School starts 2017

All the children are running and laughing in the village as the first day of school for the year of 2017 begins.  Old friends, new friends and continued friends hug as they meet each other for a new school year.  Ready for assembly, singing, devotion, pledges and prayer!!! 

God's love turns ordinary indinary individuals like us with all sorts of differences in to one family, diverse but dedicated to each other.  It overcomes division and overlooks differences.  It never demands uniformity but always brings unity.  So, "beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God." 

Christmas for Zion in Janurary

Each year the children visit extended family over the Christmas school holiday.  Therefore we actually celebrate Christmas for everyone when they return for school in mid January. 
We have church in the morning with the Christmas story, songs of praise and prayer.  It is a special time of worship especially since some of the older children come and join us. 

Luke 2: 9-14 "Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them.  They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them.  'Don't be afraid!' he said, 'I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior -- yes, the Messiah, the Lord -- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!  And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in srips of cloth!'
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of other -- the armies of heaven -- praising God: 
'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors'" 

 Some continued to sing!!!!  Some played....  Some visited because they do not see each other on a regular basis if they are away for school 

 The ladies made a delicious lunch of rice, potatoes, gravy, and chicken!!!  YUMMY!!!
Everyone enjoyed and even the little ones were helping the littler ones.  So sweet!

 Mt Zion UMC and Epiphany sent wonderful gifts for each child!  Everyone had a joyous celebrations and reunion!
 

                                   JOY TO THE WORLD!  THE LORD HAS COME!!!

Mafuta Christmas

Isaiah 9: 6-7a
 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.  And the government will rest on his shoulders.  These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end.


We love the children and the staff at Mafuta (also where the preschooll and feeding program is).
Each year we try to make a special Christmas lunch for them, tell the story of the birth of Jesus, and give them a small gift depending on what donations we have. 

We boiled and peeled many potatoes.  
Boiled chicken.
Boiled rice. 
Pealed tomatoes and chopped them and onion. 
Boiled soup. 
All over an open fire!
For some reason they like adding mayo and tomato sauce to the rice......  

The children lined up, prayed and were served....
Delicious!!!!!

They proceed to rinse their plates then the staff wash them a bit better.  

 We always like to thank the staff by giving a gift of food.  So, in a bucket, comes food!!!!! 

 
 To God be the Glory!!!  Great things He has done and continues to do!!  Merry Christmas!

 

Mafuta New Preschool

Matthew 25: 34-40 The Message
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father!  Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation.  And here is why:
I was hungry and you fed me, 
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room, 
I was shivering and you gave me clothes, 
I was sick and you stopped to visit, 
I was in Prison and you came to me.'
"Then those seep are going to say, Master, what are you toaking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?  Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me - you did it to me.'

As you probably know, Zion provides food for over 100 orphans in the village of Mafuta.  They are served by a total of 10 ladies who volunteer their time 5 days a week to have these children come and partake of a hot and healthy meal.  Maybe the only one of the day.  They do not have a fancy place to cook or fancy plates but they have a fire and big pots and a heart of love!!!  Never selfish but humble as they work hard to provide some nourishment for children so they can think and not be hungry at school.

In January a Mt Zion UMC team from Maryland was able to raise enough money to build a new school.  The preschool, which serves over 50 children, was really run down and full of bats and the remains of bats running down the walls.  No matter what we did, we could not get rid of this little creatures.  

 So, we ask the 2 local churches to be involved to choose people in the community to work.  These would be people that were not employeed so it provided an opportunity to be involved in a money making project for the orphans of their commumity!  It was a HUGE success!!  They did a great job, earned money and the new preschool is BEAUTIFUL!!!  The children can come and learn and eat and sing praises!!!

  

Thank you JESUS and thank you Mt Zion UMC. Joyful children, staff and community!!!!

Christmas Party for Children

Luke 2:10-14 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Many of the children that have extended family return to them for the long school holidays which includes, over Christmas.  So, we have Christmas on December 25 for those that are here.  Then we have an additional celebration with gifts from wonderful people from the USA when the ones on holiday return.  This is always a blessed time of reunion of the older ones and celebration of the birth of Christ, great food, gifts and conversation.  We were thankful to have Deborah and Ray Mastnjak here for the holiday from the Board of Zion USA!!!!

            

        

 

          

Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 

MERRY CHRISTmas!!!

Merry Christmas from Children of Zion in Namibia

Matthew 1:23-25 “Listen! The virgin shall conceive a child! She shall give birth to a Son, and He shall be called ‘Emmanuel’ meaning God is with us.  When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel commanded, and brought Mary home to be his wife, but she remained a virgin until her Son was born; and Joseph named him Jesus.” 
This is our seventh Christmas Day in Africa.  We will always miss the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ with our family but we are so blessed to continue to celebrate His birth in Namibia.  We have had a tradition that we cook for Christmas for the staff and children and families that are nearby.
                                   
Usually we have cooked a somewhat traditional American dinner (minus the turkey that we can only get by spending too much money).
This year we did a traditional braai outside by the river.  We had game meat, fresh corn from the Zion garden and vegetable pasta salad!  Delicious!  Different from what we have in the USA but delicious here!  We cooked outside on the fire and put the traditional mats on the ground by the beautiful river. 
Travis started with a message from the Bible about the birth of Jesus and how He came to save the world, including us. 
                                      
                                    
God Bless you and Merry Christmas!!!!!