Last Newsletter, May 2019

Dear Friends and Family,

I haven’t written a lot lately for various reasons, but I wanted to send one last update to close out my Sakeji story and introduce my new chapter. It’s been an interesting few months as I’ve worked (and continue to work!) through the process of reentry; there are lots of parts that had to come together, and there has been a lot of waiting on the Lord’s timing. While waiting is never easy, I know that this slower season was a gift of the rest and healing I needed before I was ready to start my next adventure. Nine years is a lot of life, and while my experiences at Sakeji absolutely shaped and prepared me for my next adventure, there are also some things that need working and praying through as I look forward to the future.

There have been so many things to be thankful for in this season of life. Several people have been very helpful in suggesting job opportunities and helping me make connections. Another thing that has been very helpful for this season of life is getting to spend time worshiping at One Hope Presbyterian Church here in my hometown. Getting to sit under the excellent teaching and participate in the thoughtful worship has been very refreshing and encouraging; God knew what He was doing to lead me here at this time. And, perhaps most importantly, I have had the time to seek Christian counseling for help and Biblical perspective in this season of change. Yet again I can see the hand of God in my life moving things so that I would be ready to hear and engage with some hard truths; I am so thankful for the wisdom and input I have received through these sessions. All these things have been coming together to prepare me for my next adventure.

A dream I have had for a long time is to be a part of a classical Christian school; a school that is intentional about academic excellence, focused on training minds how to think critically, and searching for God’s revealed truth, goodness, and beauty in creation and the rich legacy of human history. After many applications, a few interviews, and much prayer, I am very excited to announce that I will be joining the amazing team of teachers at Regents Academy in Nacogdoches, Texas this fall! Because Nacogdoches is so close I have been and will be continuing to spend some time getting to know the faculty, students, and school before I officially start teaching in August. Also, as a part of my preparation for jumping into this big role, I’ll be attending the Association of Classical Christian Schools conference in June this year. While next year is going to be challenging on several levels, I am looking forward to growing as a teacher, building new relationships, establishing my first home here in the States, and for the opportunities that this new area of service will provide. God is so good!

Thank you so much for your support over these last nine years; it has truly been an incredible experience in which I have learned a lot about myself, about what is important, being a teacher, and my God. I suspect that those nine years were often far more about refining my character than they were about what I was doing, but I also know that there were lives impacted at Sakeji other than my own! As I move forward, I hope I’ll get to see and visit with many of you in person, and that from my experiences I can be a better and more compassionate encourager of others as they serve the Lord in their various callings.

May God bless you richly for your support and kindness to me, and may we not grow weary of doing good wherever we are called,

~LB

September 2018 Newsletter

Dear friends and family,

As I write this, we are two weeks into our third term of school. After leaving two weeks early from second term to be in the States for my sister’s wedding, it was good to see the students again and hear about their holidays. As this is our last term, everything must be finished in (now) 10 short weeks! I have been very busy with tweaking the grade 6 & 7 curriculum and resources list for the teacher who will replace me next year, getting rid of as many things as I can out of my classroom and house, and choosing and starting to work on all the music that will need to be learned for our special end of term events. I hope to leave Zambia a day or two after term, as I hope to visit some family on my way home for a second sibling wedding. There are so many people in my life, including myself, who are in or about to be in a season of change; I find myself ever thankful for a good God who is in control of all circumstances!

This year has been a very difficult one in my classroom; I have a group of students with a higher proportion of more serious needs which has been very challenging to try to meet. I have students with greater learning challenges, greater attitude challenges, and some who have some serious immaturity issues that affect them in every area of their lives right now. Prayers for wisdom, compassion, patience, and stamina as I am tested more than I have ever been as a teacher before are greatly appreciated. This would be a lot to work through under normal circumstances, but as it is my last year and I have so many other things going on it has been pretty overwhelming. One of the benefits of this year is it has driven me to the Lord and forced me to confront issues in my own life. I am learning a lot about mental patterns, setting boundaries, and obedience in the hard places. Not that you ever stop learning about those things, but this year has been an intensive course!

When I was home this summer I visited the podiatrist two more times as my tendinitis had improved to a certain point, but was no longer getting any better. I so appreciate a doctor who is very sensitive to and accommodating of my rather unique lifestyle! I got outfitted with a walking boot in combination with the insoles and brace at the end of July to immobilize the tendon and allow it to heal further. When I went back a week before leaving for Zambia, he was pleased with the progress I had made, and I will be wearing the boot for a few more weeks, the brace for several weeks after that, and then hopefully I will be able to transition to only insoles and shoes with good arch support. While traveling with and performing my duties around the school with the boot has been more interesting, I am so thankful to be this close to having a normal life again! I also was able to have a very helpful massage session to work on my neck and shoulder which were quite painful. Since coming back to the school they have flared up again, but I am hopeful that starting in December with the lifestyle change and being able to get more regular treatments I will see real improvement there too. So, prayers for grace and healing as I navigate my physical challenges on top of everything else would be greatly appreciated.

I have been working on planning what I can for my return to the States at the end of the year, but it is a little difficult to make too many plans at this stage. At the moment I will be living with my parents in my hometown until I can get a car, a job, and a place of my own. I will look for a full-time teaching job in TX for the time being, but realistically will likely being doing sub work and whatever other part time jobs I can find until the fall. I would like to work for the library to start getting some experience there as well as work for a particular Classical Christian school in my hometown. One of the most pressing needs as I go back is to find an affordable, reliable vehicle so I will have the ability to get a job. I have leased vehicles for Missionary Tec Team when I’m home in the States for the last several years, and they have a contact who often helps returning missionaries find cars. So, please pray for the right car, for the right job, and the right apartment as I move into next year. It is a little overwhelming to think about essentially starting my life completely afresh, but at the same time I am so excited to see what God works in this new phase of my life. I have not had such peace in years, and even though there are many details yet undecided, our God is faithful.

Thank you so much to the many of you who have reached out and encouraged me in various ways this year. I love hearing what the Lord is doing in your lives, and am so grateful for all the prayers over the years. May we all become more like Him as we serve where we have been called.

