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 September 9, 2010 |
Update for December 24, 2005I can't help but think of you (and of course Wayne, Dyllis, and Kristy also) on this Christmas Eve, as I know that in our Norwegian family tradition you will be celebrating and opening presents tonight. I hear that roast beef is on the menu and not the lutefisk that must be on the Christmas Eve menu when I am home. I guess we've got only one REAL Norwegian traditionalist left in the family who is strong enough to make the lutefisk Christmas Eve prevail. It won't prevail here...I haven't found any lutefisk in Zambia! I thought about making some lefsa but didn't get around to that. In fact, there really is nothing traditional about my Christmas Eve this year. You would probably laugh at me if you could see me right now. Here I sit at the battery-operated laptop because the power went with the rainstorm we had earlier. On my left I have my little battery-operated fibre optic Christmas Tree going, Christmas Carols are playing from the computer, on the right is a candle...not for atmosphere but for the only light other than the glow of the computer screen and I am drinking an ice cold Sparkling Apple Juice...not a Hot Apple Cider. I was going to go to Nancy Clark's and we were going to watch classic Christmas movies. The downpour, thunder and lightening however, said, "Cheryl, you stay right where you are." Imagine that...a rainstorm keeping me from going out on Christmas Eve...not a snowstorm! Not traditional but a very happy Christmas Eve none the less. It is especially happy because I know there are three little kids who are no doubt having the happiest evening they have had for a long, long time. I'm sure you remember Moses, Samson, and Mercy...the three orphan children of Joyce. Just before I left for Eastern Province last week I got a phone call from Everlyn at the Village of Hope saying that they had room for the three children and would I please bring them before Christmas. Knowing I was off to Eastern Province and then needing to continue the search for a new house, (which still has brought forth no fruit) I told Everlyn it would be really difficult. She just told me to "try hard." Well, earlier in the week Mrs. Sakala and I got together and we did try hard. On Wednesday we went to both families to get the forms filled out and signed and told them that I would be able to take the children to Kitwe on Friday. To me that seemed rather like shock treatment...informed on Wednesday, gone on Friday. However, Mrs. Sakala agreed with Everlyn that it would be good for the children to be able to celebrate Christmas in their new home. On Wednesday it did seem like everyone was in shock but on Thursday when I went back to take Moses to get an X-ray and go see the Doctor, it seemed as if everyone was excited about the adventure. It was decided that Great Grandmother would go along so she could see where the children were going. Thinking of going to Kitwe on Friday, I had kind of thought I would invite myself to Kerr's for Christmas and stay in Kitwe over Christmas. However, with Great Grandmother wanting to go, I decided it best to go on Friday and come back on Saturday. It was me who was rather late on Friday morning. When I arrived at the house, Great Grandmother, Moses, Samson, and Mercy were all smiles and all ready to go. Not knowing what they do about gifts for Child Care Plus sponsored children at the Village of Hope, I decided to give your gift to Moses before we left. He was delighted with the Bible Story book. I also gave small books to Samson and Mercy so they all had a new book to go with. In a few days you should be able to see some pictures on the website. The trip went well. The policeman who stopped me for speeding was even merciful and forgave me. Really! I was trying to be real good, knowing how quickly that Dream Machine overspeeds, without one even realizing it! However, the speed limit in that area was lower than I thought it to be...thus the forgiveness...after a lot of talking and a lot of pleading of course! When we arrived at the Village of Hope, the three children were introduced to their house mothers. Because of available space, each child was put in a different house. Mercy immediately got a friend, Maggie, who took her by the hand and led her home. Moses seemed all right at his house but was near tears when it came time to say Good-bye. Samson was the one I was concerned about. He looked lost and not very happy or sure about this at all. Great Grandmother and I left, promising to go back in the morning before we left for Lusaka. I called on some prayer warriors, asking them to pray that all the children (especially Samson) would have a good night and be able to feel comfortable in their new homes. In the morning we did go back. Apparently Mercy and Maggie had been so excited that they hardly slept all night. The housemother got up and didn't find them in their beds. She went to the bathroom, thinking that might be where they were. Still no girls. Finally she found them in the lounge, on the sofas where they had finally succumbed to sleep. Mercy was full of smiles and didn't even want to leave "her" house to go with us to see her brothers. I guess she is going to be all right! Next we went to Moses' house. He was not to be found. The house mother thought he was out playing football. Earlier someone had said the boys were probably out on the field playing football. I said, "No, if they were there and they had seen us come in...who could miss that bright blue Dream Machine?...they would have come running. Wrong again Cheryl! That's exactly where Moses was, playing football. He came over briefly enough to talk to Great Grandmother for just a couple minutes and off he was again to the game...committed to his team already! Guess he too is going to be all right. Next it was on to Samson's house and the big test! There was Samson, outside with all his house-mates, digging and cleaning around the house. He was quiet and sober but gave out a few smiles. When I took him in my arms and asked him if he liked it at his new house, he said he did. Hopefully he was telling the truth and he too will be all right. He gave no indication that he didn't want to stay. I can't imagine that these kids, who have lived under such tough conditions for such a long time won't love a place where they get three meals a day, have lots of friends, get to go to school regularly and have a great church to go to. I'm sure all is going to be well. You can still pray though, that the adjustments will be made and the separations won't be too difficult. Also pray for Great Grandmother. She is the one going home to a rather empty house. Although I am sure she is glad to be free from the responsibility of trying to support three small children, I'm also sure that she is going to miss them very much. One thing really touched me. That was that 12 year old Moses can be a kid again. It was so delightful to see him playing with friends and committed to that team, giving little thought or concern to the adults in his life or even his brothers and sister. More often I have seen him as the responsible one in a troubled family. He was the major care-giver to his sick mother. On Wednesday when I went to pick him up for his medical appointments, he was off to the police station with his Aunt, to be her witness for a case that had been brought against her. So to see Moses being able to enjoy being a kid was the biggest bonus! Thanks so much for your part in making this all possible, by sponsoring Moses. I haven't heard yet if Child Care Plus sponsors have been found for Samson and Mercy but I am trusting that will happen soon if it has not happened yet. As you celebrate and have a Merry Christmas, you can think of these three kids who truly are going to have a Very Merry Christmas this year!
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