Falling More In Love

Back from Zambia and struggling to put into words our amazing journey.  This year, my ‘our’ consisted not only of my son, Patrick, and myself, but also my husband, Mark, as well as my youngest son, Andrew.  The fact that the trip consisted of the four of us, is certainly one of the most amazing parts of the journey.  I fell in love with Zambia last year, and one of the hardest parts of coming home was the realization that my husband, as hard as he tried, could not truly understand these feelings of mine that were all consuming.  Now he knows!  He went, he experienced, he believes in the ministry, he loves Zambian orphans!!

 





 

Several thoughts have come to me regularly since I have been home, one of those:  ‘If you want to fall more deeply in love with your husband, take him to Zambia, and watch him work so incredibly hard preparing a house to be home to 12 beautiful orphan girls – including mopping the whole place so that it would be perfect.  Watch him embrace and love on 10 little boys that have craved the warm touch and caring voice of a real man in their lives.  Watch him get to know and play with the little girls that stole his wife’s heart a year ago.  Watch him brush the tears away of those same little girls as they had to say good-bye after an amazing week, then hug and console his wife who also couldn’t stop the tears.  Watch him look on with amazement at the two young men that he raised as they gave completely of themselves, even though they were exhausted and somewhat sick.  I can assure you that you watch your husband do all of that, and you can’t help but to fall more deeply in love with him.’  I thank God for this wonderful man that I married 20 years ago this August and for the journey that we are on together.

 



Putting together shelves for Hallelujah House with another wonderful man, Dave Plum

 



Having fun with Vanessa one of the sweet Hallelujah House girls!



Playing with Miracle, one of my girls that I had last year and again this year.  We have the privilege of sponsoring her and it is wonderful to see the confidence that comes from getting a great education.  She KNOWS she is part of our family!!

Mark sharing lunch with his boys!

Mark with his boys and his Zambian partner.

In one of the classrooms in the compound.  Sponsorship means these kids get educated and will change their lives, their families' lives and their country.

Consoling my girls.  A sad day having to say good bye!