tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-122974512024-03-08T02:29:32.414+02:00GregersenblogDavid & Linda Gregersen.David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.comBlogger979125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-45775175067836728532013-12-25T05:59:00.000+02:002013-12-25T05:59:45.424+02:00Christmas 2005<i>We spent our first Christmas in Africa in 2005. We had only one decoration: A Christmas card sent by my friend Dianna. No wrapping, no bows, no tree, no family. And yet that day is one of my favorite memories. Here's the story: </i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Our Christmas was certainly different this year. We were up early, as usual, and were able to talk to both our children on the internet (Skype). They were spending Christmas Eve with my brother’s family in Monett, Missouri. (Zambia is eight hours ahead of CDT.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
At 8:00 we left for our outreach, taking eight Zambians along with us. We arrived at Gowell (pronounced go well) and found Patson Syula just finishing up preparations for the day. The congregation at Gowell has only a handful of members, but they had invited the entire community for an all-day Christmas gathering. Patson, a member of Namwianga’s Church Development Team, had organized the event. He had spent the weekend at Gowell helping them get a thatched roof shelter made and arranging the food for the guests he hoped would come. He had just finished work on the shelter that morning and had added posters and balloons as decorations.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
People trickled in all morning as we had singing, preaching, teaching, and communion. My translator, Sylvester, helped me teach the 38 children who came for Bible class. David preached the morning sermon, and others took their turns to teach and preach as well. The meal was to be the last event of the day, and we could see some young men doing the preparations nearby. During a break we went over and helped stir the nshima as it cooked in a huge iron pot over the open fire. The afternoon continued with some special singing groups as well as congregational singing and more preaching. The people kept coming, adding more to the 93 who were present for the morning service. Finally at 4:00 the food was ready. We feasted on nshima and goat meat.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
We arrived back home at 6:00. We pulled out the Dr. Pepper and the new DVDs that we had been saving for the occasion. Our congregation at Brentwood Oaks had sent us a wonderful care package of goodies with the Americans who came in early December. It is amazing how good a Dr. Pepper tastes when you haven’t had one for six months! We enjoyed a nice, quiet evening of watching movies and drinking Dr. Pepper.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
There are all kinds of ways to celebrate Christmas. We consider ourselves blessed to have shared this one in Africa.</div>
David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-85049395524527963372013-12-11T04:03:00.000+02:002013-12-11T04:05:07.282+02:00A Student Success Story<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>I have spent the last few days sending out letters to the 100 plus sponsors who fund the education of 150 students at Namwianga Christian Secondary School and George Benson Christian College. The motto of the US Sponsorship program is <i>Building Leaders, Changing Lives.</i> The story of Gift is an ideal illustration of how the sponsorship program does just that. I interviewed Gift last summer during our trip to Zambia. It was a tough interview for me, because I was so touched by this young man's story that I had to hold back my tears. I hope that Gift's resilience and faith will encourage all of us to have faith in difficult times. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gift is an impressive young man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Articulate, smart, and confident, it is not
surprising that he was chosen to serve as NCSS Headboy , the highest leadership
position in the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The title of
Headboy is respected in Zambia, and for the rest of Gift’s life, it will be
something that shows his excellence and leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Americans would compare it to having “Eagle
Scout” on a resume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you hear Gift’s story, it makes his achievements even
more remarkable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At age 13, Gift lived
in the capital city of Lusaka with his parents and 5-year-old sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His father managed a supply company for the
government, and they lived in a comfortable, modern house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gift attended a private boys’ school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of that changed in an instant when his parents were
killed in a car accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A week after
his parents died, Gift was sent to live with his grandmother in a remote
village in the bush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had never met
his grandmother, nor had he ever been exposed to village life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was separated from his sister who stayed
in Lusaka, and he was also separated from the only lifestyle he had ever known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went from a house with electricity and
running water to a thatched hut shared with his grandmother and four other
orphans she is raising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of the
private boys’ school, he attended a rural school with other village kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gift tells his story without emotion, but one can imagine
how hard it must have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first he
was miserable, refusing to go to school or to cooperate with his
grandmother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually he decided that
he had to make the best of his situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He worked hard in school and became part of his village family and
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The transition, he knows, was
made easier by three George Benson Christian College graduates who were
teaching at his village school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They
called me over to their house to watch TV,” he recalls, and their friendship
and influence helped him adjust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gift
excelled in school and became a student leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His GBCC mentors made sure that he applied for sponsorship at Namwianga
Christian Secondary School and gave him good recommendations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gift knows that sponsorship changed his life:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I would be sitting at home in the village if
not for my sponsorship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no one
who would have paid for my high school fees.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gift is very grateful for the opportunities he was given,
and he has high hopes for the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
wants to become a doctor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gift’s
remarkable story is another example of how the sponsorship program is
fulfilling its mission of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Building
Leaders and Changing Lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>There are hundreds of other young people like Gift waiting for sponsors so that they can go to school at Namwianga. If you would like more information about how to sponsor a student, please reply to this blog post with your contact information. I will answer you personally and will not post your reply or information. </b></div>
<!--EndFragment-->David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-40977259949583724392013-06-02T22:43:00.000+02:002013-06-02T22:43:11.834+02:00Namwianga - June, 2013<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYOvwtrvXo0R74JZTtJ6RGxhHuh2cLoziEwT_givpCx6vj0EY15nsS2WIGmqO_flpWcM0iHFPxTBCkbd9KPENbbaTuTHnDGhgbOc4MsNzLZ_GHvwL2LwnI3uu6WuxYFkiXWkX/s1600/Mrs.+Mukupa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYOvwtrvXo0R74JZTtJ6RGxhHuh2cLoziEwT_givpCx6vj0EY15nsS2WIGmqO_flpWcM0iHFPxTBCkbd9KPENbbaTuTHnDGhgbOc4MsNzLZ_GHvwL2LwnI3uu6WuxYFkiXWkX/s320/Mrs.+Mukupa.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. Mukupa's gift of eggs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tbVN03G_oBZfVmMRbOnh0nPh0PaBcXx1IcA-XzJRHQwn5rUIRJUL4AhehumTfJCfjT_OeqNkN7rGvlmY4BAkQfMT8yhAjOlmci-OSfpP6WH1LmW2Ze88lbD5VCUsBszDjd9D/s1600/Jason+George.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tbVN03G_oBZfVmMRbOnh0nPh0PaBcXx1IcA-XzJRHQwn5rUIRJUL4AhehumTfJCfjT_OeqNkN7rGvlmY4BAkQfMT8yhAjOlmci-OSfpP6WH1LmW2Ze88lbD5VCUsBszDjd9D/s320/Jason+George.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George and Jason all grown up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
David and I have been back in Zambia for three days now: three
amazing, exhausting, and exciting days. We greet our old friends with
hugs, handshakes, and exclamations of joy. We show off our photos of
the grandkids, and our friends laugh and call us “Mudala and
Muchambeli” which I think means “old man and old woman” (in a good way).
We marvel at how much the Zambian children have grown and how little our adult
friends have changed. And we feel at home again—our other home. <br /><br />
Saturday David’s co-worker Rodgers Namuswa picked him up right after
breakfast and took him to a village north of Kalomo to speak at an
area-wide men’s leadership meeting. He was gone all day and came home
telling of all the old friends he had met and the wonderful meal of
chicken and nshima he enjoyed with them.<br />
<br />
George and Jason came over and spent most of Saturday with me. They
are seven years old now and seem so grown up! We played card games,
took walks, read books, and explored the games on my phone-- a little
slice of heaven for me. They still remember Sara, so they dictated
e-mail messages to her. (George and Jason are orphans at Eric’s House
and spent a lot of time with us when we lived at Namwianga.) <br /><br /> Today (Sunday) we walked the mile or so to the Basic School Church and
David preached there. Once again the singing amazed us, especially the
two school choirs that sang at the end. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And late this afternoon I had a special visit from Mrs. Mukupa. During
our time at Namwianga, we had several opportunities to help Mrs.
