There is always something needed when you are working with children.  We received a call on the 2nd of July from Mission of Love orphanage about an hour pass us at House of Faith.  A family was in need of care for a 6 month old baby girl whos mother had just passed away from blood pressure issues. We made arrangements to meet and receive baby Faith.  She is a precious baby girl who will be with us until the family can receive her back after her special needs have been met during her baby years.    Keep Faith, her family and us as we care for her in your prayers.

Our Edinah who we received on the 1st of January is really growing up fast.  I thought you might like to see an updated picture and to know her father comes weekly to see and love on her.  She will also return to family after her baby years.  This is a wonderful way that House of Faith can help families and relatives to stay connected,  helping children until they can be received back into their families. 

This is our little girl Broney who we received the first of June.  She is also growing nicely.  Again House of Faith will care for her until she can return to her family.  What a blessing to be a part of  the early lives of these children. 

We received Chipigo last year in June and he is such a big boy for 13 months.  His grandparents visit him regularly and he is also a child who will return when they can receive him back. 

Every time I wanted to share our Physical Therapy room Jo Anne set up for Victor and Royal something happened and I was not there at the right time to find Flyness working with the children.  The next couple of pictures is of that special room.

Royal is always excited when he can put the block in the bucket :) The next picture is of him with his big smile after getting a very small cheerio into his month all by himself.  Thank you Jo Anne for giving us a way to help Royal. 

Victor is finally getting around in his walker at House of Faith and even learning to feed himself, he is a bit messy still.   He even got to Mama Mary's eggs last week and broke 10 of them :(  The eggs are now out of reach for Victor. 

Our winter garden is finally producing ....  the children are learning more and more. 

Michael, Sheri and I were able to attend PWC 49th  Bible School Graduation in Jembo this month.  A very special couple we know and love graduated.   We look forward to all they will do for the Lord. 

Our grade 7's at House of Faith are studying for their 2nd term Exams.  Our teacher Ronald is having them work a little around the Activity Center so their brains don't go into over load.  Some time outside is always good and the area is looking so nice.  Thanks Teacher for teaching all kinds of life skills along with our books :)

Our visit to House of Hope  to check in on construction and to see Sheri went well we just found Golden sick with Malaria.   Sheri  has been in the country since June but we have only seen her about a full day.  :(  The children are going to miss her again very soon as she continues to study and work in the DC area for her Masters.  in Education  Everything is on site and ready to go when Golden is feeling better.  Next month you will see the roof finished.... 

The building is in the shape of a cross with a 2nd story lighthouse tower view of  Lake Karbia.  The tin for the roofing is already on site.

Our Physical Therapy visit this month Victor refused to try and use the walker like he did for us last month.  He was very surprised when they strapped him into this walker, He could not refuse.  Keep praying for Royal and Victor.  Their quality of life is on the line...  

Michael was  asked  to visit Chief Chikanta's  area to see if we can help with orphans there.  He is out again today to visit with the Chief himself after his site visit  to share that we are Praying to see how the best way to help will be. Michael saw so many children who are orphaned and in some type of need.  His pictures of the area touched my  heart so we are praying, show us LORD how we can also be used  in this area that has been brought to our attention.  Pray with us please.        

The visit today went well with the Chief. Please continue to pray how we might be able to help in this needy area. Jesus Loves all the little children.

 Michael has been out with the Jesus Film a couple of weekends and every Sunday at a different church.  Along with one week this month of MOT MOT.  He was also invited to an ordination service.  We are so excited to see many of his students  from Mot Mot being Ordained. 

Men on one side, ladies on the other :)

We are on our way out with a team from Engedi Church. Check back next  month to see all that was accomplished at House of Faith.  

My visit to House of Hope with winter clothes went well and all was found except church dresses for the girls and 4 long sleeve shirts for the boys.  So blessed to have most everything handed out.  Our two oldest girls helped me with the younger children having them try things on to make sure they fit and picked out what was needed.  Thanks Faith and Terca!

I arrived at House of Faith to find an outside classroom taking place !  I am seeing our kids expanding there views and their English is getting so much better.  We are so blessed to have a great teacher stretching them and bringing them up.  Thanks Ronald. 

It was time for another Physical Therapy visit with Royal and Victor this week.  They had not been in since March becasue Jo Anne had been working with them one on one at House of Faith.  I will post pictures of the Therapy room she set us soon.  It was found that the boys were much stronger and Victor even took a few steps with a walker.  Great news! Royal's core strength had increased and his hands opened easier.  We will continue P/T monthly in Kalomo and they will continue daily at HOF. 

We received a call from a Pastor in Zimba District that someone in his church needed help with a newborn it's mom had just passed away and there was no milk for the baby.  We received the 6 day old baby girl under emergency care until the family can meet with us and Social Welfare next week.  Keep baby  Broney in your prayers.  I will update again after our meeting with family. (We did receive this precious baby girl )

Our team housing is moving right along at House of Hope and the roof has started. I am looking forward to what this building will look like.  It is in the shape of a cross with a look out to see Lake Kariba.  Even the steps going up into the Lookout are in a rounded  shape. The roof has started and the septic is also being built.   Golden is doing a wonderful job of building what Michael is seeing. 

