^mbia MQggQnqerNews from Dean, Judy, Jim, Cyndee and David Davis

FIELD ADDRESS: FORWARDING AGENTS:

P.O. Box 32184 Mr. and Mrs. Skip AllenLusaka, Zambia p.o. Box 611Africa King, NC 27021

-AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST" IN CENTRAL AFRICA. (II Corinthians 5:20)

Volume 15 April, 1981 Number 1

CHURCHES PLAN LEADERSHIP CLINIC

In recent weeks it has become appar-ent to the men in the Lusaka areachurch that many of them are grap-pling with the same problems and fac-ing the same needs in knowing how tobest lead their respective congrega-tions to more effective service and morededicated Christian lives.

It was suggested that they get to-gether and talk about how they couldanswer these needs and share their pjiwideas. A planning meeting was heldwith men representing each of the con- jgregations. An agenda was decidedupon and topics of discussion wereassigned for various ones to lead.

The meeting, hosted by the Church, will begin on Friday evening and close on Saturdayevening. If this first one proves effective, themen are talking of having such meetings on aregular basis about every six weeks. The firstmeeting will find them discussing: (1) teaching new Christians, (2) the dress and pulpitconduct of those preaching, (3) the Lord'sSupper and (4) the role of the Church duringfunerals.

Men in planning session for clinic.

Dean and Ron Baumann will be assisting inthis meeting, but a source of joy is that thesessions are being led by the men themselves.Some of them have already written lessonsand materials which they want to present.Please take a few minutes right now and prayfor these men in the leadership and the preaching responsibilities that rest upon them. Theyappreciate your concern and you will beblessed by sharing in this way in their ministry.

ROSTVIT TWINS

COMING TO ZAMBIAIn 1968, just a few months after we arrived

in Zambia, an evangelistic team from theStates visited Zambia. Among that team werethe Rostvit twins, two vivacious young ladiesgiving testimony of their faith in Christthrough song. We were impressed with theirtalents and their love for the Lord. And wehave followed their travels in the years sinceas they have gone around the world, singingin several languages, the wonderful story ofJesus Christ and His love.

Janice and Faye Rostvit

Janice and Faye are graduates of OzarkBible College and have touched the lives ofthousands for Christ, both in the UnitedStates and in several countries around theworld. Their ability to quickly learn songs inother languages has endeared them to peopleof many nations and tongues. They haveappeared on the programs of the NationalMissionary Convention and the NorthAmerican Christian Convention as well asnumerous State and area conventions andrallies.

We look forward to their return to Zambiaand have scheduled them for T.V. and radio

appearances, concerts for the general publicand of course meetings in the churches ofChrist throughout Zambia. We are prayingthat their visit to Zambia will strengthen theChristians and influence many more to acceptJesus Christ as Lord.

WEEKLY PRA^

Every Tuesday night is a time of joyousfellowship and spiritual enrichment as wemeet with fellow missionaries andChristian workers. The evening starts at5:30 when we gather for a pot-luck stylesupper at one of the houses. After themeal and some visiting we gather to recitescripture memory work that was assignedthe week before and a timeofprayer. Thistime is devoted to discussing and prayingfor the work in which each of us isengaged and asking God to direct andhelp us in our witness in Zambia.

Dean and church leader discussing lesson material forleadership classes.

rER MEETING

Following the prayer time we have a BibleStudy seeking to better know God's willfor our lives.

Recently, the Benoits, a Christianfamily from Canada, moved to Lusaka towork with the ministry of Agriculture inZambia and are also meeting with us.Randy's father is a minister of theChristian Church and Mindy's father aminister of the Church of Christ inCanada. We have enjoyed getting toknow them and cherish the fellowship weenjoy with them.

neetlng.

DAVID'S CORNER

We got a new puppy. Our other puppy,Prince, died. He is all black with a little bit ofwhite on his chest. He likes to bite my feet.Today we took him to the vet and got his firstshots. I named him Zeeba.

