Processing....Processing...Processing

The children's faces swim before my eyes all day long.  They wake me up during the night.  Sometimes I just smile at the precious thought of them, but most of the time I wonder if they are ok.  Are they hungry?  Did what they saw and heard go into their hearts?  Is there someone out there that will sponsor one of them...to save them?  Who do we need to sponsor? 

I really believe that starvation, disease, and poverty is NOT the plan the Lord has for each of these children.  I really believe that they have a future and a hope.  The enemy may have come to kill, steal, and destroy but the Lord came to give life and life abundantly.  I know that each person in the world has an amazing calling.  These precious ones are no different :)  It is exciting to see children in classrooms where they have been on the streets.  It is exciting to see children pray to a God that loves them when they have never known love or acceptance before.  Still processing all that is going on in Zambia.

I also promised to introduce to you more of my girls.  Well today I will tell you about 3 of them.

Esther - she was my youngest.  She was so overwhelmed when Camp Life began.  She was just taking it all in.  She had sad eyes, scars, and would look away often.  She grabbed my heart right away.  Her clothes were so thin you could see right through them....no under clothes,  a torn skirt, and a dirty under shirt with a flannel shirt over.  She wore the same clothes each day.  I took a pair of some princess panties that we had brought to Zambia with us for her.  She put them on....she was so proud of them that she wanted to show everyone!!!  Whoa - so so precious.  I wonder how she is?

Ruth - Ruth was very quiet and shy.  She always wanted to touch me.  If she could not have one of my hands, she would simply put her hand on my waist as we walked.  She seemed to find a way into my lap every chance I sat down.  She had a precious giggle.  She loved to braid my hair and it made her laugh that it would not stay like hers!  She loves to sing.  She sounds like an angel.  I wish I could hug her one more time.

Dorothy - She was incredibly quiet.  We taught her about the Lord and she would just soak it up.  She watched the evangecube, she heard the Seek First, but I did not know what she was thinking.  Then we went into the community on Thursday.  WOW!  We found a young girl at the side of the street laying down because she was sick.  Dorothy grabbed my hand, laid hands on the precious girl and prayed like a prayer warrior.  She pleaded, she blessed, she thanked!  Out of the mouths of babes!  She then took the evangecube and shared the Gospel.  She shared it all day long.  All this amazing passion and care came flowing out of a little girl.  When I gave her a hug and told her she was amazing, she simply said "Isn't that what you told us we should do with the love of Jesus?"  Yes - precious one - thank you for being such a great example!

As January nears and my plans for moving get clearer, I will let you know the details.  We are very excited to be a part of what the Lord is doing in Zambia. 

Here is a picture of Dorothy evangelizing!  She is amazing!!

I love you all!!

Stephanie

Camp Life 2012

How to put into words what an incredible time Camp Life was this year.  Family Legacy Missions is rocking the country of Zambia for the Kingdom of God - Big Time!!  It is so exciting to be a part of it.  This year I had the awesome and amazing opportunity to have a group of girls that were 7-10.  They each were so incredibly beautiful.  None of them had been to camp before.  Everything was new. 

Mary was a girl that had such a winning personality.  Her eyebrows would go up and down!  She had a great laugh.  She cuddled so close....and when she could not get any closer, I felt her tears run down my arm.  She just wanted to be loved and held.  Oh....how wonderful she felt in my arms. 

Cecilia was a girl who did not smile much at first.  She studied me very closely....but she would always press in at the end of the day for a hug.  She is a natural leader.  When my Zambian partner was not around, she would help me with the rest of the girls....always looking for approval from me.  She cried so hard when it was time to leave....She made me promise not to forget her.  A promise that will never be hard to keep.

Fatuma - a girl that always wanted to be the center of everything going on.  When it came time for blessing time with her, I felt in my heart that she was a muslim.  After asking her some questions, it was confirmed that she did indeed go to the mosque.  I did not know quite how to handle the Gospel with her.  She is 7, already very poor - I did not want to do anything that would hurt her living situation....so I was pondering all these things when she touched my arm and said "Auntie Stepha - could you just pray for me to have Jesus in my heart.  Oh wow - the faith of this little one.

I will share more of the stories of the precious lives that have taken real estate in my heart. 

Family Legacy is reaching children for the Kingdom.  Educating children to break the awful cycle of poverty.  If you ever would like to come and be a great part of a ministry that is transforming a nation - let me know! 

I am getting excited to start planning my move for 2012!  Please pray that our house sells quickly! 
Love you all - thanks for your prayers and support.  You are awesome!!

Love,

Auntie Stepha  (Stephanie)

Zambia Summer 2012

Well---Camp Life was amazing this year.  The ministry to the children continues to amaze me!!  My group this year was 7-10 year old girls.  None of them had been to Camp Life before and they loved each and every moment of it!!  We did spend some time at the Tree of Life Children's Village as well....so we saw our precious Clara and Norah (who has decided to change her name to Ruth)!  I will tell you so much about the kids in my next post.  This post I want to show you another side of the ministry.  It is the educationhal side. 

Family Legacy knows that the Gospel is what shines the light for these precious children.  They also know that they need quality education....where the classroom is clean, safe, light, has a qualified teacher who loves them and loves the Lord!  This is what Lifeway Christian Schools are all about. 


The children in the communities do not have many educational options.  Most of them are not in any school.  The "lucky" children go to the community schools.  The community schools are very poor.  They do not have boards, desks, or books.  They have some benches for the kids to sit on.  The ratio can be as high as 200 students to 1 teacher.  Below are three pictures of the community school.  As you can tell the students were very excited to see Americans!

Compare that to the awesome Lifeway Christian Schools.  The goal is to provide quality education for the children so that they cycle of poverty can be broken.  That Godly skilled children can take Zambia for the Kingdom!  It is so exciting!

This is a school that is in the heart of a community (slum) and is open!  During school hours this place is rocking with kids, trained educated teachers, the Gospel is part of each day, education is awesome!!

Below are a couple of pictures of the school that is at the Tree of Life.  I had a conference with Ruth and then with Clara's teachers.  They are doing very well and are on task for their age!  They are working hard!
I am so proud of them!

Next post - Camp Life!!  Seek First the Kingdom of God!!