Webster Nonde one of the new board members for Samfya Bible School
Class members at a Baptist training ministry in Manado
Two new Papua friends - very much like their Fijian cousins except much shorter!!!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
More Photos
Webster Nonde one of the new board members for Samfya Bible School Class members at a Baptist training ministry in Manado Two new Papua friends - very much like their Fijian cousins except much shorter!!!
From Lusaka to Manado
My time in Lusaka was a welcome respite. Meeting with Webster Nonde was a highlight. It was very encouraging to spend time with a successful businessman who has his heart set on the gospel and using God’s blessing of his life for the benefit of others. Webster’s role on the board will be a wonderful blessing - his training and background will provide an excellent support of the Bible School work.
On my flight to Johannesburg I sat with a young Muslim couple and their baby. They are from Zambia, however the husband is teaching at an Islamic University in Johannesburg. We were able to have a profitable discussion about “the prophet Jesus” and I endeavoured to challenge him with the exclusive claims of Jesus himself. The wife was wearing a full burqa and she talked about her own desire to wear this as an expression of her faith. It is sad to see the eyes of people blinded by Satan’s deception - pray that my conversation with them will sow the seed of the gospel that would bring liberation.
The flights to Singapore and Manado were uneventful. Simon was at the airport to meet me and we drove the 7 kms to the New tribes Mission sight. I thought I was back in Fiji - Hot, humid, coconut trees everywhere, bananas, pineapples, papaya... The people here are very friendly and this area has a heavy Dutch Reformed presence that has turned through the years to nominal faith. In many ways this city is an unreached people group because they are following tradition and not faith in Jesus. I am reminded of the older son in the story of the prodigal. He never left home, but he was just as lost as the younger son was - he needed the liberation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Last night I went with Simon to a class run by a Baptist training school. The topic was church planting and the lecturer was endeavouring to have the students think about how they could strategise to move out into a new ministry area. Simon is doing this study and completing a degree - really he should be teaching this class as this is the very thing that New tribes Mission is doing with their own students. I was asked to address the students for the last 10-15 minutes of class - be ready in season and out!! It was a real blessing to encourage them through the Word of God to ensure that the challenge of the gospel is maintained throughout their lives in the ministry. At the end of my time, the class professor asked if I would be interested to come back and take a week long block course in the school. Simon has been working hard to see an influence of Biblical Counselling Training here and welcomes the opportunity to see further instruction that would add to this training ministry.
It has been a joy to meet many of the students here. They are all “Indonesians” however their racial backgrounds vary significantly from Melanesian (Papua) to Asian. Today I will get to meet more of them and tonight share the word with them as well as our mission work in Zambia.
On my flight to Johannesburg I sat with a young Muslim couple and their baby. They are from Zambia, however the husband is teaching at an Islamic University in Johannesburg. We were able to have a profitable discussion about “the prophet Jesus” and I endeavoured to challenge him with the exclusive claims of Jesus himself. The wife was wearing a full burqa and she talked about her own desire to wear this as an expression of her faith. It is sad to see the eyes of people blinded by Satan’s deception - pray that my conversation with them will sow the seed of the gospel that would bring liberation.
The flights to Singapore and Manado were uneventful. Simon was at the airport to meet me and we drove the 7 kms to the New tribes Mission sight. I thought I was back in Fiji - Hot, humid, coconut trees everywhere, bananas, pineapples, papaya... The people here are very friendly and this area has a heavy Dutch Reformed presence that has turned through the years to nominal faith. In many ways this city is an unreached people group because they are following tradition and not faith in Jesus. I am reminded of the older son in the story of the prodigal. He never left home, but he was just as lost as the younger son was - he needed the liberation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Last night I went with Simon to a class run by a Baptist training school. The topic was church planting and the lecturer was endeavouring to have the students think about how they could strategise to move out into a new ministry area. Simon is doing this study and completing a degree - really he should be teaching this class as this is the very thing that New tribes Mission is doing with their own students. I was asked to address the students for the last 10-15 minutes of class - be ready in season and out!! It was a real blessing to encourage them through the Word of God to ensure that the challenge of the gospel is maintained throughout their lives in the ministry. At the end of my time, the class professor asked if I would be interested to come back and take a week long block course in the school. Simon has been working hard to see an influence of Biblical Counselling Training here and welcomes the opportunity to see further instruction that would add to this training ministry.
It has been a joy to meet many of the students here. They are all “Indonesians” however their racial backgrounds vary significantly from Melanesian (Papua) to Asian. Today I will get to meet more of them and tonight share the word with them as well as our mission work in Zambia.
Monday, September 26, 2011
People and Places
Dinner being prepared at Kaswetele (Inshima is in the pot - this one made from maizer meal and Kasava.
A new stove I organaised to be built that burns sawdust. There is much sawdust available in Samfya and having this at the Bible School will cut their charcoal bill down significantly.
Peter Chomba enjoying using his laptop that we organised for him to help in his studies in South Africa, not to mention the preparation of class notes and sermons!