David and Zeeba

I'm taking piano lessons now. It's fun. Myteacher is Mrs. Nagy. She has triplets. I playwith them after my lesson. Their names areTisza, Peter and Stephen.

There's a new boy in our class. His name isBen and he is from Canada. His father worksfor the Ministry of Agriculture. Ben can speakFrench very well. He used to go to a Frenchschool in Canada. He started learning Frenchthere. He is just my age, only two monthsolder than me.

I have a new watch. The old one got stolen;so our neighbor went down to South Africaand got me a new one. When I first got it, itdidn't work right, but Daddy got it fixed whenhe went down with Uncle Charlie. Now itworks right.

There are only four more weeks til school isout for this term. Then I only have one moreterm in fourth grade. Bye for now.

Love, David

Julia'sIt is good to be working with the women

again in ladies Bible study classes. Eachweek I am involved in four such studies, threein the local language, Nyanja, and one inEnglish. It is always a problem deciding whatto study because we have such needs here withnew Christians. I would estimate that 75% ofthe women I teach cannot read or write so thatlets out the possibility of a workbook typestudy. In one of the churches however, thereare several women who are educated beyondelementary school, some have finished threeyears of high school. They want and needmore than those who have never been toschool. So you can see what varied classes wehave.

Recently in one of the classes where onlyone woman out of the five present that daycould read, I decided what they needed morethan anything else was a knowledge of whatGod's Word said. So I started reading theGospel of Matthew each week, with aminimum of comment, so they could hearGod's Word even if they couldn't read. I hadbeen teaching different lessons from both theOld Testament and the New Testament, andthey were good, but the Lord really impressedon me that these women needed to know whatthe Bible said -- not in short lessons with a fewverses, which are good for me because I canread what went on before and after, but in itsentirety. So now I read to them and in twoweeks the class doubled in attendance. The

Holy Spirit, through the written word, is ableto do everything where I can do nothingwithout His guidance. The women never tireof hearing God's word read, and last weekthey asked for a memory verse to be assignedeach week. If they can't read, they canmemorize, and are doing it! I can't evenimagine what it would be like not to be able toread. But thanks be to God that the power ofthe Gospel doesn't depend on the ability toread it. But for those of us who can read, howmuch greater the responsibility ofsharing theGood News so that the power is unleashed,and salvation is effected in the lives of men. IITimothy 2:9 says that God's Word is notchained, but if we who are able to spread itdon't do it, it remains chained to those who

can't read it. "Therefore I endure everythingfor the sake of the elect, that they too mayobtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,with eternal glory." II Timothy 2:10. Pleasepray with me that God's Word will never bechained because of our negligence in giving itto those who cannot read it themselves.

Judy and Betty Delaney at Mungwi

M.

§mbiaMe52QngarNews from Dean, Judy, Jim, Cyndee and David Davis

FIELD ADDRESS:

P.O. Box 32184Lusaka, ZambiaAfrica

FORWARDING AGENTS:

Mr. and Mrs. Skip AllenP.O. Box 611King,NC 27021

-AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST" IN CENTRAL AFRICA. (II Corinthians 5:20)

Volume 15 June, 1981 Number 2

CHURCH HIT BY THIEVESThe Chawama Church has recently been the

victim of the crime wave that continues to affectZambia, especially in the large city areas.Building supplies are hard to get and expensive inZambia. When someone realized that the churchbuilding was unguarded, he decided it would be agood place to get a supply of doors. After breakingopen outside door and stealing it, his work waseasy. He then succeeded in four moredoors from inside the building. Needless to say,this came as a blow to the church. It will cost thechurch about $300.00 to replace the doors andlocks. They have already begun working on \ ^raising the money. After talking to a Christianworking for an engineering Hrm about theproblem, he made and fitted a steel door with Jheavy locks at the outside entrance. We hope thiswill discourage further thievery. The inside doors ^will be replaced one by one as the money isavailable.

