Zambia Update

Big things are happening in Zambia for children, once without hope... now with a future!

Please enjoy this update from Lifesong Zambia Director, Dru Smith:

Every child has a right to education. However, for many Zambian children, even though it may be provided by the government, it is unaffordable, unavailable in their neighborhood, or substandard.  For over 100 families in Garneton, Lifesong School is the answer to their prayers. Currently we have 210 children from the poorest of the poor families who attend school each day, even during the three months of break.  When representatives from the Ministry of Education came to inspect our school-they were overwhelmed by what they saw and asked us, "Do you plan to open more schools like this? We really need them!"Lifesong is setting an example and making a difference in Zambia.

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We were astonished to see all of the work accomplished by 11 friends from Thunder Bay, Ontario.  They spent two weeks volunteering at Lifesong School... leading a workshop with our teachers, teaching our kids about oral hygiene, building us an amazing playground, and more!  We are so very grateful for these dedicated volunteers!

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When I visited William last month I was amazed to see the improvement in his left foot after his first surgery. It is straight, and the bottom of the foot is flat on the ground! He struggled with balance, but once he stabilized himself, he started walking.  William had surgery on his right foot on September 2 and is making a speedy recovery. His leg will be in a plaster cast until he returns to the clinic early in October. If all is well, he will be fitted with special shoes to help him walk.  Praise God!

Thank you for your continued prayer and support as we serve children in Zambia.

163 Million Tiles (guest blogger)

Recently I had the privilege of visiting Lifesong's schools in Zambia and Ethiopia with an amazing group of people... all of us different, from different areas, with different histories, coming together for the sake of orphans in Africa.  We had some amazing talks, laughed a LOT, bonded over interesting foods and a nerve-racking boat ride to see hippos (below), and met some beautiful children!

Today, one of my fellow travelers, Aaron Klein (in the white shirt on the right), has agreed to share his perspective of our trip.  But before we go to that I want to share a little about him.  Aaron is a loving husband, adoptive daddy of two, (it never took much for Aaron to pull out pics of his kiddos... this is one proud papa), business leader, tech expert, education reformer, and orphan advocate. (aka. busy guy!)  With his quick humor and contagious laugh, he was a great addition to our trip!

So, without further ado...

In Monreale, Italy sits a cathedral, decorated with a 100-million-glass-and-stone tesserae mosaic encompassing over 80,000 square feet of wall space. The beauty and intricate detail of a work of art on that large a scale is almost impossible to comprehend. How did they do it?

I had the great privilege of joining Lifesong for Orphans on a vision trip through Zambia and Ethiopia a couple of weeks ago. To say that this trip lit my heart on fire again for the children I met there would be the understatement of the year. It has been said that “I need Africa more than Africa needs me,” and that is true. But I think that it also can be said “Africa has changed me far more than I have changed Africa.”

I know I speak for the rest when I say that it was the individual moments of this trip that took our breaths away. From my teammate Kendall Hewitt describing Lifesong Zambia headmaster John Mumba as “half Cuba Gooding, Jr. and half Nelson Mandela”…to sitting on the grass at Adami Tulu School in Ethiopia, engulfed by 75 kids and chanting the ABCs with them…our journey through these incredible countries was exhilarating, heartbreaking, compelling, challenging and life-changing.

It was moments like those that made me step back and think for a minute about the statistics around adoption and orphan care. 163 million orphans around the world. About 16 million of them have lost both parents. And I began to wonder: how can we really make a difference?

Then it occurred to me that the 80,000 square feet of intricate art forming the Monreale mosaic murals came about because of two things: a multitude of workers, and each one being focused on just one tile at a time.

I’m sure some of those workers were a little overwhelmed at the prospect of designing 100 million tiles when they started the work. Perhaps the size of the task seemed to grow as they worked, and they felt like it would never be completed. Yet they did it, and it’s a masterpiece for the world to see.

In the much the same way, I believe we will solve the global orphan crisis in my lifetime.

It was clear to me as I watched these children be fed, taught, encouraged and loved by Lifesong’s incredible staff: these children are going to grow up changed people, ready to break the cycle of poverty, build strong families of their own, and serve as the future leaders of their countries.

Now we just need to focus on expanding these efforts to touch more lives. And more. And more. And more. Until all 163 million stories are even more beautiful than a mosaic in a church in Italy.

I’m immensely grateful to Lifesong for Orphans, because they’re creating opportunities for us to fulfill this calling, one child at a time. Will you join us?

Thanks, Aaron, it was awesome getting to hang with you in Africa!  Check out Aaron's blog here.

A Trip to Zambia

This past January I had the opportunity to travel with a small team of Americans to visit our Lifesong School in Zambia and lead a week long Vacation Bible School program.  The week was filled with songs, games, skits, crafts, and many hugs.  

You know, many times we go on these trips hoping to make a difference, never quite prepared for the change that takes place in our own lives.  Such was the case here.  I think my fellow team members would agree, that these beautiful children changed us in ways we won't soon forget.

Zambia Team Video from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

Thank you, Lifesong Zambia staff, for your hospitality, warmth, and service.  We were blessed to play a small part with these kids, but you are the ones who sacrifice for them daily and through the grace of God make the difference that changes their lives.

little is much

Child-like faith?  How about child-like urgency!  When little Ashlyn heard about our kids in Zambia she wanted to do something to help... "FAST"!  Taking her homemade money box to family and friends she raised a total of $7.88 and sent it to our Lifesong School.  You've got to love her enthusiasm!

Kids Caring 4 Kids visits Lifesong Zambia

"I'm just a girl who wants to make a difference for other kids."

In 2004, 11 year old Kendall Ciesemier organized Kids Caring 4 Kids after undergoing 2 liver transplants in one summer.  Her heart went out to kids who also had physical challenges but no family or resources to help them.  So instead of flowers and gifts, she urged family and friends to donate to her new organization and partnered with World Vision so she could help kids suffering from the affects of AIDS! 

Now, KC4K has also partnered with Lifesong and others and is on a mission to raise $1 million to help children in Africa!  In Lifesong Zambia, KC4K has funded indoor plumbing and a "sick bay" for the school.

This past friday KC4K had the great opportunity to visit our Zambia school.  Check out Kendall's blog here where she recaps their day!