WE GO BACK over three years ago when it all started with a vision, and now we can look back and give praise to our Lord. After all, we are in the business of expanding God’s kingdom. These verses from Isaiah (below) have become very real to us over the past few months, seeing the MFAZ project happening and changing from a vision to a reality. We give God thanks for the trust and hope that his word would be fully accomplished in the MFAZ project and that it will yield a big harvest not just in Zambia but all over Africa.

On 20^th Jan 2003 we admitted our first intake of 16 Zambian students. Since then we have covered much material in mechanics, life skills and spiritual guidance—all covered in the morning sessions. Luke, Fanwell and Charlie take the mechanics practical sessions in the afternoons—with the exception of football once a week which is Pastor Sydney’s department!

I have been involved in much of the life skills teaching. It is very rewarding to see the students putting into practice some of the things we teach them. This term we learnt about safety in the home, health and hygiene, diarrhoea management, balanced diet, smoking and alcohol. We also spent some time in learning how to build a pit latrine; the students were divided into two groups and each group had the task of building their own pit latrine with a very small budget and having to use materials found on the property. It was a great success and until we complete the building of the ablutions block the pit latrines are well and truly used!

WORKSHOP ACTIVITY has been hectic and eventful. When college opened in January we hadn’t managed to kit out and organise the workshop. Many of the tools and equipment were still in their boxes as packed for transit from England. These were all brought down to the workshop and slowly sorted out. Another task we tackled early on was the erection of the first of the two vehicle lifts (the second still needs putting up!). Bit by bit the workshop is now beginning to take shape, as are the store rooms, with shelves; workbenches; storage space etc.

Initially we didn’t yet want to take on commercial work for outside customers as we wanted to settle down a bit. However several people were on to us asking for work to be done, so as soon as felt ready we took some jobs on. We have already done a complete engine strip and rebuild, a gearbox strip and rebuild, a clutch, and about three regular services! All this in the last few weeks or so, and all without the slightest bit of advertising. We certainly seem not to be short of commercial work to supplement the income of the college!

One of the disappointing times (at least for me) was the discovery that our electrician who wired up the building had not done a good job—I had to go right through the entire building checking each and every connection, and re-doing many circuits. This at a time just after college had started when I had better things to do, but felt that to leave it would have been unsafe. Praise the Lord it is all safe and secure now.

It is very interesting to talk to our students and hear them starting to mention the word AIDS. A few weeks ago one of our students said that he had spent the weekend at a funeral. I asked him what he thought the person had died of? I was amazed when he said that he thought it was AIDS-related disease that killed his relative. I get the impression that the young generation is waking up to the reality of it, and starting to be honest and open about AIDS.

But if the community is living in denial and fear of AIDS, it is difficult and offensive to them when we try to talk about it. They need to want to know about AIDS, and to learn how to cope with it, how to look after their bodies, and how to plan for the future for those staying behind. It is only then that we can work together to fight AIDS, but the first step is honesty and openness, and change will follow in the lives of our students their families and the community at large.

Please pray for the Zambian people, for employment to come to the Copperbelt, and especially to Ndola.

Soapbox is planning another trip to Ndola in August. Please pray for the trip to be a successful trip for all concerned and for God’s protection from any calamities or sicknesses upon the team.

Please pray for our 16 students, that they each are able to complete the course and do well. Pray also for their spiritual growth and for their health.

Please pray for all our staff, for honesty, integrity and health to them and to their families.

Pray for Charlie and Sharonne, for their health and strength. Last term they were very tired and worn out by the end. Pray for God’s strength, wisdom, patience and above all love, love for the people of Zambia.