January 2018 Update and an Announcement

Dear friends and family,

I had originally planned to write a newsletter at the end of third term last year, but as I have some important updates to go give you I decided to wait until the new year. And then I found out that this year was not going to be starting as planned, so maybe it’s a good thing I waited! I was able to spend December in Texas; it was a wonderful time with family and friends, and I am so incredibly thankful to the Lord for making it possible. There were also several things I needed to do while I was Stateside, one of the most pressing of which was related to some ongoing health issues I have been having.

As you probably remember, I have been dealing with chronic pain in my right shoulder for the last three and a half years. While I was home I had two massage appointments to work on the big knot that spasms and causes me so much discomfort. Because I missed one of my appointments and had to reschedule, I had an appointment with a professional who because of her personal experience was able to more precisely diagnose the source of the pain and show me a new stretch to combat the issue. So, while my days of shoulder pain are not finished, I am encouraged to have more information and a practical way to work on managing the issue.

Another major struggle for the last four months has been an injury to my left ankle. When I wrote my last newsletter I was already dealing with it, but I figured it was a sprain that would clear up in a week or two and so didn’t mention it. There was no definite moment of injury, but a week before third term started it became extremely painful for me to walk. Being a teacher at a boarding school I couldn’t really do anything about being on my feet all day, so I toughed it out for two months before seeking the school nurse who gave me a wrap and had me take ibruphen to deal with the serious swelling I was experiencing. Since my ankle had only improved slightly, I had an appointment with a podiatrist right before heading back to Sakeji. Sadly, the news isn’t good. I have posterior tibial tendonitis, which means that I have almost worn out the major supporting tendon in my left foot. Some of the damage to the foot is unfortunately going to be permanent, but with a major brace and arch support there is hope for healing and a mobile life going forward. It was a pretty hard thing to hear and deal with, but the brace is already making a big difference in the amount of pain I deal with day to day, and I am hopeful that I will be able to take my much-missed daily walks again.

While I had a good trip back to Zambia, I arrived only to find that schools were not going to be opening in January because of a Cholera outbreak in Lusaka. At the moment the boards or education and health will be reassessing the situation on January 30th; we are praying that we will be able to go ahead and open the first weekend in February. If we are able to start school right away, we will have to extend two weeks into the holiday which will make what was planned to be a 10 week term a 9 week one and cut into the April holiday, but it seems to be the best way forward at the moment. So, prayers for wisdom as we await the government’s decision and try to prepare as best we can.

And now, I have one other important thing to share with you. After much prayer and seeking the Lord’s will over the last three years, I have decided that 2018 will be my last year at Sakeji Mission School. Just as it was absolutely right for me to head out on faith in 2010, is now time for me to again step out in faith. I do not know exactly what the Lord is calling me to next, but as I continue to pray over my future I have some ideas of what I want to do when I return to the States permanently in December. There are many circumstances that have lead to this decision including my health issues and the closure of my home church sometime this year. I am thankful for my time at Sakeji; while it has been far from easy, I have learned to much about myself, the Lord, and life in these years. I look forward to the next adventure He is calling me to, and know with confidence that He has prepared me through my time in Zambia.

So, please pray for healing physically, pray for wisdom to leave Sakeji well, and pray for strength and help during this time of transition as I have many decisions to make, many emotions to sort through, and many ends to tie up. I have a lot of big challenges facing me in my classroom this year, and I feel that I am specifically called for one more year to help certain students with big challenges of their own. I know that my God is faithful, and that He has been and always will be right beside me as I continue the adventure of a life lived for Him. Thank you so much for all your prayers, support, and encouragement over the years. As we go into 2018, may we each become a little more Christlike, and serve Him with all our hearts wherever He has called us.

September 2017 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

It seems like just yesterday that I was getting my students packed up, several bins of old papers were taken to the incinerator, and I was having interviews with parents! Since the students went home at the end of July, I have been enjoying my break from teaching, but I have been keeping busy with a variety of projects. Ruthie and I went on a trip to Kitwe that involved traveling some dreadful roads, some illness, a visit to RTSA (Road Traffic and Safety Administration) to renew my Zambian drivers license and get the vehicle fitness (inspection), tracking down a term’s worth of cheese and margarine with mixed success, personal shopping, and a windshield replacement among other things. Since getting back, I have been taking care of the food for the school watchmen and working on getting the senior and intermediate fiction and biography sections of the school library organized and catalogued. A short-termer had started the work last year using an app, but since then there have been books returned and added to the library, and we have quite a few in our collection that are pre ISBNs. So, I have spent the several hours in the last two weeks tracking down ISBNs and manually entering books. Now that I’m finished with my library goal, I still have some time to work through some bigger projects in preparation for my upcoming term including creating and revising some resources and sorting out some Christmas music. So, while I’m not in my classroom all day, I am far from bored!

This week the preparations for our final term which begins September 9th will really get going. Staff members are returning from holiday, the kitchen is being unpacked and cleaned, and school buildings will be given a clean and sprucing up before the students arrive. I will only have 19 students this term as my identical twins have moved on to another school; I’m going to miss their smiles! Third term is always busy for me for many reason,s including the national grade 7 exams my students will be writing, the Christmas program, and the usual pressure of getting everything done for the school year. I have a student who I’m going to be giving some extra support to try and get her caught up, and I would also like to do some more activities with the 3-6th grade girls on the half-terms. So, prayers for stamina, wisdom, and patience are always appreciated. We have a new short-term teacher joining us this term; it’s encouraging and very helpful to have another certified teacher around!

Another particular item for prayer for me over the next few months is that due to various circumstances I strongly feel I need to be home for the December holiday. Of course, I always love spending Christmas with my family, but some other things have come up that can really only be dealt with on that side of the ocean. So, I am praying that the Lord will both make His will clear as to my holiday plans, and that He will provide the funds for this trip if it be in His will.

Thanks again as always for the support you give me in so many ways—prayer, e-mails, letters, and practical details. I am so blessed to know so many wonderful people, and I could not do this work without your hands helping mine. Have a wonderful fall, and may we all be found faithful wherever we are called to be.

