APRIL 2026 Letter LIVING WELL

We’re grateful to report that we had a safe and successful trip to Zambia. Thank you for your prayers and support.

. . . as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (2 Corinthians 1:11)

Our hearts were full as we returned to WISDOM Christian School and saw the students, staff, and campus again. On our last visit, six years ago, we were building the fifth classroom building. 

Today, by God’s grace, the classrooms are filled with 600 students—a powerful reminder of His goodness and provision. 

Before COVID, we visited the school twice a year, and many of the students knew us, often rushing up to greet us with excitement. This year was a somewhat surreal experience—the students didn’t recognize us. But their warm welcome was a reminder that God’s love bridges every gap, and it wasn’t long before they were open to us. 

Every class is bulging with eager learners!

These kids come to school because they want to come. Not all of them are encouraged by their parents or caregivers. Many of the children have lost one or both parents. Often the parents they do have are involved with alcohol and are unemployed. School is an important part of the child’s life. 

Their diet is supplemented with a healthy meal at school – something that the kids in public school do not get!

It is heartening to know that WISDOM Christian School is offering children in this slum a hopeful beginning in life within a nurturing and encouraging environment. This experience is only possible because of the faithful generosity of many donors!

Also, because of our generous donors, we are able to continue with several maintenance projects on the campus. While being there in person, we were able to identify numerous areas that need attention. We are in the process of having a contractor address those concerns.

One example of our campus upgrades is the original building. When we became involved with the school in 2012, they met in one mud block building with two classrooms covered with a tin roof. Openings in the walls let air flow through. Our first projects were to plaster, paint, and install a ceiling. Later we added electricity. We are now converting all of those openings to windows and increasing/repairing the lighting and adding fans. Those two classrooms will now have better light and climate control for the young students.

For photos of the students/campus and more info on the projects, please see this webpage.

Please let us know how you are doing. 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 continue to pray for our wisdom as we support, encourage, and develop WISDOM Christian School. 

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 2025 Letter LIVING WELL

Merry Christmas!

Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. (John 16:7)

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? (1 Corinthians 6:19)

For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6:16)

We love Christmas – remembering and rejoicing over the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That remembrance can become very personal as we consider God’s thread that is woven into our own story. Jesus was the embodiment of God who walked on the earth. When He left earth, He did not leave us alone. He sent His Spirit – the Holy Spirit to be God in us! His Spirit in us affirms God’s presence in each of us and in this world. The Holy Spirit doesn’t have a body as Jesus did but He uses our bodies! God is with us! We rejoice in His Presence as we remember His birth!

ZAMBIA

WISDOM Christian School - one classroom building after painting

We are in the midst of a major building maintenance project at WISDOM Christian School. All of our campus buildings—six large structures and seven smaller ones—are receiving fresh exterior paint. With so much exposed red soil around the campus (and the stains it brings!), the lower portions of the buildings have accumulated a ring of red dirt along with general wear over time.

Our students are currently out of school until January, and we are hopeful that the entire repainting project will be completed before they return. This work will not only refresh the look of the campus but also help protect our buildings for the years ahead.

We last visited Zambia in January of 2020, just as COVID-19 began to spread. We had plans to return to Zambia in June but that was cancelled as the world shut down. First there was COVID to keep us from returning – then we got old! Pain, surgery, recovery, procedures followed. But we believe that now is the time for us to return! We leave January 15th to return to Zambia and visit WISDOM Christian School.

The school systems are changing in the entire country. Instead of WCS going to 9th grade, as it is presently, it will end with 7th grade for 2026 (their new school year begins in January). In 2027, it will end in 6th grade. As the older grades leave, younger ages will be added. We are anxious to see the students and teachers and also to see the best way to move forward with all the changes.

We need your prayers! Being age 75 makes those long trips much more difficult! Prayers for our bodies, our health, and for wisdom are at the top of our list. We will be excited to share photos and news of the trip after we return!

Please let us know how you are doing. 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

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.