The Chawama Christians were discouraged bythis at first, but I knew they had the right spiritabout it when one of the leaders recentlycommented, "The devil doesn't want us here. He istrying to discourage us. He may destroy ourbuilding, but he won't destroy our faith. WithJesus Christ as our Savior, Satan can never Church leaders inspect broken hinge where door wasovercome us." ripped off.

SHARE THE GOOD NEWS IN ZAMBIA

If you have seen the Pictorial Book of Actsfrom College Press you know how beautifullyit illustrates God's record of the beginningand early spread of the New TestamentChurch. When we saw this book on our lastfurlough, we recognized it as a tremendoustool for Zambia. Here the Christians do notenjoy all the visual aids which you enjoy inthe United States. A book of this nature willgive a new perspective and meaning to theWord of God and the cultural setting behind it.College Press is now working to get enoughorders from mission fields to print apaperback edition, which can be put in thehands of the people for about $2.00 each. Allthe Zambia Christian Mission missionarieshave joined together and ordered 10,000copies for Zambia. We are all excited aboutthe impact this evangelistic aid will haveamong our churches.

If your class. Daily Vacation Bible School,Ladies* group or church is looking for aworthy project, let us suggest that you set agoal and see how many ofthese books you canprovide for Zambia. Upon request, DonDeWelt of College Press, P. O. Box 1132,Joplin, MO 64801, will send you publicitymaterials for the project. Send yourcontributions for this project to ourForwarding Agents marked for "PictorialActs".

Our hope is that we can put the money fromthe sale of these books into a revolving fund sowe will have enough money to order the"Pictorial Gospels" when they are ready forprinting. Pray with us about this importantproject and be a part of Sharing the GoodNews with the people of Zambia.

CHURCH

CONFERENCESWe have recently been involved in two

conferences. Forty-two men of thechurches in and around Lusaka andKafue met for a leadership conference atthe Matero Church to be inspired andchallenged in their work for Christ.Different problems and situations whicharise in the Church were discussed tostrengthen the men and help them knowhow to better lead the people God has putin their care. An indication of theirintense interest was seen as these men sat

Men of Lusaka area at leadership conference.

Ladies busy preparing lunch for men's conference.

in the dimly-lit building on backless pewsuntil 1:30 a.m. seeking solutions andanswers. The next morning they were up

at 5:00 ready to start again. The wholemeeting was conducted in a spirit of love andunity, and the positive results wereimmediately seen with renewed zeal in theparticipating churches.

Seven Churches in the Kapyanga area, 60miles west of Lusaka, met for a four dayconference with about 250 people attending.There were 9 baptized into Christ on theclosing day.

Some of the 250 people who attended recent conference.

Nine were baptized following the conference.

As we have mentioned before, distance andtime have hindered us in the work ofthis area.The people were terribly disappointed to learnthat the Wrights, who were planning to workthere, had decided not to come to Zambia. Thechurch leaders questioned us at length abouthow they could get some help. I am now in theprocess of re-scheduling all my activities in an

effort to concentrate some help to the churchesof that area. This means plans for starting anew church in Lusaka will have to be shelvedfor awhile. There is desperate need for amission family to live and work there. Pleasepray for more workers in the harvest fields.(Matthew 9:38)

DAVID'S CORNER

How is it going up there? It is fine downhere. I have a new cat named Feisty Tiger. Iusually call it Tiger. He likes to cry alot. Wewent to Ndola and saw my grandparents. Wealso got two hens and peanuts and some fishand sweet potatoes. I went out and saw thecows; then we went fishing; then when we gotback, we got two chickens. After that Iwatched my uncle making a fish trap. Heasked mom ifshe wanted some fish so she saidyes and we got lots of fish. It was a fun trip.

Love from your fidend,David

y !

David ready for church.

