New Fundraiser for May 2015 !!

 

After my big “Congo Adventure”, I’m going to be preparing to visit our wee ones in South Africa in May. YES, I am also going to be meeting with people about planning the kitchen…

BUT… as our kids will soon be entering the winter season… I was ALSO thinking… (boy, are we ALL in trouble!!! HAHA!!)… maybe we should do a fundraiser so that I can locally buy coats for our orphans when I get to SA… (that way I wouldn’t have to hand carry them all!!!)

Pray about it, please!!!  I’m figuring it would cost about $10 per coat… what do you think? Is anybody up to this challenge? Do you think we could do this by May?

I could hand carry donated hats, mittens, and scarves, if you find any end of season sales or want to put your knitting needles to good use… but I think collecting the funds for warm coats will be most important. If you are with me on this… go to the  DONATE menu option above… AND CLICK IT!!!  You will be able to donate any amount though Paypal, or get the information you would need to send a check.

May God bless each of you as we seek to bless these fragile little ones with warm winter coats.

Also… let’s pray their winter is NOTHING LIKE the one we’ve had in the northern hemisphere… I hear our Zoe friends Bev and Betty have spotted polar bears moving onto the glaciers that are still on their lawns!!! HAHA!

THANK YOU for considering participating in this fundraiser. – – Sal

Our Wee Ones Need Your Prayers

2About pic8

Please redouble your prayers for our little ones in Majakaneng.

Their village is experiencing violence and decreased government assistance causing riots and such…  We don’t know all the details yet, but we will let you know when we know more! Thank you in advance for your love, care and prayers of support.  Our little ones… these vulnerable sweet children need to be fed and they need to be surrounded by angels to keep them safe from all evil.  By your prayers… the prayers of the saints of God, to the King of the Universe… we CAN help feed them and protect them.

Dearest Heavenly Father, send Your angels to surround our children in South Africa… with their swords raised, protect them from the evil that surrounds and threatens them.  Send your angels to cover and guide the delivery of the shipments and distribution of food.  You are our Rock and our Protector… our strong Fortress.  Our faith is in You alone, oh Lord.  We commit our ZoeKids to Your personal care.  We pray this in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Protector of our souls.  AMEN!

Why ZoeForKids?

You may be thinking…

“Why ZoeForKids?” 

“Why do you do what you do?”

“Why are your supporters so moved and motivated?”

Please watch this AWESOME video.  This is why:

(This wonderful video is from the YouTube post of  Eric Ludy of the Ellerslie Mission Society and is called “Depraved Indifference”)

Projects and Collection Drives for 2015

It is still early in the year, so I haven’t collected my thoughts on what we should do for our 2015 collection drives and projects.  (Who am I kidding, you all know how busy I have been globe trotting for little ones all over the world and getting my house back to pre-storm working order!!!)  But it’s time to get planning (almost) for our Zoe Kids.

Here is what we need to do this year….

1. “SA Winter” Collection Drive (for delivery in May):   Do you have any ideas???  Let’s hear them!  … some ZFK supporters have told me they are working on scarves and hats.

2. In 2015, we want to kick off our Majakaneng Kitchen Project for the school.  Please pray for us as we start planning, financing, and figuring out how we are going to bring this vision into a reality for our kids.  I especially need the Holy Spirit to show me how to get started and how to do this well.

3. For our “SA Summer” Collection Drive (for Christmas delivery) we have been blessed with a surprise gift for the girls in the schools in Majakaneng and Maboloka (see more below).  We still have to come up with ideas on what to do for the boys.

Let me introduce you to the, soon to be internationally famous and well-loved Cedarhome Seamstresses!!

HERE THEY ARE….

Cedarhome Seamstress's

THESE beautiful, talented, and compassionate ladies are from Stanwood WA.  They attend the Cedarhome Baptist Church  and VOLUNTEERED to craft 300 beautiful dresses for our little ZFK gals… all to be distributed in October!!!   I am… all of ZFK is… so blessed by their surprise gift.   I didn’t even ask… God is at work through them and is providing for our wee girls in AMAZING ways!! 

