We are so thankful for the time we have been able to spend here in America with our family and friends.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Merry Christmas
We are in Birmingham Alabama visiting my family for the week.
We are so thankful for the time we have been able to spend here in America with our family and friends.
We are so thankful for the time we have been able to spend here in America with our family and friends.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
What time is it and where?
I just looked at my clock on the computer, it said 5:12AM. Zambia Time. I am here in California where the time is now 10:12PM. But I am thinking back to Kentucky where my children are staying with their grandma and it is 1:12AM. And now as I write I am doing the math in my head and am confused as to why the difference between KY time and Zambia time is only 4 hours when it is supposed to be 6, except for when its daylight savings then its 7, or maybe its the other way around.
Explains almost exactly how I have been feeling this one month that we have been in America.
We arrived, bleary eyed, worn out and emotionally strained. Truth be told, we arrived pretty beaten up from the fight and barely pulling ourselves back across the “line”.
I described it to a few friends, in a spiritual analogy ( though James has a great gift for analogies and illustrations I think this one is pretty good for an amatuer)
I was the small fish in the shrinking African watering hole.
It starts off huge and animals come to drink from far away and stay until it starts to dry up. Soon enough I am that fish sitting flapping around in barely any water. That is how I felt arriving back to America.
Drained and dried up. The Mission field has hardly been romanticized or idealized in my mind, from the beginning. But we also had no idea the stress and strain and drain that presses in on you that then leaves you feeling empty and needing to be filled again and again with God’s Word and the Holy Spirit and with Christian fellowship.
And if you are not filled back up, it doesn’t get better it only gets worse. And you are even more susceptible to the enemy’s attacks. And feel more like giving up and giving in and not staying in the fight.
SO that is where I was. Thankfully one month in and I feel like that water hole is growing slowly. I now can turn around in the water and maybe splash a tiny bit. We have been encouraged with the sweet fellowship and time we are spending with our dear friends and brothers and sisters in the Lord. I have been encouraged by the preaching and just sitting and hearing it without many of the circumstantial distractions and struggles that usually accompany sitting in a Zambian church service. I am encouraged and hopeful that the Lord continue’s to refresh, refuel, rejuvenate, repair and restore us.
The month has gone by fast. After the shock and awe of the first week trying to re-orient ourselves to our own culture and society I would say we are doing fine. The kids are having a great time with their friends and remembering certain things and our “life before Africa”. They have had an “open pass” of sorts to go and be with their friends whenever and soak up as much of that time as well. Especially for the older kids. They need it. Grace has been much more friendly and out-going with everyone then I ever imagined and can be see running around the church with her new friends, stopping to get candy ( sweeties) from Pastor John. Though she is ok with meeting new people she is very quick to tell each new person that she meets or that holds her or talks to her that I am her mommy. She immediately points to me and says, “thats my mommy” and will go through all the family members. She has struggles with the unsettling nature of going to different homes almost every night to meet friends for dinner, but overall for a 3 year old adopted into the family from Zambia now in America for 3 months, she is doing very well.
I have been still trying to keep track of the things I have been buying and who still needs what, alot of clothing items and some kitchen items, linens and other things I still need to buy. It has been overwhelming at times, as I feel like I am in this Y2K , stock up on everything mode.
I have bought the HUGE bags of chocolate chips to bring back, as those are a priority along with the parmesan cheese. Chocolate chip cookies, warm from the oven do wonders. Even in Zambian. Whether it is with zambians, for them or because of them.
We have been eating tortilla chips almost every chance we get and drinking up our root beer ( non alcoholic cola-like drink for my zambian friends who have never heard of it).
Visiting Starbucks for their coffee-less warmed up flavored milk drinks whenever we feel the need and Christmas is the best time to be here for that! We are anticipating hitting a few more of the restaurants on the kids lists. -Chuck E. Cheese and Cracker Barrel being among the top ones.
Lots of doctor appointments have been scheduled and the Lord was very good to us a few weeks ago. I had tried to get an appt with the pediatrician for the kids. Because our insurance is a global coverage I was not confident it would cover the routine physicals. So when I called the office lady said no he is not taking patients without insurance. I almost begged and said we will pay for them just please let us see him. She was very skeptical but called back the next day and said that he was willing to see them, but the catch was that he only had one day available AND he would see them for FREE.
Yes free. We love to hear those words, but think about FREE for 6 children’s doctor visits. That is at least worth $500. And it was very exciting. He even did Grace’s immunizations (which sadly was 5 shots- poor little girl!) for free which saved probably another 50 plus dollars. So we were very thankful and blessed.
Explains almost exactly how I have been feeling this one month that we have been in America.
We arrived, bleary eyed, worn out and emotionally strained. Truth be told, we arrived pretty beaten up from the fight and barely pulling ourselves back across the “line”.
I described it to a few friends, in a spiritual analogy ( though James has a great gift for analogies and illustrations I think this one is pretty good for an amatuer)
I was the small fish in the shrinking African watering hole.
It starts off huge and animals come to drink from far away and stay until it starts to dry up. Soon enough I am that fish sitting flapping around in barely any water. That is how I felt arriving back to America.
Drained and dried up. The Mission field has hardly been romanticized or idealized in my mind, from the beginning. But we also had no idea the stress and strain and drain that presses in on you that then leaves you feeling empty and needing to be filled again and again with God’s Word and the Holy Spirit and with Christian fellowship.
And if you are not filled back up, it doesn’t get better it only gets worse. And you are even more susceptible to the enemy’s attacks. And feel more like giving up and giving in and not staying in the fight.
SO that is where I was. Thankfully one month in and I feel like that water hole is growing slowly. I now can turn around in the water and maybe splash a tiny bit. We have been encouraged with the sweet fellowship and time we are spending with our dear friends and brothers and sisters in the Lord. I have been encouraged by the preaching and just sitting and hearing it without many of the circumstantial distractions and struggles that usually accompany sitting in a Zambian church service. I am encouraged and hopeful that the Lord continue’s to refresh, refuel, rejuvenate, repair and restore us.
