Nightingales in Livingstone

Here's the latest update from Peter & Bridget in Zambia:

It seems the surname Nightingale causes Zambians as many problems as some of the Zambian names cause us. Still, we are learning. Having written down over a hundred children’s names when I was weighing them my knowledge of local names is improving.

Livingstone Anglican Parish

Although the churches are high church in some respects as part of Central Africa the choruses, prayer and worship are Spirit filled and dynamic. Peter enjoyed preaching at the main church St Andrews last Sunday, and getting lots of Amens. He is preaching at the Revival service next Sunday afternoon. Christians come from other denominations as well to this, and it is mainly an opportunity for people to be prayed for and experience a wake up call in our spiritual lives, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The priest in charge, Jackson, was born again and Spirit filled as a teenager, and along with some other Anglican ministers have been a force for change and renewal in the Church.

The Lusaka Diocese Synod is due to meet here next month, and changes are proposed to form an evangelical wing of the Anglican Church. However, at present the meeting is on hold due to lack of funds in the diocese, so we would value prayers that if this is God’s plan He would provide. Despite the evidence of an obvious move of the Spirit there is still a lot of traditional structures that seem to stifle people’s personal spiritual growth.

Anyway, it is a very exciting time to be in Livingstone, and Jackson is a man of God with a vision. We have had some good times of prayer and fellowship. He is not used to ‘musongo’ – white people who are born again and Spirit filled! Poverty and lack of resources is a constant factor in every part of Church life, but it can help people to rely on God and not themselves. We trust God will bless the people here through our ministry and we will also learn more about Him from them.

Vehicle

It’s really good to have wheels as we can now go visiting the various orphans and projects and families. We praise God for this answered prayer as the missionary couple who sold it to us felt that God wanted us to have it too. It was useful when on Sunday morning we’d had no running water for over 24 hours and Peter and our neighbour were able to fetch some in containers from the Zambesi for washing etc.

The Children’s Project

I went to weigh some children who are HIV positive and on food supplements this morning. All had lost weight over the last 3 months – I think because they have too little basic foods to eat. It’s very hard see children who are hungry and poorly clothed, and sustainable help is difficult. Families need to be able to support themselves, but water is not adequately available to make a living from growing produce. The children do love playing at the project Centre and are very receptive to any teaching. We had a hopscotch competition on our last visit, and Peter did Bible stories with them They love acting.

Orphan Project

We have been visiting orphans staying with extended families to give them practical support for school (books, clothes etc) The saddest one was a girl who lives on a farm where there is a grandmother 2 uncles and 24 orphans. The farm is devastated by elephants who raid the produce there every night, and they cant get help from the government. Her father was drowned when fishing last week. We were able to give them some things and pray with them.

HIV/ Aids Initiatives

We had a visiting group presenting “True Love Waits” to local church leaders which is a method of teaching youths the value of abstinence – a bit like the silver ring. It was excellent, and the team are returning in November to present it to the youth.

Skills Training/ Literacy

Peter is starting a training course for teachers of adult literacy which is an answered prayer for Melita, a lady in the Church who has been trying to set up a Literacy programme since 1999.

Communication is frustrating as phone lines and computer connections are very variable and it’s best to go to the internet café than spend ages trying to get a sustained connection to get on line.

We are well settled here despite the heat. We have had some rain which was very welcome. Please pray we will know where to spend our energies. It would also be good if anyone wants to support the project financially it can be done though Lusaka diocese we understand.

• the Children’s project to promote understanding of avoiding parent to child transmission HIV/Aids;
  

• the Orphan’s project; and

• the Skills project which is to train adults in useful skills such as tailoring, motor mechanics, and carpentry.

Funding is needed to support teachers for this. Please let us know if you would like to support any of these and we will find out about the process.

E mail: pbnights@googlemail.com

Phone 0026 03 320695

By prefixing phone number with 084455661313 it is much cheaper (5p a minute)