Just look at those adorable dresses!!!  They bring tears to my eyes!  There are going to be many grateful little orphans in October… not only from our new school of orphans in Maboloka, who didn’t participate in our last dress drive, but also from those in Majakaneng who have grown out of… or worn out… their old dresses.  I can see the broad little smiles and the tears already!

Cedarhome Sewers (4)

Here is their fabric table… just waiting to be crafted… transformed… into 300 AMAZING  summer dresses for our ZFK young ladies.  It humbles me to know that they chose to do this out of their own passion for our kids and the leading of the Lord we serve!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I love you all!

Zoe For Kids supporters are the best!  You are all so full of the Lord’s compassion for ‘the least of these’… His vulnerable, orphaned children in South Africa.

I promise to get back to you soon with some firm plans for our collections and projects.  I love you all sooooo much!

Personal Note from Pastor Alcy to Sally Herman

Pastor Alcy

Dearest Sally,

Good day my wonderful sister!  I keep missing you day by day!  The girls are great and your kids in Majakaneng are well… I visited them in the previous week.

The church is well, and send their love to you!  We thank God for you each day!

I saw the pictures on the Zoe website… they’re amazing! I’m not sure if you would like me to print pictures for the gogo’s or maybe you’ll do that when you come to South Africa, you will let me know.

We really thank God for your good work and we highly honor and appreciate you, Sally!  I will be taking a few days to rest in the following week… I really need it!

I wish you all the very best this festive season.  We continue to pray for your safety and may you have a joyous New Year. Amen!

Fond Regards,

Pastor Alcy Tivane

“Mom is this missionary work?”

sally nieces1 sally nieces2 sally nieces3

My two small nieces asked their mother this question while making name tags to personalize packages of new shoes for a new group of orphans ZoeForKids “adopted” this year.  Each of the 163 orphans from Maboloka, South Africa got a new pair of shoes—in their correct size, with a beautiful name tag colored by the little hands of these wee missionaries… While coloring, they offered up big prayers along with their mother, as they gathered around their kitchen table in Illinois.   Is this missionary work?  You bet!!!!

Every time we allow the love of God to flow through us, and bless someone else… we are doing missionary work.  Whether it be at home, in the office, in school or church… shopping or stuck in traffic—we have the opportunity to do missionary work.  Whether it be a small prayer or a kind word…  giving up our place in line… or patiently listening to a long-winded stranger—we are doing missionary work.  The key to allowing the love of God to flow through us IS DENYING SELF… what Paul called the ‘flesh’ (Gal 5:16-25)… in order to build up or bless another person.

Though some would call it ‘sacrifice’… I hate to use that word!!!   I really don’t think denying our natural tendencies is a sacrifice to God… NO!… it is our “reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). If you always get back more than you give up, have you really sacrificed at all?  Simply put, our eternal reward ALWAYS outweighs our temporal ‘sacrifice’.  And isn’t that why we are here?  We are not here to build our personal kingdom—but, we are here to prepare the way for Jesus’ Kingdom…  THAT is true missionary work.

Are you a missionary?  You bet…  You are…  You’ve been busy through ZoeForKids!

In October, we took our first  ZoeForKids  “team trip” to South Africa to minister to our Majakaneng orphans… serve our newest group of orphans in Maboloka… to hold a youth event for the teens of Flames Christian Church… AND, last but not least, to minister to the Gogo’s and that church family.

I have to admit there had been long months of planning, raising funds, and fasting prior to our leaving!  I am ashamed to say it, but…  I was so nervous about this!  If things didn’t go right… it could have been a disaster!  I am doubling my shame to say, I worried a lot.   Praise God, my worrying was in vain.  God had a plan… it wasn’t exactly the same as mine… it was BETTER!! He fulfilled His plan in a far grander way than I could have possibly ever dreamed.

composite zfk at churchl

300 of our kids from Majakaneng excitedly gathered in the Flames Christian tent for an all day Christmas event that included… lessons about Jesus, music, dancing, team building games, a huge meal (prepared by the Gogo’s) and the presentation of the Wildlife Bible StoryTellers and cards … FROM YOU, their best friends and supporters!!

