Christmas Time for the Sponsored Students

Erick, Danny, Castrol, Jean, Lovelyn – all sponsored students at Namwianga Christian Basic school received their 2009 school uniforms yesterday! And Castrol got new shoes!

The school year in Zambia runs from January to December and has 3 terms. All students that attend a government operated school must wear uniforms! Last year I bought uniforms for our sponsored students, but this year I decided to assist a couple of ladies' groups by creating some income generating activity. For me it created extra activity as I had to measure the kids, check out prices of what it would cost to just buy the uniforms and actually go find the kids as not all of them are in the same place at the same time, like at school! And as is the case of Jean’s uniform send the dress back for adjustments (which actually got done the same afternoon that Jean tried on the dress—unbelievable!)

The Siabalumbi sewing club was able to generate K90,000 for the sewing of the uniforms (there were more than are shown in the photo) and our two new Chodort graduates (HIV patients – Lucia and Alice) will also receive the same for the sewing of the Good Hope sponsored students uniforms. The sewing club income will go back into the Siabalumbi school for purchasing of notebooks, pencils…
Mrs. Simalondo – the most active member of the Siabalumbi sewing club.
Mr. Simalondo is one of the teachers at Siabalumbi school where ZMF-C has built a classroom buildings, teacher housing and toilets.

Anna Kanana

It’s almost Christmas!

Each year a certain donor always sends a gift to granny Anna Kanana. She is a muchembele (old woman) who has responsibility for many grandchildren, one of them is Susan—one of our former sponsored students. Most of her own children have died, so Anna has done what any decent granny would do, cared for them, even though she has no source of income. She regularly comes to visit me, and after tea and buns , I send her on her way with some mealie meal, kapenta or beans. She also visits the Kasiyas, our neighbours and fellow ZMF-C workers, and receives vegetables from their garden. She is always grateful and always thanks me with every Tonga word of thanks! She knows only a couple of English words, but for the most part we communicate just fine! Smiles, hugs, tea, rubbing of the tummy indicating hunger, not too hard to understand!This year I gave her the kwacha instead of purchasing groceries. She liked this idea because she said she might buy some fertilizer for her maize field as well as the groceries. So, family in Regina who donates to this woman and her family: thanks a bunch from Anna Kanana and may God continue to bless you.

James 1:27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress Twalumba maninge!

Chodort Graduation

Congratulations Alice, Lemmy and Lucia and to the Hope for Tomorrow sponsors!Front row – Nurses – Fortune and Tebia and Chodort Instructor

Back row – Sue, Lemmy, Alice, Lucia and Macklay

On December 12 – Alice, Lemmy and Lucia graduated from Chodort Trades Institute in Choma. Lemmy now is a carpenter, Alice and Lucia are tailors.

This was a proud moment for all of us! In 2006 these three HIV positive patients were barely alive, but with the help of Canadian sponsors they are alive and well and now able to fully support themselves through a trade! Thank you to the individual sponsors, but also a big thank you goes to those who have kept donating to Hope for Tomorrow even when their own patient was no longer on the program. Extra funds were needed for school and exam fees for these ones, so your help has resulted in accomplished career goals for these three people. Now, it is up to them to work hard so they can continue to help their families and others!

Deuteronomy 24: 19 – 22 When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain from your field, don’t go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners, orphans and widows. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all you do. Keep Reading!! God expects us to do all we can to help the needy. We are not isolated from the poor, they are our neighbours!

Thanks for sharing your harvest!!

Thanks for the Package

Mwapona buti! (Long time no see; how are you doing?)

Mumuvwulo (?) - Today we received a wonderful package in the mail–delivered straight to our house even! Email has been takwe (nothing) for three to four weeks now; we can’t even connect! But mail delivery service is just as good as at home! The package was posted November 26 and today is December 8! I am enjoying a few moments of quiet, so I’m trying to catch up on communication! I think the email strategy until we leave in three weeks time will be to download emails to my flash drive at the internet café in Kalomo, come home, load responses to the flash drive, return to the internet café and send the responses. We’ll give it a try!

Twalumba maninge, twalumba maninge! (thank you very much) for the money collected for seed and fertilizer. It is mostly delivered! We love you and are so appreciative of what you’ve done for your Simakakata brothers and sisters. You are wonderful! Thanks Tamara and Matthew for organizing and for everyone else for making soup, attending and for sharing so generously with these ones here! Indeed people here are grateful–and we are blessed to be your hands in the delivery!

Giving Thanks at Simakakata

Just this morning two of our sponsored students walked from Katungu (about twenty kilometres) to ask for mealy meal as there is takwe to lya (eat) at the village—and I mean takwe! People scavenge the bush to find delele (wild okra) and other greens. There are some wild fruits that are now growing because mvula (rains) have arrived, but besides that there is takwe. Boarding schools closed just over a week ago so this the students’ first week back at their villages. I supplied the boys with enough mealy meal (taken from our harvest last April) for their family for one week.

Two students I enrolled into the ZMF-C program last year are Innocent and Douglas Fungwe. They are cousins which could mean almost anything in terms of relationship! Douglas is number one in his class of over fifty and Innocent is number eight in his class. We are proud of them! Both of them are single orphans, having lost one parent. Recently, I saw Innocent as a groomsman at a mucado (wedding feast) at Siabalumbi. I asked him, “How did you get in this wedding? Do you know the bride or groom?”

His reply was, “No madam, they picked me because I’m clever!” That was too funny for me (he is fairly clever), but he’s also very cute and a very good zyana (dancer)!

It was during this wedding that Richard danced or rather performed! Innocent had called the mudaala (old man–a respectful expression to a friend) and me to come and perform a dance with him. Fortunately, I’d been called temporarily away so only Richard was able to perform!! Richard wasn’t impressed, and I didn’t believe that Richard had actually got up there in front of the crowd, but our friend Wilson Siazilo said, “I have evidence on my camera, Sue, that he actually danced!” Too funny—my timing was impeccable!

Mushale kabotu (Remain where you are in good health!)

The Tour to Livingstone

by Adrien Mweene, Kalomo High School Pupil 2008

[ed note: as is common with Zambians, Rich & Sue are called Mr. & Mrs. Richard! We were called, Mr. & Mrs. Bill. I have not edited Adrien's report.]

It was during this 3rd term when Mr. and Mrs. Richard promised all the grade 12’s who are sponsored by ZMF-C a tour to Livingstone. They immediately started organizing for the tour. They first talked to the headmaster at Kalomo High School so that he could allow the pupils to go for a tour. Mr. Muhali the headmaster was not all that tough and he allowed the pupils to go for a tour. Now there a problem of transport. It took about 3 weeks for Mr. and Mrs. Richard to find transport.

On 25the October 2008, just after celebrating our Independence on the past day, we started our long waited journey which at last came. We started round 06:00 hours with the Namwianga bus. I could see that most people in the bus smiling because most of them had never had a chance to see Livingstone and therefore this offer was a real inspiration in their life. We had Mr. Moono as our driver who drove us with the all the best care he had. On our way to Livingstone we had a few songs. Most of the songs which the pupils sang were in Tonga and that was somehow a problem to Mr. and Mrs. Richard who had started learning the language although they were not so good at speaking it. Anyway I saw the smiles on their face which showed that they enjoyed the songs.

