Back home in Canada

It has been quite a long time since our last post. Things were very busy these last two months in Zambia especially since the three longest serving staff members are no longer with the organization. As a result some activities had to get reorganized and a number of new things put in place.

In this all God made it clear to us that our work in Zambia for Every Orphan's Hope is done. Although it was a bit difficult to accept at first we now feel and see that God had a plan for us in Zambia with Every Orphan's Hope. The staff and mamas are in a better place than they were before and the joy of coming to work has returned.  It is great to see the positive changes that have taken place but we also realize that much more work needs to be done. And that is why we are saddened to have to say goodbye to our friends in Zambia. We would have loved to help them getting back on track and getting started with new ideas and activities but God has a different plan for us.

As part of the goodbye to the staff and mamas they had an amazing surprise organized for us. They had hired a local dance and drum band that performed for over an hour. During this they staff and mamas also expressed their heartfelt thanks to us for everything we had done for them and the organization. It is great to know that we will have family in Zambia forever.

 

It was difficult to leave Zambia and leave the staff, mamas and children behind but at the same time we know that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and that we are all part of the same family. Knowing that God used us to shine light into the organization and show love makes us happy and humble. It was only thanks to His provisioning that we were able to do what we did. To God be the praise and glory, forever and ever. AMEN.


What God's plan is for the future we don't know at this moment. One of the first things that came across our path was a potential position with Flying Mission in Gaborone, Botswana. Gert went there for about 10 days to help out a little bit and to get to know the organization a bit better. But as of now it seems that God wants us to move into a different direction. We are also looking at opportunities in Canada as well as other places. We will continue to prayerfully explore the opportunities and continue to seek His guidance.

For now it means that we will be in Canada for the next little while. There is still a chance that Gert will go to Botswana in February to help Flying Mission improve their financial accounting and reporting. That would also allow us to visit Lucinda (she will be in Zambia again from January till May next year) as well as the staff, mamas, children and some friends in Zambia.

For now we will close our chapter in Zambia and will wait for the Lord to make it clear where He wants us next to serve Him. Thanks for all your support and prayers. It has been a good time, shorter than expected and different from what we anticipated but it was good, very good! We have made new friends for life in Zambia and we will never forget them.

A season of changes

It has been a while since our last post. There have been a lot of changes lately that kept us quite busy. After Lucinda and Anneloes left us in August we had a week of rest in the office. Once we got back to the office we went through some changes in out staff which has kept everyone very busy lately.

At the same time the weather is changing here dramatically. We went from very nice winter weather with temperatures around 25C to a very hot Spring season with a temperature of 37C today. Zambians tell us that it is already very hot early which means that October will even be hotter. The good news is that people expect the rains to come "early" this year which would be the end of October or early November. Maybe we will still experience that before we head back to Canada the beginning of November.

For us the most amazing thing is not that during Spring trees get new leaves and that some blossom but that here in Zambia trees still do the same but without having had any rain for more than 6 months. In Europe and Canada after 6 months of draught trees would have lost all their leaves and nothing would be blooming but here new life starts even without any rain. God did an amazing job creating these trees and shrubs in such a way that even without any rain they still rejuvenate and get new leaves and that they bloom.

Even the fruit trees start to produce their fruit and we are lucky to have some strawberries from our own garden as well although I must admit that we water them regularly unlike the trees. The mango trees are full of fruit and in about 3 months the mangos should be ready.

The change of seasons here in Zambia is very different from what we are used to in Canada and when we talk about it with our Zambian friends they look surprised at us since for them it is the normal thing to happen this time of year. Clearly it all depends on what you are used to. Seeing blooming trees and shrubs after 6 months of draught is amazing to us but normal to our Zambian friends. Clearly God loves diversity but made sure that wherever you are, you can enjoy the new life of Spring with or without rain. It is obvious that the trees and shrubs have their ways of getting water even this time of year and they'll have to wait for another month or two before the rains start.

God clearly knew what He was doing when he created everything. We can only look in amazement to the splendor of His creation and enjoy it.

