in attendance. The message was focused on the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our lives and walking in the spirit and not in the flesh.

Iris is sharing in ladies' Bible study on spiritual warfare and the reality that Satan is alive and well and working hard to lie to us and destroy our lives and our walk with God. Our weapons are not of this world, but that we need to put on the full armor of God. We need to flee Satan, his lies, and his downward pull in our lives. The teachers at the college pour out God's word into the students' lives, but Satan will do all he can to sidetrack the great work that is going on here. Please continue to pray for the defeat of Satan's plans to destroy any good work for God, not only here at the college, but in everyone's lives that support the college and all the people who will come on board in suppporting the college. Again, let us band together as supporters of the college and raise up our love and praise to our God, and He will answer our prayers.

The students enjoy watching the soccer games in the library room without the windows as this shows the picture better. It is fun to hear them cheer on their teams, as it reminds me of the fans cheering on the Nebraska Cornhuskers :) The students continue to work hard on the work scholarship hours. Gardening, digging out stumps, burn piles are around as they all work on different compound areas to clean up and clean out what needs to be done. They walk back * forth to the shop each morning to get the shovels, rakes, and hoes to go and work at their disignated areas. We are always proud of them as they smile and sing while they work. Now, I am sure this smiling and singing doesn't happen every day from every student--lets face it, some days are just harder than others.

I have already packed one suitcase and am getting some things done ahead of time. I usually pack two days ahead of time, so planning and doing some things ahead of time is unusual for me. I count on Paul so much to be the one to think ahead and plan things out; he is reminding me that this is my trip back to Nebraska and I best get to planning some things.

My fun sister Debbie called us from Phoenix and we had a wonderful visit as we shared some plans for the week that our Phoenix family will be in Nebraska. My brother Dwayne, his new wife Jill, and their two sons, Wesley & Dean, will be back at the same time so some family pictures will be taken. The family members who cannot be there will have to be photo-shopped in--isn't technology a useful thing at times?

I have walked around campus and taken some pictures that I can share with others back in Nebraska, so that will be fun. It seems the students are always ready and eager to have their pictures taken. One of the students wanted his picture taken with Paul and me to give to Ben--he also wrote a nice personal letter to Ben thanking him for sharing Paul and me with him and also telling Ben that he prays for him every day. This touched my mother's heart so much! It is such a ministry to my heart to know that others are praying for our son Ben. It reminds us to be grateful for the power of prayer and that people love us enough to keep our Ben in their prayers.

The students continue to need medication for usual aches and pains. We have had to make trips to town these last few weeks to have different students looked at. Please continue to pray for the shipping container full of medical supplies to arrive as soon as possible (November??) so the clinic can be set up and ready to go when the medical staff God chooses will arrive to serve in the clinic.

Well, in the kitchen front at my house I have actually burned the French toast and grilled cheese sandwiches. I thought it impossible to mess those things up, and yet I managedJ I am blaming it on the skillet that has no Teflon left but maybe that is a stretch. When I placed the tore apart sandwiches on Paul’s plate I just told him to use a fork and not look at it while he ate ;) He is a very wise man--after 36 years of marriage and just told me not to worry about it as they tasted great :) I continue to make him brownies, peanut butter bars and cakes for dessert and this seems to satisfy his sweet tooth and helps him be so forgiving when I just have to complain a little bit about having to cook all the time. I do confess to God and ask His forgiveness for complaining and having a wrong attitude about cooking and dishes. It is such a trivial thing when I know my neighbors would give anything to have food to cook and a nice home to cook in and to do dishes in. The Holy Spirit continues to nudge me and ask me “Lori, where is your focus?” and that seems to pull me right back to changing my focus from self to my precious heavenly Father.

Some of the students had to butcher one of the goats today as he was getting mean and hurting some of the other goats. The students are looking forward to goat meat this Saturday. We now have 10 goats left and I pray we can get some more baby goats to have around for a while.

I watched the movie “Marley and Me” once again and laughed and cried. At the end of the movie which is so sad, I held Jess on my lap and asked God to bless her with a long healthy life. Paul has been left specific instructions in how to care for Jess while I am gone. She loves having her doggie bed moved outside each morning and then has to have it moved back in each evening and placed beside our bed. She likes a little doggie food juice or some of our left overs mixed in with her dry dog food. She like her routine of a good walk in the morning and evening and expects to take a rest at noon time on the big bed. Some of the staff has tried to comfort me by telling me they will help Paul in loving Jess well so she won’t miss me too much. Some tell me she must be the most spoiled dog, or well-loved dog in all of Zambia--I think maybe they are right.

We made our usual trips to town and Paul got a freezer part picked up to fix the old freezer that will help us have more meat on hand for the students. We had a nice man, Charles who came out and fixed our refrigerator and showed Paul what need to be done to fix the old freezer. He wanted to see the college so he was more than eager to make the trip from Lusaka to come out and help us with some refrigeration repairs.