May 2017 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

I know it’s been awhile, and a lot has happened since I wrote you last! I am back in Zambia after a wonderful, but very busy five months in the US on a much needed furlough. During those five months I made trips to Colorado, Tennessee, Georgia, Delaware, Indiana, Montana, and Canada. I got to go up Pike’s Peak, see Niagara Falls from both sides, and see the Liberty Bell. I had the opportunity to visit with many dear friends and family members, and I was able to find some much needed supplies to bring back to Zambia. I was able to get my shoulder seen to, attend a cousin’s wedding, and finally meet some dear saints who have been sending my supplies in container boxes for the last few years. I had to spend the night in an airport food court after a series of canceled flights, and had the opportunity to do some substitute teaching at a local Christian school. Yes, it was a very busy five months, but it was also a very wonderful five months.

There has been a lot of paper work I needed to do in the last two weeks, and the Lord has given great help. Before heading back up to Sakeji I was able to get my NRC (National Registration Card) so that I can continue the process of registering to teach in Zambia with the ECZ.

I also had to make a visit to immigration in Ikelenge to get my work permit extension stamped into my passport and certified copies made of my documents last week. Thankfully I was able to find the immigration officer, and get those items taken care of. Also, while I was in the States I took the Generalist 4-8 exam and passed it, so I have now added that qualification to my teachers certification. It is a relief to have all those details taken care of—now I should be fine for the next year and a half!

Once I got back up to the school, I had two and a half days to prepare for second term. This whole first week has been pretty intense; picking up old routines, figuring out where things are, evaluating what was accomplished during term 1. I have 11 6th graders to get to know, and 10 7th graders to continue a relationship with. The days continue to be long, but it is good to be back in my own classroom. This term will certainly have its challenges, but I also look forward to having a chance to impact these young lives.

As I go into this new term at Sakeji, here are some specific things you can pray for. Firstly, please pray for me and for wisdom as I settle back into all my routines and responsibilities. Secondly, a praise that my shoulder is much better after some medication and two massages, but prayer that I will be able to manage it wisely and keep it from getting so bad again. Thirdly, pray that I will know the Lord’s will very clearly over these next few months, and that I will be quick to obey His voice.

Thank you so much to all of your who pray for me, and particularly all the people who encouraged me, listened to me, and treated me to some North American luxuries while I was home. Without your support and prayers, I could not continue to serve. Thank you, and may the Lord bless you richly for your kindness to me.

May we be found faithful, wherever we are called to be!

September, 2016

Dear Friends and Family,

Today start the first full week of our third and last school term of 2016. The week and a half before the kids arrive are full of standard teacher tasks such as going through textbooks, rearranging and cleaning classrooms, and planning. Because this is Sakeji, there have been more exciting jobs to do as well—hospitality for 5 newly arrived short termers, a trip into Ikelenge for a few supplies, moving two classrooms from their temporary locations into the mostly finished lower school, coming up with new cleaning schedules, ordering two terms worth of cleaning supplies from a new company, and a quick trip to the Copper Belt for cheese and butter among many other things. Thankfully I wasn’t involved in all of them! There is an incredible amount of work that goes into getting ready for a term, and while there are always ‘hiccups’ along the way, God is faithful and provides strength and grace.

As mentioned, this term we have 5 people out to help in various areas ranging from filling in for the Ronald’s as dorm parents, co-teaching grades 1-5 with various other staff members, and of course Sunday schools, craft times, supervisions, and all the other odd jobs that need doing. It is such a blessing to have this help; my science class is in capable hands this term, so I have a little extra time to work on the Christmas program music before we switch to history. Three of our short termers are ‘repeat’ visitors, so they are slipping into routines and schedules well.

I am planning to be away on furlough from December of this year through at least April of next year. I am so excited about getting to spend Christmas with my family! It has been two years since I was home, and I feel that the Lord is calling me to serve my family and recharge for a time. We don’t know who will be filling in for me at present, but are praying that the Lord will exercise the right person to step in while I am away.

As I finish off this year, there are some specific ways to pray for me this term. First, since I will be away for at least a term, I am working on planning and doing as much ground work as possible now so that the people who fill in for me will have as little inconvenience as possible. This is a bit challenging as I have full responsibilities this term to work through as well, so prayers for wisdom and strength are always appreciated! Secondly, I injured my right shoulder a little over a year ago, and it has been giving me trouble on and off ever since. Stress definitely makes it flair up more, and unfortunately, playing piano for extended periods of time also makes it worse. So, prayers for wisdom in how to use my practice time to best effect, and to be able to play the Christmas program without being in great pain like I was last year would also be greatly appreciated. And thirdly, for 2017 at Sakeji. At the moment we are still very much in need of more full time teachers, and there is an initiative from the board of education in Zambia that we might have to comply with that will greatly complicate our ministry. As always, this is the Lord’s school, and we look to Him to provide and direct for the future.

Thanks again for your prayers and for keeping in touch with me. I could not do this ministry without your support. I hope to see many of you when I am home, and look forward to catching up on your lives.

May we be found faithful, wherever we are called to be!

Parting shots--some pictures of the refurbished lower school--the bathroom, the grade 3 and 1 rooms, and the back room respectively.

May 2016 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

Term got off to a good start last week, and we are just about through our first full week of school. All our students and staff members who traveled arrived safely, and the Lord has blessed us with several short termers who will be helping this term. None of them are teachers, but they are pitching in with support roles and helping as they are able with classes. Having someone to organize, copy, and supervise children is a real help.

I’ve been working with a new Zambian employee to train him to clean our school buildings and help him adjust to our schedule. While he is a hard worker and does a good job, being task oriented is not always possible when trying to work around classroom schedules. We did a big deep clean of the Upper School buildings before school started, and I am working on developing routines that will maintain the higher standard. While it is challenging to be the direct supervisor of a new person when I am so tied to my classroom, the Lord is good! I keep reminding myself that like with my students, this will be a learning process for both of us.

The Lower School was emptied at the end of last term, and is now gutted and with sections of the roof removed. The new walls are going up, and the hope is that the project will be finished before the start of third term when the rains start again. However, as we know all too well, the ‘Z factor’ often interferes with the best laid plans. The grade one class is enjoying their temporary quarters in the staff lounge, and the second and third grade classes are using one half of the hall for their classroom. Having to move so much furniture and figure out where to store all the resources was a challenge for the lower school teachers, but they did a great job of adapting to their circumstances.

