Grace Academy at Fountain Gate Children's Home

                                    
Here is our 2011 cohort from three Grace Academies, in the West Midlands (Solihull, Coventry and Darlaston): 21 students and 6 staff. We had just arrived at Fountain Gate, on the outskirts of Lusaka, on a large blue overlander truck, which had travelled to Zambia from Zimbabwe.

 The truck provided many of our meals and transport, mattresses to sleep on and of course lots of fun along the way.

                                   
The children and staff like to sing to us and recite Bible verses. We are always impressed by their strong voices and extensive Bible knowledge.

This year they also entertained us with some traditional dances.

Then it was our turn.  We taught them lots of circle games...

                                   
...and Phil was kept very busy with balloon modelling.

Fountain Gate is a home for orphaned and vulnerable children. They are part of Chreso Ministries and opened in 2009. Last year, when the GA trip visited they had only 25 children.  Now they have over 50, with capacity eventually for over 100. They have deliberately started small, so they learn as they grow. We are impressed by their excellence and attention to detail, not seen everywhere. 

 The houses are based on the house-mother model, with up to 12 girls or boys in each house. Since last year they have improved the bathroom facilities, opened a primary school, and taken in a few boarders, which helps with finance. The children eat together in the multi-purpose hall, which also serves as church.

They are also becoming self sufficient in food production.
1) Chickens at various stages of development...

                                    

 2) lots of crops and vegetables...

 3) A fish farming project about to start...

5) A training centre for teaching agricultural skills. The aim is for every child who evenually leaves Fountain Gate to have a trade of some sort and so be able to support themselves financially.

Some of the GA students helped to plant seedlings in their fields.

On Sunday we took part in their church service, teaching them action songs, demonstrating a drama based on the story of the Good Samaritan and shared some real stories of how God is working in the lives of students and adults.

The GA students quickly formed strong bonds with many of the FG children and it was very hard to leave...

The good news is that we are developing strong links with Fountain Gate and many of the students are already planning ways of supporting them...

... just one of the life-changing opportunities taken up!

Pictures, posters and a puddle!

I've been very neglectful with posting to my blog in recent months.  With the Grace Academy trip now complete, I should have more time to devote to such scribblings.

To kick off here's a picture hanging in our son's home, taken from their wedding in Zimbabwe last August - is it really almost 12 months!

                                    
It's made up of all the photo's taken on the pre-wedding family & friends holiday across Zimbabwe and their wedding day on 28th August.

Here's a close up to help you get the idea, but of course,the best view is from a distance.
These next ones were taken in Zambia recently:

 This is Sarah standing in front of the African Last Supper, which still hangs in the dining room at what was CVTC, now Chreso University...

 ...and by the same Zambian artist, explaining Ephesians 4 to some students. This one hangs in a classroom.

This next one is very special, because my mum and I made it, many years ago.  It hung in Delves Baptist Church, Walsall for many years, but in 2008, mum gave it to me to bring to Zambia.  I gave it to Pastor Sue and it now hangs in the hallway of Kings' School, Mukobela!

This poster was seen in a display in Arcades shopping centre in Lusaka on Monday 4th July, 'Heroes Day'. It is of King Lewanika of the Lozi Tribe, in court dress, when he was presented to Queen Victoria. We don't have an exact date but think it was around 1890.

 Both Andy and I separately said, on seeing the poster, "That's Charles!"

This is 'Charles', our friend, Charles Maboshe, who we know is a prince of the Lozi tribe, so we think King Lewanika is probably his great, great grandfather. This photo was taken at our son's wedding, which he and Joyce were able to attend. Sadly we didn't get to meet up with Charles on this trip, but will be sending him the photo by email.

 I'd love to hear what others, who know Charles, think!

And lastly, this puddle was seen in a Cape Town car park, next to our car....

Quite amazing! Don't you agree?