February 2008 - Covenant College Column

Dear friends and supporters of Covenant College,

It is with great appreciation and gratitude for your continued support that we send you this update regarding the people and work of Covenant College. Each time we hear of someone praying for us, we are encouraged to leave the outcome of all our labours in the skilful hands of our Sovereign Sender.

This Column briefly serves to inform you that we are ready to start a new term, and that our new family is on its way to join us.

Zwemstra Move

When I send this letter, the Zwemstra’s have just left South Africa and are on their way to Zambia. The Lord has kept and guided them through the busy time of finishing the work in their congregation, the many demands of preparation, and through the time of departing from their family and friends.

We are grateful that there are many supporters behind them, who have also raised the necessary provision for them to come to Covenant College.

We ask you to pray particularly that they will have a smooth and uncomplicated entry into Zambia. We thank their church for separating them to this ministry.

Mission station

The last months have seen more changes again around the college. Phil Bailey has been very busy supervising the finishing of the Dormitory. Ten rooms will be ready for students, neatly painted and including desks and shelves. All the toilets and showers are working well!

Next, he has organized the renovation of the Old Farm House, where students used to live. This is now converted into a self-contained guesthouse; a kitchen, shower and toilet are added. Here the Zwemstra’s will stay at the beginning, until a new house is built for them. Nelson and Akim were very busy painting inside these buildings.

The villages around Covenant College are also very glad with the new Hammer Mill the Farm has had in operation from January.

Return from Furloughs

While Phil stayed through the rainy months the Molenaar family and Marjanne Hendriksen went on furlough to the Netherlands. In February we all returned to continue our work. Marjanne continues to concentrate on the Christian Community Schools and the training of their teachers.

In the last Column we reported some of the trials our family went through. The period we spent in the Netherlands provided much needed rest. It was a good time to look again at the work and our personal involvements afresh. With the whole family we were able to return to resume our missionary calling here at Covenant College. The Lord has returned strength and energy; yet we need to remain careful how, where and when to apply this.

In December, Mirjam and I visited the supporting church in Scotland; in January I met many friends of our sending denomination in North America. Also in the Netherlands we did presentations. It was good to relate the work and calling to the various branches of Christ’s church. It is vital to maintain the relationship between the church and mission here in Zambia and in other places. To meet many of you was also a great encouragement to us personally.

New Term

On February 26 we welcome back our students for the beginning of a new year of studies and training. We are counting on 20 students for this first term. It will take much dedication and perseverance again to leave the work on the fields, in the homes and churches and to get in the structure of learning.

In April we hope to have our Annual Trust meeting. Some of the Trustees or attendees will also lecture at the College, like Pastor Joseph Pettitt (from England) and Dr. Brian DeVries (from Mukhanyo, SA). Apart from these visitors, Rev. Zwemstra and I will do the teaching together.

But first we will have a meeting on the 23^rd with all who have finished the Bible Correspondence Course over the years, 53 in total. We acknowledge our librarian Mr. Justin Phiri for his faithful work for this course.

Finances

We want to update you as well on the financial side of the mission. We are very glad to see the Zwemstra’s travel from SA to Zambia… yet, there is no permanent house for them, nor do we have the necessary funds to finish one. We urgently appeal to our supporters to remember this need. It is important, for personal well-being and proper functioning as missionaries in the long run to have a decent home.

After this house is built, we still need to extend our classroom facilities. At present we only have the one, half open hall.

The College also still needs to replace its vehicle. For the various aspects of the work here (visiting churches and Christian schools in villages, farm work, transport of people) we need to replace our Venture with a strong 4X4 off-road vehicle.

Praise and Prayer

Please thank God with us especially for:

• Blessings of health and strength for all who work here at the mission, both from overseas and from this area;
• The provision of a work permit for Rev. Zwemstra;
• Ongoing financial support;
• Good crops at the farm fields, to provide for the students and for people in need.

Will you please remember to pray for:

• The students as they return to the College; for unity and love among them as they live and learn together;
• Many farmers who see their crops either lost by flooding or dried out due to sufficient rain;
• All those who teach; to impact the students’ life in the practice of godliness;
• For the trust meeting in April.
• Financial support to meet the crucial needs at the College.

Dear Friends, your prayers, gifts and involvement in this mission are used by the Lord so we can carry out His work here. Your perseverance in doing so will encourage us to go on as well. Receive warm greetings from all of us here at the mission. On their behalf,

Pastor Cees Molenaar, Principal