SIMEON IS SIX!!

Six years ago, Warren and I went into Hackettstown Medical Center to have our son in mid February.  This boy was so anxious to get out, he was born about an hour after we arrived.  We saw his little face and fell in love with him right away.  He is as intense now as he was then.  He plays with all his might.  He also loves with all his heart.  Every inch of his body has testosterone all over it but yet there's such a gentle spirit in him when it's needed.  At that time we had three precious little girls that have changed our lives for ever.  We had four children all under 5 years old.  Our days were filled with nursing, diapers, feeding, and holding all our babies.  It has been so long since those baby days that it almost feels like a dream.  We enjoyed it while they lasted and cannot believe a new season is appoaching where pareting will take on a more mature look but hopefully not abandon the baby feel of still holding and nurturing our growing children.  We are so blessed that God would choose us to shape the lives of these four precious lives at such a time as this.  We do not take it for granted.

Zambia is the WINNER!!

One of the things we LOVE about Zambia is that their love and devotion for God is often publicly displayed.  This video reminds me of the song, "Hosanna".  Can we be this passionate and greatful to God when we achieve anything in life that's important to us.  These men are simply singing, "God, we give you the glory!"

God let it be true and real!!

Fun Stuff!

It has been COLD to say the least.  Of course, that has not stopped us from having just a bit of fun.  We took a day off school last week and went to the Manhattan Children's museum.  The children had a blast in their new exhibit, "Eat, Sleep and Walk".

I also did my first mini marathon on January 21st.  That was such a cold, slippery, and wet experience. It was so surprising to me that so many people showed up to run in such a weather.  The craziest thing was that I was one of those people!!  So there we were, running in the snow.  I had to wipe my face every few minutes because it was so wet from the snow that was falling.  After six miles, we decided to not continue since the surface was so uneven and unsave.  That was totally God because the race was cut off at the seven mile mark. 
The song that kept coming to my mind was "Running," the chorus says:
Lord I'm running, running after you
You've become my soul's delight
Lord, I'm running, running after you
Only you can satisty
I love running because I love the alone time to pray and worship and be alone with the Lord.  Thank you Jesus for helping me attain this goal.  You are amazing!

Our God who is AWESOME has made our boys AMAZING!!

I love the song, "Your Great Name", after being in  Zambia for so long and not really learning any new worship music, this is one of the things we have most enjoyed.  I think I have a new favorite song every week.  The other day I told a friend that I had a "new" favorite song and she asked what it was.  After I told her the name, she said, "Ok, but that song is like two years old!".  So, excuse me if this is an old song to you, but to me it's new and I LOVE it.  Anyway, as I was singing at church today, God brought the faces of the boys into my mind and I had such a joy in my heart because of them.  One of the verses says:

The fatherless, they find their rest
At the sound, of your great name!
The sick are healed, the dead are raised,
At the sound of your great name!

Jesus, worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us
The Son of God and man
You are high and lifted up
And all the world will praise your great name!

God's great name has done excatly what this song says for our boys in Zambia.  The world said they were fatherless and had no life, but God has given them a home, food and school opportunity.  Their rest! They were sick with disease and pain and addiction.  They were dead to emotion and a future and hope, but God has raised them up.  Somebody shout with me and sing the chorus because Jesus is so worhty and has done such great things.  My soul magnifies the Lord!

In Zambia we have very important exams at the end of the 7th, 9th and 12th grades.  It's really like the SATs in that they determine if the student can move to the next grade and what type of school he can attend.  Well, thanks to His great name, ALL of our seventh graders passed this exam this year!  To GOD be the glory!

Thanks for reading and keep praying for the Kakabalika boys in Lusaka, Zambia!!

Orphans and Widows

"Father to the fatherless, defener of widows - this is God whose dwelling is holy." Psalms 68:5 NLT

It was a surreal experience introducing my own kid as chapel speaker today. This is the kid who 8 years ago got the scare of her life having to walk down an isle as a cute little flower girl. From that experience until today she did not want to be noticed, put on the spot, or asked to present anything. What the enemy means for evil in life, God always causes it to work for good to those that love Him. Psalm 68:5 was her text and in a simple yet childlike manner she shared in American Christian School's secondary and elementary chapel how this is the task God has allowed our family to be involved in. To put icing on the cake, she plaid and sang a song she called "Jesus Is Coming". It was one thing to play and hide behind the drum set, today you have faced your fear without looking back - God is so proud and we are so pleased GEM! Kudos!

Holidays

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

It was great to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas in the States. The cold, crisp weather, the holiday decorations and fantastic food were a few things we enjoyed. Of course being with family did top the experience. We feel so blessed by God words cannot express our gratitude. Since being back in September, we've enjoyed sleeping in, dare I say till sometimes 10am!! We thought our bodies were no longer capable of the task, but with a little help they submitted. We have visited with some of you, and have also enjoyed going to the different churches many of you now attend.

