Visit to the Prison

In January, we received seven children who have no one to take care of them because their mothers are serving long sentences in prison.  Two of these children were born in prison and some of them spent their early months with their mothers in the prison. 

Most of August is a school holiday month and children who have relatives that they can visit, often go to stay connected with the families.  This was our first time to take these children to visit their mothers in prison.  There was much excitement as they anticipated seeing their mothers.  They left early in the morning, taking food for their lunch, jump ropes, crayons and coloring books, and balls to have things to do with their mothers for the day as they were there. 

They came back and said that their mothers were so happy to see them and to know that they are in a good and safe place.  Here in Zambia it is a compliment to be told you are fat.  So Gift, a very sweet and sensitive girl, reported that her mom said to her, “You are getting fat.  Your hips are as big as mine.”  Knowing that their children were being fed well, healthy, and taken care of brought these women peace and joy.

Three Generations

Father – Daughter – Grandson:  Tim – Charity – Noah

In July we had a family of 3 generations come to serve at the Village of Hope.  Tim is my first cousin, lives in Kansas, and returned this summer to help us.  Last year his daughter, Charity was here also and she returned this year and brought her second born son, Noah. 

We can make a huge difference to following generations.  Tim has always had a heart for missions, which he has passed on to his daughter, and now is being passed on to his grandchildren.  Noah quickly entered in to the life of the Village and he was always out and about with the children who live here.  He helped measure the height and record the weight on all 240 children at the school when the team did the physicals.  He and Roman became good friends, a friendship that I expect to continue for many, many years.  His life will never be the same because he spent 2 weeks here in Zambia.

Over this summer we have had 5 young women, beginning their adult lives, who will carry with them the time they spent in Zambia at the Village of Hope.  Their lives will never be the same and the decisions they make for their futures will be informed by their experiences here.

We all need to pass on to those who are younger the call to be World Citizens of the Kingdom, giving and caring and serving members of our family that live around the world.  You are never too old or too young to be involved.  This summer our visitors have ranged in age from 7 years old to 81 years old.  Everyone can make a difference.

Good News shared at a Leper Village

The Liteta Hospital, about 5 miles from our Village, served as a leprosy hospital for many years.  Although there is now a cure for leprosy, there are still older individuals, most of them in wheel chairs, who suffer from the results of the disease.  When the hospital was a leprosy hospital, a village was built by the Zambian government to house individuals and their families who had leprosy.  Many of these individuals now have grandchildren that they are trying to care for.  Children are everywhere.

The children and youth from our Village of Hope and children and youth visiting from Calvary Bible Church in Neenah, WI worked for several days on a program that we presented to those who live in this Leper Village.  We also presented the program at a neighboring village on the Green Farm.  Thanks to the new bus given by Touching Heart in VA, we were able to transport (in 2 trips) about 60 children, youth, and adults to the two events.

We began with songs with fun motions that all could join. The skits (or “sketches” as they call them here) were:

Daniel and the Lion’s Den

The Birth of Jesus

Jesus quieting the Storm

The Good Samaritan

The Lost Son

The Wordless Book Explained

We were black and white, big and little, children (3yo), youth (to 16yo) and adults, Africans and Americans – all sharing the Good News of the love of Jesus.  All of us were blessed as well.