I had a nice holiday over the month of April. I didn’t go anywhere other than to Ikelenge to check the mail, but it was such a treat to just be quietly at my house working on projects. I did a deep clean of my house as well; washing my inside walls, sorting through the inevitable stacks of ‘teacher mess’ that end up at my house during the course of a term, and listening to a fascinating course on ancient Egypt to prepare for history class this term. As the skies become more consistently clear, I have been enjoying the familiar parade of the winter constellations; Orion, the Southern Cross, Scorpius, and even Ursa Major upside down. We are studying astronomy this term for science, and I hope to be able to take my students out on half-term evenings to look through the telescope again.

Some specific ways to pray for me and for Sakeji Mission School this term include the request for heavenly wisdom and strength for us teachers. We want to model lives that glorify the Lord, and we want our students to come to know and love Him too. Each child has a unique set of challenges and circumstances that we need to work with and through, and without the Lord’s help we are nothing. Another continued prayer point is for future staffing. While we are blessed by several short term helpers over the next few months, we are still in great need of qualified, long term teachers. At bare minimum we urgently need two more teachers, but more could certainly be used! And thirdly, this has been and will continue to be a pretty challenging year for me personally, and while I’m not sure what the Lord is making out of all these circumstances, I want to learn the lessons He is trying to teach me, and rely on His strength. How comforting to know that I don’t have to sort out or fix everything—this is His school!

Thank you for your prayers, e-mails, and gifts over these last few months. Oftentimes during some of my worst days or months I would hear from someone back home, and that encouragement would help carry me through the rest of that day.

May He find us faithful wherever He has called us to be!

January 2016 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

The students all arrived safely at school a week and a half ago, and we have made it through our first full week of school. Every term one is full of challenges; getting new kids settled in and trained to our procedures and rules, sorting out the hundreds of little details that come with the beginning of term, and even such things as getting supplies up over the increasingly deteriorating roads. A sample of some things I’ve done over the last few weeks to prepare for this term include changing out bulletin board boarders in my classroom, organizing and tracking down the bathroom cleaning supplies for Upper and Lower School, making a lot of copies, counting textbooks, burning as much rubbish as I can get my hands on, coordinating and placing an emergency textbook order, and helping set up procedures for the students using our new dishwasher. You truly never know what you will be called upon to do from day to day!

This year I again have 19 students in my classroom; 11 in grade 6, and 8 in grade 7. I am continuing to teach music class for grades 2-4 and 6-9, in addition to picking up grades 1 and 5 music for a few weeks while we wait for a teacher to return. I still have my grade 3 and 4 girls handwork group, and in my ‘spare’ time during the day I’ll still have a few piano students, supervise the Upper School homework time most afternoons, supervise and train the kids on clean up duty, and take senior girls Rally (a New Zealand program somewhat like Girl Scouts) on Friday afternoons.

Over the December holiday I took my first solo road trip to town in the school’s Nissan Patrol. I was supposed to be taking Beth down to fly out of Solwezi, but I came down with a nasty case of malaria right after term ended and was in no shape to travel when she needed to leave. The Lord provided other transport for her, and when I had recovered I went down to Kitwe to visit some dear friends, do some shopping, and pick up some supplies for the school. It was fun to see a bit of Christmas in the shops, to check out the new mall that has the two main grocery stores in addition to a Game (comparable to Target). I indulged in a haircut and lots of gelato as well as stocking up on the standard rural missionary treats—apples and cheese. I was able to find some useful supplies for my classroom, and a few nice things for my house in addition to some groceries I needed. On my way back up country I transported two bags of dried fish, 51 point of lay chickens, and 11 boxes of textbooks back up for the school. I got to visit Musenga, where the containers contents are sorted for the various stations, and to experience the true horror of the Solwezi-Chingola road. It was raining on and off all that day, and there were times when I had to squirt my water bottle onto the windshield to supplement the wiper fluid so I could actually see where I was going! After leaving the pavement at Mwinilunga I found that it had rained quite a bit, and the second river crossing and hill was a churned up sea of mud up to and over my hub caps. I couldn’t get up the hill by myself, so I ended up bartering a loaf of bread to a group of Zambians who pushed my vehicle up the hill. I was so thankful to reach the school—I don’t think I could have ‘done’ being stuck in the mud with all those hot, stinky chickens!

As we begin this school year, my two biggest prayer requests are for strength and grace for myself, and for the Lord to send more full time, qualified teachers to join in the work at Sakeji. This year is requiring a measure of courage from me like no others. Our classes are covered for this term, but our situation is far from ideal. Through these challenging days I am praying that the Lord will make His will for the future of Sakeji very clear, and that I will be cooperative with what He is doing in my life. Thank you for your prayers, support in so many ways, and e-mails; they are a great encouragement to this busy teacher.

May He find us faithful wherever He has called us to be!

August 2015 Update

Dear Friends and Family,

I realize that it has been a long time since you heard from me; I just found an update that I started in March, but never actually finished and sent out! This year has been a very busy one here at Sakeji, and even though we are two weeks into the August holiday I am just finding the time to sit down and try to catch up on correspondence. Second term was very full of ‘stuff’, but good. Among other things we hosted a group of students from Amano Christian School over one of our half-terms, had a great sports day, and put on a show at the end of term, “Safari.” There was another broken arm, some good progress made in classes, and a winter themed birthday party.

Something new for me this year was helping with the grade 9 mock music exam at Samahina, a local school where our students will be writing their exams as we are not a grade 9 test center. I was very thankful for all my musical training; I spend an hour going over and correcting the exam with two other Zambian teachers, then had the very interesting experience of helping to administer the exam. This school has no electricity, so the keyboard was run off batteries that gave out just as we were about to start the exam. 12 batteries were then rolled up in a cardboard tube and one teacher held the bare wires to the terminals so we could be in business for cadence dictation! Seeing things like that makes me very thankful for the facilities we enjoy here at Sakeji, and reminds me how desperate the need for good education is in this country.

Another big happening of this year took place just this last weekend. Sakeji celebrated 90 years of the Lord’s faithfulness with a weekend where former students in Zambia representing several different decades of the school’s history gathered to enjoy a scavenger hunt, afternoon at the pool, trip to the cottage, enjoy school delicacies such as ice cream and fudge, and lots of time to share memories and visit. This little school in the middle of the Zambian bush has had such an impact over the last 90 years—it’s amazing how often you fun into former students, and when you hear where they all are and what they are doing for the Lord, it makes me thankful to have my small part in this great work. I spent a lot of the weekend helping to organize and serve the teas; it was interesting to see a very different side of the hospitality of the school. Usually when we have visitors I am busy talking to parents or doing a program!

