Traveling to Africa!

So as I wrote earlier, this wasn't an easy trip. We began with 16 bags, 5 carry-ons, 2 backpacks, 2 purse/bags and a stroller. Often there were frustrating moments, not much sleeping happened and as seen in the pics, seating arrangements weren't always appreciated!  But British Airways was usually very helpful and accommodating.

Getting Ready for Africa

One of my favorite things to do is to chase down items when I am working from a list. As mentioned before, this year we decided to donate clothing for the children that live at the Tree of Life. Below are the clothes sorted and ready for delivery to the Tree of Life children.  It was exciting to see everything laid out!

We're Back from Zambia

We're back from Zambia and obviously didn't get to blog once!  I will attempt to now catch up from beginning to now as we gather everyone's pictures. Between limitations with technology, time (Grammy babysat from Monday to Friday the 1st week) and activities, it just didn't happen and I'm sorry.

This was a difficult trip but every bit as exciting as previous trips. I hope the Loucks consider it a great trip in spite of a few hairy flights and their kids adjusting to new situations!  When traveling to Zambia, you fly 2 full nights with about a 10 hour layover in London. We spent some of that time in a day room where there could be showers and naps (thank goodness!). Coming home are day flights with a over night layover in London. Let me just say we love The Sofitel at Heathrow Terminal 5!  We arrived home late Sunday afternoon and getting through customs and such never went smoother. That was a huge blessing to end the trip that way.

I'll begin gathering snaps now and continue with posts regularly.

It's Zambia Time!!

So it's time to head to Zambia and this year we're taking Lindsay, Chris, Tanner and Emma.  YIKES!!  J/K ! We are really looking forward to this incredible family opportunity.  We will head out on Thursday afternoon and will return on August 4th.  I know I only write during this trip time, but there's not really that much going on during the other times.  This also seems to be my best way of delivering information since I don't really know how to use Facebook and this seems a little less like I'm telling everybody all my business!! And besides, most of you know what's been going on in our lives and with our family.

Amanda, Taylor and Lilly seem anxious for us to get there.  They have really settled in to their home and with their life in Zambia.  They have a home church where Taylor leads worship every other week, Amanda has a playgroup once a week, she meets for coffee with friends once a week, and she has a little business selling cookie dough and wonderful cookies (a real treat there).  Lilly communicates so well with us on Face Time and on a regular basis.  I'll try to share a little video below just sent to us by a friend who has been in Zambia the past week.  In fact, this friend is the very person who introduced Taylor to Family Legacy in the 1st place.  It's all Jan's fault that they live so far away!!!

Since last summer, one of my precious CampLIFE girls, Lezi, was rescued from her abusive situation and just last week moved into her new home, Hallelujah House, at the Tree of Life Children's Village.  I will get to see her and celebrate with her next Sunday at church.  I can hardly wait.  Our kids at Blessing House are growing like weeds.  Amanda, Lilly and Taylor celebrated the 1st birthday of Blessing House last Saturday, July 6th with the kids.  Amanda brought out a cookie cake and lemonade and it was a 1st for most of them.  Lilly has become very comfortable with the kids too and always has a great time with them.  We will be in church with them on Sunday also.  I'm just giddy to see them all.

Lindsay and the kids have been shopping for kids in Zambia.  She put out a call to her mom groups to see if anyone would like to be a part of showing Christ's love to the children of Zambia.  It was amazing to see the donations of clothes and money come in.  We were pretty cleaver too with the shopping!  We hit Once Upon a Child, a used clothing and toy shop, on a 70% off of clearance items day.  Then 2 days later we hit another location and all clearance was only $1 per item.  It was crazy fun and exciting!!  We got jeans, tops, dresses, shorts for the boys, you name it we got it!

I guess I better get to bed.  I'm picking up Tanner and Emma for a morning play date so Lindsay can have a couple of hours to get her things ready for the trip.  Be praying for us as we pack our 16 bags of necessities and not so much necessities!!  Also pray for our health, safe travels, the little ones as we travel and patience from travelers around us as we begin this journey on Thursday afternoon.

Love to all of you!

Video not working!!  I'll work on that another day!

Sharing Camp LIFE experiences with friends

We have had the opportunity to share about our Camp LIFE experiences with several friends and some are praying about going with us next year.  We will meet with our church friends on Friday evening and again hope that there will be folks interested in going.  Please pray that we represent Family Legacy and especially the great needs of the orphans well.

After going to Zambia for 2 years, I am so surprised by how much I feel connected to this ministry and that I have such a great desire to be back there.  This trip really grabbed my heart and I long to be with my girls from Camp LIFE and the kids at Blessing House.  I guess I'm sharing this because I never would have thought at this stage in my life I could become so drawn to a ministry.  I guess too it's an opportunity to encourage each of you to connect with a ministry that really touches your heart.  It can be something right in your neighborhood, your city or state or who knows, maybe across the world, just include it in your life.  You will not be sorry but truly blessed by the things you can do for others.  And as I discovered on my 1st trip to Zambia, it wasn't the trip there that was so powerful, but the journey to make that trip.  There was no way around it, God became huge in that journey.

I'm praying that you will find your ministry and a wonderful relationship with God on the way!

My last 2 girls are sponsored

Praise the Lord, my last 2 girls are sponsored.  Both of the girls were sponsored by families that had previously sponsored children but they "shifted", meaning they moved away from Family Legacy's service area. Juliet was so sad to not be going to school and as smart as she appeared, she really needed to be there.  Fridah was the little girl that Kevin & I were sponsoring and she somehow slipped through the cracks and appeared to have shifted.  Then she found me in the compound this summer when we were witnessing in the neighborhood.  What a blessing this is for those precious girls and us.  Please pray for them as they will not begin school until January and that may be confusing to them.

For those of you that are sponsoring children, this is a great time to write to them.  It is so easy to do and you need only share a few things.  The main goal is that they know someone cares for them and is praying for them.  You may refer to us as Auntie Lori for the girls and Uncle Kevin for the boys.  All of the kids are believers but could use encouragement and support in how to live out that life.  They learned about putting on the Armor of God this summer and all received a New Testament Bible.  Sending a prayer or scripture to them is most valuable.  And always remember to ask them about their prayer requests.  That's a great way to get them to write back and for you to check in on their situation.

Thanks to all of you that are sponsoring our kids.  They are so precious to us.  I am still in awe that I get to be an advocate for them and love them all the way from here to there.