How do I get a new start?

Courage ….

A new start of any kind takes courage. 

Whether I want to start over in an existing relationship, start a new job, or start a new habit, I need courage - the courage to be misunderstood, the courage to fail, the courage to look honestly at my part, or the courage to forgive.

Theodore Roosevelt has a famous quote about this kind of courage. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly . . . . if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Every relationship, every job, and every endeavor hits obstacles eventually. What do I do when I come to an obstacle? The obstacle could be a misunderstanding, an expected difficulty, or a hurt. Do I leave the relationship? Do I shut down? Do I quit the job? Do I give up? OR do I have the courage to try to find a solution?

When courage and commitment are forged together, a new strength comes.

When they are forged, I have the strength to forgive - bringing a new start in the relationship (in marriage, between family members or co-workers or friends).

I will let go of the hurt, not dwell on it, and not try to punish the other person. I will seek to express kindness and compassion in the relationship.

It’s here ……

God gives me a new start!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

When I know -

• I am forgiven, I can forgive others. 
• I am completely loved by Him, I can love others. 
• I am accepted, I can accept others. 
• I am cared for by Him, I can care for others. 
• His kindness towards me, I can be kind towards others. 
• His compassion for me, I have the same compassion for others. 

I can do all of that because He has made me new; He gives me a new heart and a new spirit. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. Ezekiel 36:26

His spirit gives me the courage that I need for a new start with others.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13

By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. 1 Peter 1:3

The Past ….

The Past highly influences every person in the present.

For a new start, what do I do with my past?

I CANNOT change the past.

You CANNOT change the past.

No one can change the past.

For me to have a new start, this process can make an immense difference.

• Forgive the hurts, the offenses of the past. Do not dwell on them. The enemy will bring them to my mind, but I can focus on God’s forgiveness of me instead. I will not punish that person for the hurt. Unforgiven hurts turn into anger, bitterness, and resentment that spill out on those around me. 
• Look to the past to find the emotional baggage that I am carrying in the present. Were there unhealthy patterns in my family that I have carried into my life - even some that I disliked? Identify those patterns and find ways to change them (may need an objective third party for help). 
• Examine the past to take responsibility for my own behavior. What unhealthy behaviors do I keep repeating? Refuse to blame others for my own behavior or lack of happiness. Ask God to help you see your part and change with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. 
• Rejoice and be grateful for the good things in your past. I can’t repeat those experiences. I don’t want to live in those memories. But I can rejoice in the many blessings that God has given me. In marriage or family or with others, remember the good times instead of only thinking of the stressful times. 

We all have hope for the future!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

Focus ….

I can focus my thoughts for a NEW START in the NEW YEAR!

Where I allow my thoughts to dwell will determine my peace and joy.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

That principle applies to relationships. Think about the good parts of the people around us, instead of dwelling on the negative parts. If you are struggling in a relationship with your spouse or other family member, make a list of all of their good qualities. Keep adding to that list.

That principle applies to our circumstances. Make a list of all of the good in your life, include parts that we take for granted - clothes, food, warm home, job - and the blessings of a relationship with the Lord.

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.   Hebrews 12:-2

What will you do with your new gift?

Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17

We pray that you were able to enjoy the holidays with your families and worship The Gift that God gave us, His Son. Now, He gives us the gift of a new year.

What will we do with that gift in 2019?

God has given us the gift of time. The gift is used quickly and can’t be refunded or reclaimed.

We are stewards of our time; in the same way we are stewards of our money. We spend time; we spend money. We can make more money but we can’t make more time. We can invest our time or watch it slip away as water over the falls.

A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t, and even brags about it! Proverbs 13:16

But our Lord gives us a clean slate every day to choose how we spend our time. Where will you invest your time and money in 2019?

One investment that we will reap many dividends is WISDOM Christian School. Invest in the future of these children in the slum and you will see many blessings in your own life. Is God calling you to go to Zambia in 2019? Our mission will be May 29 – June 10, 2019. Please contact us NOW if you are interested!

We leave January 15 to return to Zambia, we will dedicate the new chapel! We are so excited about this building! The building will serve as a chapel/auditorium for the students at WISDOM Christian School. They will also be able to use the space to eat lunch during the rainy season. We planted a church at the school a few years ago. The church is meeting in a classroom but will be able to meet in the chapel on its completion. [see more on WCS here]

We will also be buying supplies (including curriculum) for the school for the upcoming school year. Please consider supporting this mission trip. [DONATE here] We still need about $4,300 for this mission. [Includes the cost of school supplies for the 2019 school year at WISDOM]

THANK YOU again for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement. We could not do what we do without YOU!