Michael has started Jesus Film showings on the weekends far out in the villages so I go out to spend more time at House of Faith. Sometimes we watch movies on Saturday and I hope to start story time and learning more English songs also during these two days out.  I always love hearing our kids sing and play the drums for the Church choir on Sunday mornings.  I even found a surprise this Sunday out, Justine was working with the children during Sunday School.  I will have an update on Justine this month.  Thank you for your prayers for him back in January.  The Lord answered.  He is doing much better and back on track.  

I have a crazy story of 6 boys thinking they can do anything!  I noticed some boys were missing at dinner time from Mama Mary's home and ask questions.  Seems they went to dig Sweet Potatoes nearby after choir practice.  I also found out some of our older children had planted all by themselves.  I was happy they are learning new things and taking responsibility.   Well it was dark and still no children so we went looking and found them not far away with two half bags of Sweet Potatoes and a bucket full of honey and bees!  BEES what have you all been doing... Well it seems Joseph had been with Justine when he thought he had learned what to do to get honey and the boys helped him after digging sweet potatoes.  Bees are not very active after dark and we are in cold season so this allowed the children to get the honey combs with the bees still on them. . After church on Sunday Joseph went with some smoke to try and get the HONEY.  It was 2:00 in the afternoon and the 100's of bees were very active around the honey not like the night before.  We had a issue to attend too...  I was told to not pull the plastic cover off becasue the sun would dry out the honey.  Rockiner and Ethel decided to put the combs of honey in a closed bucket so the bees would depart.  I went and got a head net someone had left behind from a team  and she put it over her head and the other lady put on an raincoat with a hood.  These brave ladies got the job done and I think the children learned a few Honey BEE lessons.  Just because you have watched someone do something doesn't mean you know how to do it yourself. 

Michael and I for years have wanted to take the kids to the Falls and the game park in Livingstone.  BUT to travel with 40 to 60 people is difficult :)  We  decided last November  that as the children graduated from Grade 7 we would take them for a Graduation Party Trip.  Zambia had some drought last year and the falls had very little water in January and we wanted them to see it with WATER  We took then this month and what a fun day it was.  They had lunch at Hungry Loin a Chicken Fast Food place and saw the Mighty Zambezi  River rushing over the Victoria Falls and why they have called it the Smoke that Thunders. We visited the Game Park and got Ice Cream as a final treat before heading back to Kalomo.  They have written about their special day and I look forward to reading what they have written.  Keep these kids in your prayers, as we walked through Shoprite (a large grocery store chain in Zambia) they saw things they had never even thought about before.  I shared with them they each had a purpose and that all things are possible...
The next several pictures is of our exciting day.  I will have pictures made for them to help keep their memory. 

On the way down to the boiling pot some of the boys got to swing on a vine...

After our walk back up from the boiling pot and bridge view everyone was tired and talked of the moneys on the trail... :) I even took this hike down!  I have not been to the boiling pot in years and was surprised how well I did.  Thankful it's cold season here:)

The next few pictures are of our visit to the game park.  I was excited to see them when they saw an Elephant for the first time :) 

Ice Cream before our journey back to Kalomo! What a great day....

We had a great Sunday Church visit to Swart Farm. It will always hold a special place in our hearts. Many of these people we met our first year here in 1994. Many have to work a couple of Sundays a month but they are faithful and the Lord has shown himself faithful to them. 

I am always looking for a deal to feed all the children and what a blessing I found this week at the market.  PUMPKINS for about 50 cents each...  We planted pumpkins but becasue of the early weeks of little or NO rain we only harvested about 6 from the field.  I bought 50 pumpkins and the kids will have a great snack for weeks to come :)

Well I told you I would share more on Justine this month. He is one of our young men who became very ill after Christmas and had missed some of his meds which he needs to take every day.  We have seen so many wonderful things happen with him and I feel he has recovered and is helping us with our animals and other things through out the week that is needed.  He is staying in our round house that was built for older kids who do not have a place to go back to.  He is keeping his place very nice and neat.  He is also molding his own brinks on Saturdays to build his own house nearby. We are helping him plan with a couple of men in the community to also have his own field this coming planting season..  Thank you for your prayers for Justine. He is on the right track into Life.

While I was out this past week I found the younger children after class help Mama Daisy prepare her sunflowers.  They beat them so the seeds fall out and then they are collected to bag up and take into town for pressing.  Children learn a lot here at a young age. 

Michael and I were in Lusaka last week getting more material printed for MOT MOT classes and we bought the teachers ISchool tablet.  I have been so excited and blessed to see our children grow in their love of learning with these tablets.  Our teacher shared with me how blessed he was to receive the teachers material.  I am looking into getting a few more tables and another teachers tablet  for our preschool...  Keep praying for our children and this new way of learning. 

Michael has been incredibly  busy and is moving even more this month than last.  After his two weeks of Mot Mot he is back to doing Jesus Film weekends and the District has added teachings during the day Saturday before the Film Saturday night and the main Sunday service.  He is loving all the opportunities to work along side other leaders at new church plants far from the main road. Keep him and the other leaders in your prayers. 

Our latest picture of the cross building at House of Hope!  Golden is learning so much and is doing a great job.