Embattled

Hi family and friends,

How on earth can I tell you about this week??? I am in a war zone. Rabi has become so furious that he has organised his family into mob violence against me – they want me to go or they will kill me or both. He organised a PTA meeting and invited me but I knew it was a trap so we went to the Police who said don’t go to the meeting. But Rabi sent a ‘friend’ of mine to call me so we got the District Supervisor of schools and against advice attended. The hatred was palpable. As I rushed to leave the room they tried to shut the door but Pastor Richard and I escaped and jumped into the car and raced to the police station. Three police came back with us to the meeting where the people waited. Rabi sat there pretending he had nothing to do with anything… but the Police said, “We know who is behind it all. We know everything.” They now have enough evidence to charge him with stealing K30 million about AUD 8 thousand given by the Council to build 4 teachers houses for the school and also K4 million given to the Women’s Club which he kept. I pray that they will take him into custody ASAP.

Both my teachers are traitors and the Police berated them until they confessed that Rabi called the meeting. Then they went into action. Calm was restored but the police say you must go and asked the villagers to give me some time to relocate. Pastor Richard says if I’d been alone they would have killed me so he and God saved my life. Richard is an ex-army man and together with God we are good strategists. He has a powerful authority from God on his life. I am hanging onto scriptures Like Isaiah 41: 8-14, and 1 Peter 5:10

We went to the Chief who was ashamed of his people and invited me to come and live adjacent to his royal palace. Even his family begged me to “come and bless us” with all you do. The Chief even said he would give me title deeds to the property so no one could ever chase me away again plus he gave me 10,000 bricks already fired to build about 3 houses and 20 iron sheets for the roof AND there will be electricity in a few months. He said, I want to build a school and you could help me.” Amazing. It is a rare event for someone to be given title deeds, for the Chief owns all the land in his kingdom. I believe this is an open door where I will have protection and goodwill to plant a mission site.(Isaiah 54 :2)

Steve Turner and his wife Felicity from my home Church, Goodlife arrive today. It will be good to see folk from home and to have another strategist to work out the way forward. The land I’ve been given has no housing but I’m sure there is a place somewhere that we can stay. I have to find a way to keep them safe as well as Richard and his wife and me of course. The police are phoning me every day but they are 40kms away and have only a small motorbike as transport. We usually have to go and get them.

Rabi’s has convinced his family that I lied about his stealing – he even told them, “If I had stolen that amount of money I would be arrested wouldn’t I” so my soft heartedness has backfired and he is free to incite a riot. He is still on bail for the previous offence so by lumping them together he will be sent to jail for a long time and I will be pleased.

It is a bittersweet victory because Rabi’s family are harassing the people that love me and that I am caring for– an old lady of 78, a young orphan, a man with leprosy, the headman because he believes in me and refused to attend the meeting even tho he is a relative and numerous people whose lives I have saved from HIV and TB. They are being insulted every day. The old lady uses my old walking stick and they berate her for that. Can you imagine!! At least the hatred is out in the open now. Its been gaining momentum for months. Rabi is furious that I stopped him going into parliament, he’s furious that I had him arrested, he is jealous that I have brought a Pastor to the village who has my confidence, the same confidence he used to have. The underlying tension and intimidation has been daily and constant and very stressful and I am battle weary but I’m not running yet. Even now I have diaorrhea probably because of witchcraft or poison in my water-can that I trustingly left outside. They sent some poison to Richard in the form of a local drink but he knew to throw it out because they did that to him in his last Church.

The life of a missionary – take up your cross and follow me, Jesus said. We met a missionary from Malawi yesterday as we bought some bibles for our literacy classes - a lovely African man who was telling us about his daily battle with Muslims and witchcraft and ignorance. He was battle weary also. We encouraged each other to stand firm.

Oh I miss the peacefulness of Australia and NZ, the education and knowledge you all have and the amenities but I know that Satan is running, he’s just clinging and trying hard to get me out of that place for the people are ignorant, steeped in witchcraft, lying and cheating are normal and darkness is everywhere and he wants to keep it that way. But Gods light is shining thru my small footprints and He is mighty so He can save the people. That is my prayer.

Please continue praying for our safety and for a wonderful outcome where we can enlarge our territory for God in a peaceful manner. Peace - shalom – mutende (local word) In Genesis God said go and fill the earth. In spite of all this drama I love serving God and will continue to do so. Thank you for your love and prayers and support they sustain me and urge me forward.

Durelle

Pastor Richard Musoyo

Footprints in Africa welcome Pastor Richard Musoyo and his wife Felishi who joined us on 1st September 2011. They are a wonderful asset to the team.

Richard is a graduate of the Theological College of Central Africa. (TCCA) He has a diploma of Theology majoring in Pastoral Care. Here in Mupitanshi he is involved in Leadership training, Literacy classes, Counselling, Bible Study, HIV and AIDS training in the community, Bible in Schools, preaching, and visiting the sick. Richard also gives pastoral care to the surrounding Churches as all of them are led by lay people with no formal training.

Felishi has a Certificate in the Wives Programme from the TCCA which she gained in training with her husband. At Mupitanshi she is involved with homecraft, women’s health, sewing, crochet and embroidery and Bible Study.

Please continue to pray for the Footprints Team as we are operating in an area which is known for witchcraft, adultery, drunkenness, illiteracy, stealing and lying - a real stronghold of Satan.

Hotting Up

Hi family and friends,

Things are hotting up here literally. We have had rain – the first since April and it was good to run out and play in it. The temperatures are hot now. The stealing and intimidation continues – there is a group who want me to leave so there is no one to call them on their bad behaviour.

I am having trouble with my teachers at the school. They don’t seem to take school seriously here. My head teacher is AWOL. Yesterday a young girl in Grade 1 turned up with her baby sister on her back – I sent her home. I mean how can she be expected to learn with a baby to look after!! We continue to feed the children every day – I thinks that’s the only reason some of them come.

Zambia has a new President and he appears to making good changes. I am praying he will cut down on corruption in Govt . And Pastor Richard Musoyo and his wife Felishi have joined me here at Footprints. What a blessing they are. Just to have a friends to talk to is a blessing and they are already involved in literacy classes, sewing and needlework, preaching, and helping to visit and pray for the sick.

Only a few women are brave enough to come to our literacy class but it will grow. I have been visiting a young man who was hurt in a car accident, paralysed from the waist down. The hospital said go and buy a wheelchair and take him home there is nothing more we can do. He has had anti-inflammatories for one month that’s all. The family can hardly afford food never mind buying a wheel chair. Pastor and I went this week and we sang him his favourite hymn. Tears came into his eyes (that could have been my bad singing but I think it was God's spirit touching him).

