( Gift Stumbeko, in front of our house)Hello Friends,
We hope this finds you all doing well. Here in Zambia, we have been enjoying a break from the heavy rains season which started mid December. During the rains,we have to wear gumboots due to the sticky and slippery mud and pools of dirty water everywhere. The last few weeks have been relatively sunny and warm, which was very welcome from the rains which at times seemed too much. Now, as the ground gets drier, we are concernd about the crops that we have planted. Please join us in asking God for more rain so that we will have a better harvest.
From Kamau:
Some people have written asking about the situation with my family in Kenya and I want to thank you all for your prayers and concern. I have been in regular contact with my brother in Nairobi since the troubles started. He has told me they are doing well but the cost of commodities has gone up a lot in the cities. This is because the trucks which bring in produce from the country side had stopped due to the violence in several areas of the country. But now with the signing of an agreement which involves a power sharing deal, the situation in country has become more peaceful and some elements of normalcy is slowing coming into place. There is however a need for continued prayers as anything could every easily ignite the tension and violence again.
We have a new boy who has recently joined us, his name is Gift Stumbeko, he is (6) six years old. and currently attends first grade at the community school near the Village of Hope. This development came about when Phillip Musonda, one of the nine children who moved into the children's home on January 2nd left. Phillip's Auntie, on his late mother side of the family came and retrieved him.
Apparently his grandmother had not informed all the members of her family that she was going to bring him to the children's home. She had brought Phillip to us because of the struggle she was facing trying to provide for him and three other orphans one of whom was a two and half yr old baby girl in her care.
The Auntie stated that she was able to provide for her nephew and asked that we please release him to her care. We did this gladly since we really desire to help rescue those children who are most vulnerable with none to adequately provide for their basic needs.
Gift, the new boy, is one of 14 members of a household who were been cared for by their grandmother and her husband. His grandmother brought him to us and told us how it had it was to provide for such a big family. Gift has four other siblings none of whom attend school.
Some people have written asking about the situation with my family in Kenya and I want to thank you all for your prayers and concern. I have been in regular contact with my brother in Nairobi since the troubles started. He has told me they are doing well but the cost of commodities has gone up a lot in the cities. This is because the trucks which bring in produce from the country side had stopped due to the violence in several areas of the country. But now with the signing of an agreement which involves a power sharing deal, the situation in country has become more peaceful and some elements of normalcy is slowing coming into place. There is however a need for continued prayers as anything could every easily ignite the tension and violence again.
We have a new boy who has recently joined us, his name is Gift Stumbeko, he is (6) six years old. and currently attends first grade at the community school near the Village of Hope. This development came about when Phillip Musonda, one of the nine children who moved into the children's home on January 2nd left. Phillip's Auntie, on his late mother side of the family came and retrieved him.
Apparently his grandmother had not informed all the members of her family that she was going to bring him to the children's home. She had brought Phillip to us because of the struggle she was facing trying to provide for him and three other orphans one of whom was a two and half yr old baby girl in her care.
The Auntie stated that she was able to provide for her nephew and asked that we please release him to her care. We did this gladly since we really desire to help rescue those children who are most vulnerable with none to adequately provide for their basic needs.
Gift, the new boy, is one of 14 members of a household who were been cared for by their grandmother and her husband. His grandmother brought him to us and told us how it had it was to provide for such a big family. Gift has four other siblings none of whom attend school.
(Malaika and Isaac working together as a team)
(Maggie, joyfully carrying water)
There is never a dull moment at the Village of Hope. Sometimes it is unruly oxen galloping through the village because they are trying to avoid being hitched up to the cart, or maybe they have escaped out of their kraal at night and can be heard chewing (our grass and flowers mind you!) and breathing loudly outside of our windows!
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At other times it may be a chameleon strolling by or the water tank pipe which has busted and spraying water all over the place! This was great fun for the children as they took the opportunity to get wet as they filled up every available container with water for us to use until the pipe was fixed.
Then again it could be that, while we are fast asleep, we hear a voice at window saying, "Kamau, there is a snake in the house and I do not have the courage to go back into the house, can you come?" It was Rose, one of the housemothers. Kamau said, he thought to himself, " Oh my, just what what I need to hear, here I am asleep in my bed and now I have to get up, and go hunt down a snake amongst all that furniture in the middle of the night, with barely enough light, and with ten kids sound asleep in their rooms. Life is not fair, this was not in my job description!!! Somebody should have warned about this! I must confess I was not feeling particularly brave, not when it comes to these slithery creatures. It's bad enough during day time, but at night ha! All these things are going through my mind, and then she says, I managed to kill it, but I can't bring myself to carry it out of the house, and I am like oh it's dead! Suddenly there was this burst of boldness and I am like, come on, lets go see what you got! Funny how your imagination can run away with you!
We have some hope that we may have electricity soon. The Zesco workers have come to install the transformer and the last thing that we are waiting for now is one more pole. We have been waiting for electricity for just over a year now so waiting a few more weeks for a pole just causes the fruit of patience to ripen more in our lives.
( Zesco workers installing the transformer)
(This ominous looking creature that John is holding and Docklin is examining is a spiky caterpillar that the children found. The locals say that it is good eatin', spikes and all!!)We are very excited about the imminent arrival of a team from our church home in Newark, Delaware. Please pray for them as they begin their travel on March 17th and arrive the following day and their time of ministry here in Zambia. They will be helping to instruct and interact with the children as well as joining in with the construction and doing some mechanical work on the vehicles.
Thank you for taking time to catch up on what the Lord is doing here at the Village. May He bless richly for your prayers and support.
The Kamaus
