Our chicken project had a set back and some how we lost chicks and a rooster. They were working on a new shelter allowing them out of the pen and they were not found the next day. :( We will keep trying. Not sure if they were eaten by something or stolen or just ran away becasue they enjoyed their freedom outside the pen....
Preparing for our Happy Birthday Jesus Party at House of Faith always takes time but I do love shopping for the children. It starts out by the mothers tracing the children's feet on a piece of paper. I then cut them out and go to the market to find their shoes. I will post shoe pictures after the party. I shop for special food items like 25kg of flour sugar baking powder and milk for special fritters. Small gifts for the staff and treat bags for everyone.... Jo Anne helped put the treat bags together so it was faster than usual 95 total for both sites including our extended care kids.
Michael is working with the District each Sunday now to encourage and help District leaders visit area churches. It will be interesting traveling out in rainy season :) We visited Mukwela Church not far from Kalomo that only had 6 people our very first visit there in 2007. We have seen progress over the years but were blessed to see over 150 in attendance.
We so enjoyed the blessing of seeing Pastor Peter and his wife Linda Maulu welcomed to their New Church in Muchange on the 14th of December. Special people we met in the 90's. Praying the Lord's blessings over their family in this new area of work for the Lord.
Jo Anne departed Lusaka back to the states on the 12th of Dec. We had a wonderful 2 month visit with her. She did so many things with and for the children at House of Faith. We look forward to her next visit. We also had a bit of fun while in the mall before she departed :0
On our way home from Lusaka to take JoAnne to the airport we found many places north of us in Kalomo had not planted yet and some places had not even plowed the ground to plant. We are so blessed that the children's maize is up and has it's first fertilizer. Keep rain in your prayers for a wonderful harvest for the children. The planted groundnut or peanuts last Monday and we should be seeing them break the ground at Christmas.
Royal is making progress it will be slow but we are hopeful he will walk. Jo Anne had a stander built to help give strength to his legs and a table to give him some stability. He loves it standing on the front veranda. Thanks mama Jo for all your love and work with the children these last two months.
We always love visiting Kalomo Church in town and we enjoyed being there the Sunday before Christmas.
After Church we rushed home to load the Vehicle just in time to pick up a couple of extended care children at the bus stop so they could visit for our Christmas party at House of Faith. It rained the whole afternoon but we made it!
After we unloaded Michael set up the Jesus Film for showing and all the children watched, well some fell asleep half way through :) At the end Michael gave an opportunity for the children to give their lives to Jesus and well I counted about 18 hands but there were more than that. Next week Michael will talk with the children to make sure they understand what they did and what it means for them. Jo Anne did a bible study each afternoon she was out with them and we know the film helped them to see JESUS.
Everyone was excited for the Happy Birthday Jesus party. The children sang Silent Night and Joy to the World. Uncle Mike shared the Christmas Story and they did a story about what God wants for Christmas. We gave out small gifts to the helpers and treat bags for every one. The children received their new shoes and where told a new outfit was on the way but did not arrive in the POST before Christmas. They loved playing the games ... It was a Happy Day.
The rains have been good to us so far. The moms and children planted with the early rain. They planted the groundnuts or peanuts about a week before Christmas and the week after Christmas they are coming up nicely. Keep this program in your prayers for good rains at the needed times and for the Children to learn how to live by growing their food.
Every year around Christmas I start looking for the Flame Lily to appear. It's the Christmas flower for me and it grows wild in the bush. More and more land is being taken in for growing food and I see less and less flowers each year. It's about an hour drive out to the Children home and I was looking hard but saw nothing. We went to far on a path to see the garden and just as Michael was turning around I saw them! So blessed to once again see the Flame Lily on Christmas or right after Christmas.
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