I have to brush off the rat dirt to sit on my toilet these days. The rats want to get out of the rain, but the garden is flourishing. I’ve been planting cotton trees amongst other things.

I engaged a lawyer to deal with my last employee and his stealing – it was so funny to see the Chief Labour officers face. She was sorely afraid. Last time we met she intimidated me but the boot was on the other foot this time. The sweet lawyer (is there such a thing) didn’t charge me for his advice and muscle.

We are looking forward to Steve Turner and his wife coming to visit. They arrive on the 18th October. This is our first visit from an Aussie and I am excited. Will he understand my funny accent? I am hoping he will have some good ideas to impart.

Thank you for those of you who pray for me and support me in so many ways. I feel you are here with me strengthening me. Sometimes I am like Jeremiah saying, “Lord I’m too young(old) to do this” but God gives me the strength and your intersession for me gives me courage.

Be blessed
Durelle

Resting My Feet

Hi everyone,

Some of you will be wondering where I have been. After someone hacked into my laptop I lost all my newsletter connections and have had to reload as many as I can. Please accept my apologies for any rude emails you may have received – it truly wasn’t me but some crazy hacker who gets pleasure from upsetting people.

Life has been very hard here. I have been betrayed again but God is good and I’m back fighting. Last week we took a woman to hospital in Labour – the baby was dead but we at least saved her life. I believe she may have taken some African herbs. Another young girl here took the same herbs and aborted a baby girl at four months. They don’t know what they do. Many of the people are Christians in name only. Many only hear Gods word when they go to Church but even if they had a the bible they couldn’t read it. So many are illiterate, So the exciting news is that we are beginning literacy classes on 5th October. This will be in the vernacular language and next year we will add an English class

Come on you TESOL teaches come and help!!

I now have a Pastor working with me which lightens the load. I am in Ndola at present having a good rest. I’ve had a series of hard knocks so it’s good to be out of the village for a while. Our school is going well and we’ve added Bible in Schools to our curriculum, the ladies are sewing once a week, and we have begun a community project to take care of those who are HIV positive. Some follow up HIV training is to occur in the next few weeks. My soccer team is still winning their games so I love them. My garden is taking shape and I’ve prepared holes for my banana plantation ready for when the rains come in November.

Pastor Richard and I hold prayers and bible reading every morning at 7.30am and every day someone new arrives to share with us. I love this ‘family’ time. It is very hot here all of a sudden. No rain since March so the ground is very dry and dusty. The death rate here is high: on average there is one death every week in my vicinity. But good news - we have finally got rid of the incompetent nurse in the local clinic after advocating for a couple of years. We now have Peter a young male nurse who is lovely to chat to as well as a good nurse. I am often amazed that one woman and God can make a difference but our God is big. I have just returned from worship in a Baptist Church filled with 300 or more Africans worshipping in English. It filled my heart. The Pastor talked about living a life of love as Paul exhorts in his letter to the Ephesians. We sang that beautiful old hymn “Have thine own way Lord “– it brought tears to my eyes, tears of gratitude and rededication.

I say a big thank you to those of you who pray for me and those who support my work financially. I am often tired and lonely but I renew my vow every day to serve God in this place and I can't image doing anything else now. May you all be greatly blessed and may your foot one day stand in this Footprint here in Zambia dedicated to Jesus and His love.

Durelle

Zambian Elections

Zambia has been having national elections. The picture shows Michael Sata the new President of Zambia: for the full story see today's Guardian. The reporter notes that:

On Thursday youths fought running battles with riot police in the towns of Ndola and Kitwe, setting fire to vehicles and markets.

Durelle was in Ndola on Thursday, but is safe and well.

Victory is Sweet

Hi Everyone,

Words are inadequate to describe what has been happening here in the last ten days. Many of you already know that one of our staff has been stealing especially from the teachers. Ever since I came here I have been watching Rabi closely and this month he sent a receipt to David in Australia to say he had paid the teachers. Knowing they were complaining of non-payment we knew then that it must have been forged. David sent me a copy and I could tell immediately the signatures were false for I have a copy on file.

A Pastor friend Richard Musoyo arrived that very same day to come and work with me for a week as a trial with a view to becoming permanent. He was thrown in the deep end and I have to say a huge thank you God for sending him for he has been a tower of strength. We decided to go to the police because Rabi was very belligerent and we now had evidence. When I confronted him about the salaries he lied and when I said so he tried to assault me but he hit my assistant instead and he threatened the teacher, “you better lie for me and say you have been paid, because if I go to jail my family will kill you.”

The police said, "A crime has been committed lets go pick him up." So 3 policemen hopped into my car and I drove to the village to get him. So now my Footprints car is a paddy wagon!! They asked questions and Rabi fell into their trap with more and more lies. The police kept asking questions, Godwin, the teacher and Rabi kept telling lies, and I kept shouting, "Lies, Sir, throw them in the cell." I had told the police and others gathered that if the men would tell the truth I would withdraw the case. The men were inches from the cell, shoes off and handcuffs ready on the table, but still they lied. I held out for the truth, the only one in the room! Everyone else was crying, "Sister have mercy" and "Forgive him", but I just said, "Throw them in the cells till they tell the truth." The cell is a 4'x6' room with no window, no bed or toilet, cold and dark. Finally after 4 hours they broke, Godwin first, saying, "Mama I’m sorry I am lying" and then finally Rabi walked across the room to me and said, "Its true I am guilty of all that you have said." Praise God. Now rehabilitation can begin. It was my plea as his 'mother' to come back to God that broke him in the end. He threw his arms around me and we sobbed together.

And so ended another day in the life of a missionary in Africa. Next morning at 7am I was called to a help woman in early labour, Nelson came for physio on his foot, a woman came with a huge breast abscess etc. We serve an amazing God who strengthens us to do all things. Isaiah said:

"Clear the road make a straight path for my children. Remove everything that is blocking my people’s path."

It feels like we are clearing out the rubbish so truth can prevail and the light can shine here in Mupitanshi. I love these people and want to help bring them into Gods light so that they can receive the blessings of God. There is so much evil and corruption here.

The spiritual tension in the village is palpable so I am in Ndola for a rest. I bought hand lotion and shampoo and girlie things this morning. The community are shocked at my actions. No one has ever stood up to Rabi before. As a Councillor they are afraid of him. But they are happily shocked so we must build on that and promote leaders of integrity. The people here now know that I stand for truth.