Camp Hope finished and many goodbyes

The last time we posted we had one more Camp Hope to go and the team would be arriving within a couple of days. Since then time has flown by and we just haven't found the time to put up a new post. The team arrived on Monday August 5 and camp started on Wednesday and ended on the Saturday. It was a very intense camp of only 4 days instead of the usual 5 but with many of the orphans already arriving Tuesday afternoon, we were able to make a quick start on Wednesday. It was an amazing camp with many kids accepting Christ. It was also a very busy camp with about 120 orphans staying over at night which meant a lot of extra cooking, washing, etc. The staff, missionaries and volunteers under the leadership of MaryAnn did an excellent job during camp. The kids enjoyed it and besides the usual stomach aches (from eating more than they are used to) we had no seriously sick kids this camp. we thank God for such a blessed camp.

During this camp we also said farewell to Gary Schneider who had been here in Zambia for 3 weeks. And then on Monday August 12 the team headed back to North America and the next day Jake and Michelle left after about a month here. It was sad to say goodbye to everyone but at the same time it was great to see the enthusiasm of each and every one about being able to serve the Lord in a very practical way.

The on Thursday the 15th Lucinda left us as well and we had to say goodbye to her as well. She decided that it would be better for her to go back to Canada so that she can work for a couple of months and do fundraising so that she might be able to come back again early next year. She had kept her return a secret and was able to create a big surprise for her best friends Kim and Ryan. She had arranged to be picked up from the airport and then immediately go camping with the rest of the Youth Group. Laura Nunn was the one that picked her up and helped her with the surprise and what a surprise it was! And then on Sunday night, after camping, Lucinda surprised Elise with her presence. All in all a very successful surprise to many that she is back in Canada now.

That week Gary Schneider felt led by God's Spirit to call this past week for a week of fasting and rest. Finding rest in the Lord and seeking His presence to hear about the future of Every Orphan's Hope. So the offices in both Texas and Zambia were closed this past week which also allowed us to spend time with Anneloes before she went back to Canada this past Thursday. It was good to be off for a week and to spend time in prayer and reading the Bible and devotions. God has an amazing way of communicating with us as long as we are willing to listen and be quiet.

Then on Thursday we said goodbye to Anneloes who is going back to university and enter her fourth year. As it turned out it was a trip with some hurdles and obstacles. It started out with not being able to check in online so when we tried at the airport she could only get a boarding pass for the trip from Lusaka to Amsterdam, not for the past from Amsterdam to Toronto. When she dropped off her bags she got her other boarding pass and off she went. In Amsterdam she met up with her uncle Hans (Machteld's brother) at the airport and they spent some time together. Then for the final part of her trip they left with almost 2 hours delay because of a technical problem with the plane so that had to change aircraft. All in all an eventful trip and surely something to remember.

So now it is just the two of us remaining here in Zambia. It is quiet in the house without having girls around. It will give us some time to get used to the feeling of being (almost) empty nesters. This wasn't part of the original plan but with Lucinda leaving earlier we now "childless", at least in Zambia. It is a strange thought to have all our kids on Canada right now while we are still here in Zambia. Not sure whether this is what parents are supposed to do and it feels somewhat odd to have the three girls together in our house in Acton while we are not there. We know that our church family and friends will look after them and help them when needed. Without that support we probable would have been on a plane back to Canada as well.

In another two and a half months we will be on our way back to Canada as well and we slowly start to look forward to connecting again with everyone in Acton in person. Facebook, Skype and other means are nice but there is nothing better than meeting in person. Enjoy the last week of summer before school starts again. It's hard to believe that summer (and winter in Zambia) is already over, another goodbye.

A lot to be thankful for

Since the last post two weeks ago, we have been able to solve our challenge with the water tank. We received several suggestions from people as to how to solve our challenge. Peter Greif went even as far as making a scale model of his solution and sending us a picture of his device (with a nice candle as water tank). All suggestions were very helpful and showed us that we are not alone out here. We are supported by a large group of people, many of whom we don't even know personally but we all share the same faith which makes us brothers and sisters.

In the end we were able to hire a crane with the financial support of the company that one of the sponsor team members works for. Thank you Mike! The sponsors team arrived two weeks ago and when Mike heard about our challenge he committed to funding the hiring of a crane so we were able to use a crane to lift the tank into place and to get the water flowing again to the homes. We and everyone in our homes in Chongwe (Nyangwena) is very thankful for this generous offer.

