Zambian Presbyterians and Shopping Presbyterians

In the morning we focused on relationships with fellow Presbyterians, while the afternoon was focused on sponsorship.

We started the day at the Justo Mwale Theological University, where we met the new PC(USA) liaison in the region, Nancy Collins. Nancy resides in Lusaka but also covers Rwanda, Kenya and Malawi, facilitating relationships that strengthen the church. She had arranged for us to meet with senior leadership from the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, Synod of Zambia, which traces its roots back to the 1870s, when it was founded in memory of the famous missionary/explorer, David Livingston.

What a thrill it was to hear of this church's recent growth and to hear about their strategies for coping with it. The discussion ranged from training pastors to helping ex-convicts re-integrate into society. The CCAP is more closely linked with the rural poor, so their strategies for training pastors always include practical "sustainability" work, teaching pastors a trade or was of generating income to sustain themselves in ministry. On a 5 acre plot of land we saw the beginnings of a brand new synod office and a training center for people recently released from prison. We also met the Reverend Erin Raska, who recently came to Zambia with her husband Brent. Princeton grads, they have connections with Bob Sanders' daughter Becca. Sometimes the world seems small!

(Note the photo of the Reverend Dr. Victor Chilenje and the Reverend Maleka Rabson Kabandama sharing their dreams and plans for new construction on synod property.)

After a delicious lunch with our new CCAP friends, we headed to the Arcades shopping center to purchase staple foods and gifts for the 25 sponsored children we will be visiting in a few days. The total bill came to about SIX MILLION Zambian kwacha - or about $1200. (Note photo of Bettirae selecting cooking oil.) While most of us were doing this, LuAnn & Alan of World Vision accompanied Scott Fortmann to visit his sponsored child, about one hour outside Lusaka. They also touched base with people from a couple villages with ties to our church, as well as the Chitentabunga School. The visit was a highlight for Scott, who is still frustrated by the failure of South African Airways to locate and deliver his luggage!

Evening came and we were pleased to share our meal with Mrs. Foster Lubasi, who visited LGPC in 2007, and water specialist Chim Maseka and his wife Anne. Chim surprised and delighted the group with a gift of "World Vision Zambia" shirts. Tomorrow Chim hopes to arrange for us to see the new WVZ drill rig in action, hard at work bringing clean water to the rural poor.

We tumble into bed exhausted but happy after a successful day of ministry connections and preparation for our sponsorship time in Sinazongwe, where we

head tomorrow. As we said aloud with our Zambia Presbyterian brothers and sisters today: "God is good, all the time... All the time, God is good."