Mukupa, an elderly widow who supports several grandchildren. I wrote
an article about her that touched the hearts of some readers in
America, and they occasionally sent funds for things like shoes, food,
and school fees that we passed on to her. Today she came with two of
her granddaughters. She told me how much she appreciated the things we
had done for her, and then she gave me a gift—a precious gift that
brought tears to my eyes: s sack of fresh brown eggs from her
chickens. Silver or gold could not have impressed me more. I’m going
to have to think of something very special to do with those eggs! <br /><br />
Tomorrow David will be off early with Rodgers Namuswa again to minister
at the clinic. I have meetings set up with groups of sponsored
students in the morning and the afternoon, and both David and I will be
teaching college classes in the afternoon. <br /><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsVXSpFMDAxhHveHBVPsVwZawGDdvOX7R-jA4TWER0iCNLCYYbLkzHgwlkv1TdlU1NIZhiBACllZapy4VM-PPBe2CvedpEuKhRpquA4U0sHyWFXrK9wvljWZIBXtPfGcWl7d7/s1600/Boma.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsVXSpFMDAxhHveHBVPsVwZawGDdvOX7R-jA4TWER0iCNLCYYbLkzHgwlkv1TdlU1NIZhiBACllZapy4VM-PPBe2CvedpEuKhRpquA4U0sHyWFXrK9wvljWZIBXtPfGcWl7d7/s320/Boma.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men's leadership meeting on Saturday</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy4X8L5shCAD1x9LKNZaWbcydiu33mp7VKqdxTBNQ7SxbOatBbmRq7zMVytSwHrV5teDgSAYByWKHIctcHrzjUM1Iojc0TLFMNPArvgCeHxWOUFW43P8efnQhsydz5JQZx0gH/s1600/Singing+Group.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy4X8L5shCAD1x9LKNZaWbcydiu33mp7VKqdxTBNQ7SxbOatBbmRq7zMVytSwHrV5teDgSAYByWKHIctcHrzjUM1Iojc0TLFMNPArvgCeHxWOUFW43P8efnQhsydz5JQZx0gH/s320/Singing+Group.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singing Group from the high school</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /> <br /> David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-57856524663755010872013-04-10T04:48:00.000+02:002013-04-10T04:49:07.631+02:00Orphans in Zambia
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Linda’s note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My thanks to Meagan Hawley and her blog for
the poem and for inspiring me to write about the plight of orphans.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few years ago I didn’t know any children who were orphans.
Then I moved to Zambia and became sponsorship coordinator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s when I met orphans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One afternoon I interviewed each sponsored
student individually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was dazed as I
walked home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I threw myself on the bed
and sobbed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How else do you respond to
story after story of death, desertion, and desperation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That particular group of students has moved on, but three of
the current sponsored students have similar stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace’s mother died when Grace was 13, and
her father died five years later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the
funeral, an uncle that Grace had just met was assigned to be her guardian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace tells about how this affects her:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My uncle provides me with shelter and food,
but I can’t ask him for anything else because he is looking after 16 other
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no one to confide
in.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At age nine, Kenny was sent to live with an aunt in a remote
village when his parents died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His aunt
is unable to provide him with any financial support beyond food and
shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Kinny found out he had a
sponsorship at Namwianga, he walked 40 miles to enroll in high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without sponsorship, Kinny would never have
left the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">David is an
eighth grader at Namwianga. He lived with an aunt for three years after his
parents died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was not caring toward
him, and life was miserable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David left
that home and lived on the streets of Lusaka for a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A relative found out about David and took him
to Namwianga’s orphanage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Some relatives just pretend you do not exist,
no matter how much you might be struggling,” says David.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The worst thing of being an orphan is not
receiving love from parents. Anyone can love you and care for you, but no one
will ever love you like your mother would.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A poem of unknown origin circulates in Zambia:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #424242; font-family: "TimesNewRomanMS","serif";">My heart bleeds when I see an adult pass by.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #424242; font-family: "TimesNewRomanMS","serif";">I look in the face, hoping to see my lost father and mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #424242; font-family: "TimesNewRomanMS","serif";">Hoping to hear their comforting voices, hoping for a hug.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #424242; font-family: "TimesNewRomanMS","serif";">But <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nobody has time for me
since my parents died.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #424242; font-family: "TimesNewRomanMS","serif";">I have become a scavenger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #424242; font-family: "TimesNewRomanMS","serif";">I must roam the streets to look for food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #424242; font-family: "TimesNewRomanMS","serif";">I have nowhere to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "TimesNewRomanMS","serif";">I
cannot go to school.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "TimesNewRomanMS","serif";">When
my relatives take me in I must be beaten because I am naughty.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "TimesNewRomanMS","serif";">I
must do all the work because I am lazy they say.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "TimesNewRomanMS","serif";">I
must be given little food because I eat too much.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "TimesNewRomanMS","serif";">If I
laugh, I am making noise.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "TimesNewRomanMS","serif";">If I
cry I am not grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "TimesNewRomanMS","serif";">O
God, it’s terrible to be an orphan.</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Almost half of the sponsored students at Namwianga are
considered orphans in the Zambian culture because they have lost at least one
parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And twenty percent are full
orphans because both of their parents are dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many others are de facto orphans because of parental desertion or
neglect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is easy to feel powerless in
the face of such need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet
sponsorship is an important way to help orphans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Students who attend Namwianga have their
needs met in a caring environment that helps them grow academically, socially,
and spiritually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For most, it is a
life-changing experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are interested in changing a life, consider
sponsoring an orphan or needy student in school at Namwianga.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>High school students need $140 per month, and
college students need $150 per month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Partial sponsorships of $25 per month or one-time gifts are
welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sponsorship payments
may be made by check, automatic debit, debit/credit card, or </i>PayPal<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Checks should be made payable to Zambia Mission Fund and mailed to
Zambia Mission Fund, Box 3393, Abilene, TX<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>79604. Automatic debit requests should be sent to the same address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paypal or credit/debit card payments may be
made on the Zambia Mission website:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.zambiamission.org/">www.zambiamission.org</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Click on Donate and be sure to specify that
your donation is for student sponsorship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you have questions, please post them as a comment and I will get back
to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your comment will not be posted
unless you request it to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-50108455085712176872012-11-25T22:14:00.001+02:002012-11-25T22:15:23.381+02:00Thanksgiving 2009<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1p8x2WxAjXPv5cHC97P4zBPATLT_bNdZ-VeYXW8zb3UauZHgR2bmBEKflPKeD6pXxxcz2iWMe2DmK9E5jUn1bUnf0yJdt879Yc5fuf-5V58P4PzT-9-9vM9SRAD9ad6HAJg8/s1600/IMG_8235.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1p8x2WxAjXPv5cHC97P4zBPATLT_bNdZ-VeYXW8zb3UauZHgR2bmBEKflPKeD6pXxxcz2iWMe2DmK9E5jUn1bUnf0yJdt879Yc5fuf-5V58P4PzT-9-9vM9SRAD9ad6HAJg8/s200/IMG_8235.JPG" height="171" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408638257767929666" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span></div>
<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Reflections on Thanksgiving 2009: We had been having major issues with the electricity and did not expect to have power all day. This was our last Thanksgiving in Zambia and our largest as well. </i></span></h3>
<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></h3>
<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was what some might call a minor miracle--the electricity stayed on all day while we did our cooking and baking! I held my breath every time I put a dish into the oven, hoping that the power would stay on long enough to cook it. I breathed a sigh of relief when everything was hot and ready.</span></span></span></h3>