JULY 2025 Letter LIVING WELL

“The Marriage Advice You Didn’t See Coming…”

We all get advice when we get married—but sometimes, it’s the quiet, unexpected words that stick. What’s the marriage advice you didn’t know you needed… until it made all the difference?

We recently received a message from someone that was in one of our Preparing for Marriage classes. With her permission, we are sharing it with you.

Good Morning Donna.
Today is our 25th anniversary and you guys are definitely part of the reason we are still going strong. Thank you for all you and your husband poured into us to help our marriage succeed. We often talk about your marriage class and all the lessons we learned. They kinda seemed like small concepts at the time but it turns out that success is in the details. Our kids are getting older now which makes me wonder, might you have a list of some of the books you had us read in your class..... 

Oh also your concept about not laying a brick down because it will start to build a wall has been thought about many times. Again, thank you for helping us build such a firm foundation .... thank you for giving us the tools we didn’t really know we needed. You guys made a big difference in our lives.... I’m excited to be able to share your wisdom with my kids when it’s time.

We want YOU to share in our joy! YOUR support, prayers, and encouragement made it possible for us to spend time learning, teaching, and counseling on Biblical marriage.

Over the years, we've helped countless couples navigate through their crises, but the real magic happens when we focus on strengthening marriages before challenges arise. The benefits are truly immeasurable! Now, we're seeing the children of some of our couples tie the knot, and it feels like we’re a part of their journey too. It’s amazing to witness how a strong, healthy marriage continues to shape and influence their lives for the better.

What are some of those concepts and books about marriage?

ON our WEBSITE, we have a tab for ENRICH where you will find lots of downloadable resources. Also, the tab for BLOGS will provide a link to our MARRIAGE BLOG.

Please let us know how you are doing. 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 us as we train others to strengthen marriages and families.

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 2025 Letter LIVING WELL

Spring is upon us! 

What joy it brings with the blooming of flowers and the greening of trees and lawns! In Oklahoma, spring can also bring the anxiety in anticipating storms and tornadoes! We learn to live in the uncertainty of weather – an element definitely out of our control. In contrast, living in the certainty of a God who loves and cares about us brings peace!

We have had questions about our status in the ministry. We thought it was time to clarify and update you. As we have conveyed many times, we are no longer counseling. Our ministry time is primarily involved with the ongoing support and needs of WISDOM Christian School in Zambia. We communicate with Brother Charles in Zambia almost daily.

When we went to the status of semi-retirement in February 2020, we drastically reduced our salaries. Recently, we decided to close our office to save on overhead and do all of our work from home. Consequently, we have also changed our phone number. You can now reach us at (405)924-3574. 

The donations that are directed to LIVING WELL pay for the remaining overhead. The donations to WCS go directly to the support and development of the school. We do not take an administrative fee from those donations.

The school has constant needs – both in the education and feeding of the children and in the maintenance of the physical facility. Our part is to raise 100% of the funds but also to advise and oversee as much as possible from thousands of miles away. 

The education system in Zambia is in the process of making major changes; many of those changes will affect WCS. Over the last year, the government has hired thousands of teachers for their public schools. They pay the teachers more than we do as a private school. Consequently, we have lost many of our experienced teachers. But we have been able to hire new teachers to replace them. We are trying to be more competitive with the public schools to retain them.

We hope to be able to go to Zambia later this year. Please pray with us that our health will allow it. The hardest part of the trip is flying! We are in the air for over 24 hours, making the journey over two or three days.

Please let us know how you are doing. THANK YOU again for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement. We could not do what we do without YOU!

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 2024 Letter LIVING WELL

I (Donna) am writing this letter in first person because it is about my personal journey. Some of you know my story – many of you don’t. My life changed 25 years ago. And I am so grateful and THANKFUL!

Even though I was in vocational ministry and considered myself a devout Christian, I had only a cursory interest in foreign missions. I thought mission work was important but wasn’t interested in going on a mission trip – to anywhere, much less to Africa.

