From Drop Box

This is Pastor Levy Siachitema of Kazangula Baptist Church southwest of Livingstone. He is one excited young pastor who has started Tonga literacy classes resulting from the training we provided in October, 2008. Pray that Bible based literacy will continue to blossom out in southern provinces. Phestus and Peter will be observing his teaching when they visit his class week of April 13. PRAY FOR THEM ALL!

Mary Phiri is the student on the right whose testimony you read in the blog.

My 3 Zambian sons l-r: Peter , George, Phestus!

Time to board the bus, head out to John Howard compound, visit the students and see the market sights! Are you ready?

Help! We are so crowded in our small classroom!

Look what God is doing! We're overflowing with students! What a great problem! Can you see that we need more room??

Joel Siame, our graduate, training to be a teacher!

After our Friday school visit, let's take the bus to Chilenge and Bethrapha Baptist where Lucy is teaching a Bible verse to her Sunday School class.

Children's Sunday school class at Bethrapha Baptist, Chilenge

It's my regular Wednesday school visit back in John Howard compound. Muddy roads don't deter these shoppers!

Preparing charcoal for sale.

Look at these happy faces! They don't mind the mud!

Look what the rains have done to this road!

Quick stop shopping in the compound!

Need some soap, soda, lotion, etc? Get it cheap here!

A typical market scene on the road to school in John Howard Compound.

Meet Miriam Zimba!

Meet Miriam Zimba, the gal that helps me twice a week in my house. She's a mature believer, a widow with two children. Miriam loves the Lord and is active in her church. I will miss our chats together when I move to Chelstone.

Heavy rains made this breach in the wall! behind my cottage!

Several weeks ago a torrential rain ripped through our back wall fence right next to my cottage. Praise the Lord! No damage was done to my house but the Allen's house had flooding in the kitchen from the rains that swooped down the driveway from the street above. Now the fence is built back up! THANKS FOR BEING MY REPAIRERS OF THE BREACH! YOUR PRAYERS, GIFTS, AND LOVE ALWAYS COME WHEN WE'RE FACING THE GREATEST CHALLENGES!

Teacher Peter Phiri standing with our English literacy students in front of our school in John Howard compound.

Please pray for Peter, his wife Sharon and their young daughter whose landlord is forcing them to move before 10th March! Peter has many struggles as a young father and husband but is maintaining his integrity and testimony in his community. He teaches two men in the afternoons besides his regular class of ladies in the mornings. Peter loves the Lord, loves to preach and lead souls to Christ. In April he will be going to the Livingstone area with Phestus for literacy followups.

Here is a picture of my ministry partner and his family: Phestus and Margret with their three children: Jessica, Justin, and Jacob

Phestus began the ministry with me in 1998 when he was still a single guy. He still remembers how I helped him with his marriage plans. In answer to prayers, God has turned the heart of his wife towards him and today she loves and encourages him in the ministry. Phestus' testimony as a mature, steady believer is known throughout his compound. His prayer is that his young sons will follow in his footsteps as literacy missionaries!! I appreciate him so much as one of my dear sons in the faith! Please pray for God's continual care for him and that his children will grow up to trust Christ and give their lives in service to the Lord.

This is Peter Phiri's class! He opted out of the picture!

Thanks to you, teacher Jane Kunda in dark blue polo shirt, will be starting a tailoring course in July! This is her English class.

Jane Kunda is a dear Christian sister and a wonderful, patient English literacy teacher. She is a single mom caring for several children, paying their school fees from her small liteacy salary. After a morning of teaching, she conducts help classes for her slower students and for those who want to learn English. She never misses an opportunity to share the Gospel and lead her students to Christ. Please pray for her as she will be starting a professional sewing program in July which will enable her to begin a home-based business.

Teacher Alice Sithole in the dark blue shirt is a sweet patient English teacher and a dear Christian sister. Thanks to her willingness to teach, Alice's salary is supporting the family since her husband is currently unemployed. After a morning of teaching, Alice rushes to her professional tailoring classes which begin at 13 hours (1 PM) to 16 hours (4 PM). She makes most of her own clothes, helps care for her grandbaby, and is a close friend to Jane Kunda since they were both students and ESL graduates together. Alice is a dedicated believer and soul winner, loved by her students for her quiet mannerisms and careful teaching.

This is what the mini-buses look like!The step is high and a real
challenge for my legs, but I'm getting stronger and more able to climb aboard and tolerate the jostling and crowded conditions. Read my February letter for more fun descriptions! It's been challenging, to say the least, depending on public transport! Thanks for your prayers!

Greetings from inside the mini-bus! These small buses run right in front of our literacy school in John Howard. I ride this bus to a downtown station then transfer to another similar bus taking me to Roma Township where I live! Read my February letter to feel what the ride is like! Thanks for praying for my safety!

This is Veronica Siame with her husband who recently had cataract surgery. Veronica has completed our ESL program and we are meeting for Bible study, phonics, reading, and friendship. She is a de ar lady but is entrenched in Catholicism although she professes to be a believer in Jesus Chr rist. Her church traditions have a very strong grip on her life. Please pray that God would open her eyes to understand that salvation is by faith alone!

Welcome to my blog!

I thought you might like to see what the tutors learn in our workshops. This lady is from Siankope and has completed a writing lesson that she will give to her students. Pray for our volunteer tutors to stay faithful!