Guinea Pigs, Math and Street Kids

Dear Friends

Sorry it has been a while since we last touched base. Much has happened in the last couple of weeks in all areas of our lives. Where do we start?

How about our saga involving the death of eight Guinea pigs, yes you heard right, eight, Guinea pigs. For a while the kids have wanted to get some more pets, but unfortunately our dog, Spud, does not share their enthusiasm. Spud is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and is basically bred to be very territorial when it comes to other animals. Needless to say, we have been reluctant to try to introduce another pet into the mix. As often happens, we went against our better judgment and gave the go ahead for our friend “Grandson” to build the kids a cage and fill it with four Guinea Pigs. Things started off well, as we built the cage to be dog proof; which it was until the kids forgot to move a large stone they had earlier place right next to the fence. Yep, you guessed it, that stone gave Spud just enough height to bound over the fence and quickly end the lives of our new fury friends. So what does any sympathetic warm blooded parent do in a situation like this? Buy the kids four more Guinea pigs and hope that the talk you had about being more responsible for themselves and their surroundings sunk in. Of course you know how the rest of the story goes. Yesterday, while trying to fortify the cage even more, we removed the new Guinea pigs and placed them in a rubber bin in the house. With watchful eyes we ensured every door was closed denying Spud the opportunity to repeat his feat again. That is until one of the kids forgot to close a door behind them and sure enough that dog boldly came into the house in “stealth mode” and kill the new batch of four. Amazingly the kids seemed to have been conditioned a bit by the week’s earlier killing and did not seem as upset over the loss of the second group of pigs. All in all it has been sad and if I am honest a bit funny as Elise and I have to break the bad new twice now. We of course will be searching for a new batch of Guinea pigs (as they are only around $2 piece) and will keep you posted on their progress (hah).

"Grandson" and the guinea pig pen

On the home schooling front I am happy to report that Elise and the kids area really enjoying their time together. This is in part to a new system Elise has implemented to teach the kids responsibility and to create a bit more structure into their days. I want to take a moment and let all of you know how great a mom and teacher Elise is. She has done such a great job helping our family to get into a new routine after our move to our new house. And it has been fun to watch her discover her natural gift of teaching.

A while back I wrote about an experience I had while ministering to some street kids and in particular a conversation I had with a young man named Alvis. I return the next week with a group of friends on a frigid Friday night and distributed some tea and roles to around 70 kids. I have included some pictures and can assure you it was an amazing time of fellowship and coming to the realization that some of these kids have never felt a loving touch. There was one teenage boy who literally latched himself onto my body and said, “I love you, please take me with you”. To tell you the truth, I did not know how to respond. But after I had some time to reflect on the evening I realized that my experience with my young friend was a perfect picture of what Christ does each time I come to Him for affirmation. He does not get hung up on all the Worldly filth that often covers me, but rather, quickly embraces and reminds me that I am His and that He loves me dearly. Please be praying tomorrow as we will return to visit with the street kids and continue reminding them that they are greatly prized by their Heavenly Father and us as well.

Hospital visitation continues to move forward and it seems that God has opened the doors for us to be working in almost all of the local clinics in Lusaka. Recently, I spent some time arranging an outreach event for a short term team that is coming in August from South Carolina. They will be distributing hygiene kits (wash cloths / soap / powder ) to the patients in the Pediatric Malnourishment Word at the local teaching hospital. This will be a great opportunity to spend some time with these suffering children and offer not only some physical relief but more importantly as much spiritual relief as God will use us to accomplish. Please pray for this outreach as many times African are afraid to have white people pray for them due to a cultural belief that all “whites” are “satanists”.

On another ministry front we wanted to ask you to start to pray for Action Zambia’s upcoming pastor’s conference. This is the second conference AZ has facilitated and we are expecting over 200 people to show up. The conference is themed: “Building Biblical Marriages” and is opened to all pastors who will hopefully bring their wives as well. It will be taking place during the first week of August and run from eight in the morning till noon on Mon / Tue / Wed / Thur/ Fri. Elise and the rest of the AZ ladies will also be leading the worship time during the Friday portion of the conference. Talking about marriage matters in public forums is not as common or accepted here in the African culture as it is back in the States. Ask God that He will begin a good work in the lives and marriages of the many areas pastors that will attend this event.

Other than that life continues as usual, always busy and never the same. Thanks again for all you do in supporting the Lord’s work here in Zambia. As you know none of this would be possible without your involvement. We love you all dearly and miss you as well. I know we had said this before, but if you have not already, please visit our blog by clicking on the link: www.whitfieldwateringhole.blogspot.com , where you can read all of our updates and see even more pictures. God bless each of you and remember to PRESS ON & INTO HIM!!!

His Servants

Luke (for the clan) <><