The month has gone by fast. After the shock and awe of the first week trying to re-orient ourselves to our own culture and society I would say we are doing fine. The kids are having a great time with their friends and remembering certain things and our “life before Africa”. They have had an “open pass” of sorts to go and be with their friends whenever and soak up as much of that time as well. Especially for the older kids. They need it. Grace has been much more friendly and out-going with everyone then I ever imagined and can be see running around the church with her new friends, stopping to get candy ( sweeties) from Pastor John. Though she is ok with meeting new people she is very quick to tell each new person that she meets or that holds her or talks to her that I am her mommy. She immediately points to me and says, “thats my mommy” and will go through all the family members. She has struggles with the unsettling nature of going to different homes almost every night to meet friends for dinner, but overall for a 3 year old adopted into the family from Zambia now in America for 3 months, she is doing very well.
I have been still trying to keep track of the things I have been buying and who still needs what, alot of clothing items and some kitchen items, linens and other things I still need to buy. It has been overwhelming at times, as I feel like I am in this Y2K , stock up on everything mode.
I have bought the HUGE bags of chocolate chips to bring back, as those are a priority along with the parmesan cheese. Chocolate chip cookies, warm from the oven do wonders. Even in Zambian. Whether it is with zambians, for them or because of them.
We have been eating tortilla chips almost every chance we get and drinking up our root beer ( non alcoholic cola-like drink for my zambian friends who have never heard of it).
Visiting Starbucks for their coffee-less warmed up flavored milk drinks whenever we feel the need and Christmas is the best time to be here for that! We are anticipating hitting a few more of the restaurants on the kids lists. -Chuck E. Cheese and Cracker Barrel being among the top ones.
Lots of doctor appointments have been scheduled and the Lord was very good to us a few weeks ago. I had tried to get an appt with the pediatrician for the kids. Because our insurance is a global coverage I was not confident it would cover the routine physicals. So when I called the office lady said no he is not taking patients without insurance. I almost begged and said we will pay for them just please let us see him. She was very skeptical but called back the next day and said that he was willing to see them, but the catch was that he only had one day available AND he would see them for FREE.
Yes free. We love to hear those words, but think about FREE for 6 children’s doctor visits. That is at least worth $500. And it was very exciting. He even did Grace’s immunizations (which sadly was 5 shots- poor little girl!) for free which saved probably another 50 plus dollars. So we were very thankful and blessed.
Schedule
James and I are in California right now.
I wanted to post his schedule ( or SHED-U-EL as the Zambians would say), of when he will be at which churches. In case you are in the area and wanted to hear the presentation about the different works that we have been involved in while we have been in Zambia.
Riverside, California --December 11th.
Sacramento, California --December 18th.
Mebane, North Carolina and
Virginia Beach, Virginia -- January 1st.
Nashville, Tennessee --January 8th.
There were one or two other places he was hoping to get to during the week and if that works out I will post those later.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Recommended
A friend of mine who also has adopted a child sent me a link to a blog.
It was extremely relevant and expressed a lot of the emotions, feelings thoughts etc that adoptive families have experienced. I emailed it to my mom a while ago and she said it was very helpful and moving to read so I wanted to share it with you all.
I am not familiar with the writer, so no endorsements just found it was good.
You need to read the first post, "After the Airport" before reading the second "How to be the village".
http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/09/06/after-the-airport
http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/11/02/how-to-be-the-village
Friday, November 25, 2011
Goodbye
2 days before we left Zambia we had dinner with our friends the Allens.
I mentioned before that they are moving back to America while we are here. So we said our "goodbyes", and some tears were shed. They leave in one week to head back to America and we will miss them very much when we get home.
I mentioned before that they are moving back to America while we are here. So we said our "goodbyes", and some tears were shed. They leave in one week to head back to America and we will miss them very much when we get home.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Back in the U.S.A.
We have arrived safely in the USA
We left Zambia thursday morning and when we arrived at the airport, the entire computer systems were down so we could not check in but had to wait in line with our 10 bags for about an hour until it was fixed. We ran into a few snags as we were exiting the country, James's work visa had expired and there was discussion about that as well as needing Grace's adoption documents. She is traveling on a Zambian passport with a US visa stamped in there, but I had packed the documents and did not know where they were. Halfway into the conversation trying to make it by without the documents I found them and the man replied, "of course, this is all we needed".
We arrived into London that evening and were not sure how things would work out with Grace not having a visa for Britain. They kindly allowed her in for the 24 hrs and we then booked a hotel and stayed the night there. We all were able to get a good rest and then had to be back to the airport Friday morning. We arrived in plenty of time got checked in, figured out about the bags that were in transit and then headed to get breakfast at Krispy Kreme! We finished there and headed for the gate. We were stopped at the check point because there was an error with the kids boarding passes. We were then sent back to the desk and were told that we did not have enough time now to work out the problem and catch the plane. We kept asking for them to try and work something out but it was to no avail. So we missed that flight and a few of us girls were a bit emotional…
They found us another flight which had us arriving only 2 hrs later into Louisville and ended up giving us about $100 worth of food vouchers because of their error. That ended up being a blessing as that is what it cost for us to get lunch at the airport. So we boarded the plane headed for Atlanta. We arrived into Atlanta and discovered that they did not have any of our bags. We then had to describe the bags to the agent and get to our connecting flight which was a bit tight. Right as he was asking about the bags Jackson said his stomach was hurting and I envisioned not so pleasant things happening right there in the airport. I ran him to the bathroom and he ended up being ok.
Taking no chances on that one.
We made it to our connection a bit stressed but at least we were there.
We got into louisville at 10pm and were welcomed by about 30 friends from church, there was a real cheer that erupted as we walked in. It was very sweet and embarrassing at the same time.
We spent awhile greeting everyone and getting hugs and then left the airport, with no baggage.
No baggage is a hassle no matter what, but we literally had nothing with us, except for our toothbrushes. Not even pullups for the bed wetters! We were brought to the house, that has been so kindly rented for us while we were here, and crashed. The next day, Saturday we had the choice of a feast for breakfast- waffles, bagels, pop tarts, about 8 different cereals to choose from. Our pantry had been stocked with some of our favorite things that we have missed.
