Volunteers who make a difference

Lifespring Farm / Foundation calls for many volunteers who visit from countries all around the world. Our most recent volunteer was Tanya from U.K. - well, Chichester to be exact. Tanya is 23 years old and has finished her Psychology degree and hoping to get a fulltime job upon her return to England. She arrived 3 months ago, not sure of what to expect and left today full of great memories and a tremendous experience in providing these orphans with lots of love & hope.

Keep in touch, Tanya!

I truly enjoy working together with the volunteers, the Zambian staff and our directors to experience all that this charity has to offer.

This is my calling -- supporting our children in need, helping to organize, socializing with guests while working outside (all year long!) and still taking a moment to watch the sunset over the african plains!

Life is good.

Breakfast at the farm

My Musungu girls - first day at school!

Missing home today!
Good luck in your new school year, teachers and students.
Here are a couple first timers below.
Love you, my girls - please don't grow up too fast!















Ellie's in Mr. Fitzpatrick's class at St. Martins















Brooke Stevens
& Kennedy's first day of school

Creepy crawlers

Rainy season is upon us... check out the lovely creatures that visit us, here in Africa

Loads of grasshoppers and praying mantis,

they visit us at breakfast on the veranda...

at bedtime in our lodge hallway...

basically everywhere!

not liking the rain spiders at ALL!

the work can wait...

The work will wait while you
show the child the rainbow;

but the rainbow won’t
wait while you do the work...

Tony singing "The Grand Ol Duke of York"

learnings from Jim Elliot

I first heard about James Elliot at the People's Church in Toronto, a few years ago when his family came to visit Canada and tell his story:

Philip James Elliot (October 8, 1927 – January 8, 1956) was an evangelical Christian missionary in Ecuador who, along with four others, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Huaorani Indian tribes through efforts known as Operation Auca.

Elliot and his friends became instantly known worldwide as martyrs and Life Magazine published a ten-page article on their mission and death. They are credited with sparking an interest in Christian missions among the youth of their time and are still considered an encouragement to Christian missionaries working throughout the world.

In 2002, a documentary based on the story was released entitled Beyond the Gates of Splendor --this is a must see.

Jim's now famous quotation, expressing his belief that missions work was more important than his life.

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep
to gain that which he cannot lose."

an inspiration...

quoted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Elliot

More Baby News!!

…the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these...

Matthew 19:14
Congratulations to one of my ol' 56 Lawrence Avenue roomies, Rachelle and her husband Steve who have just announced they are expecting their first child next May!!

I am so very happy for you -- Godspeed, my friends.

Sobia Day Centre Orphans

ABEL

HELEN

CATHERINE & GRACIOUS

Although the world is suffering,

it is also full of overcoming of it.

- Helen Keller

My new home...

I live in a beautiful place called Lifespring Farm on Mushili Road in Zambia, Africa.

There are 8 musungu's (white), 35 zambian staff, 10 dogs, 1 cat, and many snakes, rats, spiders, etc.

I've taken some photos around the farm -- maybe you'll visit some day!

Farm Entrance:

Farm House:

Ipusikilo Lodging: 1st room on the left (my room!)

The Pool!

Our office (note: dogs love to sleep directly on my feet)

Sobia School (40 kids - 3 sessions per day):

Container for Youth & HIV+ Support

Kaloka Day Centre - Thank you to our Volunteers!

Sobia Volunteer: Jérémie's Farewell Slideshow

Please click on this link to view a 5 minute slideshow that I prepared for a young Switzerland volunteer to thank him for his work during his 6 week stay.

http://www.thelifespringfoundation.com/lifespringfoundation/stories.html

Jérémie, you are missed!!

Baby Liam

Please say a special prayer for baby Liam(age 9 months) Cruikshank.

He’s my wee 'musungu' baby in Canada – Kathleen & Brad’s little one that was having trouble with seizures at 5 months old and has been receiving injections which are to finish by end of October.

Liam was rushed by air from Peterborough to SickKids Hospital in Toronto last week and has been on a breathing tube for the past 7 days. He’s a little trooper for all he has been through at his age.

Please take a moment to wish him well. I pray that mom and dad keep up the strength that their precious little angel will need from them to get on the high road to recovery.

I wish I could be with you, my friends. I've lived in Toronto since 1988 and now living so far away really feel quite helpless. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you every day.

Lots of love, Tracey xo

Week 6 Update

I sit on the farm veranda today, staring out onto the african plains, watching the sunset in hot Zambia, writing you about this week's ongoings:

- an eagle's nest has been found down in a big tree amongst the banana fields (here's hoping for l'l babies)

-the temperature is 91F / 33C every day -- October is the hottest month of the year. Now we pray for rain, by February we'll pray for rain, rain to go away...

- Nurse Sue is away on a trip with her sister Sally and husband Paul. I'm so happy for her as she hasn't seen her family (now living in Austraila) in 9 years! They are off to South Luangwa National Park, Victoria Falls, Livingstone and then Mozambique! Mwende Bwino, Sue (Safe Travels)! I miss you...

- I collected leafs around the farm to decorate the table for Canadian Thanksgiving. We had chicken, stuffing and paupau pie (papaya) instead of pumpkin. It was very nice!

-Chicago visitors Scott & Laurie from Willow Creek Church are here and handing out loads of crafts for the orphans to play with their creative minds. What a treat to have them here with us. I certainly love the entertaining piece of my work at Lifespring Farm.

- the Mushili road was just graded, PTL! Driving at night with the red dust in the headlamps reminds me of driving through a canadian snowstorm

- little Mary from Sobia lost her mom to AIDS --she has 4 siblings who need to find a home

- one of our key volunteers Rachel, is in hospital expecting baby #5 and sadly, just lost her husband. In the meantime, her family has gone to her home taken her roof and her children away. When your husband dies here in Zambia, you are left to your brother-in-law.

- we are praying for cement to arrive so the building of the new Sobia school can be completed. Matt has been waiting for 7 weeks now, we need to get the roof up before the rains come!

- Tony and I got out for 9 holes of golf yesterday. We play about the same, so it makes for great competition and a break from our busy days. The cost is only about $10 which includes a caddy and a drink afterwards!! The course is extremely dry so you really have to land the ball miles ahead of the green in order to have it roll close to the pin. It's a great challenge!
Tony is much like my dad so there are lots of laughs and great conversation to ease the absence of my father, whom I miss dearly.

- mixing an ingredient in porridge called Hepps which gives special nutrients for our HIV+ clients. We will hand out as a gift at the Positive Living class on Monday afternoon.

- saw a cool lizard yesterday with a bright torquoise head -- I'll try to capture with my camera, ya right!!

Just a few 'bits & bobs' to keep you up on my time in this precious place...

Love, Tracey xox