Memory verse for this week, 1 John 3: 16-17 this is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ laid down His live for us. And we out to lay down our lives for our brother (17) if anyone has material possessions and see his brother in need but have no pity on him how can the love of God be in him.

Thank you all for your continued support for us and the ministry of the college with prayer, finances and coming over on short term mission trips.

You are loved by Jesus and us.

September 20, 2011

Love to all our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.

Life continues to be busy at the college with students, staff, neighbors, and visitors.

We had a special lunch this past week for the area Headmen and Headwomen of the local villages. It was a time to give them a tour of the college, show the progress and thank them for their support with a nice lunch. I do believe they al enjoyed the visit.

The students have been enjoying meat more often with their evening meals as the double sponsorships are being picked up. Thank you to all of you who support the students with a sponsorship and thank you to everyone who supports the general ministry of the Bible College. The Lord continues to provide for the needs of the college. It is an exciting time to see students mature and serving the Lord in nearby area churches each Sunday.

On Sunday evening Paul, Jess, and I took a long walk down the dusty road. I know we do not do that often enough, and as we are usually asleep too early to do any stargazing together. The sky is so beautiful, but I know wherever you live there are points of beauty. We need to take time to see them, and to thank God for His beautiful creation.

I was able to visit with my friend Marylyn Christenson from Grand Island this week; she is organizing a small group bible study that I will be able to be a part of while I am back in Nebraska. I am so excited about the opportunity to grow God's word in some ladies' bible studies.

I thought I would share some of the items I was asked to help with last week: John Z had a sprained ankle, Doreen had an upset stomach and cough, Mex had a nosebleed, Mary has joint pain, Lafayo was down with a cold, Mwansa had a headache, and Bright also complained of a headache. James had to be taken to the Chongwe clinic for stomach pains; he was diagnosed with worms--at least that's easily treated.

This is a good time to remind you to pray for the loaded container of medical supplies on its way, and to pray for God to send some medical staff so the clinic could be opened. We have had some visitors to the clinic this past week and they asked if it would be open to the community. We would ask for your prayers that the paperwork for the clinic get done and God guide us in the right way to go in this paperwork process.

Last week I was able to finishe sewing up the holes in some mosquito nets. I was so proud of Betty as she has finished crocheting an afghan and it looks great! If you can imagine me teaching someone to crochet--it is a hoot! I can do a single crochet stitch, and that is about the extent of my skills, but Betty did a nice job with that one stitch.

Paul & Chad were able to look at a truck that was for sale in Chongwe, but it was no good. Please pray for God to guide us in finding the right truck at a great price. Everyone in Zambia wants the same thing, so this is a BIG request and we know God will supply in His time.

Paul put the sawdust down on the chicken floor, has the coarcoal, and charcoal burners ready to go when the chicks arive.

Paul picked up Lucky, a young man who has been in the chicken-raising business for 18 years. We have hired Lucky to help us get this first batch of chicks off to a good start. He and Paul put the medicine in the chicken water containers and disinfected the chicken house. Paul is making a lot of trips down the road and back to pick up Lucky, but he feels it is worth it to have an expert guide us through the chicken raising process this first time.

Four students: Luke, Max, Lufayo, and Middle Isaac, have been chosen to work at the chicken house and learn from an expert how to raise chickens. This is a wonderful opportunity fo these young men--one that can help them after they graduate and need to have every opportunity to support themselves and their future families. I sent a sandwich, chips, and cookies with Paul so he and Lucky could have a sandwich on the road as Paul drove Lucky home. When Paul got back he told me he was still hungry as Lucky asked for Paul's lunch so he could give it to his wife. I guess a cheese sandwich and chips can be a special meal when you've never had it.

I had an exciting time cleaning out the freezer /fridge in the teacher's cabin this week. It really wasn't bad at all. Of course laundry is always calling my name and I admit that the ladies hand washing gets the clothes a lot cleaner than machine washing. I think when they wash it it is harder on the clothes, but they really do get them clean.

Special verse to me this week: Romans 5:5--Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

I cleaned the office this week for the men so they could get it dirty again. The curtains that Diana Hofrichter made look really nice hanging on the office windows. Mildred made some black crocheted tie-backs and they look really nice, too. When you visit the campus we will give you a tour of the campus office. The office is used by the men on staff and is open for our visiting teachers to use as well. It has proven to be well-used for meeting, study, and getting items printed off the computer.

Wednesday September 14, Pastor Lou guided a special prayer time. Staff and students circled the chicken house, held hands and the staff and student leaders lead in a time of thankfulness to God for the many people who helped with the building and also asked His blessing on the Chicken Operation. After this time we all went to the classroom for the weekly cChapel service. Junior studetn James Sakala shared from God's word using 2Timothy 3:16 & 17 for the message. It is great that Pastor Lou is having the junior studetns take turns sharing the message at the Wednesday Chapel services. Each time we come together around God's word, and with praise on our lips--it is a holy time.

