Dr. Kaunda
Hello USA!
Sandy, Machelle and Jennie are leaving in the morning. Please pray for strength, good connections and a safe journey home.
Thanks for praying for our visit (Machelle and I) with Dr. Kaunda. What a great story this will be in the years to come. :-)
Just as we were leaving KK's office, (we met for about 15 minutes with his aide, His Excellency was quite late), KK just happened to bump into us in the car park. Having recognized me, he gave us another full 30 minutes! KK, an educator himself, was so taken with Machelle's dissertation topic and her understanding of the teaching culture and challenges being faced, he not only agreed to write the preface, but also allow her to publish their photo along with it. Attached
Then little bold me, :-) asked if he were planning a trip to the USA, and he said "as a matter of fact we are." I turned to his Excellency and the man who I have known as his aide (Godwin Mfula) and asked if it were at all possible while he was in the USA could he possibly come to some of our USA cities of support?
He said, "Sandra, I am in my last years, I would be honored to help you with the education of our children in your schools even as I helped with House of Moses." I nearly fainted, but instead took both of his hands and prayed that his strength would not falter, his mind not fail, and his eye not dim until he realized the promise of the education of the children. He then said, "As you were praying I asked God to hear and honor your prayer." I believe God did.
KK has also said if he were in Zambia in January, he would be honored to be at the opening of the DeVos School. (Hutzpah!)
Sandra
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For those of you who don't know who Dr. Kaunda is, the following story from May, 2006 will fill you in:
Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda is the most revered and respected man in Zambia.
During the same decade that Rosa Parks refused to relinquish her seat on the bus, Kenneth Kaunda (affectionately called KK), refused to buy meat through a window at the back of the store, while white colonialists entered through the front door.
When imprisoned for advocating independence for the country that was then Northern Rhodesia, he would reach up to the tiny, barred window of his jail cell and wave his white handkerchief to admirers standing below.
On October 24, 1964, he became the first president of the newly independent Zambia, the position he held until October 31, 1991.
KK has always been a pioneer. In the late 1980s, while the medical community in Zambia refused to acknowledge the existence of HIV/AIDS for shame of sexuality, KK broke the silence by confessing that the death of his son, David, was caused by AIDS.
KK is a natural father, with seven sons (one adopted), and two daughters. He is a national father, who prevailed in the birthing of Zambia. He is a spiritual father, continuing to urge Zambian men not to forsake their God-given responsibility as fathers.
On October 1, 2005, KK, this spry, healthy 82-year-old statesman who speaks all over the world, spoke to a large crowd of Zambians, Americans and the national media from House of Moses. His theme was, “The Significance of Fathers.” His message was that a man cannot condemn a woman for abandoning her baby when men all over the country are abandoning women – and their babies.
After his speech, a large donated cake, shaped like the nation of Zambia, was brought out. With hands joined KK, an African patriot, and Sandra, an American Jew, cut the first slice.
While guests enjoyed their cake, KK toured the House of Moses nurseries. With eyes filled with tears, he reached into his coat pocket and brought out the famous white handkerchief and blessed each baby, one by one. “I had no idea such a wonderful work existed in Zambia until I saw it for myself,” he said to the reporters.
Sandra was asked to give the closing prayer. She prayed that the hearts of fathers would truly be turned to their children, families would return to their Godly heritage, and every good thing God has planned for Zambia and her people would be accomplished.