Day 2 in Zambia! Hope's Home and Buseko

Today was another incredible day here in Lusaka! The sun is up early, so most of us are up and at 'em pretty at the break of dawn.

We left for Hope's Home around 9 a.m. and were all greeted by 8 precious familiar faces, all who took flying leaps into our arms. Today was a big work day at the orphanage...lots to work on and get accomplished! The boys got to work outside digging trenches and mixing cement for stepping stones out to the garden.  

The garden is beautiful and in full bloom. Jeffrey is the gardner at the home, and also serves as a father-figure to the kids. He is incredible with them, being so patient to teach them how to plant seeds, care for them and watch as they grow.

We were so blessed to have a generous family from back home donate a water well for the home. We were connected to the city water lines for while, but it was very unreliable and was shut off most of the day- kind of a nightmare when you have 8 kids to bathe and do laundry & dishes for. The water well is big and beautiful, pumping a bountiful amount of clean water into the home.

The boys worked hard- some of them piling into the back of a truck to buy cement curbs. The girls stayed in side organizing clothes, & helped the kids try on uniforms (thanks to a sweet school in Brentwood, TN for donating enough uniforms to clothe Lusaka! Hah!). We also hung pictures on the walls and filled the library with books and games. Each child has a bulletin board with their name on it, and pictures of their sponsors, that they truly all know by name. Every child saves letters from their sponsors like they are precious treasures. What an impact you all are making! 

Shawn and Clayton took to the dirt road in front of Hope's Home to play catch, and get their daily workout in. Peter stood in amazement to see these 2 hurl a baseball back and forth. He even joined them while they worked out with their arm bands on the front porch. Of course, Hope wanted to play catch too!

The home was bustling and full of life as we all worked hard to organize donations and spend individual time pouring into each child. The kids are acclimating to this new life incredibly! We have to remind ourselves that only 2 weeks ago, their lives looked dramatically different. The truly act like a family of brothers and sisters.

After lunch, we hopped back in the bus and headed to Matero compound- where Destiny School is located. Our big blue bus is a dead giveaway to the community that Americans have arrived & we are here to play! We had at least 50 kids chasing our bus down the road, and probably another 50 at the school gates waiting for our arrival. Word travels quickly around here. We stepped off the bus into a sea of big smiles, giggles, and children launching into our arms. There is no such thing as a stranger here, and it is wonderful! 

Buseko Market is only a short 10 minute walk from the school, so we were going to take turns being led by the Zambian staff over there. Buseko is a dark and dreary place to see. It is eye-opening and often difficult to take in. People make homes out of tarps, and sleep 10 to a tent. We visited our dear friends there, who graciously opened up their home for us to see. The rainy season makes it especially difficult, since it is near impossible for them to keep dry. The adults often times sleep standing up to let the children lay on the mattress that is soaked on the floor. The hope they have in the Lord is what keeps their spirits alive. It's such a testament to how wrong we often have it- it's never about the things we have, or the comforts of a home- it's about the promise of salvation offered to us daily. They get that. Even in the dirt, floods, and darkness of Buseko- there is a light that shines from their tent that only comes from the Lord.

We meet as a team each night to eat, pray together, and talk through the day. It is important we allow each other to process all we are experiencing. We end each night with a rousing game of Mafia, or Nertz, or Empire... Where all our competitive natures come to an ultimate peak. It's seriously ridiculous- serve during the day, and compete to the death at night!

Thank you all for your prayers, and keeping up with us. Everyone is healthy and doing unbelievably well. They have fully jumped into this, and committed themselves to making a difference in these kids' lives- something that will be life changing... and our ultimate prayer- country changing.

** To read ealier posts, click "Next post" below! Thanks for following our trip...and praying for our team!

Trip Update--First day in Zambia!

An update from Ellen and Clayton:

I know we are a day late on posting this blog, but we are just now getting internet here… there is lots to tell you all about, so here we go!

Yesterday was a day we will remember for the rest of our lives. It was filled with an overwhelming amount of joy, praise, hope, and lots of love.

Let us start from the beginning…

After 2 long plane flights with not much sleep, and a layover in London that allowed us to do a bike tour throughout the city, we touched down in Lusaka at 6:30am. Our team of 23 people stood on the runway, and watched the sunrise over Zambia before entering the airport & going through customs. Having our closest friends & family here with us truly made this place feel like home. Anticipation filled our hearts as we waited in the customs line—our team looking like a bunch of ragged travelers who had no sleep or showers in days. For those who were making their first trip to Africa, there was probably a bit of anxiousness for what they would see when they stepped outside the airport onto Zambian soil. For those of us who have been here before, there’s no other way to explain the feeling we had except for the verse in Psalm 23, “my cup runneth over.” When you feel the calling of the Lord so present in your life—like you are living out exactly what He made you to do—there is an overwhelming sense of peace and joy. 