When we reached Zimba we stopped to get another pail there but unfortunately the boys was no where to be seen. We left with out the boy san continued on our journey. The road form Zimba to Livingstone is terribly band and Mr. Moono had to drive at the least speed. We reached Livingstone around 10:00 hours. The first place we went to was the Mosi - o Tunya National Park. We saw a lot of animals like hippos in the Zambezi River. Impalas, chimpanzee, monkeys, giraffes. We were lucky we had a chance to see the zebra and a warthog. We were unfortunate in that we had no chance to see the elephants or Rhinos because we were late.

We had our breakfast around 12:00 hours in the park and after the breakfast in the part we started off for the Victoria Falls where we had a lot of fun there as well. The last part we saw at the Victoria Falls was the “boiling point”. From the boiling point it was somehow tough for the girls (including Mrs. Richard!) to make the climb to the top because they were tired.

From the Victoria Falls we went to the Crocodile Farm. We leant a lot of things about crocodiles. We learned their names and how they were given those names. We learned about how to avoid getting harmed by crocodiles. Then we went to see the snakes. There were different types of snakes and we learned about how poisonous they are to people. We also learned about the places they could be found.

At last we went to Spar and it was there that Mr. and Mrs. Richard bought us lunch. We then went to the airport but we were unfortunate to find that all the planes had already left. We took our lunch there and a few pupils cold not mange to eat the food that was prepared (submarine sandwiches – but no fear in a group of teenagers – there was not a bite left!). After lunch we went and got ice cream cones. The ice-cream was also new to a few pupils, but anyway they enjoyed themselves!

Finally we were on our way coming back to school. We travelled safely and we reached school around 19:00 hours. We thank Mr. and Mrs. Richard for all they had done to us. We had really enjoying living with them. A life without them will be hard. May God bless them in everything they do.

Mvwula

Mvwula–a Tonga name that when translated means rain! Rain means wealth for a dry parched country.

Mvwula is a brilliant and very humble grade 11 sponsored student and without a doubt, he is a blessing to his classmates and to this sponsorship program. He consistently is the highest scoring student we have at this time. He is a double orphan with two brothers. He has been raised by his very wise and humble aunt. She has eight children of her own.

At the young age of 18 years Mvwula has acquired some very mature life perspectives. It is my observation that childhood is shorter in Zambia–difficult circumstances mature kids early. He writes that sometimes people misunderstand one another (how perceptive!) and he has learned from his aunt that at those times people need to come together and discuss the matter! He says he is so grateful that in the big family that he’s grown up in that none of the members has an unforgiving spirit or vengeance. What a blessing for this boy! He also writes that there are times in this big family when one could feel neglected. But then he goes on to explain that things do not always happen as we would like them to—imagine that!

Mvwula’s poem
Children of the World

We–the children of the world–we are the children of today. Tomorrow belongs to us. To us alone it belongs. Let us have a stake in the decisions that affect our tomorrow.

We are the children. Have pity on our plight. In this pitiless world we need shelter, we need food, and we need education. Above all, we need love, patience and care and comfort.

We are the children of the world, and leaders of tomorrow. Why do you freeze our future and deny us of our childhood, national heritage and fruits of development? Why do you turn us into refugees in alien lands? Oh why?

You multinationals–you damage the environment for your present leisure against our future pleasure. See all the deforestation and hunger that you’ve caused by your mining activities! By throwing our parents out of jobs you’ve created great trouble to us. Because you shot down free education, free medical care and access to clean water. And AIDS has killed our breadwinners.

You turned us onto the streets. Many of us have ended up on the garbage heaps of drugs. Some of us have turned into prostitutes and street vendors, in order to escape the tortures of the remote-control led world.

Tomorrow belongs to a new generation, so leave our portion undefiled if you truly believe in sustainable development. You waste billions of money for betterment of your pleasure. Be involved in shaping our future pleasure. Be equitable. Share the goodies.

Help us–the children of today. Tomorrow belongs to us.

Mvwula H (grade 11 pupil at Namwianga Christian Secondary School, Zambia)

Thanks from Simakakata

Yesterday we paid a visit to Simakakata with your gift of seed and fertilizer! We brought along a few of our sponsored secondary students so they could join in and witness the sharing from the Canadians–actually the sharing from God!

Your generosity was extremely overwhelming and was received with much gratitude. The photos show the members of this mostly blind community kneeling before God in prayer–extreme gratitude. They will be able to eat maize next March or April. Praise God! We are rather sheltered from world news here, but the occasional peak at Yahoo.com informs us that world economic instability is headline news. Nonetheless, God will provide and it is good to share no matter how much we have. Thank you for sharing.

The rainy season is upon us and every day there are showers of blessings for this land! Sometimes the showers are heavy downpours with magnificent thunder and lightning displays. Monday we had 38 mm here, while at the farm it was over 50 mm. Today there are light sporadic showers. At the moment Richard is out at Katungu with the DYNA that has windshield wiper problems. I'm catching up on spreadsheets and computer stuff and preparing for this evening's farewell party for Secondary Students. It would be a bonus if ZESCO keeps the power on for at least a few more hours!

Meet Lucky

Lucky was born October 10, 1988! That means Lucky has recently had his twentieth birthday! Lucky is in grade 10 at Namwianga Christian Secondary School, a boarding school of about 400 students. He is extremely grateful for sponsorship. Getting a place in a boarding school has been an exceedingly difficult journey for Lucky.

Why is Lucky twenty years old and only in grade 10? Lack of finances is the main reason. He is a smart young man and is in good health. He started school at the age of eight. He tried very hard to get good marks. Zambian students must score above a certain cut off point at grade 7 and again in grade 9 in order to continue their education. When Lucky wrote his grade 9 exams the first time he missed the cut off point by a few points so he had to go back to school for two years. Then he re-wrote the grade 9 exams—this time he was successful.

Passing the grade 9 exams is a big accomplishment for many Zambian children, especially village children. Daily these kids face many obstacles e.g. not enough textbooks, paper, or pens, the teachers may not show up for a day or three (there are no substitute teachers), the child may be without food for a few days—as in the case of Lucky’s family, or the distance may be too long to walk to school every day.

Lucky passed the cut off point for grade 9 in 2006, but was forced to remain at home because he could not afford to pay for his secondary school education. To find money to pay for his school fees the following year Lucky grew cabbages and tomatoes and found odd jobs (piece work) at a tobacco farm. Piece work is usually very physically hard work and pays very little money.

He applied to ZMF-C in May 2006, but because of applying late in the year there were no places available at the school he qualified for. Then in November 2007, Lucky came to us and applied for scholarship and a place was given to him at NCSS for 2008.