Thursday Lucky rode with the truck to deliver the chicks as far as the Kazemba turn-off and then they loaded the 509 chicks into our Toyota and brought them back to the Chicken House. The stress medicine and vitamins had been put in the water and feeders filled. It was exciting as Lucky, Paul, Lafayo, Mex, and I all unloaded the chicks from the little cardboard containers and made sure they were all OK.

Lucky told us not to let people in to look at the chicks until after the first week, and then to look through the wire fence, as this will keep any disease from coming into the chicks. Paul had put newspaper down the middle of the floor (the length of the building), and the chick feed was put on top of this. The chicks then eat off the paper and the noise that their scratching feet make calls the other chicks and shows them where the food is.

It is fun to watch them adjust to their new home and find the food and water. The chicks need to be watched 24/7 for the first week. Paul and the four students will take shifts in caring for them. We have three big charcoal burners placed around on the floor in the building to keep the chicks warm; the first 3 days the temperature needed to be 90 degrees.

After 3 days Paul was able to roll up the top part of the heavy plastic to let in some fresh air. The cool way that Paul attached the upper and lower levels of the plastic work very well and he can do it himself in less than 10 minutes. We have had some very windy days and I was concerned about the plastic staying on, but no worries: it worked really well. After 6 days, no chicks died--what a great way to start! Thank you all for your prayers for the chicken operation.

Friday, Mickey from Des Moines, Iowa, was out to stay at the college for 3 days. It was great to see him again, as he was here last year with Pastor John Colyer from Ankeny, Iowa. Mickey is checking out some options for ways he and some of his supporters could best help the college ministry. It is so encouraging to have people return and want to do more for God's kingdom. Mickey joined the students for a "football" game and looked pretty tired when the games were over. He was able to help the students do some trench digging so he will go home a little more tired than when he came, I think. We were blessed to have Mickey over for a few evening meals and fellowship. It was wonderful to hear about his family and how supportive they are of his making this long trip to support Kingdom work. Please pray for God to open doors and give Mickey wisdom as he uses the resources. Paul and I took Mickey to the airport Monday morning and saw him through the check-in process. It is always sad to see our visitors leave. Thank you, Mickey, for making the sacrifice to fly over and support the Gospelink ministry.

We did get an email from our son Ben this week that was longer than 2 sentences. I think this message was 5 sentences. He is usually a man of few words. I think he is excited about my visit home with a long message like that one :) I just can't wait to spend time with him doing some fun stuff.

On Sunday, Pastor Lou gave a great message from several vereses in Proverbs. It was a challenge for all of us to be prudent men and women as we seek to serve God. Paul was on chicken watch, so he was unable to attend the service with me. After lunch, Lafayo was able to give Paul a break. WE have provided a radio, bread, sugar and peanut butter for the students as they work at the chicken house. There is a mattress on the floor so the studetns can take turns at having a nap inbetween their shifts. The schedule the four students have set up seems to be working well.

Paul is very proud of them and the interest they have shown in learning. They seem to realize that this is a great opportunity for them and they are all taking good notes and asking Lucky a lot of good questions. Paul made another trip to pick up Lucky and bring him out to check the chicks and this time his wife Jen and her friend Loveness came along.

While the men gave the chicks some scheduled medication, I gave the ladies a tour of the campus. They just could not gete over how big the campus was and were very impressed with the buildings and the general campus lay-out. I had to show them the gift shop, of course. I asked them each to pick a piece of jewelry as a thank you to them for coming to visit the college and for Jen, as she is supporting Lucky in helping us with the chicks. Both of these families work at an orphanage and keep 8 orphans each in their homes. One of the little girls (may-be 9 years old) cannot speak, so she is a special challenge for Jen--please keep these families in your prayers.

After we dropped Mickey off at the airport we had a nice breakfast at Manda Hill and of course thought of Mickey and knew he would soon be enjoying his gourmet breakfast in flight :)

I was able to spend some time in the salon getting a haircut, eyebrow clean-up, pedicure and the lady insisted that she put some color on my eyebrows because she said "You can't even tell you have eyebrows." Well, what was I supposed to do??? She had me at her mercy after I had just endured the painful process of her "threading" out my eyebrows, so I said yes. Well, just so you know I now have "Groucho Marx" looking eyebrows :) Oh, what we ladies do in the name of beauty! When we got home from town we had Serah and Mwansa in our house doing our dishes!!! Serah had the keys to our house to let Jess out and she saw my dirty dishes and told me they did not look very smart, which is her way of saying that my sink of dirty dishes did not look good. She knows doing dishes is not my favorite thing, so she and Mwansa just did them for me--now that was so nice to come home to!

