Camp Life

Living in Zambia, we are surrounded with missionary groups and organizations who come here to show the love of God to a people who often times have lost all hope for their future.  We are privilaged at times to join in with such groups and do something a little different than our daily routine while still showing God's love to the people.  Last week was such a time.  The children were invited to be counselors at a summer camp.  This organization, called  Family Legacy,  brings vulnerable children from the compounds into a secure area for a week long camp experience.  They sing songs, do skits, preach the gospel, play games, etc...  The children are divided into groups of 8-10 and are assigned to an American counselor and two Zambian counselors.  The children and I were so thrilled when we got the invitation to be part of their mini camp which was three days.  Gem and Amber each had a group of 8 -11 and 5-7 year old boys.  Simeon joined a leader for a group his age, while Salome and I led a group of tween girls.  It was amazing!!  The girls LOVED being with the boys and singing and playing with them.  Salome was the center of attention in our group as the girls were fascinated by her.  Simeon also thoroughly enjoyed his group.  They all had so much fun, they want to do it again.  The best part of it for me was to watch them enjoy the teaching on "The Armor of God."  They came home putting it on repeatedly and stomping on the devil!!  I love to see the way God choses to encourage me in these small ways.

Salome and Simeon singing in worship

Salome playing tug of war!

 

Amber with her group waiting to go into  the worship hall

 Gem giving out coloring sheets to her group

The children worship to "Our God"

Coloring Time

The Jacaranda Tree

As June begins, Zambia’s cold and dry season also starts and added to it are strong winds that kick up mounds and mounds of dust and dirt.  I am reminded as I write this of the Jacaranda tree that spends most of the year without blooming or giving any signs that life is there other than the dreary leaves and trunk that sits in the ground.  At the peak of the dry season are the two hot months September and October.  This is just before the rains start falling again in November.  During this very dry and hot time, the Jacaranda tree puts forth some of the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen, majestic purples and crimson reds.  Streets that are lined with these trees are breathtaking to travel upon.

The other day as I was out paying a visit to some of the boys that still sleep in the culverts of the street in a certain part of town, I was surprise to see them standing in a group talking to someone.  Before I continue, I have to say that the work at KCF is at times like the Jacaranda tree: there seems to be no life, we question a lot if we are having any affect in the lives of those we minister to and will any of them fully accept the call of Christ to minister his grace to their friends.  We labor in tears, casting forth seeds, watering and I have to tell you to see boys leave is probably the toughest part to this work.  That night, the boys were standing and listening to Chembe, one of the older boys who now lives independently, working and is still concerned about the things of God.  He wasn’t inhaling sticker, he wasn’t smoking, he was clean and he was speaking life to friends living a life style he was not too removed from.  The Jacaranda tree began blooming in my soul and before my very eyes.  I am so grateful to God for encouraging me like this, my soul needed it.

About two weeks ago while Pastor was driving pass one of the shopping malls near town, he saw a little boy sleeping on a median near the traffic light.  It was a considerably cold night and the boy had removed his shirt to try and cover his whole body – shivering.  The boys were brought to KCF and they quickly realized that the team will follow up on their story:  where they live, their parents and where they last stayed.  It wasn’t two days before they were found trying to head back into town.  Upon returning to the farm they were told that they would be taken to the village they said they were brought to Lusaka from.  Little did anyone know that they had come up with a plan to steal away when brought to church on Sunday and steal away they did.  There names are Andrew and Samson.