Is there an end to caring for the orphans? Never.

The excitement of the big Chipolopolo win for Zambia subsided, and then their biggest boxer- Esther Phiri, won her match. This is Zambia's year!

Work here has been moving along. We had a great time on Saturday with all the girls for our "Girls Day" and Fanny led a devotional on loving eachother as sisters, as well as appropriate love between the sexes. 3 of our girls were missing, but we had 7 visitors from church and the community so that was great! We painted nails and then the girls had a chance to read their letters from their sponsors and write back. Of course- we also ate! Our favorite pasttime!

Here is a link to the photos:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.558179836974.2040616.100300199&type=1&l=36b4b00800

 

Right now I am shifting focus a bit to my trip home. I am leaving in about 2 weeks and I have to try and prepare myself physically and emotionally. I have been struggling with extreme fatigue and lethargy... I am forcing myself to perform basic daily functions. I've also had some random stomach upset in the past few days as well. I don't know if this is a result of stress and worry since I am not letting myself think too hard about the next month but either way it's a tough time.

 

In other news, I've been thinking about adoption. Obviously this is nothing I am rushing into right now but we can just say the seed has been planted in my mind. There are a lot of factors to think about- pros and con's if you will. The one major pro is that when you live in Zambia, it's much easier and MUCH less expensive to adopt. I know there is the issue of me not being married, but I personally strongly feel that having only a mother is better than having no parents at all. If a child can grow up in a home with a woman who loves them and can care for them- then it's better than growing up in a group of undercared for and undernourised kids.

 

There is a single girl here who is exactly my age who's been fostering her daughter for adoption. She came before she was 25 which is why shes been fostering for so long, you have to be 25 to adopt.

 

Anyway, this is something I'll think about for the future. I have my health concerns and some other things to sort out before I get into it but it is something I'll start praying about now as I move forward in life.

 

Please keep me in prayer as I wind up work here in the next two weeks and then head back to the states for a short time.

Dancing in the streets

Well I just wrote an entire blog and it was deleted by the internet that I love so much here....

In a nutshell, work has been VERY busy. Maureen Fanny and I have met with the guardians and talked to them about their responsibility to the ministry and the kids and well as encouraging them to be part of the church life more than they are. It was a good opportunity for everyone to get to know eachother and we left laughing and talking as friends.

We have paid all school fees, except for Nathan who is waiting on acceptance to the University of Zambia, and Barbara who failed.  All the kids have new shoes, backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils etc. They've also got lunch provided every day either by their school or Maureen.

We also had a family lunch for the kids and I led a devotional on New beginnings as we start this year off. Many of the kids sang solos and I will be uploading some video of that as soon as I have better internet! It was great for us all to be back together again playing and singing.

M, F &I have also visited all the families to encourage and check on them, as well as visiting all the businesses to see how progress is coming along. Many of them are facing a lull because of the season but some have decided to switch what they are selling for this season and it seems to be working, not a single failure among all 10 businesses and in fact, many of them have "promoted" themselves, moved to better markets and are calling themselves shop owners and marketeers rather than just vendors or sellers!!

Here is a link to the pictures from the guardian meeting and then the lunch- pictures of the businesses are still to come once the internet is better and I can upload them all at once!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.556562193744.2040391.100300199&type=3&l=5b8f1c35c6

 

 

In other news, Zambia won the Africa Cup! I am SO PROUD to be here and to be part of this.... you can not imagine the excitement and hype. Imagine the entire united states... every single person... is a baseball fan. Now imagine EVERYONE supports the same team, and that team just won the championship. Now add in a culture that celebrates with singing and dancing and noise.... beautiful chaos!

 

It's a lot like the elections only about 10 times more, because now it's not just sata supporters, its every single person. I wish everyone could experience this kind of excitement and patriotism... every single person in the country on the same page, all happy about the same thing, all in it together, all dancing and high fiving in the streets... for days (I still hear yelling and car horns and vuvuzelas, 2 days later!) Awesome.

 

I have pictures and video to upload of the aftermath- people in the streets etc. but again, the internet is bad right now. I will try to get to it later!

 

 

In terms of my health, I a still a bit overwhelmed but being so involved with the Africa Cup and work and everything else over here, time is passing and I am making it through. I am scheduled to return to the states on March 8 and my procedure is on the 14. Provided the results are good I will be back in Zambia and in the work the beginning of April so please continue to pray!