TCCA
Jim
Hess was a Brethren missionary in Chingola.
He drove me every week to Ndola to teach at TCCA (Theological College of
Central Africa). He taught a course in
mechanics, and I taught the book of Romans, Outlining, and the Psalms. One day
we were early as there were no police checks on the road so he was going to the
bakery to buy a treat for the students.
I decided not to go back in town as I wanted to hear the testimonies of
the students in preparation to have them speak on my weekly television and radio
program. Just as Jim was driving onto
the road we heard a gunshot. The bullet hit the back window and went through
the passenger seat. He jumped out of the HI Ace and the officer in charge
knocked the soldier to the ground. The
soldier was on drugs. I correspond with two of the students, and one of the
students come to the states annually to preach the Gospel in honor of Jim Hess
who led him to the Lord.
HE
takes care of HIS children.
NCHANGA CONSOLIDATED MINE SCHOOL (Grades 1-7)
This
school was for the children of the Copper Mine employees in Chingola. The headmaster was from Great Britain as were
most of the teachers. I was the only one
from the USA. There were three terms.
Jan-March and April was a holiday.
May-July and August was a holiday.
September-November and December was a holiday. It worked out well. The clerical staff was Zambian ladies. They were dedicated to their job and were
most supportive of the teaching staff.
My classes were fourth and fifth grade students. The mine provided
transportation to my Clubhouse weekly program on TV and radio in Kitwe, and
Ndola, and I would have them on my program.
They would recite poems, Bible verses and sing in English and Bemba. 
Would
you believe that two of those students live near me in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho,
and five of them live in the Seattle, WA area where my older son works for
World Vision? It has been so much fun to make contact with them. Not long ago I met up with another one of my
students that was on the Clubhouse program weekly when I was in California. I
had a call from NYC this past year and he was from Chingola and was on my
weekly program. SACRED HEART CONVENT SCHOOL
Sister
Mary Crucifix was the Headmistress. She was from Long Island, New York. I
taught fifth grade, and the afternoon sessions I taught music and crafts. There
were two Zambia nuns on staff, and several ex-pats. There was a catholic church
in Chingola. Mother Superior stationed in Lusaka would visit the school once a
year. She was a lovely lady and had a great sense of humor especially the time
I locked up most of the statues from the school garden. The reason was that you had to being them in
the building every day so no one would take them. The teachers and staff would walk around all
the statues and say prayers. My plan was
to put them all out when she visited the school. I was not expecting her the
day she arrived unannounced. All went
well but Sister Mary Crucifix smiled when she told me to check the office so I
would know the next time to expect her so I could have all the statues out.
When
I returned to the States I called Sister Mary Crucifix and Pam Steyne’s mother
and I had lunch with her at a small Italian restaurant in the neighborhood
where she was born on Long Island.
As
the various students come to my mind I pray that HE will use them for HIS
glory. I am so fortunate to be a part of
their lives.
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