In amongst that we have elected a committee for Channels of Hope and they are busy forming their constitution so they can register as an Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). Already this week the Church elders are beginning to reach out to vulnerable people and help. This is very exciting. Even in the chaos good things are happening.

On the way to Ndola we called at a Methodist Mission station where they make carts for the disabled so we could get a cart mended. It belongs to Jairos, a very jovial young man who cannot use his legs. Whenever he sees me he comes crawling through the dirt very quickly to take my hand. They are going to repair it for me and then Jairos, and I are going to have a race!

I have learned that I badly need an assistant. To facilitate meetings in a foreign language always relying on interpreters is not the easiest. Richard is a solid man of God, living the Word. He is 55 years old, married with 5 children, is an ex-army captain so doesn’t run from trouble. He is well trained in HIV awareness which is our main thrust at present. He is connected to families hereby birth, has counselling and administration skills, understands micro-enterprise and he can drive. He sees our centre as a place of learning. Please pray with me that God will send the money so I can employ him. He would like a salary of K1.8 million per month (about AUD450 per month). None of the Churches here can afford a pastor so in keeping with my vision I would love to employ him to help with educating the people, to train Church elders and to preach. Not being attached to any one church means he can help all church elders which is in keeping with Channels of Hope where 12 Churches have united. Eventually I see that this NGO will employ him but I would love to begin now so if anyone can help let me know.

In building a community there is always good and bad. Sometimes the old buildings need to come down and new ones erected. Its like that here. I believe that we have released the evil to make way for the best God has in store for us.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. I can’t work without that. You are my partners in this work. I wish you could meet these people. People like Jairos, and others whom I love dearly. My dream is you will all come and visit one day. Bono said:

"15,000 Africans are dying needlessly every day – every day, from preventable diseases for the lack of drugs that we in the West would never tolerate. Deep down if we really believe that Africans are our equals we would do more to halt this terrible tragedy."

I beg you, come and visit, see for yourselves these beautiful people who have nothing, who are the least blessed of people in the world, who live every day with the threat of death. Every week in our village is a funeral. A child of 2 this week. Last week a Grandfather. Next week? Do come before its too late.

Blessings
Durelle

Jungle Juice

Hi everyone

I'm trying to have a rest... I even asked God for a rest. Half an hour later a man arrived as pillion on a bicycle, suffering shock and severe pain from a peptic ulcer. He rolled off the bike onto the ground vomiting. We wrapped him in a blanket, carried him to the car and raced off to the clinic. He is recovering okay at home.

I have a lovely photo of Sackson, the man with shingles and he is looking good. Still some pain but OK. We took him dried beans which are his favourite. I need to get savvy about sending more photos.

On a sadder note a patient I rushed to the hospital on Sunday died this morning Aged 40. Her brother cycled 12km with her as pillion and then they called me - I could see she had pneumonia and so we rushed her to hospital. The nurse on duty couldn't get a drip line in as her veins were so flat - he tried 8 times after which I yelled stop!! and asked him to get a colleague. My dear friend Rose came to the rescue even though she was off duty. Then they ran out of syringes so i raced off to another clinic to get syringes so they could give her antibiotics. But still we were too late. I have agreed to go collect her body from the hospital tonight..

Nelsons foot is continuing to heal. Its amazing to watch the flesh fattening up and building new skin. I find it fascinating. I didn't realise I was letting myself in for months of daily dressings but the results are worth it.

We had our first meeting since the Seminar and have decided to form a Community Care Coalition made up of Church reps, teachers, nurses, and the Chief will be patron. We will register as an NGO so that in future we can apply for funds to help us with our programme of helping those who are sick with HIV. We will be electing the executive next Sat and pray with me that we get responsible and compassionate people coming forward. Its very exciting to see this happening - a dream come true. One person and God can make a difference.

I got a phone call from the girls at school to say, "Grandma we have no meal" This is their staple diet so I had to go visit them. Catherine and Matilda are doing very well and getting good marks. I love to see their enthusiasm. Owen is also doing well at school They have exams soon so they are all nervous.

It is freezing cold in the night and early morning here. I found a new use for my teapot - when I'd drained it I cuddled it close to keep warm.

Today I am trying to get a chain and cogwheel fixed for Jairos, a man who is not able to use his legs. He crawls everywhere but someone somewhere made him a cart which he pedals with his hands. its run with a bike chain thingy. Anyway I met him on the road ( as you do here) and he greeted me with such a warm smile and came crawling very fast to shake my hand. When he said his cart was broken I decided to try and help him. He is such a warm person considering his suffering. Apparently he makes wooden things like mouse traps to sell. Anybody need a mouse trap?

That's it from the jungle today. Thank you for helping me to buy the car - it has saved lives, but not only that it helps the people to see that they are loved and precious as I drive off to visit them etc. I appreciate your prayers and your emails. They keep me going. It's difficult at times and even though I am tired I do love the work. I am planning to go to Ndola for a rest next week.

God bless
Durelle

Channels of Hope

participants at the seminar
lining up for dinner

Wow! What a busy time it was and I feel so happy with what we achieved.

Pastor Morgan Chilulu is an inspired teacher he spoke at every session for 3 days. He loves his work and speaks from experience. I have posted photos on facebook but didnt know how to label them.

There were many firsts at the seminar

• The first seminar in Mupitanshi.
• The first time eight different churches had united (Catholic, Pentecostal, Evangelical, Baptist, Jehovah's Witness, & Seventh Day Adventist, Plus).
• The first time HIV has been talked about openly.
• The first time HIV and Condoms have been mentioned in a church here.
• The first time someone openly admitted he was HIV positive as he gave his testimony of me saving his life.
• The first time the Chief has graced a seminar.
• The first time the Chief has stayed in my house.

72 people registered and attended the three days. Some came in the late morning just for the lunch! We had nshima and fish the first day then nshima and goat the 2nd and nshima and beans the last day. I also served watermelons for morning tea. The women from my sewing club did the cooking, and we had two specially selected cooks for the Chief who addressed the people and encouraged them to learn all they could.

Morgan was very inspiring, funny at times and challenging at others. His session on condom use will stand out in my mind forever. I had acquired several boxes of condoms and he gave a practical demonstration to illustrate his point that "condoms must be used consistently and correctly ". At the end of that session we gave away the condoms and I nearly died watching the 'widows' grabbing handfuls. The next morning I jokingly asked the people if they enjoyed practising... and Lewin got up to tell the people,"Durelle is the only person who didn't take a condom" which made everyone laugh.

