Saturday, April 13, 2013

Ostrich Hunting

 Last weekend Justin was able to hunt ostrich. 

 This was the first time anyone in our family hunted ostrich.


There were a lot of ostrich but the problem is they are quite skiddish.  If they hear any noise they will run away.  

 They are a lot bigger up close than we had imagined.

 Here is the one Justin killed.  It weighed over 200 lbs.

It was a fun day!

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Vincent





 We are not sure what is completely wrong with Vincent. We believe there is more going on then what the family told us. They said he was normal and then a few months ago he was beat up pretty badly and now he can't walk or talk. I visited him a couple of months ago and he just layed on the mattress the whole time with a feeding tube attached to him. We gave him a BGR bucket at that time as well.  So on this day we just went to visit him and see how he was doing.  It was good to at least see him sitting up this time. He still could not talk and when we talked to him there was no indication that he was understanding us.  Pray for a full recovery for Vincent.
On this particular day I had two volunteers with me.  Linda is from SC and came to Zambia to help with our cluster meeting.  The whole team wanted to do more ministry among Zambians so on this day we split up into several groups and did various things.  Since we couldn't communicate with Vincent, Linda began talking with his mother, Falice.  When Linda asked her when she was born she could only remember the year.  It just happened to be the same year Linda was born in!  Below is  a picture of Linda and Falice.
Please pray for Falice as she takes care of her son Vincent.  Pray that the caregivers in this community would continue to encourage Falice and others like her who are taking care of loved ones who are very sick.

 

Saturday, April 6, 2013

BGR Buckets


Richard is HIV positive and has TB.  When we went to visit him this week he could not even get up to greet us because he was so weak.  As he shared with us about how he was feeling he said that the nights were the worst time.  He felt cold and alone.  Thankfully, we just happened to have brought him a blanket that a church in America had made.  We shared with him how God was always with him even during the night when he seemed all alone.  He did say he was a believer so we just tried to encourage him as he walks through these diseases.  We also were able to give him a BGR bucket.  Although he didn't smile much he was very thankful for all the things in the bucket that will make him feel more comfortable. Please pray for Richard as he has just begun the TB medicine a few weeks ago and still has a long ways to go.  There are so many like Richard all over Zambia.  At least he has hope but so many others live with these diseases and have no hope.  Pray for opportunities to share Christ with these who are so near death before it is too late.


Friday, April 5, 2013

Annual Cluster Meeting-2013


Last week we had our annual cluster meeting with all the imb missionaries serving in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia.  A volunteer team came from SC to help with all our mk's.  We had such a good time of worship and fellowship!  Enjoy the pictures.

 
 Me and my friend Joy.  I sure will miss her!  She left for the states yesterday.
 
 Lauren, Lily, and Easton with Hannah

 Me with the Helgren kids

 group hug



 Brad led us in worship each day. As you can see he was very talented. He played the guitar, tamborine, and drum all at the same time!

 We had a special prayer time for each of our teams.  We went around to different prayer stations and prayed for each family and ministry.





 One afternoon we were able to go on a cruise on the Lake.
Hannah and her good friend Evie

 Dwayne and Betty

 Justin

 Lesley and Kenny

 Mary and Van

 Amy and Mike

 River Belle

Sky and Country

 The boat stopped for a while so those who wanted to jump in the lake where crocs and hippos swim could do that.  I stayed on the boat but there were many who took a dip!

 Justin

 Isn't this beautiful?

 Hannah with her little friend Karissa.

 Our family on the cruise.

 Ricky and Niki led the volunteer team from SC.  It was so good to see them again.  They use to serve at our guest house in Lusaka.

 Susan and Jim

 Billy and Sara and Tracey and Lee

 Each morning we had some of our new missionaries share their testimonies.  
Chris and Laura Beth 

 Heather, Lee, and Staci

 It is never fun saying good-bye.  Our friends the Helgrens left this week...

 and the Packs leave in May.

 On the last night we have a program where the kids share some things that they have learned during the week.  They shared several songs with us.

 We had a time where we recognized these 4 who are graduating this year.  We gave them and Oswald Chambers devotional book.
Anna Marie, Troy, Matthew, and Justin

 We also had a time where we recognized our mk's who had been on the mission field.  There were several younger ones who celebrated being on the field for 5 years and then Justin for 15 years!

 Our family in front of the Lake.

 Kevin and Justin

Me and Kevin

me and Justin

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Many children in Lusaka go to bed each night feeling hungry.  Praise God for a feeding program at one local community school that makes sure they get at least a bowl of porridge each day Monday-Friday.  Some have spoons to eat with while others use pencils or rulers.  Several will only eat a portion of it and save the rest of their bowl to take home to share with other family members.  Can you imagine sending your child to bed at night knowing they had not been able to eat a meal?  There are many throughout Africa who are just like these kids, perhaps, not even getting one meal a day.  Please pray! 

 We had a volunteer team which came to help at our cluster meeting last week.  Afterwards, they stayed a few days longer so that they can do some more ministry and go to Victoria Falls.
The team was able to go to this community school and help teach and feed the kids.  They were such a blessing to over 500 kids!

 Linda is 65 years old and she wanted to help make the porridge.  

 Catherine

 Some of the kids lined up to get their bowl of porridge.















Mackenzie, 16 years old, from SC serves porridge alongside of Linda.  You're never to young or old to serve the Lord!