All work and less play.

Work
Recently scheduled Saturday meetings have extended our work week about a half day. This combined with an unpredictable internet connection often means working evenings too. 2009 has proved to bring us a challenge finding proper balance and learning to obey God's command to rest.

Travel
This week Kyle and I are parting ways. Kyle heads east for three days to Lilongwe, Malawi to visit with a Partners Worldwide business project that has similar vision and goals to our CBI projects. There three students from Trinity Christian College offering business training to the members of this group. Kyle hopes to connect and gain a better understanding of what is working for this business association.

I will remain in Zambia and go on Farmer-to-Farmer visits, another project we will begin working with very soon. My visits will take me west on the Great East Road to Katete and Petauke to see how farmers are using conservation techniques to increase yields and improve food security.

Both of us will return home on Friday in time to prepare to host a CBI vision meeting on Saturday morning. CBI is coming along slowly. Committed members are meeting on a weekly basis from 10am-12pm to discuss the future structure of CBI and how it can best serve the community. Although a challenging process, there are some great people bringing creative ideas and we are excited to see what will come of this partnership.

House Church
While in Chipata we were and continue to attend the ECZ (Evangelical Church in Zambia). Recently, God has also opened a door on the other side of town to be part of a local house church that has a vision and desire to reach out in to the local Muslim community. It is exciting to worship with them, as they explore a more New Testament model to having church. There is emphasis on taking responsibility away from one person and encouraging everyone to prepare to come to church with a hymn, psalm, or Bible passage. Group participation and prayer for one another is emphasized. It is an exciting journey and we hope to find ways to be part of both the ECZ and this house church. There is opportunity to offer the ministries God has place on our heart in both communities, with a desire to bring unity among all the churches.

This past Sunday we were invited to teach a Bible study on the five ministries of the Church from Ephesians 4. The lesson was well received and there are plans to pray and ask God to show us how to grow as a body of Believers. We are hoping to grow and identify the ways God desires to use us in the House church AND in the community.

Prayers:
1. Pray for our meetings, travel, and time apart from one another.
2. Pray for continued leadership development for both CBIs and the Christian school.
3. Pray for Kyle to have adequate time to prepare to preach this Sunday at the ECZ.