Although Morgan spoke Bemba throughout the three days I knew what he was saying 90 % of the time by his body language and by knowing the content. At one stage he held up my 'white' hand in his black hand to illustrate that there are no boundaries, that we each have the same heart and together we can make a difference.

I was so proud of my friend Brighton who is a church elder but was willing to testify that secrecy kills while speaking out can save lives. Also present was my 'lost sheep' Langston, now returned to the fold and I got him to lead a singing chorus. I love the African worship songs. Their harmony is very moving. I enjoyed myself each day. It was hard work because at the end of each day I had to go home and cook for my guests. I rose at 5am each day to get things organised.

Each day and each session was begun with praise and worship and I danced in the aisle with them. Many Christians were challenged by the need to use condoms as this is considered to be a sin here. At the end Morgan convinced them. He said something like "So its okay for a Christian to spread HIV?" They were kidding themselves that Christians don't have HIV but the statistics show that 75% of the people in Zambia belong to a church yet the rate is 1-4 people who are positive. His most challenging question was "Are Christians having sex outside of marriage?" he divided us into groups to discuss this.

At the end we had a candle lighting ceremony with red candles to symbolise HOPE. Each person lit their candle from the person beside them symbolising how together we can fight HIV and restore health to Mupitanshi. He emphasised Faithfulness to one partner, correct and consistent use of a condom, know your status (in other words go and get tested). As we held our candles a small group acted out a role play.

Morgan was very courageous for he was talking to a group of people where husband and wife won't kiss in public let alone talk about sex. He was very clever he kept asking what is the local word for 'penis' or for 'vagina' to create conversation as he was teaching. There was a lot of laughter. In talking about the causes he talked about how in Africa its demand sex or 'dry sex' which causes ruptures and allows the virus to spread and how after a woman's husband dies the brothers have to have sex with her. I learned a lot about the culture.

People came to confess their positive status to him during breaks. Heartbreaking but healing all at the same time. From the seminar one man is determined to hold a support group and the community as a whole have agreed to form a Coalition to keep the momentum of healing going. Each Church will form a HOPE team who are willing to visit the sick, encourage people to go for testing, provide food and help when they are weak etc. Our first Coalition meeting is this Saturday. As you can imagine I was crying at the end with the joy of seeing these people step into the 21st century. Praise God.

Its very hard to put into words all that happened but I know it was amazing to see such a workshop in Mupitanshi. Morgan is going to come back in 3 months to check on how our coalition is going and to conduct a couples workshop.

Muptitanshi will never be the same!

On the last night I was so tired I tripped over a rock and lay sprawled in the dirt, the chicken dinner spilled beside me. I cried as I was hurt, and I was worried about my hip prosthesis. They carried me inside and I soon recovered enough to reconstitute dinner. I enjoyed having loving company to eat with and to chat with which is such a change. But running a guest house is exhausting. This week I have had Simon in my guest house with pneumonia so there is no rest.

We went to visit Sackson the man with shingles on his face - he is smiling again and the blisters have healed. It was so wonderful to see his improvement. He and his wife are a delightful couple.

Thank you dear friends for your prayers and encouragement. I could feel them.

Love to you all
Durelle

Blood and Gore

Hi everyone,

This week has been all about mercy trips to hospital. First a man was brought to me on a bicycle. All one side of his face was covered in monstrous blisters and his eyes were swollen shut. I thought someone had burned him but when we rushed him to the clinic they said it was shingles, the worst case I have ever seen. They referred him to hospital 80 kms away. We raced off in the car and he was admitted immediately. He is 76 years of age and was scared of being in the hospital but he is progressing well.

Next we went to visit the headman in a village close by and he said, "My son is sick" (actually he said My daughter because they get English mixed up) "Can I see him," I asked. So off we set up a little bush track. The boy's foot was incredibly swollen, and pus was dripping out of it. I knew we had to get him to the clinic ASAP. His father said we could wait until tomorrow, but I knew better. Off we raced but when we got there the clinic was closed, but I knew it was important so I drove another 40 kms to the next one. There they saw the boy straight away and the nurse got a knife and slashed a hole in the foot - the boy screamed and I sobbed. We had to hold the boy down - no anaesthetics here. Gallons of pus spurted out onto the floor - not much hygiene here either. No hand washing, no swabbing of the skin. And they didn't have the right medicine or any paracetamol even.

They put swabs and a bandage on the foot and I took him home and promised to get him to a clinic for a dressing of the wound. Next day we took him to our regular clinic and Reagan, my favourite nurse, said "this is serious." We lay the boy, Nelson, on a bed and Reagan proceeded to cut and peel away all the skin off the top of his foot then more squeezing of pus. The smell was atrocious and the sight made me almost vomit, but it was the best way to save the foot. The flesh was already rotting. They had the correct antibiotic and chlorhexidine antiseptic this time.

"When shall I bring him back for the would dressing," I asked.
"No need," said Reagan," you just change the dressing, and squeeze the pus out for the next three days and he'll be fine."
"Me?"
"Yes, you", said Reagan. He gave me dressings, gloves, medicine and a sweet smile and off we went.

Yesterday before church I collected Nelson from his home and began to change the dressing as instructed. I heaved and cried a few times, but I did it. I was preaching on Mercy at church so I had a great story to tell.

Our junior teacher has resigned and a new teacher, more experienced has arrived. Mrs Maureen Ngosa is her name, she is very friendly and is happy to chat in English - what bliss to have a friend living next door. I have taken over the management of the school, and already have made some improvements. Its more responsibility, but god is good. I cant actually believe all the positive things happening here. One person can make a huge difference with God's help.

We are excited about our coming seminar - already registrations are coming in. We expect about 80. I am providing lunch for these people for three days. HELP. I went to the Chief's palace to invite him to come and encourage his people. He lives about 50 kms away and said the petrol for travel would be difficult, so I promptly said,"Would you like to come and stay in my house?" He gave me a huge smile and said "yes." So I am being very honoured, and I have also given myself more work because its like having the queen come to stay!

The seminar stresses the community response to vulnerable people especially those with HIV . Already one man has come to say, "Grandmum, now my maize is harvested I am going to visit the community and bring all the sick people to you." Bless him.

I now have a fence around our village houses, complete with gates to keep the goats out but also for security. It makes me feel good and I don't mind opening the gate every time I drive through.