We are so honored that God would call us to do His work in such a time as this. Times Square Church has grown so much and so many of you have also decided to allow your tent pegs to be pulled up and moved to a new place of ministry.  We see what God is doing now and can only remember the prayer Jabez prayed, "God that you would enlarge my territory". We encourage you all to go forward and follow God's leading in your lives and see Him raise you as a radical remnant in these last days.

The above picture was taken at Pike's Peak, one of the tallest mountains in the Colorado Springs area.  It was at this mountain that the famous phrase in the song "America the Beautiful" was written.  "Of purple mountain majesty, above the fruited plain..."  When looking at the Rockies from afar you can almost see a purple glow on them.  Our prayer for this year is that we experience a radical lifting of our spirit to meet Jesus like never before.  We pray that as we do this the people of the earth would see Jesus alone as a purple glow around us!!!

An Invitation to Join Us

Merry Christmas!

Four years ago our family began serving God through two ministries of Reverend Reuben Sambo in Zambia; Rivers of Joy Fellowship Church and Kakabalika Child Foundation, www.kakabalika.org, the boys home you all know. Thank you again for being a part of this work. We have been left speechless as we reflect on God’s work in our family and His work in Zambia over these past few years.

To celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary, Vicky, the children and I boarded a 747 jet liner to the USA for furlough. Our agenda was simply: rest. This time also included a missionary debriefing that revealed the depth of our exhaustion and will hopefully include seeing many of you. Finally, we are re-building financial support for our return trip to Zambia.

The children are now 10, 9, 7 and 5. GEM is counting down the minutes to becoming a teenager; a transitional age which is teaching all of us about growth. Gem is not only growing physically but God is truly expanding her heart of worship. Amber Leigh, our second born provides laughter, encouragement and optimism for every situation in the family. She and Salome are neck and neck in the competition for princess of the year. Salome (Sasa) is a vibrant and dynamic part of our family because she knows how to entertain herself, is hardly involved in sibling rivalry and knows how to make friends with everyone. Simi-boy can run and rough-house with the best of them, but at the same time is very thoughtful of others. They are growing so fast and we are delighted to be stewards of their young lives. God truly is amazing.

When Kakabalika Child Foundation opened its doors in November 2006 there were 15 boys from the streets. Since that time, almost 50 boys came through the center to experience the love and hope expressed through the outreach and care teams. The years produced tears and laughter, victory from pain, freedom from fear and addictions, and times of acceptance, significance and stability. At first, many of them struggled with English, now many confidently communicate, sing, write and read English. God so favors them! The 28 boys currently in residence are thriving mentally, physically and spiritually and are the joy of campus. Many of you who have visited know the boys are a fantastic blessing!

The school is a new addition at the KCF farm. For two and a half years it has been in progress and in May, the doors of the four room school house were opened! Literacy is one of the areas most lacking in the public schools.The KCF boys generally trail far behind their peers especially due to their life circumstances. The Kakabalika Trust School was created to provide quality, affordable and engaging education. There were three teachers employed as well as a volunteer PhD in English. The first term at Kakabalika Trust School produced story writers and tellers, poets, singers and actors. There were even those who memorized whole chapters from the Psalms! The greatest visible improvements were when reading levels jumped two to three grade levels in two short months. This is the realization of the national’s dream. Thank you for helping make this a reality!

We’ve seen God sustain and provide during times of need and given us enough to share in times of plenty. In Zambia, costs for many daily necessities are inflated, but our total living expenses comes out to $4000/month; that's $48,000/year for a family of six. In a couple months we will return to Zambia. Please continue or consider supporting our family. Whether a monthly contribution which helps us budget our finances or one-time gifts as you are led, all contribute equally to this work.

One-time donations will assist with the purchase of the following items:

· Car tires

· Refrigerator

· Clothes Dryer (this will help kill putsy fly larvae laid on clothing that likes imbedding into the skin)

· Lap Top

· Zambian Language Class
· Farming God’s Way Training

The Scriptures talk about David, when he went out to battle. There were also those who stayed behind to 'look after the home front', but David was always careful to share the spoils equally when he returned. Not everyone can go out to the mission field, but please share in this work and we will continue to share with you the victories God has won! God will bless you, and with all our love, we say, THANK YOU and may the grace, love and peace of the Lord be with you and yours all throughout 2012.

Please pray with us and for us:

· To hear and follow God no matter the cost

· To exercise continued faithfulness in and with the stewardship entrusted to us

· To joyfully serve Pastor Sambo, staff, KCF boys and the people of Zambia

· To have financial partners for each year of the next tour

· To experience good health, safety, God’s leading and protection

If you would like to partner with the Carr Family, please make checks to Times Square Church (Carr Family Zambia on the memo line or specific one time item) and mail to 1657 Broadway, 4^{th Fl., NY, NY 10019. You can also go to the Missions website at www.tscnyc.org/missions to get more information on how to give online. All donations sent are tax deductible. You can also get more information on giving to the Kakabalika Child Foundation at www.childcrynyc.org or at www.tscnyc.org/mission.}