Week One of Camp!

Well, I made it to Zambia safely! It is so great to see all these wonderful, Godly men and women that I missed so much! We had a couple days to prepare for camp and it started on Monday. This week is a much smaller group of kids than the following weeks. Only about 200—which is a good number to start with. The first day went really smoothly. Some of the summer staff and I walked home from camp. It was a nice 35-40 minute walk through the University of Zambia. Some of the kids we saw along the way shouted “muzungu, muzungu!” which means white person haha. We waved at them and they just laughe and laughed!

Today was the second day of camp. While we were sizing kids for shoes, Kelsey found a deaf boy in a group. I went up to him and tried to communicate some, but he just had a blank look on his face. He didn’t know anything I was saying. One of the Zambians told me that he only knows a very few basic signs. Later that day I took some beads with letters on them that spelled his name and went and found him. He and I sat together for a little while and he was able to learn how to spell his name! To see his face light up because he could now communicate something with someone was so encouraging to see. After that I tried to teach him a few more things; like how to spell my name, Kelsey’s name, and the signs for JOY, LORD and STRENGTH (because the theme for this year’s camp is “The Joy of the Lord is my strength.” He seemed to understand it some. I showed him a picture of Jesus and showed him the sign for that. I’m planning on finding him again tomorrow and working with him some more all this week. I can’t imagin how lonely it must be to not have any language to communicate with anyone. Before he can understand that he has a father in heaven who loves him, he needs a language to hear that truth in. My prayer is that by equipping him with something to start with, he will be encouraged to continuing learning! His name is Joseph, so please pray for him!!!!

Zambia Trip 2010

Well, I'm on my way back to Zambia! It has been a little less than a full year since I've been in the wonderful city of Lusaka. Right now I am waiting in London to get on a plane to South Africa and then finally Zambia!!! I cannot wait to see all of the Zambian staff members and of course the wonderful kids! Hopefully I will go to the Tree of Life soon and that means.....I get to see Mumba and Chris!!! Man oh man do I miss those two precious angels!

Mom, Dad, Preston and Buffett dropped me off at the airport :) It was bitter-sweet. I'm so happy to be serving my Lord again in this way, but I already really miss everyone at home.

The flight to London seemed to go by really quickly, which means I probably slept the whole time, which is FINE with me! And what a small world--I saw someone that I went to high school with, Allen Smith. He was sitting a row behind me! I haven't seen him in 4 years so that was a pleasant surprise.

Now I'm in a "airport hotel" thing. So I'm going back to sleep until I have to wake up and go back through security and continue on my way :)

Shoe Day

I got to go see my "brothers" today! Christopher and Douglas. They both live in Lifeway. We went with Gift and Evans (two of the house fathers) to see them. We brought them some clothes and Christopher asked for a Bible. Christopher is 12 and Douglas is 21. I had never met Douglas before so I'm glad I got to today. Christopher is the cutest thing!! He absolutely adores my mom! He calls her mom! So it was really good to see them!

Today was shoe day and I spent most of the day on my knees sizing all of the kids feet. I need volleyball knee pads for next week! 

I started reading "Irresistible Revolution" last night. So far its good! I still havent found my Bible. I lost it at camp on Tuesday :(

Tonight we are having a wedding shower for Sara. She is Greer and Susan's niece. She is getting married 12 days after she gets home! And so we are having a shower for her tonight. She is going to be a Junior at a school in Arkansas. She is super sweet! I think I'm going to keep up with her once we get home. 

Tonight we get to eat Nshema!

Prayer Requests—That I will find my Bible!

 

Update..

Yeseterday was the last day of camp. It was really hard to say goodbye to my girls. Throughout the week they all really matured in their faith and began to understand how much God loves them! It was so encouraging to send them home free from the chains and bondage that they arrived with.

Well, there was basically a dust storm at camp and we were outside for most of the day. I spent half of the day with my eyes closed. Later when I looked in the mirror I thought that I had gotten really tan—nope! I was all dirt!!!

After I put my girls on the bus, I got to go out to the Tree of Life (where Mumba lives). When we saw each other we both ran as fast as we could and she knocked me down to the ground with her hug! The whole time I was there I had Mumba attached to my hip. I just couldn’t get enough of my baby girl! She showed me her bedroom. On her bed she had a teddy bear that she sleeps with. I was kind of joking with her and started talking to the bear. I asked the bear what her name was and Mumba says, “Katie.” I lost it and cried! It meant so so much to me to know that when I am gone she has a little piece of me represented as a bear!

This weekend has been productive and relaxing at the same time, which is great! Church was wonderful! Joseph gave the sermon. (My mom has adopted Joseph along with about 10 dozen other Zambians so I have many many new brothers and sisters—And he is one of them!) God really spoke so much truth through him.

Went to the Arcades for lunch and a little shopping after. Then took a nap—hurray! We had a bit of a crisis with finding enough beads for the kids necklaces. I ran back and forth to different villas about 3 times so I got my workout in for the day! I was so busy that I forgot to have dinner, so I just heated up some Easy Mac!

Tomorrow starts week 7 of camp and then only one more week after that! Its bitter-sweet. I cant wait to see how the Lord is going to move and work in these kids lives this week!

Prayer Requests—Rest, Energy, For the kids coming to camp to have their chains broken and be set free from the bondage they are experiencing.

Population Increase!

Two of my girls accepted Christ today! They are each beginning to open up and really share what is going on in their lives, which is such an answer to prayer. Every time I hear their stories of abuse, neglect, and other harmful things my heart breaks for them.Today we took snaps (pictures) and had blessing times (one on one with the girls). In the big group session they learned that God’s love is ALL-FORGIVING. Something that so many of the kids cannot understand. It is really hard for them to grasp that once they have accepted Jesus as their personal savior, there is nothing they can do to make Him love them any less.

Prayer requests—That I will have enough energy to pour into these girls all of the love and attention that they deserve. For each of my girls to really experience Christ’s love for them. 

Camp: Day 1

Today was the first day of the 6^th week of camp. I have a group this week, which is great! I know that the Lord has something big in store for this week. For the past two years I have had the same group of girls who I absolutely fell in love with. They captured my heart from the first day and since then I have prayed for them daily. Well, I was supposed to have the same group again this year, but it did not turn out that way. I don’t know why, and I’m trying not to questions God’s plan, but at first I was really discouraged. I now have a new group of girls. Their ages range from 11-16 and most of them have never been to camp. I am really trying to stay open to these girls and this new group. I really need prayer that God will open my heart to these girls and that I will not compare them to my past group. I trust that the Lord made this change for a reason, I just can’t see it at this time.

My Zambia partner is wonderful! Her name is Charity. She has so much wisdom and insight into what these kids are going through. I’m eager to see what God has in store for this week.

Prayer requests—energy! My group of girls. My heart for these girls. That God will give me His eyes to see and His heart to love.

 

This morning I woke up at 5:30am to go clean the villas for the new people who are arriving today. Every Friday night we have a staff meeting to assign the jobs that need to be done for the next day—That was my job for this Saturday. I went in my pajamas, which made it a little easier to get out of bed. All I had to do was get out and brush my teeth. After I finished walking around to each one and cleaning them, I came back and took a 3 hour nap! Much needed!

Now I’m waiting for the bus to take me to the Arcades so I can get some lunch and free internet!

Camp starts tomorrow and I just got my Zambia partner. Her name is Charity and she is so sweet! I' looking forward to see what all God has in store for this week. I'm staying open to His will.

Please pray for--My kids to feel comfortable openly expressing what is going on in their lives. God to work through me and speak through me to these kids. For God to give me His eyes to see what is not always seen in their lives.