When we adopted David in 1971 we told hisnatural grandparents that the time mightcome when we would leave Ndola and theywouldn't see David very often. They said theyunderstood and if we would send thempictures from time to time, they could keep upwith how he was growing. Well, we did leaveNdola in 1976, but we managed to visit themnearly every year until 1979 when we cameback to the States for furlough. A visit waslong overdue so this past weekend David and Idrove up to Ndola to see them. Two years hadpassed and in a boy of David's age they wouldreally see some changes.

We sent a message out to Matutu villagethat we were coming on Friday. This isharvest time in Zambia so they are usually outin the fields and I wanted them to expect us.When we were near the village, severalchildren saw the truck and began shoutingand waving their arms crying out, "BanaDavid, Bana David, Bana David!" (Mother ofDavid). When we arrived, we saw David'saunt looking very surprised. After greetingher we saw David's grandfather coming upthe path at a trot! "But the message we gotsaid you were coming on Saturday!" He wasvisibly upset. Somehow the message camethrough too many messengers and the daywas mixed up. They were so happy to see usagain that they quickly overcame theirembarrassment at not being ready to receiveus and children were sent out to the fields tocall the rest of the family. Soon everyone wasthere laughing and shaking hands, and asalways, praising God for our visit. Everyonehad to examine David and talk to him-shaking their heads at his growth! Theycouldn't believe how he had grown so tall (andhow "fat" I was--a real compliment!). He isnearly as tall as his grandmother.

One of the aunts disappeared almost as

soon as we got there, returning about an hourlater with a basket full of sweet potatoes andanother of peanuts, both freshly dug. Cornwas gathered, two hens caught, and while wewere sitting around visiting, David went withhis uncle to empty the fishtraps and we weregiven the fish. We had taken gifts ofclothing:a warm jacket and sweaters for the comingwinter, and food: salt, sugar, soap, oil, tea andmealie meal, but as usual we came away withmuch more than we had taken. Most of allwas the love we shared, brought about nineyears ago by something ugly and tragic, thedeath of a young mother leaving her threeweek old premature baby an orphan. But Godtook that tragic event and made somethingbeautiful. Just like the death of His Son; atragic and ugly occasion, but the life we havebecause of His death is something beautifuland wonderful and only possible because ofJesus. Life is full of tragedy, but God can turnanything into something good if we turn itover to Him. "Trust in the Lord with all yourheart, and lean not on your ownunderstanding, in all your waysacknowledge Him and He will make yourpaths straight." (Proverbs 3:5, 6)

FIELD ADDRESS: FORWARDING AGENTS:

P.O. Box 32184

Lusaka, ZambiaAfrica

Mr. and Mrs. Skip AllenP.O. Box 611King,NC 27021

-AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST" IN CENTRAL AFRICA. (II Corinthians 5:20)

Volume 15 September, 1981 Number 3

ROSTVIT TWINS IN ZAMBIAsingers, Janice

aye two

been

more than

singing 36 different Ian-guages, they established immedi- ^ 7 IB^|^Kate rapport with the people ^ / iRPI^rof Zambia as they gave their •^\vi / ' Itestimony of Christ working in .ymany parts ofthe world and as ^ ^they beautifully sang the Gospel K~S^ 'jHiBal^^Elmessage in the languages of theZambian people. The Christians The Rostvits with Dean and Judy,shook their heads in amazementas Janice and Faye sang inBemba, Nyanja, Tonga and Shona. Whether capacity crowd. The impact they have madein the rural villages or in the city compounds for Christ is invaluable. Words fail to expressthey always identified with the people who what they have meant to our lives and theresponded with love and appreciation. They lives of the Zambian people to whom theysang on nationwide television and radio and have ministered. The question being askedbecame the topic of conversation as people now is "when are they coming again torecognized them on the streets in Lusaka. Zambia?". We have asked them to schedule

During their two weeks in Lusaka the Twins Zambia for the next 6 month time slot theyhad concerts at 16 churches, sang for the have available. Thank you Janice and FayeMidlands Christian Conference and held a for coming our way. We all pray your returnpublic concert in a college auditorium before a will be very soon.