<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" size="13px" style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" size="13px" style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our Thanksgiving guests began arriving at 6:00 just as the sun was going down. We were about to gather at the table when the seemingly inevitable happened-- the power went off. We ate our feast by candlelight. Just as we finished dessert, the power came back on at 8:50 p.m. David called it another TIA (This Is Africa) experience.</span></span></h3>
<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" size="13px" style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We ended up with 21 for dinner with an interesting mix of ages, stages, and cultures. We had five Peace Corps volunteers from our area, plus American missionaries, Zambians, a Peruvian, and a South African family. Our youngest guest was baby Lennie who came from the Haven orphanage with Meagan Hawley. </span></span></span></h3>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Once again we give thanks for the blessing of friends and fellowship in a foreign land. God is good all the time, and God is good everywhere.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shown in the photo: Peace Corps Volunteers Krista, Brittany, and Tim; Missionaries Sheri Sears and Rod Calder.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"></span></span></span></div>
</div>
David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-65463133279033043952012-11-24T23:29:00.001+02:002012-11-24T23:30:31.763+02:00Thanksgiving 2008<br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #1b0431; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
Part four of a series of re-posts of Thanksgivings in Zambia</h3>
<div class="post-header" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8KrF01F52KODwM1UMkx2_PF0As-0UOyrqFiPRPcjhST8K57-LV4vdo9J0gFnn0d1Ln-pb-A_qWHvec-b29q2RDNdBVF26oCqbEA3Bk5ttIe_2JHFropOyui_KYU6aYTuohEa/s1600-h/IMG_6535.JPG" style="color: #473624; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" height="212" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273940834165676146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8KrF01F52KODwM1UMkx2_PF0As-0UOyrqFiPRPcjhST8K57-LV4vdo9J0gFnn0d1Ln-pb-A_qWHvec-b29q2RDNdBVF26oCqbEA3Bk5ttIe_2JHFropOyui_KYU6aYTuohEa/s400/IMG_6535.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; height: 170px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guests in 2008: Richard Krogsgaard, Kimberly Burns, Deb Rakowski, Meagan Hawley, Kapree Harrell, Robby Banda, Karen Johnson, Sheri Sears, Angela Glenn, Brittany Freitas, Sue Krogsgaard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1916663052002793132" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />Our Thanksgiving table was surrounded by a wonderful mix of people. Six Peace Corps volunteers from all over the United States joined us, plus Canadian and American missionaries and a Zambian co-worker. After last year's <a href="http://dlgregersen.blogspot.com/2007/12/tweezing-turkey-christmas-tale.html" style="color: #473624; text-decoration: underline;">Christmas turkey adventure</a>, we settled for mesquite marinaded grilled chicken. We managed to have lots of Thanksgiving traditional side dishes, including cranberry sauce, green bean casserole (with homemade onion rings!), fruit salad, and lots of pies.<br /><br />The electric company cooperated and we even had power all day--a rare blessing that we greatly appreciate. Thursday evening David pulled out the multimedia projector and screen and we watched a movie on DVD.<br /><br />As always, we love visits from the Peace Corps Volunteers. The stories of their adventures living in the bush leave us laughing and full of admiration for the work they do. And I could not ask for a more appreciative group to cook for!</div>
David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-85930528717866924412012-11-22T05:44:00.000+02:002012-11-22T05:44:55.123+02:00Thanksgiving 2007<br />
<h2 class="date-header" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><div class="date-posts" style="display: inline !important;">
<div class="post-outer" style="display: inline !important;">
<div class="post hentry" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px;">
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-730341488726497836" itemprop="description articleBody" style="display: inline !important;">
2007 was the first year we had Peace Corps Volunteers with us for Thanksgiving. These incredible women made the holiday extra special: Deb Rakowski, Jalle Gibesa, Angela Glenn, Jennifer Dyson, Heidi Joseph, and Karen Johnson. </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</i></span></h2>
<div class="date-posts" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px;">
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-730341488726497836" itemprop="description articleBody">
<i><div class="date-posts" style="display: inline !important;">
<div class="post-outer" style="display: inline !important;">
<div class="post hentry" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px;">
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-730341488726497836" itemprop="description articleBody" style="display: inline !important; font-style: normal;">
We had a fun and interesting Thanksgiving gathering at our house this year. Five Peace Corps volunteers arrived at Namwianga on Wednesday to spend the holiday with us. They stayed at the large guesthouse but ate most of their meals with us. They came prepared to cook and bake dishes for our feast, and on Thursday morning we had three kitchens in use—the guesthouse where the PC women were staying, the Hamby guesthouse kitchen, and mine. We had a short power outage around 10 a.m. that gave us a bit of panic, but the power came on again after about 30 minutes and the baking continued without any major disasters. </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</i><i><div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px;">
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-730341488726497836" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-style: normal;">
<br />Don Oldenburg had contacted the manager of the Spar grocery store in Choma weeks ago and asked him if he could get us two turkeys for Thanksgiving. We had high hopes that this manager could pull it off, but alas, it was not to be. When Don and Laura went to pick up the turkeys on Wednesday, the manager informed them that the turkeys had come in, but they were of such poor quality that he wouldn’t sell them to us. David grilled chicken instead.<br /><br />We had two more Peace Corps workers who came in on Thursday—one made it in time for dinner and another arrived in the evening. Our other guests were Don and Laura Oldenburg, Sheri Sears, and Richard and Sue Krogsgaard. Richard and Sue are Canadians who arrived at Namwianga in August. They missed the Canadian Thanksgiving Day in October, so we thought it was appropriate that they share in our feast.<br /><br />And feast we did! We managed to have many traditional American Thanksgiving dishes: stuffing, pumpkin pie, apple pie, rolls, mashed potatoes, green beans, and even jellied cranberry sauce that some recent visitors brought with them in their luggage. There were no Macy’s parades or football games to watch, but we did have lots of laughter, sharing, and fellowship.<br /><br />Sara and John were in Searcy with David’s sister and family. We were able to talk to them via Skype and even saw them through the web cam. Later we talked with David’s parents and watched the last minute dinner preparations going on in the background. When they announced that dinner was ready, David’s dad had all of the family hold hands in a circle and then asked David to lead the prayer for the meal. From 10,000 miles away we shared in the Thanksgiving gathering with our family. God is good, and we are thankful.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</i><i>David's father died in September of the following year, making our memories of the Thanksgiving Skype session especially sweet. </i></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-87343545995255743112012-11-21T15:02:00.001+02:002012-11-21T15:36:38.403+02:00Remembering Thanksgiving 2006<i>This is my second post from the Thanksgiving archives. It is from 2006, our smallest Thanksgiving of the five we celebrated in Zambia. I can still hear the echoes of the laughter from around this table. Meagan Hawley is back in Zambia this year and may have a very different kind of Thanksgiving Day. Keep her in your prayers!</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rpSED4E7x5_LvP9_THy9Kdj6Pk2rHzU_xWVVHzhQLqd8RisUuvKUwVCokGAFlwJ5ZTGq5PH4scYOiZi_RbymrhqPyr2wKe9nZMg8li49bPyfeaHk3r4gDlp4xS2u9JBVg4h4/s1600/Thanks2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rpSED4E7x5_LvP9_THy9Kdj6Pk2rHzU_xWVVHzhQLqd8RisUuvKUwVCokGAFlwJ5ZTGq5PH4scYOiZi_RbymrhqPyr2wKe9nZMg8li49bPyfeaHk3r4gDlp4xS2u9JBVg4h4/s1600/Thanks2006.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
From left: Linda, Meagan, David, Louisa, Lauren</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4708/1035/1600/10258/IMG_3629.jpg" style="color: #473624; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4708/1035/200/275894/IMG_3629.jpg" height="265" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast on Thursday night. Shown in the top photo with us are Meagan Hawley, Louisa Duke, and Lauren Hickmon. These three young women have become near and dear to our hearts as we have shared the Zambian experience with them. This was the first time Meagan and Lauren had ever been away from home on Thanksgiving, but for all of us it was a memorable time.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We invited Robby Banda (lower photo--in front of our buffet) to enjoy his first American-style Thanksgiving with us. Robby is a widower who eats many meals at our table. His quick wit and ready laugh always add a special touch to our times together.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Roger and Mary Beth McCown (<i>had been with us for a visit) </i>returned to the US on Monday, but they left behind the decorations, along with the ingredients for sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole. Meagan and Louisa made pecan, apple, and pumpkin pies for the occasion. There was no turkey to be found in Livingstone or Lusaka stores, so we substituted Lauren's favorite, cornflake chicken. The chicken was extremely fresh, since our neighbor Mrs. Moono selected it and dressed it for us on Thursday afternoon. We also had dressing, mashed potatoes, salad, and rolls.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We had a bounty of food, something that we no longer take for granted in a land where many go hungry. Our dinner conversation was sprinkled with joyous laughter as we enjoyed each other's company. I told our gathering that we are friends who have become like family in many ways, so we can call ourselves "frimily." This produced a spontaneous chorus of the tune "We are frimily" and even more laughter.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Over dessert we each shared some of the things we are thankful for. Our blessings are many, and we can say with the Zambians: "Leza mubotu ciindi coonse. Ciindi coonse Leza Mubotu." God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.</span>David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-18427822271694524982012-11-21T05:07:00.000+02:002012-11-21T05:19:04.186+02:00Giving Thanks<i>This time of year I am flooded with memories of the five Thanksgiving feasts we celebrated 10,000 miles away in Zambia. Each one was unique, each one was spent with a different group of friends, and each is a treasured memory. To remind me again of the blessings God showered on us in a foreign land, I will re-post them this week.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>As our first Thanksgiving in Zambia approached, I posted this on November 23, 2005:</i><br />