Through my role at Scope Ministries, I met an African ministry leader in 1999. He told his story about the Rwanda genocide and his call to train Christian leaders. He asked us to bring a team of women to Kenya to teach Be Transformed to women leaders. God spoke to my heart in a very compelling way. I KNEW He wanted me to go to Kenya. 

Donna with Translator

But He showed me His sufficiency. The experience was eye opening! I saw the great need for training among African Christians. I couldn’t wait to get back and share with Ed, all my friends and supporters!

As part of the Scope team, we went to Amsterdam 2000 to serve with the Billy Graham Association in the area of marriage and family. We saw 12,000 Christian leaders from all over the world gathered in one place. We decided it was the closest to heaven we would ever see on earth. God gave us a passion to train more African leaders. 

Donna & Ed 2002 Tanzania

Ed and I lead a team to east Africa in 2002 to train pastors and church leaders on marriage and marriage ministry. We then began making yearly mission trips to Africa. 

Ed & Donna Wisdom School 2012

In January 2012, we were in Zambia following up with pastors on marriage ministry. At that time, our host introduced us to a school in a slum of a slum that was about to close. Another ministry had started it but they were pulling out of Zambia. After seeing that school and the great need, God spoke to our hearts to support and develop Wisdom Christian School. 

We had no training, no background, no experience with schools. We have learned that if we follow His direction, we may take a path that is beyond our imagination!

Through many supporters, God has provided above and beyond our dreams. WCS is a beacon of hope in that slum of a slum outside Ndola, Zambia.

I can’t begin to explain all of the joy in my heart that God has given me since I took that step of faith 25 years ago! I share a part of my personal journey to let you know that God can do an amazing work in and through anyone! He did it for me and for Ed – He can do it for you! Have faith and do not fear what He has for you!

In February 2020, Ed and I went to a status of semi-retirement. We are not counseling but we spend several hours a week working with Living Well and supporting Wisdom Christian School. We have been able to put 100% of donations for WCS directly to that work. We have always had enough donations to LIVING WELL to support our limited salaries and overhead.

But those donations are now less than what we need. We ask for your prayers and support for LIVING WELL. We want to avoid taking administrative fees from the donations to WISDOM Christian School.

Please let us know how you are doing. 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

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.

AUGUST 2024 Letter LIVING WELL

Consider the gripping narrative of this tumultuous election year, filled with twists and turns that keep the nation on edge. From an assassination attempt to an unexpected dropout, the political landscape is more unpredictable than ever – dropping Americans onto an emotional rollercoaster.

Amidst the chaos, a powerful question emerges:
   Where do we truly place our trust?

While the turmoil continues, it's important to remember that true hope and trust can be found in a source beyond politics. As we navigate through these challenging times, let's turn to the one constant we can rely on - our faith in Our Lord and Our Savior. In a world of shifting allegiances and questionable promises - trust in the ultimate source of hope and stability during these turbulent times.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.

    Psalm 118:8

Zambia continues to feel the effects of extreme drought. Almost half of their maize crops (their staple food) was lost. Their president declared a national disaster. The drought continues to affect their power supply. And their inflation rate passed 15% in July. This is their dry season; rainy season does not begin until November. Please pray for the Lord to open the heavens and relieve their drought.

For the staff and students at WISDOM Christian School, water is still available and lunches are still prepared 4 days/week for their 600 STUDENTS – THANKS to the support of many faithful Christians!

Please let us know how you are doing. We are no longer taking counseling appointments, but continually minister to and support WISDOM Christian School. 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 country, for the drought in Zambia, and for the students and staff at WCS.

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 2024 Letter

“Once in a lifetime experience!”

“Phenomenal!”

“Spectacular!”

These comments were a few of the many uttered by those who saw the full eclipse.

One of the most interesting were those who expressed the event as a spiritual experience. 

When their surroundings suddenly go dark in the middle of the day, they know that they have encountered a circumstance that humans could not design or create! They know that the eclipse is a manifestation greater than themselves! It created awe and wonder of the heavens! The heavens displayed God’s glory. We know who inspired that awe and wonder!

