Trip to another part of Zambia

 Last weekend we drove 10 hours to the Northwestern province to visit our friends Nicholas and Alyssa Peveto.  We also took our friend Julie with us. We enjoyed getting to visit them in their home.  This is their first term on the field and have been doing so well learning language and now getting in to ministry.  They are expecting their first child in March.  So we are all very excited about that!

 We just happened to be there on Alyssa's birthday.  We had a good lunch out at a place overlooking this waterfall.  We enjoyed playing games while waiting for our food.

 There was a bridge which crossed the water but it looked a little sketchy to me.  These women crossed it with no problems though.

 Some boys enjoying fishing

 Saturday morning, women representing 4 different churches in Solwezi came to learn all about giving out BGR buckets.

On our way home from Church on Sunday we stopped at one of the many termite hills to take a picture.  They can get really big!

Me, Julie, and Alyssa

On our way to Solwezi we stopped in Kitwe and had lunch with Daniel and Grace Kim.  It is always such an encouragement to spend time with them even if it is for such a short time.

Happy Days!

Since the Voluntary Retirement Incentive has been going on over the last several months we have seen many friends leave the mission field.  It's has been so hard to see so many leave.  Today, however, was a happy day as we welcomed the Barnes family to Malawi.  Also, in Mozambique the Montanher family arrived in Maputo.  We are thankful for these two families who arrived to serve in the Zambezi Cluster.

 The kids making a welcome sign.

 waiting at the airport

 The Barnes

The Barnes family, welcomed by the Nalls, Rodgers, and part of the Kizziah family.

Love your enemy

As we sat in church Sunday we could hear the kids outside in their SS class.  As often is the case they were quoting a verse from the Bible trying to learn it so they could come in and share it with the church.  They kept repeating  "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." This went on for about 10 minutes before my husband came over and suggested I go out and see what was going on.  I was hesitant because I didn't want to embarrass the teacher but I went anyway.  As I approached the class we greeted and I just told her I wanted to see what the kids were learning.  She quickly showed me the verse in the Bible they were memorizing.  This made it very easy and not so confrontational for me to suggest they also read the next verses.  She asked me to explain these verses to the children and pray for them.  They still came in and quoted the original verse but then the teacher read the next verse and encouraged the church to love their enemies in 2016.  To be honest, I just couldn't believe that she hadn't thought through what she was teaching them herself, but it just shows how culture can skew sound theology and that there is still much work to be done in Zambia.

Are you loving your enemies?

Here are all the verses: Matthew 5:43-46 

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

 

Fun with Hannah

Hannah came home from school November 28th and had to go back today.  We had such a good time with her being here.  We were able to do lots of fun things with her.  Please keep her in your prayers as she starts back to school on Monday.  Enjoy the pics.

 

 On Tuesdays she was able to go with Julie to the seminary to teach the kids.  They were real excited to have her back.

 We made a short trip to Siavonga and she got to visit with her friends Taylor and Emily.  It was fun going out on the lake on a wave runner.

 The dogs enjoyed having Hannah here as well.

 Hannah celebrated her 15th birthday while here.

 Friends Emma and Sarah

 flowers for the birthday girl

 eating out

 looking at her baby book

 me and Hannah went to tea

 

 

 Julie and Hannah-Christmas Eve

 

 Julie and Hannah at their kids ministry

 

 going to mk camp

 Each year at mk camp there is a costume party New Years Eve. This year the theme was super hero's.  Hannah went dressed as Robin and a friend of hers went dressed as Batman.  Thanks so much Marci and Julie with the idea and help with this costume.  It turned out pretty good.

 a few pics from camp

 group pic-mk camp 2015

 Hannah and her friend Melody