Education in Zambia

Family Legacy is expanding its services in Zambia to include the creation of new schools for the children there. Lifeway Christian Academies will provide an unmatched learning experience for students in Zambia.  The link below (all the way at the bottom) will give you much more information on the current state of education in Zambia and the plans for starting at least 12 new schools during 2011.

I want to share a story with you about Daniel - one of the boys I have worked with for the last 2 years. In 2008, a friend attended Camp LIFE and asked me to support the trip by purchasing fleeces to give to the children. As a “thank you” I received a picture of a little boy excitedly showing off his fleece during camp. This picture was a special reminder to me of how grateful these children are for what little they have – often just enough to survive on. It made it to my office where I hung it just behind my computer.

When I got to camp last year, this little boy’s face showed up in my group! He wasn’t smiling when he got there, but once he heard the familiar songs of camp, you could see the sorrow in his eyes melt away and a smile came to his face. At that very moment, tears filled my eyes and I knew – this was the child whose picture I had looked at for the last 365 days. I was astounded and overwhelmed. God had these details planned out long before I ever knew I was going. He wrote this child’s face on my heart – to love him – before I would even get to meet him. I was profoundly changed by God’s display of love for both Daniel and me.

What I have learned about Daniel over the last 2 years is that he is extremely bright! The other kids call him "abusa" which means pastor. He can beautifully and articulately present the gospel like I have never heard. This year, he was extremely sad. I learned throughout the week that he was so disappointed that he was unable to attend school. Daniel lives with his aunt and uncle - his parents are too poor to support him and they thought he would be better off living somewhere else. 

Unfortunately, his aunt and uncle are out of work and cannot afford to send Daniel to school. In order to make money, Daniel sells vegetables on the streets for literally pennies. He still does not have enough money to pay for school.

These children WANT to go to school. They understand how important it is. They will truly do anything to receive a good education. Family Legacy is committed to make a long-term difference in their lives through the power of the gospel and through the provision of basic needs - like education.

Learn more about Lifeway Christian Schools at www.familylegacy.com/education.

Emma's Story

Emma was first met at the Camp LIFE infirmary. When asked what she was pained by, her response was “I’d rather die than go home…please don’t make me go home. I just want to die before you send me home.” No young girl should feel this way. 

Emma shared why she didn’t want to go home. She lost her father when she was only a toddler. This sent her mother into a deep depression, accompanied by heavy drinking and two subsequent failed marriages. Emma was deprived of basic food every day. She and her siblings’ only food source came from Emma’s own begging in the streets. She even saved her lunch each day so she could bring it home to her little sisters.

When Emma was seven, she was left alone at home with her sick baby brother.  She held him in her arms, not knowing what to do, until he died from malnutrition. She was blamed for his death.

Emma was physically beaten to the point of hospitalization for three days , only to return home to more beatings.  If she failed to do any of her chores, she was forced into a corner where her mother would throw hot, scathing knives at her innocent body.

Emma’s mom was rarely home, because she was out day and night working as a prostitute. Her step dad would arrive home before her mom and rape Emma night after night from the time she was eight years old. 

Emma grew each day of Camp and by the final day, Emma was a bright-eyed, joyful little girl. She learned that “The Lord is Her Shepherd” (our theme for Camp LIFE 2008), and that He will always take care of her.

The next week, one of the staff saw a girl on the side of the road completely stoic and void of life. She said she almost did not recognize Emma because after only four days of returning to her home, she had grown hardened. All the love and joy was drained from her face. Her mom had taken all the gifts she had been given at Camp LIFE - her bright green Camp LIFE jacket, new tennis shoes, t-shirt, and bandana were all taken away.

After hearing Emma’s story, our director arranged to pick Emma up a few days later and temporarily move her to one of our safe homes. They arrived at Emma’s home at 8:30 a.m. to find her mom drunk, and her one-year-old sister Esther with horribly burned skin on her head from a prior drunken stupor in which her mom caught the sheets on fire with her own cigarettes.