<br />
A few things I am thankful for:<br />
<br />
In a land where people go hungry, we have plenty to eat.<br />
<br />
In a land where many people are sick and dying, we are in good health (David is still having headaches from his bout with malaria, but we hope those will end soon)<br />
<br />
I miss my children more than I can say, but I am thankful that others are ministering to them and caring for their needs.<br />
<br />
In a land where many do not know about Jesus, I give thanks for the heritage of faith passed on to me through my parents.<br />
<br />
In a land where education is available only to some, I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to go to school.<br />
<br />
In a land far from my home, I give thanks for the many ways that the Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ family and our friends minister to us.<br />
<br />
In a land where many have only the clothes on their backs, I give thanks for what I have to wear.<br />
<br />
In a land where many are needy, I am thankful to be able to share what I have.<br />
<br />
Happy Thanksgiving!<br />
<br />
<i>And a few days later I described our Thanksgiving spent with other missionaries in Lusaka:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
I’ll be honest. As Thanksgiving approached, I dreaded the thought of our first holiday away from our children, our friends, and our former house in Austin. We had so many great memories of Thanksgivings in the past.<br />
<br />
This year, however, God provided us with opportunities to make wonderful new memories in our new land. We scheduled a retreat for all the Americans associated with Namwianga Mission and met in Lusaka, the capital city. Brian and Sondra Davis drove down from Solwezi where they are beginning a new work. The rest of us (Sheri and Lois Sears, the Bruingtons, Roy and Kathi Merritt) drove up from Kalomo on Thursday. We stayed in three cottages at a missionary guest house run by the Evangelical Church of Zambia, so we had our own cooking facilities and even television! On Thursday we shopped for groceries and on Friday we cooked our almost authentic American Thanksgiving dinner. We ended up with two small turkeys (both delicious), dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole (with homemade onion rings), jello salad, green salad, corn casserole, rolls, pecan pie, and lots of other yummy desserts. No nshima for Thanksgiving, thank you!<br />
<br />
Besides feasting together we also had times for sharing views on missions and for devotionals, prayer sessions, and lots of singing. On Saturday we all went into the main shopping center in Lusaka and did more shopping, especially for Christmas. We had five little ones under nine in the group, so the Bruingtons took all the kids for go-cart rides and a movie. David and I also managed to see the new Zorro movie that afternoon. Ah, civilization again, if only for a few days!<br />
<br />
We ended our retreat with a special Sunday morning service together and then headed back to Namwianga rested, refreshed, and ready to take on the challenges that are waiting for us.<br />
<br />
I did miss our children terribly. Sara went to Arkansas to be with David’s parents for the weekend. Our wonderful Brentwood Oaks church family made sure John was taken care of. God provided for our needs, and we made new memories. We are blessed.<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-50423095184282020852012-11-21T04:54:00.002+02:002012-11-21T05:18:33.845+02:00GBCC Graduate Ministers in Northern Zambia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczE2Hp3UGxqbjXlSQGryaW0h-E004smZRW8PHhnzHGuc1vLAT4xMnHfJkDKjPpOezICGGbCLqLlQZ4_zmBVlV5F4DU_iCLGTpWymu41R1lnqYcHZ2G3KZJumszJCYZt040o55/s1600/StewardChiradza.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczE2Hp3UGxqbjXlSQGryaW0h-E004smZRW8PHhnzHGuc1vLAT4xMnHfJkDKjPpOezICGGbCLqLlQZ4_zmBVlV5F4DU_iCLGTpWymu41R1lnqYcHZ2G3KZJumszJCYZt040o55/s1600/StewardChiradza.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the first sponsored students I worked with at George
Benson Christian College was Steward Chiradza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was quiet and reserved in class, but his grades were always high and
his work was always excellent. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Steward
finished his classes in 2008 and volunteered for Northreach, a program that
places GBCC graduates in areas of Zambia where the church is weak. He was sent
alone to Nakonde, a border town with all of the challenges and turmoil
associated with border towns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did a
very effective work with the congregation there before being posted to Luwingu
in northern Zambia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Recently
Steward contacted me by e-mail. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
teaches high school English and religious education at Luwingu High
School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is married and has twin
daughters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steward works with a local
congregation in preaching, teaching, and evangelism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under his leadership, the congregation now
has 40 members and is in the process of building a brick building to replace
the thatch enclosure they meet in now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Steward
says that GBCC prepared him for his roles of teacher and evangelist by giving
him courage, Bible knowledge, and leadership training. He is another success
story who demonstrates the effectiveness of preparing self-supporting church
planters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Steward
would not be teaching and serving today without the US Sponsorship
program. Both of his parents had died, and without sponsorship Steward could not have attended George Benson Christian College. Many other
orphans and needy students are waiting right now to hear whether or not they
will have a place at Namwianga when the new school year begins in January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> If you would like to make a difference in someone's life, consider sponsoring a student or making a one-time donation to the sponsorship program. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sponsorship payments
may be made by check, automatic debit, debit/credit card, or PayPal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Checks should be made payable to Zambia
Mission Fund and mailed to Zambia Mission Fund, Box 3393, Abilene, TX<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>79604.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>PayPal or credit/debit card payments may be made on the Zambia Mission
website:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>www.zambiamission.org .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Click on Donate and be sure to specify that
your donation is for student sponsorship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you have questions, please contact me at </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="mailto:dlgregersen@mac.com">dlgregersen@mac.com</a>.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-60976317716767478912012-10-06T20:06:00.002+02:002012-10-06T21:03:44.640+02:00Student Teachers Accomplish Great Things<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
They faced crowded classrooms, worked long hours, and lived
in basic accommodations with few conveniences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were asked to coach teams, sponsor clubs, and take on extra
duties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they also jumped into the
local congregations and became leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These were the challenges faced by student teachers who fanned out from
George Benson Christian College in May to do their Student Teaching Practice,
or STP as it is called.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For three
months, over 150 student teachers made a difference for students, schools, and
churches all over Zambia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One student teacher walked 12 kilometers in order to attend the
nearest congregation. She studied with two college students who were also
student teaching, and they were baptized.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another found that the local congregation had all but
disbanded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and others who were doing
their student teaching helped to reconcile the broken relationships and started
the congregation meeting again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
also formed two new singing groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A student teacher was selected to lead a Scripture
Club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The club led two outreaches that
resulted in five baptisms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One student teacher writes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I want to tell you that my experience as a student teacher was very
wonderful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoyed every bit of it
because it made me feel good . . . to know that I can shape another person’s
future as a role model—because that is what being a teacher is about.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On student taught at Kalomo High School where there is
congregation composed entirely of high school students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He writes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I congregated with the pupils from this school who did not have an
(older) person to guide them in certain things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was an inspiration to the pupils having someone from a Christian
college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started a singing group . .
. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also evangelized to the people
within our vicinity. “ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another student teacher was appointed to coordinate the
Christian Movement Choir in his school and led them on three outreaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also coached the soccer team and helped
them win first place in two tournaments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These teachers in training are already fulfilling the
purpose of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George Benson Christian
College:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to prepare self-supporting
evangelists who will spread the gospel in the communities where they teach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many students cannot attend college without
sponsorship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new school year starts
in January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Won’t you consider investing
in the future of Zambia by sponsoring a college student?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just $150 per month provides tuition,
boarding, and fees to send a student to college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When that student graduates, he or she will
be ready to serve a community, a congregation, and the country of Zambia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For more information, see the <a href="http://www.zambiamission.org/">Zambia Mission website </a>or contact Linda Gregersen at <a href="mailto:dlgregersen@mac.com">dlgregersen@mac.com</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-64085948812890532342012-07-18T03:14:00.003+02:002012-07-18T03:15:25.396+02:00Zambia Medical Mission Report for 2012Ellie Hamby sent out this report about the 2012 Zambia Medical Mission. Once again, God did amazing things through the volunteers who served. <br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Our 18th Zambia Medical Mission has come to a close and with six days of clinics we saw a record breaking 20,220 people. They came in droves by walking, crawling, being carried on someones back, bicycles, oxcarts, donkey carts and some in the back of large trucks. The needs are tremendous as the people we have ministered to have little access to medical care. For many it was the first time to be treated by a doctor. The pharmacy was extremely busy with the over 6000 prescriptions filled each day. On the first day at the Kasukwe Clinic we saw 3925 patients which was a record in the number of patients we have ever seen in one day. The team was exhausted by the time the day was over. We did have a few people out with stomach problems, but all have recovered and doing fine. Each day we either set records or were very close. It has been a challenge to the team, but we have an excellent group of workers, both Zambian and American, and they worked diligently to serve the vulnerable people of Southern Zambia. Everywhere we went the medical team was presented with gifts; which included 3 cows, 1 goat, and 10 chickens. Two of our truck drivers sold a cow and presented us with the funds to purchase food for the medical team. It is great to see every single person on the team whether they were a truck driver, kitchen worker, or a medical person working together to accomplish the one goal of sharing the love of Jesus with those in such need.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We were also able to send trucks back to Namwianga Zonal Health Center carrying patients for Cataract Surgery. Dr. Moonze, a Zambian Ophthalmologist, performed 83 surgeries in four days. In order to do this he had to operate some nights until 2:00 am. It is hard to put into words the joy that these people express in having their sight restored.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Praise God we had 70 baptisms and we know many other souls were touched and the church will grow and be strengthened. A big thanks to all who helped make Zambia Medical Mission 2012 a huge success.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">In His Service,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ellie Hamby</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Zambia Medical Mission</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-63855431952662410592012-07-10T17:23:00.003+02:002012-07-18T03:15:37.663+02:00Zambia Medical MissionLots of photos of the first day of clinics at Njabalombe. Check it out at https://www.facebook.com/ZambiaMissionDavid and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-5308067457540736752012-07-09T04:26:00.002+02:002012-07-18T03:15:49.951+02:00Zambia Medical MissionZambia Medical Mission has begun at Namwianga Mission. The team of Americans arrived on Saturday. K. B. Massingill posted this report:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">O</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">ur team enjoyed worship this morning, and came back to the Hamby Guest House for lunch. We had a lengthy meeting following lunch to walk through a thousand details that we all need to be aware of.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Our greatest hitch at the moment, is that due to a change at the Nursing Counsel all of our nurses must report to Lusaka (six hours away) for an interview before they can practice. This means that a few of our nurses will get up VERY early tomorrow travel to Lusaka, be a part of an interview, and then make the eight hour trip back to our clinic site and arrive after dark. It is difficult, but our only choice. In the years past, nurses who had previously sat for the interview did not have to do it again every year, but a complete turn-over of personnel at the Nursing Counsel means changes in protocol.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">You can see photos on facebook.com/zambiamission of our group practicing putting up King Canopies. It is essential that we be able to do it quickly and effectively in order to ensure that we are able to move quickly when the time comes to start our clinics.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The weather last night was cold, but characteristically hot today in the sun.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">We will be getting up early tomorrow to travel to our clinic site.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Keep us in your prayers.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">You can read more and listen to more updates at www.zambiamedicalmission.com. Pictures are posted at www.Facebook.com/zambiamission</span></span>David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-48103895132003796852012-07-06T00:04:00.000+02:002012-07-06T00:11:25.430+02:00Two Worlds - Another Reminder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlOA9XwcJfn51T_xKi5_Ns3u2JLxAC3mRRqvxivb08apYNGipyal4UMrwamCBrZo2rgPtmCzRbjo70aHKtGA9LOCzrYdYVRZCtBF-SpvU1ARgu2-H9HOd-GNv_9UtI6aDetO8/s1600/Knox+and+Thaine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlOA9XwcJfn51T_xKi5_Ns3u2JLxAC3mRRqvxivb08apYNGipyal4UMrwamCBrZo2rgPtmCzRbjo70aHKtGA9LOCzrYdYVRZCtBF-SpvU1ARgu2-H9HOd-GNv_9UtI6aDetO8/s320/Knox+and+Thaine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7glt5ou9eNLUIh_UeRz_QnaX6HefoF2_gfxgZ1doAXkyfQ7fw6EqOcq_XuqDu4VmiWPZP0jvakw8MEa03pBed9w2KwqMJx1A5pUPkXQsx-GlARjkoU5qAXN5ynIKMR2ph_nYL/s1600/Mark+and+Michele.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7glt5ou9eNLUIh_UeRz_QnaX6HefoF2_gfxgZ1doAXkyfQ7fw6EqOcq_XuqDu4VmiWPZP0jvakw8MEa03pBed9w2KwqMJx1A5pUPkXQsx-GlARjkoU5qAXN5ynIKMR2ph_nYL/s320/Mark+and+Michele.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
The top photo shows my two youngest grandsons Knox and Thaine. Michele and Mark Broadway are in the lower photo. They are now at Namwianga and are shown here holding Lizzy and Dillon, two orphan babies at The Haven. <br />
<br />
These photos remind me of the two different worlds I have lived in, and the joys of both. <a href="http://dlgregersen.blogspot.com/2010/01/two-worlds.html">Here is a re-post</a> of a two-world experience from 2010. <br />
<br />David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-39900029244817780372012-07-05T23:07:00.002+02:002012-11-21T05:09:55.046+02:00Family Photo - 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqZaWAAr2zG7eAjQ0ooDVe6O-qeWE0pqY6Sgds0aL9V_MCdyVnpWGRz8iX9EYELGpGB-FCct_D5ciJ8csC8qdp5TT0d_OsbkGrW3jKTUUX_yUTy9MDTT7hm0CgfGjfptiO8gS/s1600/IMG_1185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqZaWAAr2zG7eAjQ0ooDVe6O-qeWE0pqY6Sgds0aL9V_MCdyVnpWGRz8iX9EYELGpGB-FCct_D5ciJ8csC8qdp5TT0d_OsbkGrW3jKTUUX_yUTy9MDTT7hm0CgfGjfptiO8gS/s320/IMG_1185.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right: Leah, Jacob, John, and Thaine Gregersen, Nana and PawPaw, Sara, Knox, and David Anderson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We gathered in College Station, Texas, this weekend to welcome baby Knox into the family. Here is the latest news on our family. <br />