The event started on a more somber note than the usual.  Just a week earlier, we had lost 3 of our kids in auto crash caused by a drunk driver… making a total of 6 KIDS LOST in less than 3 months time! Our children in this crash had burned to death.  At the funeral, before our arrival,  the principle told me that our kids refused to.. or, more accurately stated… COULD NOT sing.  I know this much… for an African child not to sing… you know they were dealing with some serious heart pain!

I am happy to tell you by day’s end… in our little tent covered by the prayers of the Gogo’s and prayers from all of you, we had our kids back to singing, laughing and dancing with  joy radiating from their faces that could have only been placed there by Jesus!!  Jesus had started a great healing inside our tent that day… and we were invited to be in the middle of it!

Youth Day at Flames Email
I believe if this was all that we did that week, it would have been more than enough!!   But, as hard as it might be to top a day like this… our gracious God did!   The next event we had was for the youth of all the churches in each zone of the Flames Christian Family.  Each youth was encouraged to bring someone new.  We had over 250 youth—50+ new faces!!

The topic of the day was …    ALL IN!

Are you ALL IN?  And, if you aren’t… what is keeping you from being ALL IN?  It was the question of the day!

Message after message from each team member concentrated on being ALL IN!   Each topic linked to the … next by no coincidence or chance!  We had “planned” to coordinate the messages… BUT, trust me, God worked it out so that it was BEYOND beautiful!

The youth listened, took notes…were given new bibles, THEN came a big pouring out of God’s Spirit!!!!!  I stood in awe…   by the last message, 30 new youth had raised their hands and surrendered their lives to Jesus.  THEY BECAME–  ALL IN!

There was joy in heaven as these souls came Home!!!!  I can just imagine that the joyful shouts and singing in heaven was so loud that its earthly echo shook loose every binding chain of Satan for miles!

This day ended with worship and sports at the park!  ….  Not to mention, a huge meal!   I didn’t think my smile could get any bigger!  I didn’t check it in the mirror but I am sure it was so broad, it could be seen in South Africa and the USA at the same time.  I am soooo extremely grateful… I know your prayers had formed this day into being!

Gogo Portraits Email
Our next event was the Gogo event!  On Sunday, we gathered all the churches together.  The Gogo’s stayed inside the church of Maboloka and the children, men and boys went outside for some teachings under the trees!  The men of our team: Rich, Kurt and Patrick had outdoor services for the men and boys…   Sara had the service for the children and Sharon and I had the service for the Gogo’s.  It was incredible!  I wanted to be in all three places!

The Gogo’s were overjoyed with a service to honor them!  They each received a little coin purse—handmade, with a few pieces of treasured SA Rand inside.  The lesson was about treasure of heaven—them!  They were also given their very own copy of a very special poem written for them by Pastor Brad Hering of River of Life Community Church in the state of Washington!  To fully describe the joy, you will have to watch the videos—the Youtube links are at the end of this newsletter!  It will SHOW you the joy better than I ever could describe it!!

The day ended with fellowship, a meal and of course, bigger smiles that stretched into the next day!

God had lined up so many blessings—I was feeling guiltier by the minute for ever having a worry!  Following God’s lead is so much more exciting when you give Him the worries and through faith… step yourself out of the pilot’s seat.  It always turns out best when you switch your prayer from— “Lord, bless our plans”… to… “Lord, show us how to support Your plans!”

