Dear Family and Friends,
Wow how different things are in Africa! Talked to Bonnie today briefly and over the weekend she had 3 women help her clean the place that she will be moving into on Tuesday. It took them “4” hours! She said it was a mess. She was telling me that in order to have electricity you have to pay for a pre paid card and slide it through a slot (sort of like an ATM). Once the card runs out you have no electricity. So you have to make sure your card is always full. She said while in the apartment the water stopped working 3 times. This will be a common thing for her. She hopefully can time her showers at just the right time.
Bonnie is supposed to move into the apartment on Tuesday of this week. She has a man coming tomorrow that she hired to install a security door once she gets the ok from the renter. A security door? Again not like we have. It will be a door with metal squares in it and a lock. The man installing it also made it.
(1) Please pray that she will be able to get permission to have it installed (it will make her feel safer).
As I mentioned once before in Africa when you move into an apartment you have to purchase your own stove, refrigerator, bed, couch, table etc. So tomorrow Zicky (the pastor’s wife) told Bonnie to take off and she would go with her to purchase these items. (2) Please pray that she will find good deals on everything that she needs, and someone that can transport the items to her apartment.
Once Bonnie moves in the apartment she will begin having single college age girls over. Wilbroad has asked her to be a part of discipling these girls. The past several weeks the church was involved in an outreach to the colleges in the area. They were going to the colleges passing out flyers as well as talking to the students inviting them to church. Yesterday (Sunday) they had a special Sunday service directed at this age group. Bonnie said there were about 34 college students that gave their hearts to the Lord. What a blessing but also these students will need to be taught and discipled. They will be assigned to different groups (like care groups) meeting in different places with leaders overseeing the group. Bonnie will be leading one of these groups. (3) Please be praying that as they begin to meet that they will see fruit from their labor. Please be praying the Lord would continue to give Bonnie wisdom as she reaches out to these young women.
(4) Continue to pray for Bonnie as she teaches the children in her class that she would continue to have wisdom, creativity, and continue to find ways to show them the love of God through her life.
(5) Please pray that the Lord would lead Bonnie in possibly finding a roommate. I think this would be helpful for her financially as well as building a closer relationships with someone.
I always want to end my e-mails with a thanks to all of you who are praying and supporting Bonnie is so many ways. Let me continue to say as well how much each of you play such an important part in what she is doing in Zambia. Thanks to all of you who helped with gathering and buying things on Bonnie’s list that Doug Hayes will be taking the beginning of March on his visit to Zambia. Charles and I are so blessed and grateful for each and everyone of you!
Thank You!!
Charles & LouAnn Sherer
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Quick Prayer Update February 17, 2011
Dear Family & Friends,
Just wanted to send out a quick prayer update for Bonnie. For about a week Bonnie has been sick with flu like symptoms. She has been trying to fight it with antibiotics while continuing to teach. Several of the kids in her class had the same symptoms. Please be praying for Bonnie as well as the children that they would recover quickly from whatever this is.
Also Bonnie started yesterday doing some tutoring with some of the kids in her class after school. She asked that you would be praying that the tutoring would go well.
Thank you again for your prayers.
LouAnn Sherer
Just wanted to send out a quick prayer update for Bonnie. For about a week Bonnie has been sick with flu like symptoms. She has been trying to fight it with antibiotics while continuing to teach. Several of the kids in her class had the same symptoms. Please be praying for Bonnie as well as the children that they would recover quickly from whatever this is.
Also Bonnie started yesterday doing some tutoring with some of the kids in her class after school. She asked that you would be praying that the tutoring would go well.
Thank you again for your prayers.
