Oct 17

The Grade 12 external exams are about to start and, as usual, that will mean insufficient desks for all of the other classes. Already, some of the pupils in non examination classes are thinking that school has closed - and they have therefore gone home. Yesterdays classes were much smaller - however, it did make for some good teaching opportunities-only having 25 instead of 60-75 certainly gives greater opportunity for one on one teaching and discussion!
The farewell party Scripture Union Party was a very encouraging time and the messages given, were a challenge to those who will be finishing up this year.
Today will be our last day to teach our classes at present, since we leave tomorrow - to travel to Lusaka for Don to have an arthroscopy on his knee. We trust that the result will be the finding and solving of the problem which has been bringing him discomfort for a number of months. We have recently received a new teacher and so he will be able to help look after the classes.
We are not sure how long we will be in Lusaka - but hope to be back before the Grade 12's write their C.R. E. - exam - so as to give them some last minute help and advice.
We were delighted, two days ago, when the local electricity company received another supply of diesel, and we were able to once more, have electricity and water - especially since this is the hotest time of the year. However, the electricity is still rationed.
Our home Bible study on Romans continues to have more than 20 in attendance - with good interest.
Thanks to all for your prayers - much appreciated.
Some encouragement in the local assembly - and still plenty to pray about.
Richard and Katherine are now very close to delivery date for their little girl. If you wish to be kept abreast of happenings there and the surgeries which will follow her birth - you can check out their web page at www.rnbrooks.com I know that we all appreciate prayer for little Elysha-who faces so much in the first year of her life. She is in the Lord's hands. We are thankful for email and internet, which help us to keep in contact and abreast of the various appointments etc.
Katherine has been on bed rest for the past week or so, due to high bloodpressure.

New Phone numbering system

There are new numbering systems in Zambia both for cell phones and landlines.
for the landlines you need to add a 21 in front of the code. e.g. our number from overseas, 260 21 8 375036

September - Back to School etc

We arrived back home to Kabompo, close to midnight Monday night. Tuesday back into school, Wed - visitors came to stay - they were conducting a Seminar here in Kabompo. They will leave Friday. Saturday is the Monthly Bible Reading here in Kabompo, Don will be leading this, continuing the studies in Hebrews - then Monday begins the Elders' conference - our final for the year.
There seems to have been a number of funerals lately - 4 of the most recent ones have been immediate family members of the Trustees for the Camp and Conference site. One was the wife of Martin Kaumba - both she and Martin worked at Loloma Mission Hospital - Martin is a trustee and an Elder at Loloma- a very able brother and involved in so many things. It was a shock, when in town to receive word that his wife had passsed away. Do pray for him and for the Trustee's meeting which is planned for the Thursday during the Elders' conference.
Continue to pray for the assembly in Kabompo - there is a renewed spirit of fellowship - but, with the absence of the former elders. Pray for humility, confession and healing.
Don is suffering a lot with his knee - especially since we came from town. Hot weather is on us now - so standing and the heat - make it more difficult.
Elva, after having problems with her eyes during the marking time - was able to get into the Eye Hospital in Kitwe, where it was found that she does have Glaucoma and she has started on drops, this is going to mean travelling to town again, for check up, in the next three weeks.
We did manage 3days break away - rest, reading and letters! We do thank the Lord for that.
Please pray for our final contacts with many of the Grade12's.
Pray too for ongoing contacts with the teaching staff - a number our attending our Bible study these days.

Finally!

The school exams were the day we received word of Betty's homecall and since then I have been fully involved in trying to do all of that marking. I did not complete before Don's return- but there was also a conference to attend, together with all the other various things which call for our attention. I am thankful to say that, since coming back from the conference late Wed, we have both worked together to finish up and, as of almost midnight last night - we have completed. Praise the Lord. We now have a trip to town for supplies and some appointments and hopefully a couple of days of rest before beginning teaching again. We will actually miss the first week of school to do this. (but nothing much happens then anyway).
Appreciate prayer for the final term with the Grade 12's - their exams begin on Oct 15 - so the time will go quickly. We are thankful for those in whom we have seen growth- but are concerned for others so do pray for effective use of the remaining weeks.
Thank you again for all of your prayer fellowship and support over these past weeks. He is faithful!

The Alabaster Box - Precious, Expensive

There came a woman with an alabaster box of very expensive perfume which she poured on His head.
What today am I holding very dear, that I could "pour out" before the Lord, in worship?

Grow in Grace 2 Peter 3:18

Just thought I would record some of my reading in the past few days.
some of this from Charles Stanley's "In touch" mag.

To grow in grace is opposed to all growth in self-dependance or self effort.....it is to put our growing, as well as everything else, into the hands of the Lord, and leave it with Him.

It is to be satifsfied with our Husbandman, and with his skill and wisdom, that not a question will cross our minds as to His mode of treatment, or His plan of cultivation.

It is to grow as the lilies grow, or as the babies grow, without care and without anxiety, to grow by the power of an inward life principle that cannot help but grow;to grow because He who planted us has planted a growing thing, and has made us on purpose to grow.....

You need make no efforts to grow, therefore; but let your efforts be concentrated on this, that you abide in the Vine. the Divine Husbandman who has the care of the Vine, will care also for you, who are His branches, and will so prune and purge and water and tend you that you will grow and bring forth fruit, and your fruit shall remain, and, like the lily, you shall find yourself arrayed in apparel so glorious, that the apparel of Solomon will be as nothing to it.

It is the great prerogative of our Divine husbandman that He is able to turn any soil, whatever it may be like, into the soil of grace.

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By Trials God is shaping us for higher things - Henry Ward Beecher
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Advancing through Adversity.

