Zambia 2007 - Kafakumba School
June 13, 2007
Warm wishes from the Kafakumba mission team! We have been busy and “blissfully exhausted” as we have been teaching the pastors, wives and children since Monday. We thought you would enjoy a recap of everyone’s duties.
~Ken led this morning’s devotion. He also taught a pastor class on Second Isaiah. Ken was very pleased with the remarks and questions from these pastors, who are the future leaders of the African churches. The weather has been beautiful, and Ken has enjoyed walking the trails of the compound.
~Mary Kay is wrapping up her HIV/AIDS lecture series. The seminars were very successful, and Mary Kay was pleased with the attendance of 108 pastors. Yesterday Mary Kay met with the other full-time Kafakumba faculty members to review the curriculum for the 2008 school year.
~Pat has been extremely busy with her classes with the pastor’s wives. The bible covers have been a true success with ladies. Most of them have never participated in any type of art class. Pat has identified several women with talented artistic ability. The ladies have already printed and carved their bible covers. They are having so much fun with Pat, and have requested extra classes with her!
~Tuesday was a big day for Josh as the goal posts for the soccer field were erected! Everyone is looking forward to the “big game” which features the pastors against a local soccer team. Word has gotten out around town about the new field, and many local kids are visiting to play on an official soccer field. Josh has also been a big help to Pat, and helped her assemble the bible covers.
~Melody & I have been having a ball with the children. This is a very rewarding experience, working with these children. We have over 40 children in our class. It is such a pleasure to teach the students in the new school building. We have been teaching a lesson every morning in geography, so the children can comprehend and understand where we are from. (We brought a world map.) They have learned a song in English, and can recite their ABC’s in English. They are a polite, well-mannered group of children, and are very excited to learn. In fact, the children of Kafakumba have made a special surprise for our Epworth children. Details will be announced later; I don’t want to spoil the surprise! Today Melody and I also traveled to a neighboring town called Fisenge for a Bible lesson for 100 children at a Methodist church. These children, who live in extreme poverty, were also very well mannered and appreciative.
We are all feeling good, and are happy and healthy. We look forward to seeing you all and sharing this journey with you. Our week is flying by fast!
A very special thank you to our prayer partners who have been lifting our names in prayers. Please continue to keep the pastors and their families in your prayers, as they are very special people.
Love & Blessings on behalf of the team,
Teri Tomase
June 10th 2007
Greetings from the Epworth Kafakumba mission team! Part of the team, consisting of Ken Streitenberger, Melody Binion, Pat Fitzsimmons and Teri Tomase departed for Zambia on June 7th, 2007. Our team had a layover in London , and we took advantage of the time and enjoyed some sightseeing. It was a beautiful sunny day as we scoured the city observing Buckingham Palace , The House of Parliament, Big Ben, and even made a stop at the Methodist Center that featured an “Epworth Room!”
We arrived in Lusaka , Zambia and unfortunately, missed our connecting flight to Ndola . Thankfully, traveling with us was Ndola pastor Ken Vance who arranged transportation service for us to Ndola .
What a warm, heartfelt welcome we received as we arrived in Kafakumba! All the pastors and their wives had been waiting for us all day. (As were fellow team members Mary Kay Smith and Josh Davies, who had been there for 2 weeks.) It was overwhelming as we entered the auditorium and found them all applauding and cheering for us.
That evening we enjoyed a big dinner at the home of John and Kendra Enright. It was a wonderful catching up with Mary Kay and Josh and enjoying fellowship with the Enright’s and all the other visiting missionaries.
Sunday morning, June 10 we experienced a worship service filled with the angelic voices of the pastors and their wives. Ken S. preached this morning and Diamond, a local pastor, acted as an interpreter. The service was uplifting and energetic, and we witnessed some spectacular dancing! We were also pleasantly surprised to find 3 different women were featured in the worship service.
Sunday afternoon we were guests at a wedding at Kafakumba. The ceremony was beautiful, and lasted over 3 hours.
That evening the pastors hosted a HUGE bonfire and sang songs and danced all evening. At the conclusion of the evening all the graduating pastors came forward and paid homage to John and Kendra Enright, as Friday is graduation day. It was a beautiful and touching tribute.
Tonight’s devotion lasted longer than usual, as the team had much to discuss. Kafakumba is such a spiritual place and we all shared our thoughts about our spiritual journey and the spiritual gifts we can offer.
We are eager about the first day of class tomorrow. Ken is preparing to teach Second Isaiah to the pastors, Mary Kay will continue her AIDS awareness education, and Josh is making great strides in his soccer ball ministry and is very excited as goal posts will be erected tomorrow on the field!
Pat is excited to be working with the wives, and has been working hard for the past several months designing book covers for bibles that the ladies will complete and keep as a keepsake gift.
Melody and I are looking forward to spending the day with the children and have met a large majority of them today. We have many activities planned, and cannot wait to enjoy oodles of fun with these adorable children!
One final thought – it is important for the congregation to know how much the presence of Epworth is appreciated and valued at Kafakumba. All day long we have received hugs and hearty handshakes from the families and their sincere sentiments of, “Thank you, thank you all so much for coming.”
We, as a team, are very thankful to be here. Please keep the people of Kafakumba is your prayers. Our teaching schedules are very full, but we will continue to update you on our progress.
Sending our love on behalf of the entire mission team,
Teri Tomase