Our love in Christ,

Donna and Ed Edwards
P.S. Please pray for our year-end donations and the funding of the January 2019 mission ($4,300 still needed). 

The water that I will give him will

become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. 

John 4:14b 

LIVING WELL is a life source, not a life style.

DECEMBER 2018 Letter LIVING WELL

Have you ever studied the word “give” in the Bible? 

A short study of the verses, we recognize how much God gives us. His generosity is overwhelming!

God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

God blesses us to be able to further His work!

December is a very important month financially for us. We depend on the generosity of year-end gifts to take us through 2019. We also are raising money for our mission to Wisdom Christian School in January.
DONATE HERE

When evaluating where to give, we pray you will consider the ministry of LIVING WELL because:

• We have been faithful with donations for our 15 years of ministry. We do what we say we will do to further His kingdom.
• We do spend very little money on fund-raising.
• We are very conservative in our use of funds. We keep our overhead as low as possible. Our board of directors oversees our finances.
• Our goal every day is to bring the good news to everyone that we see – whether it is in our office or in Zambia. 

When we return to Zambia in January, we will dedicate the new chapel!

We are so excited about this building! We can’t wait to see it. The building will serve as a chapel/auditorium for the students at WISDOM Christian School. They will also be able to use the space to eat lunch during the rainy season. We planted a church a few years ago. It has been meeting in a classroom, but the church will now be able to meet in this chapel.

We will also be buying supplies (including curriculum) for the school for the upcoming school year. Please consider supporting this mission trip. We still need about $7,800 for this mission. [includes the cost of school supplies for the 2019 school year at WISDOM]

THANK YOU again for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement. We could not do what we do without YOU!
Our love in Christ,

Donna and Ed Edwards
P.S. Please pray for our year-end donations and the funding of the January 2019 mission ($7,800 still needed).

The water that I will give him will

become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. 

John 4:14b 

LIVING WELL is a life source, not a life style.

Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving?

Our country was built on the faith of many great men. They led our nation to remember the One who gave us all that we have and to give Him thanks.

Continental Congress November 1, 1777
Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with gratitude their obligation to Him for benefits received….

George Washington, 1789 
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor….

Abraham Lincoln, 1863
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come….

George Bush, 2001
During these extraordinary times, we find particular assurance from our Thanksgiving tradition, which reminds us that we, as a people and individually, always have reason to hope and trust in God, despite great adversity. … In thankfulness and humility, we acknowledge, especially now, our dependence on One greater than ourselves. On this day of Thanksgiving, let our thanksgiving be revealed in the compassionate support we render to our fellow citizens who are grieving unimaginable loss; and let us reach out with care to those in need of food, shelter, and words of hope. May Almighty God, who is our refuge and our strength in this time of trouble, watch over our homeland, protect us, and grant us patience, resolve, and wisdom in all that is to come.

May we never lose sight of all that we have and always THANK HIM for His provision.

What does thanksgiving mean?

Thanksgiving:

noun - the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God.

Grateful:
adjective - warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful.

Thanksgiving is not only a holiday to cook a lot of food and see your family, although that’s part of it. It’s not a day to watch parades and football, although that can be part of it too.

Thanksgiving is a condition of the heart first. Then it is an expression to God and others of what is inside.

Being grateful means recognizing all of the good in my life and being more verbal about the good than about the difficulties.

Showing gratitude to others means thanking them specifically for what they do that is meaningful or helpful. We might thank someone for simple actions, opening a door, or we can thank them for an attitude such as their thoughtfulness.

Giving thanks to God is the same. We recognize what He does for us on a daily basis and thank Him specifically for that.

We train our children to say, “Thank you” but we can teach them to say, “Thank you for ___.” That small change can launch a life of gratitude.

Why is it important?

Giving thanks changes us!

Anything that the LORD tells us to do is for our best. His Word is full of commands and examples of giving thanks. Even Jesus gave thanks to the Father. And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them. (Mark 14:23)

Science has proven that gratitude and thanksgiving are beneficial.

• Gratitude opens the door to more relationships and improves existing ones. 
• Gratitude improves physical health. 
• Gratitude improves psychological health. 
• Gratitude improves self-esteem. 
• Gratitude increases mental strength. 
• Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression. 
• Grateful people sleep better. 
• Gratitude makes us happier. 
• Gratitude reduces materialism.

Consider . . . 

