Dear Family, Friends, Prayers and Supporters,
Greetings in Jesus Name to you all on the 7th week of the
Zambia Abroad Program!
Mike and Cindy Helvie are writing to you this week. We serve
as the Resident Directors or Program Directors for this year’s team. We get to
do many rewarding things like plan activities for emotional and spiritual well
being of the team. We also take very seriously the safety of our 18 ladies.
Mike has gotten the name of “Papa Mike” and he has had to step in at times, to
keep single men a safe distance away from our lovely ladies. I find myself on my knees in prayer for wisdom
and discernment as we minister to Zambians and our team.
We are thrilled to be able to return to Zambia, a country we
served in from 2009-2012 as missionaries and lecturers at Pilgrim Wesleyan
Bible College. We love introducing the students to people and special places we
know from our years of service in Zambia. We also served in South Africa and
Albania and have been missionaries for over 23 years.
Let us review the past two weeks. The students had clinicals
at Zimba Mission Hospital. There were also optional Friday clinicals on the
Maternity ward. Highlights that the students told us about were: observing surgeries,
learning about HIV/AIDS in the Antiretroviral clinic, and helping to do diagnostic
tests in the hospital lab. The ward charge nurse Paul Banda helped some
students put in IV’s! The biggest excitement was assisting with births. Students
were so surprised that Zambian ladies rarely cried out and that some births
happened within minutes of the mother’s arriving (these moms are very
experienced with childbirth and for many of them this is their 7th
or more child)!
We had many travel days. We traveled to Choma for ministry
with EMIZ/Poetice. On a home visit we sat on the ground with some 20 family
members of all ages while the father read from the Bible in His native language.
We went to Livingstone to renew our visas. Many documents
were requested and prepared by Ken Buckner of the mission “Come Go with Us.” We
went in the immigration offices with some trepidation and much prayer. We left
by the end of the day with 20 temporary work permits!! Thank-you Lord!
A fun long day of travel was to Pilgrim Wesleyan Bible
College in Jembo where we had served for over 3 years. On the way there we had
our van break down but thankfully our faithful driver Lovemore grabbed his
tools and crawled under the van to the accompaniment of “Silent Night” playing loudly on the CD
player. We made it in time for chapel where the group sang “Jehovah Has the
Final Say” and Mike preached. A highlight was playing volleyball, some of the
students also received marriage proposals! Papa Mike was there to negotiate the
bride price in cows but in the end it was too high for the Bible college
students.
It was a sad day when we left Zimba to come to Livingstone.
We had made many friends in our four weeks there. We found the welcoming home
of Ken and Karen Buckner. We said “Good-bye” to Professor Marcie Baird with a
celebration on the sunset deck at the Royal Livingstone Hotel. We got close to
four giraffe and a herd of zebra!
Testimony night was especially meaningful as Sarah, Sarita
and Kayla opened their hearts to us. We had many tears and prayers. The
candlelight worship night that was organized by Lisa and Sarita helped us to
experience God’s presence in a very deep way.
After a day of ministry in the bush we came in and found we
had a surprise visitor from the US. The girls came in and screamed as they
embraced Shelli Rowley our Zambia Program Coordinator/Mom/Prayer Warrior from
IWU. Shelli gave out the care packages that parents had so carefully prepared.
There was so much joy and laughter as the girls enjoyed reading the notes,
seeing the treats and eating them!
Ministry in Livingstone has included: A Health Fair where
students set up booths and taught on: blood pressure, wound care, hydration,
and purity. We also have done three
Vacation Bible Schools. The last one we found we had over 200 children! We
showed a film on Joseph’s life at Ebenezer Children’s Home and talked to the
older boys and girls about purity. We were impressed with the nurturing
atmosphere of the home.
Yesterday the team attended Kabuyu church. The church and
Pastor Paul prepared Nshima, chicken, and gravy. Some girls even tried
Chibawantu, a traditional drink with ground corn in it.
We have enjoyed the hospitality of Ken and Karen Buckner and
“Come Go with Us” mission. Mama Karen prepares wonderful meals and Ken is a
great organizer. He even brought us gelato (Italian ice cream) as a special
treat on a hot day! (Actually all the days have been hot with temperatures over
100 degrees it does cool down at
night).
We have seen God’s faithfulness in so many areas: safety,
relationships, ministry, visa’s and completing university assignments.
Thanks for your prayers!
In Christ’s Love and Service,
Mike and Cindy Helvie
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