Sibajene in the swing

Sibajene is 9 months old. She loves to go the swings - but ...fell asleep while swinging - we put her to bed following!

Her 17 month old mom died a few months back.

Her aunt and uncle live nearby so Richard and I have been meeting with them to come up with a discharge plan. It is tricky - but we are getting closer.

They are a wonderful family - please pray for Sibajene and for these family discussions!

Babies out for playtime

The babies love going for rides in the wagon. They especially love to go to the playground - recently assembled by Wes Mann and a few others. 


Delphister - a ZMF-C sponsored student completed Grade 12 last year and she's been staying with us at Kasensa and helping care for babies. 


Having Delphister increases our baby:staff ratio and on certain days puts us above the required standard as mentioned in the "minimum standards" document of 4 babies to one caregiver. 



Thanks all who support orphan care - orphan care that is trying hard to make a difference to babies, sponsored kids and to the nation of Zambia! And ultimately to God's Kingdom! 

Mudala at meal time with babies

Everyone helps at mealtime.

Richard is feeding Lumaamba who has just completed 6 months of TB treatment and is doing great. He is a very happy and fat baby.

His parents are both alive. His mom has been very sick with TB, but she's improving. Praise God - so soon Lumaamba (warrior in Tonga) will be able to return to his loving parents!

Teaching the Kasensa Child Care course

Child care classes are being taught each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays on the verandah at Kasensa.


 In 2009, the Zambia Government released the document "Minimum Standards for Child Care Facilities in Zambia". This is a GOOD document - thank you, Zambia! 


The document strongly articulates that if a child is to be in orphan care that it must be temporary and that along with Social Welfare, facility managers MUST be active in preventing, protecting, rehabilitating and reintegrating babies/children back with family. 


Again, thank you Zambia. 


Psalm 68:6 - Truth is truth - God places the lonely in families, not Kasensa. We are only here to help educate, support and re-unite! 


Also, the document states that IF a child must be in care then caregivers must have education on child care. However, up to this time in Zambia we've not found a caregiver course to send our employees to. So...Social Welfare manager - Jean (last photo) asked me to create one. 


And that's what I've done. The "minimum standards" documents outlines what course contents should be and so...while home in Canada I was able to sketch out presentations as well as obtain all sorts of additional helpful materials. SIAST in Regina donated about $300.00 worth of  early childhood education materials. Thanks SIAST. 


Do you ever wonder why God gives us certain opportunities? Many years ago I was given opportunity to teach at SIAST - and then adding to my education I was then given opportunity to be nurse educator for several years. In that time I developed many programs for staff and students as well as policy. I learned much and didn't know that God was preparing me for this job as well. But....as I grow older I think I see a bit more clearly. 


But...whipping up lessons does not come easy - it takes me HOURS to prepare for 2 hours of class time. Second, third and fourth drafts get better and easier! 


Social Welfare in Kalomo have asked me to present to the community - but for now I'll continue to "experiment" with our staff and then invite all farm workers and SFF church. 


Its now daylight - so should get ready for the town agenda - visit staff at Kalomo hospital, do pediatric rounds with the doctors,go to SW office and visit Abraham's family and run a few errands. 

Connecting with Social Welfare

Thanks Jean and Nelly for visiting us at Kasensa on Friday, June 23rd. We were very happy to show you around. Come again - next time for tea! 

Sifting the maize

Sifting the maize that had been stored since last year. 

This is ladies work but Brivery and Austern humbly took the job on during a windy morning and now at Kasensa we have enough mealie meal to last until end of next month! The maize was planted by ZMF-C sponsored students and now the babies and their caregivers are eating it. This is a wonderful thing! 

June 20, 2012

Baby Christa at 7 months! If you'll remember in November 2011 Christa was born at Kalomo Hospital. She was 750 grams! Look at her now! Mother Abigail is so proud of her baby and so are we and SO should ZMF-C donors. 

Thanks for supporting a program that seeks to be proactive in keeping babies with families  - as Christa is! 

The meeting at Senkobo

At Senkobo with Rozina's dad and granny

Greetings all!
Richard and I returned to Zambia almost 2 weeks ago. We are 'back in the saddle'. Other board members, Doreen and Wes and Joan have been covering. In about a month Favour and Fiona Simoongwe and their 3 children, Shane, Matiala and Rayna will join us. We will orientate them to their one year job here at Kasensa!

A few months back Rozina was "discharged" from Kasensa and taken to another orphan home. Apparently, this happens sometimes. This is strong evidence that change happens very slowly. It is "the culture" now for many to believe that the child must remain in orphan care until a magic age - i.e. 2 years old. Or as the father, Joseph was telling us yesterday - 4 or 5 years! They express the belief that the child is too fragile...they cannot care for her/him. Yet, as we sat and met we were blessed by the cheerful presence of several healthy and happy children running around us. Uncovering what the real reasons for why a family won't take Rozina is tricky but one of the ways to assist families in doing what is best for the child is to visit with the family at their home.

Senkobe - is about an hours drive on tarmack and then about 45 minutes in the bush once off the tarmack. Fuel is expensive. It takes time to pick up relatives to show the way down the bushroad. It takes much effort and carefully chosen words to broach the topic and it takes eyes to  observe the unspoken messages and to discern the meaning of this all. 

After about 30 minutes with the family pictured above it was evident that the polygamous marriage was a factor in Rozina not being able to return to family. Wife #1 sat off to the side (the sitting version of being "standoffish") You may remember in past blogging that Rozina's mom died almost one year ago, she was wife #2. Wife clearly does not want Rozina. I also observed wife # 1 being harsh and cold with her 2 1/2 year old son.

We explained that nowadays there is much evidence to say that children grow BEST in family and it is evident that children here in this family can grow - they are healthy, strong and happy. But...family must be willing and work hard on behalf of Rozina so she develop a strong foundation -  unlike what can happen in an orphan home where there are paid caregivers who come and go, day in and day out. Even with quality orphan care with good - staff to baby ratios, babies miss out.

At the end of the meeting after Richard spoke "father to father" with Joseph, it was agreed that family members would meet in Kalomo to do more planning. The granny said she understood more now with this meeting and that she'd be able to help her son Joseph. So...today, we'll set up a meeting with interested parties and pray that the deep interest in Rozina will be at the heart of the meeting.

Rozina has been hospitalized recently and sick for approximately 2 weeks - vomiting....I believe a factor is that since she's been uprooted she is a depressed baby with no way to express it verbally, but her body is crying out for someone to listen. Let's listen. Let's pray for Rozina.