Dwayne and Betty Mitchell

Nyimba Central Church's version of "Together We Build".

Be in Prayer for Nyimba Central Baptist Church. This strategically located church has been making plans to get a plot in the Boma (town) of Nyimba for a couple of years now. There is hope that they are getting closer to getting a plot and the church is begging the process of getting ready to build. This is a much different process than a church in the US would be expected to go through. They do get a committee as such together and they do raise some money for the things they will have to buy but the first thing they do is start making all the basic building materials that they can make. Their first need is for bricks so the church has been having a series of work days to mold brick for the foundation and get them ready to burn. They go to an area near the river that is set aside for brick making. They dig I the clay to get some loose then they carry water from the river to pour on the clay. Some of them get in and stomp the clay and water until it forms a nice mud. This is then poured into a brick mold to form the brick that is then left out in the sun to dry. These will be stacked then fire will be built in the tunnels left in the stacks for that purpose and they will be left to bake. They will need about five thousand bricks for the foundation. They will then repeat the process until they have enough for the walls.  The members of the church are meeting every week to build the bricks for their building. This is a lot of work but they are entering into it with joy and thanksgiving. Pray for them that they will continue and not become discouraged. Pray for them that they will practice good stewardship with the little that they have and will allow God to show Himself to be more than adequate for their needs as they get to the point where they will need to buy what they cannot make themselves. Pray that they will have the faith to allow God to use them to finish this project without turning to seek outside help. Pray that they will get a plot soon so they can begin to build.
 

Michael Mitchell Revisits his Zambian Home.

We have been blessed to have our son Michael spend July and part of June and August with us. One of the ways the IMB supports missionary families is by providing a trip back to the field for all Missionary Kids after they finish high school and return to the US. Our youngest, son Michael just went back to the US after his trip. He went out with Dwayne some and spent time at home for the first two weeks. We all went to our annual Missionary Training Meeting which was in Victoria Falls this year. Michael worked with the kids in the mission and we got to do some touring of the sites in the area. He took an ultra light flight over the falls while his mom and dad stayed safely on the ground and took pictures. He got to take a short hunting safari to hunt food for the lions on a game ranch north of Lusaka then got to take a camera safari with his parents in South Luangwa Game Reserve. Part of the latter we did on foot as a walking safari to get up close and personal with African nature. Most of all we enjoyed being together after all the separation we experience as a family. We are proud of Michael and it was such a joy to have this time with him. Thank you, Southern Baptist for the support you give that allowed us to have such a precious opportunity to be with one of our kids and allowed him to revisit his roots at such a crucial time in his life.
 

Kamakonde Batist Church.

The people of Kamakonde Baptist church meet in the open in the center of the small village. The women set on grass mats and the men sit on the ground or on traditional stools. This is a new church and needs prayer as it becomes established and shares the Savior with its community.