JCK-at-large SITE

Plenty of good news regarding John’s recent bike ride to survive on behalf of audio Bengali Bibles in the Middle East.  

• John maxed out (and nearly passed out) at 50kms! 
• And we raised $3,800 dollars for Mission Global’s ‘Ride to Thrive.’ 
• That’s some 125 audio Bibles!  
• Moreover, MissionGlobal Director Murray Cornelius says donors have put a total of $60,000 dollars toward some 2,000 audio Bibles in the palm of the hand, across the Middle East!  
• “The people who sat in darkness have ‘heard’ a great light!” 

More good news is that Zambia’s Trans-Africa Christian University has been keeping the doors open —  this despite the worst drought in recorded history!  According to the BBC: 

“Despite having the mighty Zambezi River and the massive hydro-powered Kariba Dam, Zambia is currently grappling with the worst electricity blackouts in living memory (BBC). The crisis is so severe that cities and towns across the country are sometimes without electricity for three consecutive days, with people counting themselves lucky if the lights come on for an hour or two. The power cuts have come as a shock to the 43% of Zambians who are connected to the grid and have taken electricity for granted all their lives. But one of the severest droughts in decades – caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon – has decimated Zambia’s power-generation capacity.”

• In response, we were able to fund the installation of a $2,000-dollar solar pump this October (Zambia’s hottest month)!  This will keep water flowing from TCU boreholes, despite the power blackouts, for the rest of the year. 
• And we continue to send monthly support through our Shared Ministry Agreement for operations.
• Crisis times!  Solar power!  We plan help solarize the campus before the next drought!

Meanwhile, John & Ruth have found a new Canadian home in Greater Toronto.  It certainly can’t compare with 12 Twalishuka for weather and verdure!  But it is a very comfortable residence in ‘The Gardens’, which is connected to “Shepherd’s Village” — which we call, with a touch of flair, “L’Auberge Du Berger”