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.