As of today (Tuesday Sept 20), we have not lost one chick! Thank you for all your prayers! It is getting hot, 89 degrees today, so Paul was able to open up the two upper sides of the chicken building. I did 5 loads of laundry today and am trying to gete the house in shape and organized so I leave Paul with all my "stuff out of the way. He and Jess are already starting to miss me, and look a little sad. I knwo God will honor my trip and He will take good care of Paul and Jess for me. Paul has some great plans about letting Jess sit up at the table with him and putting her dog dish on the table! Yikes, I hope not--she is spoiled enough already. Jess has told me she intends to sleep on my side of the bed, so she can catch some of the air from the fan. :)

Paul always give me a report early each morning about what kind of night the chicks had...Some people listen to the weather report each morning, but I just wait to get the chick report.

Memory verse fo this week: Proverbs 22:3. The prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the simple man goes on, and is punished for it.

Thank you for your faithful prayers, encouragement and support of us as we serve with Gospelink at the International Bible College in Zambia. You are loved by Jesus and us.

September 25, 2011

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

Today is my last day in Zambia for a while as I fly out of Lusaka tomorrow afternoon. I am so excited so see family and friends back in Nebraska, but these past few days have been sad also. The students have come to say good-bye and ask if I would give their love and prayers to everyone that I see who have been here, praying or supporting the college ministry. The updates might be a bit shorter as I will have to depend on Paul to get me the happenings at the college, and he is kind of busy! Pastor Henry, Pastor Lou, and Pastor Arnot completed this session of teaching this week.

The chicks are doing really well, and just one chick is not being kept in the chick hospital (really just a box to keep the others from pecking at it). The student chicken keepers are doing a super job and Paul is keeping them supplied with bread and peanut butter in case they need a snack during their shift. Paul took our radio down to the students watching the chickens--I am thinking we will not be getting that radio back in the house very soon!

I am so proud of Betty as she has finished her first afghan, and even put fringe on it. I think she is very happy with her accomplishment. Pastor Arnot tells me the blanket is for him....but, we will have to see who gets to use it when the cooler weather comes!

Paul and I walked down to the workshop after supper and I inspected the eight wooden crates he made for hauling chickens into town. They really look nice. I must admit I would not have the patience to do all that measuring, cutting, sanding, and nailing it takes to make all of those little boards. I just remind myself that God has given us all different gifts.

We ladies of the campus met on Thursday for a nice farewell time of devotion and prayer before I leave. It was a special time for me as each lady shared something about me that ministered to them. I will miss my Zambia family so much!

The big news is that Zambia elected a new president: Michael Satu. It seems that most of the country is happy with the change. Of course, whomever I visit with about the new president has a different reason for liking (or disliking) him. I heard there was lots of celebrating in the cities, and the students did a little celebrating of their own.

John Z, who does all of the yardwork on compound #1, brought Paul & me a tall skinny cactus as a gift. He found it in the wild and we put it with the other plants around the patio--it looks very nice there.

I did all my major packing on Saturday, and feel pretty good about it. I am only taking one suitcase and a carry-on. I am also taking just the shoes I will be wearing, if you can believe that! (Me, who loves shoes so much, traveling with just one pair. I continue to amaze myself!) I walked around campus and took some pictures and some pictures of students during their work scholarship time. I gave our sweet dog Jess a bath out on the lawn so she'd be clean for Paul while I am gone. She was so good for me--she just stood in the tub without moving and let me scrub her clean. I think Paul and Jess will take good care of each other. I hired Serah and her sister Maria to come over and help me clean--I must say my stove and fridge have not been this clean in a long while. They did a good job and enjoyed earning some money, snacks, and lotion.

Some of the male students cleaned out the cabins for the next team that is coming from Iowa on Monday. I am sorry that I will miss seeing Pastor Todd Stiles and the team members that will be with him. Please pray for them as they serve for 10 days in Zambia.

I spent an hour or so shelling peanuts with Betty and some of our neighbors. We had a fun time of fellowship during this project; they all seemed to enjoy laughing at the way I do things and some of the things I say...Laughter is good medicine :)

It has been extremely windy this past week, so I guess the wind is going to blow the change of the season. Usually it does not start to rain until November, but some small teasing rains can come in October. I must admit I am glad to be missing two of the hottest months. I will be in cool/cold Nebraska. I keep forgetting it will be cold. I will just have to buy or borrow what I need for the cold weather since I have so few long-sleeved tops or long pants for that matter. It will be nice to be in cooler weather for a change!

This week's memory verse: Psalms 118:15 - The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous.

Thank you all so much for your prayers, encouragement, and financial support. I also want to thank the anonymous donor who helped provide money for my ticket home--Bless you real good!

You are loved by Jesus and us.