KamZamNews from the Kamaus

Hello Everyone!

Recently, we received an end of the year update from one of our friends and it was such a pleasure to read how their sons were growing and developing their own interests.  It kept them on our minds for a few days!

Stop by our blog to see what has been going on in our lives.

The Kamaus

http://www.kamzamnews.blogspot.com

Fwd: Chimwemwe Ladies

Chimwemwe Ladies

This letter was sent to folks who have helped with buying and selling the bags and necklaces that the Chimwemwe Ladies make.  If you are interested please let us know at villagesofhope@gmail.com.

Dear friends of the Chimwemwe Ladies!!

 

I pray that you are all doing well, and once again we thank you for your caring and support over the last couple of years.  One of the goals of the Chimwemwe Ladies Club for 2011 is to improve our quality. 

 

For our bags, this will mean trying to standardize the sizes of the bags.  We have worked on this in the past but we will do better on this.  It is still difficult to standardize the colors since it depends on what plastics we receive on containers and what we are able to buy in Lusaka. 

 

For our necklaces and jewelry, it will mean to learn how to make more varied beads and to improve the quality of the beads we make.  Last Friday we had 2 ladies come from Lusaka who make the beads and sell them at the Sunday Market at Arcades.  They spent about 3 hours teaching the ladies how they make and do their beads. 

 

So we are hoping that you will continue to help us in the selling of these things.  We have been praying for rain and after more than 3 weeks we have had a little bit today.  We are praying that it continues.  If the dry spell affects the maize crop, the ladies will need more than ever to earn money from what they can make just to feed and educate their children.

 

In January and February we had a few volunteers who took things back to the states for us.  They aren't able to sell everything in their churches that they carried back.  We sent back 130 necklaces alone. 

 

Would you be interested in selling bags or necklaces right now.  If so, please let me know and I will connect you with the person that has them.  If you have things that you aren't able to sell, please let me know.  Also, if you have any money that is still owed from things you have already sold, please send it to ACKLI at   24 N. Washington Street, Havre de Grace, MD 21078.  We need those funds to be able to pay the ladies and to buy more materials.

 

Thank you

 

 

Women to Women

Women to Women

 

One of the goals for the Chimwemwe Ladies Club this year is to improve the quality of what we do.  That will involve trying to standardize the sizes of the bags and making different and better beads. 

 

At the craft market at Arcades on Sundays I had met 2 ladies who make the bead necklaces.  They make a greater variety of beads than we have been making.  Since I was the person that kept encouraging the women to do the beads, and showed them the little that I know or could figure out, we were somewhat limited.

 

So last Sunday we were in Lusaka to drop off Steve at the airport.  I talked to the 2 ladies and asked if they would come out and teach our ladies how to do what they do.  I assured them that we would not be in competition since we send our things to the states to sell. 

 

So Friday they came.  From the Chimwemwe money we paid for their transportation, gave them a stipend, and bought lunch for them at the restaurant.  It brought me great joy to see them surrounded by many of our ladies, all working together and learning from one another – women helping women.  I think our beads will have more variety and be a bit better in quality since Mutinta and Precious, the ladies from Lusaka, came to teach them.

 

I am looking forward in this year.  The rains have not been good, and it seems that the maize crops will be poor unless we get more rain.  That means a lot more hunger.  However, if our ladies are able to make and sell more of their craft items, it will provide money to feed their families.  At the last meeting they were asking if they could be paid so that they could pay the school fees for their children.  Their children had been "chased" from school because they haven't paid the fees.  So Tuesday will be pay day.

 

And we in the US complain about our finances, even though we never have to worry about our kids going to school, or our children being hungry.

 

 

 

 

The Blessings of Volunteers

 

Many of you who read this blog have visited and served here at our Village of Hope.  In the last month we have been reminded once again of the blessing that each person is to us and the gifts you, as volunteers, share with us.

 

In the last month we have had a great variety of wonderful contributions to our work here.  Susan, Steve, and Jim who came and helped with organization and structure, Steve who spent hours daily working with Patrick on the finances, Dave who helped design and set up our dairy program so that the children will have milk to drink to add calcium to their diet, and Sue, whose plans for the courtyard at the school, based on all the children's suggestions should become a reality and a thing of beauty in the next month or so.

 

We are now beginning to make plans and schedules for other volunteers in 2011.  We look forward with joy to anyone who may come to join with us here at the Village of Hope. 

 

 

 

 

Healthy Children

 

A woman came last weekend to interview for a position as housemother.  She has visited many other orphan care ministries.  She made a comment that we heard recently from a government official who was visiting.  "These children look so healthy.  I've never seen children looking this good at any other place I have been."

