Greetings,

We awoke to cooler temperatures on Saturday morning, but this didn’t cool the enthusiasm of the team.

We drove to Shamabanse, Rapha project, to do walk along side of some of the Kabwe Home Based Care workers doing some client visits. The team was divided into groups so that every Home Based Care Worker had at least two members of the team with them. When we visited each designated home, a large bag of “mealy-meal” was provided. The team gathered information about the family and took some pictures so that a “Memory Book” could be prepared and later given to the client.

In the afternoon the team worked together to print photographs of those we had visited. Preparing a “Memory Book” is similar to scrap-booking, we document information, arrange photographs, and decorate each “Memory Book” so that it is as unique as the client that was visited. It was great to witness the team spirit even in this activity. As team members worked on ‘their’ Memory Book, it was not uncommon to hear conversations about the client they had visited and how that particular visit had touched their heart.

As in the norm, each evening the team meets for debrief and it is a time of reflection and prayer after the day’s work. Saturday evening’s debrief seemed particularly powerful and touching as some of the team members shared heart-wrenching stories of the day’s visits. We were challenged when asked ‘how did we see Jesus?” and to express our thanks for a situation that touched our heart. Many expressed seeing the love of Jesus in the Home Based Care workers they walked beside – showing us a very tiny portion of what their days are like. The Home Based Care workers are all volunteer workers, they freely give of their time and energy each week by doing household chores, carrying water, encouraging and blessing each client they visit. These workers are very poor with family and their own responsibilities at home, yet here they are, some traveling by foot or bicycle for miles just to be a blessing to another person.

Sunday morning we traveled to Pastor Eric’s church for morning service, which started at 9a.m. The service started with singing and worship, then the team was introduced. One of our team members shared her personal testimony; one of our team members gave a message on ‘Knowledge, Peace & Love’ using scriptures from Daniel 11:32; 1John 4:16; and John 10:11; a couple team members did a “Flag Dance” to the song “Who Am I” by Casting Crowns, before Pastor Eric delivered his message, which he had titled “Weep Not”. Pastor Eric gave a call for those that were sick to come to the front of the church for prayer, and another separate call for anyone wanting prayer, for concerns in their personal lives, to come to the front of the church for prayer. There were many who heeded the call to both alter calls. The service ended at approximately 12:45, and based on the comments I heard, the team totally enjoyed this time of worship with Pastor Eric and his congregation.

The “young people” returned to Pastor Eric’s church for a youth worship service in the afternoon, while the ‘older crowd” returned to our ‘home away from home’ to rest, or do personal devotions. The youth service was a mix of Zambian youth worship and Canadian worship. One of our young people gave her testimony, then two other team members shared the challenges our youth face in Canada. The Zambian youth shared the challenges and peer pressure they face and it was interesting to note that, regardless of which side of the Atlantic Ocean you live the peer pressure and challenges are very similar. A couple Zambians preformed an African dance followed by a skit about a young person seeking happiness, and the challenges they face as some experiment with drugs and alcohol.

Today, Monday, we travelled to Makululu to accompany the Makululu Home Based Care Workers to visit their clients. The volunteers are living within the district of Makululu, which has an approximate population of 80,000 people. The volunteers are believers coming from a variety of churches, including the United Church, the Catholic Church and Pentecostal Church. We also visited a “Hands at Work” feeding station, which today was expected to feed 150 orphans. The children were fed nshima, chicken and cabbage. The focus of “Hands at Work” is focused on orphans – to encourage, give them food, health care and education.

As I close off this update I ask you continue to remember the team in your prayers as a number have a sinus cold and upset tummies. Please remember the precious widow and orphans and also the Home Care Based volunteer workers who so unselfishly give of themselves all year.

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