Meet my girls (first five)

Now, part of my mission going to Zambia, is to come back and find people that would like to fall in love with one of these amazing young people and help them to go to school and receive a good meal once a day in school.  Most of my girls don't get to go to school.  I had one-on-one time with each girl so that I could get to know her and her circumstances a little bit better.  With each girl, I found out what her hearts desire was.  What they want to do when they grow up.  If they were happy.  If they knew Jesus.  When I asked what I could pray about, each of them mentioned school.  They all want to go to a good school.  Somehow they all know that an education will help them to lead a better life.  My goal is to get each of these girls educated, each of Pat's boys educated, to go back year after year to help more kids.  To fundraise and build more schools.  To change this nation, one child at a time!

Now, meet my girls!

Regina is a darling little sprite!  She is fortunate to live with her mom, dad, 5 siblings, and her grandmother but her parents do not have consistent income and cannot afford to pay for school fees and uniforms.  She does go to a community school, but that is for an average of 2 hours a day, and the teachers only have an education up to around 7th grade.  She spends her nights sleeping on a mat with her siblings.  She would love to go to a good school where she will also get a very good meal every day.  Regina is 8 years old and in grade 1.  On the last day of camp the girls received new shoes.  They were so happy to have such a wonderful gift.  Thank-you Linda Bradshaw for purchasing Regina's shoes!

Cloudine is a beautiful, shy little girl.  Her smiles often come with a downturn of her head.  Her desire is that she would be able to go to school.  She prays that she would also be able to go to church and that she would be kept from temptation.  She sleeps on the floor with her brother.  She is fortunate to still have both her mom and dad.  Cloudine is 9 years old, but doesn't attend school at all. Thank-you Starr Worley for purchasing these wonderful shoes for Cloudine! 

Josephine is a very bright young girl.  She lives with her mom and dad and 6 siblings.  Her older brothers help support the family, but she is unable to go to a good school as there is just not enough money.  Her prayers are that her parents would find good work, that she would be able to go to school and become a teacher (I truly believe she will - she is very determined!), and that she would be a good girl.  Josephine is 7 years old....and she gives the sweetest kisses!  Thank-you Starr Worley for buying Josephine's new shoes as well!!

Mwansa lives with her Mom and her Grandmother.  Her dad has died.  She does get to go to a community school, but again, that isn't a great education.  She and her one sibling sleeps with her mom.  She gets to eat one meal a day, usually nshima.  Mwansa would like to grow up to be a nurse.  She goes to a Catholic Church.  She could make great strides if she were able to get a good education!  Thank-you to my wonderful husband Mark for buying Mwansa these shoes!

Sweet little Natasha.  Natasha came to camp not feeling real well.  She was on medication that made her sleepy and she wasn't able to focus completely, but when you asked Natasha to Sekelela (smile) she lit up the whole area with her smile!  She stays with her Mom, as her dad left with another woman.  She would love to go to school.  When the children are sponsored, a member of FLMI staff called a discipleship leader, also checks on the children regularly.  I so hope Natasha is sponsored, so that someone will be keeping up with her health.  Her mom is also on medication, and I worry about the stability in the family!