April 2008 Newsletter from Zambia
I'm not the best writer but once again I will try to give you some latest news on what's happening at the orphanage.
Life as usual is never dull with kids around. As management, we have continued to search relatives who may be willing to look these kids, now that they grown up and are less a burden. But still this has not helped much, for every one child we try to integrate, we get three in. It's frustrating but then we realize that we are here for children in need so we quietly get them in and keep them for I don't know how long.
This time we got three children from on family, 12, 9, and 7. These kids have been abandoned by the mother after the father had been sentenced to prison. They are the most difficult kids we have ever admitted. But with the ability God has given us, we believe we will make it.
Last month on the 3 rd march, we clocked 10 years of service to God and to man. Its has been a walk of faith, trials, tears, laughter, depressing moments, but we have been there. When I look back on what it has been, indeed all that I can say, its has been God leading us. We have had great support in every way; some of you have been for financial support, others for words of encouragement while others have supported us through different ways. We are indebted to you and cannot thank you enough.
I remember the first child who died a year after we had started the Orphanage. Her name was Priscilla. Some of you may even have her. She was the only surviving child after both parents had died and the rest of her sisters and brothers. She was 8 years old but she looked like she was 5. She was sickly (HIV+) from the time she was born even when she was brought to the Orphanage; everything was wrong with her and by then drugs were not available in Zambia as its today. She started going to school because she wanted to be part of the others who would have a school bag on her back and put on white socks and uniform. She wanted to be carrying a lunch box with some food and juice. But her life was nothing but struggle. In November 1999, she left to join the Lord. It was a painful time for us as we had to arrange everything for the burial. You need to understand that in Zambia, burial is so different from other countries. Normally, graves are dug and prepared by local authority, but the situation here is different now because in a day, more than 60 people are to be buried, this means more demand for graves than can meet the diggers. Now the tasks have remained to the owner of the dead person. You have to dig the grave while another team is preparing the body at the morgue for burial. This is the pattern we had to go through with the ten deaths we have had. But I thank God now that drugs are available and today 7 children are living on drugs though it has its own side effect on a person. One boy is 16 years, was born HIV+, and has been on drugs for HIV/AIDS for five years. These drugs are supposed to be prolong his life , but for him ,yes his life has been prolonged but he has lost his sight, can't walk and he is in a wheel chair, his body is covered in skin rashes most of the time. He has now built resistance for drugs.
But one thing he has always done is never to miss church service. He says that's all he looks forward to .How do you handle such a situation? It's all about God's grace.
We are planning to celebrate the 10 years of the work. We are looking at small "big" evening to appreciate people who have been around for the children. We want to display and talk about the achievements in the 10 years of service. I wish you would all be here for the evening sometime in September. We also intend to have a small booklet with information and all that we have managed to do. It's difficult to get things together, but we intend to show the extent of the work and the way forward. Will you help us?
CURRENT NEEDS
Among the projects we want to work at present is the minor rehabilitation of the kitchen and complete painting the outside of the walls at the Orphanage. With 70 children in residence, maintenance and keeping the surrounding clean is ever a big challenge to avoid diseases. If you are able to help us with funds for these purposes, and other maintenance needs, we will appreciate.
Food is ever in need but the need has been rough from this January. The kids have not starved but we have had to stretch what we have had. Other challenges came up and I'm grateful to you all and the help you have us. You will never know when things have been so rough but your support have changed situation and brought relief tous all. 
All I can do is to write to you and just tell you about it. Words are never enough neither can they describe what you have been to me and the kids in the home. Most of you are unsung heroes. Only God knows what you have done.
Have you ever known cooking food for 70 children when electricity has been switched off because of load shedding? Since November, last year, Zambia has been experiencing power failures. We have not been spared from it too. We have had to do the cooking on coal. I hope you will be able to open the attachment to see the photos.
We have also ventured into some small income generating, we have planted 2000 bananas, it has been tough and costly to maintain them but I believe it will pay off when we start harvesting, eating some and sell the rest.
I have so much to write to tell the world about what life in an orphan's life mean but for toady we have to move on before power goes off.
Love you and God Bless you
Angela & Kids
