Foster to Adopt in Zimbabwe

We are so thankful for what we are learning about orphan care here in Bulawayo. After several days of spending time at Isaiah's, we learned that we could take children home with us for the weekend. This past weekend we were able to have 2 young boys from Isaiah's home come to our house in the outskirts of Bulawayo. They had a great time with our family and went to church with us on Sunday at City Pres. Church. (The other photo is at the home where Keary and Olivia are helping out with changing diapers.) There are always ways to help out the staff at the home. We spend much time washing and hanging out clothes (washer and dryer are both not working well), changing babies and playing/cuddling the kids. Please be praying for these children to be adopted. There are 20 plus children ready for adoption in this orphanage alone. Typically, the home will have only 4 or 5 children adopted out. We are learning about the barriers that exist to adoption here and are asking for God to show us how to help. Our children have fallen in love with these children and are struggling with these barriers as well!

Making new friends

We had a wonderful time at Isaiah's home. Stephen, Sayer and Lillian played in the yard with the children. We are learning about how things work in Zimbabwe and how the community is caring for orphans. The children are well cared for, but unfortunately only one child is scheduled to be adopted. Some of the children are taken on the weekend by families in the area. We are getting to know various people involved in the orphan ministry here and are praying that we will see how God is working here and how we can be of further help.

We have arrived in Bulawayo. All of us are doing well. Keary was quickly put to work on our first day of ministry. She is reading in a preschool which is part of a carpentry training ministry in the country for young men. While the staff is working with the 8 trainees, the pre-school teacher(on the left) is working with the children and teaching them English. For two years, they are discipled and taught carpentry skills. We have received a warm welcome from our hosts Mell and Craig Jones. This ministry has been in existence for 20 years and some of the graduates are pastors in the area. The quote from the leader was the carpentry training program is "not a success", because many of the trainees become pastors instead of carpenters. Our experiences with the relief and development internship have been wonderful and challenging at the same time. Please continue to prayer for us. We are still in transition and with limited electrical power and tight budget, we face many challenges daily that can impact us in terms of preventing us for participating and serving the community here.