The Donholm House

The Donholm house. Oct 25th

It is Friday and here is my first report. Last night Alan and I went to Pastor Lazarus and Elizabeth’s house. As we arrived at the living room door Jessica came out to meet us, so did Abby and then Desi.(their girls) It was good to see Jessica, she had grown much taller and she was not as shy as before. We had already been there in the morning and Carol was there to meet us. Carol is no longer living there but working as a house girl somewhere else. Jessica was at school and Abby and Desi were too shy in the morning to greet us.

We returned at night and brought them dinner and the nine of us ate together, Lazarus. Elizabeth, Laz’s mum, Victoria their house girl, Jessica, Abby and Desi, Alan and I. We brought them deep fried chicken which was almost everyone’s favourite and they enjoyed the meal. It was good to watch the children, Jessica was behaving like a very good older sister, she is now 14. They were sitting at one end of the living room together while the adults ate around the coffee table. Desi was sitting at Jessica’s lap, Jessica was eating and helping Abby as well as feeding Desi all at the same time. They look very happy together. They told us Jessica is doing well at school and that she is very smart. We will be going to visit Wilbroda today, the report is that she is recovering well and should be coming home. I don’t know if you all knew this, but the last two days before we left Toronto, Laz had been sending us emails telling us to urgently send money as Wilbroda was in hospital with pneumonia.( pneumonia is the 2 largest killer of children in Africa birth being the first)

A brief note to let you all know that we are alive and well, we did not get sick and I have recovered from the tiredness of the trip having slept 4 hours the day we arrived. Alan still needs to make up for lost sleep but he is running on God’s power . Please pray for Wilbroda.

The cabin (by alan)

I have this sense of peace as I think about packing I have left enough time there is no more rushing around to do and I think of my Cabin I was there on Monday with Herman, we went for a hike and closed it down. It makes me think the sun is setting on yet another chapter of my life " the summer of 2007" and I anticipate Africa... Hear I come ready on not!

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate ... his own life-he cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:26
In Jesus' day religious students chose which rabbi they wanted to learn from-like college students who decide which college to attend and which professors to study under. Luke tells us that Jesus was a popular rabbi. His classrooms, the fields in which he preached, were always filled as crowds gathered around him.
Imagine the eyes of people growing wide as Jesus described how to go from being mere followers to being his disciples! They had to be prepared to leave their fam­ilies and every other commitment that might get in the way of following Jesus. And in case there were any in the crowd who made commitments too easily, Jesus warned against hasty decisions. He described situations in which people needed to count the cost before starting a building project or battling an enemy.
Think of Jesus' disciples. They hadn't chosen Jesus­Jesus had chosen them! And now they were being reminded of the cost of being his disciples. Their eyes must have grown wider as Jesus' sermon grew longer!
Doesn't discipleship feel that way sometimes-like a series of awakenings to its high costs? But look at the high price Jesus paid to become our Savior! It's good to remember, when weariness sets in, that the One who calls us to serve him went all the way to a cross to give up his life in exchange for ours.

All Of God's Love

"Whoever recieves this child in My name receives Me; Whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; For he who is least among you, this is the one who is Great" Luke9:48

Well little Wilbroda the aids orphan we sponser is back in the hospital and quit sick lets pray for her NOW...Father I lift this soul up to you and ask you to heal her in Jesus name...Amen

The Bride in Africa (by alan)

So here we have my lovely bride the first night of the Zambian safari honeymoon emerging from the mosquito net Dec 2006

Esther & elephants (by alan)

Lets just say that Esther loves elephants and that is what got her into this Africa thing to begin with. Just 5 days to go and she will be blogging from Kenya

My first blog (alan)

Well I can not believe I am finally doing this after alll this time talking about it. And Just in time to say the least we leave on Monday.