February 2016

I was so blessed to finally have every student in Global Orphan Relief's orphan school program school fees and uniforms bought. It took longer to have the grade 10 enrolled becasue their results did not come until the first week of January then the schools had to travel to receive them, it is a process of time but we made it. There are 9 boys attending Batoka Secondary School.  This is a picture after I delivered their uniforms and paid their school fees. We are praying for some girls next year. 

Michael and I set off to visit House of Hope with supplies and did not really think of the clouds in the sky.  We are thankful these days to see them. Well when we arrived to our first bridge or river crossing with a cement slab I thought we could get trapped here...   then I remembered Sheri calling and telling us she had to wait for the river to go down before she could travel.  Well what a day of water fun...  We had to wait at one small place that was a dip in the road not even a real river for about 45 minutes before we could cross :) Living in the valley is very different :) the next several pictures is of the places we crossed and well one river the water was almost to the top of the hood of the defender.  So thankful my husband knows how to drive in deep moving water.....  He always walks across first to be sure we can pass before putting the vehicle in the river. This first picture was the place we went in but  we could not get back out... the second pictures shows the river a few hours later.  We had to try another route.  Not sure what this place will look like in a few weeks. 

This picture was the dip in the road not even a real river and we had to wait 45 mins for it to go down so we could cross.  Some people told us welcome to the valley in rainy season. 

We saw people swimming everywhere. 

This was the fast moving river I thought we should not try and cross,  there was no cement or bridge but it was the only way out for us since the cement slab was damaged and had rushing water.  I did not take a picture during our crossing becasue I was praying :) thankful we made it...the water was almost at the top of the hood. The weight of the vehicle allowed us to sink deeper into the river than Michael sunk when he walked it :)

The last bridge, WE MADE IT OUT!

We are always blessed to see something take shape... team housing is doing just that.  Michael has made some interesting designs for this place :) Come and visit us at House of Hope as soon as this is finished.  It will have a second level prayer room with a view of Lake Karbia. 

Because the rains have been delayed by El nino our House of Hope kids could not even plow the ground near Lake Karbia. I found that mama Lizzy decided to give it a try after their first BIG rain.  Pray for this maize it was planted the 2 of February... way pass the planting time. 

We had a wonderful visit with Pastor Oliver our first Sunday in February so thankful to see his church family growing...

The last Sunday of January Michael visited Zimba District with Pastor Daniel.  He was a worker at Zimba Mission when we moved there in February of 1994.  It is always a blessing to see young men living their lives for Christ.

Buns being baked for MOT MOT in a village oven.

This month we started our preschool back in full swing.  Teacher Kelvin is heading up that class and we have also started a class for our grades 1-2 who are struggling.  We are praying to catch them up quickly.  We also handed out new uniforms that just happened to be a size to big for several....I shared the grade sizes and the tailor made them...  the kids love them :)  Royal was also delighted :)

We are so thankful for your prayers.  Our rains have been enough so far just nothing extra.  Our roads are still in very good condition for mid February and in places  we can still see a bit of dust coming from the road.  Our second planting of 10kg maize is now making corn so we truly need RAIN during this process for full cobs. Our well is still very low and we are not able to pump into the large tank making life harder for everyone...  We are very thankful to have what we need. 

I was so blessed by this small plant that the cows ate a couple of weeks ago.  This is a blessing from the Lord to still see it is producing :)

Our sunflower field is almost ready to POP! Next week the field should be YELLOW....

We are so excited and are preparing for a team from  Engedi  Church in Holland MI.  A group of 7 are arriving very soon just to love  and share Jesus with our Kids.  Beds are made and the tables are set for a week of fun.. 

We are also excited for a special visit from a special lady.  Mama Jo will be arriving with the team for a three month visit. The apartment is also set up and ready. 

After a long day out at House of Faith setting up for the team I started my journey back to Kalomo.  As I said earlier the roads are not in bad condition BUT I came to a place in the road that was flooded...  no problems before this area no problems after I crossed this area.  I was about 30 mins from Kalomo and called Michael for support.  It was above a mans knees that had just walked across.  Well 15 mins later I decided to walk it myself and found the holes so I would not drive across the wrong way.  I made it through the deep rushing waters :)

Team Engedi arrived with only 1 bag missing that was retrieved on Sunday afternoon and the FUN began. 

I must say this group had it harder than any other group we have ever hosted.  Our water well is still low so no water was able to be pumped into the tank.  They had to splash bath and bucket flush toilets... it was so HOT becasue of no rain.... All with no complaining.  The Lord blessed our children at House of Faith with wonderful teachings of JESUS and I saw changes taking place before my eyes.  There was also a time of teaching at our local church on Sunday morning.  Everyone was blessed.

We enjoyed a lunch in Livingstone with Pastor Juden and his wife before starting a afternoon of shopping and seeing Victoria Falls.  What a wonderful group of people
Our House of Faith kids are already asking when they will return for more of Jesus, fun games and singing :) .  .

 While the team was here Michael got two more solar panels connected for our ISchool tablets on top of the Activity center building.  It was crazy how he had to do it!  But it was done using the truck an old home made ladder and Chris :)  We are now able to recharge all 5 tablets without using what is needed for the apartment and other rooms from the other panels. .

House of Hope received two new children this month and now our first house is full.  It is a brother and sister but no information has yet been received.  We are still waiting.

Our team housing is coming along and we are starting to see the round shape of the second story prayer room. 

The second story floor has been laid and the area our steps will go up has started.

House of Hope kids enjoying a Saturday afternoon movie...  

While visiting the children at House of Hope we found road construction taking place!  New roads are always a blessing here for faster travel and less vehicle problems.

So blessed to visit Muchenje Church and see special friends working for the Lord and being blessed.  It was fun remembering things from our past times together. I was introduced as the mother of Brandi :)  After church a family meal was prepared for us. Peter and Linda are truly walking  with Jesus.

Michael had some rainy tent nights while teaching MOT MOT a couple of weeks this month.  So thankful he was on the top of the vehicle and not in the mud.  Students are so excited to dig in the word and move forward to a higher place.

The picture of the babies in class above. Their names are Linda. Below a picture of good rains....  Yes prayers are being answered and this past week we have not only been receiving just small showers but all day rains.  Michael said the church was full of water :) this past Sunday.  Keep praying