Friday, August 5, 2011

August Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

Now that the whirl of term is over, I finally have some time to sit down and write another update. Second term is our shortest term, but often seems to be the busiest. 10 weeks is not that long to fit in all the school topics, report cards, an end of term program, and all the little side projects that come up! It was good to get to visit in person with the parents of our students and to talk about our joint concern—their children. I am constantly encouraged by how supportive the parents are of our efforts. Since we have so much less contact with them than a day school would, it’s so important to touch base and coordinate our efforts to disciple their children.

Second term had many challenges, but many blessings as well. We had two MK student leave shortly before the end of term as their families are going on furlough, one student who had to go home early because of a broken tooth, and another student who was suspended for stealing. At the end of term two more of our students left Sakeji for good to join their mother in Canada. Our prayers are especially going with those two as they have never known anything other than Zambia, and to be thrown into big city life will be quite the transition for these two. It’s always hard to say goodbye to students, but at the same time we know that the same Lord will be with them who is with us. We continue to seek the Lord’s guidance in dealing with our students who are in need of discipline, as well as for help in clearly teaching His ways to all the children.

One of the highlights of this past term was a baptism on the last day of school where 22 of our senior students publicly proclaimed their desire to follow the Lord. It was pointed out yesterday that this wonderful event was only possible because of years of effort from many different people. It is times like these that are so encouraging to look back on in those hard days when it can seem like all our labor is in vain. The Lord is working in the hearts and lives of children at Sakeji, and we look forward to seeing the continuing faithfulness of our God!

This term break I am staying on station and working on projects around my house, preparing for next term, and helping out with different duties on station. This month I am going to participate in a Lunda learning week at Kalene to try and jumpstart my language learning. Please pray for all of us who will be attending and seeking to learn more of the local language. There have been several occasion just this past week that have reminded me how important it is to be able to speak the language!

While the kids are gone, some important stages of the new dining hall are being finished. The old cook-side of the kitchen was demolished, the floor lowered, and a new slab poured to finish off the end of the new dinning hall which will include the old kitchen and store room. The roof is mostly on now, and the inside is starting to take shape. The old, faithful wood stove was successfully moved and will be able to be used in the new kitchen after all. There was some concern that it would fall to pieces when it was removed! Our cold room used to be in the corner of the old kitchen, and now it is about 4 feet higher than the new slab and accessible by a little strip of the old floor. Simple tasks like getting milk and eggs are a little more adventurous now! Next term will be a real challenge for the kitchen staff and building crews as they try to finish off the project and get everything closed in before the rains start.

Thanks again for all your prayers and support, and I hope you are all enjoying a lovely summer.
~LB

2 comments:

  1. Good Luck with your Lunda lessons.. Learning a new language is tuff, but you are young, so it should be easier for you..(smile) Easy for me to say from here...Ha You are in my prayers. Hugs, gw

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  2. Thanks for the update. Great to hear of the Baptism! I hope you are able to get some R&R during this break. Blessings.

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