Back to Africa

Well, I'm headed back to Zambia! It has been a very full 3 weeks: Meeting with the team from Buffalo, MN, Board meeting, seeing Matildah, and time with our family.

We had a great Board meeting in MD with our board members from all over the country. What a blessing to have such leaders who are part of God's work in Zambia!

Back in Zambia, teachers arrive on Wednesday for 3 days of preparation, students arrive on Monday, so there will be lots going on there. Thanks for your prayers and support for what God is doing at the Village of Hope.

Trip to see Matildah

I just returned from a very short but wonderful time in Louisville with Matildah and the Cook family. I got to see Matildah at her school, meet her teacher, meet the pastor of the church she attends, and meet the other members of the Cook family.

Several years ago Benedict and I were interviewed for the Family Life Today radio program. Kayla Cook heard the interview and the Lord touched her. As a result she came to the Orphan Summit in FL where I made a presentation, in order to meet me. Kayla since that time has made 2 trips to Zambia. It was on her visit last year that she felt led to pursue more complete medical evaluation for Matildah.

I was amazed to see how it is taking the whole family, Kayla and her 3 grown children, her two sisters, and even their friends to respond to Matildah's need. I was moved to tears when I see how God moves from a radio program to change a life for this little girl. I was moved by the care, love, self sacrifice and giving of this family.

Matildah is doing well. She loves her school and they love her. She is touching others. I heard reports of her funny sense of humor, and so many qualities of her personality that are coming out. She showed me the red ribbon of "Student of the Week" that she received. Matildah showed me how she is able to use her legs to walk - not all of the time but it is increasing. She is having regular physical therapy, including water therapy. Monday she will have an appointment with the doctor who will preform her next surgery.

Please keep praying for Matildah and for the Cook family. Thank you Kayla, Sarah, Aaron, Boaz, Arna, Tia, and Elizabeth. The Lord is well pleased!

In Memory

On Easter afternoon, Auntie Doreen went to be with the Lord after a 5 month struggle with cancer. Doreen lived in Liteta and had been an auntie since the earliest children arrived in our Village. We all loved her and she was a wonderful, Godly example to the children and everyone she worked with. Please join us in praying for her family during this time, as well as all the other aunties and mothers and children in our Village.

Around the Table

Part of the remembrance of this Holy Week centers around a table. Jesus met with his disciples in the Upper Room and they broke bread together. When Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me,” I think he was talking about the act we now call “Holy Communion” but also the act of gathering around the table.

The significance of this “gathering” has been real to me in the last couple of weeks here in Zambia as I have been part of gatherings around tables.

After a break for a year or so, our fellowship group with our Zimbabwean friends has resumed. Twice we have gathered for fellowship, tasty soup, and sharing together. I’m always struck by the diversity – people from different countries (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa, USA), different economic and social backgrounds, diverse cultures, different ages. But we always feel the joy of being together and the unity that comes in the Body of Christ.

Dick and Anita Mumba, and Benedict and I have begun meeting regularly with the Village of Hope mothers and aunties. These are times of worship through song, prayer, and fellowship. Although we don’t eat a meal, we do gather around the big table in the Visitor House to have tea and muffins. To sit and fellowship together affirms our community and unity. It has been lovely.

This week we have had the joy of visitors from MI being with us. Different teams have different experiences. For this team, each evening meal together became a time of rich discussion. How can our lives be lived in ways that glorify God and bring the Kingdom here on earth? Last Sunday Mark and Di Wenham, the Mumbas, and Kimberly joined us. Around the house were discussions about Foundations of Farming, life in Zimbabwe, and sharing of personal histories.

One of my favorite hymns sums it up well.

Draw us in the Spirit’s tether,

For when humbly in Thy name,

Two or three are met together,

Thou art in the midst of them,

Alleluia, Alleluia,

Touch we now Thy garment’s hem.

As the brethren used to gather,

In the name of Christ to sup,

Then to thanks to God the giver,

Break the bread and bless the cup,

Alleluia, Alleluia,

So now bind our friendship up.

All our meals and all our living

Make as sacraments of Thee,

That by caring, helping, giving,

We may true disciples be,

Alleluia, Alleluia,

We will serve Thee faithfully.

100% !!! – Wednesday 4 April 2012

Have you ever heard of a school where 100% of the children had someone come to the Parent-Teacher Conferences? We had that mark today. I don’t say “parent” since in this culture the student may be living with an aunt or uncle, a grandparent, or even another distance relative. In the case of the children in the Village, it was the house mother. But the important thing today was that every child was represented!

Today was the last day of school for Term 1 of 2012. It seems hard to believe that it was 3 months ago that I sat at the table welcoming all the new parents and students. They call today “Open Day.” In other words, the school is open for “parents” to come and look at their children’s work, notebooks, and art work. The parent and child sit with the teacher and go over the report card and the assessment of the child’s progress.

The teachers had their rooms well organized and planned. Each child’s materials were placed on a table together with a name card. The teachers were available at 7:00am and the last parent was done by about 12 noon. It was a very peaceful, positive environment.

The parent’s desire for their children to receive a good education, and the belief that our School of Hope is such a place was demonstrated in this outstanding turn out.

A final note: it was very clear, as the teacher’s met with the parents and got to know the home situation a little bit, that many of the children who are coming from the community are orphans being cared for by others. So our influence on the orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia is expanding through our School of Hope.