In the afternoon we had an emergency shopping trip to Target, which was highly stressful and overwhelming! In my "dreams" of shopping in Target for the last 2 years, I was calmly, slowly, relaxingly, walking down each aisle just browsing. What actually happened was 8 people racing around trying to find things that fit, things that they liked and things that were within a decent price range, extremely jet lagged and in some cases, cranky too!
I gave the instructions before we got to the store, "one pair of pajamas, one church outfit with shoes, package of socks, underwear, 2 long sleeve shirts and one pair of pants- trousers" ( and yes we do call them trousers now!) We were able to get what we needed, and then thankfully our bags arrived sunday evening.
My mom was able to come for a quick trip up to see us on Sunday for a couple days. She and I were able to spend some time shopping which was still overwhelming. I walked into walmart with her and said, I don't know.. I am so tired and don't know what to do, I just need my mom!" so she was there to help and lead me around the store. I knew there are so many choices here in America but was still overwhelmed and surprised at the options.
30 different choices for tuna fish. I couldn't even decide… I was buying butter today. who knew you cant just buy butter. its butter spread, butter with olive oil, butter with cinnamon, butter thats not really butter, butter that tastes like butter but isn't even butter, light butter, fattening butter, sticks of butter, butter flavored spray… it is maddening!
We have so many things we want to get while we are here and bring back home. I have 4 different lists on scraps of paper. The things in Zambia are so expensive and the quality is not good, so you pay about 3 to 5 times more for an item and it is actually worse quality. The kids need clothes, we have electronic items we were planning on buying, some household items, food items, etc.
Everyone needs a new shoes, the list just goes on. I am trying to pick up things as I see them or remember them and then go ahead and pack them in the bags now so that it is put away. Everytime I bring something home, Grace is interested in it and wants to carry it around or wear it or use it, so I am trying to hide some things from her.
She did AWESOME on the flights. I know many people were praying for her and we were very thankful. She is adjusting well, being very friendly with everyone, but has had some trouble with the girls having their friends over or especially Emma leaving to go to her friends houses. She becomes very upset and a bit possessive of Emma.
We have been able to get together with some dear friends already this week and have enjoyed spending time with them again. We have already had Momma Due's chicken and dumplings, and ice cream. Lots of ice cream! James gave a presentation in Sunday School last week, and will be again reporting on the work this week as well as preaching in the morning and evening service.
We leave on Monday to head to Mississippi to spend a week and a half with James's family for Thanksgiving. We are all looking forward to being "down south" again, and for everyoe to meet Grace!
We left Zambia thursday morning and when we arrived at the airport, the entire computer systems were down so we could not check in but had to wait in line with our 10 bags for about an hour until it was fixed. We ran into a few snags as we were exiting the country, James's work visa had expired and there was discussion about that as well as needing Grace's adoption documents. She is traveling on a Zambian passport with a US visa stamped in there, but I had packed the documents and did not know where they were. Halfway into the conversation trying to make it by without the documents I found them and the man replied, "of course, this is all we needed".
We arrived into London that evening and were not sure how things would work out with Grace not having a visa for Britain. They kindly allowed her in for the 24 hrs and we then booked a hotel and stayed the night there. We all were able to get a good rest and then had to be back to the airport Friday morning. We arrived in plenty of time got checked in, figured out about the bags that were in transit and then headed to get breakfast at Krispy Kreme! We finished there and headed for the gate. We were stopped at the check point because there was an error with the kids boarding passes. We were then sent back to the desk and were told that we did not have enough time now to work out the problem and catch the plane. We kept asking for them to try and work something out but it was to no avail. So we missed that flight and a few of us girls were a bit emotional…
They found us another flight which had us arriving only 2 hrs later into Louisville and ended up giving us about $100 worth of food vouchers because of their error. That ended up being a blessing as that is what it cost for us to get lunch at the airport. So we boarded the plane headed for Atlanta. We arrived into Atlanta and discovered that they did not have any of our bags. We then had to describe the bags to the agent and get to our connecting flight which was a bit tight. Right as he was asking about the bags Jackson said his stomach was hurting and I envisioned not so pleasant things happening right there in the airport. I ran him to the bathroom and he ended up being ok.
Taking no chances on that one.
We made it to our connection a bit stressed but at least we were there.
We got into louisville at 10pm and were welcomed by about 30 friends from church, there was a real cheer that erupted as we walked in. It was very sweet and embarrassing at the same time.
We spent awhile greeting everyone and getting hugs and then left the airport, with no baggage.
No baggage is a hassle no matter what, but we literally had nothing with us, except for our toothbrushes. Not even pullups for the bed wetters! We were brought to the house, that has been so kindly rented for us while we were here, and crashed. The next day, Saturday we had the choice of a feast for breakfast- waffles, bagels, pop tarts, about 8 different cereals to choose from. Our pantry had been stocked with some of our favorite things that we have missed.
In the afternoon we had an emergency shopping trip to Target, which was highly stressful and overwhelming! In my "dreams" of shopping in Target for the last 2 years, I was calmly, slowly, relaxingly, walking down each aisle just browsing. What actually happened was 8 people racing around trying to find things that fit, things that they liked and things that were within a decent price range, extremely jet lagged and in some cases, cranky too!
I gave the instructions before we got to the store, "one pair of pajamas, one church outfit with shoes, package of socks, underwear, 2 long sleeve shirts and one pair of pants- trousers" ( and yes we do call them trousers now!) We were able to get what we needed, and then thankfully our bags arrived sunday evening.
My mom was able to come for a quick trip up to see us on Sunday for a couple days. She and I were able to spend some time shopping which was still overwhelming. I walked into walmart with her and said, I don't know.. I am so tired and don't know what to do, I just need my mom!" so she was there to help and lead me around the store. I knew there are so many choices here in America but was still overwhelmed and surprised at the options.
30 different choices for tuna fish. I couldn't even decide… I was buying butter today. who knew you cant just buy butter. its butter spread, butter with olive oil, butter with cinnamon, butter thats not really butter, butter that tastes like butter but isn't even butter, light butter, fattening butter, sticks of butter, butter flavored spray… it is maddening!
