Another week has flown by

It is hard to imagine that it was already a week ago that we wrote our last message on this blog. Time seems to be picking up speed here in Zambia. Not sure whether that is a good or a bad thing but it certainly means that we are getting into a routine and more busy with the things that we love to do.

The past weekend we spent some time on getting plants for our garden and on Tuesday Machteld bought some marigolds to get some more colour around the house. Slowly but surely things start to look a little more like home with cut grass (or weeds) and some plants, scrubs and flowers along the borders. This time of year in Zambia is a very colourful time with lots of green and blooming flowers but we can see already the impact of the rains being less frequent. The tall grass is starting to get a hinge of yellow already which means that in a few weeks it will be completely yellow and dry. Slowly the dust is picking up as well. It is a change of seasons here as well although probably not as obvious as it is back home. We don't envy those of you who are still dealing with snow.

Also this past week we got the message that our vehicle was loaded on the a ship and is currently sailing somewhere between the Sheerness in the UK and Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. The estimated time of arrival in Dar-es-Salaam is April 13 at this time but that can change. So we now know that things are finally really moving towards having our own vehicle in a month or so. We look forward to that moment and to be able to do our own things a bit more at our own times. The office has been very graceful in allowing us to use the Toyota Noah van but there are times that they need the vehicle for their activities as well which limits us in what we can do sometimes.

This week Lucinda caught a bad cold and wasn't feeling the greatest so she stayed home for a couple of days. It is never nice to leave a sick person behind so Machteld stayed with her for 2 days. Surprisingly Lucinda found the time and energy to put a little video together with pictures of our house that she posted on YouTube  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDT-YQOARps ). The link is also on her blog http://www.zambiamissionlucinda.blogspot.com/ . If you have the time, check it out and you'll have a pretty good picture of where we are and what the house looks like. We certainly enjoy the house a lot and are thankful that we were able to find this place.

Also this week we got an email from Peter Greif asking about some practical information about living in Zambia. Peter and Cheryl Greif and their kids are seriously considering moving to Zambia  and join Every Orphan's Hope here. This would be a great blessing to the organization and we pray that God will assure them of which decision to make in following His will. It is amazing to see how much God is at work in people's hearts and how many are taking up their cross and follow Him wherever He leads them. We've seen it in our church with more and more people getting involved in missions as well as around us here in Zambia. It humbles us to see what is all happening and we realize that we often don't give God enough credit for what He does. We serve an amazing God!

Reflecting back on the week we can only say that God has been faithful. He provided and continues to provide for us in amazing ways. We have our challenges but like clay in the potter's hands He is molding us to the shape and person He wants us to be. Sometimes it feels like the molding is bending things out of shape but we have to trust Him that it is for the better. We have our own plans and ideas but God has a better plan for us than we can ever imagine. Please pray with us that He may continue to reveal His plans for us and that we are willing to trust and obey.


TRUST AND OBEY (John H. Sammis and Daniel B. Towner, 1887)

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

• Refrain:
  Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
  To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.