A video

The Streets of Chawama...

One Adventurous Week...

So I know it's been awhile since I have posted and there are many reasons behind it...

Monday I had the privilege of moving in a precious girl named Selah into one of our Community Resource Centers. Her home life situation is one that is too much to fully explain but she has been raped numerous times. At camp she had no emotion and would not look up at you. She was stone cold and it was so difficult for me to see this precious child in such pain and hurt. To make a long story short, I was thrilled to usher this child in to a safe place where there are Godly women loving on her and providing her with so much than she has ever dream. Selah was timid at first and didn't know what to think, but 2 days later I went back to see her and it was a complete transformation!! She ran up to me with a huge smile on her face and gave me a big hug. I couldn't believe my eyes. This little girl now has joy and life in her!! It was amazing to see!

This is sweet Selah...

Tuesday and Wednesday I went around to evaluate more Community Resource Centers. We are moving in 80 children and we want to make sure that all our CRC's are up to running as a house would run. It's pretty exciting to be a part of something that allows children to be rescued 1 at a time. 

Three girls who moved into the Matero CRC: Joyce, Given, and Grace

Thursday I spent a full day at Immigration!!! I almost had to leave the country!! I overstayed my visa, but with the grace and mercy of the immigration officer they allowed me to extend my visa. It was a new experience and pretty intense to say the least. My heart was beating the whole time and I wanted to make sure I did everything I was told. Finally, we were given the "yes" and we paid our penalty and got out of there. :) I have never been that nervous in my life. haha 

Friday I went to go pick up a child and bring her into a CRC. I was also able to check on the kids that have already moved in. God is soooo good! I love being able to see the quick transformation in the lives of these children.

Some kids at the Garden Hill Compound

 

This weekend has slowed done for a little bit and now we are going into the "break week"...haha. I mean even though it's a break week, there is still so much to be done. I am looking forward to what God does this week. More kids will be moving into these centers. Please be praying for the transition and all the different things that have to happen. God is going to be moving in mighty ways and it's so exciting to be a part of it. 

I will hopefully put more pictures and videos up soon. Thanking the Lord for all of you! 

The past week..

I can't believe it's been 10 days since I last blogged. It's been quite busy. I have been working a lot at the Tree of Life in preparation for more kids. And speaking of...we moved 12 more kids in today!! So now we have almost 60 kids living full-time in 4 beautiful homes at the village!! What an amazing afternoon it was...children singing, playing, jumping on the trampoline, sitting in my lap, and soaking in the beautiful place God has provided for them. I can't tell you how much fun that place is!! 

Camp LIFE this week went by so fast!! I can't believe we are about to start week 4...So many American's on our team have come and gone. The first 2 weeks I was blessed to have precious mom's in my villa. I can't tell you how great it was to have Mom's (speaking of..Mom I have missed you being here!!) helping me with things. One in particular made my lunch everyday and others checked on me to make sure that I was getting rest on hard and busy days. It was refreshing to have them around me.  In one more week I will have some of my best friends here doing ministry together. Praise the Lord how God calls people to the same places to serve alongside each other!! 

This week I have been working on the Lifeway Vision Homes. Lifeway is a program focused on reaching the kids between the ages of 14 - 19.  They are brought in and live full time under our care. We currently have almost 50 kids living in homes with house parents that are a part of our Family Legacy Staff. Each child goes to school full time and are given such an opportunity they have never dreamed of. I went to visit our kids at school and I was just amazed at how much they are loving where they are. All 50 of them are precious...no matter the age! They have been given an opportunity and they have people believing in them!! There is HOPE where there was non, there is JOY where there was sadness, and there is LIFE in each and every one of them for where God has brought them!! BLESSED BE HIS NAME!! God is so good and moving in every child. He has rescued so many and there are many more to come... 

Please continue to be praying for God to bring the children to us who are in desperate need. God's heart for these children is impacting each and everyone of us! It's amazing of how great and mighty our God is!! Also, be praying for the hearts of the kids we work with. There is so much they are dealing with and the only way they will have full restoration is if they become completely transparent with themselves. I have seen these within the past few days with several kids who want to completely push away and forget their past; however, they are hindering themselves from experiencing freedom and restoration. I believe the Lord wants to free these children of so many things they are holding on to so keep praying for break through in all of their lives. In addition, pray for moments and opportunities to can sit and talk with some children who just need someone to listen. 

