The McKillop's Newsletter: November to December 2022

Dear Friends and Supporters,
When the school holidays begin Nyangombe leaders are overwhelmed with requests for youth and children’s events. Children in nearby villages are so many that to bring them all here would inundate us with hundreds of children. Hence the idea to hold Village Parties as an outreach to children and adults emerged!.

Village Parties around Christmas

The one thing that visitors comment on most when travelling through Africa is the number of children. In Zambia today those under 21 years of age number over 6,000,000, more than half the population. When children’s camps are held in Nyangombe we have received up to a mind boggling 3,000 children!! Therefore we go out to where they are as often as possible. People leave Nyangombe many Sunday mornings to hold village Sunday Schools as it becomes increasingly difficult to manage our own Sunday School when numbers exceed 120!!

During December each year, Nyangombe staff run village 'Christmas Parties' in various villages around Nyangombe. As well as fun with some food and drinks being provided we have excellent communicators for both children and adults who explain the Christmas message in clear terms easily understood by all. It is a case of communicating the Christmas story as an ongoing reality of 'joy to the world, the Lord has come'. It has become a much loved tradition!

One will never know this side of eternity what impact this outreach will have on these children, but we can trust the Lord to make Himself known.

Widows and Orphans

The harshness of life in the African Bush for widows cannot be overstressed. The elderly have a tough life and many do not have family around them for support. They come to Nyangombe regularly for encouragement and our ‘village care teams’ learn of needs such as walls ready to fall out of their house or serious leaks in their thatched roofs. Our Building and Carpentry Trainees are often able to help make homes safe and watertight. It is also a time for the women to chat with others in similar situations. We take the opportunity to share the Good News and to give them a meal followed by some small gifts of salt, dried fish and oil to take home. It is always made clear to the women that Churches and individuals far away send support and the ladies are quick to express their genuine thanks.

Skills for Life trainees qualify

On 23rd December 2022 we said goodbye to 22 trainees who had learned a Skill for Life in Carpentry, Building or Dressmaking and Design. The Carpenters and Builders had been with us for 18 months and the Tailoring students for five months. The Tailoring students arrived for their 'graduation' (as they call it!) dressed in clothing they had specially made. Building and Carpentry Trainees leave Nyangombe with a good kit of tools (gifted by dedicated individuals and Tools with a Mission) and are able to begin work immediately to earn a living.

Nyangombe is a Christian Training Centre and as such places great emphasis on the qualities of character that future employers really want. Our local Pastoral Care Team work diligently in these areas of life until the qualities become part of who they are. Very regular teaching from God's Word has a profound impact on the trainees who pass through Nyangombe and many make first time commitments to the Lord whilst others grow in knowledge and love for the Lord. As well as teaching them a Skill for Life, we constantly marvel at what the Lord does in the lives of these students. When we hold regular Bible Schools, we are no longer surprised to see past trainees now attending courses as mature leaders in the Church!

Thank you as always for your prayer and support,

Gordon & Sybil