<br />
Leah and John have two sons: Jacob, age 2 years, and Thaine, age 4 months. They have been living in Austin but will be moving to Brady, Texas, in late summer. John works for Border States Electric and Leah will be teaching Family and Consumer Science at Brady High School. Sara and David live in College Station where Sara is a technology specialist for the Bryan ISD and David works for Suddenlink.David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-36599297120371830942012-06-29T04:52:00.000+02:002012-06-29T04:52:57.069+02:00New Addition to Our Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZotO2Z7d_YeTLxoilzrk0lmfn5PVidjfGviP50cGvPw1GSyNdiXo_KKtDQVDQwMnTc4Lzq2JneX8G-ZsdG38Zf9_naoWYN0UR0i2ZQALZHiz1uFdLYxSJp8k3_4r5qU-bX9Z/s1600/IMG_1132_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZotO2Z7d_YeTLxoilzrk0lmfn5PVidjfGviP50cGvPw1GSyNdiXo_KKtDQVDQwMnTc4Lzq2JneX8G-ZsdG38Zf9_naoWYN0UR0i2ZQALZHiz1uFdLYxSJp8k3_4r5qU-bX9Z/s320/IMG_1132_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Knox David Anderson was born at 2:03 this afternoon (June 28). He weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces and is 21 1/2 inches long. Our daughter Sara and her husband David are ecstatic, and all of us are in awe of this little miracle. <br />
<br />
Knox was blessed to be born in College Station, Texas, in a modern hospital with the equipment and personnel to ensure a healthy beginning. It was a far cry from one of our early experiences in Zambia. Read about David's close call with a birthing mother <a href="http://www.dlgregersen.blogspot.com/2006/04/oh-baby.html">here</a>.David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-27861015766705672682012-06-22T16:01:00.000+02:002012-06-22T16:01:02.430+02:00GiftsI really wanted to be in Zambia this June! We had made plans to make the trip with two couples from our congregation and were looking forward to being at Namwianga and also doing some touristy things with them. Then one couple found out their daughter was expecting a baby in late June. . . and we found out our daughter was expecting a baby in late June, and that ended our plans for a trip this year. Of course we are thrilled about having more grandchildren and look forward to spending the rest of the summer loving on them. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So now I am planning Namwianga events via e-mail and phone calls. One of those events is the sponsorship reception. There will be over 100 Americans at Namwianga in July for the annual Zambia Medical Mission. Many of them sponsor students at the high school and college, so there is an afternoon reception planned for the sponsors to meet and interact with their sponsored students. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Most sponsors want to give a gift at this reception, so Rajiv and I came up with a list of suggested gifts that sponsors can present to their students. I thought you might be interested in what Zambian students like to receive.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's the list.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NIV Bible (Whenever I have offered gifts to students, this is the first thing to be selected!) </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">T-shirt - Any color or logo is fine (You can often get freebies left over from an event) </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ball cap for guys - gimme caps are great</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tote bag (for carrying books)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Socks, especially for high school students. The boys have to wear gray dress socks with their uniforms, and they can also use other kinds of socks. Girls wear white knee socks with their </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">uniforms, but they also like other kinds of socks (consider colorful, fun patterns or solid color knee socks). College guys can use dress or athletic socks. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>high schoolers</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, scientific calculators are a BIG help. They need to have sine, cosine, and tangent functions, but do </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>not</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> need to be graphing calculators. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Zipper pencil pouch and ink pens</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Composition notebooks </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sheet set for twin bed</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bath towel and washcloth</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sunglasses </span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We are also offering to purchase pre-paid phone cards ($5.00) or blankets ($20.00) in Zambia for sponsors to give so that they do not have to make extra room in their luggage. </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisn-f5i0JtBHhBi7YqFMxXGuoLVKhiARxqvHgT2CrV_Qz1fBBthXYV08AqZNKLDZ7okmctn4Zz4pM7wjR5NBH8cgwKOBKHBpw0EvUUBMUgOthiFegGiF9NK9PKg2RRLbtIoRvf/s1600/Boooks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisn-f5i0JtBHhBi7YqFMxXGuoLVKhiARxqvHgT2CrV_Qz1fBBthXYV08AqZNKLDZ7okmctn4Zz4pM7wjR5NBH8cgwKOBKHBpw0EvUUBMUgOthiFegGiF9NK9PKg2RRLbtIoRvf/s320/Boooks.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students love to get school supplies. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-37514755540837295482012-06-19T23:36:00.000+02:002012-06-22T16:07:22.328+02:00Decision Overload<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VPbxuYRA4uknIYHkbs0vZkyb4T3V0Rk4HQb0ykUSb4fmIJj-EXLC9-t4q_vqYQAuUZa1V0MbwuTUPYBeuuGH_5GHFO__AqIXtWRqZ7PKrI3e1-Z9a31BJDLxyvjiQoKD8e43/s1600/IMG_1121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VPbxuYRA4uknIYHkbs0vZkyb4T3V0Rk4HQb0ykUSb4fmIJj-EXLC9-t4q_vqYQAuUZa1V0MbwuTUPYBeuuGH_5GHFO__AqIXtWRqZ7PKrI3e1-Z9a31BJDLxyvjiQoKD8e43/s200/IMG_1121.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deciding on paint colors was a daunting challenge for me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
A missionary family from Zambia recently moved back to the
US. I got an e-mail from the wife saying
that they had bought a house and were having new paint, carpet, and flooring
installed. I groaned inwardly, knowing
that the process of selecting those items had likely been a nightmare. Sure enough, when I talked to her later, she
confided that it had been very difficult.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I knew
because I have been through it. In fact,
I still struggle with what I call “Decision Overload.” Here’s why.
When we built our house in Zambia, the man in charge of construction
told me to go into Kalomo and pick out the color of paint I wanted on the
walls. So I trekked into ChiChi Hardware
and asked for paint samples. I was given
a faded, worn-out card featuring a grand total of five colors: kelly green, royal blue, white, black, and
“honeysuckle” which looked like a khaki tan.
I chose the honeysuckle—and it turned out to be a light golden yellow
that I loved. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Choosing
something like toothpaste was equally simple.
You could buy Colgate in a small tube or a large tube. That’s it.
Soda? Coke, Fanta Orange, Fanta
Grape, or Sprite. Deciding was
easy. And for many other items, the
choice was to buy the one brand featured at the store or do without because there
was no other choice. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now imagine
what happened when we returned to the US and I went to Lowe’s to pick out the
paint for the house we were moving into.
Not five choices but FIVE HUNDRED choices gleamed at me in the Valspar
display. The Eddie Bauer display nearby
offered another hundred or so choices. I
didn’t even venture down the aisle to the Olympic rack. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I am embarrassed to admit that I drove
the 16 miles one way to the nearest Lowe’s THREE DAYS in a row to get those
little sample cans to try out various colors.
Finally David insisted that we make a decision and get the paint. Halfway there I panicked and told him to turn
the car around and go back. “I can’t do
it! I can’t choose from all those
colors!” I told him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He
patiently insisted that we could and we must choose the colors and get the
painting done. And I did choose a
color (I tried to match my honeysuckle
walls in Zambia) and panicked as it went on the walls and wished I had chosen
white. (Of course white is not an easy
choice either, since there are at least 20 different shades of white to choose
from.) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So when you
deal with a returning missionary, be patient.