LouAnn Sherer
02/14/11
Dear Family & Friends,
I wanted to start this e-mail out with a somewhat funny story. Bonnie has decided to go on a high protein diet (just kidding). Something that I grew up on and introduced to my own children at a young age for breakfast was rice with sugar and hot milk on top. We absolutely loved it. Bonnie decided to try and make this simple dish for her students. Soooooooooooooo she went to the grocery story and trying to be frugal with her money she bought inexpensive rice rather than the more costly rice. Big mistake. She went home and proceeded to cook the rice as she was accustomed to in the U.S. Fill the pot with water, brought it to a boil, and then put the rice in to cook. As the rice cook stuff started coming to the surface of the water. Not knowing what it was she began skimming the residue off the top. The more she skimmed the more came up. After doing this process for about 20 minutes the rice was done. As she took a closer look, at first she thought maybe this was baby ants that got into the rice. BUT as she looked more closely no it was not baby ants, but baby roaches. She then looked at the bag and the directions were a little different. She was supposed to rise the rice several times first, cook it and then rise several times more. Now she knows why. The conclusion she came to: Don’t buy cheap rice anymore. The end result, the kids loved the rice sugar and milk. Oh the differences she is finding in Africa but praise God adjusting to. As she would say “It is what it is” and therefore you do as they do, make the best with what you have.
Prayer Request:
Bonnie wanted me to give you all the names of her students so that you could be praying for them specifically by name.
1. Mapalo
2. Ketty
3. Davis
4. Kenma
5. Julius
6. Fazila
7. Alice K.
8. Pamulou
9. Angela and Gloria (twins)
10. Blessing
11. Dalitso
12. Prisca
13. Loveness
14. Orlando
15. Alice C.
16. Moses
17. Theresa
18. Febby
19. Margaret
20. Kennedy
21. Lois
22. Given
23. Leya
24. Dumisile
25. Edina
26. Godfrey
27. Lucky
28. Albena
2. Please continue to pray for Bonnie’s health that the Lord would continue to protect her. She has had 3 bouts with food poisoning, and flu like symptoms recently. You know if you have ever taught young children that it is hard not to catch what they bring to school, but God is faithful!!!!
3. The head teacher in the school “Susan” has been out of school sick. They just found out that she has some kind of liver and or kidney condition. Please pray that the Lord would heal her completely, we know that he can if it is his will! This has been a wonderful opportunity for Bonnie to go over and minister and encourage her. Bonnie went over and went grocery shopping for her and cooked some meals for her and her family. It is amazing how the Lord brings opportunity like this across our path to draw and knit hearts together. Isn’t He a good God!
4. As far as we know they are now in the process of painting Bonnie’s apartment so hopefully it won’t be too much longer before she can move in. Please pray the Lord would continue to provide for Bonnie as she has to go and buy a stove, refrigerator, bed and the everyday items to need to set up house. As she said in her last blog “He’s always been faithful to me” and he continues to provide for “ALL” her needs.
5. Please continue to pray that she would be able to find an affordable car. Wilbroad the pastor is helping her look and the finances would be there. It is amazing how the Lord provides for her!
Psalm 92:12-14 – The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.
Isaiah 40:31 – Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Philippians 4:6 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be know to God.
Thank you Lord for the way you provide for Bonnie. Thank you for your faithfulness in her life and thank you that your mercies are new to her every morning. Each day could hold something very different for her, but you are with her! You are guiding her, protecting her, you are using her to touch lives for your glory. Thank you for the heart of love and compassion that you have given to her. Continue Lord to be her strength, her help, her guide, her protector. Continue to be he good Shepherd always watching over her. Thank you Lord for the work that you are about in Bonnie’s heart and life!
I wanted to start this e-mail out with a somewhat funny story. Bonnie has decided to go on a high protein diet (just kidding). Something that I grew up on and introduced to my own children at a young age for breakfast was rice with sugar and hot milk on top. We absolutely loved it. Bonnie decided to try and make this simple dish for her students. Soooooooooooooo she went to the grocery story and trying to be frugal with her money she bought inexpensive rice rather than the more costly rice. Big mistake. She went home and proceeded to cook the rice as she was accustomed to in the U.S. Fill the pot with water, brought it to a boil, and then put the rice in to cook. As the rice cook stuff started coming to the surface of the water. Not knowing what it was she began skimming the residue off the top. The more she skimmed the more came up. After doing this process for about 20 minutes the rice was done. As she took a closer look, at first she thought maybe this was baby ants that got into the rice. BUT as she looked more closely no it was not baby ants, but baby roaches. She then looked at the bag and the directions were a little different. She was supposed to rise the rice several times first, cook it and then rise several times more. Now she knows why. The conclusion she came to: Don’t buy cheap rice anymore. The end result, the kids loved the rice sugar and milk. Oh the differences she is finding in Africa but praise God adjusting to. As she would say “It is what it is” and therefore you do as they do, make the best with what you have.
