Day #5: Church and Week Recap

It is really incredible to spend a Sunday morning in Zambia. Our team had the joy of worshipping with Twin Palms Baptist church on Sunday--what an encouraging time! Pastor Emile and his wife Florence are dear friends of Kershaw's Challenge and Arise Africa. They welcomed us with open arms into their congregation. A highlight of our time with them was hearing our own team member, Dr. Scates proclaim the benediction of the service. What a blessing it has been to have him with us on this trip.

The afternoon was spent in the Arcades, an area of town with restaurants and most importantly, the Zambian market! Hundreds of vendors from the city spread out their works of art--from handmade bed spreads to hand-carved wood items to unbelieveable paintings of Africa. Our Zambian friends joined us in helping us shop and come away with fun treasures, commemorating our time in Lusaka.

The day concluded with our final team dinner. A wonderful American family, the Showells, welcomed us into their home for authentic Zambian Mexican food and fellowship. Our friends from Arise Africa came to celebrate with us--what an incredible trip this has been! We have been immensely blessed by their friendship and dedication to Hope's Home and Kershaw's Challenge. As a "thank you" to our team, they presented us with beautiful hand-carved pieces of wood with the Kershaw's Challenge emblem. What an amazing reminder of what the Lord has done here, through our team and by His grace.

We have taken so many pictures this week--so we wanted to share some more of our favorites. On Monday morning, we will be heading to Victoria Falls. Thank you, once again, for your continued prayers for our team. The Lord has been so gracious towards us and our mission. We look forward to telling you more about it.

Our friend Peter from Hope's Home loved watching Clayton and Shawn throw each day.

Sweet Charles, our friend in the Matero compound.

Clayton hard at work, digging ditches at Hope's Home.

Ellen and Hope, working on her reading in the library at the new home.

Our new friends in the Ngombe compound--all smiles and excited to follow us around!

The growing--and flourishing--garden at Hope's Home!

Jim was our resident handy man on the trip--he turned the walls at the home into works of art!

Josh and Andrew at Hope's Home.

Leslie and her little friend at Grace Community School.

Peter enjoying lunch at home.

Shawn and Armond washing hands after mixing cement.

Proof that the rainy season continues in Zambia!

Team girls and Hope's Home girls

John and his friend at Grace.

American bubbles were a huge hit with the kids!

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Day #4: Opening Ceremony

Though there are signs of continued jetlag, the days never run together in Zambia. They each stand out uniquely—filled with incredible new faces, experiences and moments. Today was such a day.

Our team arrived early at Hope’s Home this morning, greeted by our dear friends once again. We spent the next couple of hours getting ready for the main event: the orphanage opening ceremony. Half of our crew loaded into the big blue bus to pick up 100 balloons for decoration and the rest prepped the home for visitors. Around 11:00, we welcomed many people from the Lusaka community into the home. The guests covered a range of different people—all who have played essential roles in the home process. It was such a privilege and JOY to meet them and thank them for their hard and prayerful work. We enjoyed an authentic Zambian lunch and were serenaded by a local singing group—complete with interactive dancing! The ceremony concluded as we released 100 balloons, marked with scripture and prayer, into the sky over Hope’s Home. It was a sight we will never forget.

Today marked something incredibly special—the “official” opening and celebration of the home. So many of YOU have played a critical roll—through support, prayer and encouragement. Thank you! As we watched 8 beautiful children run around their new home, surrounded by so many loving, supportive community members, we were filled with gratitude to the Lord. What an amazing beginning!

 

We were sad to leave our friends at Hope’s Home today, as it will be for the last time this trip. Yet it is impossible to leave with heavy hearts, as we KNOW the care and love they are receiving in their new home. Our afternoon activity led us to Mother Theresa’s—another local orphanage run by wonderful Catholic nuns. We were greeted by more precious faces—from newborns to toddlers—and immediately jumped in. All of these children have been orphaned and live full time in the orphanage. Our team held babies and played games with the kids for several hours. It was such a sweet afternoon.

Time here is flying by. We are thankful beyond measure for your prayers—we feel carried each and every day. These pictures should give you a window into our day. The Lord is at work today and in Zambia. What a privilege to be here.

Day #3: A Day in Pictures

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…And from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace…”

John 1: 5,14, 16

Sometimes pictures are worth a thousand words. We wanted to paint a picture of our day through pictures for you. It was an incredible day in Zambia. In brief, we spent half the day at Hope’s Home, continuing with our projects. The girls took the 8 precious kids to the mall to go shoe shopping for school (starts on Monday)—what an experience! We got to experience their first escalator ride, too! Hilarious. 

For the second half of our day, we went to Grace Community School, another partnership with Arise Africa located in the middle of a compound. Similar to yesterday, children from the community came flocking towards our big blue bus, squealing and running with delight. We spent several hours in and out of rain playing games, soccer, and singing with an amazing throng of beautiful, joyful faces of all ages. Our team ate it up!

Enjoy the pictures—we hope that they make you feel like you are right here with us. In closing, we have been so encouraged by God’s Word—reminding us that LIGHT shines out of darkness. In a place where there is profound darkness, there is incredible LIGHT—the Light of Christ. We are reminded that darkness never wins—EVER—because light penetrates even the darkest corners of this earth. In Zambia, there is a profound juxtaposition of light and dark. There is poverty, illness, and need. Yet there is LIGHT—God on the move, breaking through darkness with His sovereignty and might and overwhelming love. Here, we see redemption happening every single minute. You see it in the faces of precious children, whose lives are defined by a belief and HOPE can that only come from Christ. 

Truly, friends. We are seeing God’s fullness here in Zambia—grace upon grace. Light shines in the darkness and by His mercy and promise to redeem, darkness will never win.

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