Hallelujah! :) :) :) (x100000000)
http://gallery.happyhiatt.com
Hallelujah! :) :) :) (x100000000)
http://gallery.happyhiatt.com
Home at last! We miss Zambia–and have already had a wonderful time looking at pictures and seeing our families again. Both of our parents met us at the airport…we’ve enjoyed spicy mexican food again….and taken American Showers! I hope to put up a mission report and upload my pictures in a few days. I’ve heard that Gavin has already made a lot of work on the DVD–and I can’t wait to see it. Thanks for your prayers, and thanks to God for a safe arrival back.
We’re really looking forward to hearing from our friends in Zambia. We went to the Market one last time on Thursday morning. Aaron announced that he had some good news for us, right before we left. He wanted to tell us that he had told the good news to his sister, a roman catholic, and that she was considering being baptized, but she wanted a day to make up her mind. He was excited because she might want to be baptized that night as soon as he knocked off at the market. Her name is Denya, and he asked that we keep her in our prayers.
We studied some of the verses that explain how leadership works in the church–and how you don’t have to have any special position or title to baptize someone. He was really excited about the chance of getting to baptize his sister.
Bennett also chipped in with a question. He told us that he is really looking forward to studying with his old friends. He was worried, though, and asked us what he should do. He said that they knew that he used to smoke marijuana and drink–and how could he help them to change, too. We studied passages like Romans 6 and Colossians 2 and 3 so he could help them with repentance.
Things are great–I can’t wait to hear more updates!
Matthew
It’s thursday morning and we’re about to leave! More good news- Hillary and Levison from the market were baptized, along with Janet from the lodge. We’ll be back in the States on Friday at about 11 am local! See you soon!
Lots has happened since the last time we got to post. Some good news, some not.
First, the good news. Friday, we spent all day in the Market having studies. We had promised everyone all week long that we would come back and spend all day there. We studied for about two hours, working through different questions with people, and were about to leave for lunch when two more men came up to us to study (Lennox and Aaron). Lennox left, and Boyson joined us. We asked what they wanted to study. Aaron just told us that he wanted to know “What must i do to be saved?” He went on to tell us that he grew up in the Roman Catholic Church and had never taken baptism from them, because he realized that some things they did (like praying to Mary) just weren’t right. He didn’t want to go with a group like that, so he just quit attending worship anywhere. We studied for a while and looked at several different passages until he told us that he wanted to be baptized. We asked when…and he said “I am very ready!” We had studied how it is a burial in Romans 6, and Boyson chimed in afterwards to say that he wanted to be baptized as well. We took a taxi to the lodge, found clothes to change into, and hiked up to the Central Church of Christ. The baptistery was empty–so we got a good hour or so to study with them while it filled! Bennett (one who was baptized exactly a week prior) came with us, and had prayers with them too. It was a really wonderful day!
Today, Aaron and Bennett came to church with us (along with Victoria, Melody, Jennifer, and Charity and others). After church, Bennett was very excited about the possibility of preaching one day. He’s going to work on a lesson in the next day or two and deliver it in the marketplace on Tuesday.
Tuesday, we will get to study with the youth group. Sanderson asked us to spend a day with them to help them since they are the next generation of the church. We are going to work on studying teaching and some things like that, we think!
After the Market on Friday, Bennett brought us to his house. We walked about 20 minutes to Marumba to meet his mother, grandmother, and brother. It was wonderful to sit down and study with them and see their humble home. It makes you grateful to have electricity at night–more than just a candle lighting your entire home, but the view of the stars without light pollution made it all worthwhile! It was wonderful.
On a sad note, things have not gone so well with the family that was so sick. On Tuesday, the mother and one of the youngest went to the hospital. The child is doing some better, but the mother took a serious turn and passed away on Wednesday. The burial was on Saturday. The church was saddened, of course, but knows that doors were opened by their kindness. The family couldn’t even provide for a coffin, so the church helped out in many ways. Social workers have seen the children and are making plans so that they will be taken care of.
Our last few days look liike they will be good ones. Tomorrow has Bible studies from about 9:30-18:30. Tuesday will be more follow ups, and a couple of hours with the youth.
We can’t wait for reliable water and bug free bedding. We miss the group here–and the church here REALLY misses the group. Sanderson read the Thank You card that the group left at service today and the congregation was appreciative.
See you Friday!
Matthew & Leslie