Dinner at the Golden Corral buffet is not the best idea during the first
few weeks. Even a trip to Walmart can
overwhelm a newbie who needs a tube of toothpaste. Decision Overload takes time to
overcome. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve been
back in the US for two years now. The top
photo shows the collection of sample cans from my latest kitchen-painting
project. The good news is that I ended
up with a great color that I love—and no meltdowns this time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qGkHJtEW-G_UHXsXY0chN8D5TNV_lbFzAEHILl2zTXBFYZV3dMNkCIo0ZVpQImtGJfnJgdwp_nZb9o087EJTituPkxwZLaLCgFwnJ5GpLv7LzhZialfqdpYDilA3acVOlRj0/s1600/IMG_1124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qGkHJtEW-G_UHXsXY0chN8D5TNV_lbFzAEHILl2zTXBFYZV3dMNkCIo0ZVpQImtGJfnJgdwp_nZb9o087EJTituPkxwZLaLCgFwnJ5GpLv7LzhZialfqdpYDilA3acVOlRj0/s200/IMG_1124.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new kitchen colors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-12878837341907013472012-06-09T23:00:00.002+02:002012-07-06T01:02:43.392+02:00HomesickIt has been a year since my last trip to Africa, and I am homesick. I long to hear the incomparable harmony of African singing, to be bathed in the glow of an African sunset, to laugh heartily with dear Zambian friends, and to walk once again on the dusty paths of Namwianga. <br />
<br />
I am not alone in my homesickness. All of us who have an Africa-shaped hole in our hearts know this deep longing. Vic Guhrs wrote a delightful book called <u>The Trouble with Africa: Stories from a Safari Camp</u>. German by birth, Vic married the daughter of Norman Carr, a well-known safari guide. Vic and his wife spent many years running a safari camp in northern Zambia. Eventually Vic migrated to the US to continue his profession as a wildlife artist. His book chronicles the hair-raising and hilarious adventures he had in Africa. In the epilogue, Vic writes about his return to Zambia:<br />
<br />
<i>And so I cam back. Because the simple fact is that I'm in Africa's spell. Africa, of course, doesn't care. Like a beautiful but dangerous woman who turns a cold shoulder to my attentions, her indifference is an added incentive, goading me. Her aloofness only adds to my eagerness to follow her to the edge of the whirlpool. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>I know that any day I may be stomped by a marauding elephant, wiped out by an unlicensed car in Lusaka's chaotic traffic, or hit by a bullet from a robber's gun. I may incur the displeasure of a zealous bureaucrat who can change the course of my future with the stroke of his pen. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>I have had malaria more times than I can remember. I have seen friends die from it. I've seen others die from recklessness, from getting too close to an elephant, or from that senseless random violence that seems part of the African landscape. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>I have also experienced more joy here than the human heart has any right to expect. The joy of being awake and alive and out on a vast open plain when the sun's first light floods over the horizon. The joy of hearing the cry of the soaring fish eagle, its voice like liquid honey. The beauty of the blood-red sunsets that seem to hint at some great truth just beyond our grasp. Of watching a herd of elephants crossing the Luangwa River at dust and shuffling slowly up the bank to mingle with the dark trees, speechless at how something so big can be so ghostlike, so ethereal and so delicate. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>I have been awestruck by the raw fury of an African thunderstorm.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>And by the African people who, with their stoical acceptance of life's hardships, can teach us all some basic truths about life. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>The trouble with Africa is that once it is in your blood, like malaria, it is almost impossible to get rid of, and I know that I can never leave. I feel like a prisoner. A prisoner of freedom. p. 235</i><br />
.<br />
Guhrs, Vic. <u>The Trouble with Africa: Stories from a Safari Camp</u>. Johannesburg, South Africa: Penguin Books, 2004. Order it <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trouble-with-africa-vic-guhrs/1100181359?ean=9780670047970">here</a>.David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-42978409689972100162012-06-07T13:58:00.002+02:002012-06-22T16:08:28.477+02:00It's Been SOOOO Long - A Personal UpdateTwo different people last week told me that they still look at my blog occasionally to see if I've written anything. That motivated me to at least see how long it's been since I posted, and I'm embarrassed to see that my last post was April 19. <br />
<br />
I don't have much Zambia news to write about, but here is a personal update. David and I bought a house three miles outside of Mount Vernon on a 2-acre lot with hills and trees. We moved in on Memorial Day weekend--just five days after I finished the school year. We did a lot of painting and are slowly unpacking and getting settled. We love being out in the country and have enjoyed having our morning coffee on the back deck as we listen to the birds and watch the deer in the woods behind the house. <br />
<br />
As I mentioned, I finished my school year. I taught second grade in Carthage, about 30 miles away. It was a wonderful year for me professionally. Most of my students came from non-English speaking families, so there were many challenges, but they made tremendous progress. The families were extremely supportive, my co-workers were fantastic, and my principal supportive and inspiring. I'm already looking forward to next year. <br />
<br />
Our second grandson Thaine Gregersen was born to John and Leah in February. He is named after my father. He is a sweet little guy, and I was thrilled to spend a week at the end of May in Austin taking care of him and big brother Jacob while Leah returned to her job. <br />
<br />
Daughter Sara is expecting grandson number three any day now! I have my bags packed ready to head for College Station, Texas, as soon as we hear that Baby Knox has arrived. <br />
<br />
The birth of a new grandbaby is keeping us at home this summer, but we are already looking forward to June, 2013, when we plan to make a trip back to Zambia. In the meantime, I am keeping busy with the sponsorship program and occasionally talking to our Zambian friends online or by phone.<br />
<br />
Summer is always a busy time at Namwianga as the medical team comes for Zambia Medical Mission. I'll keep you updated as I get news. <br />
<br />
<br />David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-17019528011219213632012-04-19T04:01:00.003+02:002012-06-22T16:09:09.275+02:00Missionary Teacher<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wWkCmyzsYbCBqKh53VbkFHygNbTIT98vtNktg0hdRt1pWMbz7YsBVkJvgNrbbp3wrfwCoA7EY0i5-3faU2N-5IKayChUlM6lC00RcHm5r6jCk-6J3zTNXy0ejt6TLmYt6hjF/s1600/Dimuna+Habeenzu" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732926525423882274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wWkCmyzsYbCBqKh53VbkFHygNbTIT98vtNktg0hdRt1pWMbz7YsBVkJvgNrbbp3wrfwCoA7EY0i5-3faU2N-5IKayChUlM6lC00RcHm5r6jCk-6J3zTNXy0ejt6TLmYt6hjF/s400/Dimuna+Habeenzu" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Dimuna Habeenzu was in the very first class I taught at George Benson Christian College in September, 2005. He recently visited Roy Merritt, and Roy sent out this report:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Dimuna Habeenzu has worked as a self-supporting missionary in North Western province for almost four and a half years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
He teaches school at Kabulamema—which means “There is no water” in the local Luvale language.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
No water? The place sprawls a hill overlooking lush vegetation along the wide Kabompo River.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Dimuna and his college friend Joseph Moono have started two new congregations in North Western province, Kawanda and Manyinga. They revived a congregation in Kabompo.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
“What is it like, Tongas preaching among Luvales?” I asked. “Are you welcome? Respected? Do you have problems communicating?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
“Luvales always welcome us Tongas,” Dimuna chuckled. “After all, we are cousins.”</div>David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-11670449817717800312012-04-08T22:51:00.004+02:002012-06-22T16:09:42.369+02:00Eureka School Graduates from the mid-1950s<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bOfujEF3ev_wu6iO8e9ruNMLqHNmUlAwBRkIw9nrFa38y1j4IjVDUj_O7ac7xzjIz7bTu0AXZ5hAw5bW2vNtrTQjuA0tyv84UbtqPt0Tq0LQX-52YzsYvqrQvOZ9XPlXBOpE/s1600/DSC09584_2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729136171976369938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bOfujEF3ev_wu6iO8e9ruNMLqHNmUlAwBRkIw9nrFa38y1j4IjVDUj_O7ac7xzjIz7bTu0AXZ5hAw5bW2vNtrTQjuA0tyv84UbtqPt0Tq0LQX-52YzsYvqrQvOZ9XPlXBOpE/s400/DSC09584_2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
From Roy Merritt. <br />
<div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
Long, long ago, tiny Eureka boarding school operated here at Namwianga.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
A few days ago, three of us got together again!</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
On the right is Yours Truly, the least educated person here.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
In the middle, Dr. Anita Hobby Mitchell, still teaching and doing research at the medical school in Little Rock, Arkansas.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
On the left is Dr. Phil Thuma, main doctor at Macha Mission hospital most of his life. Phil works with Johns Hopkins in malaria research, and has almost eradicated malaria in the area served by his institution.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
Did you read that right? Yes!</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<u>Almost eradicated!</u> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
1. Mosquito nets don't prevent malaria because rural Africans live and eat outside. By the time they are ready to sleep, mosquitoes have already dined. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
2. Sprays don't prevent malaria because mosquitoes become immune.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