Lucky is one of the story-writing students. He shares honestly and humbly about his life, his struggles and his joys! He has lots of grit, determination and a very strong character. He is a delight and an encouragement. Every Sunday Lucky comes to water the garden—the job takes about two hours because we don’t have a great watering system. I am grateful for the hard work he does, Today we shared juice and biscuits afterwards!

Lucky is the son of a polygamist. His mom, the first wife, had eight children and Lucky is the second born. The second wife has five children. One of the huge problems with polygamy is that the parents often cannot support educational costs for all the children. Lucky says he will not be a polygamist because it causes problems like hunger and lack of schooling for the children. He says for the problem of hunger he asks God every day for help. Lucky has a strong faith and he asks God to help him in his education, to help his family at home and also others that have problems. He asks for God’s guidance as he goes step by step in his life and he asks that God guide him to be a humble person who will help others in this world.

It is my privilege and by God’s design that I know Lucky. I am blessed!

Kelvin in Kalowa

Yesterday, after we had finished our work in the field with our sponsored students ,I had the job of driving to Kalowa village to take Kelvin, one of our HIV patients, to an AIDS hospice in Choma. (The photo is of Kelvin’s family. Phinneas on the left is with Kelvin in Choma right now and the little girl with the scarf on her head is Kelvin’s daughter.)

Kalowa is quite remote and Richard was busy with other responsibilities, so, I borrowed Timmy and Brivery (a couple of secondary school students) for the day, as backup power to ensure that if any difficulties ensued, I would have a couple of Tonga-speaking guys to assist me! I had made arrangements (via texting on the cell phone) for Stanley (the community health care worker) to meet us at Katungu and accompany us to Kalowa.

First I needed to drive to Katungu, a twenty-minute drive down a red sandy rocky road into the bush country of Africa. It’s a beautiful drive. About half way to Katungu you descend into a valley where many varieties of green acacia trees, cactus and other African bush thrive. It is not lush, because it is the dry season, but it is green, something that baffles me because it hasn’t rained since March! Once at Katungu I find out that Stanley has not received my text message so he’s still in his village—some distance from Katungu. No problem, the deputy headmaster says he’ll go find Stanley out in the bush while I strike off on my own with my trusty secondary boys —who have never been past Katungu—to find Kalowa.

No one in the bush has a vehicle so there are no roads, only short cuts on paths that resemble cattle paths. I knew part of the way there so I drove until I came to the farm of the Mwaata Headmaster. The farm is a small cluster of mud rondavel shacks and maize bins. There I found a boy who could show me the path that the nurses drive on their monthly outreaches to Kalowa. You go to the right here, down across the river over there, up the bank over there, pass the bore hole and finally you come to another little settlement of mud huts in the middle of a bare dusty clearing.

Kelvin (then aged thirty-six) was diagnosed with HIV in 2005 and, shortly after the diagnosis was confirmed, suffered a stroke. He has been on ARV medication since 2006. Recently, his family have been having great difficulty taking care of his basic needs. My nurse friend, Tebia, reported that he had really deteriorated so I decided to make arrangements to have him spend a few weeks at a very well run AIDS hospice in Choma if the family would agree. The family agreed, so after the mom and the two sisters-in-law bathed Kelvin behind a bush at the compound, we were on our way to Choma.

After coming out off the bush road, you meet the paved road to Choma going north and Livingstone going south. I’d rather drive in the bush than on the tarmac road in Zambia. The narrow lanes and big trucks are too scary for me. But, the sweet distraction of singing Tonga songs in the front of the truck made the trip quite a bit less stressful. Kelvin and his brother Phinneas rode quietly in the back.

The doctor met us at the hospice and then Kelvin had another bath—this time in a bath tub—assisted by Stanley. Kelvin is very thin from neglect and needs a several weeks to bulk up. His brother Phinneas will stay with him for a few days and then I’ve made arrangements for the mom to stay. Before we left, Kelvin gave me a wee bit of a smile (he’s aphasic from the stroke) and Stanley led us in prayer as we gathered around Kelvin’s bed.

I gave mom and Phinneas enough money from the HIV fund for food for the two weeks and my cell number so they can call if more help is needed. We are out of the country for about ten days but when I return, the nurses, the family, and I will try to sketch out a better discharge plan for him.

The trip home was spent singing again and reviewing grade 12 subjects that Brivery will be tested on this coming week. It was a long day, but we are so grateful that the hospice in Choma had a bed for Kelvin and that the family were in agreement with this plan!

Please keep Kelvin and family in your prayers!

Love to all,
Sue

PS: We didn’t get lost and the vehicle performed marvellously!

Zambia Independence Day 2008

On October 24, 1964, Zambia gained independence from British rule. This year we spent most of this day of celebration at Katungu, one of the communities where ZMF-C has contributed to a fair number of development projects. I was able to enjoy most of the celebrations and Richard joined me after he and our main construction worker, Mr. Daka inspected the progress on the newest 1 x 3 classroom block.

It was a hot day but very enjoyable as many of the 502 pupils, teachers and community members gathered under the big tree in the Katungu School yard. Village life is very simple but harsh, with no nearby water supply and no electricity. All of the children’s games and entertainment come from well developed imaginations and the earth e.g. telling stories, playing with rocks and sticks, footballs made out of bits and pieces of plastic and whatever else, toy cars made with cast off pieces of wire and shoe polish tins!

Mr. Phiri, the grade 6 teacher, had all eyes on him as he told the students quite seriously a news story he’d heard about. “There was a rooster and a knife that got into a fight.” The children are not sure, if Mr. Phiri is serious, or if they should laugh. “The knife won the fight, of course, and the rooster was sent to the mortuary—the cooking pot. Beside the chicken in the cooking pot are the tomato and the onion and a few other vegetables.” Mr. Phiri relayed the gruesome stories of their deaths—by this time the kids are laughing, but trying not to laugh too loud because they don’t want to miss a piece of the story! The crowd of students is mesmerized as he continues, “Then after a while the relatives come to take the body home and of course the relatives are lumps of nsima!” (Nsima is the food staple for Southern Zambians.) By this time the students are in full laughter. Mr. Phiri tells it much better than I; he is absolutely serious as he leaves his story telling station—this is the Zambia News!

The picture above is of the girl’s dancing group. The kids have been practicing their traditional dancing for weeks for this celebration!

Celebrations continued until evening in all places. We caught some of what was going on at Kalomo High School but did not enter the school ground as there were MASSES of high school kids there! KHS was joined by NCSS and Mwaata schools for traditional dancing competitions and games.

October 30 is the Zambian election for president to replace the late President Mwanawasa. Schools will be closed that day! Pupils have already starting writing their final grade 12 exams. And yes, the election has altered the exam schedule! That may cause results to be late!

Volleyball in Zambia

Last Saturday we took the afternoon off and took three of our Kalomo High school kids on an outing to watch volleyball in Choma. Several schools were playing and so we were able to watch a variety of the teams that we knew.
The photo shows Kalomo High boys playing Choma High. Note the boy in the air—no shoes! These guys are very competitive and serious players playing VERY hard and fast volleyball.

