Thatching Update

Well, we just might be in the homestretch now with the roof of the base camp pavilion. The bad news is that even after gathering 5,500 bundles of grass we still ran out before the job was finished. We didn't realize that our bundles from Kazangula are much fuller and "leafier" compared to the bundles we first gathered near our home site. So that means that all of these newer bundles had to be cleaned and combed and cut even more to match the old original bundles. And that means we lost a lot of grass in the process. Our thatcher, Jackson, has gone back up north to his family at Maziba Bay. He says we need five lines to finish the roof over our kitchen/dining room (Shannon and Steph) and six lines to finish over our bathroom (Shannon and Steph). That translates to about 1,100 bundles of grass (to the best of our estimating ability). The good news is that this year's grass is tall and ready to be harvested. People in the villages nearby have already started gathering for us and one man says he can have 2,000 bundles ready by next week. Jackson has promised to finish the job. Of course he will be paid the remainder of his fee when the job is done. So maybe there really is an end to all this thatching! Haiba Mulena a lata (if the Lord wishes).

Solar Panels

Praise the Lord! The pump is in the river! God sent two brothers from Cape Town, SA to come and help us. It was so obvious that they were sent just for a couple of very specific reasons; one of which was installing the solar pump. For any tech geeks in the midst that might want to know the specs, we bought a Lorentz submersible pump that runs on eight Kyocera KC87 panels and pumps water about 35 meters in elevation and a total distance of 114 meters from the edge of the river to the top of the hill where two 5,000 liter tanks will sit.

My niece, Alicia, was reading in Mark chapter 6 when our two brothers, Pieter-Francois and Frans came to visit. She drew an awesome parallel from that passage that I'd like to share. In verse 45 it says that Jesus "made His disciples get into a boat and go before Him to the other side." It says in verse 48 that "He saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them." So Jesus came to them and spoke to them in verse 50, "Take heart, it is I. Don't be anxious." Then He got in the boat with them (verse 51). It's interesting to note that when John records the same event in his gospel, he says in John 6:21 "Then they were glad to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going."

That is exactly how Alicia described our experience with Pieter-Francois and Frans. Christ had sent us on ahead in the work here in Western Province. He was keeping a watchful eye on us and saw that we were making headway painfully, for the wind was against us. And then He came to us through His body in the form of two brothers from the Church in Cape Town and He got in the boat with us. By the way, this made me think of something our Dad (Michael Reece) use to always say - that fellowship meant "all us fellows in the same ship." And immediately we were on the other side of where we needed to go. Frans is lacking just an exam or something for his certification as an electrician. Little did we know that he had those skills when the Lord sent him to us. In just three days the pole was cemented in the ground, the solar array was wired and up, the pump was in the river, and we had water coming out of the pipe at the top of the hill! What an awesome story of the Lord's provision.

I Have A Shelter

The last couple of months have been quite difficult for me (Stephanie). The Lord has been stripping away at areas of sin and selfishness. He has been showing me more and more of Himself as I am in a place with no distractions. Here things are so simple. There is no running, no "stuff" to hide behind, no busy-ness. I have been so very lonely despite having wonderful family here with me. The LORD is graciously showing me how I have relied on people and not on HIM and HIM ALONE. The lesson has been painfully slow but I am thankful for the fruit I see coming from it. Last week we were driving back to Livingstone from the bush. We saw this storm brewing and moving closer. As it did I spotted the rainbow. I watched this rainbow, then double rainbow, as the storm got closer. As the storm clouds moved in, the rainbow got brighter! Then as the storm clouds over took the rainbow you could see it at the bottom and top of the storm clouds, and at times even see part of it through the clouds! I kept saying to my family, "Look at that! Isn't that amazing!". But I don't think they were as fascinated as I was! In those moments, I felt as if the Lord was saying to me, "all of my promises are true! Whether you feel them or not. I WILL be with you, I will NEVER forsake you, I WILL complete the work I have begun in you & when storm clouds gather I will carry you through & my promises will shine brighter than the storm,". I needed that reminder!

We have been singing a song around our house a lot lately. Here are the words- I pray they will be an encouragement to you as they have been to us-

I have a shelter in the storm
When troubles pour upon me
Though fears are rising like a flood
My soul can rest securely
O Jesus, I will hide in You
My place of peace and solace
No trial is deeper than Your love That comforts all my sorrows

I have a shelter in the storm
When all my sins accuse me
Though justice charges me with guilt
Your grace will not refuse me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
Who bore my condemnation
I find my refuge in Your wounds For there I find salvation

I have a shelter in the storm
When constant winds would break me
For in my weakness, I have learned Your strength will not forsake me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
The One who bears my burdens
With faithful hands that cannot fail
You’ll bring me home to heaven

Joseph

Recently we were able to hire Joseph and his father, a professional mason, to plaster the earth bag wall in the camp pavilion. In four days they had finished the job. To be honest, we were shocked and thrilled at the quality of the work. And we were happy to be able to help Joseph provide for his family.

You may recall that we have mentioned Joseph in the past. I met Joseph in 2004 on my first short-term trip to the Mutemwa area. He was one of our interpreters on that trip. I would see Joseph on every trip over the next four years. He has always had a special place in my heart. (It would be difficult not to like the guy). I prayed that the Lord would open his eyes to the truth of the gospel.

Sean met with Joseph later on in 2008 at the Zambian Reformed Conference in Lusaka. He was able to sit with Joseph and go methodically through the gospel from the first two chapters of Ephesians. Joseph claims to have trusted Jesus alone for salvation after that conversation.

Shortly after we arrived last year we discovered Joseph living in another village closer to Sesheke trying to earn a living doing carpentry work. It wasn’t long before he moved back up north to Ilwendo village. Just after he moved he came down with tuberculosis and was hospitalized for nearly three months. When we finally saw him he didn’t look like the same man. He was so weak he could barely get out of the chair to greet us. We prayed for him and asked the Lord for healing. Whether by way of the medication, or our prayers, or the doctor’s care, the Lord healed Joseph and each week we saw him grow stronger and stronger.

His testimony is remarkable. He says he surrendered to the Lordback in 2008 and was convinced at that time that God was telling him to join Dominic in taking the ‘true gospel’ to his people in the villages further west, Makanda and Ngweze. But, much like Jonah, he ran from the Lord and tried to make his way doing carpentry instead. He says the Lord caused him to fail and gave him tuberculosis in order to get his attention; to bring him back on the right path again. Since we got back together with Joseph he has been attending Bible study faithfully every Sunday and brings his wife and does his best to teach the truth of scripture that he is learning to his wife and children in the home. Only the Lord knows if Joseph is truly saved but as we examine the fruit of his life we are very encouraged and hopeful.