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!