It’s hard to believe that in just under 30 hours, I will be taking off for Zambia to visit Spark’s partner Hope Ministries! I will be joined shortly thereafter by Rich (Spark’s Executive Director), Brady Josephson (Spark’s Director of Resource Development) and a great group...
Read MoreAs Rich and I made our long journey home from Ndola after a very productive, often hilarious and occasionally heartbreaking trip, three themes about life in Ndola kept coming to mind.Death and LossIt did not take long to recognize the far reach of death in...
Read MoreFriday night before Joann and I left we had one fantastic last dinner at Hope House with the children and staff. It was the first time I had “village rice”--which I loved, but anyone who knows me won’t be surprised at that. When I asked...
Read MoreI met twin boys named Moses and Joseph today who are now attending Hope School. Their parents died about 2 years ago and not even their relatives would take them in. An incredibly gracious woman in their village found them out by the side of...
Read MoreWe had a meeting today with all of the teachers at Hope Community School and some of the administrative staff. Joann led a seminar on how our Child Sponsorship program works (from the Spark side) and they shared how it was working here in Zambia....
Read MoreWe've had another fantastic and seemingly unpredictable day here in Zambia. Last night, after our unforgettable chicken and children photo shoot, we went home to rest up for dinner with Charles (the executive director of Hope Ministries) and his wife Margaret. We started dinner off with what has proven...
Read MoreAfter three flights, 23 hours and not a lot of sleep, we finally arrived in Ndola yesterday morning! We started off the day on a really great note, hearing that the kids had finally moved into Hope House after a little luck from David and Nancy, who helped...
Read MoreToday we spent another day at the school reading and playing with the kids while the staff got organized for us to visit the second village. This time we set out in a car and had to drive over to our destination. The...
Read More
Our days follow a certain routine which begins with having breakfast while we print the pictures from the day before and discuss the previous day’s events. We must have printed over forty pictures before 8:30 a.m.! Then it's off to the school for reading with...
Read More
It was off to the school yesterday after a brief visit to the office and orphanage. We both spent time reading with the younger children and David taught some of the children to tell time. David thought this went quite well until Nancy reminded him...
Read MoreOur morning was pretty much a repeat of yesterday and we expect that is how the rest of the week will be. Each day, as we pass each other outside of the school, we stop and make a few comments about how we...
Read MoreThe day started out as a typical hot day where we made a quick trip to the Hope Office and then off to spend the day at the Hope Community School. There was a welcome program which made us feel so glad to have made...
Read MoreLast night, after catching up on sleep, we went to a welcome dinner at home of Charles and Margaret. For those who do not know, Charles is the local minister at Home Ministries and Margaret and Charles also oversee the community school and...
Read More
Nancy and I spent seven hours in the London Airport. We hung around the airport lounge, ate, laughed and had “15 minute” chair messages which were incredible. Then we left for Lusaka and arrived on time. We have over 300 pounds of luggage, not including...
Read MoreOne week from tomorrow Nancy and I will be landing in Ndola, Zambia and we couldn't be more excited. We have been frantically buying our last minute supplies and working with the Spark-Hope staff on last minute trip details we need to take care of...
Read More