We had packed 38 bags of donation items, so attempting to track them down was an experience, to say the least. It’s actually a miracle that only 5 of our bags got lost along the way. Anna is the trooper of the group. 4 out of the 5 bags lost were donation bags, but the last one was her personal bag with all her clothes. As we say here all the time: T.I.A. (this is Africa). Going with the flow is crucial here. 

The Arise Africa staff was there to greet us with “Muli Bwangi’s” and hugs. The greatest surprise was seeing Peter, Brian, Armond & Andrew, the 4 boys who now live at the orphanage, waiting to help us with our bags & welcome us to Zambia! They were shy at first, but quickly warmed up with hugs & smiles! 

We made our way to Palmwood Lodge to unload, shower & take quick naps. Clayton & I could hardly rest our eyes, as we knew what we would be doing next—visiting Hope’s Home for the first time.

We loaded into a big blue bus and Alissa, the co-director of Arise Africa, gave us a tour through the nearby village. She wanted to show us the type of environment where the kids who now live in Hope’s Home came from. I pray I am never calloused to the poverty I see here, but it helps to see it through the eyes of those seeing it for the first time. Our bus was silent as we drove through the slums of Lusaka. Children are running around everywhere. Children with babies slung on their back, all walking around barefoot, and squealing when they saw a bus full of “muzungus” (white people). We drove through the market place where we saw everything from chickens & coal, to old shoes & car parts being sold. Amazing to think that only 2 weeks ago, the children who now live in Hope’s Home, lived ther, on the streets, fending for themselves.

After an eye opening experience of driving through the compound, we were finally driving down the road to Hope’s Home. My heart was beating out of my chest as I saw the red roof of the house—a place that only a year ago was a plot of land we stood on & prayed over. 

As we pulled through the gate, we heard children laughing and singing, all waiving to us and banging on the side of the buses. From my seat, I saw Alliness’ smile that is larger than Lusaka. We saw the 4 boys who graciously welcomed us at the airport, and we saw Dorothy & Nelly hugging each other, and giggling uncontrollably. I got off the bus, and out of nowhere, heard a squeal and saw Hope flying into my arms. Reunited at last! Our prayers were answered—here was our healthy Hope, living in a home built for children just like her—kids who need a chance at life and to be loved like every child should.

We warned our group about something before they traveled with us to Zambia…the first time you hug a Zambian orphan, your life will never be the same. All the sudden, this massive blanket of poverty, becomes very personal & tangible. We took turns hugging all 8 kids, and telling them how great is was to FINALLY meet them! For the next 5 hours, we got tours of the home. They showed us their beds—which were the first ones they had ever slept in. They showed us the garden that allows them to plant their own fruits & vegetables. We sat around the long wooden table they all sit around 3 times a day to bless their meal, give thanks, and eat as a family. The home is simple, and warm, and filled with children’s laughter and loving house moms. Lucy, Jennifer and Dahlia are the 3 house mom’s who truly love the kids as their own. They pull them aside individually to give them the attention they need, and wrap their arms around them as any mother would.

 

There is so much more we could write about. We are overflowing with joy over what we have witnessed here in Zambia, at Hope’s Home. Please tune into this blog tomorrow, we will have more updates & pictures to share with you all. Everyone is doing great, and pouring out love for each child. Until tomorrow…

 

“Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for JOY and I will give THANKS to him in song.” Psalm 28:6-7

Heading to Zambia tomorrow!

We cannot believe the time has come to head back to one of our favorite places on this earth. Our bags are not yet packed (nothing like waiting until the last possible moment), but our hearts are prepared and we are ecstatic to take off!

This year, we are getting to share this trip & experience with some of our closest friends & family. It will be surreal for us to see Hope's Home up and running- a dream that has only been a vision & work in progress for the last 2 years. The first 8 children moved in a couple weeks ago, so we will spend majority of the time intensely mentoring, loving, and playing with them. During the afternoons, we will visit other orphanages, schools and villages around Lusaka. 

Every night, we will update this blog with pictures & stories from our day. We hope you will follow us as we journey to the other side of the world, and pray for us as we spread God's love & message to His people in Zambia. 

Thank you for your support, prayers, and encouragement along the way. We fly through London tomorrow, and will arrive in Lusaka early Wednesday morning. We will probably post our first blog Wednesday night (Wednesday afternoon in the U.S.). 

In His Name, 

Ellen & Clayton Kershaw

 First 8 kids in Hope's Home trying on new school uniforms last week. 

To sponsor one of these kids, please email Camille@ariseafrica.org.