Girl Drama

As a parent we try to protect our children as much as we can from things or even people that may hurt them. However, there are some times that our children just need to experience things to learn how to handle situations on their own. This can be very difficult as a parent. At times our children will overcome and be victorious and at other times they will fail. It is our job as parents to be there during these times to encourage and to be their biggest cheerleaders.
Hannah is 8 years old and is beginning to face some difficult situations with friends. My new term for this is "Girl Drama." Kevin tries to help but let's face it, he is not a girl and can't quite figure them out. Anyway, Hannah comes to me with these situations and let me tell you it is just tough! My hormones mixed with her problems...well, let's just say I'll probably be going gray earlier than I thought. I now know where my mother got her gray hair from.
Yesterday, Hannah found out that her best Zambian friends were going to a party and they asked her if she wanted to go to. This wasn't a birthday party but just a party that one of our young neighbors decided to do for all the little girls in our area. It was to be a dance party. Hannah was so excited! She got all dressed up with her blue dress and put her hair up too. She thought it would be like her dance class that she had gone to at a school in Lusaka where it is more fun dancing to music kind of like exercise. She was gone all afternoon and returned right before dark. These were her comments(along with tears) when she got home. "Mom, the party wasn't today it was just a practice day. All those girls have been practicing all week and the party is tomorrow. It was the kind of dancing like Zambians do where they shake their hips and they all laughed at me because I can't make my hips do like theirs do." I hugged her and tried to encourage her by telling her that they laugh at me too because I can't do it either but nothing I said helped. She proclaimed that she didn't want to go back and I said that was fine. Then she decided she would go back because she would be too embarrassed if she didn't go back.....(girl drama). Anyway, she got up this morning and was so excited about going and then she was at our neighbors house waiting for them to get ready and they started laughing(the mom included) and saying her name and she thought they were talking about her so once again she came running home in tears saying they were making fun of her and she wasn't going. Her friends finally convinced her that they were not laughing at her and that she had done well the day before and please would she go with them. She dried her tears and decided to go. Do I like other children or even parents laughing at my baby. No, I do not! Do I want to go bop them on the head? Yes, sometimes I sure do. But I won't, because even though Hannah's feelings were hurt she has to learn how to work through these things and hopefully she will grow to be a strong young woman one day that God will be pleased with. I am proud of her for facing what seems like a giant to her. Personally, I would have stayed at home if I were her. I say that, yet there have been many times that Zambian women have laughed at me. You just can't give up and let your feelings get hurt. We came here to be a witness to them and share Christ with them. If I gave up everytime someone laughed at me or called me fat(which is a compliment here) I would just sit in my house all the time. Sometimes we have to be a fool for Christ and if that means trying to dance like them when they want to teach us, eating things that look strange to us, walking with them long distances, helping them in their kitchens or homes(-they do things quite different) then that is what I have to do. I can't give up! Hopefully, Hannah will see that in me and she won't either. She is still there and will probably be gone all afternoon again. Pray that Hannah will grow into a Godly young woman and that He would use these times in her life to mold her and make her into His image. Also, pray that God would give me wisdom as these situations come up. I'm sure it can only get worse as she gets bigger.

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Matthew 28:5-7

He Is Risen!! Happy Easter Everyone! We have had a wonderful Easter Day. Our friends Sky and Daniel came and spent the day with us. We went to Chisomo Baptist Church to worship. Kevin preached on the Lord's Supper and we were able to share with them in communion. After church we came back to our house and had lunch outside since it was such a beautiful day. The guys relaxed inside and Sky and I had an Easter egg hunt with Hannah and her friends. Later in the afternoon we took them down to see the Chongwe River. We are so thankful for such good friends and the special times we can share together. Tonight after Hannah went to bed we watched The Passion. This is the first time I have watched it since it first came out. It is still such a powerful movie and I'm moved to tears once again. Jesus endured so much for me just because He loved me. I stand amazed and awed at such a love as that!

Hannah, Dorcas, Deborah, and Mapalo had a good time hunting for eggs.

Aunt Sky and Justin playing Hangman.

Justin hid one of the eggs in Sydney's dog collar. Hannah is the only one that would get that one.

An interesting story and an answer to prayer

After having fun at the river on our little side trip we got loaded back into the truck and started heading home. After driving for about 20 min. on curvy roads(I get car sick sometimes) Kevin realizes he can't find his phone. We search the truck and I even try to call him but the operator says she is going to switch me to voice mail. Kevin decides it must have fallen out of his pocket when he was getting in the truck and therefore would be right there on the side of the road. So we turn around and go back the 20 min on the curvy roads. I really didn't think we would find the phone because I figured someone would have passed by and taken it. I just began to pray that we would be able to find the phone and that it would be ok. Kevin has close to 150 phone numbers in his phone that would be lost if he couldn't find his phone. We got back to the spot where we parked and there was no phone in sight. Kevin retraced his steps and found it laying on a rock submerged in the water. It had been there at least 40 min. if not longer. He let it dry out on the dash of the truck as we drove home. We stopped for lunch at Sandy's Creation in Lusaka and he tested his SIM card in my phone and it worked! Then a little later he tried his phone and it worked too!! We were amazed! God Answers Prayer and cares about the little details of our life!!