Thanks for all the prayers and support so far! God is moving in countless ways!

Love y'all!

The day they have always dreamed...

My Kids are moving into the Tree of Life!! 

(ps- Doreen is not in the picture)

Maggie Phiri (10) & Peter Phiri (12)

I first met Maggie during our Community Outreach day when she was just a lowly street girl following all of us around as we were evangelizing to those in the community. She caught my attention  and God just drew us together. With God’s timing and sovereignty, this 10 year old street girl came to Camp LIFE the following week and excepted Christ! That same American was introduced to her brother Peter and her cousins. Sadly, Maggie and Peter suffer from neglect, malnourishment, and abuse in multiple ways from their caretakers. They live in a two-room house with no electricity or running water. Maggie and Peter both sleep on the floor in the front room. Maggie and her brother Peter have been raising themselves because their parent’s leave them for most of the day thus they are forced to fend for themselves. Maggie and Peter have painfully been victims of the physical abuse from their mother. Maggie’s small and frail body shows the harshness she has encountered over the years.  Peter has scars and tattoos from the affects of witchcraft. In addition, Maggie is severely malnourished. Her thin frame exhibits the lack of food and neglect. Thankfully through the love and care that our discipleship leaders have shown both Maggie and Peter, they are surviving each day; however, for them to move into our Children’s Village they need to be sponsored!! Will you be the one to change these lives forever? I am praising God for how He has taken them out of their harsh situation to place them in a beautiful place that will forever change their lives. 

 

Susan Chibuye (6), Doreen Chibuye (3),

Joseph Chibuye (13), & Musonde Chibuye (8)

I met these siblings soon after meeting Maggie and Peter.  This family of four comes from a household of neglect, mistreatment, and abuse. They live in a small two-room house with no electricity or running water. The father of the children is mentally disturbed and has significantly affected the children’s growth and development. As you look at these children you can easily recognize the sad conditions they have lived in through the years. In the eyes of these children there is no life and more so no hope in reach for them. They each are frail and thin due to the lack of food in the home. All four of them are cousins to Maggie and Peter thus they all help take care of themselves in regards to the neglect from their families. These children deal with witchcraft and have received multiple scars and tattoos. They are in need of so much love and care. 

I would love for anyone to be a part of this as you sponsor a child. And it's not just a sponsorship, but a LIFE CHANGE for a child!! Please let me know if you are interested!! Thanks!

Many Blessings!

Camp LIFE Week #1

I can't believe the first week of Camp LIFE is over...It was a blast being there with the kids and seeing them really understanding God's Love for them. I didn't know that I would be at camp this week because of my other responsibilities, but I am so thankful that I was there. I got to meet some precious kiddos...one in particular is Agness. She is 9 years old but looks like she is 5. The reason I say that is because of the effects of malnutrition and the neglect she endures. She had such a joyful spirit in her and when she saw me she would drop everything and run!! I have been trying to pick up the language a little more and surprisingly enough I am able to ask some basic questions.

*I was flying a kite for the kids at the Tree of LIFE Children's Village*

 

*This is Sara Lungu - PRECIOUS!! She will be coming to the Tree of Life Children's Village in a couple weeks! I just love this little one!! 

Anyways, week one was amazing! I still can't believe that the Lord has called me to this. I am blown away every day to wake up and have the opportunity to go love on children that are in such need. We actually heard a sermon about "Being Called by the Grace of God" on sunday. One of our very own Family Legacy Staff in Zambia spoke upon your calling and what that look likes. It was so powerful and encouraging. Pastor Angel explained that God does not call you because of your past, or from where you are now, or even what you will become in the future...but He is calling you because of HIS Grace!! We have to keep looking straight ahead and not at how God has called other people. We have been called for a specific purpose and given a divine assignment...which is to display Christ to others and to make HIM known to those who don't know Him. 

I hope everyone is doing well. Please be praying for energy. I've been battling being sick over the past few days. Many Blessings to you all! I'm going to to try to post some videos and pictures of camp. 

Love you all!