Our family will be moving in two weeks! This has been a hard time of trusting and waiting on the Lord for our family, but He has provided! We will be moving to the Village of Hope. Pastor Lusumpa and his family have kindly moved out of their house earlier than planned to let us move in. He has a church in Lusaka that he feels he needs to live closer to. This is only a temporary place for us, but we are thankful that the Lord has provided something!
A very exciting thing happened this week. Ten new children moved in and joined our Hope Village family. Their ages range from four to ten. Everything is still new to them since they have ot even been here a week (some came on Sunday and some on Monday Oct. 25-26) Most of them do not speak English, many of them have never been to school, and all of them have never lived with so much wealth. Pray for them as they adjust to their new life, and for their housemother, as she adjusts to them. Next week I will post a more detailed account.
On Monday, October 19, small Gift broke his arm. He fell out of a tree onto the hard ground below. Everyone felt so sorry for him. The Kamaus took him to a local hospital where they put a temporary splint on it made out of cardboard. The next day he was taken to a hospical in Lusaka where he stayed for three days. There, they put on a real cast, but it is like a dead weight. To encourage and cheer him, the Hamelrycks painted a shark on it and everyone at the Village signed it. He is doing well now, and doesn't seem to mind much.
Our dear friend, Grace Willing just left last Friday. While she was here she invested greatly in everyones lives, and helped to start things like Hope Club, game time at the Village of Hope on Tuesdays, and homework time on Thursdays. She got to know each of the children well, and they all loved her. Rose C. was especially grateful for her help with homework and the fact that she took the time to invest in her life. Grace came at the perfect time. She was here for us when the news came to move out and our struggle to find a house. We love you Grace and everyone misses you!
The Hamelrycks have started a new thing with the kids – soccer! Every Monday and Wednesday afternoon they go out to a big open field and practice for an hour. They had their first games last week. There are four teams named Lions, Elephants, Black Mambas, and the Pattys! The kids love it, and it has taught them good skills such as teamwork, discipline, and punctuality (if they are late, they have to do five laps!).
God has really blessed us through Hope Club. What a joy it is to see 60-70 smiling faces every Saturday morning. Since the first Hope Club we have covered creation up through the story of the tower of Babel. Precious, the teacher at the Village of Hope continues to interpret. She took a survey of the languages spoken in the village so we could purchase Bibles. There are four languages in all. The Hamelrycks usually come to play soccer and games afterwards. In our continued efforts to promote good hygiene we are passing out diapers and wipes to each baby that attends.
Have you ever tried to balance three babies on your lap? I do that three days a week while Mom sits on a sheet surrounded by a wall of children listening to her read. We originally started it to keep the little ones out of trouble and give them something to do, but now we are finding that even some of the young men like to come too. Everyone gathers around to listen to Mom read children’s picture books. The mothers appreciate it because they do not have to worry so much about their children during the day, and we love it because it gives us yet another chance to invest in their lives.
There are many things going on around here and much prayer is needed. Please pray for:
• Our move – that it would come off smoothly
• The new children – that they would adjust quickly
• Gift small – that his arm heals
• Hope Club – that we would continue to invest in the lives of these people, be an example to them, and share God’s word with them.
• Reading time at Green Farm – that we would create a desire in them to use their time wisely, and that they would learn to trust us which will then lead to warming their hearts towards the Gospel
• Suzie and Junior – that by helping we will show their mothers that someone cares, and by cleaning them that they will see a need for good hygiene.
1 comment:
Sarah,
Thank you so much for the post. I have been praying for you all, and checking back here often.
What an encouragement that the Lord gave you a place to stay. It is amazing how the Lord works.
Thank you for what you and your family are doing. You are a burning and shining light for Jesus.
God bless you all.
JSB
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