Home again, home again, jiggity, jig, jig!

When I was a child my family did a lot of camping in Rocky Mountain National Park. We would often go for a week or more at a time. Whenever we got home my mother would sing a little jingle...."Home again, home again, jiggity, jig jig." I have no idea where it comes from or where she got it from, but I remember it very clearly. Last night at about 8:00 pm, the 13 members of the Zambia 2010 team could all say, "Home again, home again, jiggity, jig, jig!"


After 2 days of flying from Zambia to Ethiopia, Ethiopia to London, and London to Denver we all made it home safe and sound! Thank you so much for your prayers! I know that God was watching over the 13 of us as we traveled and worked. Nobody got hurt, no luggage was lost, we did have a little "flu bug" that set a few of the team members back for a a day or so, but that was as bad as it was, and for all of that we say, "Yeah God!"

God truly protected us and we all came home being blessed by all those we came into contact with while on the trip. A special thanks to the team members who worked hard, gave up sleep, poured their hearts and love into others, and were the hands, feet, eyes, ears, mouths, arms (and hugs) of Jesus to all at the Village of Hope and the surrounding communities. Those team members are: Lisa Currier, Steph Hartman, John and Storm DeSisto, Deb and Corrinne Tepielow, Steve and Jan Engbers, Lori and Alli Gesink, George Elling, Frank Bergner, and Mark DeNooy. If/when you see any of these folks, give them a hug and ask them to tell you about the Village of Hope. God is doing some amazing things there!

Thanks again for the love, support, and prayers.  "Home again, home again....."

Heading Home Soon!

Well, our team arrived successfully in London!  They are enjoying some sightseeing today as it rains cats and dogs - the English standard!  Our group departs from Heathrow around 9am tomorrow MST.  Currently, everyone has recovered from the "bug" and is healthy, so pray for continued safety and health on this last leg of the journey.  Also, pray that they will enjoy the remainder of their time together in London - that they could relax and enjoy the city and the fellowship of the team.

Thank you all for your prayers!

Time for a Tearful Goodbye!

Our team was up early this morning preparing for their departure from the Village of Hope.  Pray that they can say goodbye to the children without too many tears.  It is amazing how quickly a bond has developed!

They will be flying from Lusaka, Zambia to Ethiopia, where they have a five hour layover, and then on to London.  Please pray for health and safety as they travel.  Pray that no one else becomes sick during the journey and that everyone can experience peaceful flights.

Church in Zambia

This morning our team enjoyed a great time of worship the Zambian way, with the children leading music.  Our group has fallen in love with these amazing children and it will be very difficult for them to leave.  Our leaders also enjoyed a local craft market today.

Please pray for our team as it seems some of them have caught a "bug".  Those who have been ill usually have to spend a day or two in bed, but are okay overall.  Pray for God's healing and that all of our team could be restored to 100% health before beginning travel back to Denver.

Last Day of VBS

Wow, how God has continued to move and work in Zambia!  Today was the last day of VBS and there were 150 kids - just as there were yesterday.   The kids from the Village of Hope led music today and the light shining from their countenances and their open, honest worship moved our team to tears.  These little ones are truly angels here on earth!

Some of our team was able to visit the local bush village.  It was very interesting, but VERY primitive.  Tomorrow half of the team is off on safari, and the other half are hosting a party for the house mothers at the Village.  Time is flying for our team and everything continues to go well.

Please continue to pray for our team's safety and well-being, and that they would be a blessing to all they come in contact with in Zambia.

By the way, since there is no internet available at our team's location, these blog reports are being made by Evelyn Rogers.  Keep praying for our team!

Zambian Children Love VBS!

I just received word that 157 children showed up for VBS!  Isn't that amazing?  26 of the children live at the Village of Hope and the rest are from surrounding villages.  The children range in age from one year to 15 years old.  Everyone had a great time and both leaders and children were blessed with fun, fellowship, and good teaching.  Word spreads quickly in the villages so they are expecting a greater number of children tomorrow.  Please pray that our team would be God-inspired in their presentation of His love and provision, that the team would remain strong and healthy, and that God would continue to guide them and bless the work of their hands.

