May 3, 2003

 ZAMBIA

   Dear Teammate,

"Out of Africa", "I Dreamed of Africa", "Zulu", "The Ghost and the Darkness"..... 

 what do those movies have in common?  AFRICA!

Part of my heart (Patti) has always been in Africa after serving our Lord in Nigeria, West Africa in the 1980's.  I often wondered if the Lord would ever allow me to return. As our former director in Nigeria used to say, "Once you have tasted the waters of Africa, they will always draw you back."  

Our daughter, Sarah and I are very excited to announce that we have been accepted to go on a short-term mission project to Africa with our church!  It will be wonderful to go together to serve the people of Zambia.  Our trip is scheduled for June 6-17th.   Our church has worked with ALARM (Africa Leadership and Reconciliation Ministry) for several years.   We hope to be used by God to help develop a long lasting Christian influence in the lives of His people there.

Here is a comment from Sarah: “My parents lived in Nigeria, West Africa for five years (1980 - 1986).  They returned to the U.S. before I was born.  All my life I have heard amazing stories that one can only know about and probably understand only if they have experienced being a foreign missionary.  I always wanted to follow in their footsteps.  Now is my first chance!”                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                             Sarah and Patti

We will be ministering at a conference for pastors' wives in Chililabombwe, Zambia.  Very few of the pastors in Africa have spiritual training, and far fewer women have any opportunity for spiritual training.  Since women have a tremendous influence on families across the continent, we count it a privilege to be able to teach some of the basics of the Christian life to them.  I will have the opportunity to teach on discipleship and widowhood from the Scriptures.  Sarah will be teaching on the sanctity of life and abortion.  We will also have the opportunity to visit in some nearby villages and in an orphanage.  Sarah is looking forward to working with the children at the conference and in the villages.

Would you please join us in prayer for this mission trip?  Our specific needs right now would be:

            ·                that God would lead our mission and we would listen to His direction

·                                       that our teaching is clear and understood; that the gospel is presented clearly and concisely with no misunderstanding

            ·                for team unity and safety as we travel

Our church has a website for information and prayer if you would like to check it out: http://www.btbf.org/womens/Africa.html.  Thanks for joining with us in this opportunity!

Joyfully serving with you,