Humprhey & Joyce Magula and family. Son James is in his final year of study in the Copperbelt doing architecture. I have seen his work and he is definatley a skilled young man.
Mansa & Overloaded Buses
My time in Mansa went very well and it was good to have extended time with Humphrey Mugula and work through the financial issues that the school has faced this year. The withdrawal last year of the sponsor who paid the students sponsorship has sent the school into catch up mode all year. When we look at the operational expenses that we as a church endeavour to help with we do not even cover the full power and water payments that the school makes. The need for more partnerships to help in many areas is very pressing. Churches and individuals who are interested in making a difference in Bemba speaking village life - we really want to hear from you! Email me on donald@riverbend.org.nz - any support small or large will be a huge blessing and an investment in eternity.
I was able to teach at Mansa Chapel on Sunday morning which was a blessing. They are actually an English speaking church and have an interest in supporting the school so it was good to spend time with them. Humphrey and His family hosted me for lunch afterward - they are such a lovely family, committed to the Lord and seeing the church grow. Humphrey and many of the church every Saturday are out doing personal evangelism - there commitment to the gospel is a real example.
Well the bus was scheduled to leave at 3.30pm it arrived late and we got away at 4:30pm expecting to be in Luasaka at 4-5pm. There was much dispute as there were not enough seats - I was moved to a seat that was worn out and had a metal rod poking the side of my leg, but even with the rearrangements there were still not enough seats. Well we sped off and made it to the junction where you go to Samfya in 40 minutes a journey that is usually 50-60 minutes - we were flying! At the junction a huge number of people poured into the bus. The Isle was full and I think there may well have been about 120 on board. In our row of five seats and the isle there were 10 people - 2 women with two children on knees and one girl about 13 years on the floor by their feet. On my side there was me, a man holding a boy, a woman and then in the isle a man sitting on a bag and my lap as well at times - 10 people across !! Well we arrived in Lusaka at 2:30am after leaving an hour later we arrived 2 hours early!! These buses fly!
I was picked up by the lodge I am staying at and caught a little sleep before another beautiful clear day in Zambia. Later today I meet with Webster Nonde a new member of the Samfya board and look forward to learning about him and his life and ministry here in Lusaka.
Tomorrow I fly to Johannesburg, Singapore and then Manado Indonesia where I meet with the Pyatt’s who work with New Tribes Mission. Please pray that I will be able to be a real encouragement to them in the work that they are doing and that I will be able to learn as much a possible about the training that they are involved with to many village/highland people.
I was able to teach at Mansa Chapel on Sunday morning which was a blessing. They are actually an English speaking church and have an interest in supporting the school so it was good to spend time with them. Humphrey and His family hosted me for lunch afterward - they are such a lovely family, committed to the Lord and seeing the church grow. Humphrey and many of the church every Saturday are out doing personal evangelism - there commitment to the gospel is a real example.
Well the bus was scheduled to leave at 3.30pm it arrived late and we got away at 4:30pm expecting to be in Luasaka at 4-5pm. There was much dispute as there were not enough seats - I was moved to a seat that was worn out and had a metal rod poking the side of my leg, but even with the rearrangements there were still not enough seats. Well we sped off and made it to the junction where you go to Samfya in 40 minutes a journey that is usually 50-60 minutes - we were flying! At the junction a huge number of people poured into the bus. The Isle was full and I think there may well have been about 120 on board. In our row of five seats and the isle there were 10 people - 2 women with two children on knees and one girl about 13 years on the floor by their feet. On my side there was me, a man holding a boy, a woman and then in the isle a man sitting on a bag and my lap as well at times - 10 people across !! Well we arrived in Lusaka at 2:30am after leaving an hour later we arrived 2 hours early!! These buses fly!
I was picked up by the lodge I am staying at and caught a little sleep before another beautiful clear day in Zambia. Later today I meet with Webster Nonde a new member of the Samfya board and look forward to learning about him and his life and ministry here in Lusaka.
Tomorrow I fly to Johannesburg, Singapore and then Manado Indonesia where I meet with the Pyatt’s who work with New Tribes Mission. Please pray that I will be able to be a real encouragement to them in the work that they are doing and that I will be able to learn as much a possible about the training that they are involved with to many village/highland people.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
New President and Samfya Board Changes
Well the new President has been announced !! At 12:30 last night I was woken by the noise of people going up and down the road singing and rejoicing at the victory of a new President. Horns sounded, whistles blew, people shouted. President Sata will be inaugurated this afternoon at around 2pm - how is that for fast in a country where everything else seems to go so slow!!
The chairman of the Samfya board arrived yesterday and I have had fruitful discussions with him. Wathabu has carefully guided the board in the last number of years and this year has seen the board trimmed from 15 to 9 members. This refocusing will continue to be a great blessing as the members now have a much more defined responsibility and purpose for their involvement. Sadly by August next year Wathabu will stand down from the board, however he will still have a significant input into the work here. His intention is to go to a Baptist training school in Tanzania that offers courses in both theology and rural development. He is wanting to focus in the development area so that he can train the Bible School teachers to better train students who come with little education from these rural places.