How many people can fit in a Toyota Hilux? - my second best football team won a game so I bought them uniforms, and went to watch them play on Sunday afternoon. They lost, but they are such amazing young men. 15 of them piled into my 'bus' and they wound the windows down and sang with gusto all the way home. I love them.

That's about it today. Its good to be at the internet again. I've missed out lately with all the patients coming to hospital.

Much love to you all. Thank you for your prayers and support, I can't do this work without you. I miss you all so much at times, and long for hugs and laughter.

Durelle

Miracles and Mayhem

School Kids with
Frank the teacher

Hi Everyone,

What a change this week has been Its been major answers to prayers and miracles even. I am sitting here in the jungle knowing why God sent me.

Firstly 23 parents actually came to the PTA meeting and we were able to discuss what was wrong, what we could do and what was the way forward. We agreed that parents would come and clean the school grounds where snakes were lurking in the long grass and on Sat they came by the dozens. I was so happy to see them. In the meeting I held up a baby and said this baby girl may be President one day but only if we educate her. She looked up at me with big eyes and screamed! When we talked about the high rate of absenteeism the teacher read out the names and the daughters of both the Chairman and the Headman were on the list. Oops But they agreed to make sure it stops.

Rabi

Half way through the meeting Rabi appeared, now this was a real answer to prayer as I was becoming overwhelmed by what needed to be done. He has been away for 4 months, but he was his charming self and endorsed what some parents had said that this school is an asset to the community for our children and their future. And so we elected a new committee who pledged to work hard and I do believe the barriers are broken and we are on the way forward.

I invited Pastor Richard Musoyo from Ndola to come and visit me to see what we are doing. He is with the Evangelical Church of Zambia (ECZ) and he arrived this Friday. I had a school meeting in the morning, a crisis with the girls at Lamba College at noon, and then had to rush to get two patients to the HIV clinic and pick Pastor Richard up. On Sat I introduced him to the parents working at the school and then had a time of prayer and counselling with the girls before we took them back to College.

On the way home I plucked up courage to take him to meet Fred, an elder from ECZ here - I say courage because Fred and I have had a falling out. But he received us both and was happy to meet Richard . I left them to chat in their own language. They discovered they were related, an important thing to Zambians and Fred asked him to preach on Sunday. I was overjoyed because that was my dream.

On the Sunday Richard preached about forgiveness and feeding your enemies! Wow. Some of you will remember that Rabi and I also are still in the early stages of forgiveness. I invited Rabi and his wife Grace to the service, and indeed his whole family were there. I asked Rabi to sit beside me to translate the sermon, so it was a touching time for us both as well it was a witness to the whole church that we are working as a team again. Later that day Fred came to ask my forgiveness. To me the whole day was a miracle, something I have been praying for but not knowing how on earth it could happen. And the Church people said to Fred, "where did you get this great preacher from," and he said, "my sister Durelle brought him here." So there was healing on many levels.

On Sunday afternoon I took Richard to watch my football team play and they won. I love them, their faithfulness in practise and the entertainment they provide to the community and today he has gone home. It was a busy weekend and somewhere in all that I managed to cook for us and do my housework.

It has become glaringly obvious that we need strong pastoral leadership in Mupitanshi and I am making a strong plea. Is anyone interested in sponsoring a pastors wages so that Pastor Richard could come and be here permanently? If you are please email me directly.

Thank you for all your prayers and emails that encourage me. I am so happy that I have wonderful friends and family who care for me even when I am far away. I am feeling homesick today and long to see you but thank you for your encouragement.

Durelle

Channels of Hope

Sign promoting the 'know your HIV
status' campaign in Zambia

How we all enjoyed the learning at Kamfinsa. Pastor Chilulu was amazing. His village has electricity so I could play music. He calls his project Channels of Hope and after listening to his inspiring teaching the four pastors from here in Mupitanshi agreed to hold a Channels of Hope meeting in Mupitanshi. Praise God. I was so excited I cried. Whew, there will soon be someone to help me take care of the sick.

His project is based on 'Know your HIV status' as a means of opening peoples eyes to the truth that 1:4 people here in Zambia are infected. He said "if you are not infected you are affected!!" Pastor Chilulu says that ¾ of the population go to church so this is the most obvious channel to get the message out there. So he is coming to speak to the community on 30th June. It will be a 3 days seminar with about 100 people. I am expected to provide lunch for everyone!!!! All the churches in the area have agreed to participate and amalgamate to bring hope to these vulnerable people. Amazing truly amazing. It's the most exciting thing I have done here, and all because my friend Liz gave me a book that had a story about Pastor Chilulu. (Liz: Pastor Chilulu is charming. I also met Milton the orphan who carved all the church pews and who teaches carpentry. Thank you)

Our school is a bit dysfunctional at present. When we call a meeting for the parents to come no one shows. Even the staff don’t always turn up. I am tearing my hair out and in a moment of frustration said, "Well I’ll close the school then" which has seen some action. The headman has put his power behind the school and the PTA so lets hope his muscle works.

The stolen boy's body [mentioned in the last blog] was recovered last week on Wed. They had cut off his genitals and taken other body parts and thrown him in the river. I was horrified. The only good I could do for the family was to buy a coffin for his small body to rest in.

Pastor Richard Musoyo is coming to stay this the weekend so I'm using my guest house. He is a pastor without a church and we have several churches without a pastor – somehow I thought I might facilitate getting them together. Pastors here have to have sponsorship to survive because the people are so poor they only give 50 cents each Sunday. Its such a sad situation for the Church so many people without a shepherd.

That's my news for this time. Thank you again for the wonderful encouraging emails and for your prayers and donations. I wish you could come and visit and meet these people for yourself. Such poverty you have never seen and yet life goes on. Babies are made and born and die, children go to school or not, parents are unfaithful, neglect is common, lack is everywhere and yet we still laugh and tell stories. We still worship God with wonder. Amazing. Do come and visit one day soon.

Love you
Durelle

• See also: A Zambian church walks the talk of love.
• According to the U.S. Agency for International Development Zambia is one of the worst affected countries in Africa, they use the term hyper-epidemic. The Avert organisation also provides information on HIV/AIDS in Zambia - they say the average life expectancy in Zambia has dropped to 39 years as a result of HIV.
  

Jungle Gym

Living in the jungle is tough - we have had four children die in four weeks. Yes, another one this week. The stolen boy has not been recovered. I am shaken by the sheer waste of lives and the large number of deaths and the grief we are all feeling. And while I was busy helping people some came and stole my last chicken and the children came and took all my guavas off the tree. I was so looking forward to eating them too. This week too we had an event of Chicondo where they pick up the coffin and chase people till they find the one who killed the dead person – in this case a child. Pure witchcraft and Satanism. Scary too. People go crazy and run everywhere.