Ingratitude can be a very destructive state of mind.

Ingratitude is so focused on what I don’t have or unmet expectations in my life to the exclusion of all of the good that God has given me. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father. (James 1:17)

Ingratitude leads to anger, bitterness, and even depression. A lack of gratitude erodes relationships.

Why are people ungrateful?

There can be many roots to the fruit of ingratitude. They can include: an expectant attitude, a demanding spirit, selfishness or self-centeredness, and pride.

A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves. Henry Ward Beecher

Gratitude changes everything.

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. William Arthur Ward

NOVEMBER 2018 Letter LIVING WELL

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.  William Arthur Ward

We are grateful for your love and support. We are celebrating 15 years of LIVING WELL this month! We can minister to strengthen families because of YOU! 

THANK YOU!

We never take for granted your support for us in donations and/or in prayer. We are sure of God’s call for us. We believe that He will provide for what He calls us to do. THANK YOU for being a part of this ministry. Many people have drawn closer to the LORD; many families have been healed; many adults and children have heard about the GRACE of God– both here and in Africa.

THANK YOU for your faithfulness to the LORD as come alongside us and encourage us. So encourage one another with the hope you have. Build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

We pray that you will take time this month to express thanks and encouragement to someone everyday. Most of all, we pray that each of us will take time to express our thanks to our LORD.

If we focus on thanking Him everyday for His specific work in our lives THAT DAY, we see a tremendous change in our outlook and overall mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

THANKS again to many donors to the WISDOM school chapel project! The walls are up; the roof is going on. To keep up with what’s happening at WCS, go to www.wisdomchristianschool.com.

We will be returning to Zambia in Januaryto dedicate the new chapel! We can’t wait to see it. We are anxious to worship in that space with the church there. Please consider supporting this mission trip. The cost of this mission is about $9,300. This amount includes the cost of purchasing school supplies for the 2019 school year at WISDOM. DONATE NOW

THANK YOUagain for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement. We could not do what we do without YOU!

Our love in Christ,

Donna and Ed Edwards

P.S. Please pray for OUR wisdom as we counsel and for the funding of the January 2019 mission ($9,300).

The water that I will give him will

become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. 

John 4:14b 

LIVING WELL is a life source, not a life style.

OCTOBER 2018 Letter LIVING WELL

How many times have you heard that from your kids or co-workers?

The words and/or the same thoughts erupt in marriage also. The chores in the home are divided or sometimes neglected. Sharing responsibilities at home can be a tense topic. Many people look at the work of keeping a home as drudgery.

• What does that mean about that person’s perspective? 
• How does that impact the marriage or the home? 
• What level of participation should the children have? 
• How do we get the work done? 

These topics and more are included on our blog, Working Hard or Hardly Working?

THANKS again to many donors to the WISDOM school chapel project, God is doing something amazing at WCS! We feel very blessed to be a part of it. He has touched many hearts to fund the work at the school. The slab is poured, the wall are going up. To keep up with what’s happening at WCS, go to the school's Facebook page or website.

We will be returning to Zambia in January to dedicate the new chapel! We can’t wait to see it. We are anxious to worship in that space with the church there.

We are still praying for more funding for the school lunch program. We currently feed the children one lunch per week. Our goal is to raise enough money to feed ALL the children on every school day.

• 50¢ = 1 meal/day for 1 child
• $200 = 1 meal/day for ALL 400 children
• $4,000 = 20 meals (1 month) for ALL 400 children 
• $36,000  = 1 meal/day for all 400 children for every school day for the whole school year

For more info or to donate, click here.

THANK YOU for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement. We could not do what we do without YOU!

Our love in Christ,

Donna and Ed Edwards

P.S. Please pray for OUR wisdom as we counsel and as we raise funds to feed the Children of WISDOM.

The water that I will give him will

become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. 

John 4:14b 

LIVING WELL is a life source, not a life style.

SEPTEMBER 2018 Letter LIVING WELL

A perfect spouse is not a perfect person but a person perfect for you.

Unhappy marriages are full of complaints about all the faults of the other person. Unhappy children have endless criticisms of their parents and teachers. Unhappy employees always have crummy bosses.

So, if I can just find the perfect person, I will have the perfect marriage. Hmmm and where is that perfect person? Then, what happens when that perfect person marries the imperfect me?!

Shouldn’t a person look for someone that is compatible? Or that checks all those boxes on the list? See this blog post for more info on that “perfect person.”