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made
their starry host by the breath of His mouth. Psalm 33:6

Since we started our part-time work in 2020, we have tried to do a newsletter quarterly. We should have put a letter out in February but instead, Ed had surgery on his left knee. He had his right knee replaced last year. He is still working on recovery, going to PT regularly and exercises at home. He has made great progress, but we have been preoccupied as we adjust our roles and our schedule for a while. Our most urgent prayer request for both of us is for our health.

Zambia is experiencing an extreme drought right now – resulting in water shortages, power shortages (their main source is hydroelectric), shortage of cornmeal (their main staple), and higher prices. Power shortages are managed with blackout periods every day; usually only 8 hours of power are available daily.

In the slum area around WISDOM Christian School, families are in poverty - no financial cushion creates extreme hardship when necessities are scarce. Please pray for the Lord to open the heavens and relieve their drought.

Please let us know how you are doing. We are no longer taking counseling appointments, but continually minister to and support WISDOM Christian School. 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 health, for the drought in Zambia, and for the students and staff at WCS.

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.

CELEBRATING 20 years of LIVING WELL

YES, 20 years ago we started LIVING WELL!

20 years ago –

• We were a lot younger!
• Our children were beginning their adult lives.
• Ed had been serving in vocational ministry at our church for 16 years (served there for 5 more years before joining LIVING WELL full-time)
• Donna had been serving in vocational ministry for 12 years at Scope Ministries.
• We had been involved in marriage ministry for several years.
• Had started training pastors in East Africa in marriage ministry

To summarize 20 years of ministry at LIVING WELL would be impossible!

It’s been 20 amazing years of spreading God’s love and joy through our marriage teachings and training church leaders in marriage ministry. We feel so blessed to have been able to impact countless couples and families, helping them to build stronger and more fulfilling relationships.

In those years and before, we have been privileged to see many young couples begin their marriages and their families. Some of those young couples now have children that are getting married. Watching those couples grow in their marriages and in their faith brings us great joy and gratitude!

Our journey has taken us to the heart of Africa, where we have been dedicated to empowering communities through education and ministry. We have trained pastors in marriage ministry, providing them with the tools and skills they need to build strong and healthy relationships within their congregations.

Additionally, God led us to take on the support and development of WISDOM Christian School in a slum in Zambia, providing children with access to a quality Christian education and giving them hope for a brighter future. We believe that by investing in education and empowering leaders, we can create lasting change and transform communities for Christ for generations to come.

In 2020, we semi-retired. We continue to work in marriage ministry and to raise funds and direct the support and development of WCS – educating about 600 children and employing 16 people in the community.

THANK YOU for being a part of our journey!

We could not do what we do without YOU!

Our ministry to marriages continues through writing. See this link for more info about common problems and solutions. 

Please let us know how you are doing. Our office is only open by appointment but you can email us at info@livingwellokc.org. We are no longer taking new appointments, but will see people that we have seen in the past. THANK YOU again for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement. 

Our love in Christ,

Donna and Ed Edwards

AUGUST 2023 Letter LIVING WELL

In the last month, we attended four funerals – family and church friends – all were only a few years older than we are.

Each loss makes our own lives seem more fragile. As is the custom today, we viewed a lifetime in a few pictures.

We started talking about the pictures – which ones we would want to reflect our lives.

How much of our life is reflected in those pictures? Do they tell the whole story?

The pictures are just a snapshot of a moment in time; they can't convey the full depth of our emotions or experiences. As we look back on these images, we must remember that they are just one aspect of our lives; there is so much more to who we are than what can be captured in a photograph. They don’t reveal the struggles, disappointments, and adversity that weave into the fabric of our lives and character. Those moments are not caught in a photo, but are some of the most important.

We have spent the last 35 years+ on a quest to strengthen marriages and families. We started our service in church working with teenagers. We realized that there was only so much we could do. Their parents made the biggest impact. God showed us that working with the parents was the best way we could help kids. Along the way, we have made many observations about marriage. See this link to read those problems and solutions.

