Thanks to the willingness and obedience of two men who came on a work team in January – lives are being changed!  Two members of AA came with 20 little books not really knowing why they had come.  But God had a plan – a very big plan!  Enoch, a long term resident of Sons of Thunder is an alcoholic and in January all of us had had enough.  Enoch was living under a bar in Kabuyu while his wife took the children and went to her mothers.  She intended to file for  divorce this time.   Enoch had lost his job and now his home at Sons of Thunder and all appeared lost, but God had other plans.   At his wits end, Enoch was picked up and for the next two weeks ministered to by these messengers of God. Since their visit, Enoch has been saved, water baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit.  He and his wife are reunited and he has a job as the clinic gardener.  He is now running an AA Group and already has 2 other members!  I’m sure all those books will be put to use as alcoholics help other alcoholics!  

SCHOOL MINISTRY 

As of 2009, Sons of Thunder Primary School is now officially a private school under the Ministry of Education.  To promote a unified front, all the students and teachers are now operating out of one location. Carrie has been doing a great job as Headmistress hiring new teachers, instituting policy changes as well as improving the physical appearance of the school.  Even a PTA school garden was planted as a community project in hope of reinstituting school lunches.  Down on the farm, we have opened an unofficial preschool just for the children at Sons of Thunder.  Christine teaches preschool classes and Lena B Bible classes Mon-Fri in divided sessions to children ages 3-6.  Agatha has been hired as a teacher’s aide to assist both classes and provide snack.  
Lena A has been commissioned to open a library.  All the donated books at the guest house were moved into a room in the old clinic building.  Two bookshelves full of both adult and children’s books as well as some DVDs, a table and some chairs help provide an atmosphere for reading and study. Lena also provides extra tutoring for the seventh grade exam as well as story time for tots. 

CHURCH MINISTRY

The exterior painting at the new Sons of Thunder Church has now been completed making the structure a beautiful welcoming sight from the road. As with all the ministries here at Sons of Thunder, the church continues to grow.  We now have two new church plants making a total of 5 in all.  Along with the Sons of Thunder mother church, we make up our own “zone.”   Two of our church plants are now ready for new church buildings and the pastors from Kasiya and Musokotwane   are  seeking   financial    assistance   and/or   labor  to help with construction. They now have formidable numbers and viable ministries to warrant permanent construction.  Pastor Julius, the clinic chaplain and Pastor Peter are also looking for inward growth in their walks with God…they are both planning to attend Jembo Bible College in September. 

FARM MINISTRY:  “Mainstreaming Entrepreneurship to the Youth” 

That’s the title of the one day workshop eight of our Sons of Thunder residents attended June 10th at the new Victoria Falls University.  Those eight people are the ones who over the last six months have approached us with dreams of businesses:  Godfrey, our carpenter/bricklayer, wants to make and sell furniture; Terry, our mechanic, wants a garage to service and repair vehicles; Eunice, our sewing instructor, sees an opportunity with textiles; Abson, one of our supervisors, wants to start a chicken business; Pastor George, sees a bigger food store, selling to people both on and off the farm; Alexander and Tyson, two of our successful farmers, see a future with increased produce; and Graham our tractor driver, wants to buy and sell maize.  Microfinancing for the Sons of Thunder businesses is the next step in the process of self-sufficiency.  Start up costs for buildings, equipment and inventory is needed along with increased training on writing business plans, formulating budgets and recordkeeping.  As we pray for God’s financial provision, we will begin classes in August.  Any investors interested in investing in new businesses??? 
 

MEDICAL MINISTRY:  The Flood Gates are Open!!!!! 

Sons of Thunder Clinic is becoming well-known throughout Zambia and will soon be recognized as a nationally accredited HIV center.  Preliminary inspections by both the District and Provincial Ministries of Health have been made to help prepare us for the Medical Council’s accreditation review.  In order to help us comply with national requirements, the Ministry of Health has posted a male nurse to our clinic and is looking for a pharmacist or pharmacy tech as well.  Posting of these positions means they pay the salaries even though we are still required to provide housing. 

In addition to national recognition, we have been awarded a grant from ZNAN (Zambia National AIDS Network) sponsored by the Global Fund.  This grant money is specifically targeted for HIV/AIDS care.  The monies are allocated for lab refurbishment, a new bush vehicle to do mobile ART clinics (antiretroviral treatment clinics), a CD4 machine with reagents (needed to do CD4 tests specific for ART protocol guidelines), an autoclave, and some top-up salaries.

We were further blessed upon our return to hear our home church (Difference Makers Church) had raised enough funds for yet another vehicle! We will purchase that vehicle upon our return to Zambia. 

God is good and His blessings abound as He establishes Himself as Our Provider!!!    Even with all these blessings, there is still much more to be done.  Monthly operational costs are still a great need to continue the work and so, while we are stateside, we are hoping to raise $100,000 in new faith pledges.  As Pastor Jerry said 275 people only have to give $1.00 a day.  It’s a good time to join God where He is already working!