NOVEMBER 2014 Letter LIVING WELL

Pastor Charles speaking

Thank YOU to everyone who attended our dinner and the other events where our friend and colleague from Zambia, Pastor Charles Mutambala, spoke.

No matter how much or how well we try to convey the need and results of ministering in Zambia, it does not match the passion through which a Zambian can convey the situation over there.

Brother Charles spoke 12 times at 3 churches and at two dinners while he was here. The response was astounding!

Pastor Charles preaching

He inspired and challenged all of us when he spoke about what it meant to be a living sacrifice. Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1

THANKS for GIVING during this last year! I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.  Philippians 1:3-5

YOUR support and that of many others continues to amaze us! YOUR giving is making essential improvements at WISDOM Community School and is insuring its continued operation!

Funding for the security wall at WISDOM Community School is complete! Because of YOUR giving, we can proceed with the wall. What a security wall means:

• Enhanced safety and privacy for students
• Enhanced security for school buildings and contents
• Ability to proceed with fundraising for:
• Electric lights in the school buildings
• Electric water pump and water storage tank
• Kitchen building, leading to a feeding program for students
• Playground equipment
• Vegetable garden
• Chicken or pig raising program

Because of YOUR support, we continue to work with marriages. This couple was about to divorce and have a young child. Their marriage is now better than it has ever been and they are expecting a second daughter! Here’s an excerpt from video testimony at our dinner:

• I was desperate to save our marriage. . . . I didn’t know where to start. . . . But you always pointed us to the Word of God . . . . We knew He was for our marriage. I gave Him all my sin, my insecurities, my deficiencies. He took that and loved through me. . . . We learned that all of our needs can be met through God. . . . don’t have to rely on this person to fulfill everything. . . . Learning new techniques and conflict resolution. . . .
  [click here to see the rest of the video]

To learn more about educating a child at WISDOM Community School, click here. YOU can educate one child for $25/month or $300/year. YOU can sponsor one teacher for $225/month or $2700/year,

We love and appreciate YOU and YOUR support of what God is doing!
Our love in Christ,
Donna and Ed Edwards

P.S. Please praise the Lord with us for His provision and blessings! Pray for Brother Charles and his ministry.

To see more pictures of his visit, click here and here.

Zambian Pastor Charles Mutambala at Oklahoma Capitol

Pastor Charles Mutambala has been very interested in government since his four years at a Bible college near Boston. He studied the U.S. style of democracy and constitution. He was a spiritual adviser to a previous Zambian president and participated in writing a new constitution for their national government.

During his visit to Oklahoma, Lt. Governor Todd Lamb graciously met with him and heard the history of the Zambian government since colonialism.

 

Donna Edwards, Pastor Charles Mutambala, Lt. Governor Todd Lamb, Ed Edwards

Pastor Charles in the Oklahoma Senate chamber

LIVING WELL Ministers at Wisdom Community School

Wisdom Community School, in Ndola, Zambia, is operated by Better World Ministry, headed by Brother Charles Mwila Mutambala. The school is in a slum area, called Twapia (means "we are very broke").

Home in Twapia

Ed and Donna Edwards, of Living Well, visited the school in January, 2012. They learned that the school no longer had funding for the teachers and caretaker. They presented the need to their young married Bible study class at Putnam City Baptist Church. Several members of the class committed to provide the $400/month funding needed for 2012. Because of their contributions, the school is able to remain in operation.



Market in Twapia

Most of the children are orphans or "twice orphaned" (both mother and father have died) and live with a grandparent, older sibling, or even a neighbor. The families cannot afford the uniforms, books, meals, and materials that have to be purchased to attend public schools.

Children in area came to meet us
as we came to "preview" the school.

The school is for grades 1-5 and teaches 160 kids in two rooms without electricity or running water. Living Well is partnering with Better World to help Wisdom Community School continue to operate. Many more children in the neighborhood are not attending school, but Wisdom Community School is now full. The school is adding a grade each year to be able to teach the children as they move to the next grade.

Since Living Well began partnering with Better World Ministry in January, the Lord has provided several of the needs of the school through donations and the MISSION ZAMBIA 2012 Team.

The eight on the team plus Ed and Donna as the week
at Wisdom Community School begins.

Eight team members from the Oklahoma City metro area travelled with us to Ndola at the beginning of June, 2012. Three team members (John Holinsworth, Lois Jeffries, Karen Russell) painted the school inside and out, as well as doing repairs, replacing the doors and locks, and working in the flower bed. Previous to the trip, Living Well raised the funds to plaster the school on the outside in preparation for painting.

Five team members (Darla Holinsworth, Mary Kay McCormick, Norma McKinney, and Ron & Kathy Jackson) provided Bible teaching, crafts, music, and recreation for 160 children for 5 days.

So far in 2012 ....

MISSION accomplished:

• Monthly monetary support for three teachers, one caretaker amounting to a total of $400/month (commitments for 2012)
• Painting the interior walls (materials/supplies cost: $500)
• Cement plastering the exterior of the building to prevent deterioration of the earthen bricks (cost estimate: $1000 labor and materials)
• Painting the exterior walls after plastering (materials/supplies cost: $500)
• Teaching materials (books, paper, pencils, teaching aids, etc.)
• New doors and locks
• Recreation equipment - soccer balls, etc.
• Music equipment, hand instruments
• New Testament for each child
• Books and bookcases
• Toothbrush and toothpaste for each child (thanks to Dr. Russell Danner and Dr. Glenn Ashmore)
• A week of Bible teaching, crafts, Bible stories, music, and recreation

We did a lot of work, accomplished a lot, and left them with a lot .... but the reality is that we were the ones who benefited the most.

Before we took the mission trip, some people asked if it wouldn't be better just to give the money to have local people do the work. Our answer is that then you wouldn't have the experience of ministering to these children.

Much more is needed at the school. Will tackle that one in the next post.