Greetings Friends,
It is with great pleasure that I share with you the happenings at Brook of Hope, Zambia (BHH). I was there for 6 weeks and did a variety of programs with BHH and children’s ministry. We have an amazing team of people to carry out the programs there. Seeing God’s hand at work is a blessing. I pray each of you could witness it firsthand. For now, my attempt to capture the essence of all that goes on there and using photos and videos, may you also feel the presence of God at work in the lives of these wonderful people.
Exciting new fellowship with some of our vulnerable children
Children with their newly provided school supplies
Starting with the 15 boys who were living on the streets of downtown Kabwe, let me tell you, they stole my heart! They have a great energy, enthusiasm, and gratefulness for all that we did with them. Singing and dancing as they praise and worship God in their local language, filled me with joy and hope. They enjoy these times immensely, as well as the meals we provide, weekly devotion and discussion time and some fun games. Even something as simple as a place to wash themselves, and a place to wash their clothes meant so much to them.
Upon leaving for the day, they were given a new 750ml water bottle, and it was like winning the lottery! All the things you and I take for granted.
Having a place to wash up and clean their clothes is a treat for these street kids
Getting tutoring help with basic educational skills is key to getting these kids excited about staying in school
Building deeper relationships with them is an ongoing goal. Peter and his team are excelling in this area. This group of street boys have become very close with one another and watch out for each other when in town. When one of them was in trouble, the rest felt bad, and I could see the concern on their faces. It is survival of the fittest on the streets for these children, yet here we see them starting to care for each other in the group and help each other out, to laugh and sing and have good times. Thank God for that. May the love of God shine brightly in their lives and be seen by others around them.
Getting new shoes not only builds their confidence but is a requirement for attending school
Exciting time for our kids as they now can attend school
By God’s grace, 8 out of 15 of them are now back at school. New uniforms, shoes, socks, shoe polish, and school supplies have been purchased. The children are registered in schools in their local area of Makululu. Seeing the joy on their faces as they put on new school uniforms was wonderful. The best was taking them into a Bata shoe store (the only regular shoe store in town) and buying new shoes that come in a shoe box! The boys were thrilled. They carried that box out of the store like it was a gold nugget.
They agreed to stay off the streets during the school week and stay in the home of a parent or relative. This is a huge accomplishment. We have 14-year-old boys who have been surviving on the street, going back to school, and placed in grade 4 until they learn to read. We have boys back in school after some time and thriving. Their attendance and performance are monitored monthly. In the same area they attend school, we have decided to hire a teacher to do an after-school tutoring session with them one day a week. They are also encouraged to attend the Saturday tutoring session every Saturday at the BHH. They are all appreciative of this opportunity. Education is the key to their self-esteem, and hope for a brighter future and therefore we are dedicated to ensuring their success.
Saturday tutoring sessions are fundamental aspects of BHH
Kids now get individualized attention and caring guidance from highly skilled local teachers
The boys who decided not to return to school, for various reasons, are being taught skills such as agriculture, retail, and poultry management. We are also teaching them entrepreneurship with small business ventures. More on that next newsletter. Two of the boys now have a house to stay in that we rent for them for a mere $25 a month. This initiative is helping to transform their thinking from being someone who “lives on the street” to someone who “lives in Makalulu but works on the streets” to earn a living. They are thrilled to have a place to call home, a place to bathe, a place to wash their clothes, a place to leave their belongings, a place to sleep soundly each night.
Newly provided shelter for our oldest boys is a God-sent
BHH does outreach ministry with local churches, providing a means for us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The other 15 children we work with are from another ghetto community called Katondo. This group consists of boys and girls, different ages, who live with a family member. Our goal is to support them in school and to do what we can to keep them off the streets. They are provided with school supplies, and some have received uniforms, shoes, and socks. Many more are needing new uniforms but as of now, we do not have the money for that. They are understanding and patient. We want to continue to encourage them, pray for them and provide material help when possible. The appeal of earning money in town is a constant temptation for some who struggle to eat a meal a day. These children like to be at BHH for tutoring, for social time, singing praise and worship songs and for building relationships. Snacks and drinks are provided weekly and once a month, a meal is cooked for them. It is a wonderful time for all of them and the staff. We hope to be able to help the families with a bag of food monthly when finances become available.
Children learn better at school when they have had a meal a day.
This youngster is demonstrating how the typical Zambian eats a meal
Feeding the kids well balanced nutritious meals is a fundamental goal of our Ministry
The two oldest children are in grade 8 and grade 10. They go to the nearby high school. I had the pleasure of visiting them one day. They were thrilled to be back in school and looking nice in their new uniforms. Both students are doing very well in school, and I see further education at a college level for them. This will be another initiative to work towards in the future when enough financial support is available. We trust God will make all things happen in His perfect timing.
Having fun together is always encouraged at Brook of Hope, Zambia
Our latest income generating initiative is this storefront where locals can come and purchase household items
At BHH, the projects that are running to build self-sufficiency are going well. The local people come to buy the vegetables and chickens and the little grocery shop on the property, facing the road, is now renovated and open for business. We are doing our best to be visible to the public and using the home as a teaching area. Many visitors have come in and been inspired by what’s happening at BHH. For that we are grateful, and the glory goes back to God.
Your prayers and financial support is gratefully appreciated. We are a team. We are all working towards helping to transform the lives of these precious ones and then watching what Jesus does for them. Building relationships and helping to change their poverty mindset takes time. The children and their families are seeing the love of God working through our team to help them have hope for a better tomorrow and to thrive to be all God has created them to be.
Please consider being part of our team. We need your prayers and if you can help financially, it would be appreciated (charitable status is currently pending CRA approval). Just click on the link below for direct donations to Brook of Hope Home via e-transfer brookofhopehome@gmail.com .
Check us out on Facebook for more photos, videos, updates
and if you wish to learn more, we have a website https://brookofhopehome.ca/
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
