Steward Siluuma and the VP helicopter!

Steward Siluuma has just started teacher's college in Livingstone - sponsored by ZMF-C!

He's been one of our students since he was a young boy at the Basic School!

Steward and Britel used my camera all day on the 15th and with permission from security took photos in front of the presidential "bird"

This is in Kalomo!!

The Vice President of Zambia visits Kalomo January 15

Britel, Steward and I went to Kalomo and waiting many hours to hear the speeches of the government guys. Much dancing and singing preceeded the long and windy pre-election speeches!

More shopping!

Or I can buy chicken like this! Quite different than bringing it home from Costco!

Shopping in Kalomo Town

You can actually buy most of what you need in Kalomo town.

Eggs, tomatoes, potatoes, meat, all sorts of veggies....

It is cheaper to go to the supermarket - in Choma - except fuel is expensive - i.e. approximately $2.00 per litre.

Isaac and Omega

2 sponsored students at Kalomo High School

Isaas is greatly challenged academically - he's just been unfortunate. Unfortunate to not have the essential building blocks that lead to better academic performance. But he tries so hard and he is so spiritual and so disciplined.

He is a church leader in the KHS church.

Omega - is the eldest in his family. The youngest brother of the family is.....you guessed it - Alpha! true story, as aways!

sponsored students 2011

January 2011, the start of a new school year for Africa.

Mrs. Mbumwae - shown here is the ZMF-C agent responsible for the sponsorship of 14o students - grade 2 - college and in approximately 15 different schools/colleges. Currently we sponsor just over 70 of them at Kalomo High School - just a few km. from where we live. I ran the program for 2007, 08 and some in 2010, while Mrs. Mbumwae was away.

She runs a tough program and is VERY effective with these kids. They MUST perform VERY well in every aspect of their life - and they are monitored CLOSELY. Academically, they must be working hard as evidenced by grades above 50 and encouaraged more towards 90 - 100%. Village kids have tremendous challenges - as their foundations are often not there. Can you imagine going to school from grade 1 - 7 when much of the time there is no school - too far to walk, no books, sick, looking after siblings, no teachers....and then miraculously - (actually, by God's design) you pass the strict government exams at grade 9 and then are assigned to Kalomo High School - a boarding school of 1500++ kids. And then you have to start to doing high school math, chemistry, physics and you are still using your fingers to figure out multiplication tables. (this is NOT an exageration!)

If you are sponsoring a student, please pray for him or her. Challenges come many times a day, every day.

The photo above is taken at Seven Fountains farm yesterday where Mrs. Mbumwae and I worked with 40 of our precious kids - at the field (my job) or at the container or with Oscar (a ZMF-C graduate of University of Zambia - economics) at the other field. Volunteer work is critical to the development of these kids - they need to understand that sponsorship is precious, like gold. As they work the farm - with their hands - they contribute towards generating income for the farm and that in turn helps out ones like Baby Michael!

Pray also for Mrs. Mbumwae - for health, strength and energy!

Michael at 5 1/2 weeks

Taken today - Michael is now drinking 4 oz at a time, every 2 hours 'round the clock. He's still mighty scrawny and kind of looks like a mudala (old man) - skin all hanging loose. He has a pretty good cry - as reported by Rod Calder.

One day Michael will be a ....teacher, a preacher, a doctor...only God knows the plans for this wee one - and He depends on all of us to help him reach his potential.

Thanks for sharing with ZMF-C.

Baby Michael

Michael at 4 weeks.

Michael was born December 16, 2010 at Kalomo Hospital. His twin brother died as did his mother. He was brought to Kasensa, the orphan home at Seven Fountains Farm of Zambia Mission Fund - Canada.

Michael weighed 1.3 kg at birth. He did not have strength to suck when first brought to Kasensa - and so Sue Calder, the mother of the house and the lifesaver of too many to remember at this time coaxed him along with a dropper.

Mango time in Zambia

January 23, 2011

Mango time in Zambia! The rains and whatever else goes into making mangos is just perfect this year ~ abundant growth! What a fantastic fruit mango is. Thank-you to our creative God who knows so well how to satisfy the taste buds and tummy all at once!

I've been here 10 days now and haven't missed a day without mango! Why would I? Sometimes we even eat the peel.

ski shot

December 29 at Fairmont -

A cool morning - great snow and great view!

Richard, Tiff and Aaron - Layne was already well on his way down. Sue is taking photo.

Family, one of God's richest blessings!

Happy New Year from the Krogsgaards -

Richard, Sue, Aaron, Lorraine, Jonas, Tori and Sharon, Tim and Krista, Tiffany and Layne!

We've spent the week at Fairmont enjoying each other and the great outdoors - both magnificent, and a blessing from God.

Skiing, skating, snowshoeing and outdoor hot springs. Each family took a night for cooking - and a night for devo time. Good food - spiritual and otherwise!

So...this afternoon on New Year's day the movie "Princess Bride" is playing while dad is trying to cheat at Risk! Tim says "we allow one mistake per game" - meanwhile the character of Indigo Montoya (sp?) is sweetly developing!

Happy New Year to all of you - from all of us!