Pennies from Heaven

Change 4 Children is an Alliance for Children Everywhere (ACE) program that encourages adults and children alike to get involved with collecting funds for mission work in Zambia.   Adults collect spare change in beautiful baskets made by the women in Zambia, while children collect loose coins in colorful cloth bags called katumbas.

Members of First Presbyterian Church of Branchville and Andover Presbyterian Church, along with friends in the community, collected funds for Change 4 Children throughout the year, bringing in a grand total of $1,984.22.  Now that's a lot of pennies... and nickels, and dimes, and quarters!

You don't have to be traveling to Zambia to be involved in the Change 4 Children program!  It is a great program for Sunday Schools, VBS Programs, or even families.  For more information on how your church or your family can be involved with Change 4 Children, click here.  The program is free, and ACE will provide you with everything you need to get started. 

Fundraising for Zambia

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

Acts 20:35 

From pancake breakfasts to craft sales, the Team has been hard at work raising money for our trip to Zambia.  The money raised from these events will be used in Zambia to purchase much needed larger items, such as rugs and fans for the homes and shoes for the 2-6 year old children, while in Africa.

The First Presbyterian Church of Branchville Mission Committee held four pancake breakfasts at the church to raise money for Zambia. 

Ron, Sarah, Carol, Connor, Beverly, Linda & Suzanne cook up pancakes, eggs & sausage for the multitudes!

The Zambia Team, the Mission Committee, and a couple of young volunteers served up stacks of pancakes, rows of sausage links, mounds of scrambled eggs, and bowl after bowl of fresh fruit salad, along with orange juice, apple juice, coffee and tea.  

The pancake breakfasts raised over $1500 for Zambia, and were such a hit that the Mission Committee will continue to serve up pancakes to raise funds for local and international mission projects in the future.

Team member Janet wowed church members and friends in California with her beautiful crafts and delectable desserts, and raised over $2000 to be used to purchase items from the "Needs List" while in Zambia.

Team Member Janet (in green) prepares for her Zambia fundraiser.

Janet's beautiful crafts...

and irresistible desserts.

Our bags are packed!

After today's commissioning, the Team met to pack our "second bags," bags of items to donate to the children of Zambia.  Each team member will carry a bag of items to donate in addition to his/her bag of clothes and personal items.  Our nine "second bags" are now stuffed with soccer balls, toys, stuffed animals, school supplies, clothes and other necessities for the children of Zambia.  These items were generously donated by family, friends, members of FPCB and Andover Presbyterian Church (APC), the FPCB Sunday School, and a local 4-H Club.

Members of APC chose House of Moses in Zambia as their Christmas Mission, collecting onesies and socks for the infants, and shirts, dresses, and shoes for the toddlers, as well as school supplies, books, and toys.  Their generous donations filled an entire suitcase.

The Sunday School of the First Presbyterian Church of Branchville collected an offering for Zambia from September to June.  They used the funds collected to purchase toys for the children our Team will work with at the Children's Homes in Zambia.

Emily & members of her 4-H Club sewed dresses and shorts for the children of Zambia.  Here she presents some of the items she made to Team Leader, Carol.
Members of Friendship Circle at FPCB also sewed dresses for the little girls in Zambia.

Go into all the world!

Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation.

-Mark 16:15

Sarah, Carol, Ryan, Linda, Suzanne & Jannean represented the Zambia Mission Team at the Commissioning on June 8.

Today, our Zambia Mission Team was commissioned by Pastor Jeff Hatch of the First Presbyterian Church of Branchville.  In just one month, we will travel to Zambia, meet new people, and encounter God in unexpected ways.  

We leave the comfort of our homes, the security of our families, and the convenience of life in the United States as instruments of the Lord serving His children in need.  We go because Christ commanded us. 

Sing to the LORD, all the earth;

proclaim his salvation day after day.  

Declare his glory among the nations, 

his marvelous deeds among all people. 

 1 Chronicles 16:23-24

In Lieu of Gifts

The children in Zambia LOVE to play soccer, but oftentimes they don't have a regulation soccer ball to use in their games.  Instead, they use plastic bags tied with string or balls made of scraps of fabric or paper.  After hearing this, a few of our kids decided to use their birthday celebrations to put regulation soccer balls in the hands - or perhaps we should say at the feet - of the Zambian children our team will meet this summer.

Connor (10), Tara (12), and Ryan (13) each asked their friends to bring new soccer balls to their birthday celebrations in lieu of gifts.  Together, the kids collected 28 soccer balls.  Now that's something to cheer about!

Connor (front, center) & his party guests.

Tara (back row, center) & her party guests.
 

     

Ryan (holding the soccer ball) & his party guests.

Whom shall I send?

I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, Here am I; send me.

 -Isaiah 6:8

In just a few weeks, our team of nine will board a plane headed to Zambia, Africa.  We come from three states on two coasts.  We are male and female, young and not-as-young.  For some of us, this is our first international mission trip; for some, this is our first time flying.  We each have our own reasons for traveling to Zambia, our own expectations, and our own unique gifts we bring to this team. 

Carol - Team Leader

My heart is in missions whether local or distant. I have been on two mission trips to Haiti and this is my sixth to Africa: 3 to Kenya, 1 to Tanzania to visit friends in the mission field and work with them, and 1 previous trip to Zambia. I especially love working with the children and sharing God's love through the mission work.I look forward to cuddling and rocking the babies, visiting the schools and taking soccer balls and school supplies to them as well as sharing a craft activity, and helping with the Milk Medicine program. I am exited about returning to Zambia!

