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!