Sunday, May 9, 2010
Tonight was my second to last night before my family arrives.
After a very emotional, eye opening meeting with the people leaving tomorrow, it was clear to me that this is where I am meant to be. The spirit, joy, compassion, and just feeling of this house is truly home. The children here are not searching for love here, love finds them. Day in and day out the children are visited by people near and far who are overjoyed by sharing time and love with them.
When I first came two years ago I was young, immature, looking for a fun trip. What I experienced in return has lead me to return, and I am sure this isn't my last trip. Zambia is an oasis of perseverance, happiness, hard work, and yes struggles. It is people like the ones I have met here that help them, that can truly make a difference.
Making a difference doesn't have to involve spending your life savings or giving up your home life, making a difference is being different and leaving your own mark

Playing with House of Martha. I can't say whether or not these children will remember me, but I know for a fact that I will remember and love them forever. It hurts me so much to leave them and I feel like I am leaving a part of me here with them, a part that is theirs to keep forever, whether they know that or not.
Some children here have been through things I cannot imagine living through. Malnutrition, desertion, orphaned, double orphaned. The same children have a brilliant spark to them. A brilliant soul, just waiting to jump out and hug you. Teaching at House Of Martha, playing with the kids, sleeping in the nursery, feeding babies, loving all of them, these are the things I will never forget. The eyes of love, the feeling of compassion, the joy of a child. These children are truly Gods children. Your children, my children. I just wish I could do more for them.

The children of Faith Fellowship, through the “Change 4 Children” program, learned about the children in Zambia and how they could help make a difference. They loved getting their katumbas and came up with creative ways of collecting change to put in them. One boy gave his mom a shoulder massage and others did extra household chores to earn money for their katumba offerings. Each “Missions Sunday” (the last Sunday of the month), they learned more and more about how so little change could make such a big difference in a Zambia child’s life. They listened to individual stories and the hardships that children their age faced every day. They also realized how blessed they were and how God blesses us to bless others. Through their collective efforts over a four-month period (ending in March, 2010), the children were able to raise $800. Their efforts were duly recognized by the congregation as the children marched up to the front of the church, beating on their home-made drums to a song from Zambia. They received a standing ovation from the congregation and they knew they had done something special.

Have you ever had a fall in love moment? Where your body detaches from your current surroundings, you realize just how amazing something is, and then suddenly you're crying? That's what I have every time I look at these babies. Every time I see a crying baby picked up and smiled at, every time I see a child smiling for no reason at all, and every time a baby runs towards me smiling and holding there arms up waiting for love. The feeling is indescribable and the memories are irreplaceable.
House of Moses is an amazing place filled with inspiration, happiness, and endless love. Everyone works so hard, and the passion for succeeding is emanating from everywhere, and everyone. The workers never give up on anything they start, and they hate not starting new things all the time. Ideas are flowing, and the products are following! This week a team of about 5 men put up a giant water tank onto a ledge about 30 feet high. The men first had to build a new platform for it, and then the next day they pulled the tank up, and they were very creative about it

Carol. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebe_the_mzungu/sets/72157623665197219/)
If I weren't here, experiencing this place for myself, I wouldn't believe that it existed. I would believe that there was a place for children with no parents, that is believable. Never would I ever believe the care that these kids receive, the love, daily baths, full bellies, and so much more.
Some of these children have parents who just can't seem to be able to pay for their child's life at the moment, but some have no one. Those who stay here long enough to reach the age of graduation either go home, or go to another home; Bill and Bette Bryant. If the child then reaches the age of graduation at Bill and Bette Bryant, the child then goes to House of Martha.
As you can see the children are never abandoned due to their age, which I think is amazing. These houses, or homes as I call them, have the ability to raise children. Not just house them, but actually raise the children. These homes give street children the opportunity to learn, go to school, have food to eat, and a place to sleep, all receiving nothing back from the child, and no expectations.
How is this possible? Donors. Donors keep these schools running, and keep these children fed, and loved. Without the money from the donors there would be no food on the table, no bed for the children to sleep in, and no money to pay for caregivers. These children would be lost.
I don't personally know any of the donors, but I love them. I wish I could personally hug each and every one of them, because I know what they are doing, what they are making possible. I've seen it, I've felt it, I have lived it. The donors who make this home (House of Moses), and all of the other homes possible are my heroes. These children not only have the necessities of food, water and a place to sleep, but they have friends, mothers, medicine, access to a hospital or a doctor, access to life. I aspire to be able to make every child have a home the way they can, live freely and away from fear, smile knowing they have not only one mother, as some do, but they have many, and live, truly live.