Merry Christmas, Makeni!

It has been four years since we went Christmas caroling. We have wanted to carol since coming to Zambia, but the opportunity never presented itself, and well, caroling is just not something that is done here.


We got our chance, though, when one of our supporting churches gave us a gift in order to bless people outside of our regular ministries. The church asked us to be creative in spreading Christmas cheer. What Tracy and I
decided to do was to bless the

thirteen families that live within the walls of our community. One or both adults in each family work here at Makeni either as groundskeepers, housekeepers, caregivers at the orphanage, office workers, or farmers. 

Anybody home?

With the money given I bought plastic buckets (red and green, of course) and we filled them with food items that the families normally can't buy as their income is well below $4 a day. Into the useful pail went sausages, soya pieces (high in protein), margarine, jam, peanut butter, sugar, tea, candy, and a gospel tract. 

Our friends and teammates, Derek and Kristin Dearth, joined us as we went door-to-door in the rain. Snow certainly would have made it feel more Christmassy. But then we wouldn't have been able to wear short sleeves and flip flops either. 


At each house we explained why we had come and that it was our tradition to sing carols at Christmas. Then we launched into singing "Joy 

to the World" and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas." Several joined in singing with us. One widow blessed us by praying for us afterwards. 


Everyone was thankful. Most were astonished. Several times we heard that no one had ever given them gifts like this before. 


We praise God for laying it on the hearts of the missions team at EFC of Sycamore-DeKalb. Praise God for their vision and funding. May God use this for His glory!