Getting close to the end.

Things continue to move along here as my (Jennifer) time winds down.  Although we are still hopeful for an adminstrator to step in before I leave I am trying to leave things as up to date and organized as possible.  Brian is finishing putting up the ceiling in his classroom when he is not busy teaching or doing adminstrative duties. Brian also just finished off a four week Bible study series at the church.

Teachers at the Academy are preparing for testing next week so the tests for me to type up have been coming in. That should keep me out of trouble for a few days. Thankfully Brian is able to type up his own tests.


On March 16th we had the pleasure of watching the baptism of approximately 25 young women from Mukinge Girls High School.  They all trooped down to the pool that is in front of our Mukinge home. We, along with a few other of the missionaries here, were able to watch from our screened-in porch.  There was not very much room in the pool area anyway as so many of the students and church members had come down to watch as well.  There was much rejoicing there at the pool and also in Heaven I am sure. (There was also some jumping and squealing as they made there way into the pool area as the impazhi (ants on the move that eat everything in sight) were busy right at the entrance way.)

Many of us here were excitedly waiting to hear news from Amy and Stephen, a missionary couple that had flown back to the States to have their baby.  Baby was due March 10th but made her arrival on March 17th.  Baby Ruth and family are doing fine and everyone is looking forward to their return at the end of April. I will sadly be gone by then.

We received a scanned copy of a Christmas card from Hope Community (home church) on Friday.  It was sent to SIM who scanned and sent to us as there was no one coming out this way for a while.  We both enjoyed reading everyone's greetings and were blessed by their thoughtfulness.

Yesterday we had a wonderful afternoon "chilling out" at the pool with six other missionaries here in Mukinge.  The sun was shining and the water was great.  Sarah and Michael blessed us with their musical talent for a while as well.  All this after a delicious pancake lunch at Seneta's where each of us shared what we learned at the various church services we attended. This was an easy day to proclaim  "This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."  I will keep the day tucked in my memory to bring out on the days that are more difficult.

Our prayer requests:
- Jennifer as she races to finish things in the office
- for travel as we travel to Solwezi and then on to Lusaka for Jennifer's return flight on April 18. It will take 2 days of travel to get there.
- continue to pray that an adminstrator may come forward - with 150 students one is definitely needed to keep things running smoothly
- for a teacher to cover the second term while the regular teacher is away on a course
- Brian as he puts togehter a 5 year plan and a 5 year budget for the school and copntinues with his other duties