One of our past sponsored students, Kabulo, is a player on a National Volleyball team called the Red Arrows. Kabulo is now a teacher at St. Marks school in Choma. His high school team that he coaches was playing and they came in second in the tournament. We watched his team play and it's amazing how much most of the players play just like the coach! How is that?!

Thanks RGH nurses!

Yesterday we were able to take three (50 kg) bags of maize out to Simakakata using the Casual Jean’s Day money from the nurses on 1D at RGH (Regina General Hospital). Thank-you Staff! These folks are very grateful; maize is their staple food!

Simakakata is known to many as the Blind Community. Several years ago many blind and disabled folks were relocated from Kalomo town to this parcel of land about five km from Kalomo town. There was no water or housing. The Mbumwaes (Ruhtt & Shepherd) along with some of the college kids from the mission where we stay assisted this community by constructing some shelters. The Canadian Education Mission of 1999 was able to assist with funds for a borehole (well). Since then many improvements have been made via various donors including provision of brick houses and toilets and a second borehole. Last year, using some funds that were donated to us personally, we were able to train Mr. Shebby (man in the white shirt) and another disabled man in basket making. We were also able to replace a grinding meal needed for their maize, and we bought them some goats. So, staff at RGH—thanks for your contributions on casual Fridays! For the future (and for your interest) we’ve had requests to help provide some equipment for a nurse’s office at Kalomo High School where we have approximately fifty sponsored students. And the headmaster of that school has requested some paint to paint a classroom or two. If anyone wants to organize some funds (could be a Christmas project?) for either of these projects please do so and forward the funds to:

Zambia Mission Fund – Canada
4368 Lochside Drive
Victoria, BC
V8X 2C9

Good Hope Sponsored Students

Donors of ZMF-C sponsor twelve students at Good Hope Christian Basic School. We don’t worry too much about the kids at Good Hope because that school always seems to have a very good teacher pupil ratio and they have excellent administration under Mr. Wilson Siazilo! Good Hope school has students from pre-school to grade 8. Wilson & Nancy Siazilo and family live on the ZMF-C Seven Fountains Farm not too far from Good Hope school. All of them are vital and precious to the ZMF-C work! We thank God for their life long example of humble and gracious service! By the way Wilson is away this week on his first international trip to Italy. What an opportunity for Wilson and we are all waiting for his return so we can hear the story of Wilson in Italy. Wilson is a grand story teller so I know he’ll have some great action stories on his return.

Today we were able to visit with nine of our twelve Good Hope pupils. We reviewed their terms 1 and 2 report cards, a routine we do with every ZMF-C student. Then I had an opportunity to have a discussion with them on Girl Education in Zambia. Here are the facts: For every one hundred girls that enter grade 1 – only seventy-five will progress to grade 7. In grade 8 the number is down to twenty-three and only seven will sit for the writing of grade 12 exams. I asked them, "Why it is that so few girls write the grade 12 exams? What happens?"

They all answer, "Girls stay at home to look after younger children and do work, carry water and wood. They have to walk long distances and so attendance is poor. They get pregnant." ZMF-C has had three young female sponsored students in the last year drop out because of pregnancy.

So we talked for a while about remaining pure until marriage, because that’s the way God planned it, and because Zambia needs educated girls and boys! They all agreed that they’d write themselves a purity covenant and show it to me next month when we visit.

Another great group of kids! Tomorrow the children’s teacher liaison will hand out the food we left—roller meal and kapenta for each of these sponsored kids.

Have a good rest of your week,
SK and RK

A Week Ends - A Week Begins

Today we went to Simakakata for church. Simakakata is a community where many blind and disabled folks live. We love going to Simakakata and are always warmly greeted! This morning our sponsored student, Steward, the choirmaster for Namwianga Secondary, wanted to come along with us and bring his choir! Steward is a grade 11 student, a double-orphan from a very poor community not far from here. He has flourished and become such a confident young man in this secondary school. Praise God. The other students really respect him and he is so full of integrity! So, we said, "Yes, of course!" I’m not sure of the count, but we more than tripled the little Simakakata congregation! The choir sang about six songs and then a quartet! made up of eight male singers ended off the program. We are ever so grateful to share with these students who are always expressing their gratitude at receiving sponsorship from you.

Today I received a letter from from Mvwula Hajaya, a grade 11 sponsored student at Namwianga Secondary. It says this: “First and foremost I declare glory and honour to God the author of life. I am very grateful for the love that God expresses to me through you Canadian people”.

Mvwula is a village boy who has scored among the very best of all grade 11’s at this secondary school of approximately 450 students! He does not take the opportunity of this education for granted in any way. He is a very serious student with a great smile!

Well, it's bedtime. It’s best to go to bed early here because you don’t want to miss the coolness of the morning, i.e. 05:30!

Love to all and enjoy the blessings of your week!
Sue and Richard

Micah

October is the hottest month of the year in Zambia! It is heating up! The thermometer I hung near the back door consistently reads 35+ degrees Celsius by noon each day! One day this week it read 37 degrees. The nights feel quite fine. Tonight it's 26 Celsius.

Our week started at Seven Fountains Farm orphan home. Sue Calder had gone to Lusaka to retrieve her husband, Rod, who had been away for one month in America. Our task was to look after the Calder kids and gang and just be there in case we were needed by the aunties (hired helpers for the babies) and the babies. There are about twenty orphan babies right now. There was no lack of cuddling! One morning while Richard was still waking up I placed baby Richard (named after him) on the bed beside him, just to help Big Richard wake up! It did!

We organized a baby choir with a baby choirmaster! We sang Building up the Temple, Running Over, Who did Make the Fish to Swim? We had lots of laughs and looks from the aunties. Eventually, Queen, one of the aunties, grabbed a baby and joined in as well!
Micah is my special baby! Micah will be two years old in December. He is HIV positive and on ARV(AntiRetroViral) medication. He doesn’t stand yet and doesn’t talk, but his smile and his eyes speak volumes and grab at the heartstrings! I took him all around the garden showing him the flowers and the trees; he just sat quietly on my hip while I did the talking!
I had met his father on the road in April of 2007 as he was heading to Seven Fountains Farm (the home of the ZMF-C orphanage). Micah’s mom had just died, and Micah’s dad had wee tiny Micah fastened securely in a chitenge on his back. I’ve heard since that Micah’s dad is also HIV positive, but apparently not on ARV’s yet. The dad has not had much at all to do with Micah and visits very little. So my treat at the orphan home is to go and fetch Micah and just spend time with him!

The Writing Activity

A few sponsored students have agreed to do some journaling—about who they are, their dreams, their disappointments and daily life in Zambia. They have given me permission to share this with you.

Mohammed is twenty years old and is an excellent grade 11 pupil at Mwaata Day High School sponsored by Darwin and Nelda Benton. Mohammed scored ten points on his most recent report and has very good behaviour. Both his parents died in 2005 of the pandemic.

This is an excerpt from his book this week.

