Monday, October 1, 2012

We have arrived safely in Lusaka and been received with wonderful hospitality by the National Orphan Sunday committee of Zambia.  The committee includes pastors from many districts around the country who are leading their churches and denominations in the celebration of Orphan Sunday.  We are already hearing many testimonies of children who have been loved and welcomed into families as a result of these churches.  We enjoyed awesome fellow, worship with a praise choir and a delicious Zambian meal.

We were blessed to be able to honor Bishop John N’gandu, Chairman of the National Committee, with a plaque in appreciation of all of his dedicated service.  Bishop John is a passionate advocate for the orphan. He shared:  “We need to be the Mordecci of our time.  When you have looked after an orphan, God will remember you in due season.

We also visited Pentecostal Holiness Church in Kalingalinga – the site of the very first Orphan Sunday celebration.  Kalingalinga is a compound in Lusaka where many families live in the most humble of circumstances.  There are really no words to describe how it felt to be in this place where Orphan Sunday began.  Whenever God does big things, he begins them in humble places.  It is so awesome to see how God birthed Orphan Sunday in this simple place and has now taken this all around the world!

We ask for your prayers as our food shipment to feed the children on Orphan Sunday has been detained at the border of Zimbabwe and has not yet arrived in Zambia.  Please pray that this important gift is released as we seek to show God’s love to the children and their families through this gift.

Tomorrow we journey to Kabwe, about two hours to the North.

on behalf of the team,

Jodi