Christmas 2014

This year around Christmas,

I was not feeling so "Christmasy".

The weather had been so hot and dry.

Still the rains did not come.

I am one who loves to decorate my home.

It is so fun to put out all of the Christmas things that remind me 

of home, family, and Christmases past.

This year was a bit different.

I had nothing to use (everything is still in South Africa in storage).

Thankfully, my dear friends at the plant nursery

lent me this 2 foot high tree, which I decorated with handmade things 

(from seed pods found in the bush, toilet paper tubes, 

paint, washi tape, and glitter).

It still didn't feel like Christmas,

until I found the above nativity.

That was what was missing.

I collect nativities, but this one meant alot more to me 

because I had nothing else.

~~~

Over the last few weeks, 

as I have been working on the Christmas program with the children,

the Lord impressed on my heart the grand joy that surrounded 

the birth of the Christ-child.

The shepherds and angels gave glory to God.

The Bible says that even the rocks and hills cry out.

Every week, I would go home after hearing the kids sing-

"Joy to the world,

the Saviour reigns,

let men their songs employ;

while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,

repeat their sounding joy,

repeat their sounding joy,

repeat, repeat their sounding joy,"

I began to listen more closely to the sounds of nature around me.

The bleating of the sheep,

the wind in the trees,

the bird's song,

the tree frogs,...

all repeating the sounding joy of my Saviour!

My Christmas Eve this year was not different

than that night so long ago when the Saviour came to earth.

As I sat around the table with new "Church family & friends",

there were sounds of laughter and joy. 

Conversations of the Lord's goodness to us and our thankfulness for God sending His Son to earth were the praises sounding joy from our lips.

IBC Ladies group singing "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"

Christmas Day began with a breakfast with friends

and then we headed over to church for Christmas Service.

After service, we went back to share gifts, eat delicious leftovers, 

and just spend some time together (I even took a nap!).

I hope that you too had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS

filled with joy for the Saviour's birth!

Luke 2:10-11

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, 

I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, 

which is Christ the Lord."

"Joy to the World, the Lord is Come" - our 2014 Children's Christmas Program

Starting at the beginning of December,

we invited a group of kids from church to come on Saturdays 

to prepare for a Christmas Program.

We could not invite all of the Sunday School kids, 

because we usually have 200 or more.

Most of the children in this year's program have never been 

a part of a Christmas Program.

Rebecca teaching new songs

In fact, most do not know many/any Christmas songs.

We worked hard every Saturday for a few hours, 

singing the songs over and over again.

They rehearsed their lines so much, 

that some even knew the other's parts.

We planned and wrote this Christmas program with the

desire to teach the children the "Christmas" verses 

and that they would also be able to quote

 these Scriptures on Christmas day at their homes

 for their family and friends to hear the Word f God.

Angels

Narrators in back, shepherds in front.

More narrrators in back, shepherds in front.

Little sheep

Below is the video of our Children's Christmas Program.

(Turn up the volume on your computer and enjoy!)

Water....Water...Water: The Drought and Fields that Burn

Daily, I think of WATER.

Like the Zambian people, I long for the Lord to send the rains.

My lips are constantly dry; my mouth is constantly parched.

Water....water....water!!!

Daily, I need to go to that Living Water for my spiritual thirst to be quenched.

I have seen over and over again lessons that we can apply to our need for Christ, our Living Water.

 "Jesus answered and said unto her, 

Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water 

springing up into everlasting life."  ~John 4:13-14

Let me tell you what we are experiencing right now in our physical need for water and then lets apply it spiritually.

~~~

Last February, when I took my survey trip to Zambia

the dambos (this is what they call thier water supply

 for cattle and crops) looked like this:

This is our farm's dambo only half full.

It looks so refreshing and beautiful in this picture.

Eventually, the water all dried up because of lack of rain.

Now that beautiful oasis, looks like this, dry as a desert.

Most of the grass and trees are dry and brittle.

Some of the farms have dry boerholes (the word they use for "well").

They other week, while driving to see someone from church,

I noticed that one side of the lane had been burnt, 

while the other remained dry.

Not only does the drought dry up the ground and everything growing,

but those conditions also make it easier for a field to catch fire and spread.

The fire took away necessary food for already starving cattle.

See how thin these cows are.  You can see every bone in their body.

As I continued to drive, I could see the hot embers 

from a fire continuing to burn.

 

What a contrast in each side of the road.

The left side shows how dry and destitute the land has become,

while the right side shows complete devestation.

Everyday, we live with a hope for water.

Every cloud in the sky is constantly glanced at

 in wonder of whether it will carry rain.

Every conversation we have with people during the day carries the

question, "Do you think it will rain today?"

~~~

You see, this time of drought has caused everyone to look UP!

It is during the times of drought in our spiritual lives that we need to look up.

We must remain close to that well of Living Water to avoid drought.

But, when drought does come, we must be very careful and on guard so that we will not be burned and in total devastation.  

What about you?

Are you experiencing drought?

We all do from time to time.

Are you in the Word?

Are you keeping away from "fires" that may devastate your life? 

Or are you allowing the worldly things to burn and devastate you?

Its time to turn to the Living Water.

LOOK UP with a renewed hope that one day, the Lord will send the rain.

James 5:7 "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain."

The Blessed Baby Shower

When I first arrived in Zambia,

the ladies at our church had a baby shower

for one of our church members who had twins.

This was a fun and special occasion for the ladies from our church.

This type of "ministry" has a few specific purposes.

First of all, it gives the ladies a chance to fellowship.

Many of our ladies are busy in various ministries.

Sometimes a week goes by where we don't get to see each other because one or the other is busy teaching or helping in a class or the nursery.

Secondly, it provides us a chance to honor a lady who is faithful to church, married to her original and only husband, 

and one who has a good testimony for the Lord.

Thirdly, this is a good example to the other woman of the church of how God blesses you and provides for your needs when you are faithful to Him.

We hope that there will be may more occasions 

for our ladies to gather together in godly fellowship.

So.... maybe you have been wondering what I have been up to.

Here are a few pictures to show you 

a few of the different things I have been doing.

Sunday AM & PM Services, as well as, Thursday evening service

Leading the songs and doing a game in Junior Church

We usually have over 25 girls and over 30 boys.

I have been teaching Sunday School class for the last few weeks as a replacement for the regular teacher.

There are usually between 125-175 or more children in this class.

I have also shared some wonderful meals and times of fellowship with a number of families from our church.

Learning more of our local area.

Explored a little of the shops in town around the church.

 Last week, while getting some copies made at a shop in town, 

I spoke to the lady about the Lord and invited her out to church.  

I was delighted to see that she came on Sunday for the Morning Worship service!

Continue praying for the people of Kabwe!