I wish to tell you about my last born sister. Her name is Written Chondonda. She is ten years old and she is doing grade 2 at Smakakasikili Basic School. Now what worries me is that she stays with my grandmother who cannot do anything for her, absolutely nothing, not even buying clothes. It is me who buys for her when I get piece work. I provide books and pencils for her.

In the village you find that the school is very far away from home, some kilometres from home. Now she has to move some distance barefooted without eating breakfast up to 12:00 hours when she will have lunch. As I am speaking they rely on wheat. There is a certain kind of wheat that cannot be processed into flour that they are given as relief from World Vision. Every two months they are given forty kg.

She carries twenty litres of water from a distance of some kilometres, not that she is forced, but because there is no one to do that work. Now this worries me a lot because I don’t know if she understands the situation because she is still young and I don’t know how she feels when she mixes with her other friends whose parents are still alive and give total support to their children.

She feels very happy whenever she sees me because I am like her father. It is me who provides for her. I want her to be educated so that we can both support ourselves and other family members, even other victims if possible.

So that is what worries me about her.
Mohammed Chondonda

This Week in Zambia

On Monday our friends, Jean Webster and Nomazulu left us to return to Zimbabwe. We had four wonderful days together discussing many aspects of God’s work and in particular the ZOE model of orphan care. The Siabalumbi community is excited about the prospect of being able to implement some of what Jean and Noma shared with us.

Please continue to pray for Jean and Noma and the ZOE work both in Zimbabwe and in Zambia as it has much potential for improving the lives of orphans and vulnerable children.

Tuesday we headed to Katungu to check on the progress of the second 1 x 3 classroom building. Below is a picture (ed: I'll include the picture when I get it!) of Mr. Daka and Patrick finishing the floor in one of the three classrooms. Mr. Daka is a very focused worker and does very good work—but because he is good, he has many jobs so work moves along slowly. We are grateful for his craftsmanship and have been trying on many occasions to encourage him in his spiritual walk.

Wednesday we were baking in the sun (+35 in the shade!) at Siabalumbi as we inspected their second 1 x 3. The building still requires some work in order for it to be completed. We are trying to assist the headmasters both at Katungu and Siabalumbi with getting their schools up to government standards so their students can write their grade 7 exams at their own schools about a month from now.

The good, the bad and the ugly!

The good

Many pupils arrive for their Saturday volunteer work. Slowly, slowly I am collecting the term 1 and 2 report cards for 2008. Meanwhile I get to visit with each kid; we talk about how to improve (much like I did with our own kids!). Then in the afternoon Richard and I attend the Kalomo High School (KHS) Church of Christ graduation party. So much fun with speeches, dancing and food. ZMF-C kids have done so well and they are SO GRATEFUL for their sponsorship. Thank you sponsors! Photo below – KHS graduation party. A lot of toilet paper goes into these fancy decorations!
The bad
Hezron (KHS) is sick this week. He’s been fighting bilharzia for a few months. He has a follow up appointment in Zimba in October and I shall accompany him to hospital so I can get the lowdown on what is happening with him. They now say he has a growth on his kidney? Timmy (NCSS) is sick and so I’ll need to catch up with him tomorrow.

Also, last night there was a riot at Kalomo High school and several kids (boys) are now in jail, but not our ZMF-C kids. There are over 1000 kids at this boarding school. The days have been extremely hot, exam schedules are out so tension has been building. Some of those in jail are grade 12’s who will not get to write their final exams. So bad, so sad.

The ugly
I really like the Mbumwae dogs, Tripod and Tarra, but I really do not like the cat. It is very stupid! This morning, a couple of hours before the kids arrived, while I was doing some cleaning and organizing, I found that the cat had dragged a half eaten kitten onto the bathroom window ledge. I thought the dogs had done the damage, but now since I found the cat eating the brains of another kitten tonight, I think it was the mother cat who is the killer. I gave the cat a whack with the broom and Richard buried the second kitten today! Sick animal! Stupid thing! Richard and I killed a rat in the house earlier this week, so the cat is really dumb, it’s not earning its keep at all!

ZOE

Kamwamba,

I hope that your week has gone well. We’ve had a variety of activity and are 98% finished with payment of term three fees. Now, I’m just trying to catch up with each student to review report cards and the volunteer work situation! As we’ve said before the ZMF-C kids are an exceptional group! I even saw one kid achieve a 100% this week—can you imagine? The 100% was in History and he just happens to live with a history teacher. That is Mohammed Chondonda at Mwaata High School—and there was no cheating!

Since Thursday we’ve been visited by Jean Webster and Nomazula Nares of ZOE (Zimbabwe Orphans through Extended Hands). After we’d introduced ourselves we were anxious to get the lowdown on the political climate in Zimbabwe. Things are not good—this is a nation that needs the prayers of the world! Many are suffering daily.

I had not met Jean before, but had heard of her through Joan and Steve Mann and through Doug Funk (Solon Foundation). I had read and been praying about her work and really thought that she needs to come to a community that we are working with—Siabalumbi. She took the offer; we and Siabalumbi are grateful!

ZOE has been operating for about fourteen years and with the Lord heading this work approximately 67,000 orphans in Zimbabwe have been cared for in their own communities. Jean has many great connections in Zimbabwe through her work in UNICEF, and has spoken on this model in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Thailand and even in Toronto, Canada at the 2006 AIDS conference.

Yesterday, about twenty church leaders from various denominations gathered at Siabalumbi as Jean and Noma shared about ZOE—a community based approach to orphan care.
At the end of the session, and after the headman, Mr. Dickson, had given his final round of appreciation, such enthusiasm had built that the various church and community leaders continued to meet so that a plan for the future of Siabalumbi could be sketched out!

Praise God for the vision and prayerfulness of women like Jean and for church leaders like Samuel Moono and the others who walked long distances to gather. It was so wonderful to watch the various church leaders discuss together how they could continue to work together on the issue of orphan care!

Last night on our porch Richard, Jean, Noma and I were encouraged by a choir of thirty-five under the leadership of one of our grade 11 sponsored students, Steward. What great voices and actions to go with them! Richard gave an encouragement lesson, because he was apparently on the program. He had six minutes to prepare!

Richard and I continue to audit two university of Harding classes each morning from 0630 – 0800. We are taking Tonga and African History and Literature. The classes are wonderful! If there was only a Tim Horton’s on the way—that would be perfect! Sometimes, if the power has been on I take a coffee (instant) made at home and Richard takes his tea! The mornings are chilly and we sit outside—so a hot drink is nice! The dogs always follow us and Richard ends up spending the start of each class trying to gruffly chase them away. At least one of them usually finds their way back—and sits nearer to me!

If you have time, look up ZOE on the internet (ZOE itself does not have a website – but if you type in Jean Webster and ZOE you will find information). One good source at this time is at:
http://www.viva.org/?page_id=164
Excellent work!

