Back from the Bush!

We're back online after 2+ weeks in the bush. We taught two fantastic classes of twenty students each (see photos). As usual, the smaller groups allowed for relationships to flourish, which was terrific.

We taught Introduction to Pastoral Care, Being, Becoming & Doing, The Wounded Healer, Understanding the Bible, Understanding Your S. H. A. P. E. for Ministry, Praying the Psalms, and more. The questions and discussions were great, as well. And, of course, after class visits were meaningful, too! 

While we were there, Pastor Titus Njamba (organizing pastor) and his wife, Kahilu, gave birth to a son under a mango tree! He came too quickly to get to the clinic! 

More blogs will follow, but we wanted to give you a quick update!  

Please keep praying as we do for you! :)  

Our first class in Nangweshi, Zambia! 

Our second class in Nangweshi, Zambia. Many in this class walked all day from the Kalongola area and slept in the church to attend! 

The first time we've taught by candlelight! 

A regal Deaconness from the Kalongola area both cooked for her team and fully participated in our training! 

Heading into the Bush!

Today, Abby and I head to Mwandi and Sesheke, and then tomorrow into the bush to train in three villages, Nangweshi, Kalongola and Moyo. We're excited!

Our time in Livingstone has been a bit rough. We've had trouble sleeping and I'm still not fully recovered from an infection. Still, last night we slept much better, so we're grateful.  

We'll likely be offline the next couple of weeks, but check back just in case. :) 

 Please pray for our health, safe travels, life-changing training and, most importantly, our relationships, new and old. Thank so much for your love and support. You are in our prayers! 

And, we're off!

Hippos are so sweet. Not! 

Just a quick blog to let you know that we'll be offline quite a lot, especially between 6/10-29. I'll definitely write when I can! 

Thanks, as always, for the love and prayer support. You will be in our prayers, as well!  

Zambia Calling Again!

Our Lilonga 2017 Class

It's been about seven weeks since our dear friend and colleague, Percy Muleba, returned to Zambia after a twelve week visit. His time here was extremely successful because it allowed him to renew old friendships, make new ones and build the support team he needed. God is good!

On June 5th, Abby and I return to Zambia for one month. We'll renew old friendships in Livingstone, Sesheke, Lilonga, Nangweshi and Mongu. And, we'll make new friends in Kalongola and Moyo. As always, we'll be traveling and training with our dear friend, Percy Muleba. We're looking forward to seeing him again.

Over the last few months, we've redacted our training manual, adding new material and streamlining the old. Our dear friend, Cyndie Howard, proofed it for us which was no small task, given its length. Thanks, Cyndie!

One of the exciting aspects of this trip is that two very experienced Pastors, Sikute and Lewis, will be joining us for a couple of weeks to experience and observe our training, and to discuss the possibility of future work together. We will welcome their suggestions and insight. They're wonderful men and we're blessed by their interest in our work.

Our schedule, tentatively, looks like this:

     June 5: Depart for Zambia

     June 7: Arrive in Livingstone

     June 11-15: Nangweshi

     June 16-17: Mongu

     June 18-22: Kalongola

     June 23-24: Mongu

     June 25-29: Moyo

     June 30-July 2: Lilonga (briefly) and Livingstone

     July 3: Depart for home

     July 4: Arrive home

We want to thank those of you who are on our Mission Team. We couldn't do this without your partnership! And, as always, we're grateful for all of you who are interested in our mission and pray for us.

We are in special need of prayer as we prepare to leave. I'm recovering slowly from an infection and Abby is fighting a sinus infection. We're both on antibiotics.

We covet prayers for safe and uneventful travel while we're away, good relationships old and new, transformative training experiences for our students, and strength and health for Abby, Percy and me. Thanks, friends!