Side Trip

On our way to Lake Kariba we spotted this little river and decided that we would stop on the way back home. It was a beautiful place to stop and enjoy God's Creation. We ended up staying almost one hour. I'm not in any of the pics. because I was guarding the truck up on the bridge and taking pictures. I don't know what they thought I would do if someone actually came to steal anything out of the back of our truck though-maybe a little Taibo-haha.

Justin, Kevin, and Zach
We have a similar picture when Justin was almost 2 and Zach was almost 5. It was taken in a river in Gatlinburg Tenn. They sure have grown up.

Here Kevin is teaching Hannah how to skip rocks. I love this pic.!

Hannah- 8 years old.

Justin loves rocks. He wanted to bring a lot back with him but Kevin limited him to two.
Justin will turn 14 April 28th.

You can tell that Justin accidentally fell in the water. Believe me, that was no accident! He actually wore his bathing suit home from the hotel. He had a plan.

Zach-almost 17 years old in May.

AMTM

This is our newest family picture taken during our AMTM.

This is the Eastern Harvest Team picture. Everyone is here except for John McPherson who is currently in the USA on stateside assignment and Easton Helgren.

This is a picture of the best Mission family in the world!

Tacky Night

On our last night together we had what was called "Tacky Night." We all dressed up according to one of the following categories: tacky hat, hair, footwear, clothes, or accessory. We actually had judges come all the way from the states(ok, they were all ready here as volunteers) to judge this serious competition. Everyone from our family dressed up except for Kevin. He decided to enter the tackiest hair contest without doing anything and sure enough he came in third! Ha!
We had door prizes, jokes, talent, and of course " The Franklin Awards." The Franklin Awards was started several years ago by a man named Joe. Just Kidding!!! Really, it was started by Franklin Kilpatrick. Each year we turn in awards for different people in our mission and those so honored to receive one gets it during "The Franklin Awards." I have a pic. below that will give an example. Anyway, we all had a fantastic time!

Wes and Laurie helped organize this big event.

These are two of the volunteers dressed up pretty tacky.

The Youth group sang a song from the movie Freaky Friday. They did a great job although they were dressed pretty tacky.

Dwayne and Betty entered the tackiest hat contest. They won together as a couple. I think they came in second. You can't see in this pic. but Dwayne is wearing a lamp shade with a roll of toilet paper on the top.

These four little s: Emily, Taylor, Evie, and Hannah sang Jesus Loves Me and said two bible verses for their talent.

Blake with something on his head--looks pretty tacky to me.

All these kids won the toothless award. They had all lost teeth this past year. Franklin gave them each a candy bar!

These are the ones entering the tackies clothes award. The winner was Troy Lewis who is walking up at this point. Sorry, I didn't get his pic.

Afternoon Program

On our last afternoon the children had a program sharing things that they had learned during the week. All the MK's had such a great time this past week.
We also had to say "bye" to 3 units which is always sad. However, God has blessed us with 3 new families in the last couple of months. We are always happy to see new families come!

14 volunteers from the states came to help us this week. They kept our children and did VBS with them. They led in our worship times and taught us SS. "Thank you" to all who came and served us this week.

Sky Scott was presented with her 5 year pin. Her husband Daniel is the one that pinned it on her.

Callie Shaw will be graduating very soon and will be going to college in the states. We had a special time of memories that her parents shared and we presented her with a nice key chain to take with her to remember us all.

Justin Drummons will be leaving this summer and since was the last time we would be together before he leaves we went ahead and said bye to him also. Mike and Lindy presented him with a book about Zambia.

The Shaw family will be leaving for the states in a couple of weeks. Tim will be working in Richmond at the IMB for a year. Then they will return to this side of the world and work in Joburg. South Africa. We are sad they are leaving but excited about what lies ahead for them.

The Youth group: Callie, Anna, Troy, Zach, and Justin

On a Cruise-AMTM

Yesterday afternoon we returned from our AMTM or Annual Missionary Training Meeting in Siavonga, Zambia. We had a great meeting and a lot of fun. I dare say we have the best mission family in the world! Over the next couple of days I'll update with pics. from our time together. On this particular afternoon we all went on a cruise on Lake Kariba. When we got back to the hotel we enjoyed a braii(cookout).

Yes, there could be hippo's or crocs. in this water but we were way out so there probably wasn't anything to worry about here.

David, Zach, and Justin D.

Justin

Boys will be boys...

Josh, Luke, Amy, and Anna Bowman

Caleb driving the boat.

Zach and Kevin

Hannah and her friend Evie. Evie just moved here shortly after Kelsey left. God is so good to provide good friends.

Sky, me, Amy and Luke