The Rostvits with Dean and Judy.

capacity crowd. The impact they have madefor Christ is invaluable. Words fail to expresswhat they have meant to our lives and thelives of the Zambian people to whom theyhave ministered. The question being askednow is "when are they coming again toZambia?". We have asked them to scheduleZambia for the next 6 month time slot theyhave available. Thank you Janice and Fayefor coming our way. We all pray your returnwill be very soon.

RURAL CHURCHES RECEIVE HELP

In the last issue of the ZambiaMessenger we told about theneeds among the churches westofLusaka. Since that time I havere-scheduled my time to givethose churches some attention inorder to strengthen them. The 12churches there are geographically divided into two areas. Sincethe middle of June I have beenalternating every other weekwith the two areas. This meansthat I meet with each church for a

Church building too small to hold those at special service to distribute maize.

Janice and Faye Rostvit singing and dancing with womenin Schitandasokwe village.

class every other week. I leave home earlyevery Tuesday morning and arrive for myfirst class at 10:00. Because of the distancebetween the churches and the desire to leaveplenty of time at each class for discussion andquestions it is possible to get to only threechurches in a day. I then spend the night inthe village and proceed on to the other

Worship service at Pumongoma village.

churches on Wednesday, spend another nightin the village and arrive home on Thursday.The people have responded well to thisprogram and the classes Eire well attended.

FLOODS HAVE CAUSED STARVATIONfor many people in the Nampundwe areabecause their crops were lost. This wasbrought to our attention by the elders of theShamulumba church. When Christians inother areas heard about it some of them sentbags of maize (corn which is their staple food)to help. Funds that were sent to CharlesDelaney and us for hunger relief were alsoused to purchase maize to distribute to thesestarving people. I transported 86 200 poundbags of maize to the area and they were givento the needy through the ShamulumbaChurch in the name of Christ. This Christianconcern has strengthened the faith of thechurch and has made a good impression in thearea among the unbelievers. Many have sinceasked questions about Jesus Christ whom weserve and His church of which we are a part.

Village headman receiving maizefrom Shamulumba church.

MIDLANDS

CONFERENCE

The churches in Lusaka and Kafueplanned, prepared for and held their first areaconference. It was such a success that theyplan for it to be an annual event on theirchurch calender. The conference was held at

.-w •'V I XV-' - '•

t. «•' •=• •

Midlands Christian Conference.

the Mungwi Church 12 miles out of Lusaka.For several weeks men from the city churchesand from Mungwi have been working onSaturdays to prepare grass shelters forsleeping quarters and clearing the place forthe conference. Their labors were rewardedwith a well attended spiritual feast foreveryone.

CLASSES CONTINUE . . . Even thoughmuch of my time during the week is devoted to

the rural churches I continue to have a regularschedule of classes for the men of thechurches in and near Lusaka. There are twoleadership classes every Saturday and one onSunday afternoon. Judy also continues tomeet with her ladies classes in these churcheseach week.

Bob Stacy, deacon from MadisonviMe. KY, pictured visitingChawama Leadership Class.

... ... • ♦ .

NAnONAL NISSIONARYCONVENTION

OCT 22-25.19S1 ^STATIiR HOTEL =NEW VORKCITY

This is harvest time in Zambia. The leavesare golden and are falling - just like autumnin the States. The maize crop is in, peanutshave been dug, the air is dry and cool, and itseems like everyone has a cold. We have"Indian Summer" weather, beautiful sunnydays and clear, cold nights. A beautiful timeof year, and yet I feel a little sad when I see somany people who are without Christ andwithout hope.

