Monday, March 28, 2016

Easter at Zion

We had a glorious Resurrection Sunday at Children of Zion Village!!!

We were blessed to have some of the local children that have moved from Zion either because of age and graduation or because of moving in with a relative in town.  Some of them brought their Uncle and Auntie and it was really wonderful. 

We started with a nice Easter Sunday service led by Pastor Travis Curry Smile 

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Then we had Christmas!!!  YES, CHRISTMAS!!!!!  The gifts from the states did not arrive in time for Christmas and 2 boxes are still not here!  We Really do pray that at some point they will arrive.  So, we decided to give out everything and try to supplement for those who were visiting and would not receive.  God always provides what we need!

A BIG thank you to Epiphany UMC for providing new pajamas for all the children as well as sports balls!!!  A big thank you to MT ZION UMC for the track suit for the children.  The girls were especially happy since that was the box that arrived! 

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We had a special Easter lunch of chicken on the braai and potato salad and macaroni salad. 

After lunch we started preparing for the big Easter Pageant with the Zion children and the nearby village children.  Disciples, angels, tomb, stone, Mary, Jesus. Parents and relative came and it was truly wonderful!!!  A BIG thank you to Norcross FUMC for the VBS shirts!  They were wonderful for this event and all the children and even some adults received one to take along home. 

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We did not find time on Sunday to do the plastic Easter Egg hunt but it was better that the focus was not Easter eggs and getting but that Jesus died for us and now He is Alive!  So we had our little egg hunt on Monday.  There were different groups --- from the little to be big adult staff.  Everyone had a great time! 

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Happy Resurrection Sunday!!!   And Easter Egg hunt Monday!!!

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Monday, March 21, 2016

Happy Independence Day Namibia

We celebrated Independence Day early with Zion Mission School since, obviously, the school would be closed for the actual holiday.

It was a fun day of song, dancing, speeches, games, prizes….

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Special food, cakes and boat rides!!!!

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Happy Birthday for Independence 26 years Namibia!!!

Friday, March 18, 2016

New Family members at Zion!!!

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep ourself from being polluted by the world. 

Every day is a blessing but today was even more special.  After a full day at the sports field with the Zion Mission School children, we were called to come to the hospital and meet the social worker and receive two small children – siblings.

There was a beautiful boy, 2 year old, and his sweet baby sister.  We are told she is 9 months but she does not appear to be that old.  She cannot hold her own head up nicely and she is very weak.  They were very dirty.  The mother is 19 and she has 3 children.  The oldest, 3, is living with his father.  She does not know where the fathers are for the 2 we received.  Neither of the babies cried when taken from their mother.  They both need some medical care but nothing serious. 

Both have adjusted very quickly to the other children and are laughing and the older boy really LOVES to eat (a good thing).  The baby did not know how to eat from the bottle but she has already learned in one night. 

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We are thankful to be able to help these young ones that were suffering and in danger.  We know that God will help us and guide us and we help to raise them to be strong, not just physically, but in the Lord.  Please pray along with us as these children adjust and our little ones also adjust (since they are now very jealous). 

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you site at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Sports competition at the “stadium”

Zion Mission School has been working hard on the events for track and field to have a friendly competition.

Zion won everything and the final score was Zion 261 ZPS 205!!!!!  GO ZION ATHELETES!!!!!   

It started with clouds and rain.  But it ended with sun and HOT!  Really the clouds and rain were better even though it did not seem so at the time.  We took the big and the small!  All had fun and all were very tired at the end of the day.

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Foot races were first…

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Long jump….

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High jump…

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Just cute…

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Let’s CHEER!!!!!

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Here we go Zion!!  Here we go!!  Here we go Zion!!  Here we go !!