Christmas in Ndola

Hello my friends!

The month of December has been so exciting and busy with packing Christmas bags for our Foundation's clients, volunteers, school kids and many orphans connected. Womba and I spent many days in the cellar preparing packages for 918 Zambians.

I'd like to thank the girls at home who helped me collect the donations from Canada first - Hannah, Kristi and Heather. Thanks to Claire & Dayna for helping to pack the boxes. A special thank you to the schools and churches who allowed us to visit and present our story on Africa this year. We certainly collected many books/clothes/ shoes the last week of June when 'Lost & Found' was relocated to my basement in Oakville (thanks Rhonda for being so patient through all the mess).

I've taken so many photos of our children in your school uniforms and the lovely sweaters knitted by our church ladies. I will try my best to forward to you soon.

I can't tell you how much your donations are appreciated here in Ndola. We work with 3 small compounds in Kaloko, Mackenzie & Mushili. The widows and orphans were dancing and singing when receiving their Christmas packs. I wish you could be here to see the spirit within the communities and actually see the clothes on their backs while walking through the villages.

Being away from home on Christmas day wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. The children fill my heart and the work is so very rewarding. I hope to stay longer, as long as I can afford.

Thank you for your kind words and plenty of emails to keep me from being homesick.
The weather is rainy but warm and the sun does try to shine every day, so no complaints here. It is odd not dealing with the snow and slippery roads but we have our fill of lakes on Mushili Road to tackle and I'll take that for now...

Blessings to all of you this holiday season and all the best in 2008!
Love, Tracey xoxo