Meet Charlie - 3 days old!

Baby Charles

Charles arrived yesterday. He's 3 days old today and so far his life has been a challenge. His mom died 12 hours after delivering at home in the village. The placenta did not deliver and so she died of bleeding. Then his 3 aunties packed him up and travelled on an open lorry from near Belile - about 65 km over very rough road and likely they even experienced rain - its the rainy season. Then from Kalomo they took taxi to Seven Fountains Farm. He had a head to toe rash on him - many clear vesciles, some are with pus. His cord care has not been done and it doesn't look so great. He's dehydrated - been drinking a bit of goat's milk. So...today...its drink and sleep and give him amoxicillin. His first HIV test yesterday was negative. That is good news. He has good appetite and that is good news! There has not been a funeral for the mom - family report there is not enough money for the granny to travel from Siavonga. So...it will wait, I guess.

every 25th of the month

January 25 at Nalabumba - ZOE met again. ZOE - Zambians helping orphans with extended hands. A smaller group than last month, but still worthwhile. Samuel Moono independently organizes this group of the church community to meet monthly so they can share their struggles and their victories. ZOE was started a few years ago after Jean Webster of ZOE (Zimbabwe)visited and shared her/their story of Zimbabwe communities helping orphans and vulnerables through the church, how God intended. Read her story on the net - google - Jean Webster - and Zimbabwe or ZOE and you'll find the information. In short, church leaders of all Christian churches get together and encourage volunteers to care for the orphans within their communities. In the first 10 years of the work that Jean began, about 60,000 orphans were being cared for - no orphanages...no expensive buildings or staff to pay....people helping people. And in my opinion, if it can be done in neighbouring Zimbabwe, a country with more woes than Zambia, it can be replicated here. ZOE (Zim) did this without handouts - no containers, etc. Now, ZOE (Zim) has staff and they do more formal work with some help from Tearfund International. They use funds to teach about IGA's, conservation farming, health issues. Money is utilized to equip and release folks from not being able to care for themselves. The people in the picture are mainly church volunteers - from C of C, SDA and others. One headman (a woman) was with us, a couple of Bible teachers, an UNZA student, a sponsored student and several volunteers who weekly and monthly visit and encourage the orphans who they've taken under their wings. Magi - one of the ones being assisted in this way was with us. She is a young granny. 4 of her children have died leaving her and her husband with 9 grandchildren to care for. Her one daughter died last month. We've now put the baby from that mom on the milk program for a couple of months. Her neighbours spend time with her - visiting her and praying for her and helping her in other ways as they are able. We spent this meeting mostly in prayer - for each other and for the ones that do this great volunteer work and for the kids! And then we shared practical ways that each of us can help assist. For the next meeting we've asked that the one headman bring purposefully invite the other invite the other headmen so they can know more and participate in this activity.

Triplets a few months later!

The triplets at age 2 months. 

One of our milk program's babies is Junior - the boy being held by his dad. He is part of this set of triplets. The mom is breastfeeding the other two. They live in a village - a settlement. No electricity, no running water, a dark hut, and she had help - but the lady has gone looking for paid work now - as people at this time are running out of maize. The next harvest, God willing, will be in May - a few months yet away. So..Milner helps as does the other 3 children. They are working hard with what they have. Apparently, Milner is good at construction - so we may hire him for a job at SFF - and see how he does. The babies look pretty good - they are small for 2 months, and therefore are vulnerable.

Molly and Timmy's granny at Zimba

Molly and Timmy will go home to their extended family in February. Last night they stayed at Jackson and Melody Tembo's at the compound on the farm - it is a truer picture of village life.

SFF garden.

The garden at the farm here is productive. We had about a 2 month span in which we were 'hammered" by diamond back moths and they ate up everything humanly edible (and left the weeds!)During that time we purchased from our neighbours - who spray more often than we do. But...we are now back in business - at least the business of supplying veg for Kasensa and Tendai homes. The babies love rape, cabbage, green beans and butternut. And we are grateful for good rains the past while and Jackson who directs the garden and Nancy who now oversees the garden and the sponsored students on Saturdays who keep the weeds down!

Big George - the night before Christmas

Big George - we fed him for months - and then Jackin came and took over and then....Christmas eve came and ALL the workers for SFF ate well - the compound smelled so sweet!

Mwaanda - trying to post this photo again

For a few weeks I've been unable to post photos on the blog site. Tonight, it is working...sort of....
Mwaanda is in the blue shirt. His story is a few entries back.
:)

Christmas at SFF - 2 weeks ago



Christmas - at SFF a couple weeks ago. Timmy Mbambiko, Taylor, babies: Abigail, Potius,
Abraham, Molly and Timmy, Rozina, Mikey...



Painting the dining area, Timmy, Brivery, Taylor

Abigail and Krista

Cornolius - 4.7 kg

Timmy and Molly's family meeting January 16

Mwaanda - getting ready to plant sweet potato

Molly and Timmy update

On Monday, Carlos Muleya (UNZA ZMF-C sponsored student doing his "attachment" with us this month), Gideon Simasiku (father of twins, Molly and Timmy), Molly, Timmy and I visited Molly and Timmy's extended family who live about 15 km. from Zimba, just off the Nyawa road.

The first thing seen as you enter the area is "welcome visitors" painted on the side of one of the small sand/clay houses. We felt welcomed and home crafted chairs were offered to us. The household is organized nicely.

Everyone is excited to see Molly and Timmy. For most of them, this is the first time they've met these 3 1/2 year old twins who've been at Kasensa since birth.