 

 

Under the watchful eyes of many of the kids and mamas the tank was placed on the tower just before dark. For the previous week and a half we had taken water from the tanks at the poultry house (we have no chickens at the moment) but it meant a lot of water that had to be carried so having flowing water again is a great blessing.

 

During the week, the men spent most of their time doing repairs in the homes in both Lusaka and Chongwe. From repairing bunk beds, fixing water leaks to replacing door locks and broken table legs, all kinds of small repairs were done and it was great to see the men working side by side with some of the older boys, showing and teaching them some of their skills. It was an amazing sight to see the delight in the eyes of the boys at what they were able to do and accomplish with the help and guidance of the men on the team. By the end of the week a lot had been accomplished but most importantly an everlasting bond was created between the team members and the children and mamas of the homes. The same was true for the women on the team who spent time teaching the mamas how to use the sewing machines, doing Bible studies, etc. We thank God for the willingness of the sponsors to come to Zambia and see first hand what Every Orphan's Hope is doing to help the widows and orphans. Lives have been changed forever, both in Zambia as well as the United States.

 

The sponsors team and staff had a dinner in the EOH office where the staff started off with some dancing and singing to show how visitors are welcomed. It was a great experience to see the staff welcome the visitors and to see the visitors respond to their welcome. The dinner was plentiful and provided for a nice mix of local and American food. It was great to spend time together and share not only a meal but also stories and experiences. God is the same no matter where we are.

 

The sponsor team left again last Saturday which left this past week for us to prepare for the next Camp Hope. The team will arrive this coming Monday so a lot of time was spent this past week on shopping, finalizing registration, making groups, etc. It is amazing to see how the time flies during these weeks but it is also very humbling to see how God is at work and we feel blessed to be part of it.

Another exciting event was the engagement of our daughter Elise with Jeff Becker last Sunday. Their plan is to get married sometime in the summer of next year and we are thankful and excited about their commitment to each other as well as to God. It is difficult not be closer to them right now and not being able to spend more time with them but I am sure that once we get back to Canada we will have a lot to talk about. If possible, we would love to be in two or three places at the same time but that is not possible so we have to seek God's guidance as to where He wants us to be. Please keep us in your prayers so that we may hear His voice clearly as to what His plan is for us.

Thanks and glory be to God for all He has done for us.

 

 

 

CHALLENGE: Replacing the water tank

This past week has been focused on trying to replace the water tank in Chongwe. The current tank was leaking and the loss of water became more and more of a problem. One of the first hurdles was to determine the size of the tank since there were no visible indications as to how big the tank was. Since it is on top of a metal tower almost 30 feet (9 meters) up in the air there are not too many volunteers to go up there and measure it. After measuring the heights of the rings on the tank and the size of the platform we determined that it is about a 7,500 liter tank.

So we bought a new tank this past Wednesday and got it transported to Chongwe on Thursday. On Friday we bought some ropes and other tools so that on Saturday with the help of about 10 guys we would try to put the new tank in place. Many of the helpers were there when the first water tank was installed a couple of years ago and under the leadership of James and Lucky a plan of attack was put together.

The first step was to bring the old tank down in a controlled fashion since we want to use the tank again for future camps. James took it on him to climb the tower and connect the ropes.

Ropes were tied to the tank and it was brought down relatively quickly although not as controlled as we had hoped. Once the tank tipped, one of the ropes snapped on the edge of the platform and the tank made a hard landing but it is still in good usable condition with some patching.

After that we found out that we had all pieces needed for the connections to the new tank except for one, a 1 1/2 inch female-female connector. With Lucky we went to Chongwe in the hope to find one there but we ended up having to go to Lusaka to buy this one missing part, costing less than $3 but we needed it. In the meantime Humphrey was on his way to Chongwe as well with 2 connectors for the water pipers that we had cut from the old tank so that we could hook up the water lines again once the tank would be installed.

After we had fitted the new connections a plan was put together as to how to get the new tank up onto the tower and platform. Different options were discussed and then James and Lucky agreed on the approach to take. And with even the help of some of the kids from the homes the tank was lifted up but as it turned out, we got stuck just under the platform and had no means to get it up unto the platform. Not completely unexpected, gravity was working against us and made it impossible without other equipment to get the tank unto the platform.

