Photo of the Week | Andreas from Zambia

This is Andreas from Kakabalika Child Foundation in Zambia. He is 11 years old and loves to read and write. He is also our feature cover model for the upcoming Spring Mission Trips that we will be launching this Sunday, November 6, 2011.

Photo of the Week | Richard Hagans W/ Kids at Kakabalika

There’s nothing like hanging out and gaving fun with the kids when you go on a mission trip! And there is probably no one who loves doing just that than Richard Hagans (aka “RC”), who traveled as part of the ChildCry missions team earlier this year.

Zambia 2011 SYP: Return home

We have been on American soil for the last few hours and it feels like we just stepped out of a dream. A dream that was birthed in the heart of our God. We got the incredible privilege to be apart of this dream and see the work of Kakabalika and Rivers of joy continue on the beautiful soil of  Zambia. The seven of us have been  changed forever by what the Lord has done.  There are no words to describe how wonderful this trip was. God has done something so special through us and also used the boys and the street children to bring us to a place in God that we all longed for. I personally no longer see things the same way. It’s as though my spiritual eyes have been renewed to see things as the Lord sees them, and it’s overwhelming! My encouragement to those contemplating going on a trip is yes, say yes. As our host Warren once said, “If you don’t feel called, volunteer.” Life will no longer be the same…

Zambia 2011 SYP: Day 7

“Long lasting friendships created in the heart of the Father”

Muribwange to everyone (which means hello)

The moment we stepped on Zambian soil my prayer was this that those that were here last year would connect again with the boys. And those that were coming to Kakabalika for the first time would also find the same. When we saw the boys for the first night it was as though we had known them all of our lives, my breath was taken away. And the friendships that God has established continue to grow strong in His love. The heart of God is beyond description to say the least. It takes you on journey that is beautiful and life changing. All of us have had special moments with the boys if it be over a game of Wolf or eating a snack with them on the bus or praying with them during night devotions, this trip has been very special, very special to all of us. It has been only seven days that we have been here and I (Georgina) have already gained a son, his name is Jackson. He is 16 years old. He likes to write stories about his life and wants to be a pastor someday. His smile can light up a room. It has been so special getting to know this young boy. This is a new dimension of the heart of God that I strongly suggest everyone to get to know.

Mark-Anthony was excited to reconnect with one his special boys from last year – Leonard Simupinyi. Leonard is 24 and was one of the elder boys at KCF last year. He was in trade school studying food management. He had a desire in his heart to find his mother one day, something that Mark-Anthony prayed for with him and continued to pray for after returning to New York. This year Leonard had graduated from trade school, was working, living outside of KCF and had reconnected joyously with his mother in June after not seeing her for eleven years. It is a blessing to see the faithfulness of God in the lives of these boys.

These are just a few of the many testimonies that God is doing here in our midst. Our days at Kakabalika have been sweet under the sun and we look forward to what is to come our way in the upcoming days. Until then, we are signing off…

Zambia 2011 SYP: Day 5

We have returned to find KCF a different place. It continues to be the dawning of a new day at KCF in many ways.

The staff of KCF has seen a shift with much of the old staff moving on and the number of overall staff diminished. However, the smaller numbers has been offset by some of the older boys growing into positions of responsibility to take care of the younger boys, including cooking for them, gardening and daytime supervision. The change in staff has also been in part to the introduction of the Kakabalika Trust School that has teaching staff in place under the direction of TSC missions Warren Carr. Pastor Reuben’s vision for this school has been to take it to a place where it serves not only the KCF children but the community as well. We came right at the end of their first semester of school to see the children’s presentations to their parents. Their writing pieces and dramatic presentation were clearly indicative of the potential these children had to learn and work together.

Speaking of the children themselves. They have matured since last year. We were more than pleased to see some of the older boys that have been in KCF the longest graduate from trade school with skills in catering and carpentry. One of the boys, Leonard Simupinyi, already has a job working in town. We can now see the fruit of the vision to take these boys from being rejects walking the streets fending for themselves to responsible men able to give back to their society.

