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 September 9, 2010 |
Newsletter for December 2005Dear Friends: Here I sit once again in the Crystal Springs Hotel. Whether that is out of desperation or part of the tanning process, Im not sure. In times past the Crystal Springs Hotel was my stopping off point in Chipata, till I decided its conditions really werent too great and I changed to the Pine View Guest House where they now know me well because of the many trips to Eastern Province. Last night, having finished our school-visiting program in Lundazi earlier than expected, I arrived at the Pine View to be told, No Room in the Inn. Where to go now? became the question. I decided to give the Crystal Springs a chance. The $10 per night room has gone up to $20. I dont think it has doubled in value but it is clean, the toilet flushes, and there is new bedding. What more could I ask? It is true that 2005 has been a year of tanning. At the end of January when I returned to Zambia, my friend Everlyn met me with the statement, Are you ever white! Seems a year in Canada can do that to a girl both outside and inside. The little tan that this pale-skinned girl gets disappears fast. It didnt take long for the driving arm to get tanned. Ive put about 21,000 km on my little green Suzuki in this year. The biggest joy and miracle of the year was the purchase of a brand new Toyota Hilux 4 x 4 Double Cab Pick-up. How exciting to take delivery of it from Toyota just in time to pick Gillian Rumney up at the airport on Nov. 18, 2005. It hasnt gone on any major trips as it doesnt yet have a canopy or the extra security features it really should have. Having enjoyed the comforts of Canada for a season, it seems I had forgotten some of the challenges of living in Africa and have gone through some tanning. The first big challenge was finding a place to live. Im not sure why I fooled myself into thinking that was going to go quickly and smoothly. It wasnt till April that I moved into a place that still had some work to be done. It wasnt much but it seemed to take forever and eventually I just gave up and left things as is. A month ago I received notice from my landlord that he is returning to Zambia and would need his house by January 15, 2006. NO ROOM IN THE INN! So the search for a place to live is on once again, to no avail yet. However, I believe something will be found. The morning after I received notice, in my devotions I read, Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened. I am asking. I am seeking. Some day I will knock and the door to my new home will be opened! Throughout the year hundreds more Grade 5 students have received the Gospel through Project Seedbag. Truly I praise God for each seedbag, which shows in a practical way that there is a God who loves these children and for each Seedlings book which allows the children to be introduced to Christ and discipled. The feeding program also continues to show the children in the Alpha Community Schools that there is a God in heaven and people in Canada who are concerned with their physical well being as well as the spiritual. As an ERDO supported drought relief project, maize seed and fertilizer has just been distributed to 1,366 families of the children in the Alpha Community Schools. Now we pray that the rains will come and there will be a bumper crop! The church plants continue to grow, with men, women, boys, and girls being saved and growing in their Christian lives. Hats go off to the church planters who faithfully visit and minister in these churches. Zambians are very relational people. Some of the relationships built this year have brought some more varied ministry opportunities. Through relationship with Mrs. Elizabeth Sakala, the wife of the Chief Bishop of the PAOG(Z) I have come in contact with two families of orphans. The pastor father of both these families passed away early in the year. Both left a wife with 4 children. Later in the year the mother of one of the families also passed away. Mrs. Sakala and I have been challenged to visit and help out these families where possible. At a Lay Leadership School where I was presenting the Seedlings ministry, I met Pastor Muzoka from the PAOG(Z) church in Petauke. How tremendously impressed I have been with this church, which takes care of 27 orphans left by members of the church. They have also embarked upon a Home Based Care program as an outreach to the community. What passion I have seen in the Care Providers. What love for those Care Providers I have seen by the Clients they visit! During a recent visit by Kelvin Honsinger and Gillian Rumney, from the Emergency Relief and Development office, I was able to take them to visit Petauke so they also could see that passion and love. By the grace of God, through Child Care Plus and possibly an ERDO project, we will be able to give some help to this church as it reaches out to its community. Thank you for your love and support that has come in so many different ways throughout the year. Because of your support there are going to be Zambians, who when they knock on Heavens Gates will not be told, No Room in the Inn. They are going to be welcomed in because you cared enough to share the love of God with them. As you celebrate this Christmas season, with all the hustle and bustle that goes along with that may you find ROOM in your heart and schedule for Jesus, the Reason for the Season. Blessings to you and yours,
Cheryl Ann Johnson
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