Prayer Request:
Bonnie wanted me to give you all the names of her students so that you could be praying for them specifically by name.
1. Mapalo
2. Ketty
3. Davis
4. Kenma
5. Julius
6. Fazila
7. Alice K.
8. Pamulou
9. Angela and Gloria (twins)
10. Blessing
11. Dalitso
12. Prisca
13. Loveness
14. Orlando
15. Alice C.
16. Moses
17. Theresa
18. Febby
19. Margaret
20. Kennedy
21. Lois
22. Given
23. Leya
24. Dumisile
25. Edina
26. Godfrey
27. Lucky
28. Albena
2. Please continue to pray for Bonnie’s health that the Lord would continue to protect her. She has had 3 bouts with food poisoning, and flu like symptoms recently. You know if you have ever taught young children that it is hard not to catch what they bring to school, but God is faithful!!!!
3. The head teacher in the school “Susan” has been out of school sick. They just found out that she has some kind of liver and or kidney condition. Please pray that the Lord would heal her completely, we know that he can if it is his will! This has been a wonderful opportunity for Bonnie to go over and minister and encourage her. Bonnie went over and went grocery shopping for her and cooked some meals for her and her family. It is amazing how the Lord brings opportunity like this across our path to draw and knit hearts together. Isn’t He a good God!
4. As far as we know they are now in the process of painting Bonnie’s apartment so hopefully it won’t be too much longer before she can move in. Please pray the Lord would continue to provide for Bonnie as she has to go and buy a stove, refrigerator, bed and the everyday items to need to set up house. As she said in her last blog “He’s always been faithful to me” and he continues to provide for “ALL” her needs.
5. Please continue to pray that she would be able to find an affordable car. Wilbroad the pastor is helping her look and the finances would be there. It is amazing how the Lord provides for her!
Psalm 92:12-14 – The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.
Isaiah 40:31 – Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Philippians 4:6 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be know to God.
Thank you Lord for the way you provide for Bonnie. Thank you for your faithfulness in her life and thank you that your mercies are new to her every morning. Each day could hold something very different for her, but you are with her! You are guiding her, protecting her, you are using her to touch lives for your glory. Thank you for the heart of love and compassion that you have given to her. Continue Lord to be her strength, her help, her guide, her protector. Continue to be he good Shepherd always watching over her. Thank you Lord for the work that you are about in Bonnie’s heart and life!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
02/01/11
Dear Family & Friends,
These are the areas that Bonnie asked that you please be praying for her:
1. Pray that I emulate Mary at the feet of Jesus and not Martha. I am finding it is easy to busy myself with "things" that "need to be done" and I need to prioritize. Pray God will continue to give me wisdom in when and where to get involved. The needs are great but he does not call me to meet all the needs.
2. Pray he will give me the strength I need to do what he has called me to do and that I will rely on him for strength.
3. Pray for continued good health and sleep. I am finding this week to be somewhat restless in the evenings. I have been thinking of all that "needs to be done" or thinking about my pupils and different situations. I think that putting my focus back on the Lord and not on the circumstances is key.
4. Pray for safety at, and a smooth transition to my new temporary house I will be moving into either Sunday or Monday.
5. Pray God will continue to grant me patience with my pupils and that my teaching will be effective and that they will experience the love of Christ through me.
Thank you for your prayers and support of Bonnie!
Charles & LouAnn Sherer
Lamentations 3:21-24
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Contact Bonnie @ www.bonnieinzambia.com or bonniesherer@hotmail.com
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