New 163 Orphans Email

The next event was for a new group of orphans in Maboloka who we were introduced to last May.  The principal of the school had come and asked for us to help his kids and bless them with shoes.   We stepped out in faith, and asked for your support to supply these orphans with “Christmas Shoes” in addition to the funding we needed for the 300 Wildlife Bible Storytellers for Majakaneng… and YOU RESPONDED IN LOVE!!!!   We had a shoe needs list by gender and size… and YOU RESPONDED IN LOVE!!!!  New shoes in the exact sizes poured in through the summer.  THEN the ZoeForKids supporters told us it was important that we share Jesus through the Wildlife Bible Storytellers with the children of Maboloka.  So we told you we needed to fund another 163 StoryTellers… and YOU RESPONDED IN LOVE!!!!  Have I mentioned how much I love each and every one of you???  I DO!!!!

So we gathered in the Maboloka church.   These precious orphans were brought in by bus for an event like we just had with our Majakaneng orphans!  As an added surprise, we invited “Yeates”, our guest cheetah, to come for a visit that included a line of pats from the kids… and a few adults… with great trepidation!!!  Again, the joy of this event is best described and seen in the YouTube link at the end of this newsletter!

The kids had a full day of activity, they enjoyed a meal… and every pair of shoes with their ‘personalized-in-Illinois’ name tags—FIT!   I felt I was watching the hand of God… I came away in the deepest of gratitude. …   Never in my history had I ever planned an event where we had the exact amount, the exact sizes and the perfect ‘fit’ for every child.  Never.

Only God!!!!

The last two days we spent at schools in Maboloka and Majakaneng.  We participated in the ongoing  ZoeForKids sponsored daily feeding program in Majakaneng!  We played games in the school yards, prayed at the flag poles, taught in big school assemblies and classes…

Kids at School Email

However, I received the biggest blessing in Majakaneng!

In some of our kids’ pockets… I saw that they were carrying their Bible StoryTeller audio players!  They were eagerly listening to the stories… some out loud… and some with their ear buds!  If I EVER had a question about the worth of this big project… the answer was there, right before my eyes!  The Word was sprouting in these young, precious hearts!

God answered my question… His Word NEVER returns void—ever!!

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My Word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

To those of you who gave—God multiplied, and CONTINUES to multiply your gift, exponentially!   When we gather before His Throne, perhaps then, we will know the true value and impact of the seeds we have planted and watered… seeds of life!!!

Flames Home Visitations Email

 

During the final days of our trip, we visited the homes of the families who lost children in the car accident, and praying for each one of them.  We then visited many home-bound families from the Flames Christian Church.  With each home visit, we prayed… and encouraged… and saw God’s healing hand.

I can’t tell you how beautiful it is to just go where He leads!!  Life is never boring when you are following His lead.  I desire to tell you that I will never worry and stress about ZoeForKids plans ever again… but, being me and fully human, that probably will never happen.  However, I do promise you this… after seeing God’s Hand at work in this trip…I  will worry, a lot less. (smile)

Is making name tags at a comfortable kitchen table in the USA missionary work?  Indeed, it is!  Look how far those name tags traveled!  Look how far those offered prayers, flew!

What’s in your hand?  I believe this is the question He asks each one of us!  What is in your hand?  We can hang onto it and see what we can do.  Or, we can hand it over to Him, and see what God can do… beyond what we could ever hope or dream.  That is our choice.

I do have a thought to share with you, though… (of course)

Whatever gifts you are blessed with…

    Whatever plan God has placed in your heart…

        Whatever God-inspired kind deed or thought…

            Whatever resource given for you  to use

                WHAT YOU DON’T SHARE IS AN OPPORTUNITY LOST FOREVER!!!

What you place into the hands of the living God becomes an eternal keepsake, a memorial to the glory of God…. 

IF we don’t hold out on God—God will not hold out on us.  This trip proved that true in a million ways!!!   We want to do amazing things for God, but that isn’t our job… that’s God’s job.  Our job is to fully surrender everything that we have and all that we are—to the Lord Jesus Christ.  And, if we do our job, God will most definitely do His.  I was given a promise and this promise has been fulfilled to a degree I never dreamed possible…

 “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you”

 He had done just that.