The time in Zambia is eight hours ahead of us.  That means it is currently 6:45pm Wednesday evening in Zambia.  As our team relaxes this evening, pray for a good night of rest - that they could all awake refreshed and ready for the challenges of a new day.

Prayer for VBS

Our team has asked that we pray for today's VBS.  They have many, many children attending and the kids don't have the skills necessary to do some of the crafts and activities we have prepared.  Please pray for flexibility and adaptability for our team - that God will guide them to use materials in different ways and relate to the children where they are.  Pray that above all God will speak into the hearts of these little ones and they will know how deeply He loves them.

Our Team Has Arrived!

Our team arrived in Zambia yesterday morning (our time)!  The trip went very well, all luggage made it through to Lusaka, and the team was tired but in good spirits.  The group arrived in time to settle in, eat dinner, and go to bed - a perfect first day!  Most team members slept well and were excited to begin a new day.

The following day was wonderful.  The kids at the Village are fantastic and everyone is having a great time.  The team was up late cutting out flannel figures to use for Vacation Bible School.  They start VBS tomorrow and expect up to 120 kids.  Mark DeNooy had planned to make this post, but discovered they have no internet service at all at the moment.  The good news is that Debby Tepielow has international texting and so we're still able to communicate.  Don't you love technology!?!

Please pray for our leaders who will be doing music, crafts, activities, and Bible stories during VBS, that God will give them wisdom about what and how to teach, and that He will imprint His Word upon the hearts of the children.  Pray that God will bless our team with compassion and change their hearts and lives forever as a result of this journey.

Thank you so much for your prayer support!  More updates will follow as they are received.

The Journey Begins!

We are all sitting at the gate at DIA waiting to board the plane to London.  Leg #1 will take us from DIA to London.  We will have a 9 hour lay-over in London, leg #2 will bring us from London into Ethiopia, and finally, leg #3 will be from Ethiopia down to Lusaka, Zambia.  A total of about 26 hour of flights over the next 2 days.
Our gang consists of:
Deb and Corrinne Tepielow, Steve and Jan Engbers, John and Storm DeSisto, Lori and Allie Gesink, Steph Hartman, Lisa Currier, Frank Bergner, George Elling, and Mark DeNooy.  We are bring many supplies down to the Village of Hope and are looking forward to spending the next couple weeks bringing the love of Jesus to the children and the people in the area of the Village of Hope.  Thank you for your prayers on the front end of the trip and please keep praying for safety for the group as we travel and work. 

I will do my best to keep posts coming throughout our stay.  Internet connectivity will be limited but I will do what I can:)

Love ya all!

More materials needed....

I just received information from the Village of Hope in Zambia of supplies and materials needed.  Below is the list of supplies that they requested.  If you can help with any of these, that would be great.  Again, they can be dropped off at Eastern Hills Community Church, 25511 East Smoky Hill Road, Aurora, Co. 80016
Here are the items:

• Old picture calendars
• Hand pumps and needles for pumping up balls
• Larger/adult crocs and rubber boots...the rainy season is coming!
• Sturdy, "easy" 100-200 peice puzzles

I am sure this list will continue to grow in the next week or so.  I will keep you posted.

The best thing you can give the team right now are your prayers!  Pray for safety, pray for team bonding, pray for the emotional and physical health for the team, and pray that we can touch the lives of those that live many, many, many miles away.  We just want to do the Lord's work in whatever way He sees fit!

3 P's

The team has been praying, preparing, and packing. We leave 2 weeks from today and we are getting more and more excited.  We are collecting Croc (style) shoes, rubber boots/Wellingtons...not snow boots!, beanie babbies, and microwave popcorn.  If you can help supply any of those needs just drop off what you have in the lobby (shelves) of Eastern Hills Community Church, 25511 E. Smoky Hill Road, Aurora, Co. 80016 and we will gladly share with those at the Village of Hope Orphanage outside of Lusaka, Zambia.  The Body of Christ is a wonderful thing.  How cool that we can celebrate and share with The Body on the other side of the world.

I will continue to keep you all posted as we prepare and while we are there...hopefully:)