Please pray for Kenya. We have many friends there. Right now, that country is going through a lot of strife. Many political decisions have set off the current problems.

Most of the students at WISDOM Christian School will be on break during August. 

Right now, they are taking standardized test.

But the 7th and 9th graders will continue to go to school during August to prepare for their final exams.These exams determine whether they can continue in school and at what level. Please pray for these students! See more about WCS here.


Brother Charles has made great progress on his health. Please continue to pray for his healing.

Please let us know how you are doing. Our office is only open by appointment but you can email us at info@livingwellokc.org. We are no longer taking new appointments, but will see people that we have seen in the past. 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 the students, staff, and funding at WISDOM Christian School.

To donate to LIVING WELL, click here.

To donate to WISDOM Christian School, click here.

APRIL 2023 Letter LIVING WELL

At our age, any kind of update starts with a health report!

Ed is doing well since his knee replacement in January. He still has pain and swelling but is getting around much better. Thank you for your prayers! Please continue to pray for his progress.

Donna had COVID for the first time in March. Thought she was immune! Ha! Her version of COVID included a nasty cough but she is much better now. And we are both struggling with allergies this time of year. . . like most Oklahomans!

As we write this letter, our colleague in Zambia, Brother Charles, is having some serious urological issues. Even though they have a major hospital in Ndola, they seem unable to deal successfully with his problem. He is seeking more skilled help in Lusaka, the capital. We will update on his condition by email. Please pray for his recovery.

A question that we posed recently – Do you know Christians who attend church and read their Bible, but have unhappy marriages?

What would be your answer? In our years of marriage counseling, we have seen many couples who fit that category. Most of us have seen Christian couples who divorce.

Many people think that if couples in distress will read the Bible and pray, everything will be ok. But very often they aren’t.

What is missing? There are many answers to that question, but the big one is that they don’t know how to apply the Word to their situation.

As individuals or as the church, how can we help those couples?

We have some suggestions. Most people will not seek counseling or they wait until the marriage is hard to save. But friends, colleagues, and fellow class members can give encouragement and direction to help avert some of the marriage crises. 

For our suggestions, CLICK HERE.

Please let us know how you are doing. Our office is only open by appointment but you can email us at info@livingwellokc.org. We are no longer taking new appointments, but will see people that we have seen in the past. 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 health and wisdom as we minister here and long-distance with WISDOM Christian School.

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.

JANUARY 2023 Letter LIVING WELL

We are all still glowing in the warm feelings of Christmas and looking forward to a new year. A new year brings thoughts of a new start, another blank slate to write on.

At Christmas, we think about the birth of Jesus. As Christians, we know that Jesus did not begin in a manger. That Christmas scene portrays His incarnation, the time that He left heaven and came to earth as a human.

 His birth did not turn out as many had expected. He didn’t come as a conquering king but as a suffering savior. He brings us great joy!

As we begin a new year, 2023 may not turn out as we expect or hope. For us it certainly has already taken a turn that we had not planned. We will not be able to go to Zambia in January. Ed is having a knee replacement instead. We had hoped to postpone it until after the trip but his pain prevents that. 

We appreciate your prayers for his surgery (January 10) and recovery. We are praying about what that will mean for the rest of the year.

WISDOM Christian School has baby chicks!

Baby Chicks - 1 day old

THANK YOU to the donors who have made this project possible! The building is complete. 

Upon completion of the building, we purchased 100 baby chicks and all that goes into raising them. 

Baby Chicks - 17 days old

Recently, we purchased another 100 chicks. The first group moved to a different room. 

They are presently separated. In about 4 more weeks, the first group will be ready to eat and sell.

The chicken project is a new endeavor that is still a learning process. Please pray for the wisdom of those involved in the project.

Every year as the school grows, we have more expenses. Their new school year begins in January. WISDOM Christian School needs at least $2,000 for supplies to begin the new school year.

Please consider LIVING WELL and WCS for your end of year giving! 