Unfortunately one change that was hard was the six children that had left since we were last here. We encountered three of the boys, Chama, Gerald and Aaron on the streets during a day outreach. We were so happy to see them and it was evident to us that they were happy to see us too. The reality of these boys living on the streets is cruel and heavy. Our hearts were broken to see those that we had laughed and played with a year ago, now dirty, sad and addicted to sticker, but we thank God that He hasn’t forgotten them, and He never will. And we truly appreciate that KCF does offer the boys a great chance to change for the better. The reputation of KCF is being established slowly but surely throughout the neighborhood. God is bringing hope and a future to the boys that commit to staying in this oasis of life named, Kakabalika!

Zambia 2011 SYP: Day 4

“Welcome to Zambia”

We have been here for four days now and are adjusting to our new home and culture. The phrase “Welcome to Zambia,” has been definitive of the experiences that have reminded us we are not home.

“Welcome to Zambia” was our first greeting by Warren Carr, a missionary with his wife and children that have been in Zambia for three years. Warren came to get us at the airport. Our flight landed late and customs took forever to get through. It definitely threw Warren’s schedule off but he has learned the art of flexibility here and was not the least bit bothered. If things don’t happen on time…no worries.

“Welcome to Zambia.” Pastor Reuben greeted us at our first worship service the night we arrived. We went straight to church to embrace a worship time that is free and sincere, a word that was truth and a fellowship that was warm. This was our first evening service at Rivers of Joy.

“Welcome to Zambia” was again our greeting from the boys and workers at KCF. We felt welcomed by their warm embraces and big smiles. They are alive, fun, playful and curious. They call us uncle and auntie as a mark of respect. Uncle Mark, uncle Noah, auntie Autumn…and we have embraced them as our own.

“Welcome to Zambia” was certainly on our minds as we contemplated taking cold showers or waiting for hot water to boil, it has been an adventure to say the least. But one thing has remained true, life here is simple and beautiful and we are enjoying every second of it!

Zambia 2011 SYP Team: Day 1 (In Transit)

We are on our way to Zambia. I am currently sitting at the terminal in Washington Dulles airport.

We are extremely excited that this day has arrived. 5 of the 7 people on our team (myself included) are going back to KCF. The other two are experiencing it for the first time. We talked about the letters we had received from the last team that went in May and how excited we would be to see the boys, then something occurred to me as Autumn and I tried to remember all their names. A year later and the boys will actually be bigger than we remember them.

Some of them might be taller. Other might have experienced a change in their features and maturity. They will not be the same boys we remembered them to be. An anxious smile crossed both of our faces. The anticipation just kicked up a notch. Who will have grown a mustache? Whose voice got deeper? How will their walk with the Lord have changed?

As far as transit goes, we are ok. Three people are asleep. Noah is layed out on the floor in an orange travel blanket with his head on a towel. He was obviously prepared for the layovers. Autumn is curled up on a chair listening to music in her distinctively bright green headphones. Li-Senya is in and out of consciousness. Georgina and Kei-Landa are pondering the deeper things of life, Kei-Landa is knitting a scarf as she talks. Brittany and I are busy updating the world at large on our computers. In six hours I have made two facebook posts, put an entry in my journal and now added this post for you.

More to come…

Zambia 2010 Trip Report

Kakabalika House is home to young men that used to live on the streets of Lusaka, Zambia. Check out this trip report of the team that went out in May to assist local workers ministering to the boys living in the home as well as those still living on the streets. Our next team will be going out in May 2011 – check out the 2011 Trip Schedule to find out more and to register!

Zambia 2010: SYP Image Gallery

Zambia 2010: Team Update

Coming to Lusaka, Zambia, was a mission in itself, after 28+hrs of travel we finally arrived here at the Kakabalika House.  I really did not know what to expect when I arrived in Zambia, but this has been a very interesting trip on many levels: culturally, the climate & environment and also spiritually. 

A strong emotional experience swept over me as soon as I stepped into the Kakabalika House.  I began to cry uncontrollably for 15 minutes realizing just how sweet and different are the lives of these boys from the story we’ve heard about their life on the street.  I knew that God was moving in my heart and there was a tremendous refreshing and cleasing taking place in my heart. These children  continue to be changed everyday and I’m glad I could be a part of their growing experience…a God experience!

– Testimony from Noah Goerge (TSC Team Member)