When they saw Emma she looked “enslaved” once again. She wouldn’t even look up, and who knows what kind of evil she had been exposed to in the dark hours of the night just hours before. They picked her up, sat her in their lap, and whispered quietly in her ear, “We’re coming to rescue you!” Thin fingers of hope squeezed, as if to silently scream “Oh please! Oh, please! If only this could be true!” 

Emma was scared that her mom wouldn’t allow her to leave, but Emma’s mom responded to the proposition with surprising and hateful words; “Yeah, take her; I don’t want her.”  Emma immediately leapt up, went behind a dirty torn sheet which served as a room divider, and came out in her “best dress.” Without a goodbye or as much as a look her mom’s way, Emma grabbed Holly’s hand and said, “Lez go, Auntie Holly!” And with that, Emma led them out of her house.

On the bus, Emma’s smile stretched from ear to ear as she kept saying over and over, “Auntie Holly! Tha Lawd eez My Shepahd! Tha Lawd eez My Shepahd! Tha Lawd eez My Shepahd!” She must have said this truth about 50 times! This little captive was free, and she knew it.

On May 29th, a few months later, Emma was one of the first children to move into the new Tree of Life Children’s Village.  Emma is now in a safe new place where she can grow into the child that God wants her to be.  Emma’s two younger sisters, Bupe and Esther, were also rescued and they now can live together without Emma having the burden of providing food for her younger sisters. The Lord truly provided for Emma Tembo!

To hear more stories of God's transformative work in Zambia, visit the Tree of Life page.

I am grateful for your interest in this ministry and support of my work. To donate to my support account, please visit www.familylegacy.com/anne.

All Things Become New

When I was a teenager, I was actively involved in a church program for girls, Acteens. If you grew up Baptist, you may be familiar with this (or the version for younger girls - GAs). Acteens is a program that educates young women about missions and service from a Biblical standpoint. Every week we studied missionaries, learned about ministry in our community and participated in multiple projects to serve those in need. It was a great experience for me - and especially meaningful since my grandparents served as missionaries in Africa when I was very young. 


At a local Acteens conference, we gathered under the title, "All Things Become New" - referencing the verse 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"


I have been thinking about this theme a lot lately, as life is turning over a new leaf for me. My salvation and transformation as a "new creation" was set in stone several years ago. But event God promises "new mercies every morning" and brings us to new journeys in order to grow us and to accomplish his great will. Well, 2011 is one of those times in my life where God has brought me to a place of so many NEWs!


NEW Address: 
I just moved into a wonderful house in Old Lake Highlands (East Dallas, just a couple of blocks from White Rock Lake). I've gone from living alone, back to the world of having a roommate and it has been such a blessing. Rachel is the new homeowner/roommate and one of my very best friends (and she travelled to Zambia with me this year). Come see us or send us some mail (we love mail!): 710 Kirkwood, Dallas, TX 75218


NEW Job:
I am excited to announce that I am starting my new job at Family Legacy Missions International the first week of January! Many of you are already familiar with this new and exciting journey and have been faithful to support me in this. 


About 6 months ago, I began talking with Family Legacy about coming on staff to suppor the fundraising and marketing efforts of the ministry. FLMI has impacted countless lives through its ministries for orphans in Zambia, Africa. The ministry is on the cusp of doubling its work for the children and families who live there and are in great need of growing resources state side. I am excited to join this effort and trusting in the Lord as he teaches me day-by-day.


Part of this change includes raising financial support for my salary. I will effectively be living as a missionary (but still living in Dallas). Please be in prayer for my financial support and I would ask that you pray about making a financial contribution (one-time or monthly). Visit my support page for more information: www.familylegacy.com/anne.


NEW Blog!
Keep up to date with photos, prayer requests and the exciting news from the work going on in Zambia on my block: www.anneinzambia.blogspot.com


And, take a look at photos from my last 2 trips: www.anneinafrica.shutterfly.com


Blessings,
Anne