Typical of this time of year, street vendorsare everywhere selling salted peanuts. Thesewomen take raw peanuts and put them into ahot skillet with salt and a little water, boilingthe water away, leaving the salt to dry on thenuts. They then take big pans of them to thestreet corners and sell them for lOng. (about IIor 12 cents) a cone. A square of paper is rolledto make a cone, and then filled with the nuts. Ilove them and always enjoy buying one whenI'm in town. Recently I stopped and bought acone, and the lady was tearing pages out of abook to make the cones. Too bad, I thought,that she is tearing up a book just to make apaper cone. I took it back to the truck to eatwhile waiting for Dean, and imagine myshock when I saw that my cone was Exoduschapter 20! The book she was tearing up wasthe Bible -- in English. She didn't speakEnglish, but surely she knew what it was shewas using. It really made me stop and thinkabout God's Word. Everyone is always soanxious to have a Bible, and we give awaymany. This woman certainly found a use forher Bible, but not exactly the use we have inmind when we give out God's Word.

What does the Bible mean to you? AsChristians we know the importance of theScriptures as our spiritual food. That womansurely was not a Christian, and I have feltguilty for not going back right then to talk toher about the Lord. I have had to ask God toforgive me for missing an opportunity I maynever have again and one she may never haveagain.

Harvest time in Zambia. Jeremiah 8:20

says "the harvest is past, the summer isended, and we are not saved." For manypeople this may be their last harvest season.There is no way we can reach all the lost soulsin Zambia without more laborers. "The fieldsare white unto harvest..Please pray thatthe Lord ofthe harvest will send forth workersinto his harvest fields.

^mbiaMegeongQrNews from Dean, Judy, Jim, Cyndee and David Davis

FIELD ADDRESS: FORWARDING AGENTS:P.O. Box 32184Lusaka, ZambiaAfrica

Mr. and Mrs. Skip AllenP.O. Box 611King,NC 27021

• AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST" IH CENTRAL AFRICA. {II Corinthians 5:20)

Volume 15 December, 1981 Number 4

NEW MISSIONARY ARRIVES

When he was six years old, following a missionary presentation at the church, he said tohis parents, "Someday I'm going to go tellthose people about Jesus". On October 15,1967, when he was nine, he arrived with hisfamily in Zambia for the first time, not as amissionary, but as an M.K. (missionary kid).He completed his grade school and highschool in Africa and then returned to the

Dean and Jim

States for Bible college. On October 14,1981,14 years after coming as an M.K., he arrivedas a missionary to "tell those people aboutJesus". In our 14 years in Zambia we haveenthusiastically welcomed many new missionaries to the field, but there was a specialjoy and enthusiasm as we welcomed thisyoung man at the Lusaka International Airport. As I sat in the airport customs officewith his work permit waiting for him to comeoff the plane, I reflected on all that hadtranspired to bring us to this point. And then Isaw Jim walk through the door. After greeting him, I handed him his work permit andstepped back to watch with pride as thisyoung missionary began the formalities ofentering Zambia and the work to which Godhad called him.

It is an understatement to say that we arehappy to have him here and a part of theZ.C.M. team. He has had a busy schedule sincearriving and besides making preparations formoving to Mongu, where he plans to work, hehas preached and assisted with the work herein the Lusaka area. Welcome home, Jim, andwelcome to the work of our Lord in Zambia.

Jim preaching at Mungwl his first Sunday after arriving.

i SEASON'S GREETINGS |glVe take this means and opportunity to §guJish a Christ-centered Christmas and |ga fruitful New Year to oil our friends |gawd lofed ones u;ho encourage, pray |gfor and support our work for Christ |n in Zambia. 5

g I

BECOMING A NURSE

Cyndee

Cyndee received her cap at East TennesseeBaptist School of Nursing, Knoxville,Tennessee in July and is now in her secondyear of training. She writes that she reallyloves the hospital work and caring forpatients. It is hard for her to be there whenwe're all here, but she plans to come to Zambiaduring her summer vacation from school inJune 1982. Please pray with us that she will beable to make this visit as we are all reallylooking forward to spending that timetogether. We ask you to remember Cyndee inyour prayers as her courses are hard andrequire a lot of concentrated study. She is alsoworking about 20 hours a week screeningpotential blood donors. We all miss hertremendously and are counting the days tillJune.

