Muli buti,
Another amazing month of seeing God work… The “cold” weather has left us and here comes the HEAT!! The mornings and evenings are still cool but midday it’s getting mighty warm. The air is so dry and you can see the coating of dust hanging on the trees, bushes and anything that is stationary. During the next few months it will get hotter and drier until we are anxiously awaiting the first showers in November. It’s the time of washing up twice a day, it’s impossible not to get dirty here. Along with the heat come a myriad of insects and bugs but we find we don’t really notice them much anymore. The teams “notice” them right away and so we are usually calming anxieties or taking on a vicious intruderJ
We have hosted three different teams since my last update and continued to be awed by the events that transpire while they are here. One team from South Dakota included a woman who has been trained to help visually impaired persons. She brought a few white canes (like we see in the states) and taught two different blind men how to use them. It was wonderful! Think of it, you are blind and live in a very rural area, no traffic lights, curbs or guide dogs. Your only way to navigate is to rely on someone else to help you from place to place. To watch these gentlemen learn how to use the cane to determine where obstacles lie and the deep holes in paths… We were able to watch them walk from church back to their homes independently. I can’t begin to describe the joy on these mens’ faces. She was also able to train a WHIZ employee on the fundamentals and hopes to send more canes to Zambia. The things we take for granted…
During this month a number of team members were able to meet their sponsored children. We can’t always arrange for this to happen but when it does, what a memorable day for the child and the sponsor. Hope for Children in Zambia has over 600 children that currently have sponsors. Many children never meet their sponsors so when they do, it’s a day they will likely remember for years to come. Sponsorship is such a blessing to the child, but also to the sponsor, your sponsorship dollars DO make a difference in a childs’ life and give them HOPE. See WHI website (www.worldhope.org) for more info.
Wilma (the cat) had two kittens last week. She, as Socks did, waited until we were away and she chose to have them in Davids’ dresser. He’s always the lucky one J all our animals seem attracted to his clothing/scent. They are so cute, one male and one female. Eyes are still closed but they do look like her, unlike Socks’ puppies. Speaking of Socks, since her last puppy went she has become so needy. I think she’s lonely… Wilma is sharing the kittens with Socks and allows her to smell them and touch them.
Davids’ father, sister and younger brother are visiting. They are amazed at what they see each day and what we keep hearing from them and teams is how kind and gracious the Zambian people are, Davids’ dad has been on many mission trips but says he’s never been so touched as by what he has seen here. Shelby, his sister, is in heaven all the kids love her and the pastor of one of the villages said he could see Jesus shining through her. It’s so hard to explain until you actually experience it yourself. The sights, smells and sounds, the childrens’ faces, smiles and the singing.. Oh I wish you could hear, it seems God gave every Zambian perfect pitch and the harmony you hear when a group sings, it’s enough to give you “holy chills”, as our pastor says. Here, God has removed the blinders from our eyes, and we can see the beauty and joy shining through the exterior shell that displays dirt and worn clothing. He has taught us to look past the exterior and see the hope, love and faith underneath. Team members from Stoney Creek Church in Michigan were able to minister to a HIV stricken man and he gave his life to the Lord. Imagine their joy at seeing the same man come to the church to help work in the chicken house and fellowship with his new church family the following day. God IS good and ALL the time!
If you would like to become a prayer partner and/or financially support our ministry, please visit the website (www.thewattersfamily.blogspot.com) for detailed information. We can’t tell you how much your prayers mean to us, we have never spent a day alone, we know we are in many thoughts and prayers. For those of you who made financial pledges, please don’t forget to send them to World Hope with our constituent number 28163 on them. Remember all your contributions are tax deductible. Thank you for all your love and support!
Blessings to all,
Ba David and Mrs. Beth (I’m regaining my name…J)
No comments:
Post a Comment