Friday, May 29, 2009

It's open and they kids have come!

What a day it has been....the lack of sleep, the tears, the work, and the things we had to go through has come full circle. PRAISE BE TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!! HE chose and brought 14 children into the first home at the Tree of LIFE Children's Village TODAY!! It was so amazing to think back through all the things that had to line up for this to happen and then today... we finally got to walk the children into their new home! There were a lot of emotions today with seeing the joy and light in the faces of these children who have gone through so much! I wept tears of joy for these precious kids. It was amazing to watch the hand of God work in ways like this. I can't even put it into words of how amazing today was! Thank you all for praying over the transition for these kids. As I left tonight, they were all sitting down eating dinner for the first time as a family!! 

Here is newest family at the Tree of LIFE...

Emma (12), Esther (2), Bupe (4), Dorcas (10), Hassan (8), Misheck (4), Beauty (14), Temba (6), Baby Joe (5), Monica (10), Norah (9), Bwayla (10), Paulina (11), Mirriam (4)...and there is actually 2 more coming in the next few days! 

I will put up pictures and videos when I can.  Hope everyone is doing well. Many Blessings!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Crazy, but such a fun week!

My group that helped me organize and box up about 10,000 books for our kids!!


Part of the group at the Craig's House for Heather's birthday!


I have had a busy few days in the sense of interviewing potential house parents to choosing the kids who will be living in the Tree of Life Children's Village. You would think that would be the easy part but honestly it was very hard and heavy weighing on my heart. Holly and I met on Wednesday with over 20 potential house Mom's to be raising these children in the village. How exciting it was to know that some of these women will be loving on the children in our village!! It was a long day of talking, but productive...then afterwards we all went over to our offices in Chilenje to visit some of our LIFEWAY girls. They had prepared a special birthday surprise for Heather. It was sooo cute all what they did! I literally think she got 30 cards from them since it was her 30th birthday. 


While we were there, I got to spend some sweet time with Emma and Beauty so below is a video of Emma singing. She wanted to sing a song for my mom...or Auntie Jan. :) 



Friday afternoon we all headed out to the "Big Land" (aka - The Tree of LIFE). We worked the rest of the day getting organized with the upcoming week. Saturday, we spent the day at the villa reading through and assigning kids to their NEW homes at the Tree of LIFE. Long, but good day. 

Sunday we got up and headed off to church!! One of my favorite things here in Zambia. It was located in Matero - a compound that actually has children and families living in trash bag houses. And if you can imagine a wood frame with black trash bags draped all around it. It's definitely something hard to even think about. Anyways, the worship and preaching at church was amazing!! God is at work and He knows what we need to hear from His word. We grabbed lunch and then me and the girls (Holly, Heather, and Paige) went out to the Tree of LIFE to work. It's becoming our second home. We have a lot of work to do this week in getting it ready for KIDS!!! The first set of kids will be coming Friday!! :)

Please pray for strength, energy, good health, efficiency, and time management. We had a long meeting last night discussing everything this week and it really will be a miracle if everything happens. We have the opening on Thursday and then we will be bringing kids in on Friday. It's going to be one of the most powerful days when we see our own kids walking in complete freedom, safety, a positive environment, and to just be around those who love them!! 

Praise the Lord for what HE is doing!! Thanks for sharing this experience with me!

I'm off and running for the week...I'll be spending most of my time at the "Big Land" prepping the homes!! 

Love you all!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Beauty moves into LIFEWAY

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of bringing sweet little Beauty into LIFEWAY!! It was an exciting afternoon for both her and her Aunt who has been taking care of her. Her Aunt Martha kept thanking us for what we were doing. She even asked if Temba (her son, Beauty's cousin) could go too. It was darling! We first picked them up at their house and then went to get them Chicken and Chips on the way. Once we arrived to the girls home, she was welcome with open arms by Emma!! Her and Emma have known each other for a while so it was a sweet reunion for them both. The are the cutest best friends and it made my heart so happy to see them together!

Aunt Martha, Beauty, and Me


Best Friends: Emma and Beauty!!


All the girls at LIFEWAY House #1...these are Beauty's new sisters!!


I just love these 2 girls!!