In Ndola

Greetings from Ndola. Roger & I have left the team in Samfya and returned the GLO van which has served us well (despite a few over heating problems). The team continues with project work at Samfya for a few days before leaving on Friday for Kabwe where they will stay the night and drop off Kelssa at Pro-Christo. Kelssa will stay here for two months and be involved in the orphan and widows work as well as generally helping in the ministry.
Today Roger & I will try and get our visas from the D.R. of Congo embassy in Ndola so we can get up to Lubumbashi on Thursday. Murray Stevenson has said he wants us a s soon as possible as we have much travel to do – I think we are already sick of driving!!
The team debrief in Samfya before we left spoke of the real challenges and blessings we had encountered in staying with and seeing the work that the Samfya graduates are doing. Their commitment to the spread of the good news is a challenge to see. It is also wonderful to see the growing awareness and ownership of this kind of ministry by some Zambian Christians. For example a trust of business men (shop owners and government employees in the main) from Samfya support two men in Mpulungu, paying their house rent of K250,000p.m. ($100) and give them K200,000p.m. each for living ($80). This is not enough but what a great help for them in this work.
As we have interacted with these various graduates, I have been challenged to think how we can be of more practical support to their work. I know that we cannot help with every aspect of this work, but perhaps if we were able to establish a ministry fund administered by the Samfya Bible School board. The board could establish which graduates are doing a fine work and provide funding for bicycles, bedding and tents for the church planting missions, support for families when the husband is gone for 1-2 months... Such support would be a huge blessing and help to these faithful men and women.
Well we are very thankful to the Lord for your support and prayers – please keep praying for our health and safety and the clear communication of the Word as we move into the DRC.