Greetings from everyone here. It is with great joy and praise that I write to you. I just want to share a few things that have been happening since the last time we wrote.
After the Community Transformation Workshop last year I am proud to say that some people who attended have started applying the knowledge that was shared. This is evident in that five children who were living on the streets have now been admitted to an orphanage. They used to survive by working for women selling scones in the streets and in the end being paid only 30ZMK (US$2.60) per month. Sometimes they would be beaten, their goods stolen from them and in the end arrested because no one believed them when they complained about the stolen goods and beatings. Instead they were accused of being thieves and made to spend days behind bars in an adult holding cell. Where some of them came out they were even worse and learnt to be much worse criminals.
But it's a big praise, two of the five children who have been admitted at Kulela Balanda Orphanage in Solwezi, were put into school and wrote grade 7 exams doing very well. This is just a good example of how giving hope to the hopeless can transform the life of even the least.
We visited the orphanage and they explained they couldn't pay for the secondary school fees for these children but by God's grace and all the support UCF is receiving we can proudly say Lucky and Justine are on their journey to achieving their goals of becoming a doctor and pilot. They are now in school and are among the best grade 8 students the school has.
We have been encouraged so much by the transformation of Lucky and Justine and we pray that God will continue to provide so that UCF can spread this message of hope through these workshops.
Another pastor has recently rescued five children from mothers living on the streets and has given them temporary shelter.
Recently another 2 year old malnourished little girl was brought to UCF to see how she can be helped. She was rescued from an abusive single mother who is suspected of being responsible for her 4 year old son dying due to injuries just last week. UCF is giving this child temporary shelter while we wait to make a final decision over the child. We also want the child to be healthy again before we can make a decision.
This is a brief report of what has been happening at UCF and we just praise God that he has provided for the organization. We have never needed so much support like we do currently and God raised even more people to help.
We are just so thankful for all your work and prayers for us and the ministry.
Love to you all and thankyou!
Roy and Sarah