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.