Greetings from Rich

Hello to all of you,
It is now two weeks to the day that we landed on the Zambian soil. Life has been busy here but not as hectic as it was last time. We are much more familiar with the work and the Zambians would say that we are getting uset. We have enjoyed our first two weeks. Much of the time has been spent with the sponsored students—paying their fees, listening to their problems, visiting and laughing with them, mentoring them, and just trying to be a parent when needed. This helps to fill the void that we feel in not being with our own children, and family. If you haven't already done so, check out Goodson's story. It helps to explain the struggle that many young people face here. It is written by Goodson and so you will get the story firsthand.

Last night we enjoyed some Friday evening entertainment. Steward, a sponsored student in grade 11, is the choir master for the secondary here at Namwianga. So, thirty-five students showed up here last night under the carport for a performance and devotion. As well, nine of the male students from within the group did a couple of songs. I was asked to preach and so it was a good thing that they asked me six minutes before the scheduled time so that I could prepare. It was fun to have our own concert, and the night ended with Mom serving chocolate cake to all who attended. The cake was so good that I think they may ask for a second chance to present.

As well, this week, we have had two visitors with us from Zimbabwe. Jean Webster and Noma have been here to share information on a model that they have been promoting for the care of orphans. Jean has been working with this model for ten years now in Zimbabwe and more than 70,000 orphans are being cared for through the work. Sue found out about this project on the internet. It is called the ZOE project. She arranged for a workshop for the churches in the Siabalumbi area. Samuel, the Bible teacher and one of the church leaders at Siabalumbi, invited church leaders from the area from various denominations. The workshop went from 9:00 to 14:00 and many attended. The information was motivational. It was good to see the leaders from the various groups talking about the importance of being united in their care for the orphans. We will see how the seed grows.

Today the power is on but there has been much load shedding. Most evenings this week the power has been off from 6:15 to 9:30. After that the power is usually on for the night but goes off about 6:00 am for a couple of hours. As well, the power goes off and on throughout the day. It seems like the power is mostly on when we are in bed or away from the house during the day. This makes it difficult to keep up with emails. However, we are comfortable here and have had water most of the time.

This morning twenty-three of the sponsored students showed up here to do volunteer work. They did laundry, house work, yard work, and delivered firewood, water, and maize to the muchembeles and mudalas (women & elderly) at Tumango. There are already a lot of hungry people around here. I do not know how they survive. Please pray for the hungry people around the world. There are many!

One of the boys was supposed to share a short devotional thought with the rest of the group but he failed and so Sue lead the devotion using Jeremiah 29:11-13. Please look it up, and meditate and pray about this scripture for a few minutes. I am sure that it will be an encouragement to you. We pray for all of you. We know that the Lord is very near and we pray that you will walk with Him daily. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead your will.

We love you,
Rich

Goodson's Story

Everyone has a story. Some stories are just not fair. This is the story of one of ZMF-Canada's sponsored students, this week.

Before I get into the story, let me share a bit of background. I’d been waiting for Goodson to arrive at Kalomo High School along with his 1300 plus schoolmates—as I’d paid the term three fees, but he’d not arrived on time. Starting late each term is not unusual, so I wasn’t too concerned. But, late last week just as Richard and I were heading by truck into Kalomo we passed a young cyclist flagging us down! It was Goodson! Finally, he’d showed up for school and has come to show me his report card—as kids with great marks can’t wait to do! Wrong! From the vehicle we hear Goodson’s story. It is 11:00 am and he has cycled 75 km on sandy road to see us. The day is beginning to get hot; it is now over 30 degrees Celsius.

After a warm greeting Goodson begins, “Madam, I need to speak to you about not returning to school this term.”
“But Goodson I’ve already paid your fees, this week, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you in school?”

Out of his pocket comes a lengthy tattered letter; he waits while I read.

Dear Madam;
How are you in the Lord? As for me, life is unfair. I have a problem which has gone beyond my understanding. I am writing to let you know why I did not write my end of term two exams. I was sick with stomach pain and headache. I went to the hospital and got medicine, but nothing happened. My illness disturbed me academically, because I could not attend classes. Later I told my class teacher everything about my sickness and he wrote a pass for me to go home. I went home two weeks before class ended in term two. That’s how I did not write my exams, but for now I am just okay, only that I don’t know how my life will be from now on.

My father chased me out of his home a few days after chasing my mother. The reason is because there is no food at home, so I did not prepare anything for him. My father is a drunkard, he does not buy food for the family, instead he spends on alcohol and tobacco, and when he comes he demands food for himself. So that day he found no food at home. He chased me after beating me up. Therefore, I went to Kabanga and took my younger brother and sister with me. When my mother was at home, we used to depend on a small garden. She used to sell vegetables in order to buy food for us. From the time she left, it became my responsibility for my young sister and brother.

As for now, I don’t know where to go. We can’t follow my mother because we don’t have transport money to reach the village near Mazabuka where she is now. Our uncle does not want us because he fears our father. So, I have decided to find somewhere to stay and to do something to help my younger brother and sister in terms of food and then start grade 10 again in January. This has come about because there was no way I could leave my brother and sister suffering while I’m at school. Not only that I don’t have school shoes. Please if there is any way you can help me, help me; God will bless.

Yours faithfully,

Goodson Chendela

Goodson & Dorica after receiving some help!

To say the least, at the side of the road, many emotions quickly flooded—anger, wanting to choke a father who beats his kids and wife. The father is a teacher, perfectly capable of supporting this family. Compassion—just wanting to help this very courageous and humble and very caring young sixteen year old boy!

Goodson will return to Kalomo High tomorrow, Friday. We arranged for transport (again using donations from our kids in Canada! Thanks!) for Goodson and his siblings to the village 20 km from Mazabuka where his mom is. The village is a safe place for the mom and kids, because it is the mother’s home village and far from Kabanga area.

I am going to petition Kalomo High School to transfer Goodson to Pemba High School for January 2009, so he can be closer to his mom and siblings. I will work with Goodson over the next few months to try to help him with the experience of beatings that he’s been enduring for the past three years at least. He is a very sweet boy and can have a very promising future!
And I will buy him new shoes!!
And I will not choke the father!!

Love to all – Sue K
Goodson’s story has been shared with his permission.

Settling In

We are thinking about you. Many ask about Tiffan—the daughter who visited last January—mostly it is boys who ask! They also ask about Aaron because most of our Sponsored kids knew of his health problems. They are very grateful that our family is well and genuinely say that they are so happy Aaron is well and for his wife and for us! We have seen many of our special students; some had come to see even before we arrived. Too special!

Rich and I are settling in after six days in Zambia. Our Zambia work permits made passing through Immigration at Livingstone a five-minute job—unreal! AND, all our luggage arrived—if you can imagine! We finally both slept last night so today our heads are more on task. We've paid for over two thirds of the students so far. I've reviewed as many term 1 and 2 reports as I've received and have had many pep talks with the kids!

This morning three of the boys (Daniel from Sikalongo, Oberty from Monze High, and Fletcher from Chipepo) were here bright and early. I made porridge for myself and the boys. Rich had mini-wheats (our only box! - and then he'll be into Zamflakes!). We had tea and porridge and then had a morning devo with the boys—too special. Daniel closed in prayer (he is another one of these extremely grateful and humble kids) with an excellent report card. Both his parents died when he was a baby and he lives with his blind, divorced aunt who has two of her own daughters to educate! What a grateful and pleasant boy!

