Painting!!!

John and AJ are here from DE. They plan to do some health care training with the mothers and aunties, at the school both with teachers and students, and for the Chimwemwe ladies. But, in the meantime they are helping to paint the interior of all the houses. They did one house in one day!!!! Some houses badly needed the painting so we are very grateful for all their hard work.

A Fire

Last week the team from Fairfax Community Church was helping me at the school. We had a bunch of trash that had accumulated from emptying the boxes from the new container. Here in Zambia there is no trash pick-up. You just dig a big hole and then keep dumping your trash/"rubbish" into it and then burning it. I gave Jared some matches and he took a bunch of rubbish to the pit and set it on fire.

It was really my fault that I didn't take into consideration that it was very windy and the area around the pit wasn't completely cleared of dry grass. He lit the fire and was there, making sure it stayed in the pit. Later he went back to put more into the pit and there were still burning embers. As is common, a couple of the kids were rooting around seeing what "treasures" I was throwing away. After Jared left the kids must have stirred up the fire and the wind picked it up and it started burning the land around it.

Here in our part of Africa, fires are so common from now until the rains come (Nov) that no one really pays much attention. The netball team that was practicing just kept on playing even though there was fire close to them. Other kids kept swinging and playing, ignoring what looked like a dangerous fire. The sound is quite frightening as the dry grass burns. Of course, smoke was rising up as the fire quickly spread with the wind fanning the flames.

On the other hand, the team from VA began to almost panic. They were trying to keep the fire from spreading and it really startled them. Coming from the states, I was very aware of the difference in response to the fire.

There must be a lesson in this. I think of the Holy Spirit's fire. Are we like the children who ignore it as it burns around us, or maybe just take it for granted? Are we like Americans who see the fire as a threat to what we know and where we are? I have been reading about the terrible fires in Colorado and I am not making light of the destructive quality of our earthly fires. But the fire of the Holy Spirit comes to purify, cleanse, and fill us with Power for service. Lets not take it for granted, ignore it, or try to put it out. That Holy Spirit fire we need in these days!

Day of the African Child

On Wednesday there was a celebration held at one of the schools in our zone for the Day of the African Child. We sent 40 of our 135 students, and 3 teachers and 3 helpers. The report back from those who attended was that our students behaved and performed in an outstanding manner.

They sang the National Anthem - all three verses in English, a verse in Bemba, and a verse in Lenje. They also sang two praise songs with Mary B and Brighton on the guitar, and Nelson on the drums. It was reported that some people said it sounded like the radio was playing.

Some of the boys made up a football/soccer team. We had put in different ages and they played against big boys. Even though they didn't win, folks were impressed at how well some of our smaller boys, like Shadrack, played against big ones.

Our girls played netball and they won their game. All in all it was a good day and the students and teachers were wonderful representatives of our School of Hope, our Village, and the Lord.

WOW!! Hooray!!! Thanks!!!

Thank you to Easter Hills Community Church for sending a container. Thank you to the folks who sent things from Michigan. Thanks to the folks from Delaware who sent things. And a HUGE thanks to the team from Fairfax community Church working hard for 2 days to empty the container. In 2 days we made our way all the way through to the back of the 40 ft container.

When we opened it we saw that it was a major engineering feat - filled from top to bottom, front to back; 61wonderful almost brand new tables, 71 bikes either new or in great condition, clothes and shoes!, books, school supplies, 3 keyboards, 1 electric keyboard, 1 piano, and 6 or so guitars. I have to open a music studio - got to find a room somewhere.

Since the container is located at the school, the teachers got a first pick of the bikes and every single one of them is planning to buy a bike and have them picked out. We moved almost every clothes and shoes box or bag to the storage area for the boutique. We moved things for the village up to the village. Craft and sewing supplies were moved to the Community Center in our sewing area.

So now the container is filled with bikes yet to be sold, and storage things.

Now for the best part of the container. Close to the doors there was the first bike with a big white bow and a sign/card saying, "For Kathleen." I had ordered an old fashioned bike - no gears, sit up regular style, breaking with the feet. Well, this was a brand new old fashioned bike. So since my car needs major surgery and may never make it, my new bike is even more welcome. I've already been riding it around. And I feel like I'm getting more fit and strengthening my legs which need it badly.

So thank you EHCC!!! We are an excited Village
And thank you FCC!!! If you hadn't sent a team at this time, we wouldn't have gotten into the container for maybe months.

Looking forward to tomorrow and more bike riding!!!

Container Arrives!!!

Wednesday was an exciting day at the school. After a journey of thousands of miles, and many months, the container packed and shipped from Colorado arrived at the Village of Hope. This is the first container that we are having at the school, rather than in the Village.

It arrived just at lunch time. All the children ran to get stools or benches so everyone could watch the big crane lift it off of the trailer bed and set it in the assigned place next to the school building.

Now the word is out that the container has arrived. Every day we have requests for bikes. And the clothes, shoes, and books are eagerly awaited by folks all around the area. The task will begin this week of opening the doors and beginning to take out the contents, organize and store them here, and sell them to help in the funding of operations and projects. A team from Fairfax, VA arrives today and they will be helpers in this process.

Thank you to all those in CO and MI who helped fill the container and send it to us. Wish you were here to help on this end and to see the joy as we unload all the many items we have been eagerly awaiting!