I went to a wedding yesterday. It was a strange mixture of Zambian tradition, English rites and uncertainty under very hot sun and clouds of dust. The next day most people had diarrhoea. I guess cooking for crowds with no facilities and the dirt as the table is always a risk. The bride wore a lovely white dress but her thick veil was used to keep her totally invisible all day. She and the groom were not allowed to talk to each other or to even smile.

My best news is that we all had a wonderful time listening to Pastor Chilulu in Kamfinsa and he inspired us to go back for two days study this week for the next step. All the Pastors in our district are excited about this new project. I had only met Pastor Chilulu once before for 5 minutes, but straight away we were good friends. We are going to sleep in the Church me and 5 church elders all male. Maybe I should delete that line. I know this project is a good plan from God and its gratifying to see the Zambians pick up their game and go for something new and innovative that will change the whole community. Amen.

I miss the students now that they are back at school. Owen phones me sometimes on his illegal phone, and I go to Lamba College where the girls are every few weeks. We now have eleven students sponsored to High School. I know this will bless the community as these young people are given a chance to study and enjoy learning. For most it’s the first time away from home. I see a huge difference in their confidence levels. If you would like to sponsor a young person to go to High School just let me know and I can arrange it. It costs $500 per year.

My parcels and mail arrived - thank you to those who sent them. I love getting your emails. They are so encouraging. I am continuing my chronological Bible reading along with my Church Goodlife. I must say its hard work some of that Old Testament stuff, but there also some real gems. Of course being me I skip off to the Gospels for refreshment.

That's it for this week. Thank you for your prayers and emails. I look forward so much to coming to the internet to read my mail. If you forgot about me it would be awful so thank you and keep sending them. And your prayers reach heaven and then God sends them to me. I can feel them.

So be blessed sweet ones

Durelle

Step by Step

Hi Family and friends,

Good news first - Today I called into Kamfinsa again and have made an appointment to take a group of four leaders from Mupitanshi next Tuesday- please pray that great things will come from this and that our leaders will be inspired to do something similar. I am very excited about it. The high school students are all back at school. Rebecca and Owen are in their last year, Grade 12 so they don't come home again until they have sat national exams in November.

The bad news - sweet little Gift the sick baby was dead the next day when I took the baby food to his mother. I was so upset! Two days later a 4yr old was abducted as they were walking home from the bush farm and we were all involved in searching for him. I took the parents to the police station miles away to register the loss.. Then we had a whole village meeting to which the people who live in the bush area where he went missing were instructed to attend. However only 4 men from that place came. I watched them closely and God told me to speak to them. I said, "You know the people. You know who has the child." They said, "Yes". So I took them to the Headman and asked them to confess. Apparently a woman stole the child and is hiding him in her home. On the information that these men gave a house to house search was to be carried out today - I wont know the results until I get back home.

On Monday I took HIV patients for blood tests and as I sat there in that clinic with 8 people who have this deadly disease they started joking and laughing hysterically. It seemed bizarre but I had to admire them.

Too many people have been coughing over me and this last week I succumbed to the virus and so I have been quite low and feel very homesick.

I have met a pastor who is looking for a church - I would love him to come to Mupitanshi. We are so in need of good leadership. We have lots of churches but few pastors. Rev Richard Musoyo is an ex-army man who has retrained as a pastor and he loves the word of God. He has just returned from a place in the north where because he preached the truth the people tried to poison him... this is true. Most of the deacons and elders were either married to several wives or had mistresses and the deaconesses were single and had dozens of children to different fathers. They didn't want to hear the truth. Here I have one teacher who is pregnant - she hasn't told me yet but its pretty obvious. She is not married and already has twins to a different man. God help me deal with this.

The difference about life here is that in NZ I'd read about all this in the newspaper or Women's Weekly magazine, but here I know everyone involved. It hits harder because of that. Africa is certainly different but I love these people.

That's the news for now. Be blessed . Keep praying for me to stay strong. I really appreciate your prayers. God is certainly working in this place.

Durelle

Mad and Glad

Hi Everyone,

I miss you all so much, but the truth is I love serving God among these people.

I was given a book by Smith Wigglesworth to read. He said: "If you are not making someone glad or sad then your ministry is ineffective." I must be doing something right because a couple of people are very mad at me. I have been summoned to the Chief's palace because of challenging the clinic nurse who was responsible for a 4yr old child dying.

This week I found another case of his neglect - a young woman called Shiska who is very ill, probably with TB, and her baby of two months called Gift who looks like a breathing skeleton. I had to turn away to cry when I saw the child. I took the baby into my arms and as he looked up at me I promised him to do everything I could to help him.

I took them both to another clinic and the nurses have helped me diagnose what to do. We are buying baby food for the child today and they are both on antibiotics until next week. I will show mum how to make the food and pray they can do it hygienically. Please pray that these two may survive and stay glad. My heart breaks for these two. On average I have been taking 20 patients to this good clinic every week and I am building a case to take to the Chief against the other clinic and its incompetence which is endangering lives.

God said to Adam, "Go into the all the earth and fill it", or something like that, so I am beginning to fill the earth of Mupitanshi with the love and mercy of God who wants to bless these people and bring them into the same blessing that we in the west enjoy. Oh how I hate injustice and the people who perpetrate it

The students are all going back to school this weekend so it is a busy time for me - 10 kids to get organised. Whew!

Football is going well there are now 50 men involved in weekly training and matches. I spend every Sunday afternoon encouraging them. I don't understand the rules but I do know how to encourage them generally.

Philan my assistant has been helping me to plant an orchard - 4 mangoes, two bananas, 3 avocados, some sugar cane. and a guava tree. I am supplying food for three widows and their children - so one day I'll have fruit to give them.

Any of you who have read Richard Stearns book "The Hole in Our Gospel" will perhaps remember a story of a community in Zambia called Kamfinsa where the pastors have joined together to form Hope teams to visit the sick and vulnerable. [Google Books extract] I called in to see them last week on the way back from Ndola when I renewed my visa. I met Emmanuel who has said yes to bringing a group of pastors from here to meet them. We are going next week. Four different churches have agreed to come with me. I am so very excited because I think this is the way forward for this area. It will be Zambians inspiring Zambians - they've inspired me too. Please pray for a wonderful outcome from this.