 

She was also surprised and pleased with the way that the children greeted her.  Since we are all so used to meeting new folks, welcoming them, and interacting, the children have learned to be friendly and polite.  Although we teach them these things, it was a joy to hear from her that the children are putting into practice what they have been taught.

 

It is a joy to know that God has given us a mission and the strength to provide a quality home for these wonderful children.

 

 

Gathered Round the Piano

Gathered Round the Piano

On the last container that came from Delaware, we received 2 pianos.  One of them is at the school in the office.  Today it was overcast at lunch time and a couple of kids came into the office where I was working.  They were "playing" on it a bit.  So I moved over and began to play songs that they knew.  What an experience to have children in Africa gathered around the piano, singing as I played "To God be the Glory," "Blessed Assurance," "Thy Word," "He Lives," and other songs.  And they had such joy as well.  As I will always remember the time, I pray that they also will remember the joy of the Lord and the words of truth that they were singing.  

Pray for Rain

Pray for Rain

The rainy season began at the end of November and usually runs into March.  So far we have had about 1/2 the rain that we need.  The skies have become beautiful and blue with white puffy clouds.  But we need rain.  Our neighbor Paddy Doyle told us yesterday that if we don't get more rain, there will be lots of hunger here in Zambia.  So please pray for rain for this area.

Re: Feet

Kathleen,
It is soo good to hear from you again. I've been missing your updates
and to have these last ones filled with such excitement and
encouraging news is such a blessing! I'm so glad that you've found
teachers that are "getting it' :)!!!!! YAY!! What fun and what joy!

Susan and I have had a very difficult time connecting here in the
States...but I'm going to try to pin her down for an update on her
trip very soon! Can't wait to hear all about it. Sounds like it was
a good one :)

God Bless!
Angie
On Feb 4, 2011, at 12:13 PM, Kathleen Schwartz wrote:

> Feet
>
>
> I wonder how many teachers in the US know what their student's feet
> look like? That might strike you as a funny question. But I thought
> of it as I was sitting across the table testing some of our older
> children. I became aware of the bare feet and the joy of looking
> down and seeing these sweet feet that get dirty and muddy, that walk
> all over the Village, that are strong, and, yes, dirty.
>
>
> The children take off their shoes or boots to go into the
> classroom. All the shoes are supposed to be lined up against the
> outside wall neatly so they don't bring the dirt into the
> classrooms. So basically they are barefoot most of the day.
>
>
> Think of the things kids get to do here that so many kids in the US
> would love to be able to do: eat with their fingers, be barefoot in
> school, run around exploring and searching for bugs and other
> eatable "treasures."
>
>
>

From Julie D

From Julie D

I forwarded your AKCLI"feet" Update to Ellie Hymes from my church who is working at an orphanage in the Philippines. This was her immediate response.  "Its funny you would send this now.  Just yesterday I was praying with a little circle of teenage girls.  I was noticing their toes!!"

God is everywhere!!

 

Prayers Always,

julie d

 

My Mother's Response to "Feet"

My Mother's Response to "Feet"

I loved the idea about their feet!  You remember that is the way we grew up, barefoot and  outdoors in summer time!  I will never forget nearly burning my feet when we attempted to cross a dry deep dusty field to go over to the neighbors and we  could hardly stand it;  I grew up with many of the hardships of countries still suffering today!  We didn't have electricity, phones and never went to a Library.  Our learning was really wonderful tho as we remember butchering our own animals,  mother canning it and rendering lard outside in huge iron pots!  I always loved my life in the country and is why it was so hard for me to leave it so young to go to the city and a huge big school.  It was probably the only way I would be willing to leave that beautiful place that I loved so much.     So you can see you foot item really brought back memmories for me!  I remember when Robert and I stood out in the barnyard and watched a big plane far up and we wondered how the people were and where they were going and wondering if ever we would fly and I think we assumed it would only be a dream  and then to think that I have  flown all over the world   How mysterious and marvelous are the plans of the Lord as already He knew all about my future and then to have such a good husband and wonderful children and joy and strength in my older age what more could I ever ask for! 

Feet

Feet

 

I wonder how many teachers in the US know what their student's feet look like? That might strike you as a funny question.  But I thought of it as I was sitting across the table testing some of our older children.  I became aware of the bare feet and the joy of looking down and seeing these sweet feet that get dirty and muddy, that walk all over the Village,  that are strong, and, yes, dirty. 

 

The children take off their shoes or boots to go into the classroom.  All the shoes are supposed to be lined up against the outside wall neatly so they don't bring the dirt into the classrooms.  So basically they are barefoot most of the day.

 

Think of the things kids get to do here that so many kids in the US would love to be able to do:  eat with their fingers, be barefoot in school, run around exploring and searching for bugs and other eatable "treasures."