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