We have so many things we want to get while we are here and bring back home. I have 4 different lists on scraps of paper. The things in Zambia are so expensive and the quality is not good, so you pay about 3 to 5 times more for an item and it is actually worse quality. The kids need clothes, we have electronic items we were planning on buying, some household items, food items, etc.
Everyone needs a new shoes, the list just goes on. I am trying to pick up things as I see them or remember them and then go ahead and pack them in the bags now so that it is put away. Everytime I bring something home, Grace is interested in it and wants to carry it around or wear it or use it, so I am trying to hide some things from her.
She did AWESOME on the flights. I know many people were praying for her and we were very thankful. She is adjusting well, being very friendly with everyone, but has had some trouble with the girls having their friends over or especially Emma leaving to go to her friends houses. She becomes very upset and a bit possessive of Emma.
We have been able to get together with some dear friends already this week and have enjoyed spending time with them again. We have already had Momma Due's chicken and dumplings, and ice cream. Lots of ice cream! James gave a presentation in Sunday School last week, and will be again reporting on the work this week as well as preaching in the morning and evening service.
We leave on Monday to head to Mississippi to spend a week and a half with James's family for Thanksgiving. We are all looking forward to being "down south" again, and for everyoe to meet Grace!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Visiting America
We leave the middle of this coming week to go back to America.
For a visit. We have used the phrase, going home often, as well as explaining to those here in Zambia that we are just taking a "holiday" for a few months and then will be back.
They have been glad to hear that we are not planning on staying in America. Yesterday I went with James to the college and Andrew, the college administrator said he was glad to hear James telling people he is going for a visit. Not moving back, but visiting.
That being said, we are excited to be going home for a visit!
The kids have been so excited counting the days down, rolling their little suitcases around the house and carrying their backpacks around.
It will be a long trek back, flying all day to London, then staying the night then flying all night long from London to America then hanging out in a couple airports before we finally reach our destination. If you think of us please pray for safety and good health and for all the kids to travel well, and you can throw in a special prayer for Grace!
It has been a busy week here. Thankfully packing is not a big challenge because we pretty much are only bringing a couple changes of clothes for each and will be buying everything new when we get there. So we have said as long as we have our laptops and electronic things and passports we are good. We can buy everything there and will be!
Our house will be being rented out to some people we met, through a church in AL that are coming over to adopt. I am excited that we can help them out in this regard and they actually arrive on Monday and will be at a nearby lodge for few days until we leave. I will be spending monday taking them all over town to social welfare and the orphanage and grocery store to give them a crash course and familiarize them with the area.
We have a few last minute things to get done with the ministries before we leave, and then also we have some dear friends, the Allens who are moving back to America in December. We have one more chance to get together with them and I am sure there will be some tears shed. They have been such a help and blessing to our family especially when we first moved here. They will be missed.
We look forward to seeing many of you while we are back. We will be in America for about 10 weeks, but It will be a quick trip in one sense, as we have both our families to visit and James will be traveling around to some churches. We will be able to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with our families and then as of right now, plan to come back the end of January.
Our American home church is taking great care of us and setting everything in place for our visit. I am sure that is an overwhelming thing to think about for a family of 8. They have a van ready for us to use and have rented a house for us while we are there. We are so thankful to have that provided for us so we can try to get some rest and have time as a family. It is far more than we deserve!
I am working on a video from the past 2 years with pictures and after James shows it at the churches ( and BEFORE we come back, because the internet is better in America!) I will upload it so that you all can see what all the Lord has done while we have been here.
Thanks for your prayers.
For a visit. We have used the phrase, going home often, as well as explaining to those here in Zambia that we are just taking a "holiday" for a few months and then will be back.
They have been glad to hear that we are not planning on staying in America. Yesterday I went with James to the college and Andrew, the college administrator said he was glad to hear James telling people he is going for a visit. Not moving back, but visiting.
That being said, we are excited to be going home for a visit!
The kids have been so excited counting the days down, rolling their little suitcases around the house and carrying their backpacks around.
It will be a long trek back, flying all day to London, then staying the night then flying all night long from London to America then hanging out in a couple airports before we finally reach our destination. If you think of us please pray for safety and good health and for all the kids to travel well, and you can throw in a special prayer for Grace!
It has been a busy week here. Thankfully packing is not a big challenge because we pretty much are only bringing a couple changes of clothes for each and will be buying everything new when we get there. So we have said as long as we have our laptops and electronic things and passports we are good. We can buy everything there and will be!
Our house will be being rented out to some people we met, through a church in AL that are coming over to adopt. I am excited that we can help them out in this regard and they actually arrive on Monday and will be at a nearby lodge for few days until we leave. I will be spending monday taking them all over town to social welfare and the orphanage and grocery store to give them a crash course and familiarize them with the area.
We have a few last minute things to get done with the ministries before we leave, and then also we have some dear friends, the Allens who are moving back to America in December. We have one more chance to get together with them and I am sure there will be some tears shed. They have been such a help and blessing to our family especially when we first moved here. They will be missed.
We look forward to seeing many of you while we are back. We will be in America for about 10 weeks, but It will be a quick trip in one sense, as we have both our families to visit and James will be traveling around to some churches. We will be able to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with our families and then as of right now, plan to come back the end of January.
Our American home church is taking great care of us and setting everything in place for our visit. I am sure that is an overwhelming thing to think about for a family of 8. They have a van ready for us to use and have rented a house for us while we are there. We are so thankful to have that provided for us so we can try to get some rest and have time as a family. It is far more than we deserve!
I am working on a video from the past 2 years with pictures and after James shows it at the churches ( and BEFORE we come back, because the internet is better in America!) I will upload it so that you all can see what all the Lord has done while we have been here.
Thanks for your prayers.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
A GREAT Day
ALL 30 of the kids
Today we had a great day with the HOPE Kabanana kids.
We rented 2 buses and all the children plus Maureen and her children and Fanny and her children came over to spend the day with us. Katryn prepared the lunch for 50 people, Maureen and Fanny coordinated all the children getting to my house, Fanny lead a devotional and I hosted.
This was the first meeting with the 8 new kids. (Maybe we should have told them they are not always this fun!)
The Last time the kids were here was back in April and we were very glad to have them over again. I think next year we will plan again for at least twice in the year to have them all over and then try to have individual kids more often as we are able.
