It's been awhile and we have been back in the States for about 3 weeks now and there is a bit of a lull to catch up.
We will be in the US until early or mid February when we plan to head back to Zambia with CVM under a longer term commitment of 2-3 years at a time. We sold our house in one day to the first person that saw it and are working on the details of selling out of the practice to a great veterinarian a few years behind me in the business. The kids are enjoying a long break from homeschool while we are here and loving seeing their cousins and grandparents (and playing video games). I have been working at Hillside a couple days a week and it has been fun catching up with clients and the staff. Alicia has been mostly getting a million things done and spending as much time as she can with her mom and sister.
We plan to go back as soon as possible to continue the work we have started. In March we plan to breed cattle again with a larger grant this time and do 400 cows in the area. A classmate of mine and a friend from Canada are planning to come help with the dirty work and I am so thankful! We also plan to help the newly formed cooperative with the purchase of a sprayer (large, mobile unit) for ticks on cattle that can be moved about the area for tick control. This will be a huge help in controlling deadly tick diseases that threaten the livestock population there. After breeding slows down we will get back to the rotating monthly education and devotions in the bush as our basic outreach ministry of the church.
In Mwandi we have been moved to another house on the river that is larger and can accomodate visitors more easily. The house is owned by the Church of Scotland and must be used for ministry as well as a living place. This was perfect for us as Alicia has been saying that she would love to have ministry opportunities she can do from home as that is so much easier with the kids. When it was presented to us this way it was just...funny I guess? God gave us exactly what we felt we needed and should have been praying for. The things we don't trust Him with... So Alicia will be helping out with a sewing club ministry, formula for HIV+ mothers of newborns, and gardening ministry from the house. Amazing!
We are going to Seattle in January to meet with the CVM staff and hopefully get everything in order to become long term field staff there. We would like to be part of this organization this way for accountability and support while we are in the filed. They are great people and have helped to organize this last year with us as 'short term' participants so far. Through you all and the organization of CVM, Mwandi Veterinary Project, and World Renew we were able to raise all of the support we needed to get through the year. It came in in monthly support and one time gifts but in the end it all added up to just enough to see us and all the projects through the 9 months. Thank you all!
This time going back we are expecting to stay longer term and CVM has wisely counseled us to get our monthly support in order before we go. We need to organize regular monthly support from individuals who feel a desire to be part of this work. We believe God has laid this work on our hearts and others in the Church and He is able to bring us together in it. So, if you have been supporting us and plan to continue or if you have not but plan to this year coming up let us know so we can plan for the coming years. Currently we still have our short term account you can give to (upper right of blog or cvmusa.org, short term, individuals and UCVSTM1768 is our account) or we will let everyone know once our long term account is approved and going. You can also call CVM at 206-546-7574 to set up monthly support.
If it is your joy please let us know and know that we need you! We would love to hear from you and are so encouraged by all the communication and interest in Mwandi we have received this year. Look for another update coming soon as things hopefully continue to come together. We would love to catch up with as many as we can this next month so drop us a line!
Ephesians 2:10
-paul
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| Rachel the professional international traveller. |
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| Christmas fun with cousin Simon. |
