March 12, 2012

I awakened eager for this day.  The Zambia program expanded a couple of years ago to a village area, and this would be my first visit there.  I was very excited to meet these children, and to see how they lived.    Mailes, her husband, Oscar, and three other members of the COP Committee joined me in a 5:00 a.m. departure.  We drove through beautiful Zambian countryside.  Monkeys crossed the road several times - right in front of our vehicle.  People and bicycles had to be watched for, as the shoulder was narrow. 

As we traveled further and further from Lusaka, it became obvious that life was becoming much more rural, much more simple, and much more driven by the basic needs of every day. 

About six hours later, including one hour on dirt "roads," we pulled into the church yard in a remote village with no electricity, no running water, and groups of round mud huts with thatched roofs.  It was what I would consider a typical African village scene.  Time had stopped here.  We were not only in another world, but another time.

Sponsored Child Outside Her Home in Petauke Village

The church women immediately started to sing and dance a welcome song.   (Click on video below.)

I noticed several young children staring at me intensely and scurrying when I came close.  (Mailes later told me that many of these children had never seen a white person before.)  After introductions, we moved into the church building for our meeting.  Again, we had a question and answer period as well as sharing regarding the bracelets.  In the session, I also shared about the importance of education.  The committee had shared that it is not uncommon for parents to send their children to tend the cows instead of go to school.  Few of the parents are literate.  Tending the animals is what they grew up doing - and that is how it is.  An education is really the only hope for a better life for these children.

Families Gathered across from the Church of God in this Petauke Village

The children had a little more difficulty answering some of the questions in the interview process. The program here is young, and they have not had much exposure or time to grow through the program yet.  When asked what they would like to do when they finish school, most answered “to be a teacher.”  That is the only "profession" they see modeled for them in their lives.  There simply aren't other jobs besides farming in their village - but they were aiming for the one they did observe.  I am excited for them to continue to grow and develop.  I believe as they physically and spiritually grow, they will also grow in self-confidence.  I'll bet their dreams will grow too as they get a glimpse of how wide and big God's plans for them can be.

Getting Ready to Say Good Bye.

As we prepared to leave, the children presented us with gifts.  A very overwhelming experience.  These families have nothing materially - but here they were presenting us with 10 chickens, 9 pumpkins, a bag of pumpkin leaves, about five pounds of ground nuts, and 6 limes.  The chickens were in a homemade cage made of tree branches.  These gifts were great sacrifices for these families.  I graciously accepted them on behalf of their sponsors - because those are who they were really for.  It was hard to choke back the tears as one by one each child brought me their sponsor's gift.  (The chickens and food will be shared with those in need in Lusaka.)

Receiving the Chickens - Don't Worry, They Already Have Homes and Are Peckting in Zambia.

Another long day.  We arrived back in Lusaka at about 11:30 p.m. What a day - what an experience.  What a wonderful thing is happening in the lives of these village children because of their sponsors' care and commitment.

Dr. Paul Maxfield

Executive Director