The kids had a blast! I love being able to have them over and see them enjoying themselves so much. I also love to have my kids hang out with the kids. They did a great job helping serve and host as well and that makes my heart so happy. To see Caleb playing alongside Steven, whose whole house is smaller than Caleb's room. Ian and I taught the older boys how to play Marco Polo in the pool. Emma played ping pong with the boys and was right there making bracelets with the girls. Jackson sharing his shorts so another boys could go swim. Sarah making cookies for all of them and helping get drinks and spending time with the girls. Grace fighting with her little friend Jackie. ha ha- and then loving on him too! :-)
Probably my happiest moment of the day was taking the little boys for a swim. Several of them couldn't swim so they all played in the baby pool until they realized I would take them one by one into the big pool. They started off timidly but by the end of the time they were jumping into my arms and then kicking and flailing their arms to swim as I held onto them and we moved around the pool. Steven was absolutely adorable. The tiniest of all our kids and he pumped his arms and even got a running start to jump. And Frank, as soon as he hit the water he was laughing the whole time. Even Joseph, reserved... quiet, troubled Joseph, let me take him around the pool a few times and half way jumped. That was great for him.
Fanny and Maureen both commented on what great fun the kids were having and we were all so thankful for a great day!
Waiting in line for lunch
Patrick
Emmanuel and Christopher
Mwansa, Tisa and Faith
James on the swing
Several of the new kids with Steven, "shh...Don't kubeba"
Ping Pong
Older boys swimming
More fun on the trampoline
Mary (I almost didn't recognize her since the last few times she has only been wearing Hannah Montana nightgown)
Little Boys after their turn swimming
Legos
Playing on the keyboard
Ian talking to Koumba and Philip
Posing for the camera
Girls turn to swim
Emmanuel and Amos
Frank, Enda, James
Faith and Everlyn
Caleb showing the boys the rabbits
Joseph holding the rabbit
Playing ball
Grace and Jack ( Maureen's son )
Today we had a great day with the HOPE Kabanana kids.
We rented 2 buses and all the children plus Maureen and her children and Fanny and her children came over to spend the day with us. Katryn prepared the lunch for 50 people, Maureen and Fanny coordinated all the children getting to my house, Fanny lead a devotional and I hosted.
This was the first meeting with the 8 new kids. (Maybe we should have told them they are not always this fun!)
The Last time the kids were here was back in April and we were very glad to have them over again. I think next year we will plan again for at least twice in the year to have them all over and then try to have individual kids more often as we are able.
The kids had a blast! I love being able to have them over and see them enjoying themselves so much. I also love to have my kids hang out with the kids. They did a great job helping serve and host as well and that makes my heart so happy. To see Caleb playing alongside Steven, whose whole house is smaller than Caleb's room. Ian and I taught the older boys how to play Marco Polo in the pool. Emma played ping pong with the boys and was right there making bracelets with the girls. Jackson sharing his shorts so another boys could go swim. Sarah making cookies for all of them and helping get drinks and spending time with the girls. Grace fighting with her little friend Jackie. ha ha- and then loving on him too! :-)
Probably my happiest moment of the day was taking the little boys for a swim. Several of them couldn't swim so they all played in the baby pool until they realized I would take them one by one into the big pool. They started off timidly but by the end of the time they were jumping into my arms and then kicking and flailing their arms to swim as I held onto them and we moved around the pool. Steven was absolutely adorable. The tiniest of all our kids and he pumped his arms and even got a running start to jump. And Frank, as soon as he hit the water he was laughing the whole time. Even Joseph, reserved... quiet, troubled Joseph, let me take him around the pool a few times and half way jumped. That was great for him.
Fanny and Maureen both commented on what great fun the kids were having and we were all so thankful for a great day!
Waiting in line for lunch
Patrick
Emmanuel and Christopher
Mwansa, Tisa and Faith
James on the swing
Several of the new kids with Steven, "shh...Don't kubeba"
Ping Pong
Older boys swimming
More fun on the trampoline
Mary (I almost didn't recognize her since the last few times she has only been wearing Hannah Montana nightgown)
Little Boys after their turn swimming
Legos
Playing on the keyboard
Ian talking to Koumba and Philip
Posing for the camera
Girls turn to swim
Emmanuel and Amos
Frank, Enda, James
Faith and Everlyn
Caleb showing the boys the rabbits
Joseph holding the rabbit
Playing ball
Grace and Jack ( Maureen's son )
Saturday, October 15, 2011
New Kids
Here are some pictures of the new kids we are beginning to sponsor for school next year in Kabanana.
James 10
His cousin Mary 9
With the grandmother
Peggy 10
Steven 7
Peggy and Steven with their mom and siblings
Emmanuel 13
Frank 11
Edna 10
Amos 13
with his sister
James 10
His cousin Mary 9
With the grandmother
Peggy 10
Steven 7
Peggy and Steven with their mom and siblings
Emmanuel 13
Frank 11
Edna 10
Amos 13
with his sister
HOPE KABANANA Sept/Oct update
(Even though we are almost half way through October, this is a Sept update.
James has asked me to write one every month and I am a bit behind for this next one.)
SCHOOL
September had the kids starting back for their final term of the school year. Strange to think that Sept back in America kids are just starting their school year but here they are finishing the 3rd term. We had some issues before with kids not even attending school though they were sponsored and being sent to school in some of the cases. At least to date, those kids have been more faithful in school attendance so we are hopeful that they all will finish out the school year well.
One of the girls Barbara is writing her grade 7 exams. When kids are in their exam writing years of school ( grades 7, 9 , 12 ) if they do not pass they can not continue on in school. In Barbara’s case she did not pass last year and so we took her out and put her in a better school and she has been going to tutoring all year but it seems that she has some learning disabilities and so we do not know how she will do this time if she will pass. So you can be praying for her.
HEALTH
We have had more sicknesses with some of the kids, various infections often as a result of the living conditions. For several of these kids it is pretty bad, one family in particular does not even have an outdoor pit toilet so they just go somewhere in the yard. They also have issues with rats and bed bugs so those kids in particular have been more sick recently.