THANKS to many donors to the WISDOM school chapel project, the project is fully funded! We had the paperwork complete, the contractor on stand-by, and now we have broken ground on the new building!!!! God is doing something amazing at WCS! We feel very blessed to be a part of it. He has touched many hearts to fund the work at the school. To keep up with what’s happening at WCS, go to www.wisdomchristianschool.com.

We are still praying for more funding for the school lunch program. We currently feed the children one lunch per week. Our goal is to raise enough money to feed ALL the children on every school day.

• 50¢ = 1 meal/day/child
• $10 = 20 meals (1 month)/child
• $90 = 180 meals (1 school year)/child
• $200 = 1 meal/day, ALL 400 children
• $4,000 = 20 meals (1 month) ALL 400 children

For more info or to donate, go to the school website and click on the box in the right column for “Support LUNCH program.”

THANK YOU for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement. We could not do what we do without YOU!

Our love in Christ,

Donna and Ed Edwards

P.S. Please pray for OUR wisdom as we counsel and as we raise funds to feed the Children of WISDOM.

The water that I will give him will

become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. 

John 4:14b 

LIVING WELL is a life source, not a life style.

Addicted to Pleasure?

“Our ability to perceive happiness has been sabotaged by our modern incessant quest for pleasure,” contends Robert Lustig (professor emeritus of pediatrics, division of endocrinology, UCSF).

Happiness and pleasure are two different feelings. Pleasure often comes as an immediate sensation – an immediate, sensual gratification. Chemicals released in our brain cause us to want more of the same sensation.

Most people believe that if they pursue pleasure, they will be happy. But most people are not very good at knowing what will bring them happiness. God created us to be pleasure seekers – there is nothing wrong with seeking pleasure or happiness. In fact, He says 1 Timothy 6:17b ... God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. He wants us to enjoy all that He provides for us.

As John Piper says, God intended that pleasure to be in Him. He asserts that seeking pleasure apart from God will never satisfy. “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”

Does seeking pleasure in God impact my marriage and other relationships?

Should marriage be fun? Read here for more on this topic.

Rendering of Auditorium/Chapel on actual site

Our next project at WISDOM Christian School is a chapel/auditorium! The good news is that a donor has pledged to match funds up to $16,000 for this project. The total cost is $32,000. So, we only need donations for half that amount to start the project! See more about this project and how to donate on the WCS website or Facebook page.

The multipurpose building will serve as an auditorium/chapel for the students. The building will also be the new venue for the church on campus that currently meets in a classroom. The students will also be able to eat lunch in there during the rainy season instead of eating on benches outside or in a classroom. DONATE NOW

THANK YOU for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement. We could not do what we do without YOU!

Our love in Christ,

Donna and Ed Edwards

P.S. Please pray for wisdom as we counsel and as we raise funds for a chapel at WISDOM Christian School.

JULY 2018 Letter LIVING WELL

Missionaries are not heroes who can boast in great sacrifice for God. They have discovered a hundred times more joy and satisfaction in a life devoted to Christ and the gospel than in a life devoted to frivolous comforts and pleasures and worldly advancements.    John Piper

When reflecting on our recent mission trip and the others like it, we think about the stresses of the trip and the joys. Put into perspective, the stress becomes our joy.

• The long plane rides, no bed for 48+ hours to minister to kids who sleep on a mattress on the floor with 6-8 other people, no sheets, no blankets.
• Having low water pressure in our shower as we teach kids with no showers or running water, who bath in a river or out of a bucket.
• Dealing with the dirt and smoke in the air for 9 days while we love on kids who deal with the dirt and smoke every day.
• Remembering to only drink bottled water (even for brushing our teeth) while we play with the kids who have no source of water, except when they come to school.
• Riding on a bumpy road for 10 minutes on our journey to the school where the children have no concept of getting in a car or bus to go to school or anywhere else.

We aren’t heroes. We are devoted to Christ and His work. Our joy far outweighs anything that may seem to others like a sacrifice. The kids who go to school and their teachers are the real heroes. We have a lot to learn from them.

As we approach the birthday of our nation, we are reminded that we desperately need to pray for our countries and our leaders.

Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement.

Our love in Christ,

Donna and Ed Edwards

P.S. Please pray for the children and teachers at WISDOM Christian School – that the Bible lessons will take root in their hearts for eternity.

The water that I will give him will

become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. 

John 4:14b 

LIVING WELL is a life source, not a life style.

JUNE 2018 Letter LIVING WELL

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20
This verse is our theme for the week of Camp Wisdom in Zambia. This graphic is for the t-shirts that we will give to each of the kids.

