Handbook Time

Handbook time was another learning experience for everyone involved. We divided up into groups and used the cabins and chapel to practice verses. Most children in Zambia can not read so in the fourth and fifth grade group Patricia used the listen and repeat method to teach the motto and key verse. She would say some and the children would repeat. But she didn't just read it - she spoke with passion and conviction and the children modeled her. By the end they were almost yelling! The younger children had to be divided into two groups because there were so many of them. Riley and Fredrick took one group and Esther took the other. Again, the listen and repeat method was used.

We Win!!

This is my favorite game time photo. The game was a new, funny, banana-eating game that Jerry taught us. And this team won! Look how happy they are - yes, we would all be happy if we won but this happiness goes beyond this one game. You see, in Zambian culture children are not important. Children are usually overlooked, ignored or pushed aside. Even in the church children are neglected so that "real" ministry can occur with adults. But this day children were center stage. We adults, mazoongoos and Zambians, were using our time to play with them and they just loved it!

Game Time

We started the club with game time. And it was super fun! Some of us had fun demonstrating the games - and others of us had fun laughing! In the top picture you can see some adults who were walking along the road, heard the noise, saw a bunch of children playing and stopped to watch. Again, what a great outreach to the community this AWANA program will be.

The children learned the games quickly and for those who didn't Jerry made up things to give them points for because, as we learned, points are free to give and they bring such delight! So give more points!!

more 'getting there' photos

Here are just a few more photos of the children watching, coming to club and waiting on the line. The boys who were watching ended up participating and several of the girls came with babies on their backs.

getting there

The day we helped the RCCG team actually run an AWANA club was an incredible day. We had asked that they keep the number of children down to around 40 for the first club - that way it was more likely to run smoothly and it would give the new leaders an idea of what a club meeting looks like. However, the children were so excited to participate that they just kept coming - right out of the woods. The children walked for miles, without adults, and made their way to the football pitch. In the end we had almost 100 children participate and they were anxious to come back the next week - with friends!

Fredrick's sacrifice

Fredrick is a young man who lives is Kasupe, plays and coaches football (soccer), attends Redeemed Christian Church of God and has a heart for children. He was nominated to be the game director of the new AWANA club. One of the problems with starting an AWANA club in rural Africa is the fact that the game circle cannot be taped to the church floor - so how does one create the circle? Sand blows away - rocks are dangerous - lines drawn in the sand get covered up. Frederick gave his food. The mealie (ground maize) that 'sheemuh' is made from is heavier than sand and is a bright white color. Fredrick brought his bag of mealie and began drawing the lines by dumping his food. Think about that. He gave up his food so that a bunch of children could play some games, have fun and learn about Jesus. Fredrick's love for Christ is bigger than his love for himself. I was deeply humbled by his sacrifice. Using food is not a sustainable way to make the lines for game time but it worked great. Please thank God for Frederick's willingness to sacrifice and ask the Lord for resources so that a sustainable solution can be found.

Training

As you know, the point of us going to Lusaka was to help start up a new AWANA program by training leaders and teaching at the AWANA conference. These photos are of us helping to train the leaders from Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Patricia is heading this endeavor up. She is Pastor Victor's wife and has a passion for seeing children come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Frederick is a young man from a neighboring village. He coaches football - and he won while we were there.

Esther is a young lady who has a definite passion for the word of God - evident to us all as she was sharing with the group in English and then switched to her native language and was speaking louder and louder, faster and faster and with such fire.

Jen is a young lady who is a senior at the university in Lusaka - she is hoping to graduate in December. She led us in worship before each meeting and her desire is to serve the Lord and others closer to Him through music.

football

Rob enjoyed the evening he was able to spend with some boys playing football (soccer). Some of the boys played barefoot and they used a ball made from a bunch of plastic bags and twine - and they were super skilled!!

magical moment

This was one of those magical moments that you just cannot fully explain - but I will try. The children we met are simply amazing. And they love to sing. One evening some of them gathered and sang for us. Now, before we left for Zambia we were told that children really enjoy when you take their picture and show them on the back of a digital camera. However, this particular time Riley had his video camera. When he showed them the video they just couldn't stop laughing!! They were actually seeing themselves move and hearing themselves sing. It was incredible!! And a highlight for me was seeing Riley's face - he was beaming! Such a simple joy!

more Cianjano campground photos

These are more photos of the section in Cianjano set aside for camps and retreats. The middle photos are of the chapel and the place they built for baptisms - notice the wood flooring and the frog on the steps.

side note...

This is just a fun side note - although we did not see very many bugs (spiders and beetles aside - oh, and the tsetse flies at the safari don't count either) we did run into this giant grasshopper! Actually, it hopped into us and landed on the front of Rob's shirt - and we all know how much Rob likes bugs!! But no kidding - this guy was huge!! Any idea what it is called? besides giant grasshopper??

Cianjano

Cianjano is the name of the 'farm' owned by Action Zambia; this is where we stayed. The property is divided into different sections. One area consists of the guest house, the caretaker's home, a couple of other small guest quarters, a fire pit area, large tree and tire swing. Another area is filled with a football pitch (soccer field) that is open to the communities in Kasupe, the homes of two other workers and their families, a campground with toilets, chapel, cooking area and cabins that are awaiting bunk beds and space for two other complete campgrounds. There is also an orchard and a large area for the potential of actually farming in order to be financially self-sufficient.

Zambia does not currently have a camp or retreat center. Cianjano has the potential to fill a great need in the country - hosting conferences, retreats, kids camps and even allowing churches to use the facility and have their own time of refreshment.

The children in our church raised $1500 for bunk beds for Cianjano. We were thrilled to be able to bring that money and deliver it. The money that was raised with provide bunk beds for one cabin - so much more is needed.

Please add Cianjano to your prayer list.

Redeemed Christian Church of God

These are photos of Redeemed Christian Church of God in Kasupe. It is located right next to the farm where we stayed. The leaders that were trained were from this church - and the new AWANA program is being led by them and is attended by around 100 children. The bottom photo is of Pastor Victor's home - he has five children and oversees nine churches.

random photos of Kasupe

Here are some random photos from our walk around Kasupe - the tomato farms, the sewer/creek and the bridge to get across (thankfully, a new metal bridge was put in by a German team!), a home and a path.

Getting a ride

We walked several miles around Kasupe (and ran a few hundred yards from a fire) with the three caretakers of Cyanjano as our guides. Missionary Steve Allen met us there and gave us a ride back to the farm. We crammed into his car but didn't quite all fit so Rob, Riley, Alex and Randy rode on top.