Buildings on the increase

 

For the last several months, we have been in a very busy building phase.  We are finishing the 4th house at the Village and working on 2 more.  The Director & Visitor house is nearing completion.  We have begun construction of a 3 unit staff building to house staff.  We are nearing completion of our Food Processing building where we will be able to prepare food for take away and restaurant near the Great North Road.  The foundation is now being prepared for a Community Center, to be built with the help of a group - Faith in Action - from a church in Wisconsin in May.  Plans are in the works for school buildings, an outdoor type eating area for the restaurant, more houses for children, and another staff housing building.  A visit to our Village and property during work hours finds workers welding beds and window guards, the tractor hauling blocks from one work site to another, work going on in the fields we have planted,  buildings being constructed, children playing, land prepared for grass and plantings, and plumbing, electrical, and carpentry activities.  So much has been accomplished in such a short amount of time.  Yet we know that the children needing a family and loving care only get older, so we want to proceed without delay.

"Lights, Oven, Action"

 

We finally have electricity at our Village of Hope.  After waiting over a year from when we paid Zesko (the electric company), their work is done, the lines are run to the houses, and Kimberly can cook on a stove.  They can use their refrigerator for cooling things instead of as another cupboard.  What a difference - to have more lights, be able to use the computer, cool and cook food, play music on CD players, and much more.  The lack of electricity made all of us more aware of how much our lives in the states depend on electricity and how most of the world lives not having electricity.  It will be hard to take it for granted.

It's a Small World

 

I am back in the states for a few weeks for the birth of a grandchild to our son, and wedding plans for our daughter.  While in Missouri, I helped with the Sunday School class at Wyatt Park Christian Church in St. Joseph.  We passed out pictures of the 15 children at our village.  Then the members of the Sunday School class drew pictures for me to take back.  At the same time, one of their members, Laura, is in Zambia volunteering and teaching our children there.  Connecting children on both sides of the Atlantic

 

A cousin of mine in Tennessee and her friends, ordered bags made by the Chimwemwe ladies.  I returned to the states with 32 bags - connecting women on both sides of the Atlantic.

 

At one point in April there were volunteers from Maryland, Delaware, Missouri, and Florida all working together at our Village of Hope in Zambia.  And what a joy it was!