From Many to Few, God’s Grace, and the Blessing of Teams

Just the Two of us : )
I apologize for these posts and updates being so late in coming out but this year has been a very different one for us and the ministry – one of the main reasons being that for the first time since Sep 2009 and the children’s home opening in March of 2010 – it has been just Jako and I here, without the help of any long term volunteers. Those who have followed our ministry remember that in 2009 and 2010 we had Jenny Mass with us, then Alyssa Bolles from 2011 – 2013, as well as Olivia for a year in 2012, Travis for 9 months at the same time, and the Sweerins for a few short term trips and then for 7 months in 2013.   That is not to mention the many teams that we have been blessed by through the years.  The height of our volunteer “boom” came in Mid 2013 when I think we had 11 different volunteers here at one time (not part of a “team”) and what an exciting time that was!
So after years of having help with Bible studies, the preschool, work projects, clothing distribution, tutoring of children, and help in many other areas – this season of it being just us has been quite an adjustment to say the least. Mainly because the project has grown tremendously in these past 4 ½ years and now trying to keep everything running well and fulfilling the task of what used to be many, sometimes seems to take all the energy and strength that we have. Praise God that His Grace and strength are always sufficient for the task and day ahead but sometimes (and often during this past year) we feel as though we have been burning our candles at both ends, with early morning hours, and collapsing into bed at night.
So what have we been busy with you may ask ?.......
Jako has been managing all the projects related to the cattle, goats, sheep, crops, tractor,  vehicles, generator, water wells, community Bible studies, supplies and materials needed from town, while Amber has been busy trying to stay atop of the many admin duties needed to keep the orphanage open and happy in the eyes of both the US and Zambian government (ie. reports, record keeping, finance, e-mails etc), as well as managing the care of our 19 children in our children’s homes (plus Jakob and Jeremiah), the house mothers, the orphanage committee, assisting with the needs of those in the community caring for orphans, and the locals coming for medicine or medical assistance.
While this new “season” has been good for us and our family in many ways, allowing us extra time to spend together, establish family routines, and just time to be a family, we have definitely been praying that God will send short term and Long Term volunteers to help us once again. If you or anyone you know might be interested please contact us to see how you might be able to be a blessing in this way.  We are especially praying for God to send us someone to help with the school projects and to assist Jako with his many different responsibilities.
 
And the blessing of Teams : )
While we did miss the stream of individual volunteers this year, we were blessed with the help of 3 teams as well as well as two very special individuals.
Our first team in June was a group of 6 from a church in  Florida.  While the original plan was to have them help put the roof up on the primary school, God had other plans.  The dogs that we have here for security started to eat the goats and sheep we had recently acquired so operation “Electrical Fencing” became top priority and this team was great at being flexible.  Considering that the fence spans 800 meters it was great to have their help especially with the generator and vehicle breaking at the same time.  With all of this their time quickly turned into help with many projects, including finishing a crush pen to help with the Cattle’s vaccinations, and building a frame for the solar panel going up at the Children’s Home.  The mothers and children were very happy to have Olivia return with the team and to have her presence leading Bible Studies with the housemoms while the other ladies entertained the children.  When not busy with that they were hard at work helping to sort and organize donated clothing, distributing new sizes of clothing for all the children at the Children’s home, and mending many of the clothes that they returned.  During that time Ken was even able to draw up professional blue prints for the Kalomo house that we are in the process of building (more about that exciting news later : )  When the team left many things were fixed, new things working, children were clothed, hearts were encouraged, and there were smiles and blessings all around. 

 
We were happy to have Alyssa Bolles join us for a week in July to do some teacher training with our preschool teachers.  Having started the school in 2012 and seeing it through it’s first 1 1/2 years it was great to have her back to see how the teachers and students were doing and to encourage them all while giving them tools to continue to make the learning experience fun, engaging, and exciting.  Of course the moms and children all loved having her back and we were thankful that her church, Grace Baptist, allowed her the time off to share her talents and giftings here. 
As she flew back, we were blessed with a team of  7 from a Church in Va. With both  new and returning team members it was a joy to have their mix of experience and excitement and their “strength” to help clear about 2 hectares of land, cutting up big trees, stacking them around stumps, and burning them.  Difficult work to say the least, especially day after day after day,  but they were troopers and now we have been able to plant extra crops this year for our children on that very piece of land!  The ladies continued the Bible Studies for the house mothers,  looking after  all the children so that the mom’s could concentrate on the study and finishing the job of sorting through and organizing various clothing donations.  Of course there were always the odd jobs of helping vaccinate animals, tending to wounds of animals, and children (including our Cecilia who just somehow managed to get a fish hook stuck deep in her finger), chopping fire wood, cooking, and just loving on the children, housemothers, and people of the community.  Both teams were also able to bless and encourage the local church through preaching, teaching the children, and just worshiping together with the local church on Sundays.  We and the community were blessed in so many ways.
 
 
Thankfully, Steve Rainwater was able to stay another two weeks and helped Jako with various projects such as finishing the roof on our permanent tent, and finishing the clearing of the 2 hectares for planting. Having visiting us every year since 2006 he is always such a blessing with his friendship and practical skills.  The kids love him too!
 
 
 
 
Lastly in October, we were blessed with a new team of 18 from the a Church in Rooihuiskraal  South Africa.  Due to having to fit the trip into their short holiday time, theirs was the shortest trip, at just 5 days with us – they got TONS accomplished – installing ceiling boards in 2/3rds of our house (something we have been hoping to do for the last 5 years but just haven’t had time), mending a large pile of clothing for orphanage and community use, and then laminating, cutting and organizing hundreds and hundreds of educational work sheets and material for the primary school (loving prepared by Melanie Sweerin in 2013).  With the primary school hoping to open soon (and our own Sanford needing to start grade 1 in January) this was one project that we just haven’t had time to get to and the woman, and teenagers on the trip helped us immensely with this.  Of course Jako enjoyed having his “Afrikaans” brothers and sisters around once again and we thank the church and the team members for all their hard work, including the donation of 6 tire swings for use by us and the Children’s Home.