You may give by check. Mail to:

LIVING WELL

PO BOX 720828

OKLAHOMA CITY OK 73172

(if postmarked by December 31st, it will be credited to 2022 giving) 

Or online:

LIVING WELL

WISDOM Christian School

Please let us know how you are doing. Our office is only open by appointment but you can email us at info@livingwellokc.org. We are no longer taking new appointments, but will see people that we have seen in the past. 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 year-end gifts for LIVING WELL and WCS. These gifts are vital for continued ministry.

OCTOBER 2022 Letter LIVING WELL

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.  Psalm 107:1

We are entering a season that focuses on giving thanks. We are thankful for so much in our lives ...... but who do we thank?

As Christians, we thank God who is the source of all of the good in our lives.

Every good and perfect gift is from above .... James 1:17

After we thank God, we can follow Paul’s example and thank others. Did you know that gratitude in a marriage or any relationship can transform it?!

Shaunti Feldhahn is a Christian, a researcher, writer, and speaker. Her books are based on solid research. In several of her books, she writes about the power of gratitude and kindness in marriage. In her book, Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages, she shares, I heard these kinds of comments over and over in the interviews with highly happy couples. They were casual remarks about something that really wasn’t casual at all: a deeply felt gratitude. This “attitude of gratitude” can transform your marriage from good to great. Highly happy couples give their spouses most of the credit for their relationship success—and they live in regular, conscious gratitude as a result. Read more about transforming a relationship with gratitude at this link.

WISDOM Christian School is on its way to raising chickens – thanks to numerous donors. The building is almost complete. They will start with 100 baby chicks. As they grow, they will add another 100 babies. These chickens will be large enough to sell or cook in about six weeks. We know that it will be a learning process. Please pray for the wisdom of those involved in the project. [see progress]

We continue to pray that we will be able to return to Zambia in January. We are anxious to see all of the staff and the students! The needs have grown greatly since the secondary school was added. Please pray for the students, teachers, and their support.

Please let us know how you are doing. Our office is only open by appointment but you can email us at info@livingwellokc.org. We are no longer taking new appointments, but will see people that we have seen in the past. 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 us to be able to return to Zambia, for protection and support of WISDOM Christian School.

JUNE 2022 Letter LIVING WELL

Do you ever feel like the world is spinning out of control?

First, the pandemic, a crisis that none of us have experienced before, which impacts every part of our lives. Then we add racial violence. On top of that, we add supply disruptions and an erratic economy. The politics of our country divide us. An aggressive Russian military kills many Ukrainians and drives millions from their homes to become refugees in other countries. Now, the horrific, growing levels of gun violence and deaths. Classroom killings of young children threatens to overtake our emotional exhaustion.

How do we endure it all? 

What do we do when life seems to be unraveling?

As long as we look at our circumstances, we can easily get depressed.

In the Bible, God uses the word picture of a “rock” to mean something or someone that is dependable and unchanging. The psalmist calls God “the rock” or “my rock.” The following verse describes who God wants to be in each of our lives.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2)

He is The One who protects us, delivers us, and is our safe place. A rock is solid and doesn’t change. The description of Jesus portrays this concept. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

With a world that is in constant change, we have The One who does not change. When we are focused on The One, we can have peace and hope, regardless of how much our world changes.

When we seem overwhelmed, we can go to Him. We can seek Him through His Word. We can be assured of His love and compassion for us.

We continue to pray that we will be able to return to Zambia soon and start taking teams again. The needs have grown greatly since the secondary school was added. Please pray for the students, teachers, and their support.

Please let us know how you are doing. Our office is only open by appointment but you can email us at info@livingwellokc.org. We are no longer taking new appointments, but will see people that we have seen in the past. 

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 us to be able to return to Zambia, for protection and support of WISDOM Christian School.

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 2022 Letter LIVING WELL

Wow! The last 10 years have been astounding! 

When we formed LIVING WELL ministry in 2003, our focus was on strengthening families here and in Africa. We have done that through personal guidance, classes, training church teams, and training pastors in Africa. We have tried to be faithful to take the next step wherever the Lord led.

