ACE eNews

We are getting ready to depart for Tucson on Tuesday morning. Sandra and I have been working on different projects and so we have accomplished much in five weeks. We know your prayers have smoothed the way. Thanks to all of you.

At the request of the Minister of Community Development, Frank Block, the director of Love Basket, and I laid out a national policy for international adoption. We have given it to the new CACZ board chair, Barbara who will take it into the Minister next week.

Yesterday we went with the CACZ board to visit some of our projects. Fred Mbango (he is the man who provides our vehicles at a discount) provided a bus, all expenses paid. We first went to the Kanyama school property and the hammer-mill. There was a line of women with corn to grind and the new operator was busy. Fackson has gutted the house which will serve as Grade 8 and he put in new trusses for roof reinforcement. The facility will be ready for 80 students the end of January. There is still a lot of work to be done between now and the opening of school for next year, but we are on target. The men have also dug the trenches for the toilet (ablution) block and the grant from Rotary should be in Zambia in time for the major building activity on that project. Right now we have over 5,000 blocks on site and continue to make ~250 a day.

Then we moved on to the House of Martha. The 13 children sang for us and gave us pictures and cards they had made. The new teacher is wonderful. Nellie shared some of their stories. All of the children are wonderful and the quality care they are receiving shines in their eyes. We were especially moved for one little girl about 12 years old who was found 6 years ago in the bush, alone. Since she was found she had lived in an orphanage, but she still made only guttural sounds and rarely uttered a word. That home was closed recently because of the poor care the children were receiving and this child was sent to us. Yesterday she clearly spoke her name for the first time in front of people and sang confidently with the other children.

Then we headed for Garden Compound where we visited the Garden Hill school and then the Bryant Nursery. We arrived back at House of Moses very hot and very tired. It was well above100 degrees. Over a traditional meal, there was a high level of enthusiasm for the growth and development of CACZ.

Thanks for your continued prayers,
Virginia Woods