Work has started on the renovation of our Lower School building. As there are cracks in the wall through which you can see daylight, this is a much needed project. Foundations for the small expansions on either end have been dug and put in, and we are waiting for the rest of the supplies to make it up here before the major work begins. It will be a challenge to coordinate the needs of grades 1-3 and the construction crew, but we have had a lot of practice in flexibility and creative location use since the major overhauls started a few years ago.

As we continue through the holiday and then start term back up in early September, there are some specific ways that you can pray for us here at the school. We are loosing our grade 1 teacher at the end of the year, and so far there has been no word of anyone who could take her place. We have not had any short term helpers this year, and at this point it doesn’t look like there is anyone preparing to come next year either. Please pray with us that the Lord will raise up the right people to join us in this work, and that if we have to wait awhile for His perfect timing, that He will give us the extra grace and strength to serve in this challenging circumstance. Another area for prayer is for my grade 7’s and the grade 9 students who will be writing their national exams in November. The government is trying to push through national syllabus changes that were put in place in 2013, but not widely enforced, so this year is a particularly difficult one for exam preparation. Lastly, this year has been a difficult one for me personally, and I would ask that you pray that these challenging circumstances will pull me closer to the Lord, and shape me to be more like Him. Thank you for all your prayers, letters, and encouragement; I couldn’t do this without your support.

May He find us faithful wherever He has called us to be!

December 2014 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

As 2014 draws to a close I thought I’d send out one more newsletter this year about life at Sakeji. I was able to come home to Texas for Christmas, so I have been enjoying spending time with my family, both sets of grandparents, and as many friends as I could fit in. I will be heading back to Zambia on January 5th, and Lord willing I’ll be arriving back at Sakeji on the 8th. Prayers for safety in travel and a quick turn around before term would be appreciated!

This past term was a real challenge for everyone at Sakeji, but the Lord really gave us a lot of blessings as well. We were short two full time staff members, but the Lord provided two short termers who were a great help. In addition to all the usual madness that comes from finishing up a school year, writing the final report cards, cleaning up classrooms, rehearsing for the end of term show, and meeting with parents, we had the great privilege of baptizing eight of our older students at the end of term. Several of our students had been asking about taking this step of obedience, and after they received their parent’s permission we were able to schedule a time before all the meetings and programs when we could gather as a school down at the pool and watch these eight young people proclaim their faith publicly. God is so good to give us little glimpses of the fruit that is growing in these children’s lives; we pray that their example will encourage and challenge their school mates, and that they will continue to grow in the Lord over their last few years at Sakeji.

On the practical side of station life, our remodeling of the main sitting room is finally finished! Having that space back has made video nights and half-terms so much easier, and the staff have sure enjoyed the new furniture and ‘posh’ surroundings! The vaulted ceiling really opens the space up and cuts down on the dirt falling through. The new sidewalk at the front is still being put in, but that project can just about be ticked off our to-do list. The school is planning out our next big maintenance project; there is talk of renovating Lower School where the grades 1-3 classes are held as well as taking some time to knock out the multitude of little jobs that have been accumulating over the years.

As we go into 2015 there are lots of exciting opportunities for working with our students as well as some new challenges. As of now there are no short term helpers coming to Sakeji for first term, so there will be a bit of extra strain on the permanent staff. We will have several new students to train in school rules and expectations, and I’ll have a new class of sixth graders to ‘break in.’ With the death of the Zambian president Michael Sata in October, things are still rather up in the air as to who will be stepping in. We just celebrated 50 years of peaceful independence in Zambia; we pray that this transition of power will go smoothly and with a minimum of conflict. I know I ask for this often, but I will always need wisdom and patience from above as I teach my academic and music classes. These precious children are the future of Zambia, and how we pray that they will be well rooted and founded in the Lord during their time at Sakeji. May we seize the teachable moments and have the discernment to deal with the heart issues of our students.

Thank you so much for all your prayers, letters, e-mails, and gifts of all kinds over this last year. I am constantly amazed at your generosity and loving care of me. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and that 2015 will be a very blessed year.

May He find us faithful wherever He has called us to be!

September Newsletter

Even though we are just four weeks into it, this school term has been very challenging and is stretching me in many different ways. Two of our permanent staff members are away on furlough right now, which means that there are lots of extra jobs to pick up and responsibilities to take on. It’s always amazing to me to find out how many little acts of service other people quietly do—you only notice when they aren’t being done any more! Praise the Lord though, He sent us two short termers who are being a huge help and blessing to us. Then, right as school started, we received word that one of our second grade students had been ill over the holiday, but would hopefully be joining us before the end of the week. A few days later we received the shocking news that he had just been killed in a car accident. While there haven’t been mass outpourings of grief from the students, there have been many little signs that the news impacted them deeply and that they are still thinking about it. How we pray that this tragedy will result in more intentional lives from our student who are already saved, and conviction in the lives of those who are not. How often we forget that our days are not ours to number, and that any day could be our last opportunity to serve the Lord and impact one of these precious lives. Third term is always busy, and this year is no exception! The students had fun preparing for the Dr. Seuss themed birthday party and now the next big event is half-term and the Copper Belt Sports Tour at the beginning of October. Our grade 7-9 students will travel down to compete against Amano Christian School and at least two other private schools in netball and soccer. It’s so good for our kids to have the chance to measure themselves against other athletes and practice their sportsmanship skills. Now that birthday party preparations are over, work on the end of term show will being. This year our theme is Christmas around the world. Later in the term my grade 7 students will be writing their national exams, so we are covering some specifically Zambian topics in class and starting to work through old exams in preparation. I have no worries about my students being able to come through with flying colors, but there is a lot of pressure put on them by their parents to do well. The main sitting room renovation project is drawing to a close; the door and windows were finally installed last week, most of the wiring is done, and the finishing touches such as painting and tiling are well underway. It will be such a blessing to have that space back; it’s one of the main hubs of school life. The kids gather there for video and music nights, we use it for staff meetings, evening fellowships, and other special events, and especially as the rains start up again it’s nice to have a place that is big enough to do things with large groups of kids. It’s been a long process, but we hope to get things finished off this term. Even though things have been more challenging than usual this term, it’s been really neat to see God working in and through us. We are always praying for either more staff to help us serve, or for extra grace, patience, and strength. I’ve been so amazed at how God has answered that prayer over the last few weeks. It would be so easy to become stressed and irritable with each other because of all the extra ‘stuff’ in our lives right now, but God is helping each of us to have an extra measure of gracious patience and love. While no one enjoys going through a stretching experience, I’m learning all over again that when the Lord calls you to do something hard He does not leave you without the resources to accomplish it. Praise Him for His faithfulness and goodness to His servants! Thanks again for all the support and prayers you send my way. I so appreciate knowing that people are thinking of me and Sakeji, and hearing from you about what God is doing in your lives. I couldn’t serve as effectively without you. May He find us faithful wherever He has called us to be!

March Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

I can’t believe how fast this year is going—it seems like just yesterday that we celebrated New Years and made the final preparations for the kid’s arrival. We are trying a different term schedule this year; we are starting with our short ten week term, and then terms two and three will both be twelve weeks long. The rational is that this will allow more time for the many things that have to happen in second term, and that it will be easier for the new students to have the shorter term first. I’m not sure what I think about the new arrangement yet; on the one hand I’m glad for the shorter term, but on the other there is a whole lot that has to be squeezed into this first term!

My new group of 6th graders are starting to get the hang of being in my classroom; it is a big change for them from the junior grades. I’ve been encouraged to see the progress some of them have already made, and I look forward to seeing the ‘finished’ product at the end of the year. One thing that I’ve been really excited about this year is teaching Latin as a part of my language program. Latin was a Sakeji tradition in the past, and I’m enjoying bringing it back for these students. I’ve seen kids do well on their Latin quizzes who struggle in other areas, and the logic and vocabulary skills they are learning will be a big help to them as they continue their schooling.

Now that the Hall project is finished, the renovations of the Main Sitting Room are well underway. The Main Sitting Room is really the staff living and gathering area between the two wings of the dorm, and the cracks in the wall and sinking foundation have been problems for years. The scary old attic where we stored the craft supplies has been taken out, and a lighter vaulted ceiling is being installed. Some walls are coming out and some new pillars are going in to make the space more usable and open. While it’s a little inconvenient to work around the construction sometimes, we all look forward to seeing and using the finished product. The Lord has provided some extra hands to help with the work, and even though the rain often holds up progress, we are so thankful that our water table is returning to normal. The Lord has sent us some of the highest rainfalls this area has had in the last few years, so we are enjoying the relief from the threat of drought!

As the end of term one approaches, prayers for strength, endurance, patience, and wisdom as I sort through what needs to be accomplished and write report cards are greatly appreciated. There are always new challenges to face, new lessons in sanctifying my own character to learn, and lots of moments when I just don’t have the answers. Hearing from you and knowing you pray for me and the ministry at Sakeji Mission School is a huge encouragement to me; know that I pray for you as well when the Lord brings you to mind and I receive letters and e-mails from you.

May He find us faithful wherever He has called us to be!

December Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

Whew—the 2013 school year is over! The last two weeks of school are always a very, very busy time for the staff at Sakeji Mission School. Seventy-seven report cards had to be written that take into account spiritual and educational progress during the term. These report cards had to be proof-read, and final grades calculated. Prizes need to be decided on, certificates written, classrooms cleaned, and the last batches of papers and notebooks sent up to the dorm to clear the desks for another year. Jill and I were busy rehearsing the program, last minute details were being organized, and each of us were trying to get all the loose ends in the areas under our supervision tied up. On December 3rd there was a PTA meeting which I was involved in, and then on December 4th the parents arrived to great excitement from their children. I gave several parent teacher interviews, played for the Prize Giving ceremony in the afternoon, and then for the show that evening. We had a special guest this year for the show—Chiefteness Ikelenge came with a few retainers. We don’t know how much English she understands, but we trust that the Gospel message went out to her as well as the parents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and friends of our students.

While those last two weeks were very difficult in moments, it was all worth it. It is so special to remember where the kids were at the beginning of the term and see how far they have grown, matured, and improved over the course of a year. It is always good to talk to their parents, and it was good to hear the PTA taking measures to insure that this will stay a Godly school where the first priority is honoring Him. We said goodbye to ten of our students who will be moving on to different schools in January, and prayed one last time with them that they would continue in the things that they had learned. Now there are a few weeks of holiday for the staff to rest, regroup, and organize for the next school year which starts on January 8th. I’ll have a new class of 6th graders to ‘break in,’ and a continuing class of 7th graders to get ready for their national exams. Prayers for wisdom, patience, strength, and grace to show the love of Christ are always needed as I input into these young lives.

A recent item of praise is that my new work permit came through! I took a quick trip down to the capital to pick it up; now I’m taken care of for emigration for another two years. It is a constant challenge to keep up with documents in two countries, but there are some very patient people who help us missionaries out with that. Also, with so much backlog and inefficiency in Zambia, it’s always a matter of rejoicing when someone’s paperwork comes through and is not lost! This trip was a chance to visit some friends who live along the way, and to do some shopping for the next few months. I don’t anticipate heading out to town again for quite awhile, so I’ll need to stock up on the items I can’t get in Ikelenge. I am so thankful for the safety we enjoyed on the roads and in town; it is so easy to forget how blessed we are every time we go out and return safely.

I’m looking forward to another year of blessings, challenges, and learning how to serve the Lord better. Thank you so much for all your prayers, letters, e-mails, and the many different ways you keep in touch and encourage me. May He find us faithful wherever He has called us to be!

September 2013

Dear Friends and Family,

This letter has been rather longer in the writing than I had originally intended; I had forgotten how tied up I get by the beginning of term! The kids and various staff members who were traveling all arrived back safely, and the final term of 2013 is well and truly launched! Sometimes I forget what a blessing safe travel is—arriving in one piece with all my luggage is not a right! We have three young people helping out this term as well as David who is filling in for another staff member. I can’t get over how much some of the kids had grown since I left, and it has been very good to be back with my students. It’s encouraging to see the progress that some kids have made, and it’s nice to have new strength and perspective to tackle long term issues.