Ron

This is my 2nd distant mission trip as I have been to Kenya previously. I’ve also worked with Manna House soup kitchen, Family Promise (the homeless program), with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in New Orleans and the MS Gulf Coast for Katrina rebuilding, and at the NJ shore for Sandy relief.  I look forward to working with the programs in Zambia in the children’s homes, the schools and the Milk and Medicine program in the compounds (slum areas).  Anyway I can help will be great.

Ryan

Last year, I followed the adventures of my 4th grade teacher as she traveled around the world on a year-long mission trip. It was awesome to see all of the places she went and the people she met. I think this mission trip to Zambia is perfect for me since I love to play with my baby brother, Caden. I am looking forward to playing with the babies in Zambia and to teaching the children about God’s word. I think it will be fun!







Sarah

I am so excited to be going to Zambia to help. I just want to see one baby or person smile. I want to know I am doing something good for them and sharing God's love because that is what I am going for. Ryan and I are also planning to go to the schools in the slums and will teach the kids how to make bracelets on a Rainbow Loom. This is my first mission trip, but I have worked at local missions like the Manna House soup kitchen and delivering meals on Saturdays to Meals on Wheels people.





Linda

As I looked through Carol's pictures from a previous mission trip, I saw the beautiful faces of the Zambian children. It was then I knew I wanted to take part in this wonderful opportunity to cuddle babies, do crafts with preschoolers, visit elementary schools and learn about another culture as well as share our love of God. I am dedicating my trip to my mother who taught me about love, compassion and God's love.







Jannean

To everything there is a season… It was my time to retire. I had been praying about how I could best serve God. He answered that prayer through my long-time friend, Linda. She offered me a chance to turn a new page by going to Zambia and I took it. I believe when I am serving others, I am nearest to Him. So I am advancing in faith and anticipating, as always, God's best!








Janet

"Bwanji!" – I am honored to be traveling to Zambia with your church. A year ago when Linda told me she was going on a mission trip to Africa, my first response was “Wow! That is something I have always wanted to do. I will be happy to support you with prayers and a donation”. When Linda contacted me in February to ask if I would like to join your group I could hear God saying – “Here you go – here’s your chance”. On top of that, our bible study group was studying the Nehemiah study by Kelly Minter “A Heart That Can Break” – which is all about missions. One part of the study that really cemented my decision to go was the following from Kelly – “Sometimes I shield myself from finding out what’s really going on with people for fear I’ll be held responsible. Because with information often comes responsibility; if we know, we might be required to DO something.” If that wasn’t a confirmation, I don’t know what was! I was generously supported by my family and friends – raising over $2000 for the House of Moses (Praise God!) so here I go! What a fantastic opportunity and privilege.

Sandra

I am a teacher, wife, mom, sister, friend who has spent my life surrounded by caring individuals. I am going to Zambia because I cannot wrap my heart or head around the idea of a child all alone in this world. I hope in some way, I can make a small difference in the life of another human being that will ripple out and change the lives of others in a positive way.





Suzanne

I am going to Zambia because I was invited by my lifelong friend, Sandra, who is Linda's sister. Linda is a member of FPCB. I see this as an opportunity to help at the orphanage. Being a retired teacher, I also look forward to providing an exciting lesson for students at the schools. It will be an honor to assist in taking gifts to the House of Moses that will be given directly to them to fit their specific needs. I am also excited about seeing the country "up front and personal" as opposed to being a tourist. Thank you for the opportunity to provide this service.

Armchair Travelers Welcome!

We'll soon be on the Road to Africa... Zambia, Africa! 

  

Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa.  It is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north; Tanzania to the north-east; Malawi to the east; Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia to the south; and Angola to the west.  The capital city of Lusaka is located in the south-central part of the country. 

Zambia became an independent republic in 1964.  Zambia has experienced strong economic growth in recent years, but poverty remains a serious problem with reports of over 68% of the Zambian population living below the nation's poverty level.

In Zambia, Africa, one-third of the children are orphans, many as a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic; almost one-half of the children are so malnourished their growth is stunted; and more than half of the children are not in school.

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, 

as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' 

-Matthew 25:40

For three weeks this July, our mission team will be traveling in Zambia with Alliance for Children Everywhere (ACE).  Founded in 1969 by Virginia Woods, the mission of ACE is to demonstrate the great love of Jesus Christ by helping children in crisis.  Christian Alliance for Children in Zambia (CACZ), was established in 1997, and works to carry out the mission of ACE in Zambia.
 

CACZ operates two homes for abandoned children, AIDS orphans, and children in crisis.  At present there are 31 babies and toddlers in one home and 23 children ages 2-6 in the other, but this varies as new children are brought in and families in crisis are helped and reunited with their children.  CACZ also provides assistance to extended families and advocates for adoption.  

In addition, CACZ runs programs to provide sustenance to families with young children and free education to children who cannot afford to attend school.  The Milk and Medicine Program in the compounds (slums) around Lusaka provides infant formula and supplements to babies at risk of malnutrition and starvation and food staples to their families.  Education is provided at no cost to 2500 children in 7 faith based schools; lunch is also served in several of these.  A high school provides a first class education for 350 students.  The last two years saw the first graduating classes and a remarkable achievement of all graduating students passing the exam required by Zambia in order to graduate.

While in Zambia, our team will be the hands and feet of the Lord.  We will rock the babies, play with the toddlers, teach the school children, and serve those who need it most.   We will open our hearts, give smiles and hugs generously, and we will demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to those we meet, both big and small!  We can't wait!

We welcome you to join us on our adventure!  You won't need a passport (or any shots!) to learn more about ACE and CACZ, to meet our team, or to hear what we're up to when we touch down in Zambia.  We'll keep you updated right here on our blog - provided the Internet in Zambia cooperates, it can be a bit temperamental!