Easter 2012

 

Dear Friends and family,

 HAPPY EASTER FROM ZAMBIA

I will not boast in anything, No gifts, no powers, no wisdom.

But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer.

But this I know with all my heart; His wounds have paid my ransom.
                      (From “How Deep the Father’s Love” by Stuart Townend)

MINISTRY NEWS:

A 5-week Sports Leadership Course has started this week here in Kabwe. Lyle is involved in planning and leading this. The idea is not merely discipleship but to learning to use sports as a tool in reaching out and teaching life skills through sports. 30 sports coaches and youth leaders have signed up representing 9 different nations. This first week has 15 students and is held here at our house; with our work-shop converted into a classroom and our yard used for various team-building activities.  Next week there will be 30 students coming for four weeks of 2^nd level training. The first week of the 2^nd-level, for which Lyle is responsible, is mostly team-building, with 15 different challenges; one 8-hour outdoor challenge, a 24 hour solo in the bush followed by a 15-hour perseverance trek to a big waterfall deep in the woods. The following 3 weeks will be a mix of classroom teaching and physical activities.

Trying to fill up a pipe with water can be difficult when the pipe is full of little holes all the way up... The man on the top right with the big smile, is our friend Mark from Masai-land, whom Lyle has been going to visit these past 4 years and also will be going in May.

Please pray that each of these student will receive not only inspiration, but also revelation and transformation.

Lyle is also involved in running a separate course at a large church here in our town. 200 people showed interest for the course, but it has been reduced to 15 as he prefers smaller groups that you can get to know and connect with. As some of you know, Lyle’s style of discipleship is not just in the classroom, but also out on the streets seeking God’s heart for your city.

 

                                  

Naomi at her friend Chipi’s princess birthday party        FAMILY:

As far as school and the children go, we have since mid-January ”joined forces” with 3 other families who use the same curriculum as us, and we now meet daily at one of the homes to do school. There are 14 children in 3 classes. Three 5-year-olds (Naomi is one of them) are learning their ABC’s.  Three kids are in the beginning-to-read class, and the remaining eight students,
aged 8 to 16, are working more independently with their studies. This is working out very well, the girls are very happy to be with their friends every day, and we as moms have found that by complementing each others’ strengths, we can provide better schooling for our children.

  

At the end of April, there will be a 3-day school camp for home-schoolers across Zambia. The kids are preparing for that by practicing various music, bringing their embroideries, paintings, sketches, woodwork, photography, among other things. It is very enjoyable to be able to add these things to the daily routine of academic learning. And they all look forward to meeting some of their friends from other towns at the camp.

  Rachel and her friend Esme at a recent field trip for home-schools

Here is Acacia showing the deaf girls some embroidery that she is working on at school.
      We also continue to be involved in the deaf ministry here in Kabwe, teaching at their church cell group about once a month and trying to encourage these young people when we can. The ministry is trying to find ways to teach them some skills that can enable them to earn a living and thus be less dependent on the charity of others. Last week, Rachel and Acacia joined two other missionary ladies as they went to teach sewing to some of the deaf teenage girls. This week they will learn some basic cooking skills.

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 Since January we have had the joy of having a “borrowed” teenage daughter in the house as well. 16-year old Agnethe from Denmark is here to experience missionary life close-up. She is a big blessing to us as a family, and we have been able to share that blessing with many others in and around Kabwe. An orphanage school, a group of little kids at the deaf house, friends in other organisations and charities. We may not want to let her go when she plans to leave in July!!

Mikaela turned 9 in January and had Tintin on her cake...

 

With these photos and tidbits about our life here in Zambia,
we again wish you a blessed Easter.

Thank you all so much for your love, prayers
and support to us, God bless you!

With love from Rachel, Acacia, Mikaela, Naomi,
Lyle and Jette