 

 

So after weighing the options, we decided to call off our efforts for the day and look for other options for getting the tank onto the tower and platform. It is better to get some "experts" involved and make sure that the tank gets up there in one piece than to keep trying with the risk of damaging the tank.

 

Unfortunately, the homes in Chongwe have no running water in the homes for now but they have water from the poultry farm. We use a big hose and a tap so that they can get water in buckets, containers, etc. for all the chores in the homes and the gardens. There is no shortage of water, it just doesn't come out of the taps as it usually does. Early this coming week we hope to find the answer to our challenge of getting the new tank up onto the tower and platform in one piece and being able to provide the homes with running water again.

 

Anyone who has an idea on how to do this, please let me know by commenting to this post. Hiring a crane is one, but probably an expensive one. So we're looking for other options with hiring a crane as our last resort.

Two amazing weeks of Camp Hope with TeenMania

The past three weeks have been very busy but also absolutely amazing. We had 55 teenagers and their leaders from the US arrive on June 18 and 19 for a two-week stay with us. During these two weeks they were the teachers for Camp Hope for a week. This Camp Hope we had over 250 orphans attending from a wide area around Nyangwena (Chongwe). As a result, about 70 orphans would stay overnight at our village for the week.

The preparations for this week of Camp Hope included the buying and delivering of all kinds of food items, including Machteld delivering 1,500 eggs without breaking one.

 

 

This year we built with the help of Lucky, Peter and others more permanent structures for toilets and showers. This was very much appreciated by the TeenMania kids although their request is to have slightly warmer water for the showers since it often came almost straight from the well. Even with the showerhead at "Zambian height" the fact that they could take a shower was greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

The campsite for TeenMania was situated around the volleyball court. The area was cleared from shrubs, rocks and other unwanted objects and provided a welcome sight for the villagers. It is always exciting to get visitors and there are never enough. The Zambian people always welcome "muzungus" (white people) with great interest and enthusiasm. They love to get to know you and put great pride in being able to pronounce (and remember) your name correctly.



 

The teenagers from TeenMania did an excellent job at teaching and interacting with their orphans. The kids were all very involved and paid attention to what the teachers and translators were telling them about Jesus. Even the smallest ones were soaking in the teachings on Truth, Faith, Hope and Love. They didn't always have their t-shirts put on right but they got the message right!

 

 

 

After the teaching in the mornings it would be time for lunch and all groups would come back from the area surrounding our little village of orphan homes in Chongwe (Nyangwena). It was an amazing and colourful sight to see all the groups come back to the village.

 

But before lunch it was time to worship. The orphans would sing their hearts out under the inspiring leadership of some of the translators, mama Mary and Thoko. The singing and rhythm comes very natural to the Zambian kids and they love to show that. It didn't take much to get them very excited and involved in singing and making the moves.

 

 

During the lunch break TeenMania would have their meal served in a shelter made from all natural materials. Wooden post for the structure, grass to cover the roof and the sides and bark from trees to tie it all together. The posts of the structure were cut from the field that is owned by a couple that I had the privilege to visit together with Peter. The couple was 106 and 102 years old, living with one of their daughters who is 82 years old in a very simple clay hut. They donated the posts to us and were very happy to contribute to our camp. It was an experience I will never forget, meeting these people who live off what is provided by the land that surrounds them.

 

After lunch and some more worship all the groups would go back to the field and continue their teaching. It was great to see the orphans line up in groups with their coloured bandanas, Camp Hope t-shirts, crowns, etc. and follow their translators. I wonder if little kids in North America would follow the instructions from their leaders as diligently as these kids.



 

 

The last day of Camp Hope, Friday, is always a very special day. It is not only (sadly) the end of Camp Hope for the orphans but it is also the day that every orphan is blessed with a warm blanket. Some of the translators (Lubasi included) showed off their skills of carrying loads in their heads.

 

 

The orphans were very excited and appreciative of the blanket that they received. This time of year is winter in Zambia. It might not get as cold as in Canada and the US but it is still very cool in the early mornings 5-10C (or around 40-50F) and many orphans don't have something to sleep under to keep them warm. So these blankets received a very warm reception from the kids. For many it will be one of the very few personal possessions they have and it will be treasured for a long time.