Also among many of the kids they are still not taking care of themselves in regard to basic hygiene. I think this will need to be a continual subject that we address with them.
Also sometime next year I plan to have a health/hygiene class with the guardians. Hopefully if they see the need they will encourage their children in this. But if the guardians don’t think its important to buy soap then how will the kids wash themselves.
END of THE YEAR
We have been able to plan out for the rest of the year and the kids will be having their christmas party in mid November after we leave for America, but while Kat is still here, so that should be a fun time again for them.
Next Saturday all the kids will be coming over for lunch and to swim at our house. They are very excited about that!
Last time they came after we took them all for the HIV testing.
FUTURE PLANS
We have been able to identify and add 8 new kids to the program. They will start their school in January but we are including them in our programs, meetings and church attendance for now. We are all very excited about these kids and are looking forward to getting to know them better and help minister to their families.
We have been trying to add younger kids to the program and those from even “needier” situations. So the ages of these kids range from 7-13. We are in the process of matching these children with sponsors right now.
More on this later...
BUILDING
The church building/classrooms have been completed to the level that they are now meeting for church. That is exciting and we hope to visit them for church in the next few weeks.
They still need to complete doors, windows, flooring, etc but the good thing is that once it is useable they have been eager to use it. Kabwata Baptist Church donated their old pews and so they have already been enjoying having a place of their own.
future classroom for tutoring
James has asked me to write one every month and I am a bit behind for this next one.)
SCHOOL
September had the kids starting back for their final term of the school year. Strange to think that Sept back in America kids are just starting their school year but here they are finishing the 3rd term. We had some issues before with kids not even attending school though they were sponsored and being sent to school in some of the cases. At least to date, those kids have been more faithful in school attendance so we are hopeful that they all will finish out the school year well.
One of the girls Barbara is writing her grade 7 exams. When kids are in their exam writing years of school ( grades 7, 9 , 12 ) if they do not pass they can not continue on in school. In Barbara’s case she did not pass last year and so we took her out and put her in a better school and she has been going to tutoring all year but it seems that she has some learning disabilities and so we do not know how she will do this time if she will pass. So you can be praying for her.
HEALTH
We have had more sicknesses with some of the kids, various infections often as a result of the living conditions. For several of these kids it is pretty bad, one family in particular does not even have an outdoor pit toilet so they just go somewhere in the yard. They also have issues with rats and bed bugs so those kids in particular have been more sick recently.
Also among many of the kids they are still not taking care of themselves in regard to basic hygiene. I think this will need to be a continual subject that we address with them.
Also sometime next year I plan to have a health/hygiene class with the guardians. Hopefully if they see the need they will encourage their children in this. But if the guardians don’t think its important to buy soap then how will the kids wash themselves.
END of THE YEAR
We have been able to plan out for the rest of the year and the kids will be having their christmas party in mid November after we leave for America, but while Kat is still here, so that should be a fun time again for them.
Next Saturday all the kids will be coming over for lunch and to swim at our house. They are very excited about that!
Last time they came after we took them all for the HIV testing.
FUTURE PLANS
We have been able to identify and add 8 new kids to the program. They will start their school in January but we are including them in our programs, meetings and church attendance for now. We are all very excited about these kids and are looking forward to getting to know them better and help minister to their families.
We have been trying to add younger kids to the program and those from even “needier” situations. So the ages of these kids range from 7-13. We are in the process of matching these children with sponsors right now.
More on this later...
BUILDING
The church building/classrooms have been completed to the level that they are now meeting for church. That is exciting and we hope to visit them for church in the next few weeks.
They still need to complete doors, windows, flooring, etc but the good thing is that once it is useable they have been eager to use it. Kabwata Baptist Church donated their old pews and so they have already been enjoying having a place of their own.
future classroom for tutoring
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
"The LORD can take him now then"
I know many of you that read and follow the blog have been praying for Wisdom Tembo and his mother. Of all the kids he is the most needful healthwise of our prayers.
Last time I blogged (June 27th entry)- “Then God will have disappointed me” about his mothers response to if the Lord did not heal him as we were setting a specific time for prayer and his mother to consider allowing him to be put on the ARV’s.
Since that time, over these past months he has continued to decline in his health and needs to be on the ARV’s last year. I had told his mom that we would be coming back right before the new school year to discuss it further and to take him to the clinic to start the medications. She “agreed” though I knew in her heart she did not agree and she would not agree.
So Fanny and Maureen and I went back to visit her in September. We exchanged our greetings and then got right to the point. She of course would not agree to take him back to the clinic and said outright that if the Lord wants to take him now then he can take him. It was so frustrating to see her response and ultimately her lack of concern for Wisdom.
I even said to her, I can not understand how as a mother you would let your son continue to get sicker and sicker if there was a way that you could help him. She was very apathetic to anything that was said. And quite honestly at this point there was nothing more that can be said. ALL of us have spoken to her and pleaded with her. The clinic workers have come to her home and spoken to her and I think even her older children have talked with her on the matter. But as Fanny said when we were leaving, she is like Pharaoh, her heart is hardened.
As I sat on the tiny stool in her tiny house, with only the light from the outside coming in I looked around. Stacked in the corner was charcoal and supplies and things that were bought for her to start up her own business. (A few hundred dollars worth) Hangings on the wall that were gifts given by sponsors of her children. Her oldest son, now graduated from high school, a teacher and enrolled at the University through the help and work of HOPE Kabanana. All these things made possible by the Lord’s blessing to this family. And she stubbornly refuses to let us help her son, to help him live a longer, productive, healthy life.
What more can be said.
Our meeting was very brief, but the conclusion of the matter was that for now, we will stick to what we said several months ago. He will not be sent to school next year as part of our program.
Sounds pretty harsh in one sense. Is it Wisdom’s fault that his mom will not allow him to be put on ARV’s? No it’s not. Not at all. He loves going to school and attends church faithfully. But he might for a time have to suffer even more and “sit out” as we wait and see what his mom does.
She was fine with us saying that we would not be paying for school then next year, but as we discussed among ourselves, he is still in school, he is still part of the program. She might change her mind come January when all the kids are starting back to school with their new uniforms, shoes, and backpacks.
