Although my job has me tied in with the YWAM International Chairman’s Team in Harpenden, UK I also connect with the local Youth With A Mission Centre here in Calgary. At the moment they have brought a team to Zambia from Calgary.
Since the team have been in Zambia they have:
- Machetti`ed the clearing for the medical clinic. It was hard work clearing the land but very satisfying.
- Been busy helping Vinjelu and Kathryn finish building their home.
- Visited a the rural village to pray for the people and learn about Zambian culture.
- Hosted two afternoons of the Cherish girls program where girls come for an afternoon of love, encouragement and fun times.
- Visited a Vineyard house church with the vision to minister to community in creative ways and bringing the kingdom to West Lusaka.
The YWAM community the Calgary team is staying with has 25 people, which includes the staff and students. It’s been a wonderful cultural exchange and sharing of work duties, food and laughter. They are enjoying n^shima, which is like corn based thick potatoes which is eaten with their fingers.
The YWAM centre is a very entrepreneurial centre… there are the ladies who are being taught to sew, a fellow making jewellery and hiring people to build, teaching a few trades along the way… as Vinjelu explained, “Zambians are creative and make what they need as best they can, with the supplies that are here.’”.
There have been many God encounters as they have shared lives with the people there, and everyone is very excited to see what is next. The team has been struck by the perseverance and joy of the people. Life is simple, yet full, and the team is realising the “necessities” of life like internet, phones, and television really aren’t as important as they thought.
The medical clinic that the team is clearing land for is to serve a community in desperate need for additional help with HIV treatment, ante-natal care and nutrition. There are funds and people to continue the work, and there will always be need to keep it going.
There are many stories of how kids cannot go to school and how food is not available as there is no money. The team is working to find a way they can continue to support the vision of this centre to care for those in need and to bring the love of God people.
The team is asking for continued prayer.
- For good health, safety, following God`s will in the many areas they can serve
- That Vinj and Kathryn could move into their home soon
- Health for Vinj and Kathryn’s family
- Continued good connections with the YWAM staff and students
Next week will be spent clearing more of the land for the medical clinic and finishing the house. They will also be connecting in the village and experiencing Zambian dancing in the community church times.
We had a report come in to us earlier this week that during the night of the 22nd of January that the roof of YWAM Medicine Hat’s Central building had collapsed. Medicine Hat has received and unusually large snowfall over the last few weeks and the roof was not able to take the weight. The roof simply folded and 1/3 of the building has collapsed.
