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.