As always, this year we have an amazing team of translators who helped the TeenMania missionaries in translating the teachings into the local languages (Nyanja, Soli, Bemba, etc.). Many of them have done many camps with us for many years and will be there again in August for the next Camp Hope. Without the help and support of these volunteers we would not be able to reach these orphans and teach them about Jesus Christ. We are very grateful for their time and efforts in making Camp Hope possible together with us.

We are also blessed with three great ladies who are our interns this year. Molly, Lucinda and Rebecca (l-r) are here in Zambia for two months helping with the coordination of Camp Hope and being the liaisons between the missionaries and our local staff to make things run as smooth as possible. Rebecca was a TeenMania missionary to Camp Hope two years ago and Lucinda was here last year August. It is Molly's first experience with Camp Hope but she didn't show that at all. Accompanied by Thoko and Lubasi from our homes in Lusaka they were the vibrant heart of our organization that made these past two weeks unforgettable for many of the TeenMania team members. We hope to see many of them again sometime in the future.

 

Last but not least we have to mention and thank our local staff and mamas for everything they did behind the scenes. From cutting unions, marinating chickens, shuttling food, visiting clinics with missionaries and orphans to filling water tanks, cleaning pots, pans and dishes they did it all with a great passion and without complaint. It was a busy time but also a rewarding time. To see the joy in the eyes of an orphan when served a warm meal is priceless.

 

This past week was a week of holidays in Canada, Zambia and the United States. It was Canada Day, Heroes Day, Unity Day and Independence Day and there were probably more holidays in other countries. So we have a lot to be thankful for but most of all that we have an amazing God who sent His son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ into this world to redeem us so that we may live! We hope and pray that these past few weeks will have made a difference in the life of the orphans we served as well as in the life of the ones that served them so that we all may be SHINING LIGHT and SHOWING LOVE to the world around us.

 

Trip to Livingstone and Camp Hope around the corner

The past two weeks have flown past at an incredible pace. Last week we went to Livingstone for a couple of days and visited Mosi Oa Tunya National Park, Victoria Falls in Zambia and Chobe National Park in Botswana. We also did an elephant ride through the bush near Victoria Falls. On the trip we had Anneloes and Kim Becker with us so it almost felt like our family was complete except that Kim replaced Elise. We had a great time in Livingstone and the activities we did showed us again that God's creation is amazingly divers. I don't believe that evolution would have ever allowed for such a diversity in animal life, plants and landscape. To me it is clear that this is all God's handiwork (see pictures below).

 

 

God's creation is truly amazing and we had a great and relaxing time together as a family (with Kim as adopted daughter) before the first Camp Hope starts next week. It was a welcome break from our daily activities and nice to have Anneloes and Kim with us as well. Surely we missed Elise but Kim was a worthy stand-in. We hope that Elise will be able to join us again another time so that we can do this trip again because we're sure that we haven't seen it all yet.

 

On Tuesday this past week we went through the final steps of registration of our vehicle. Everything is now behind us and we now have the permanent license plates on our vehicle. We used it for our trip to Livingstone on a temporary license and it was great to drive it with the five of us and our luggage. We hope to have a lot of benefit from the vehicle for the coming years. The whole process took about 4 months which is very long to our standards but in the meanwhile you appreciate more the luxuries that we have back home when it comes to cars and transportation.



 

 

 

On Wednesday and Thursday this coming week about 55 missionaries will arrive for Camp Hope so this past week included a lot of preparation for the arrival of missionaries as well as about 300 orphans that will attend camp. This includes the preparation of the camp site with bathrooms and showers as well as the purchasing of the food, etc. for the missionaries as well as the orphans. The office looks like a warehouse right now with all the food stored there before it will be transported to Nyangwena. The coming two and a half weeks will be very busy and we will likely shuttle frequently between Lusaka and Nyangwena. This morning the other two interns arrived and Lucinda will join them for the next two months and live again at the office. The three ladies, Rebecca, Molly and Lucinda, will support the staff and missionaries during Camp Hope so they will be pretty busy running around.

 

We are thankful that Kim made it back home safely and we hope that she had a nice time with us here in Zambia for the past two weeks. I am sure that she has a few stories to tell and some pictures to show. Kim, it was great having you here and you're always welcome to visit us again. Lucinda will surely like that a lot.

 

We hope to provide another update next week after the first few days of Camp Hope.

 

Blessings