18 February 2009

Dear brothers and sisters,

I wish you all the warmth, the joy and the peace for the year 2009. It is also my desire to share with you the knowledge that the Lord has not changed his thoughts of peace, love and joy for us all despite having passed through sorrows and difficulties in the previous year.

 We have received many blessings in that the year 2008 ended with the visit of our Chief Apostle Leber, in Livingstone in December, leaving us with joyful souls and indelible memories.

In this year, I have a wish for you, as children of God. This wish is written in the book of Psalms 122:6: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may they prosper who love..."

I would like to replace the word Jerusalem with something else- "Pray for the peace of the world."

Pray for the peace in the families, in homes and also pray for peace for all those who are in difficult situations in life.

Dear brothers and sisters, may you prosper in your souls that you may reach the image and likeness of God. May you prosper in faith, in the love for God that we experience each day His love.

I would like to avail you with three thoughts concerning our faith:

• Do not lose your goal

• Do not leave this path or way

• Do not lose heart.

Our goal is to be in eternity with our Heavenly Father, therefore, let us not lose that goal despite what we will pass through in this year.

Despite the hurdles and difficulties we shall encounter, remember we have a goal to attain. If we put a goal in place, then there is a preordained way to that goal, which is the path we should not lose.

Do not lose heart, be courageous even when you are faced with situations where there appears to be no solution, have faith in God. Be courageous and continue to be strong to reach the goal.

This year, may we draw closer to our Heavenly Father and, therefore, closer to the completion of the work of God.

With these thoughts, I wish you much happiness in the year. May the Lord provide for you naturally and spiritually in this year and may you remain in faith and fellowship. Occupy yourself in the works that glorify God.

Charles S. Ndandula
District Apostle