Challenges from Zambia

I received a message from Mike in Zambia early this morning, please keep them in your prayers:

Pray for us,

Last night at 1:45pm someone was stealing our Landcruiser. I ran outside as soon as I could get the doors unlocked. They got the Landcruiser started and busted through the gate. Linda told me to go to the police, so we did. We waited an hour before anyone could go with us. The police supposedly called the boarder crossings and check points. We rode to Livingstone to see if we could pick up the trail. I believe I found our tire prints on the dirt paths that bypass the Livingstone weigh bridge/check point.

No one was injured and nothing else has been disturbed. We are praying as we have done before....

In Zambia, most of the police don't have vehicles. So when something like this happens, you have to go down to the police station and pick-up an officer so you can file a report. This doesn't make for the most timely pursuit of a theif, but I guess it is better than nothing.

The challenges are plentiful enough working in a country like Zambi, without having to deal with mishaps like this. Please lift up the Jones' in your prayers.

Blessings, -Scott

Water Update

As I posted earlier today based on my phone conversation with Mike Jones, below is detail he was able to provide via email (edited):

Hey Scott, -We do have water. Just enough. It would have been great to have some to spare, or use for other things like gardens (we should be able to make some shallow wells for gardens) or helping the school (which has no water). I must admit to praying much more earnestly after drilling dust for 60 meters. I'm sure many people were praying. Prayer works.

The new building site is on a gradual slope, making gravity fed water work better. I'll send some pictures soon, and some drawings.

I plan to be in Livingstone tomorrow withdrawing the money and buying a few things for stringing the foundations and digging. I'll go to Livingstone again within the next week, needing money and materials. Barclays Bank has increased the amount we can withdraw on our Visa Card to $1000.00, and since we have another Barclays Bank at Sun International I can withdraw Approximately $2000 in kwacha in Livingstone in one day.

God Bless, Mike

Wow. Admittedly I didn't realize that there was a risk with finding water. I suppose I knew there was a chance that we would come up dry, but to actually question whether water could me found?!

I imagine that this won't be the only surprise at we set-out to serve His children. Stay-tuned....

Water!

I did call and talk with Mike this AM, he was on his way back from Silembe to Kalomo. We did get water, and he indicated that there would be just enough to serve the six homes we plan to serve there.

Often times God gives us just enough to get us through doesn't he? Money, water, patience, endurance, He always provides at least 'just enough'.

For those of you that have been in prayer with us, thank you, and thank Him for answering it!

Bore Hole

We received an update from Mike in Kalomo, Zambia, this afternoon. This is the message:

Pray for water (I know, you already have.)! The driller went down 60 meters (almost 200 feet), dry hole. I really didn't think water would be a problem, since people are getting water from shallow wells only a few feet deep. The dry hole cost K5,000,000. The driller was also surprised, having drilled over 200 boreholes near Kalomo. He picked another place to drill, moved the equipment, and started again. We are down about 60 feet and into the same type of rock formation -drilled and found dry. I'm believing we will break through into better rock formation and find good water, probably after 120 feet.

I've asked our secretary in the States to give me the exact dollar figures for yesterdays withdrawals. We never know until the transaction reaches our bank, usually a day later. Then, I'll give you the figures and keep you updated on all expenses.

I called Noah again last week. He said he had been in Lusaka and would check on getting the work done yesterday. I suggested finding someone to do the simple plumbing and run one wire. I'll follow up this week.

I won't be at the bank until Thursday for the withdrawal. I need to be at the drilling site to keep a handle on things. I'll send a sketch soon. I just got in tonight.

God Bless, -Mike

Things are moving along, and for that we are thankful! God is good, and I am confident that tomorrow will bring better news. Please stay prayerful as we need water before staring construction.

-Scott N.

Silembe Update

Mike and Linda Jones returned to Zambia several weeks ago from their trip to the U.S. This is a message that I received from Mike yesterday, July 16th, at 2PM (edited):

Hello!

The well driller is in Kalomo tonight. We will depart at 7am. Should have a well tomorrow.

We already plan on being in Livingstone on Wednesday. I would like to take the lorry, withdraw and start buying materials.

Our house will be a bit unusual due to the bathroom, kitchen, and laundary being in detached buildings. The detached kitchen/laundary should service six houses. The detached bathroom should service three houses. Each house should be three bedrooms and a living room designed for 12 orphans and the "parents". The house is 30' x 20' with a simple A roof with 10' walls making the house cooler and easily extended. The bath house is 24' x 10' with a slanted roof. The kitchen/laundary is 20' square with an A roof and at least partially open sides, containing concrete sinks and masonry fire place for cooking.

These buildings should be simple and effective, and excellent in the eyes of Zambians (especially rural residents).

God Bless,
Mike

~Please pray for water as we bring life to House of Faith Orphanage in Silembe, Zambia.

Food Drive - 2007

We visited Juarez, Mexico, during our Food Drive 2007 in the latter part of May. We supplied an estimated $2,000 in dry goods, and then purchased $450 in meat in Juarez.

A team of eight left on May 25th, and then returned to Denver on May 28th. We also spent some time making the needed contacts for Christmas Over the Border mission scheduled for this December.

We are actively seeking out a volunteer to act as our Missions Director for Mexico. This person must be available to travel to Mexico 3-6 times per year to coordinate and lead short-term missions trips. It would also be necessary that for this individual to reside in the Denver, CO, area. If you have any interest please contact our office at 303.840.1123.

Run for the World 5K

We had nearly 80 runners and walkers for this year's Run for the World 5K in Boulder, CO. All of the funds are not in as of yet, but we believe that we raised over $6,000 for the project in Silembe, Zambia.

Thank you to all who participated in any number of ways! God Bless.