What I can’t get away from is that without being put on the ARV’s, he is going to die of something sooner rather than later. His CD4 count continues to go down, and it is not as if this is lying dormant in his body, he continues to fight sickness all the time. His mom is herself still in the process of dying. And just maybe by us withholding school for a time she might come to her senses and agree.
Yes, I want him to go to school and get a good education, and I want him to be happy. But more than that I want him to LIVE. And one thing I have learned over the year is that decisions, when it comes to people’s lives are not “foolproof”. There is not a manual that says ‘when you encounter this situation in the orphan ministry in Southern Africa then do this’ ...and it will work every time.
We pray for wisdom, the wisdom from above that is, and then we pray for Wisdom.
Last time I blogged (June 27th entry)- “Then God will have disappointed me” about his mothers response to if the Lord did not heal him as we were setting a specific time for prayer and his mother to consider allowing him to be put on the ARV’s.
Since that time, over these past months he has continued to decline in his health and needs to be on the ARV’s last year. I had told his mom that we would be coming back right before the new school year to discuss it further and to take him to the clinic to start the medications. She “agreed” though I knew in her heart she did not agree and she would not agree.
So Fanny and Maureen and I went back to visit her in September. We exchanged our greetings and then got right to the point. She of course would not agree to take him back to the clinic and said outright that if the Lord wants to take him now then he can take him. It was so frustrating to see her response and ultimately her lack of concern for Wisdom.
I even said to her, I can not understand how as a mother you would let your son continue to get sicker and sicker if there was a way that you could help him. She was very apathetic to anything that was said. And quite honestly at this point there was nothing more that can be said. ALL of us have spoken to her and pleaded with her. The clinic workers have come to her home and spoken to her and I think even her older children have talked with her on the matter. But as Fanny said when we were leaving, she is like Pharaoh, her heart is hardened.
As I sat on the tiny stool in her tiny house, with only the light from the outside coming in I looked around. Stacked in the corner was charcoal and supplies and things that were bought for her to start up her own business. (A few hundred dollars worth) Hangings on the wall that were gifts given by sponsors of her children. Her oldest son, now graduated from high school, a teacher and enrolled at the University through the help and work of HOPE Kabanana. All these things made possible by the Lord’s blessing to this family. And she stubbornly refuses to let us help her son, to help him live a longer, productive, healthy life.
What more can be said.
Our meeting was very brief, but the conclusion of the matter was that for now, we will stick to what we said several months ago. He will not be sent to school next year as part of our program.
Sounds pretty harsh in one sense. Is it Wisdom’s fault that his mom will not allow him to be put on ARV’s? No it’s not. Not at all. He loves going to school and attends church faithfully. But he might for a time have to suffer even more and “sit out” as we wait and see what his mom does.
She was fine with us saying that we would not be paying for school then next year, but as we discussed among ourselves, he is still in school, he is still part of the program. She might change her mind come January when all the kids are starting back to school with their new uniforms, shoes, and backpacks.
What I can’t get away from is that without being put on the ARV’s, he is going to die of something sooner rather than later. His CD4 count continues to go down, and it is not as if this is lying dormant in his body, he continues to fight sickness all the time. His mom is herself still in the process of dying. And just maybe by us withholding school for a time she might come to her senses and agree.
Yes, I want him to go to school and get a good education, and I want him to be happy. But more than that I want him to LIVE. And one thing I have learned over the year is that decisions, when it comes to people’s lives are not “foolproof”. There is not a manual that says ‘when you encounter this situation in the orphan ministry in Southern Africa then do this’ ...and it will work every time.
We pray for wisdom, the wisdom from above that is, and then we pray for Wisdom.
A picture is worth
A thousand words...
Once we get outside the city and into the compounds we are often looked at curiously, or suspiciously.
Last week we were in Chipata, visiting the homes of new orphans. I was taking pictures of the families and their homes and as I was leaving one of the neighbor boys peeked out from behind the gate at me.
I was so glad I had the camera still in hand because this one says alot.
Once we get outside the city and into the compounds we are often looked at curiously, or suspiciously.
Last week we were in Chipata, visiting the homes of new orphans. I was taking pictures of the families and their homes and as I was leaving one of the neighbor boys peeked out from behind the gate at me.
I was so glad I had the camera still in hand because this one says alot.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Michael Sata won
He was the candidate for the opposition party, the Patriotic Front.
When he ran in the elections last time his loss was fairly close.
The former President Rupiah Banda put alot of effort into his campaign this time and as mentioned earlier was buying bikes and handing our chitenges and paving roads etc.
The slogan for Sata was “Don’t Kubeba”, or Donchi Kubeba. Don’t tell.
When Banda’s party hands out all their things, just receive them and don’t tell them you are voting for Sata. It was a great campaign, and they even had a song that they made and played all the time in vehicles driving by, places of business, bars, etc.
Donchi Kubeba, eyi eyi shshhhhh, shshhhh. It was a catchy song with a cool beat and I liked it! Though now that they have won and it is playing everywhere all the time it has lost some of its appeal.
As it seemed that Sata could win, there was concern and question over whether or not Banda would interfere and rig the elections somehow.
Rioting started taking places after the vote later in the week when the results were not coming out quickly and websites were shut down. TV and Radio stations were blacked out and everyone was just waiting.
The fear and concerns were that if Banda won, all the PF supporters would protest and riot and that is when things could have gotten worse and more dangerous.
It was a strange week. Thursday the results were supposed to come out and so businesses were closing down early, people were all racing to the grocery stores before they closed. I mentioned that it felt like when we lived in FL and a hurricane was coming, and everyone was racing around to get home and stay inside.
It was said that they would release the winner after everyone was home and it was late.
So the evening went on and nothing, until about 12:30am then a wild cheer erupted outside and we knew Sata had won. From that point on until the next evening there was noise and excitement and cheering outside, car horns beeping, people shouting, standing out of the window in cars and trucks raising their fists... I have never experienced anything like it before.
To say people were excited is putting it mildly. The inauguration took place Friday afternoon and things were calm once again.
We are very thankful the Lord protected us and the people of Zambia from political unrest and upheaval. I don’t know much about Sata as a man. I have heard some not so good things and then others say good things, so we will have to wait and see.