There is no way we can express ourgratitude for all of you who have prayed sofaithfiilly over the past 10 years as we've beenseparated from both Jim and Cyndee. Thishas been the most difficult thing we've facedsince we came to Zambia. Only your prayersand God's grace have made it possible. Thankyou all.

5 DAY CONFERENCE FOR RUR/

The rains have begun in Zambia making itvery difficult to get to some of the villages inthe rural areas. Also this is the busiest seasonfor the farmers who are preparing the groundand planting thus making it difficult to get themen together for classes. As this seasonapproached I knew that the classes in theMumbwa area would come to a standstill. Iwanted to do something to encourage the menand give them an extra boost to help themthrough this time when our contact in thatarea would be limited.

43 men from rural churches learn how to be better leaders.

A five day leadership conference wasorganized and 43 men from the 13 churcheswere transported to the Mungwi church {a fewmiles from Lusaka) where sleeping shelterswere still standing from the large Midlandsconference which we told about in the lastZAMBIA MESSENGER. We also providedall the food for this meeting.

After breakfast, each day began with one ofthe men preaching. The rest of the day wasdevoted to classes and discussion on topicsthat were of special importance to the men.There was a five day series of giving andstewardship in the morning and after suppereach evening a five day series of film striplessons on "What the Bible Says". Otherclasses included Witchcraft, Polygamy, TheLord's Supper, Teaching New Converts andWhat Constitutes a Church Leader. Eachnight church leaders from the city churchespreached and encouraged their brothers fromthe rural areas. It was an exhausting fivedays, but all the men went home with a deeperunderstanding of what the Lord expects ofthem and a stronger determination to serveHim more faithfully. Several have sinceasked, "When is our next leadershipconference?" Hopefully it will be justfollowing the rains sometime near Easter.

We are still in desperate need for a family towork in this area. Please pray for a laborer toenter this harvest area.

Time oul to eat.

DAVID'S CORNER

f. a*

0^

14.

Hi all of you over there. My birthday was onOctober 24th and I got all kinds of nice cardsfrom you folks in the States and also fromfriends here. Jim was here for my birthdayand he got me a cap gun. I also got some booksand a pocket knife. I had a "Ziggy" cake thatAunt Betty Delaney made for me. I'm now 10years old.

Well, I'm in the fifth grade this year, and myteacher is Miss Puri. I am doing my end-of-term exams now. So far I've had tests inEnglish, Social Science and Math. Tomorrowwe have a test in Creative Writing.

In two more weeks we're going to theDelaneys and go with them to the lake and gofishing. We'll stay three or four days. We aregoing out in Uncle Charlie's boat. The lasttime I went fishing in Mbala I caught thirty-two fish.

Mom has just come back from South Africa.She has been sick but she's better now. Shehas to go back in February.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Signing off for Zambia Christian Mission,David

David and Jim enjoying some time together.

Mission ServicesBox 177Kempton, Indiana 46049

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

Non Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAiD

Kempton. IN

Permit #4

<•-

Two lamilies from the Mungwi church prepared all themeals and looked after the physical needs of the Conference,leaving the men free to concentrate on their classes.

September and October were hard monthsfor the Davis family. I was plagued withthroat infections and just couldn't get overthem. Then the third week of September Ideveloped high fever with swollen, painfuljoints. The Doctor made a tentativediagnosis of rheumatic fever. She confinedme to bed for two weeks followed by twomonths of rest. But the results of the bloodtests were not indicative of rheumatic fever.My throat cleared up, only to become infectedagain two or three days after finishing a

course of antibiotics. By October 20 I hadtaken full courses of five different antibiotics,my throat was infected again and I still hadpainful joints. We decided I should go to SouthAfrica with Jim and Dean (when Jim went toget his vehicle) and see a specialist there.

