Christmas at Mafuta Village

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Mafuta is a place where every week Zion provides food that some volunteer women cook for orphans.  About 140 children come to eat at break from the school that is nearby plus there is a preschool there where 2 of the volunteers teach 40-50 children.  Can you imagine 40-50 preschoolers in one small room and to teach them??  That is the patience from God and the strength from God!  Some of these children might not get another meal for the day. 

So at Christmas we like to share God’s love by telling the Christmas story, providing “special” foods for a feast, singing festive songs, prayer and delivering gifts. 

         

        

          

          

                     

This year was very special.  We used to live in a neighborhood with many friends – special friends.  One family has a 10 year old girl, Olivia.  She decided to give all of her stuffed animals to the children in Africa who have less than her.  God’s love from a child coming all the way around the world – So Sweet, So Special.   WE brought 4 of our youngest ones (one set of 2 year old twins, one 4 year old and one 9) so they could play with new children, be outside of Zion in a different village and hand out the special stuffed animal gifts.  Well, it was a tough lesson to learn that you cannot keep everything that is cute and nice but sometimes you must give to others.  They really did a great job, but we could see that some of the animals they really wanted to hang on too! 

        

          

We thank God for His continuous gift of love without any expectation of something in return.  Just like this young girl, Olivia, gave from the heart with no expectation of something in return.  Thank you God for always providing just what we need (like exactly the right number of gifts for the Mafuta children) and to Lisa and Chris Kelley and their daughter, Olivia, for sending the wonderful stuffed animals all the way to Africa so that many children could receive something special for Christmas this year!!!!