In January of 2012, He presented a new mission endeavor. While we were in Ndola, Zambia, working with pastors on marriage ministry, our colleague there introduced us to a school in a slum of a slum. Another ministry had started WISDOM Christian School (originally named Wisdom Community School), but was leaving Zambia that month. The school was going to close without support – at that time, the need was $400/month. The school had one building made of mud blocks with two classrooms. It served 140 children in grades 1-4, who would not be able to attend school elsewhere. They had three teachers and a caretaker.

The Lord spoke to us about keeping the school open by raising support. We did that for the first year through the Bible study class that we taught at our church. Then God gave us a plan to continue to develop the school with more buildings, school supplies, and taking teams to give the kids a VBS type experience each summer.

As they say, the rest is history! 

We think it’s time to celebrate all the God has done.

He has moved at an amazing speed to grow this school and its development. We are so thankful for the people that He has involved, both in person and as donors.

We have lots of info on the WCS website about the growth and developments at WISDOM in the last 10 years. Please look at the 10 year celebration on the WCS website, you can see year-by-year summaries - lots of photos and info.

CAMP WISDOM Year-by-Year

We continue to pray that we will be able to return soon and start taking teams again. The needs have grown greatly since the secondary school was added. Please pray for the students, teachers, and their support.

Please let us know how you are doing. Our office is only open by appointment but you can email us at info@livingwellokc.org. We are no longer taking new appointments, but will see people that we have seen in the past. 

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 us to be able to return to Zambia, for protection and support of WISDOM Christian School.

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 2021 Letter LIVING WELL

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

We pray that you had a meaningful Christmas! During this Christmas season, we are reminded of our hope. He is our hope! When we have hope in Him, we have everything we need.

We are thankful for all of YOU who pray for us and support us. We don’t take YOU for granted. We know with all our hearts that we could not go on with this ministry without YOU. We know that we could not continue to provide an education for hundreds of children in a slum in Zambia without YOU.

YOU may not realize how important you are. Every prayer offered to the Lord and every dollar that is given is important to us and to WISDOM Christian School.

People have asked us about a mission trip to Zambia. With the upheaval in the whole world over the COVID virus, it makes it impossible for us to plan a mission trip. If a surge erupts or a new variant, the Zambia government changes the rules for international travel and for schools. When the omicron variant appeared, Zambia made it compulsory for international travelers from a “high risk country” (U.S. is considered high risk) to quarantine for 10 days in a place they choose. If we had planned a trip for that time, we would be stuck or would have to cancel. If there is a surge, they will shut down all the schools. If we plan a trip and that happens, we would be unable to minister to the children at WCS. For now, we minister from a distance.

DONATE HERE

The 2021 school year has ended in Zambia. The kindergartners graduated (see photos on the WISDOM Christian school Facebook page here). The teachers planned a wonderful graduation ceremony for them and their parents. The 7th graders have tested to see whether they can progress to high school.

As the new school year begins in January 2022, WCS will add the 9th grade to the school. As they add another high school grade, there are many more new materials that need to be purchased – more extensive curriculum, more equipment for the science lab and Home Ec classes, and some upgraded computer equipment. Please consider a donation to help meet the new needs of the school.

Please let us know how you are doing. Our office is only open by appointment but you can email us at info@livingwellokc.org. We are no longer taking new appointments, but will see people that we have seen in the past. 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. Did you know? if you've reached the age where you need to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your traditional IRAs, you can avoid paying any taxes on the distribution by sending the funds directly to a nonprofit. If you are interested in donating your RMD to LIVING WELL or WISDOM Christian School, please contact us!

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 2021 Letter LIVING WELL

When you read that word, what do you feel? 

Excitement?     Anxiety?    Fear?     Hope?

That one word is emotionally charged.

We are living in time that is changing daily, sometimes dramatically.

If you have ever been hit by a tornado or a hurricane, you know your whole life is forever changed in an instant. When you have a child, your life changes. In a very short amount of time, the pandemic has changed the way of life for most people. Other changes are more gradual. We wake up one day and think – what has happened?