My dear friend Langston, the lost sheep who was found, has been pulled back to the Church who hurt him because the elders said he is not allowed to change churches. I will continue to encourage him on a personal level. Another group who are mad at me.

Zambia is building up for an election and even though my visa says I am not allowed to get involved in politics I can still be interested. I pray for men and women who are honest and have the needs of their nation in their hearts to be called to stand, for corruption is rife here.

Watch this space...

Love and blessings to all

Durelle

Easter Unfolds

Durelle's House in Mupitanshi

Hi everyone,

We had a blessed time at Easter with many churches of the same denomination joining together for the whole weekend. We had 200 people crammed into our little church sitting on new planks freshly adzed from the bush. I was privileged to address the people on Saturday. We had excellent speakers - one was outstanding. I'm going to meet with him again.

My house was broken into on Friday and again Saturday. The burglars knew I was at Church!!! However being a small village the culprits were caught within 3 days. We had a conference with the culprits and their parents and the Headman. They burglars were two 11-12yrs old boys. They returned some of the stuff. It was mostly small items that went missing. I threatened to take them to the police station, but when they kneeled before and said sorry I forgave them and sent them home, but I did give them a lecture. We have agreed to meet again in two weeks to make sure they are going straight. It was an excellent lesson on how the local village culture operates.

The most amazing news is that the women of the Balkan nations at the Daughters of the King Conference, in Sarajevo collected a huge sum of money to send to me for my mission. I am overwhelmed with their sacrificial giving. Thank you sweet women may you be doubly blessed and thank you to my friend Grethe Stanley, their leader. These women are poor themselves but are learning how blessed it is to give. Praise God.

The football teams are going well - I brought uniforms for my best team and they are winning most of their games. I love attending the games and encouraging the players.

A small boy of 4yrs died this week. He had malaria and the local nurse gave him the wrong medicine - and the next day he was dead. Being in the bush no action was taken but I decided to act for the parents and have been to see the nurse concerned and also to see the Chief to try to resolved our concerns that families are not receiving good medical care. This is an ongoing problem and I am praying that we can resolve it. Meanwhile I am taking on average 15-20 patients a week to another clinic. Two patients were emergency calls. This week the local nurse prescribed a diet of milk and avocados as well as other vegetables for a man who has very high blood pressure!!! I was amazed as I believe a low salt and low fat diet was called for.

The village has been quiet because its school holidays. Some men are building me a fence to try to keep the goats out. Life here is very different. I love being more involved in the Church and we are beginning to build hope teams of visitors for the sick. I am supplying food to several widows who are too sick to plant a garden for food.

The long dry season has begun and the sun and mosquitoes are relentless....

I am so grateful to God for this opportunity to serve Him here among the Zambian people. Of course it has challenges but I love it.

Be blessed dear family and friends

Durelle

Foorprints Harvest

Wow life is busy here. Every day I am seeing at least 5 patients. There is no medicine at the local clinic so I am transporting people to the next clinic about 10-15 kms away. We have found another 3 people with HIV, most of the other patients have malaria. One man had very severe symptoms. The people are bringing the difficult illnesses as well like huge lumps in the groin and infected scalps. Oh, and last night we took a woman in labour to deliver her baby.

Kitwe Hospital

On Saturday I discovered the Eye Clinic from Chingola was coming so I rounded up 3 patients and they were successfully treated. They even took one man all the way to the Kitwe Hospital to have cataracts removed all for free. This is a wonderful initiative by the people for the people.

Many people have been coming to welcome me back. Some bring food, like ground nuts, potatoes and pumpkins as gifts which is lovely. I bought a new gas stove and it is wonderful to be able to make a cuppa in a few minutes and my hands are not black from charcoal all the time. (Thank you Simon for your encouragement to do this)

Pastor Laston invited me to preach on Sunday but he only came on Friday evening after I’d driven to the school to pick up the girls and then all day Saturday I was at the clinic but God is good and He inspired me with what to say and gave me the words. I gave my first ever altar call and 15-20 people came forward. It was blissfully exciting like a milestone and it was also very exhausting. Many of the people came with Pastor and I to pray for a sick man at his home and we sung him a chorus about Jesus. Pastor Laston and I are keen to call the pastors together to form united teams to visit the sick and the widows. We plan to do this next month.

Then it was off to football in the afternoon. I had bought my team uniforms this week and they were proud to show them off. They played well but they lost 3-1. It’s wonderful how the whole community turns out to see them play which makes it a very social occasion.

The difficulties I was experiencing with Rabi have completely disappeared and I am so grateful for answered prayer that he would come back to God. It makes life here so much easier and we are able to work together a bit. Also another man, Langston, who left the church about two years ago, came back this Sunday. I am so happy.

Lots of people are coming to ask for ‘piece’ work or odd jobs to earn some money so our place is looking good with lots of people cutting grass, making a fence, gardening and the women cleaned the driveway and fixed the base of the houses. The fence reminds me about boundaries which are an issue here. People have time on their hands so they gossip, some of it malicious all of it hurtful.

Another bright piece of news is that the women are back at sewing classes. They are making some place mats with crochet edges and embroidery. They look very nice.

So my entry back into Mupitanshi has been delightfully easy and very satisfying. I am even enjoying sweeping the dirt!!! All the students are doing well this term and are now on holiday for a while month.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I am reading my chronological bible, which the whole of Goodlife my home church, are doing, and this makes me feel very connected. I love serving God here and enjoy being able to make a difference for a few but I can’t do it alone so thank you for supporting and encouraging me. May God richly

bless you.
Durelle

Here We Go Again

Hi Everyone,

I have landed in Ndola safe and sound, but tired after the long flights. I'd forgotten how bright the skies are here. It hurts my eyes after all the rain and cloud in Sunshine Coast.

The car wouldn't start even though I followed Trevor's instructions... Seems the petrol thing got stuck with the dry dust....

AND then I drove off to Chiwala school to see Owen and steam poured from the bonnet. I pulled over and 20 men all clamoured to 'help' - one happened to be a mechanic. God is good and answers my prayers even at the end of the earth. A rat had made its home under the bonnet while I was away -indeed a nice comfortable home for it BUT it ate holes in the water hose hence the steam. All's well now, but it took some faith and effort to get the thing fixed, and then I wondered 'what next!?'

I spent a few hours at the school chatting with Owen and head out to the village tomorrow. I am looking forward to what God has in store for me.

Thank you so much to those of you who support me financially and pray for me. It feels a bit weird jumping into a completely different culture like this, but at least its not strange any more - just different.

I'll write more next time.

