Zambia Team Has Arrived!

The six member Zambia Team has arrived safely at the Hope Center in Serenje. The power and utilities have been down and there is no access to the internet like they had hoped. But, the Brookside staff has heard from the Zambia Team via text:

Who would have anticipated a Volcanic eruption in Iceland would disrupt the team's travel arrangements? The group was to fly out of Chicago on Wednesday night. Their flight was delayed 3 hours because the flight crew was late. Then, the plane took off. Two hours into the flight, the plane turned around and came back to Chicago because the London airport had been closed. The team was able to rebook their flight through South Africa and they arrived late Saturday evening in Lusaka. If the Chicago flight had not been delayed, they would have flown into London and still be grounded there. They would not have made it for the pastor training and orphan care. This is such a cool provision of God from something that they originally thought was such a hassle!

Tim Wiebe spent Monday training 23 pastors from churches in the bush - some just starting out in ministry. They also met the orphans on Monday and provided a program. There are some challenges on logisitics because of the rearranged travel. The group is tired but encouraged and feel very blessed to have made it there.

We'll write more when we get more texts.

Pictures!

To get started on the Back to School Project, we had to measure all the kids for their uniforms and shoes.




Above, workers fertilize by hand the crops at the Hope Center. The Hope Center is only about 6 months young, but it will hopefully be self sustaining some day.

Below, kids get lunch after Bible Study every Monday through Saturday. On the menu in this pic: Nshima (the staple food of Zambia), beans, and a spinach like vegetable that we don't have here in the U.S.


Before giving all the kids their school supplies and uniforms, I labled each back pack, then filled it with their specific supllies based on which school they go to and what grade they're in. Two days before school started, I presented each child with their bag, supplies, uniforms, and shoes after lunch.

Back to School

I can’t wait to post some pictures (sorry, I can’t until I’m back in America)…today I gave out the school uniforms and supplies to the children of the Hope Center. There were lots of smiles, as you can imagine they were really excited. They each received a backpack with notebooks, pencils, and so on, plus their school uniform inside. They also each got a pair of school shoes and tennis shoes for P.E. class. We’re also covering their school fees for the year. For them to get all of these things is a really big deal.

It’s crazy how it’s a relatively inexpensive project for us that makes a world of difference to them. Just think about the comfort it brings them to not have to worry about if they’ll be able to attend school, or if they’ll fit in with the other kids. It really was a great feeling to see this whole thing play out. Again, their smiles say it all.

I’ve loved getting to spend some time with some of the kids and getting to know them better. I really do love them, and I love to make them laugh and smile. I was thinking back on my short time here...there have been a lot of difficulties and frustration in the whole process, which is to be expected. But just a few minutes hanging out with the kids easily outweighs any of the challenges or disappointments. I’ll miss them.

When I get back to the states I’ll post some photos and more info. I don’t know if I’m ready for the cold weather again!

Jack

The Hope Center...live and in color

Well, I only have about four full days left (sorry I haven’t posted more, things have been hectic and internet has been difficult), and I think everything will come together for our Back to School program before I leave. It was quite the complicated process, but I think I got everything figured out, and hopefully it’ll be easier next time since now it’ been done once before. I’m really excited about presenting all the kids with there new school stuff. I’ll take lots of pictures for you.

It’s been really amazing to see and be a part of the Hope Center. It’s weird how I was here for 3 months before with all the building and planning and so on…and the whole time the Hope Center was just this idea. Now it’s become a reality. I’ve absolutely loved hanging out with the kids; they come every day to do a Bible study and get a healthy lunch. They’re so fun and cute and hilarious.

During my second day here, several of the adults who have taken these orphans in to their homes gathered together to express their gratitude. One by one they thanked me for what the Hope Center is doing. They all went on listing their different reasons, it was a really cool sight. I wish you all could have been here to hear what they were saying…after all, the thanks goes to all you Brooksiders who made it happen.

That same day, as the kids were lining up to get their lunch, Navice (the local pastor behind the Hope Center idea) looked at me and said, “Don’t they all look so much healthier than when you were here last?” He was right. Not only do they look healthier as far as nutrition goes, they seem happier and more full of life. Some of you may remember me sharing when I got back last time about a girl named Zita. I never once got Zita to smile, and she was living in a terrible situation. When I first saw her this time around, I hardly recognized her when she looked up at me with this huge smile on her face! It actually kind of stunned me…and I had the thought, “Well that alone is worth everything we've done here.”

Jack

10 ways you know you’re turning into a Zambian…

…you’re really, really excited that you got jelly on your trip to Lusaka since there isn’t any in Serenje (this was a major menu expansion for me)…you call 5 o’clock 17 hours…you try to smooth talk at police check points in hopes of getting through with no hassle (i.e. “did I mention I’m helping orphans”)…the flat tire you got comes as no surprise, neither does the fact that the spare was stolen…you eat Nshima every day…you wish your skin was darker, much darker…you’re extremely excited for the return of running water to your home, who cares if its not hot…you buy cassava (a root) off the side of the highway for an afternoon snack…in public, you only say very nice things about Obama…and last, you don’t question if cockroaches are living with you, but how many…

Jack

Zambia Sweet Zambia!

Well I’m finally back in Zambia! It felt surreal at first, I almost couldn’t believe I was here again. Jonathan, a Pastor in Lusaka, picked me up from the airport and we got straight to work. We purchased some “template” clothing items for the Back to School Program, then his family and I made the 5 hour drive to Serenje. On Wednesday we used the clothes we bought to measure all the children at the Hope Center. This is the easiest way to do it, then we can order all the clothes in Lusaka (capitol city) and pick them up when they’re ready. The alternative would be to go to the local market area in Serenje and pick out the clothes with the kids individually. Standard sizes aren’t as easy to come by here as they are in America, so it’s a bit more of a challenge here. Even by doing this in Lusaka, it’s no simple Wal-Mart run.

The end goal here is to get all the kids in school with uniforms, shoes, back packs, pencils, notebooks, and so on. This was made possible because Brooksiders donated enough money to cover school fees and supplies for all the children of the Hope Center through Basic School, which is grades 1 through 7.

When I finally made it here (3 ½ days, 2 delays, and a 17 hour flight in the middle seat), it was easy to jump right back in. It felt almost as if I had never left, like maybe I was just away for a little while on vacation or in a coma. It’s been good to see some old friends, and I still have a lot more I want to visit (hopefully I’ll have some time for that). Working with Navice again feels good too. The only thing that didn’t feel natural right away was the driving (not only is it the opposite side of the road, but it can be pretty crazy). Anyways, so I’m really enjoying my time here. I hope it doesn’t end too soon!

Jack

Going back to Zambia...eventually

Hey everyone. First of all, you might be a little confused because this blog switches back and forth between writers, but for the next two weeks or so, it'll be me (Jack Archer). I'm heading back to Zambia for a short trip, my main goal will be to get the Zambia Back to School program for orphans going. It will also be great to see everyone again. (I spent three months in Serenje, Zambia last year from December '08 to March '09, if you want you can go back on this blog and read about some of my experiences).

Anyways, so as you know, the weather has been kind of crazy in the Midwest, so I've run into a few problems. All seems to be in order now though, so I should arrive in Lusaka, Zambia Tuesday afternoon. Check back here soon and I'll keep you updated on my arrival and details with my progress in getting the orphans that Brookside is supporting back in school. Also, you can email me at jarcher1135@gmail.com for questions, comments, suggestions, etc. Thanks!

-Jack Archer