A recent message at church became a pivotal moment for our family as we are back stateside, gearing up and preparing for another season in Zambia. The speaker talked about passing through Gethsemane before going to Calvary as it pertains to the specific call upon our lives.
Jesus and His disciples all went to Gethsemane, but only Jesus went to the cross at Calvary. At some point He kept His friends and family engaged but then there came the time of going it alone with the hope of His family and friends’ prayer, watchfulness and support.
We have taken the opportunity to update many of you as to what it is we do and how very much we need your prayer, watchfulness and support. Our Gethsemane is here in America, this is where we get to talk about the amazing work of Family Legacy Missions International as it engages families with God’s heart for the orphans of Zambia.
We can say Zambia is like our Calvary, where we keep dying many times to our own selves and desires; we also die to the idea of being close to family and friends. We love what we do and would do nothing other than serve the orphans and vulnerable children of Zambia.
What is Happening at the Tree of Life Children’s Village?
The 2015 CampLife season is over and for us it is as if a new year has just begun. Well over 7,000 kids came to Camp and I dare say that about 1/3 of them are not sponsored, many in this number are in need of serious intervention that will bring them to the homes of the Tree of Life Children’s village.
Seven new homes were opened between June and July and that equals to over 70 new kids to our village. There is already a need for child sponsorships and for new homes for the children coming to us as a result of this year’s camp. We will also need to add more classrooms to our ever growing school population as well as build our hospital.
As you can see because we have new children, we need more homes, classrooms and our own hospital to treat our village of almost 700 children. This all points to one thing – time!
Time is vital to us and to this ministry. We would like nothing more than to be able to get back to Zambia and put our hands to the plow and faithfully and joyfully continue to serve the precious children God is allowing us to work with.
Many of you have already joined us by sending a one-time or recurring donation. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity. Many are still praying and asking God if this is where He would have you join Him.
Can we say yes for you?
The Bible states in James 1:27 that pure and undefiled religion is to look after the fatherless and the widows. When you join us in this ministry you are doing just that. You too are plowing with us; you too are allowing one more child to have a chance to a better future. We ask you because God has asked us to join Him.
We have to raise 100% of our monthly ministry and family expenses to return to Zambia. Living in Lusaka is not as inexpensive as one would expect for an African country. The World Bank estimates that the cost of living in Lusaka is 30-40% higher than Washington, DC. The Zambian economy may be growing at a respectable rate of 6% but that is mostly because Zambia opened the worlds biggest copper mine just as world copper prices were going through the roof.
Zambia is expensive because the labor market is rigid – a 15% annual increase in wages is customary. Transportation cost bumps up the price of everything else—Zambia is a landlocked country with little domestic manufacturing. The cost of finance is high—banks charge up to 35% and in some instances 100% interest rates.
Please consider our giving chart below and see where you see yourself:
Needed Monthly Number of supporters needed:
$1,000 2 donors
$500 4 donors
$200 10 donors
$100 20 donors
$50 30 donors
James 1:27
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