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