I have never claimed to be interested in or very knowledgeable of politics so I can’t give any assesment or thoughts on how the country will go. But I did want to let you know a little bit of how the week went.
When he ran in the elections last time his loss was fairly close.
The former President Rupiah Banda put alot of effort into his campaign this time and as mentioned earlier was buying bikes and handing our chitenges and paving roads etc.
The slogan for Sata was “Don’t Kubeba”, or Donchi Kubeba. Don’t tell.
When Banda’s party hands out all their things, just receive them and don’t tell them you are voting for Sata. It was a great campaign, and they even had a song that they made and played all the time in vehicles driving by, places of business, bars, etc.
Donchi Kubeba, eyi eyi shshhhhh, shshhhh. It was a catchy song with a cool beat and I liked it! Though now that they have won and it is playing everywhere all the time it has lost some of its appeal.
As it seemed that Sata could win, there was concern and question over whether or not Banda would interfere and rig the elections somehow.
Rioting started taking places after the vote later in the week when the results were not coming out quickly and websites were shut down. TV and Radio stations were blacked out and everyone was just waiting.
The fear and concerns were that if Banda won, all the PF supporters would protest and riot and that is when things could have gotten worse and more dangerous.
It was a strange week. Thursday the results were supposed to come out and so businesses were closing down early, people were all racing to the grocery stores before they closed. I mentioned that it felt like when we lived in FL and a hurricane was coming, and everyone was racing around to get home and stay inside.
It was said that they would release the winner after everyone was home and it was late.
So the evening went on and nothing, until about 12:30am then a wild cheer erupted outside and we knew Sata had won. From that point on until the next evening there was noise and excitement and cheering outside, car horns beeping, people shouting, standing out of the window in cars and trucks raising their fists... I have never experienced anything like it before.
To say people were excited is putting it mildly. The inauguration took place Friday afternoon and things were calm once again.
We are very thankful the Lord protected us and the people of Zambia from political unrest and upheaval. I don’t know much about Sata as a man. I have heard some not so good things and then others say good things, so we will have to wait and see.
I have never claimed to be interested in or very knowledgeable of politics so I can’t give any assesment or thoughts on how the country will go. But I did want to let you know a little bit of how the week went.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
I miss applesauce
Yes, Riots are taking place in different places of Zambia today, over the elections.
Businesses are closing early for the day as they are anticipating the results.
And kids are starving here in our city.
Other kids are getting high on drugs and sniffing glue and setting fire to things to cause a scene.
People are living on less than $2 a day.
Girls are working in prostitution to get money to pay for food or to provide for their children.
Kids are dying of AIDS.
Men and Women are dying of AIDS or infecting other people with HIV at this very moment.
Babies are crying in the orphanage that I visit just wanting someone to pick them up and hold them and never put them down. Cause when you put them down, they cry and don’t stop. You walk out of the room to the parking lot where your car is and you can still hear their cries.
I drive by beggars on the street and children leading their blind parents around coming up to the vehicles to beg for money.
So much just doesn’t seem right. And yet all this is “normal”.
And I just walked into my kitchen to open up my cookbook and decide what kind of cookies I want to make today.
I saw a recipe for applesauce spice cupcakes. Mmm...that sure sounds good. But unless I want to spend about $7 for one cup of applesauce ( which I have only seen sold a few times) or make my own applesauce from apples that are too expensive, I have to pass on the applesauce cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.
I guess I will go for Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, (great recipe -Steph McD ) and use the chocolate chips that have been shipped to us from America.
Life is going on around me and I think about a bowl of cold applesauce, maybe even with cinnamon sprinkled on top.
sigh* THIS feels weird
Businesses are closing early for the day as they are anticipating the results.
And kids are starving here in our city.
Other kids are getting high on drugs and sniffing glue and setting fire to things to cause a scene.
People are living on less than $2 a day.
Girls are working in prostitution to get money to pay for food or to provide for their children.
Kids are dying of AIDS.
Men and Women are dying of AIDS or infecting other people with HIV at this very moment.
Babies are crying in the orphanage that I visit just wanting someone to pick them up and hold them and never put them down. Cause when you put them down, they cry and don’t stop. You walk out of the room to the parking lot where your car is and you can still hear their cries.
I drive by beggars on the street and children leading their blind parents around coming up to the vehicles to beg for money.
So much just doesn’t seem right. And yet all this is “normal”.
And I just walked into my kitchen to open up my cookbook and decide what kind of cookies I want to make today.
I saw a recipe for applesauce spice cupcakes. Mmm...that sure sounds good. But unless I want to spend about $7 for one cup of applesauce ( which I have only seen sold a few times) or make my own applesauce from apples that are too expensive, I have to pass on the applesauce cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.
I guess I will go for Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, (great recipe -Steph McD ) and use the chocolate chips that have been shipped to us from America.
Life is going on around me and I think about a bowl of cold applesauce, maybe even with cinnamon sprinkled on top.
sigh* THIS feels weird
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Chipata
A couple weeks ago I went around to visit some of the guardians and check on how their businesses were doing.
Tisa's mom is selling popcorn and has her own stand. She said that it was going great and that neighbors have even asked what type of "charms" and things she was using for it to go so well.
The Lord is blessing it!
Tisa and her mom
Philips sister
Maureen and Fanny took me to the Chipata Market so we could check on a few of the guardian's businesses.
Chipata Market
I pulled my camera out and this lady wanted me to take her picture
Tisa's mom also has a stand in the market where she sells tomatoes
Just to give you an idea. This is the office at one of the schools that the kids go to.
We are paying the fees for the next term.
Tisa's mom is selling popcorn and has her own stand. She said that it was going great and that neighbors have even asked what type of "charms" and things she was using for it to go so well.
The Lord is blessing it!
Tisa and her mom
Philips sister
Maureen and Fanny took me to the Chipata Market so we could check on a few of the guardian's businesses.
Chipata Market
I pulled my camera out and this lady wanted me to take her picture
Tisa's mom also has a stand in the market where she sells tomatoes
Just to give you an idea. This is the office at one of the schools that the kids go to.
We are paying the fees for the next term.
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