Zambian Sunrise, New Water Tower and Cats in Church

Self-portrait at sunrise.  Temps in the 30's.
June 10th-Where to begin???  Last night was the coldest night we have had yet.  I am pretty sure it was in the upper 30’s.  Wes said I should warn the mission team to bring layers of clothing for the nights and early mornings.  As I have said before, I wear a long sleeve t-shirt and fleece jacket and it is very comfortable.  If you are sensitive to the cold, you could add a sweat shirt to what I wear and be fine.  It is 10 a.m. here right now and the temperature is upper 60’s to lower 70’s (don’t have a thermometer or Weather Channel).  That is a very comfortable temperature.  It was cold enough last night that Max and Nala were banging on the door, jumping up and grabbing the door knob begging us to let them into the hut where it is warm.  Fire in the hut?  Nope, stays pretty comfy over night.
               I got up 6:30 a.m. this morning and climbed the new water tower to take pictures of the sunrise.  The sky was light blue, but ole Sol was still below the horizon.  The metal rungs of the tower were very cold, and probably would have been icy if there were moisture in the air.  I sat on top of the tower for 30 minutes snapping pictures, praying, singing and enjoying the miracle of the beginning of another day on mission.  I will post photos on Facebook of the sunrise.  There were a few scattered Cirrus clouds on the horizon this morning to add some color.  My favorite very from Lamentations, “you mercies are new every morning!”
               Interesting devotional time this morning!  Let me lay some groundwork so you will understand why I say it was interesting.  Max is the male Siamese cat that lives at our hut.  He has taken to following me all over the compound.  Last Wednesday night he followed us to the Praise  and Prayer service and sat in the window behind me, before following me back to the hut after the service was over.  This past Sunday, Max followed me to church in the meeting hut (open to the air).  He climbed and explored before Blu finally grabbed him and took him toward I cabin and set him down.  You must understand that Blu is not a big fan of cats or dogs.  Undeterred, Max returned, sat in the door for a few minutes before going to sleep. 
               Now let us fast forward to this morning’s devotion.  We finished singing and Blu looked at me and said, “are you ready to deliver part 2 of 3 part devotion?”  I had not prepared, and did not have my Bible.  Kulanga handed me his Bible, and I stood to teach on the conversation between Jesus and Pilate in John 18 and the Great Commission, and the truth of Romans 10:9.  As I am teaching one of the locals hands Lynne the small video camera I had placed to record the singing before the devotion.  When I looked in the rafters where I had placed the camera, there sat Max.  Blu picked him up, cradled him like a baby, and Max went instantly to sleep.   You should try teaching through an interpreter some time.  If gives you time to think and what you are going to say and to read the faces of your listeners for understanding.  It is not enough to teach, but we all must learn entomway (together)!
               Our biggest achievement today was getting the four giant water tanks atop the new water tower.  You will find a picture of the crew on top of the tower celebrating either here on my blog or on Facebook.  This will be the tower serviced by our new well.  You probably don’t realize how often you flush the toilet or turn on a sink and never wonder if water will come out.  Our hut is on the small tank with the kitchen.  You know kitchen’s use a lot of water for cooking and cleaning.  Some people are probably wondering why the tanks have to be on top of a tower.  The answer is simple, pressure.  We use pumps to fill the tanks, and gravity to provide water pressure.  Just like the water towers in American towns and cities provide pressure, or the pump on your well provides pressure (on demand, of course).
               Not much going on this afternoon.  I am teaching my first computer class to local staff members from 3-4 pm this afternoon.  Lynne is clearing more area in the garden and tending the rape seeds she mulched and planted.  Tomorrow, Lynne, Wes and I are driving into Choma for supplies and groceries.  Tomorrow morning I will deliver part three of my devotional on why Jesus came to us on earth.  Blu and Darbi are headed to Lusaka to pick up short term volunteer Allison.  They will return on Wednesday.

               There is much fervent prayer going up here for the Rosemont team.  They are excited about you coming!  Please pray for Charles in Kavanga village.  He was at our Bible study last Thursday and is actively seeking the truth of Christ.  I will be teaching in that village this Thursday on God’s covenant with Abraham, and Abraham’s faithfulness (Genesis 11-15).  Pray the Holy Spirit speaks through me to Charles’s heart.  Wow!!!  Just typing that sentence has me all excited about how God can use me in Kavanga. Nzokubona juna (see you tomorrow).  Twalumba!!!

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