Two major events this term are that my seventh grade students will be writing their national exams in mid October, and the ninth grade students will also be writing their national exams a little later this term. Many of them are really stressing about these tests because they get a lot of pressure put on them by their parents and because there is a limited number of time you can take the exams before you are failed out of school. Our students always have some of the top marks for the province, so we are working on teaching them healthy ways of dealing with pressure and constructive test preparation. Jill and I are also working on the end of term program. We are starting to teach the songs to the kids and will soon be holding auditions for the speaking parts and starting to source props. While December seems a long way away, I know that it will be upon us all too soon!

We had a few good rains last weekend for which we are quite thankful. The hydro station upriver has been switching off at night to allow water to build up, and is often off during the day as well. There are still dry wells in the area, and we are praying that this rainy season will make up for the last two years of drought. Because of the rain the grass is already springing up and the dry, dusty earth is slowly changing into its verdant splendor. The hall renovation project is continuing; the last roofing sheets were put on just in time for our wet weekend. Now the interior wiring and prep for painting are going on. It will be so good to be able to use the hall again—music classes are sharing the art room and assemblies are on the quad right now. So far the rains have not come in the mornings, but the day is coming when that won’t be an option.

I have been fitting back into my busy routine here and trying to keep my many projects going and organized. I’ve been sorting through things in my house as well as doing some organizing for birthday party, choosing music for the Christmas music assembly, and starting to learn the music for the program. God has been so faithful to provide strength for my every need—while I’m exhausted by the end of the day, somehow I manage to get most things done. I am so thankful for this summer in the States where I could rest, recharge, and deal with some issues in my life that are needed to be addressed. The time away has given me a new energy and love for my work here at Sakeji, and it is truly good to be home in Zambia again. Thank you so much to all of you I got to see while I was home—your encouragement and fellowship was such a blessing. Thank you for all your prayers and the support you give me and the work at Sakeji in so many different ways. May He find us faithful wherever He has called us to be!

June Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been stateside for three months now—where has the time flown? It’s been so nice to have this time away to take care of some shopping, getting refreshed spiritually and emotionally, and to enjoy seeing friends and family. While I was sorry to give up the coolness of dry season for the blast furnace of an East Texas summer, I’ve enjoyed experiencing the tastes, smells, and sounds of summer for the first time in three years. My sister’s wedding was a special time for my family with many willing hands pitching in make it happen, and it was a special treat to get to see my mom’s three brothers as well as all my grandparents and my dad’s sister. I have enjoyed getting to know my new brother in law, and watching Mary and Jordan start their married life together.

In the next two months I am going to be doing quite a bit of traveling around the country, both driving and flying, so prayers for safety and endurance would be appreciated! My mom and I will be driving to Tennessee to visit my grandparents at the end of July, and then heading to St. Louis for a few days at the beginning of August. Right after I get back from St. Louis I will be flying up to Montana and then over to Ohio to visit some friends. I am excited about getting to see some new parts of the US as well as spending some time with some dear friends.

As I start to think about wrapping things here up, there are lots of things to consider and try to squeeze in. Any trip to the states involves shopping for a lot of things that just aren’t available in Zambia for my home, my classroom, and sometimes the station. I’m also trying to spend time with all the people I want to see, and giving a presentation or two about my work at Sakeji. Here are some specific prayer points for Sakeji and myself as I return to the school to start third term.

• As I begin to plan my trip back to Zambia at the end of August, I need to make a decision about how to get back up to the school. I will have to fly either most or all of the way, but there are a lot of factors such as price, convenience, and luggage to consider.

• For guidance and help as I continue to work on sourcing materials and making decisions about what to take back with me and what to ship on the container. There are only so many pounds of luggage that the airlines will let you check, and there quite a few things that I would love to be able to bring back for my home, classroom, and friends.

• Prayers for a quick recovery from travel and jet lag in September, wisdom as I slot back into my roles at Sakeji, plan out my term and start work on the end of term program would be greatly appreciated!

• Wisdom for the staff at Sakeji as we work to disciple every child, grace as we work together in a very close environment, for the Lord to bring the right people to Sakeji at the right time, and that our students will grow to love and honor the Lord are all things that we constantly pray for. This upcoming term is also when we will start the process of reviewing applications and make decisions about which students will be joining us for the 2014 school year.

Thanks again for all your prayers, and the many ways that you have shown the love of Christ to me, particularly while I’ve been on furlough. I have greatly enjoyed getting to see many of you, and hope to squeeze a few more visits in before I return to Zambia. May He find us faithful wherever we are!

February Update

Dear Friends and Family, Term 1 of 2013 is well and truly started, and time is already flying! The first term of our school year is always a bit of a challenge—getting kids settled into a new grade, training our new students in our rules and expectations, and dealing with the inevitable crop of new challenges. Things have been going well this term, and while life is never boring, God has been very good! This week is our first half-term, so we have all been enjoying the more relaxed schedule. It is so important to have these times of rest and recreation with the kids—when you are a teacher/parent, these fun times are when you can really bond with the kids and help build good memories with your students. Activities over half-term included tubing down the very low river, swimming in our pool, early morning swim, a staff v. students soccer game, and lots of free time outside and at the river playground. Special meals and Bar One candy bars help make the holiday mood last all day. Staff also use half-term as a chance to get a bit of extra rest, and to catch up on marking and the other projects that tend to pile up during term.

It has been so encouraging to hear of several more children making a profession of faith since coming back to school. Now we pray that these young lives will go on and make a stand for Christ wherever they end up. It’s amazing to hear what passing comments or simple things sparked the thoughts that lead to accepting Christ, and is a good reminder that when you are being faithful to do His will, amazing things can happen! I am really working with my students in scripture class to focus on discipling and equipping them for the challenges they will face when they leave here. I have seen to many young people without a firm foundation in Christ drifting and living away from Him.

As I continue to make plans and prepare for my furlough, God has been doing some mighty works on my behalf. In provision beyond my needs, the opening of doors, and working out details, He is proving Himself faithful and overwhelmingly good. One thing that I am still praying about is for the Lord to raise someone up to help cover my duties while I’m away. God has never left us with too few people to make it through a term, and we are confidently waiting on Him. This year will be a bit challenging with many staff members going home for different parts of the year, but we look to Him to provide as He always has in the past.

A second small, but important prayer request is for the rains to keep coming until the water table has a chance to get back to normal. This rainy season we have not had as much rain as normal, and there is some concern for the local people who are mostly subsistence farmers eking out a living with their vegetable gardens and pineapple fields. Last year the rains stopped early, and we are praying that the Lord will keep sending enough water to make the wells fill up again and the much needed crops grow. We are not in serious trouble yet, but are concerned for the wellbeing of the villages in the area.

Thanks you all for your faithful prayers on my behalf and for this school—I treasure them more than you can know. Thank you for all your gifts and notes of encouragement, and may the Lord bless you all richly this year.

May 2012 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family, I have been putting off the writing of this newsletter because there were several ongoing things in my life this year, and I was waiting to see what the outcome was so that I wouldn’t leave you with a cliff-hanger! While these past few months have been very difficult in many ways, I’ve had a chance to see God’s hand so vividly in my life—I’m both encouraged in my faith and rebuked for my worry and stressing over details. Just in the last week the Lord has solved three major worries in my life, once again proving that He cares for every area of my life. I’m looking forward to a new term of working with the children and sharing some of my renewed joy.

As some of you may know, one of the big challenges facing me this year was the tooth I broke within a week of returning to Zambia. A seemingly innocent sandwich has cost me three months of pain and two trips to town—odd how such a small thing can have such a big impact! Because the tooth was so badly broken, when I finally got to the dentist in early April she was horrified and put a dressing on it to see if the tooth could heal once the exposed nerve was covered up. Two weeks later I came down to the Copper Belt again and found out that my tooth had indeed healed, so I was able to just have a massive filling instead of a root canal and crown. Being freed from the pain and stress of trying to decide what to do with the tooth is such an answer to prayer—God is very good!

Another area where God showed His mighty hand was when I re-embarked on the project of getting my Zambian drivers license. While down in Lusaka in early April I spent several hours moving through the different offices at RTSA, and emerged with a temporary permit and a booking to take a road test the next morning. Thought initially chastised for ‘climbing the wheel’ I realized that I had a good chance of passing once my instructor bought a newspaper from a street vendor and proceeded to read for the rest of my test! On my second town trip this holiday Beth and I braved the bus down to Lusaka to see if my pass certificate was ready, and after some hassle because of a document I forgot back in Kitwe I walked out of the RTSA office the proud possessor of a Zambian license! This is another huge load off my mind—God is very good!

The third big problem was with my dog Ceili. Shortly after returning from my first town trip I noticed that she had a hugely swollen face. I got some antibiotics from a nurse friend which seemed to help, but when the swelling came down she developed a massive abscess under her jaw. I unfortunately had to leave for my second dental appointment in town, and while I was in Kitwe I got a call saying that the start of the trouble was definitely a snake bite, and my only two options were costly (and almost impossible to get) reconstructive surgery, or putting her down to end her agony. A local game farm owner was able to take care of it for me, and while I’m going to really miss that dog, I had a chance to adopt another puppy, Hazel, in Kitwe to help with station security and as a companion for me—God is very good!

In station news our dorm has a brand new roof of bright, shiny tin that the Canadian team put up for us in the last month. We’re so thankful for not only a better environment for the children, but also for the fellowship and encouragement the team provided for us. Getting to make new friends and renew old friendships is such a blessing to us; we love to share our station and our ministry with visitors!

Thanks again for all your loving prayers and support—as I was so vividly reminded this past month I can’t do anything on my own. Knowing that the saints back home are remembering me is such a blessing. May He find us faithful wherever He has called us to be,

January 2012 Update

Dear Friends and Family,

As I start my third year at Sakeji Mission School, I’m amazed at how fast the time has gone and how much I’ve experienced and learned since I arrived in Zambia on January 2, 2010. It seems like just yesterday that I faced my very first classroom full of kids and was trying to learn all the names of our students. This year I’m teaching the same children I had last year, but different grades—I’m the 6th and 7th homeroom teacher now. There are more than a dozen new student to get to know, and two new short term staff members who have joined our team. There are lots of changes in many areas going on around the school, but the comforting constant in all this change is our risen Savior who is the reason that we are laboring and praying over these children.

Since the children started arriving on Tuesday morning, we have been enjoying the process of reconnecting with our returning students, and working through the challenges of getting to know our new pupils. This year the language barrier is not as pronounced as it was last year, but discipline has been an issue. Routines that run smoothly at the end of the year are complicated by young children who have never been asked to eat with silverware, finish their food, follow playground rules, and sit still for more than five minutes. I am reminded how important my interactions with the children outside the classroom are—I am becoming a parent to these little ones and helping them learn the skills that they will need in their adult lives. While asking a squirmy first grader for the twentieth time to take another bite makes me glad to ‘escape’ to the maturity of my upper school classroom, I’m thankful that I can be a part of the process that made my students into the people that they are today. Watching the older children pitch in and help the new ones learn the ropes is also encouraging—what I am teaching a first grader today will be passed on in a few years time. I never cease to marvel at the importance of my job, and that parents entrust their precious children to my care.

Our new dining hall is now in full use, and the kids have been enjoying the new space as well as quickly picking the new routines. The next major project that we will begin tackling later this term is re-roofing our dorm. The leaks have been bad for years, and it is not uncommon for kids to wake up and find mini lakes in their rooms. There are dozens of buckets dotting the rafters under known drips, but more keep starting every rainy season. Patching the roof is also a dubious process—walking on the roof to get to leaks often causes more! The Lord has provided the sheet metal for the roof, and a team from Canada that will be heading out around March to give a hand with the work. Once again God is proving to us that He can do the impossible!

This December I had the chance to go home for Christmas and reconnect with friends and family. It was a lovely time, but all too short as I tried to buy things for my classroom, replace clothes that have worn out (Africa is very hard on clothes!), and spend time with the many people who are an important part of my life. Highlights of my visit included Christmas with my immediate family and grandparents, going to my cousin’s wedding in Greenville, and getting to see relatives I hadn’t seen in several years. Many of my friends took the time to drop in for a visit, and of course I had a nice time being at my home assembly.
While it was lovely to be home, I’m excited to be back home in Zambia and facing a new year of serving at Sakeji Mission School. Thank you so much for all your prayers, gifts, and the time you gave me while I was in Texas. God is continually blessing me through the people He has brought into my life—you! May He find us faithful wherever we are,

~LB