...Perhaps you have noticed that life seems 'blatantly unfair'. It pampers some of us and devastates others. Perhaps this is the most disturbing question posed by many. How can we explain such an "apparent injustice"? How can an infinite loving and just God, permit some people to experience lifelong tradgedy while others seem to enjoy every good and perfect gift? And what can we conclude when the "unfortuanate individual" is a child?

" I've indicatedthat we can explore the mind of God only so far, and then inevitably,we run out of brain power. His thoughts are unknown to us .....(Is 55:8-9)

He has never made Himself accountable to man, nor will he ever.

He will not be cross examined or interrogated. Nowhere in the Bible does God speak defensively or seek our approval of His actions.

He simply says "Trust Me"."

Romans 5:3-5

Hope does not disappoint when our hope is Christ, a hope that often results from the perserverance required during times of tribulation.

We know that perserverance produces Character, which is turn, produces hope. When adversity has you gripping nothing else but Christ, remember that is exactly where He wants you.

.....when you persevere.... He will be able to use your life to strengthen other broken people...

*****

Can we be, like Abraham, willing to trust God to do what ever He has planned, even when it involves something which is so dear to us - as in the case of Abraham - his long awaited and only son.
For God so loved, He gave .......
May that love motivate us today to yield completely to the One who does not fail and who truly is working all to gether for good.
Personally, there are times when I want to DO something - but He wants us to trust to the point that we are willing to let Him be in total control. (stripped of all self effort and reliance)

As the poster in the girls' bedroom used to read "Faith isn't faith, until it is all you have to hold on to!"

1 Cor10:13 -the God who will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability will also not allow us to be Tested beyond our ability - but in all of these - will provide what we need so that we can endure!

I am crucified with Christ, never the less, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live, I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Memories of a "good and faithful servant" and sister in law. This could also be entitled "The End of an Era".

It isn’t every missionary wife and mother, that has her sister in law make herself available to be around within 24-36 hours after the delivery of their next child, especially when they are all born on the mission field. However, we were blessed by having Betty drive her little car all the way from Lusaka to Kabompo, to be on hand to look after her nephew or niece and nephew – and even on one occasion to feed a small baby while mother was in hospital. In those days, Betty would turn herself to anything – even to caring for point of lay hens in her bath tub – before she began her trip to Kabompo. I am sure many of you have heard her tell many stories of her trips up here and many others besides as Betty loved to tell stories and entertain. She also loved to read, and would live in the books she was reading, sharing the story as tho she herself was right there and it was happening to her.
I actually met Betty long before I met my husband Don, as my first week in Zambia was spent in Lusaka, and as many will and have testified, Betty was certainly given to hospitality and my friend and I benefited from that hospitality during that first week.
Two to three years later, when Betty realized that her brother Don had a special interest she somehow guessed that it might be me and more or less gave her approval before being asked. Betty became a very valuable part of our family – and most Zambian Christmas’ were spent with Auntie Betty in Zambia. Then, when she was back in Canada – once again, Brooks’ Christmas’s were spent at Auntie Betty’s place at Eagle Lake – even when she was in Russia, Christmas was still at Eagle Lake but somehow, some of the spark was missing – cos Betty wasn’t there. She certainly followed her mother’s example of hospitality. Many emails which have arrived these past few days give testimony to the hospitality she showed to those who needed to come to Lusaka for business or, who, as visitors to Zambia, passed thru Lusaka and appreciated being collected at the airport, given a bed and a meal. Sisters and wives of Elders in Lusaka, will verify that she in turn passed on to her Zambian “children” – the importance of hospitality, loving and disciplining children, teaching of Sunday School etc. Even years later – the sisters in Lusaka, (and the brethren too) still talk, with loving memories, and grateful appreciation, for all that she taught them during her 20 years in that city.
These last few days in Kabompo, at school and here at home, a number have paid tribute to her, mentioning how they enjoyed working with her, talking with her, and a number have mentioned her smile and laugh. She tried to learn some Luvale, but it didn’t come easily, however, she would smile or laugh and they would appreciate that.
How thankful we are that Betty was able to enjoy this past Christmas, at Eagle Lake – we wanted to protect her from the work – but, those of you who know Betty, know that she loved to have things organized ahead of time and she had already, before going for her radiation, bought things which she thought she would use at Christmas, in preparation for that day. She wanted to have that Christmas and while she was tired afterwards, she was so thankful and so were we, that we had been able to celebrate that last Eagle Lake Christmas together. Last, because she sold her home and moved in May this year, and last because, she will be enjoying an Eternal celebration much greater than any down here.
Another special thing about that Eagle Lake Christmas was that my sister and her husband from N. Z. were finally able to see the famous Eagle Lake and meet all the Brooks that they had heard so much about over the years. Not only were we together at Eagle Lake – but also in Port Colborne, where once again, Betty entertained her great nephews with stories from her treasury! And then there was Richard and Katherine’s wedding and the joy of that occasion and also the lovely photos, that we will treasure for years to come. The one of Betty you see on the program and a lovely family photo, which included the whole clan.
This year has certainly marked the end of an era in the Brooks family. We will miss Betty, her laugh, her stories, her love and care and her Eagle Lake home and hospitality. Betty was never one to complain, she took patiently any suffering that came her way. We are so thankful for all who visited and encouraged her and for those who kept us posted on her situation, unclear and all as it was. We are however, most thankful to the Lord that her suffering was not prolonged and that she is now rejoicing with the One she loved and served over many years. (Personally, I am so thankful that Don can be there to share the memories of many years and experiences. )One other thing – Betty was really quick at marking exams – and making up answer keys – I miss her right now for that fact too and recall the many times she would come down, or call up, in the middle of marking to share some howler from an exam – someone’s explanation of a Bible story etc finishing with “ I bet you didn’t know that now, did you?” followed by a good laugh.