Meier's Prayer Letter

Dear Prayer Partners,

Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! This dynamic truth is what sets Christianity apart from all the other religions in the world. We have a Risen Savior! It is a testimony to the saving power and transformation that God graciously offers to a world heading for destruction! Be encouraged and of good cheer for He has overcome the world. Easter is our time to celebrate the grace of God! I Corinthians 15:20a “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.”

Our family news: Before Christmas, we traveled to the USA to help Tim’s parents. His father (Richard) had major open heart surgery to replace his aortic valve (we thank the Lord that it was successful!). While Richard was recovering, Tim helped his mother (Phyllis, who is diabetic) at their home. Christmas was a blessed time as we were able to be with family, and we even had all our girls together with us again! Those precious gifts are becoming far more rare for us.

Aging parents, and how we should respond to that situation as missionaries, is an issue we have been struggling with. We have been reflecting on the impact both our sets of parents have had on us, and our ministry. We praise God for them! Our short time in the USA, gave us opportunity to return some of the love and support we have received from our parents over the years.

Our school news clips:

The new stove (that Tim and a friend made) is running well and saving us lots of money that we do not have to spend on charcoal. The kitchen ladies are thrilled about not having to do as much work with the new stove.

We have also been blessed with a donation of soy flakes, rich in nutrients to add to the student’s food.

Names to Know:

Violet Mwanza an orphan from Grade 9 (our highest grade) says her favorite subject is math and she hopes to work in a bank as an accountant.

Catherine Ngwese, our headmaster (principal), has the opportunity to impact many lives and is such a mentor and example to our teachers. She has been faithfully serving at Grace Community School since the beginning.

Pastor Emmanuel, as the education chairman (for all Grace Schools in Zambia) has been a great advocate for our school and has procured funds for our grade 9 student exams and money for books. His job is to set policies and guidelines for all the Grace schools in Zambia. He has been a wonderful asset for the school and very supportive.

Mufulira Sunday night Bible study: Glynis (one of our newest Bible study members with her family) shares her thoughts, “I have been growing in my relationship with God, I have someone to talk to and this has brought me great peace and I am able to cope with life and love goes so much further than anger! The Lord and I can handle life! I am sharing my faith in small ways, praying and trying to bring others to Bible study.” Our friends continued with the Bible study we started, though we cannot be there most of the time because we are in -- a transition!

A Time of Transition

We now have one foot in Mufulira and one foot in Kabwe (it is sort of like playing the game of Twister!). We are feeling the stretch because we are short on missionaries and our help is needed here in Kabwe, too. For us, we spend 3 weeks here in Kabwe and 1 week in Mufulira each month. It is difficult to help with 2 different places of ministries, but God has supplied friends from our Bible study who have been helping us with our responsibilities in Mufulira. Hard as it is, it has been nice to be close to the Shermans next door, (Barb is Deb’s sister) and our oldest daughter, Melissa (who has gotten a job in the capitol Lusaka, managing a restaurant). In our next prayer letter we will update you about our ministries in Kabwe.

Thank you for surrounding us with your prayers and support! As always, we labor together, as the “body of Christ,” for His honor and glory. God bless your faithfulness! In Christ, Tim and Debbe Meier

Kabwe

Tim and I are here in Kabwe, short term, to help with the International church -- Grace Church held at the Grace Center in Kabwe. We have also been maintaining the ministries in Mufulira long distance or for a week at a time. Grace Community School in Mufulira has continued to develop, and we were recently blessed by a gift when our grade 9 students were able to take their entrance exams for grade 10. What a wonderful and continuing opportunity for our students! The school continues to run well in our short term absence.

While in Kabwe we have been blessed to have Steve and Barb Sherman and their family living right next door! It has been wonderful to have family close by! (Barb is my sister -- Debbe.) It has also been great to have our oldest daughter Melissa working in Lusaka, only 2 short hours away! This week we have had many meetings to help us get into our short term ministries here in Kabwe. We also have had a follow up meeting after our member care conference to reflect on what we had learned. Lastly we held a missionary ladies tea to see how we can best serve all of the missionary ladies here in Kabwe. Please continue to pray for our health and continued strength as we juggle ministries in two different locations. Thank you!