The family dynamic in the U.S. has changed over the last 50 years. In 1960, 12% of adults ages 25 to 34 had never been married. By the time this age group hit their 40’s -50’s, only 5% had never married. By contrast in 2010, 45% of the 25-34’s had never married. “If current trends continue, 25% of young adults in the most recent cohort (ages 25 to 34 in 2010) will have never married by 2030.” (Pew Research)

In summary, we see 5% never-married in 1980 compared to a projected 25% never married by 2030. This cultural shift contains a myriad of other complex relationships. It contains many implications for the future. We have seen the evolution of these changing relationships in our marriage counseling over the last 25 years.

Most of us like some changes – better economic situation, less stress at home, happy marriage. Many of us dislike other changes in our lives – aging, death of a loved one, loss of job.

How do we cope with change?

In an ever-changing world, we have an anchor, a rock, that never changes. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) When we feel that the world is spinning around us, we can focus on a God that never changes. That truth brings peace, comfort, and stability.

WISDOM Christian School has resumed classes after a six-week break. The COVID surge in Zambia is coming down and more vaccinations are now available. Thanks to the faithful contributions of many, we are able to pay all of the staff during these challenging times. Please see this page for more school news and photos.

Please let us know how you are doing. Our office is only open by appointment but you can email us at info@livingwellokc.org. We are no longer taking new appointments, but will see people that we have seen in the past. 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. Did you know? if you've reached the age where you need to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your traditional IRAs, you can avoid paying taxes on them by donating that money to charity. If you are interested in donating your RMD to LIVING WELL or WISDOM Christian School, please contact us!

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 2021 Letter LIVING WELL

Why is LIVING WELL involved with supporting a school in a slum?

When you hear the word “missionary,” what do you think?

• A missionary lives in a foreign country.
• Something that was done in the past but doesn’t relate to me now.
• Missionaries are super spiritual Christians. Or ......

When you hear about people going on a short-term mission trip, what do you think?

• It’s a way to go on a vacation.
• There is plenty to do here at home; they don’t need to go to abroad.
• They should be having large events to share the gospel. 
• Bible teaching is the most important thing to do.

We have had heard all of those thoughts and we have had some of them. But we have changed a lot in our thinking over the last 30 years. What we have learned is:

• We are all on mission – hence, we are all missionaries. We are not super spiritual.
• Being a missionary in our home location is important. But if we are only missionaries at home, how do some populations learn about Jesus?
• Missions are important as long as we live in this world. The method of the mission may change, but the message does not – there are many ways to share the gospel, including schools, businesses, clinics, and more.

At home, we consider ourselves marriage missionaries. We share our faith through helping people overcome a marital crisis or by strengthening their marriage. 

In Zambia, we are both short-term, in-person missionaries and long-term support missionaries. 

While teaching the Bible to pastors in East Africa, we encountered Christians in a variety of ways – they may be a waiter or other service provider. When we asked them how they came to Christ, many shared that they became Christians through a Christian school or clinic supported by Christians from the U.S. or Europe.

We have also found out (through the research of others and our own personal experience) that many Christians today are very interested in missions IF they think they can make a difference. God presented us with an opportunity to make a difference through a school in a slum in Africa.

The mission at WISDOM Christian School absolutely makes a difference in the lives of hundreds of children. 

• Every child gets an education. 
• Every child learns about God and hears the good news about Jesus Christ. 
• Every child receives grace and love from the staff and the mission teams. 
• Every dollar makes a difference in the life of a child. 
• Every member of every mission trip to WISDOM can influence a child in this slum.

And, as every past team member will tell you, it is not a vacation! But it is refreshing to our soul and spirit.

Please let us know how you are doing. Our office is only open by appointment but you can email us at info@livingwellokc.org. 

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 the health and support for the students and staff at WCS. Zambia is experiencing their “third wave” with COVIC-19; vaccinations are negligible.

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.