village

We live in town and drive to the village (about an hour each way). It is ½ tar road, and ½ dirt road full of ruts. It is quite an adventure. Being in the village is a very special thing. There are about 14 villages with in this chiefdom. There are about 7 within walking distance. 4 of which are very close to where the property All Nations/Loves Door (Dan and Regina) have purchased. This is where the first orphan home is being constructed. Right now the workers are making the bricks, then begins the construction of the actual structure. Then the man who does the thatch roof comes in. it is quite a process. It is very exciting to be here while it is happening!


It is amazing the amount of work that can be done here! Just to name a one thing:
Micro Businesses – there are huge opportunities with the villagers to assist them in small businesses. They have ideas, but we do not have the manpower to train and help maintain what they attempt to begin. Dan was just speaking about this morning a model where 5 to 10 people, who all have different business plans, get a loan together. They each start their respective businesses, they each week they each put a percent of their earnings to pay off the loan. Well if one business starts to struggle, or the person gets lazy, there is peer pressure to continue because the others take up the slack on the payments, which of course they do not want to do. This model takes the weight off us (missionaries) and puts the responsibility on the local people. We can train and assist, and problem shoot, but we are not carrying the weight. This is why up until now the small loads they have tried to give out to one or two people to start small businesses have not really succeeded. First of all the people here working in the villages have so much on their plates and they cannot keep up with the individuals who the loans are given to.
Who will come? Who will research and implement these ideas here in the villages we are working in Zambia?












Isaiah 1:17
“Learn to do good.
Seek Justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of Orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows.”