I mended Innocent's pants yesterday. Innocent is a new student who I enrolled and he has the sweetest smile. He is in grade 7. He had come to me asking for another uniform and I'd just bought him one last January. "But Madam, my pants are short!" he complained, and sure enough Innocent is a few inches taller! When he brought me the pants the crotch was ripped out as well both sides were split. I found Ruhtt's sewing machine and had them fixed within thirty minutes. I had Innocent pick out the old hem and then I ironed them out and they'll be fine for one more term! Then, what does Innocent say, "But madam, my shoes have ended!"? I said for him to go back to the school, because I'd need more time to think of what to do about shoes!! What can I do about those? Duct tape?!

We paid fees at Zimba school—about a forty-minute drive from here. We have twelve kids there. We had lots of fun reuniting with them. I had taken a photo of Brittel's tongue last year after he'd eaten a green freezee and had the kids guess whose tongue this might be. It was a fun contest and the kids just died of laughter looking at the tongue photo!

Zesco, the Zambian power company has daily "load shedding" power shortages. They publish the times in the newspaper, but it seems to me that they don't always follow the schedule. Because we were jet lagged this week, lights out at 8pm is quite okay since for now trying to sleep is a good thing to do. I think we're recovered for now, but Zesco is not and will keep on with the power outages—tonight we had a cold supper. Hunger has set in early around here, poor maize crop—about 87% failure in this area.

For those that know BK - I saw him today and we had a short but warm greeting. He was at the bank (the bank was closed, but he was still able to do business through the locked iron grate!). What a guy!

I bought mealie meal for our kids who will come tomorrow—ouch the price is up and also the price of maize seed and fertilizer! As well, the kwacha is now trading at K3300 per dollar (was 3600 - 3800 last Dec/Jan). So, things are more expensive!

Richard and I are auditing two Harding classes (Tonga and African History) on Monday through Thursday each week from 0630 to 0800. The classes are very good. As auditing students we just sit; we don't put our hands up!

Well tomorrow the sponsored kids are coming early; I've ordered buns and we'll have tea and then get to work! I have two college girls who clean inside and some high school girls who do laundry. As well, some kids are coming that have had some 'issues'—that should be interesting and hopefully produce something better for the kids. We'll see.

Our friend Derrick Siapegwa, the goat boy, is ill and I'm not sure what his trouble is. I'll be seeing him again on Sunday; he doesn't look well at all. We may need to get him to a better medical situation. Pray for Derrick, please.

We think about our family and church family every day. We appreciate that we can do this kind of work together here. Richard is quite comfortable. Some of our chocolate chips are still in the freezer and he says he's given up trying to sneak them out because, "You've buried them at the bottom of the freezer," but honestly, I didn't! Anyway, they might still be around when I get some cookie baking ingredients and get an accurate Zesco power-out schedule!

It is hot here - we hung our Co-op thermometer in a shady spot by the back door. In the morning it is about 18 degrees and noon it is about 33. By 6 pm it is cooling back down to 18. It will get hotter, this is only the start of heat!

We're Baaaack!

Hi to all of you!

We arrived here safely yesterday afternoon about 3:00. It was a long journey and we are tired but in a day or two we will be adjusted. All four of our bags arrived on time with us at the airport in Livingstone. We were pleased and amazed. The bags were checked right through from Regina to Livingstone, and they still made it here even though there were plane changes in Toronto, London, and Johannesburg. AND, 99% of the contents were still in our bags! A few things did get removed from one of the bags along the way, but we are not quite sure what is missing. When we arrived at the Mbumwae's house, we were greeted by their dog, Tripod, and a power outage.

We went to bed about 9:30 last night and it felt great to be horizontal! I went to sleep immediately and slept through to about 4:00 a.m., which was about the time that Sue finally fell asleep. I stayed in bed trying to fall asleep once again, but it did not really happen. Our first visitor at the door showed up while we were still in bed this morning. It was one of the college girls looking for money so that she can return to school. The rest of the day has been very quiet so far, with no other door knockers. That will begin soon enough.

We have just been unpacking our things and getting organized. We went to church at the traditional 10:00 time this morning only to learn that church began at 9:00. One or two people kidded us about being on Canadian time. Since they have an evening service here, we will go early to make up the difference.

A college group from Harding is here for their first semester. They will start each morning with a Tonga class at 6:30, and then from 7:00 to 8:00 they will have a class on Tonga culture. It would be very good for us to join them if that is permitted. Sue and I set ourselves a goal of learning some Tonga while we are here, and this might be just be the ticket. We will see how it all turns out since early mornings are not really one of my strengths.

We are fine.
Love to all,
Rich & Sue

Mr. Smiley

Final Blog... for now!

We are home now in Canada—it will be a strange home for awhile—Zambia will always be a home to us as well! Our time in Zambia has passed too quickly. We’ve been blessed with many new friendships and new insights into the work of ZMF-C. Thank you donors for supporting this mission; you are making a huge difference for so many!

Our responsibilities included looking after the sponsored students program (136 bright and sweet kids from primary to college age), construction of classroom blocks and teacher housing at Siabalumbi and Katungu villages and a small HIV/AIDS program known as Hope for Tomorrow. It has been amazing for us to experience the work of ZMF-C and to see what great work Ruhtt and Shepherd Mbumwae have developed and been selfishly serving in over the past several years. Good work, Shepherd and Ruhtt! And may God grant you refreshment as you continue on your well deserved education leave in the USA. You are doing great work!

We are also very grateful to have been part of the ZMF-C team in Zambia: Rod and Sue Calder, Wilson and Nancy Siazilo, Omas and Bernadette Siangandu, and Kadonsi and Lezia Kasiya. What a blessing each one of you is to our lives. We love you all and already miss you!

Rod and Sue are responsible for the operating the orphan home for babies and the Seven Fountains Farm.

The Calder Family

Omas is the farm manager and assisted us tirelessly with the construction projects, with vehicle repairs, and even the planting and upkeep of our sponsored student maize field!

Omas and Bernadette

Nancy and Wilson run orphan home #2. Wilson, our ZMF-C education secretary, helped us understand the Zambia education system better and negotiate for teachers for the community schools.

Wilson and Nancy

Kadonsi and Lezia, our neighbours, were always around to assist us! Sorry for the late night knock on the door for our keys! Kadonsi—thanks so much for all your work with the community school teachers, and interviews, and the Bible studies and…Kadonsi and Wendell

Lezia

Wendi

Thanks also to Steve and Joan Mann who are now in Zambia filling in where we left off, and who facilitated this opportunity for us! We are so grateful to you for your vision and love for the Zambian children! Twalumba maninge!

Thanks also to 136 sponsored kids! We are so very proud of your enthusiasm and your achievements and will continue to keep you in our prayers. You are the future of Zambia. What a great future for this country—with you and your gifts.