We picked Joseph as our Bible character for the week of teaching. No other life of an Old Testament character has as many similarities with the life of Jesus. Joseph endured many of the same hardships as Christ but never wavered in his faith. No one else showed forgiveness as Christ did in such a dramatic way.

“When we collect the details of Joseph’s life we see a glorious reflection that closely mirrors another life we are so intimately familiar with. In fact, when you look at a list of the details, sometimes it’s hard to discern whether we are talking about Joseph or Jesus. This is not because Joseph was Jesus’s favorite Bible hero he wanted to emulate. It is because God is sovereign, and he has been laying the tracks for the glory of Christ throughout redemptive history.”  Erik Raymond

We are leaving for Zambia in less than a week! We are excited about the mission, seeing the CHILDREN of WISDOM, and about our team. God has supplied the people we need. We are thankful to Him and to them for answering His call.

We have four people on our team who have not been to Africa before. Part of our excitement is seeing them experience Africa and the mission for the first time. [click here for more info on the mission]

Team (clockwise, starting in upper left corner):
Terri & Jack Bailey, Donna Edwards, Charlie Beair, Beth Autry, Anita Powers, Ed Edwards, Sherry Beair, Paula Cobb, Tonya Ward, Georgia Abbott

Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement.

Our love in Christ,

Donna and Ed Edwards

P.S. Please pray for the Zambia mission - May 30 - June 11!

The water that I will give him will

become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. 

John 4:14b 

LIVING WELL is a life source, not a life style.

MAY 2018 Letter LIVING WELL

How many of us can identify with Abraham Lincoln’s words?

I know that we can. We had a time in our early days of marriage when our spiritual lives were not a priority. Our mothers continued to pray for us.We believe that those prayers brought us back to the Lord and to His church. We believe that the prayers of a mother and/or a father are powerful in a child’s life – whether they are young or old. [read more about mothers here]

We value your prayers right now as we prepare for Mission Zambia 2018.

We have some unexpected changes. John and Darla Holinsworth will not be able to go with us. Darla broke her ankle recently and had surgery on it. She cannot stand on it and will not be able to travel.

The Lord provided another couple, Jack and Terri Bailey, to go in their place. We have known Jack and Terri for 22 years. They were in our very first nearly/newly married class. We have kept up through the years and they have expressed interest many times about going to Zambia. We are very thankful that they are able to go on such a short notice.

We only have five weeks until we leave. If you would like to help support Jack and Terri, any other team member, or the Zambia Mission, you can go to this page to donate.

We still need about $2,000 to fund the mission. We have had some unexpected expenses arise for the mission trip.

Our team is planning and praying. Will you pray with us and support the work at WISDOM Christian School?

Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement.

Our love in Christ,

Donna and Ed Edwards

P.S. Please pray as the Zambia team prepares and for the funding of Mission Zambia - $2,000 remaining.

The water that I will give him will

become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. 

John 4:14b 

LIVING WELL is a life source, not a life style.

APRIL 2018 Letter LIVING WELL

It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming!!! He died and rose again, so that I can live in the presence of God for eternity! Eternity starts at the moment I receive the forgiveness of sin that He offers each of us. What a great hope and joy!

Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us....You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.  Ephesians 2:18-19 (NLT)

Two times in our lives we have the opportunity to have a new family – one is a spiritual family, the family of God, and the other is when we get married. Both times, God tells to leave the old behind and be united or one with the new. What does that mean and why is it important? [see our marriage blog]

“You intended to harm me, BUT GOD intended it for GOOD.” Genesis 50:20

That line was historic in the life of Joseph and the nation of Israel. Joseph really had no idea what God had for him in his future when he got thrown into a pit and sold into slavery by his brothers. BUT GOD had a plan for his life. Joseph followed Him through the good times and the bad. Because of his faithfulness and integrity, God’s plan for saving the nation of Israel through the life of Joseph.

This verse is our theme for CAMP WISDOM 2018. We will be teaching the kids that the events of their life may look bad at times, BUT GOD has a plan for each of them and the plan is GOOD.

Our team has formed and we are planning and praying. Will you pray with us and support the work at WISDOM Christian School? DONATE NOW

Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement.
Our love in Christ,
Donna and Ed Edwards

P.S. Please pray as the Zambia team prepares and for the funding of Mission Zambia - $5,000 remaining.

The water that I will give him will

become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. 

John 4:14b 

LIVING WELL is a life source, not a life style.

