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A letter from Nancy Dimmock in Zambia

June 2014

Dear Friends,

Emeria with the mini libraries of HIV/AIDs resources

 

New friends and colleagues of CCAP Synod of Zambia

 

Alifa with her energetic, international youth group leader, "Miss Sue"

 

Isaac and Jackson at the Lusaka International Community School

 

Proud mama with Isaac, graduating from primary school

Papayas and lemons are in season!  And there’s nothing like a fresh papaya with a freshly squeezed lemon from the lemon tree for breakfast. YUM!   I will miss the tropics.  And we will all miss the wonderful blessing that this house (THANK YOU, Ellington Family!!) and location have been.  We were in the middle of the Justo Mwale Seminary community with a playground and football pitch and built-in playmates, and with the house nestled in a grove of mango, banana, lemon and papaya trees, and fully furnished.  It has been a gift of huge proportions.

And, despite our short stay in Zambia, we have developed good friendships.  I have been so impressed with the passion, commitment and hard work displayed by my colleagues in the HIV/AIDs Youth Department and by the Synod Executive.  Their desire is to serve the church and to deal with their partners with integrity. They developed a proposal—which was approved and funded by the PC(USA)—to resource the Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Synod of Zambia pastors and youth workers with HIV/AIDS materials.  With these funds they are developing a central library of resources, but in response to a cry from the congregations are also developing mini libraries that are being shared at the presbytery level.  Emeria Zgambo  is one of the staff in the department who is introducing these resources at presbytery gatherings around the country.  Everywhere she has been the resources are deeply appreciated, but they are asking that they be copied for each congregation—to make them even more accessible.  They are absolutely hungry for these materials.  What a joy to have the means already in place to respond to this need (THANK YOU, PC(USA) Africa Office!).

The Young Adult Volunteer program is moving forward.  Four young women who applied were assigned to pioneer the program here in Zambia—and the folks here are excited and ready to welcome them.  They will be working in various community schools associated with CCAP congregations around the city of Lusaka.  They will be staying with host families, giving them the opportunity to truly become a part of a Zambian family and the local church community. It will be such a wonderful blessing for all involved.   

The Dimmock children are in their final days of school.  Isaac will be graduating from primary school in a special ceremony on June 18.  And he will receive a sports award at the School Awards Ceremony on the 19th.  Alifa is saying goodbye to all of her new best friends—both at school and at the international youth group.  And Jackson is also busy trying to say his goodbye as well.  One of his best friends, Thandi, wanted our cat, Bob, so that has cemented their friendship.  Apparently Bob has settled in well in his new home. 

We leave Lusaka on June 22 and will travel to Lesotho for two weeks, where I will help to host a mission team coming from Mobile, Ala.  Andrew finishes school in Lesotho on July 4, and we will all fly together to the States on the 7th.  We are looking forward to reuniting with Daddy Frank in Louisville, Ky., and making our new home there.  But FIRST we have a wedding to attend!  Our oldest daughter, Jesse, will be married to Saul Huber in Illinois on July 12.  Lots of happy family times ahead.

But right now it is time to say farewell.  How does one say farewell to deep friendships, a continent, a way of life, home?  Perhaps the key is in the word “farewell.”  It is an expression of good wishes at parting—may you fare well.   That is my prayer. May you, my new friends and colleagues at the CCAP Synod of Zambia, fare well.  May you, my dear friend and sister in Christ, Mamonyane Mohale, and all of the precious children at the Ministry of Hope Lesotho, fare well.  May you,  Elsie Kumwenda, Mwawi Nyirongo, and all who care for the most vulnerable ones in Malawi, be encouraged and fare well.  May you, my missionary colleagues and friends serving throughout the continent, keep on in faithfulness and fare well.

I know you will, because God is with you and in you.  You will continue to do great things and will move from strength to strength. But I will miss you.

Someone recently shared this quote online:  “You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart will always be elsewhere.  That is the price you pay for the richness of living and loving people in more than one place” (Mick+Wout).    And each of YOU is so worth that price.

May you fare well!
Nancy Dimmock and family

The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 141
Read more about Nancy Dimmock's ministry in Zambia

Write to Nancy Dimmock
Individuals: Give online to E200511 for Nancy Dimmock's sending and support
Congregations: Give to D504843 for Nancy Dimmock's sending and support

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