I had a full weekend.  Went to the western area of Zambia to the town of Mongu.  It is amazing how different is was there.  The landscape is a big flood plain with tall sand dunes.  I felt like I was walking/climbing the Lake Michigan shoreline.  Only difference is the sand turns your feet black.  On the way out we drove through Kafue National Park.  Unfortunately we only saw a few impala and vultures (at a kill, kind of cool).

We brought out 500 children's Bibles for the church and orphanage in Mongu.  There is a Village of Hope there that has about 8 children in two homes with housemothers.  The children's parents have died or were abandoned with extended family unable to take care of them.  Each one has a heart-breaking story, including the housemothers.  We left Bibles for each of the children and housemothers.  The rest the church will give out later.  It was very touching to see the kids holding their own Bibles and so excited to find their favorite Bible story.  One girl particularly pulled at my heart.  Conga is about 11 years old and has lots of spunk.  She will take some molding but her strong backbone is why she is still alive.  Even though she could be a little pushy, she also was very helpful with the younger children and kind.  She brought her Bible to me and asked to find the story about Jesus feeding the 5,000.  That is her favorite...this child who has known more hunger then I can imagine.  We found it and she went on to "read" it to me.  She told how Jesus told everyone to sit down and he prayed for the food and the disciples passed it all out and everyone ate and had enough.  Jesus told them he would provide and take care of them, and they should rest.  She went on to tell how the children came to Jesus and he blessed them.  She is sharp and listened well to whoever told her that story. The blessing of the children comes right after the feeding of the 5,000 in the gospel of Mark.

This is Panda.  He is one of the children at the home.  He has the greatest smile, loves gardening and taking care of their pet rabbit. 

The picture on the left is all the kids with their Bibles at the Village of Hope.  The picture on the right is Amy giving Conga her Bible.  

I also spent half a day doing home visits with the Zambian nurse who works at the feeding program they run. It's called "Save a Life."  Sponsors from South Africa and America support the program's through donations for the food.  Children are referred from the local hospital and government social workers.  They have to meet a pretty severe level of malnutrition to be in the program (all the kids in this area are somewhat malnurished).  The moms receive training on nutrition and make the food themselves.  They have lessons on hygiene and safe water and other health topics.  Each child is in the program only 6 months so as not to create dependency.  At the three month mark, lessons start about microenterprise and helping the moms set up small businesses so they can support themselves and children. The picture is of Annie, the nurse and a mom about to graduate from the program.  She was running a business selling tomatoes, charcoal, and fish.  Her house was neat and tidy with her baby sleeping under the mosquito net and water nicely covered in clean bottles.  Hard working woman who put her lessons to work.

 Am I in Michigan?  This is the sand dune from our house to the school.

 This is Sue with little Blessing.