ALL IN

Thank you for putting yourselves out there—for us.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!  Thank you for placing what was in your hands, your heart and offered in your prayers—into God’s Hands. 

He has surely done great things.

My love for each one of you extends to eternity.  I love you all so much. Thank you for staying strong for us!  We have seen great things!!  Enjoy our trip with us by watching the links below!

Love you all and Merry Christmas!

Sally Herman

 

The 1500 students at Majakaneng: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPz9AZBAKhs

Party at Majakaneng: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcU3OdzZmC4

Party at Maboloka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48cYOKt3Rcs

Home Visitation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAX4MpGi_9c&feature=youtu.be

Life Lesson 1- Putting lives in order: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziVZEzWpAZA

Life Lesson 2- The Oneness of the Family of God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xohfpjjyIeM

Gogo Tributes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhGzxTdWTUw

                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdaL92FrIQg

                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APMvD2l2pyI

 

 

What I have learned from GOGOs… South African and Otherwise

When I went to South Africa this October… I wanted to personally share just how much I have learned in my spiritual life from the examples of mature Christian women!!!

Oh, how I thank our Father for the wisdom I have gained from the lives of these dearest of saints found all over the world… but ESPECIALLY MY DEAR GOGOs IN SOUTH AFRICA!  All these mature saints of God are SUCH A BLESSING to me… words can hardly express my gratitude!!!  They have taught me the wisdom of seeking out God’s will instead of my own… they have taught me to wait on the Lord for His Best instead of settling for my current longings… they have taught me that God’s true power is manifest when we are in the valley in grief, not on the mountaintop in joy… they have taught me that an effective Christian life is lived always looking upwards and outwards to satisfy the needs of others, and not inward to my own perceived deficiencies and transitory feelings.

Oh, how I love these women… how I love the eternal truths they have shown me… how I thank God every day for bring them AND you, our faithful ZoeForKids supporters, into my life!

Without Him I can do nothing… without you… your wisdom and your prayers… I would not have the supernatural level of strength and encouragement that I NEED to carry on with our work.

Thank You, Father!  Thank you, Gogos!  Thank you, ZoeForKids supporters!  Thank you all for the many and various ways you have blessed my life so together we can bless the hearts of soooo many others!

 

Life Lesson: The one-ness of the family of God

Join the ZoeForKids Team, featuring Sharon Puterbaugh… once again… as they visit the children of Maboloka.

Watch Sharon demonstrate her prestidigitation skills to teach our kids about God’s ability to heal the divisions among us… and make us into the ONE FAMILY OF GOD!!!

The kids are in awe (I am in awe!)  … and the spiritual point made, praise God!

Life Lesson: Putting lives in order

Sharon Puterbaugh is key part of the volunteer staff at Marchiano Ministries.  In addition to her innumerable tasks…  including fund raising to make the film ‘Alison’s Choice’… she was a vital part of our recent ZoeForKids Team’s October visit to South Africa.   Sharon is a former teacher who has been visiting Africa for 11 years, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Sharon uses various teaching techniques…  In this short clip, I think you will smile, as I did, at her “crowd control” technique!!!  One… two… three… zip it… simple and IT WORKS!!!

She is known for using slight of hand techniques to intrigue and capture the attention of large crowds of students.  While calling what she is doing ‘magic tricks’, she is clear to explain to her audience that this is not the kind of ‘evil magic’ that they see in their culture (which is filled with shamans and spirit worship)… but rather a trick of the eye to make a point.

Join Sharon and the children of Maboloka as they learn and are AMAZED at how God can bring order to their lives…

PS.  Their reaction is so precious!!!

 

Meet Pastor Alcy…

Many ZoeForKids supporters KNOW what a wonderful woman Pastor Alcy is… BUT have rarely seen pictures of her.

… Many have heard that she LOVES to sing and worship our Lord…  BUT few have heard her.