MARCH 2018 Letter LIVING WELL

No! Marty! We've already agreed that having information about the future can be extremely dangerous. Even if your intentions are good, it can backfire drastically! [from Back to the Future motion picture, 1985]

How many of us want to know the future?

• How long will I live?
• Who will I marry?
• What is the stock market going to do?
• What is our country going to be like in 50 years?

Why do we want to know? Because we have a fear about what might happen. We worry about our future. Faith is not knowing what the future holds, but knowing who holds the future.

Corrie Ten Boom once said, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.” We cannot enjoy today if we are tied to the past and worry about the future.

The future can be a scary place to live, but as Billy Graham said, “I have read the last page of the Bible, It’s going to turn out all right.” Even when we don’t know what happens before the last page, we have a God who loves us and does know. He says, For I know the plans I have for you .... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

If I am following the Lord today, He will take me to the future that He has for me. I don’t have to know where the road ends or where it will take me, my part is to stay on the road that follows Him!

We are following the Lord back to Zambia in June. Is He leading you there?

We are finalizing the Mission Zambia 2018 team (May 30-June 11). If you can’t go, will you send us and provide for the Bible camp that we do with the CHILDREN of WISDOM? For more info, click here.  Or click to DONATE NOW!

Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement.

Our love in Christ,

Donna and Ed Edwards

P.S. Please pray as the Zambia team comes together and for the funding of Mission Zambia - $13,600.

The water that I will give him will

become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. 

John 4:14b 

LIVING WELL is a life source, not a life style.

FEBRUARY 2018 Letter LIVING WELL

Because of YOUR prayers and the Lord’s faithfulness, we made the long trip to Zambia and back home successfully! Thank YOU for your prayers!

Ed did amazingly well as we travelled and worked in Ndola. God gave him stamina and strength after his surgery. All of our luggage and supplies (we shipped ahead) arrived in good shape. After weeks of heavy rain, the weather was warm and dry while we were there. Lots of answers to prayers.

After a few days back home, Donna had gotten over jet lag and THE FLU struck. After staying home for a week, she is back on her feet. We have great sympathy for all of the familiies who have endured the flu this year.

We believe that every couple should be proactive in taking care of their marriage. A great opportunity is coming up. We would love for you to join us for a fun evening to celebrate marriage on February 23rd.

TOGETHER FOREVER is an event that we are leadying at our church, but is open to any married or engaged couples. Ted Cunningham will speak [see video clip]. Ted is a pastor but is known for his humor and his commitment to strengthening marriages. Kyle Dillingham is OK’s music ambassador and will be providing special music for the event [see video clip]. The evening is $40/couple and includes fun photos, a barbeque meal catered by Swadleys, and childcare by reservation. Go to https://pcbc.tv/together-forever-2018/  for tickets. Deadline is February 18th. 

We are excited to say that we were successful in setting up the computer lab for WISDOM Christian School! We were a little nervous about it since none of us are computer geeks. But we had great coaching ahead of time. The most fun came as we bought furnishings for the new kindergarten class. Please check out the WCS website to see new pics of the school.

Why don’t you go with us to see WCS in person and minister to the children?
We are putting together the Mission Zambia 2018 team (May 30-June 11). Please contact us for more information if you are interested.

Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement.

Our love in Christ,

Donna and Ed Edwards
P.S. Pray for us as we lead the TOGETHER FOREVER marriage event on February 23rd.

The water that I will give him will

become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. 

John 4:14b 

LIVING WELL is a life source, not a life style.

LVING WELL Team Leaves for Zambia

On January 9th, the Zambia Mission team leaves. We will return on January 23.

Ed & Donna Edwards and John & Darla Holinsworth will spend the trip ministering at WISDOM Christian School.

The containers sent last fall have arrived - full of computer equipment, books, and school supplies.

The team will set up a computer lab with 10 computers for the CHILDREN of WISDOM.

The school year normally starts in January but this year, the government has postponed the opening of school until February. The team will assess the needs of the school and acquire the necessary resources for the new school year.

With the completion of Classroom Building #3, the school will add a kindergarten class in the one of the rooms of the new building. The team will supply furnishings for that classroom, as well as for the computer lab.

The area has had an abundance of rain during this year's rainy season, making it hard to get out to the school. The area does not have any paved roads to get all the way to the campus.

Please pray for:

1. Safety for the team and good health
2. Wisdom and skill in putting together the computer lab
3. Success in acquiring needed resources
4. Good weather so the team can get to the school

Thank you for your prayers!