What Would Sandy Say

I am in Christchurch with some friends. They call themselves Light Others...(instead of the C word) maybe a bit lame but I will go with it. My friend knows a guy at his work who is a light other but "doesn't know it yet". Now this is a new concept for me but I am going with it. I am entertaining it and to be honest I like it.
What makes us like Jesus anyway? Is being like Jesus and not knowing it make you part of the final count?

Anyway back to Sandy.... Sandy bowls up to you and tells you about his break down. Not because he needs a crutch but because he is real. Maybe he senses your pain, or sees your soul. He doesn't small talk. He deep talks in an unasuming and non judgemental way.
Like Sandy we have decided tonight that we need to cut through the crap and get down to the honest and often, more than we realise HARD truth. The stuff the hurts worse than the pain on the outside.

I think that I have come to the conclusion... as I hope you can in someway follow from the above rambilings that to live in community demands honesty. Honesty that hurts. Not just with each other but first with ourselves.
We are broken people and as the Guru would say... People know if you have made friends with your shadows......

Village Life

I think Kamatipa was everyones favorite. This village is definately a special place for me. A few days of no electricity, pit toilets and hard floors really make a mark.
Although there was only twenty children that where part of the Bright Hope partnership, we had around a hundred. The kids where hard to control due to the number but everyone had fun. Chloe's bear hunt ended in a small stampede but all in all everyone had fun.

The people where so friendly, and it was definately the poorest place we have been to. It was sad that the people live in such poverty. The people travel three hours to the store to buy soap and salt. The children have lots of runny noses and coughs, many older ones walk five hours to school once a week. The partner there, Jeremiah is such an amazing man as he has given up a good life to live in poverty. He is an inspiration. - Chloe.

TO PUSH START

I have to say that I am the official queen of push starting the van. well.....not the pushing part, but definately the starting part.

I am not sure if we had watered down fuel or if there is some other reason but it took us eight hours to do a four hour trip as the van only went about 50km/hr when it was going.

Marcus and Tim are the hero's of the day jumping out to push the van in the darkness and then having to run and jump into the moving van as we where unable to stop!

Chingola Street Children

We spent every morning with some children in the city of Chingola. These children where rough, high and generaly unpleasant. The did try hard to stay quiet and cut down to only a few fights an hour. We tried our best to keep them occupied and share Jesus love with them.

We really gained confidence and feel that we portrayed the Gospel well and have planted or watered seeds. - Marcus.

It was a challenge - Tim

Lulamba Lighthouse Orphanage

Three afternoons last week we spent time with around 30 children in a village called Lulamba. The children are a part of a Bright Hope partnership and are sponsored to school and a monthly meal. This help allows the children to remain with their extended families.


The team had a lot of fun with songs, skits and games.

It was great to see the children being supported in their homes - Marilyn.

The highlight was a bear hunt run by Chloe. The children where led around the house over various obstacles until they met a very scaaary John Bear.
The children where really well behaved and I really enjoyed them. -Tim.

Marcus and Tim preparing for balloon game. Kids singing father Abraham.

Brenda making bead braclets with some kids.

N'Shima

Shima is the staple in Zambia. Members of the team had a lot of fun trying to stir it. Sad to say they didn't last long.

Chisomo

KALIKILIKI

The team was able to go to a local compound (very poor area) church and listen to a lesson on 'gender'. The theology that men and women are equal is shocking at times. It was an interesting cultural orientation for them and a crash course in 'Bemba' the local language.

Here you can see Marilyn with some children outside singing the 'ABC song'. The other two shots are within the church during the study.

A Pythons Tails

This sooooo trumps Russells 'Helen Clark' picture!



Is it over yet?






Maybe I will take up modeling with Hallenstines.

Here is Chloe in one of the markets trying on some stunning wigs!!. A lot of women in Zambia where wigs or hair extensions as there hair often doesn't grow long.

This is our accommodation. Yesterday we had Zebra wandering around but you will have to hit Tim Christie up for that.

The Team ARRIVES

Look at this stunning bunch fresh off the plane...... Here they are already suffering in Zambia.

The Team A

Chisomo - a visit

Here are some pics of me and Irene and some of the children at Chisomo practicing their dancing.

They are looking forward to the BCC/ TeAtatu team visiting and will be dancing for them.

I hope the team are preparing a special dance too!

There are around 20 children living at this drop in center for street children. Many are waiting for sponsorship to school. Waiting for life to start.

They are such awesome young people and some of the people I will miss the most.

Re-Test

You may remember three months ago I went with ten teenagers to get HIV/AIDS tests. This was a huge deal for these young men and women as they have all been on the receiving end of various kinds abuse.

I can't say it was anything short of a miracle that they where all HIV negative. Meaning that they do not have the virus.

This last week I went with four of them for a follow up test which is required after three months as the virus can remainlatent for this period and undetectable. The other six teens are still away at boarding school so they get there test in November.
Praise God that all four are now completely clear of HIV!!

Please pray for them as they fight to stay pure and remember that they are unique, beautiful, loved children of a God who provides for all their needs.

Say A Little Prayer For US!

You may remember this little boy (Joshua) on the left. He is the little boy that I named 10 months ago. He was born when his mother was staying with me. Below is his big sister Leise.



Please remember to pray for this little family. Rennie (mum) is struggling to make a small business work and recently thieves broke into her house and took all of her things. She is back at square one again. She still believes that God is faithful to her and is trusting in him for help and provision. She is trusting in him for protection!
Please remember them in your prayers as it is very difficult to be a single mum in this culture.

a short pause

Well It’s a bit embarrassing how long it has been since I updated this blog!
Shame really.

Well time is really ticking down now but things are still going at full speed!
I had a couple weeks at Maplehurst farm catching up on reports and starting to sort through stuff and now I find myself up in Samfya! The amazing thing is that now we have internet!

The guys from Willow Creek have put in satellite internet to keep Samfya in contact with the world. Which is nice since it is up here that I find myself with a little time.

The next few months are super busy right up till after I leave!!
August is full of HIV/AIDS teaching. During the first week of August I have been asked to run a workshop at and African leaders conference regarding HIV/AIDS in the community. This is a really great opportunity for me to stretch and grow my scope. I will be discussing Bright Hope project models and hopefully facilitating some great networking and strategizing amongst these courageous people.
The second and third week will be spent back at Chisomo running HIV workshops with the teenagers as it is their holiday period. I will be repeating the course I wrote to you about in my last news letter with a new group. Please pray for these kids as this is ultimately a life changing time and has a potential to really make or break them.
The last week of August I will be preparing for the team and packing up my stuff so I am ready. I will also be making a trip up to Samfya to start my goodbyes! It’s amazing how time flies.

Septemeber will be saying goodbye and packing up the first week and then the team arrives so it's all go from the 9th until I leave!

I have put a few photo’s to show you some of the people I have been hanging out with lately.
I hope you enjoy
PEACE