Our MULTI-TALENTED ZoeForKids Team was able to capture precious moments of Pastor Alcy singing and worshipping with our Gogo’s at their tribute event… actually 30 ‘precious moments’… I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!!!

Sooo, meet Pastor Alcy… the blessed Pastor of Flames Christian Church… as she celebrates the lives of these grandmothers… these dear women who are not only strong pillars in this church but also in the Temple of our God.

How blessed is Flames Christian Church to have so many women and men that are soooo dedicated to our Lord, and sooo dedicated to each other… and the orphans of ZoeForKids?

God is so good!!!

Thank you, Lord for blessing us with this woman of God and her family!!!

Christmas 2014: Wildlife Bible StoryTellers Party Day 1

A few weeks ago, the ZoeForKids Christmas 2014 Team visited the children of Majakeneng Village.  What a celebration we had!!!

There was singing, dancing, the Gospel being shared, teaching, games, mass quantities of food and sweet delights… and oh, did I mention the Wildlife Bible StoryTellers that YOU PROVIDED?  Children LOVE stuffed animals, but these were special.  Each stuffed elephant, tiger and bear (OH, MY!) has a little “marsupial” pouch that contains a solar charged audio device with 12-15 hours of Bible Stories in both Tswana AND English preloaded… their new stuffed friends will not only teach them about the love of God, but English too.  But WAIT… there’s more… the pouch also contains a picture book that helps them visualize the Bible stories that are being told, AND they were given ear buds so that they can listen to their wee critter in private.

Join our party!   Share the joy… feel the warmth and happiness… AND KNOW THAT THE WORD OF LIFE is being received and heard by each little ear.  Below each broad smile… look at the death grip that each child has on their new ‘best friends’.  YOU provided the Word of God to these dear ones.  YOU provided them with hope and the good news of salvation.  YOU provided them with a friend to cuddle and comfort them…

Enjoy the party with us… it would not have been possible without you.  THANK YOU for allowing us to deliver YOUR gifts to these dear, sweet orphans.  Well done, you!!!

 

Sooo, what is a gogo?

gogo: go’-go (noun) [South African English]

    Common usage:

When parents die of AIDS, surviving orphans often go to live with a “gogo,” the Zulu word for grandmother.

    Oxford definition:

           * a grandmother
           * the title for an older woman that is polite and shows affection
* .

    ZoeForKids definition:

          * humble, uncelebrated, elderly women who may look frail
          * ferocious prayer and praise warriors at the frontline of His Church
          * some of the strongest pillars in the temple of the Almighty God
* .

Before leaving on our recent trip to South Africa, we were determined to honor the service of these dearest of the saints of God!!!  What amazing women!!!  They serve our Lord in sooo many selfless ways… without hope… or desire of any recognition is this world.  Sooo, we called on our resident poet and HUGE ZoeForKids supporter, Pastor Brad Hering, from River of Life Community Church in WA.  He prayerfully composed the following poem to honor these women:

go go ladies of South Africa

 Dancing and praising wherever they go,

Joy spills over because of Who they know.

Wise warrior souls, forged by the King,

overcoming hardship as they worship and sing.

Beautifully weathered hands raised up in grace..

their closeness to Jesus is written on their face.

Their hugs melt away sorrow, their eyes heal up pain,

Their praises bless Jesus as they count all loss..

..to His gain..

” Boitshepo, Boitshepo, Boitshepo” Holy is His name!

They dance on clouds in heavenly places

and joy strengthens all of our faces.

Perhaps we’re entertaining angels as we honor them today,

or perhaps they’re a glimpse of heaven in God’s special way..

One thing for sure is, they’re God’s humble queens..

loving and serving in Ways not fully seen.

On wings of prayers from above, their lives are proof of His love.

Their faith in Jesus grows everyday… and if you hear their sweet singing,

this is what they say…

“Boitshepo, Boitshepo Boitshepo” is JESUS!