Thanks to the Katungu and Siabalumbi communities who are working so hard for the kids in their communities! May your communities continue to work together and may you always remain faithful in your service to our Lord.

Also, huge thanks to Winnie and Mashel who did more than keep our clothes clean and the garden growing. Thanks for translating and interpreting the messages that we “just weren't getting”. You are true missionaries and your hard work everyday made it so that we could be about our work!

Love you all,
Sue and Richard

Ah, but your land is beautiful!

I agree with the author who wrote this statement—do you know his name? Capetown and this small piece of South Africa that we've explored so far is indeed beautiful. The weather, the landscape and the people are lovely!

We rented a car for a few days. Today, we explored Simon's town and then traveled on to the Cape of Good Hope. We returned via the western side of the peninsula, through Table Mountain National Park taking the Chapman's peak drive, and ended up in Hout Bay where we had a fine supper of kingklip at the Mariner's wharf. Richard manoeuvred through the switchbacks and hills and valleys well in the dark to return to Cape Town; we were welcomed by a huge expanse of lights sprawled out between the hills and valleys. The roads in Cape Town area have been pretty easy to navigate—I guess driving in Lusaka has taught us something!

Simon's town is the home of the African penguin—cute little guys! We were going to swim with them, but changed our mind and just waded close to them and took photos. The Cape of Good Hope is amazing; it is where the Atlantic and Indian oceans converge—well almost. Actually at that point it is mostly the marine life that converges as actually Cape Agulhas is further south than the Cape of Good Hope.

Pictured below is Sue with her Kalomo High School kids all decked out in their school uniforms.

"OK, Samson and Camody—come back here right now, I can see you running off, get back here NOW" Oh, so sorry, wrong photo—these are the penguins—not my precious boys!

These are "our kids"; aren't they so cute? Stanley is the tall boy with the drum, Carals is the short one leaning on the wall, Agent has the orange shirt on, Obert has the red "vodaphone" shirt on, Brivery is at the back.

Back to South Africa and the southern part of Western Cape.

Zambian Chocolate—For Sweet Good-byes!

Happy Valentine's Day, Canadians!

Greetings to all! Hope this finds you all enjoying some dark chocolate and a date with your sweetheart. Thought I'd send this sweetheart of a picture to all of you. Our three girls broke some hearts with their good-byes and for me it will be breaking my heart to say good-bye to our precious boys and girls! Some have become like family... our fourth son is Francis, fifth is Kabulo and sixth is Brivery and seventh is Timmy, and lastly we still have our Mutinta—our lastborn—Tiffany! She is now very outnumbered!

I tried to send a video clip of this fine young man in the photo leading the choir. Brivery is the choir master for KHS church of Christ and has an incredible voice and leadership skills. He is also very sweet! And an orphan, so I've unofficially adopted him.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I really don't like saying good-bye! I've always thought I'd mature out of being so weepy, but maybe I'll never mature—at least totally! Our Zambian friends (family) are very gracious in many ways and they often end our parting saying, "If I don't see you back in Zambia, we shall meet in heaven." And then they say, "But we will see you again here, won't we?"

Saying good-bye to Derrick Siapegwa was very difficult. This boy walked the seven kilometres from Kalomo town to Namwianga and back just to say his good byes. He just kept saying, "But, Madam, you are leaving???" "Why?" So, I'd excuse myself momentarily, run into the house and wipe my tears, think some happy thoughts and then reappear at the door. Finally, after several minutes I was able to explain that all will be fine, that hopefully someday we will meet again. Anyway, Derrick will always bring special memories to me because of all he's done for himself to get this far in school. He is a real hero, and he inspires me in so many ways!

One thing I've really enjoyed the past six months is the healthiness of these kids. Physically (nutritionally and hygienically) and economically these kids are majorly challenged, but their spirits are very healthy. They have motivation and drive that I've rarely seen at home. They work hard and take education very seriously and not for granted. They are extremely grateful for a sponsor in Canada and at every encounter with me express thankfulness for what is being done for them. They push themselves through hardships that I cannot imagine doing myself. They try by all means (a very Zambian expression!) to be spiritually and morally good people and to be good students. Most have lost one or both parents, and own almost nothing as far as worldly possessions.

They are tough; they do not complain. They walk seven kilometres to go see a nurse when they are ill and then seven kilometres back to school. Every Saturday they volunteer their mornings to work for ZMF-C to be reminded that there is a cost for education. They also work at their schools slashing, slopping pigs, chickens, gardens, and cleaning the schools. There is no paid maintenance at most schools and the elephant grass needs to be cut by the students (slashing) and the piggery and chickens and gardens are income generating activities for the schools. On holidays they work for a granny, uncle or parent planting, fertilizing, weeding, or harvesting maize. They return to school with blisters on their hands and skinnier than before the holiday. They return to school—happy to see their school chums and to eat their daily ration of nsima, beans and cabbage and sometimes kapenta (dried little fish).

I have learned much from these kids!

We have been blessed by the Zambians and count this experience as a highlight in our life. Thank you to everyone who has contributed in any way - and thanks Zambia Mission Fund Canada for the work you are doing in Zambia! May God continue to bless the people of Canada and may all of us realize the real reason why we are blessed in Canada as we are!

Girls at Work

Our time is quickly drawing to a close! And to end it well, we have three charming Canadian girls along for the ride—Tiffany, Ashley and Amanda. They've attracted a bit more attention, and they are having fun and working—good multi-taskers. This morning we picked up a seven-member quartet! from Kalomo High School and went to the Seven Fountains Church. The girls and I taught the kids' class of about forty-five wee ones spread out all over the grass (glass!). So much fun! What a good group of enthusiastic kids! And well disciplined—they listened to the story, answered every quiz question I gave to them (a tie score for boys and girls). Then the girls and Brenda (from KHS) led songs!

One thing our girls have really enjoyed is singing and listening to the KHS choir—so they've attended a few (several) of their practices. Brivery is just too impressive a singer! So is Brenda, Innocent, Rocky, Basol, Kezia... some of these are not our sponsored students, but they are in the choir! Tiff is trying to teach them a few English songs.

The weekly to do list is long, but we will enjoy every minute we have left here.

First Weeks of School

Aaron and Lorraine sent money so the sponsored kids at Namwianga Basic received mattresses for their boarding place. Up until now Sibajene, and the boys, and Charity have been sleeping on cold, hard cement. They also each received a blanket. Thanks Aaron and Lorraine and other members of Lorraine's family. Good comfortable sleeps for our kids, and we still have money left over for some other projects!

The sponsored kids at Namwianga and and Good Hope schools along with Febby Muleya received new school uniforms this week. You cannot attend school in Zambia without a proper uniform. Dickson, the tall fellow in the middle (grandson of Marta) had come to school in a blue shirt this week, but it was the wrong shade of blue so he was told he could not attend until he had a sky blue shirt. Rules, rules, rules...

Have a good week everyone and please pray for these kids and the country of Zambia as it struggles to provide for its people! There are reasons why a country like this is so poor—hmmm... Something to think about—if we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem.