From sad farewells in Lusaka to African adventure in Livingstone.

I am sitting at a lovely cherry wood desk overlooking the Zambezi River near the town of Livingstone, Zambia. There are velvet monkeys cavorting around the grounds and zebras, giraffes and impalas that freely roam the grounds of our hotel. After a long travel day over roads that have been washed out by recent flooding, we are settled in lush accommodations. It is a stark contrast to what we have experienced over the last 7 days. We are all having to process our thoughts and feelings over this.

Some of our group has just returned from a sunset dinner cruise, others are on their way back from a “walk with the lions encounter.” It is all a far cry from the 7 days of serving and building that we did at Balm of Gilead School. Victoria Falls is a spectacular sight and is a magnet for thousands of tourists from all over the world,

I would love nothing better than to say that the building of the classroom had been completed 100%. Due to delivery delays and an African way of life that doesn’t always operate on our sense of time and schedule, I can’t. What we did accomplish with the building was to set a foundation, pour a concrete slab floor and get the block walls to about 1/3 the eventual height they will need to be before a roof can be finished and the building occupied.

I can say that much more than a building was built. I believe that because of our presence here and your support, a foundation of a different sort was established. It is a foundation of partnership and caring that we pray will continue as the teachers and staff of Balm of Gilead School teach the 200+ students the skills and knowledge they will need if they are to break out of the cycle of poverty and hopelessness so many of them experience day by day. That hope is founded in faith in Jesus Christ and our incarnational presence here has hopefully been like the wire that will, in some small way, serve to make a difference in the lives of these precious kids.

In many ways their foundations of faith are already well established. I can’t begin to describe the enthusiasm and joy we witnessed as we once again heard the students sing songs of faith and love and recite poems and verses. They are being rooted and grounded in God’s love as well as receiving a practical, solid education that will help them move on to higher levels of education and productivity.

Two examples of such joy (in addition to the closing program) stand out from Friday’s last day. 1) Several of our team were walking to go visit the government sponsored high school when they met an 11 year old girl. They tried to initiate a conversation and quickly realized the girl was deaf and had not ever had the chance to go to school. She was orphaned a few years ago because of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and is now living with an aunt and uncle. One of the women in our team knew enough sign language to find out where she lived and within a few short hours, she had been enrolled in a school for deaf students and rides had been arranged for her. Out of hopelessness came a moment of grace and love. Now she has hope.

2) Around 2:00 in the afternoon, the 5th and sixth graders joyfully bounded out of the bus that had just brought them from an athletic tournament. Out of twelve schools, many of them in or nearby the same township where we worked, Balm of Gilead finished 3rd. Part of the joy for them was the new maroon and gold uniforms they were wearing. Little did they care that the uniforms were emblazoned with “White River Hornets,” for the first time in their lives, these kids had identity and pride – all because people like you cared and helped us bring these and other necessary items here to Zambia.

It was sad to pull away at 5:30 (17h30 in Zambia terms, 8:30 am in Pacific Daylight Time). As we pressed our hands and faces to the windows, and said our final goodbyes to those we had grown to love and care for so much, we took heart in knowing that these strong foundations of faith and hope are being laid in the lives of these kids. Further we know that the completion of the classroom building can be completed as the supplies have all been furnished and there is enough left over to pay local tradesmen to finish the job in the next week.

A foundation of partnership and support has been further strengthened through this trip, I am pretty confident that as we come home in a few days and begin to tell these stories, your hearts will be warmed and strengthened so that the good work that has begun, will continue to grow and stand. It is built on solid foundations.

Tomorrow, we go on safari before heading back homeward on Monday. I will try to write at least one more time from Zambia and then again from South Africa where Judy and I will be spending several more days visiting with Karl and Jenny Teichert and John and Heather Witherow. We are excited to learn about the work they are doing to plant churches, enable pastors and train indigenous church with OC International in Southern Africa.

Until then, I remind you of Paul’s words – There is no other foundation that can be laid than that which has been laid in Christ Jesus. Without that, our work can’t stand. May you know that strong undergirding strength in your life in all you do say and think.

Fred

7/6/2008 : view on map : permalink : add a comment