 ***Boitshepo- hoping this word means “Holy” in Tswana.

in Awe of His Love,

Pastor Brad Hering, River of Life Community Church

Camano Island, Washington, USA

 What an ABSOLUTE JOY it was to read this poem aloud (with Pastor Alcy’s translational help) to these dear ones… and see the joy in their faces.  Each gogo was given a copy of this poem in honor of their AWESOME and INVALUABLE service to their church community, especially the children… most especially to the children who are most in need.

Is this for me ...

“Is this for me?”

 

Come and take a peek into that moment… SHARE MY JOY… and see what it means to be a singing, dancing, worshipping, praying GOGO DYNAMO!!!

Thank you, Zoe supporters for making our trip possible!!!

ZFK Joins With Flames Church Home Visitation Ministry

ZFK Tissue Warning! 

   tissue box

Our hearts are sooo pained, and we cry out to the Lord… we’ve lost at least 6 of our South African school children in the last 4 months.

In September late 2014, one of our single mothers lost two of her girls, Ipeleng age 10, and Tebogo age 7, when a drunk driver crashed into the taxi in which they were riding.  The gasoline tank exploded in a fiery crash, killing both girls and leaving her precious younger son severely burned.

Ipeleng and Tebogo

The ZoeForKids Team was honored to accompany members of the Flames Church Home Visitation Ministry to bring comfort and prayers of healing to this young family during the wake before the funeral.  Please pray with us that the great Comforter will wipe away all their tears and give them hope and joy in knowing that when Jesus comes, they will be reunited with their beautiful girls.

At the double funeral, the children of the school could not even sing… which is a rare occurrence.  When an African child cannot sing, it says volumes and volumes of the depth of hurt they are feeling.  Please pray for the comfort of these wee ones, who in addition to having tough lives of their own, are grieving and trying to understand the loss of their friends.

I invite you to join our home visit by watching this very personal and touching video… may our Father move you to pray for this family and the safety of all of our orphans.

Thank you for all your prayers….. we love u!

 

Video Overview of ZoeForKids you can share with your friends!

Some of our new supporters have asked about the background and mission of ZoeForKids.

Soooo, (under duress… I wanted to hire an actress to play me, LOL!) I worked with our fabulous and favorite videographer, Patrick Taylor, to put together this video overview about ZoeForKids.

I hope you like it.  If you do, make it go viral so that we can do more… and moreand more… for our dear, sweet, wee ones!!!

 

Christmas 2014: Video Report to River of Life Church

Our Christmas trip to South Africa to deliver the Wildlife Bible StoryTellers, shoes, and the love of Jesus… was AMAZING!!! And YOU made it all possible!!!   We wish you all could have been with us to see the faces filled with delight, and witness the souls were saved!!!!  The next best thing is to share with you all the stories and pictures we collected.

I’m still repairing storm damage on my home, working to get back in the groove after “partying hardy” in South Africa, and I’m TRYING to make amends with my wee puppy who insists I was away tooooo long… BUT MY REPORTS ARE COMING!!!

Soooo, to whet your interest…  click on the picture below to view a video presentation given by ZoeForKid’s very own Patrick Taylor and his friend Kurt von Pessler to the River of Life Community Church.  We LOVE ROLCC… they are HUGE supporters of ZoeForKids… covering us in prayer, providing financial support,  and sharing the many talents of their dear saints for the glory of Jesus and the love of our kids.

ROL CC Building

WARNING:

Watch this video when you are relaxed, have about an hour,

and a LARGE BOX OF TISSUES!

tissue box

Never tiring of doing good…

Can I Get a Big ZoeForKids Family WOO HOO???

wildlife storytellers for orphans

It is with great thanksgiving, that I have the privilege to announce… that WE HAVE REACHED OUR GOAL of funding 463 Wildlife Bible StoryTellers for the orphans in Majakeneng AND Maboloka Villages!!!!  We also have collected 163 brand new ‘Christmas Shoes’ for our newly ‘adopted’ orphans in Maboloka… and handwritten cards for all!  Together, the ZoeForKids Family stands ready to bless a country… two villages… many orphaned and grateful children!!

