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
October 18, 2011
October 11, 2011
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.
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
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
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