There are many excellent doctors in S.A.and facilities for all kinds of diagnostic tests.My throat trouble was traced to allergy whichso weakened it that it gave a standinginvitation to both strep and staph infections.In addition a fungus had developed due to somany antibiotics. It is now cleared up.

The specialist ordered blood tests to aid inthe diagnosing of the cause of the joint pains.The first possibility (and the doctor is leaningtoward this) is an "arbor virus" called"chikungunya fever". Sounds more likesomething you would serve for lunch than adisease! This is caused by a mosquito bite.The other possibility is "non-rheumaticstreptococcal arthritis". The tests are not allback yet, and I will have to go back to SouthAfrica early next year for another check up.

All this has caused a lot of setbacks in the

work I was trying to accomplish. Manyfriends brought in meals and Dean had to takeover all the shopping and care of the housethat I had been doing, in addition to all of hisown work. My classes with the women had tobe cancelled, and work on a book I'm trying tofinish for the young girls has haltedtemporarily. In fact I have accomplished verylittle in the past three and a halfmonths otherthan light cooking.

At the time of this writing I am well on theroad to recovery, and we are praying thatcomplete health will be restored by January1982. Please pray with us that God will speedhealing of the body and a better year in 1982.We pray God's richest blessings on you duringthis Christmas season.

A SOLDIER OF THE CROSS

Sixty miles west of Lusaka in the Mumbwadistrict is where Max Ward Randall began in1962 the work which is now ctirried on byZ.C.M. When Brother Randall came.to ChiefShakumbila's area he found some faithfulChristians meeting who had, a few yearsbefore, migrated from Southern Rhodesia(now Zimbabwe). Among those Christianswas the family of David Sibande. BrotherSibande became a source of great encouragement in starting churches in that area. Overthe past 14 years I've had many occasions tovisit with this great soldier of the cross, but itwasn't until I began working in that area andspending nights in his village that I had theprivilege of getting to know him well.

David Sibande was bom in 1884 and in 1904he became a Christian. His wife of 51 years is

still preaching at 97.

Brb. Sibande with Grace.

78 years old and has stood with him as astrong Christian through the years. Theyhave four living children, 27 grandchildrenand 13 great-grandchildren. He recalls,"When 1 was a young manworking in a store Iremember a missionary coming to me one dayand he said, 'David, no matter what happensor where you go, remember Jesus Christ'Bro. Sibande 8aid,"Untilthis day I have triedto always remember Him in all things". Thisis evident in the life he lives and in the loveand concern he has for the church.

It is a rare Sunday that Bro. Sibande is notin church, and then he would miss only due toillness. He continues to play a leading role inthe services and the work of the church. Evenat 97 he seldom misses a church conference orleadership conference. He is widely respectedamong all the churches for his wisdom andinsight into spiritual matters as well as for hispreaching ability. God has gifted this old manwith strength and endurance and a willingness to be used of the Lord. When we recentlyhad a leadership conference for the men oftherural churches, Bro. Sibande preached onemorning for 2 hours!! But the amazing thingis that he held his audience captivated right tothe end and when he sat down the men roseand shouted "amen" in unison. (When I toldJudy about this, I said, "I sure hope I can dothat when I'm 97". Her reply - "Well I don't!And if you do, don't expect me to listen for twohours!")

Some of my most inspirational momentshave been sitting at night with this soldier ofJesus around the fire in the middle of hisvillage. What a joy to see the grandchildrencrowd around him and laugh at his stories - tosee them jump quickly to fulfill his everywish, always eager to show their love andrespect to him. Grace, a pretty teen-age girl,seems to be his favorite. I once saw her crybecause they told her she couldn't stay andtake care of him when he was sick and had toremain in the clinic. I said, "Grace, you trulylove your grandfather, don't you?" And shereplied through her tears, "I would die forhim".

I thank God for David Sibande and praythat I may always "remember Jesus Christ"and be equally as faithful to Him.