Wednesday Photos from Zambia

Here are some pictures James took today during our teaching session.

Please Pray for Me: Having Reaction to Malaria Medication

Please pray for me. I have had a reaction to the malaria medication and am experiencing restlessness and anxiousness. I went to a missionary doctor here and he took me off the medication right away but he said the symptoms may continue for another week. He did put me on another medication for malaria and said he didn't want me unprotected since we were in a high malaria area. I don't want to alarm anybody, I just feel the need for prayer. I took a Tylenol PM last night and finally got a good night's sleep and felt more rested today. Otherwise I'm doing wonderful; the teaching is going very, very well. We had a chance to go to the men's homes; it certainly welled up emotions as the poverty was immense. Pray also for these dear brethren.

Conflicting Emotions

We had a great time with the men today. It was just so depressing after the seminar because I went with James to take the men home. Some live in "compounds". These are the poorest sections of the city. I was once again shocked at the poverty these pastors live in; small one or two room cement block unpainted subsistence living. I was noticing how much these men were eating at lunch -- easily twice what I eat -- then I realized this was their only meal for the whole day. I have had emotions all across the spectrum today: from incredible thankfulness at how I have lived my whole life (our little neighborhood is literally like an Eden compared to the dirt, garbage, dust and depressing places here), to guilt that I have even complained once, to great compassion and admiration for these men, to the amazement at their joy. These men cannot even imagine how we live. They are much less in touch with US than I realized. I tried to explain what our football is and just assumed everyone knew what American football is like... but they had never heard of it.

God has raised up some dedicated and wonderful workers here. I have been moved again at how much sacrifice the missionaries make to be here. Keep praying.

More Photos from Zambia

Here are some more photos. The building is where our class is being held. The family is our hosts: the Williamsons.

Pastoring Pastors

The conference is going vey well. These men are so dear and so hungry for the Word. The practical pastoral questions went so well that we went way overtime. I taught today on Union with Christ and for over 2 hours we covered many texts and the men felt that this was very helpful and clear. I joked with them that I am giving them sermon material for a year and we had a good laugh. These men are pastoring under very difficult circumstances with much poverty, orphans, and needs. They are making heroic efforts to reach people for Christ. The individual conversations have been very good. Randy, James, and I are having a good time talking and sharing.