Last week, 21 year old Lawrence Mwape, an orphan and ninth grade student at the Helen DeVos Christian School  was informed that he scored the second highest grade in the entire country on the all important qualifying exam to continue his formal education.  Lawrence was awarded a full scholarship to one of the finest boarding college preparatory schools in Zambia.

Raised in a family of six children, Lawrence Mwape; aged 21, is the eldest son.   With a desire to become a doctor or chemical engineer he was doing very well in school and he passed his grade seven exam with very high scores. (In Zambia a pupil must pass their grade seven and grade nine national exams in order to continue their education.  68% of the candidates that take the exams, fail).

As a member of Child Aid International, we are pleased
to report our acceptance into the 2008 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).
Federal employees may designate donations to Alliance for Children Everywhere with CFC code: 68434.

fDear Ministry Family,

Words fail me in describing my own feelings at the arrival of, and ceremony for receiving the First family and coffin of President, Patrick Levy Mwanawassa back home to Zambian soil after he died in France on Tuesday. The president was reported as having died in Egypt in June where he was attending a session to try to help resolve the struggles in Zimbabwe. That report was in error. It was later learned that he was transported to France where he remained in ICU on life support. I admired this president for his stand against corruption and saw growth and development during his 7 years in office. He was a strong man of Christian faith.

Throughout the proceedings the name of Jesus Christ was lifted up in word and song. The first president, Kenneth Kaunda reminded the nation that we are Christians and need to behave as Christ would want us to as we mourn, and then move on with electing our next president.

When the procession left the airport, I walked outside to watch as it passed by the House of Moses where thousands of people were waiting.

He will lie in state until next week when the First family and the body will travel to each of the 9 Provinces allowing the rest of the nation to mourn and pay its last respects. He will be buried in his home village on September 3rd, the date of his 60th birthday.

The Zambian Constitution is very clear about the process of electing a new President; however, there are 12 political parties each vying for the chance to put forth a candidate within the stipulated 90 day period. The next president will serve for 3 years, completing the term of office of the late president. Thankfully, everything is as it should be; orderly and peaceful.

This is a very critical time for Zambia. The most important role for those of us that love this nation is to join with our friends in prayer for a competent, righteous and just, next president.

Sandra – An Adopted Zambia

Dear Ministry Family,

The excitement, joy and pride at Monday’s official opening of the Helen DeVos Christian School is hard to describe. From early in the morning (around 7 AM) the students and teachers and guardians of the children were getting the school grounds and refreshments ready. Every wall was scrubbed clean, and every one of the 500 chairs were set in place on the open grounds in front of the classrooms. White chalk lines were drawn in the sand outside of the main gate for the vehicles to park. In the compounds there are not even street signs, let alone vehicles! The school library had new maroon window blinds, and the science lab showed off its beakers and flasks.

One young boy held a banner to lead us to the property. (I knew where I was going, but we were not sure the Vice President could find his way through the maze!) When we walked through the main gate, each of the 200+ pupils were dressed in shirts donated by a visiting team member, whose colors were as the Zambian flag. RED for the blood of the martyrs….ORANGE for the mineral wealth….BLACK for the African people…and GREEN for the verdant land.

SINGING!!! Uncle G. had the Helen DeVos Choir (in orange shirts) sing a round of songs as the guests were arriving. Then the sad message came…the Vice President, Rupiah Banda, lost his mother at 93 years of age the day before and was not able to attend. He would instead send his Deputy… however the Deputy, was to be 2 hours late!! So what to do? We went ahead and said if he came we would re-group and listen to his speech (which we wrote) that honored Mrs. DeVos as a woman in her later years who believes that all children everywhere should get an education, and toward that end, she was willing to help the most vulnerable orphan get that education.

When the new school flag was raised, a hundred balloons (same Zambian colors) were released into the howling wind. The pupils went wild with singing and cheering and applause. The school plaque was set into a pillar of red brick and said “The Helen DeVos Christian School was officially opened by His Honor Rupiah Banda, (MP) the Vice President of the Republic of Zambia, June 23rd. 2008. James 1:27.”

It was a great day, and a blessing to have had a part in making the prayers, hopes and dreams of so many children come true.

Blesssings,
Sandra