Wathabu is a strategic thinker about the work of the Bible School. He will on the completion of his training come and teach at the school and spearhead the ongoing training of graduates and their church leaders in the village churches. So while Wathabu will be stepping down, he will still have significant input even during his training and will become resident in Samfya in years to come.
Our curriculum meeting went well and will continue this afternoon, and the Finance meetings continue to progress. We look forward to the potential next year of having a team member that will come and do an audit of the accounts with the new administrator Mt Humphrey Mugula...
The chairman of the Samfya board arrived yesterday and I have had fruitful discussions with him. Wathabu has carefully guided the board in the last number of years and this year has seen the board trimmed from 15 to 9 members. This refocusing will continue to be a great blessing as the members now have a much more defined responsibility and purpose for their involvement. Sadly by August next year Wathabu will stand down from the board, however he will still have a significant input into the work here. His intention is to go to a Baptist training school in Tanzania that offers courses in both theology and rural development. He is wanting to focus in the development area so that he can train the Bible School teachers to better train students who come with little education from these rural places.
Wathabu is a strategic thinker about the work of the Bible School. He will on the completion of his training come and teach at the school and spearhead the ongoing training of graduates and their church leaders in the village churches. So while Wathabu will be stepping down, he will still have significant input even during his training and will become resident in Samfya in years to come.
Our curriculum meeting went well and will continue this afternoon, and the Finance meetings continue to progress. We look forward to the potential next year of having a team member that will come and do an audit of the accounts with the new administrator Mt Humphrey Mugula...
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Infrastructure
The frustrations of power here at Samfya are continual! Last night the voltage was so low - maybe 60 volts at the most and even now my laptop can’t charge because of low power. These power issues destroy things like fridges, electric motors, pumps - it is a major problem. Unfortunately that is the way of Zambia - everything seems to go slow!
That also includes the progress towards starting the new multipurpose room (kitchen/dining/conference/classroom...). We had a very good but testing meeting yesterday to address this. The dimensions of the building in the Master Plan are just too big. Without major expenditure on steel that is difficult to get and very expensive, we just can’t build a room of that size (possible with supporting posts in the floor area which is not ideal). All the timbers here are about 5 metres maximum, and so construction is difficult! We had the opportunity to go and visit a building close by at a new lodge. It was very well finished and was a very good size at around 10x16m.
After much discussion it has been agreed upon (and to be confirmed by the board) that the new building will need to be 10x15m with the kitchen being 10x3m (total 10x18m). While this is a departure from the master plan, it will still be within the overall plan of the Master Plan. The building will be able to host large groups, will double as a classroom for an initial period if necessary, provide a wonderful space for the students and truly be multipurpose.
Please pray for the work necessary to get this underway, the plans, sourcing of materials, necessary approvals from council (not difficult here like at home!!). The stockpiling of material should be able to begin shortly.
Thanks for your ongoing prayers. I have further finance meetings today as well as curriculum meetings with the staff today and tomorrow. We are yet to hear the result of the election, but everything here is calm - not so sure about the big city! Saturday I leave for Mansa and will teach there on Sunday morning and catch the bus to Lusaka Sunday afternoon, arriving Lusaka the next morning at 5am! Oh and praise the Lord, an individual has put his hand up to support the plans for Francis going to South Africa - God is good - all the time!
That also includes the progress towards starting the new multipurpose room (kitchen/dining/conference/classroom...). We had a very good but testing meeting yesterday to address this. The dimensions of the building in the Master Plan are just too big. Without major expenditure on steel that is difficult to get and very expensive, we just can’t build a room of that size (possible with supporting posts in the floor area which is not ideal). All the timbers here are about 5 metres maximum, and so construction is difficult! We had the opportunity to go and visit a building close by at a new lodge. It was very well finished and was a very good size at around 10x16m.
After much discussion it has been agreed upon (and to be confirmed by the board) that the new building will need to be 10x15m with the kitchen being 10x3m (total 10x18m). While this is a departure from the master plan, it will still be within the overall plan of the Master Plan. The building will be able to host large groups, will double as a classroom for an initial period if necessary, provide a wonderful space for the students and truly be multipurpose.
Please pray for the work necessary to get this underway, the plans, sourcing of materials, necessary approvals from council (not difficult here like at home!!). The stockpiling of material should be able to begin shortly.
Thanks for your ongoing prayers. I have further finance meetings today as well as curriculum meetings with the staff today and tomorrow. We are yet to hear the result of the election, but everything here is calm - not so sure about the big city! Saturday I leave for Mansa and will teach there on Sunday morning and catch the bus to Lusaka Sunday afternoon, arriving Lusaka the next morning at 5am! Oh and praise the Lord, an individual has put his hand up to support the plans for Francis going to South Africa - God is good - all the time!
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