today...

Today was good. We had a solid day of teaching...the second grade class interrupted at one point to bring us muffins and sing us happy birthday (Dave's was Sunday and mine was yesterday). So cute, just couldn't get my camera out in time! The students remain very receptive despite seven hours of teaching each day. They really have little concepts of any intentional disciple-making structure so they are extremely eager to learn as they realize that the goal of the Christian life is maturity and that we are called not only to evangelize (which they excel in) but to make mature disciples of Jesus. Like the U.S., they see the effects of a lack of mature Christians in the church on the lives of believers and on the reputation and influence of the church in the community. As leaders, they seem especially convinced by the lack of maturity in some of the church's leadership and are beginning to see how Jesus' way of discipleship is the way to go!

Here's a question I got today:
"So, you're saying that we should help new believers to have a good foundation of love and trust in Jesus...what if there is a polygamist who becomes a Christian? Should he shoo his second wife away? And what of his children? When the children of the wife he sends away make him tempted to get back with that woman, should he send them away also?"

That one led to a really great conversation about the role of the church and spiritual leaders/mentors/disciplers in helping a person deal with difficult ethical decisions about their new life in Christ. Its sometimes startling the contrast of issues. To let you know a bit about the situation, for example, in the States we want to train leaders mostly because people rotate in and out when they get tired of certain areas of ministry. Their need for new leaders here is because AIDS and other things have lowered the life expectancy in Zambia to 38.

In the 'not so good news' department, I found out last night that the economic situation has more than doubled the price of a large bag of cornmeal (the staple) in Zambia from K27000 to K60000 $4.90 to $10.90. So, if you're living on less than a dollar a day, which most people here are, you're now eating one meal a day instead of two. Makes me a little less whiny about our low support the last few months...

In any case, despite the conditions, the students are extremely hungry for the word and for instruction. We ate lunch today with two of our students, Peter and Paul (naturally!). One is looking to go into missions in the middle east and the other is hoping to be a church planter in the northern part of Zambia. I was also able to speak with Wilson Chabu, who is a a graduate of the school who I met last time we came. He walked an hour and a half from his home to the seminary to talk! He is involved with disciple-making and evangelism in a local church in the area and is looking to do missions in the U.S. or South Africa. He's waiting on the 'Lord's leading' which, for him, means he's waiting on an open door and the funds to go. I'll be eating with he and Matthews Fikati (another graduate) on Friday night and another of the students that I met the last time, Nathan Chifunda, is going to cook for me at his house tomorrow! I'll save the Wilson and Matthews stories for another night...they'll blow your mind.

Dave and I are doing well. The best tired possible! Thanks for your prayers.