Be blessed sweet friends

Durelle

Footprints Galore

Hi everyone,

Footprints firm and sure are being left here in Zambia. I am enjoying this new year greatly and thank God for His keeping me strong and healthy so I can keep working.

With Gods help I have diagnosed my first case of Leprosy and the nurse confirmed it. The disease is active and the woman is not keen to take medicine because the Dr told her she shouldn't drink with it. Drink is more important to her at this stage.... this woman is a widow who keeps having other men's babies.... I'm not sure how Leprosy is spread but I do know it is contagious so we have to figure a way to deal with this.

Having the car means I can treat more people and offer transport to the clinic or hospital. Lack of transport means many people are ill without treatment. We found a man in an acute condition from malaria and the nurse said he was close to death. Yesterday I attended a District health meeting and found a woman at the clinic who was being treated but her baby wasn't. The baby is 4 months old and her arms are only the thickness of my finger.... Something is seriously wrong with this baby. I took them to the hospital 40 kms away and the nurse explained that Mother was told to take it to Solwezi general Hospital but of course she didn't because she had no money. But God is good the very next day doctors were coming from Solwezi on a visit to St. Dorothy's so the baby will be seen by a doctor and given a diagnosis. Perhaps its life can be saved.

From this meeting I have found a way to promote my training of health workers. There is so much ignorance of simple child care, no idea of how to treat malaria or even first aid procedures . When I was in Australia I attended a course about training women to help others so it looks like I have the way forward for this. I know that this idea will promote a healthy community spirit as well

I have been asked to preach this Sunday and last week I managed the Sunday school lessons. Its good to be part of a Church that is alive. It still amazes me that so many people here go to Church and yet believe in witchcraft. Last week I witnessed first hand the family of a woman running around with the dead body in a coffin looking for the person who 'killed her' with spells!!! Then they beat the poor man (probably innocent) and wrecked his home. It looked demonic and quite stupid. It is against the law to do it but who sees here in the isolated rural area. And yesterday at a health meeting the locals were convinced that the nurses house was witched because the new nurse ran away. But what actually happened was that the two incumbent workers were so mean to her that she ran away. Even the Chief was willing to donate money to call the witchdoctor... Mature men and women, some well educated, men and women who believe they are Christians, still believe that witchcraft can harm them. I spoke strongly against this belief and slowly some others followed me. It was a victory for God and we decided to transfer the two trouble makers and ask for registered nurses who can care for our people.

Owen had a bad fall and hurt his mouth so we went to rescue him and take him to a dentist. He is slowly recovering. All the students are in their schools by now and beginning to study hard. It was a busy time getting them all enrolled and settled. Our own little school got a coat of paint inside and out over the holidays and the children are back at school.

I am looking forward to visiting Australia next month - wow its only weeks away. I am looking forward to seeing everyone but the people here get afraid when I go away for they think I wont come back.

A big thank you to those who pray for me and send me gifts and to those who encourage me with emails. I truly appreciate your support. I cant do the work I do without you. I miss you more than words can say and look forward to contacting up with some of you.

Blessings galore
Durelle

Winning Footprints

Hi Everyone

What a brilliant start to the New year. We had a grand party to celebrate – Sydney arrived at 6am to kill two goats and we fed about 120 people, nshima and goat stew. The young ones did all the cooking and dishing up as part of their young leadership training. We played volley ball and danced and ate. The Headman blessed our meal with a beautiful prayer. I introduced my young leaders to the community and Mrs Mangongo danced before them as an honouring. I joined her which caused much laughter and cheering. Thank you God for a very successful day - I loved every minute of it.

The next day after Church the young men had a soccer match with the group up the road. Our boys lost 3 nil but it was a great game. It was so good to see many parents and brothers and sisters on the sideline in support of their sons. It was a great boost to building community spirit and these young men have agreed to train every week. This is a wonderful outcome because there is so little for these young men to do.

Later that week Freddy resigned which has been a blow- so I am driving myself. Proudly I can now pass the huge mining trucks without sucking in my breath in the hope that it will make us smaller…and my hands don’t tremble. My first task was to go and buy a coffin – but when I got to the car the tyre was flat… I had no idea what to do but Owen said, ”Don’t worry Grandma I’ll get someone to help.” Next morning Owen arrived and within minutes there were 6 angels working on the car and within the hour we were off down the road to buy the coffin. We waited while it was made and then drove it to the grieving family. Such is life here.

The next day was dedicated to getting the 8 sponsored students to school. Some needed new uniforms, they all needed this or that so after a shopping spree we set off to the local college with the car loaded to the hilt, only the steering was wobbly and we couldn’t go over 45kms… now what. I pulled over and prayed, “What do we do Lord?” Finally I worked it out that the four wheel drive was engaged but I didn’t know how to stop it… I can hear men laughing… I asked a couple of fellows walking on the road, “Do you know how to get this out of 4 wheel drive?” No of course they didn’t they’ve never even driven a car… I remembered a young man saying he had a driving licence so we walked to his house and sure enough he knew what to do. Off we set again and safely delivered our precious students to school. I cried when I left them. Catherine has been living with me and she is such a sweetheart. I’ll miss her.

On Sunday Pastor Laston came to chat with me and we were joined by Lewis a church elder who has been invited to study theology in UK. So for the first time there we were- three servants (I was going to write saints) of God in my house. I said, “Wow this is amazing lets pray together.” And we did. Some in English, some in Lunda, all with passion. It was a precious moment.

I am in Ndola after surviving yet another puncture in the middle of nowhere and the spare that we had mended was flat… . Oh the joys of driving. Today we took Michael and Owen to Chiwala school here. I spoke to teachers about extra tuition for Owen who really needs it. I’ll miss him too. The road to Chiwala is a rough dirt road and with all the rain it was just mud – but I was too scared to use 4 wheel drive after the other experience – but hey we got there safe and sound….the worst that happened was a big truck went swooshing by and sprayed us with mud so I couldn’t see out the windscreen and as my window was down my white hair was covered in red mud!! Then it was off to Immigration to help Lewis get his passport – red tape everywhere.

What a great start to the year -wonderful opportunities to help people, to fill them with hope, to be their friend, to pray with them, to nurse the sick, to encourage the young. I thank God for this opportunity and for the courage He gives me to do the impossible.

Your prayers and encouragement mean the world to me. I couldn’t do this work without your support so you too are part of it. I wish you could all meet the people here. Please continue to pray for wisdom and discernment and continued good health for me. I live on those prayers.

Love and blessings
Durelle