Okay, let talk about some kids

So blogger is kind of weird. I started a blog a few days ago about technology but didn't finish it. Andrea then wrote something and posted it. Afterwards, I finished my technology blog and posted it but it ends up AFTER Andrea. So people, if you didn't read my ramblings about technology in Zambia, look down..... way down.... (If you really don't care about nerdy techy stuff, you don't have to read it but I thought it was kind of interesting.)










Okay so we have finally been able to visit all the children in all the orphanages that EOH runs. For those who don't know, I'll give you a little run down on how the orphanages works. EOH basically raises funds to build an orphanage. The orphanage is really a duplex in which each unit houses 8 kids and 1 widow. The widow focuses on raising the 8 orphans with resources from EOH.

EOH has built 4 of these duplexes-
2 in Kalingalinga which is a suburb of Lusaka (the capitol) and is close to the EOH Zambian office
2 in Chongwei which is about 50 minutes outside of Lusaka and in the bush

Chongwei is in the middle of nowhere. They don't have electricity so EOH have some solar panels that store energy during the day so that the house has enough electricity for 4 hours of light. It also doesn't have running water so the community has to draw water from wells.

Okay so that's a little bit about how the orphanages are set up. In additional to these orphanages, we are helping to run a camp for unsaved children in the Lusaka and Chongwei communities. The first camp starts on July 19. 300 kids will be coming from the area to be fed, taught, and loved. For this first camp, EOH teams up with an organization called teen mania who have flown in around 70 people of mostly teenagers to actually teach the camps. These teenagers are living in tents outside the ChongWei orphanage and, with the help of 35 local volunteers, will be putting on a program for the children. The local volunteers will help with translating and cooking. Since the children generally do not eat well nor do they know English well, they are vital to the program. We are mostly helping as extra runners or helpers to address anything that pops up in the next 5 days. So the camps are really focused on the children in the community and not really the orphans.

That's what happens in the next few days. So far our experiences with the orphans have been really good. Its interesting though, since the orphanage (also known as My Father's House), is run by widows who are strong Christian, most of the orphans already know about Jesus and who he is. So though I initially thought we would be sharing the Gospel to the orphans, most already have a thriving relationship with Jesus. In fact, in the first orphanage we visited I was really touched and impacted when a few of the girls who were singing with Andrea began singing the song "He knows my name". I was sitting on the ground playing with a little boy when I heard these girls beautifully sing the song below. Initially, it caught my attention because it sounded so good, but as I realize what song it was and the lyrics they were singing, I almost started tearing up. Here are the lyrics for those who don't know it.

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands

I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And He hears me when I call

The fact that these orphans who don't even have much of a male influence in their lives, sing that they have a father who will never leave them or let them go. They have a Father which neither poverty nor sickness and death will take away. The fact that they sang that song of all songs really touched me. It reminds me that no matter where you are at or what situation you are in God can comfort you. It makes me think of 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

On a less serious note, I found out that the other interns taught the orphans how to play spoons and the orphans love it. I've heard that in some games the orphans will dive across the table just to get the last spoon. Its been so viral that even some of the EOH staff adults starting playing it. I was able to capture a short game but it wasn't has insane has it has been. The orphans love it so much they once played it for 4 hours STRAIGHT!!!!!!!

This last clip is of some of the girls putting on a pretend fashion show for Andrea. Its interesting one of the things that Kim (EOH staff) mentioned in her training is that the orphanage allows the kids just to be kids. If not for the orphanage, these kids may have been on the streets or with a distant relative. Maybe they would be helping to raise younger siblings or trying to find a way to get their next meal, but because of the security of the orphanage, the kids are able to just play and because they are fed consistently, they have the energy to play.

It was a good day when kids are just able to be kids.