3. Prophyactics don't prevent malaria because the disease becomes immune to drugs.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
So Phil does goes after malaria carriers. He tests <em>everybody</em> for malaria, sick or not, especially those living near quiet water pools. Then he treats everyone who tests positive, <em>even if they show no symptoms</em>. He has even developed a saliva test for malaria to overcome those who do not want their blood taken for religious or superstitious reasons.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br />
Cynical scientific types told him his results were not reproduceable. So Phil went to work and proved them wrong. Two other campaigns in two different areas came up with similar results. Mosquitoes cannot transmit malaria if the people they bite do not have malaria parasites in their blood.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
"Makes sense to me," I thought. "Maybe those fancy, highly paid scientists don't like being trumped by a humble missionary doctor out in the boonies."</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
Those scientists still were not convinced. "The problem is commitment", they said. "There are not enough people with your level of commitment to do the job on a national scale."</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
So "lack of commitment" blocks eradication of malaria in Africa, and prevents saving a million lives each year.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
Phil is also attacking AIDS. More exciting research. As he spoke about his studies and results and plans I felt a tiny thrill of hope. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
What he says is so obvious that it makes sense. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<u>People cannot transmit a virus they do not have.</u> </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
Phil advocates that we treat all HIV carriers, even if they are not sick. Present regulations forbid treatment of HIV positive people until their blood count drops to specific levels--until they are sick. "What other disease do we treat this way?" Phil asks. "Do we wait till a patient's lungs are half full of fluid before we treat pneumonia? Do we wait till gangrene has destroyed a man's toes before we go to work on his leg?" </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
Phil may have a key to end this plague. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
His main problem? </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
Commitment. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
</div>David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-65748832376340410662012-04-08T22:28:00.002+02:002012-06-22T16:10:06.073+02:00A Teacher's Legacy<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b;"></span><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #1b0431; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">I am reposting a story from March, 2009, because I received a comment on the post just this week, and because it's good to remember that teachers leave a legacy--and sometimes we never know what that legacy is. Humphrey was hired by the government to teach in northern Zambia, and I have lost touch with him, but I hope that somehow he gets the word that he made a difference for one of his first students. Here's the original post. The comment is at the end.</span></span></h3>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #1b0431; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b;">Graduate Gives Back</span></h3>
<div class="post-header" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3816444802616577059" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0GUqXzKJrrIIlQFJowzppwne5fNy6FiLBGskrdUzqzVLbmAk3l-zReeAtBcNcizB-4ROVwS5e_zz9itTHJrcqJf5cygDDu59OOdSsflzN2b4VPhv9bvZ6FJJP_u813kbbxW7/s1600-h/IMG_7034.JPG" style="color: #473624; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309417491893679554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0GUqXzKJrrIIlQFJowzppwne5fNy6FiLBGskrdUzqzVLbmAk3l-zReeAtBcNcizB-4ROVwS5e_zz9itTHJrcqJf5cygDDu59OOdSsflzN2b4VPhv9bvZ6FJJP_u813kbbxW7/s200/IMG_7034.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 134px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;">Humphrey Syamate, a 2008 graduate of George Benson Christian College, exemplifies the best aspects of our training and sponsorship programs. An orphan with no one to support him, Humphrey came to GBCC under sponsorship and quickly distinguished himself in academics and leadership. Namwianga Secondary School recognized Humphrey’s potential and hired him to begin teaching math and science as soon as he finished his college courses.<br /><br />In addition to his teaching duties, Humphrey now coordinates a math tutoring program for sponsored high school students. Humphrey trained George Benson college students to do the tutoring and then organized all the logistics of location and scheduling for the sessions at the secondary school. The college students are getting valuable teaching experience, and the high school pupils are thrilled to get some extra help in what for most is a difficult subject. Humphrey manages it all beautifully.<br /><br />The training that Humphrey received at GBCC is now blessing the next generation of sponsored students at Namwianga. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeVm2k3N-93EkPK_Wk1PLhKC0XEhSWFsBu8pCqaWyUx8prmDYR1Yr2iBsiDfHagW_8s0Klfnr29mzoZ8nOYd04dd8dr6DuxZ2TMqLDPtdMMSYzGl5JtLlt2bU3dSl5BbftTwq/s1600-h/IMG_6861.JPG" style="color: #473624; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309418936606426130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeVm2k3N-93EkPK_Wk1PLhKC0XEhSWFsBu8pCqaWyUx8prmDYR1Yr2iBsiDfHagW_8s0Klfnr29mzoZ8nOYd04dd8dr6DuxZ2TMqLDPtdMMSYzGl5JtLlt2bU3dSl5BbftTwq/s200/IMG_6861.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 134px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Humphrey (far right) with the GBCC math tutors he trained</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3816444802616577059" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 85%;"><br /></span></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">This week a former student wrote a comment:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3816444802616577059" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 85%;"><br /></span></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">I was once a pupil at the school from grade 10 to 11. I would love to congratulate this man for his outstanding job. He used to teach us mathematics during my time (2009), and I graduated in 2010. I was one of his best math pupils then. I liked his teaching dearly; as a result, I passed my high school with flying colors holding a distinction (1) in maths. I am now @ the university of Namibia studying financial mathematics (math+economics), heading to be an actuarial analyst.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #29303b;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3816444802616577059" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"> </span></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12297451.post-68380356878652218512012-04-08T22:15:00.005+02:002012-06-22T16:10:31.952+02:00Namwianga Youth Meeting<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">A guest post by Roy Merritt, long-time missionary at Namwianga.</span><br />
<div>
<div class="WordSection1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; page: WordSection1;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">Good Friday through Easter Monday this year Namwianga is hosting the national youth meeting for churches of Christ in Zambia.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4gsliRuZs49uiFpp-OpBK5S1Hb1RX_5QL6kMhbqor0myt-1irN12A2fDIRTfvwiR2HlZ19CLTGG_A3RF0SAN4Z5lVGWwpdgt1B3zezwtxS4CF6JrtKbQn3-Ltcg76JqBypDi/s1600/image005.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729127449524597426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4gsliRuZs49uiFpp-OpBK5S1Hb1RX_5QL6kMhbqor0myt-1irN12A2fDIRTfvwiR2HlZ19CLTGG_A3RF0SAN4Z5lVGWwpdgt1B3zezwtxS4CF6JrtKbQn3-Ltcg76JqBypDi/s400/image005.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 75px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">Zambians call unmarried people “youths”. Here you are a boy or a girl till you marry. I married at 49, and a youngster grinned congratulations at me, “Sir, at last you are a man!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">Namwianga youths worked hard to prepare for the crowd, digging pit latrines, hauling firewood, hanging lights, moving benches and desks into the quadrangle, and hauling this enormous tarp over Georgia Hobby’s sturdy flambouyant trees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">I hear there are about 1,500 people in this picture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;">Lots of sermons, songs, drama, group discussions -- communion service lasted two hours . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">One of the youths came over to visit me this afternoon.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHUu08TPaekNbQnjxKttibtk_SRgy8WQdcxuTsxuxsN9zl81A9Pf_dqWed4S5f6EzCJ2UTmge_8tPK5UmT09XeKkpyYYdCRgATE7Hr_XULQ8QcOmzsvM83BM117FYmVjxwoyJ/s1600/image006.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729127030935767538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHUu08TPaekNbQnjxKttibtk_SRgy8WQdcxuTsxuxsN9zl81A9Pf_dqWed4S5f6EzCJ2UTmge_8tPK5UmT09XeKkpyYYdCRgATE7Hr_XULQ8QcOmzsvM83BM117FYmVjxwoyJ/s320/image006.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /> </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Kathi and I sort of adopted Dennis Zuze and his twin after their parents died. They were sharp little rascals, and we popped them into grade 8 here at Namwianga when they were only eleven years old.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Now they work in the copper mines at Chililabombwe, near the border with Congo.</span><br />
<div>
<div class="WordSection1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; page: WordSection1;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Dennis came along with the Copperbelt youth, and told us he plans to sponsor one of the orphans in the Haven.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
</div>
</div>David and Linda Gregersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667003677423531411noreply@blogger.com0