There is plenty of healthy maize growing all around the collection of "houses", huts. There are many aunties, uncles, cousins, puppies and a kitty! The children are well fed and appear healthy. Some of the children attend the government school that is less than 1 km. away. One uncle (the main provider) is a health care volunteer for the area.

In his quiet voice Carlos led the meeting about who will take the children. The meeting was very short! The family were united in their decision and very excited at the prospect of being able to have the children. They said they'd come in April, and I suggested February, since we return to Canada at the end of February. February 17, 18 or 19 will be the date when Timmy and Molly finally return to their family.

The same day, Gideon - the father told us that he and his wife have been evicted from the place where they are currently residing (squatting)because of a change of land ownership. Movina - their mom had gone to the clinic to take baby #15 for malaria treatment. Later, though, Movina herself said she'd been back to Namwianga begging for nsima. Maybe, also she went to the clinic. Who really knows? Gideon says the family at Zimba will allow them to stay with them - and if that is the case then perhaps the family will pressure them to conform to some of the norms of their culture/society - i.e. family planning, sending children to school, immunizations and working (planting and harvesting)instead of begging. Movina and Gideon are wonderful people - always welcoming and friendly - they just have trouble caring for their many children.

Please keep this family in your prayers - especially Molly and Timmy. The transition will be great!

Saturdays - Mwaanda

Each Saturday of the school term, about 40 Kalomo Secondary Students :volunteer" at Seven Fountains Farm - where the orphans are, and where we live. They volunteer because ZMF-C to show appreciation for having their school feed paid. It is not hard to keep 40 grade 10 - 12's busy for 2 1/2 hours! They hoe and weed in the large garden, find firewood for heating of water for the house, slash grass, clean the house, and most importantly, take the babies for walks and give them lots of hugging and cuddling! After the "work" then we gather together for a time of praising God led by the kids and sharing buns and juice. If the picture posts then you'll see a young fellow in a blue shirt. His name is Mwaanda, grade 12. He is brilliant - one of our top academic performers. An important activity for me each Saturday is to get to know the kids and their lives! Mwaanda let me know his dad was quite sick and was in hospital again at Choma. He was ver concerned. So...Sunday afternoon, Mwaanda and Richard and I went to Choma to visit Charles - Mwaanda's dad. Actually, I've known Charles since 2003, but hadn't realized that this was Mwaanda's family. Charles is doing okay at the hospital and I think he'll be released shortly. I now know that Mwaanda is from a polygamy family. Mwaanda's mother is the second wife and has 8 children. The first wife has 5 children. All of these children place a huge financial burden on the family. And therefore, they come looking for sponsorship. ZMF-C sponsors Mwannda and his young brother. Polygamy is nasty! At the end of educating all his children, though, Charles will be well looked after - financially and in other ways. But...in the meatime - this family will continue to find challenges.

Maakes' granny with her gift of vegetables for us

It is very difficult and takes MANY attempts to upload one photo for the blog. I've tried no less than about 10 times to upload this photo. I will get it all set up and while its downloading can do many other things, cook supper, go outside to work a bit, prepare for a class, change a nappy or two....and then come back and if it has uploaded I can press the button and voila - discover that it will not attach to the document if in fact it did upload. But...this morning for some reason, everything lined up! So this photo goes together with an entry from a few days ago. Maakes is the 17 month old malnutrition baby.

Timmy's new shirt, thanks Tiffany!

Timmy Mbambiko spends lots of time with us! We've known him since he was in grade 9 and he just graduated from Namwianga Secondary. He is a shining example of how a Godly young man can shine his light. Tiffany, our daughter had sent soccer jerseys and he received a jersey with a number on it, but wanted this one with our name on it instead. He's pretty special to us!

Maakes' story

Maakes is 1 year, 7 months and weighs 4.4 kg. He has severe malnutrition related to a very sick mom. Malnutrition is ugly and for most situations, is avoidable. Zambia has not had drought (for 2011). There is food out in the bush if you are resourceful - which most Zambians are and can keep their families relatively healthy even when the garden has mostly failed. So whats gone wrong with Maakes? The mom has been declared sick by the family. She's been bewitched, by a man who had bewitched her mother and her mother's mother, and another relative. That relative died. The belief in witchcraft is costly ~ for Maakes, it has almost cost him his life. At 19 months old he could hardly hold his head up a month ago. He is now in the care of his young granny, Molly(see photo) who has removed the child from his mother who hasn't been able to provide care for Maakes for over a year. Maakes has been "surviving" off sugar water - since he hasn't been breastfed for over a year and the cowsmilk supply had also dried up. Molly is now coming for the milk program monthly to supplement Maake`s diet and has stayed with us at Kasensa for a couple of weeks in order for us to take Maakes to the clinic and to monitor care and feeding. Maakes is now 5.0 kg, has been on 3 antibiotics to clear up his chronic diarrhea, and is now able to sit independently. Yesterday, they went back to their village and will return to us on the 15th of January for the milk program. There are many questions you may have about this! Feel free to write or talk to us when we return to Canada in a few months! In the meantime, continue to pray for Maakes and his family and that his family can break free from the stronghold of witchcraft and its hold on the family. Maake's granny is SO grateful for the help Maakes is receiving. PS - Molly, (granny) blessed us with this bucket of veg that she grew! Twalumba, Molly!

Sponsored College boys working hard on the farm during their holiday - volunteering during holiday is part of the ZMF-C sponsorship program and they take it seriously. They expend much energy and bring life and hope to the farm - in their attitudes, their work ethic and in their maturity. We enjoy our short time with them here, sharing spiritual and physical food together!

Rozina's family.

Recently, we were able to visit Rozina's 2 grannies and her 4 year old sister. Rozina has family and we will work them this month to create the discharge plan.