 The Overwhelming Despair of Evil

just do nothing

We must not get tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time.  We must not give up. When we have the opportunity to do good to anyone, we should do it.  we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10

 

You know, I have been so very distraught, brokenhearted, and deeply depressed as I run to the Lord in prayer — crying to Him as the evil of this world keeps knocking down the most vulnerable and defenseless … everywhere.  I have been hitting the streets in  with Zoelle every morning at 4am, for several hours of walking/running while deep in prayer…..

Today….. I heard very clearly…

“Sally, the only way you can help the catastrophic turmoil, when you can’t actually be there to snatch up those who are slaughtered is to… take that energy and passion and serve those who are placed in front of you”

Let EVERY bit of evil in this weary world be replaced by His good!

Love who you can, when you can, where you can!

When the news is full to overflowing with tragic evil– go out and counteract that evil, by going out and extinguishing its fire by doing many acts of kindness, goodness, mercy, grace, and love.

Thank you for doing good works for these… our orphans!  We will extinguish evil by God’s power and His ability as worked out through our willing and helping hands.  May our Father reveal His love to our ZoeForKids orphans through His Spirit that is in us, and Who motivates us to good works!

Thank you all for your love… it is a true reflection of Jesus Christ, who is in each of you.  I love you all for giving me the honor to represent you when I meet with our dear ones in South Africa!

 

Critter Accounting: Wildlife StoryTeller Drive Update!

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Well… we’ve put on our green eyeshades and toted up the donations for our Wildlife Bible Story Tellers and the answer is… we are fully funded for our wee orphans in Majakeneng… BUT we are still a mere 79 critters ($2,627) short of our Maboloka stretch goal to include our newly ‘adopted’ 163 orphans in Maboloka…. THIS IS AMAZING… BEYOND OUR WILDEST DREAMS!

For Christmas 2014…

Each orphan in Majakeneng will be getting a Wildlife Story Teller … chock full of Bible stories in English and Tswana. The Majakeneng ‘herd’ of elephants, ‘ambush’ of tigers, and ‘sleuth’ of bears have assembled, embarked on their journey and are now cruising their way to waiting, loving arms in South Africa.

Each orphan in Maboloka will DEFINITELY be getting a pair of “Christmas Shoes” (i.e. custom purchased sneakers for each one of them!).  If donations continue to come in at this AMAZING RATEthese dear ones may ALSO get Wildlife Story Tellers too!

WE PROMISE to put on our eyeshades at the beginning of September and give you our final tally and let you know whether or not we’ve reached our Maboloka Goal!!! [Wasn’t that a song by Enya??]    Will there be another ‘herd’ of elephants, ‘ambush’ of tigers, and ‘sleuth’ of bears cruising to South Africa… STAY TUNED!!!

Our God and His servants… THAT WOULD BE YOU!… our faithful ZoeForKids supporters… continue to amaze me with your generosity, grace, and provision for our orphans.

Thank you all for allowing is to DREAM BIG!!!

PS. If you are lead to make a donation, please go to our donation tab: http://zoeforkids.com/donate/ 

 

UPDATE: Christmas Shoe drive for Maboloka

OK!  Many of you have sent in cash donations designated for our Christmas Shoes for Maboloka drive, and we are soooo grateful!!!

 

Based on YOUR GENEROSITY, I just sent my Secret Shoppers out to convert your precious dollars into sneakers! Your funding just bought us another…. 51 pairs of sneakers… putting us 80% of our way to our goal!!!

 

We only need another 33 pairs!!! In the attached picture you will see the gender and sizes that we still need.

 

Thank you THANK YOU for helping make this dream come true!!!
Maboloko Shoes w donations

 

Should we give StoryTellers to our orphans in Maboloka too?

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In March 2014, we decided to partner with MegaVoice to provide each of our 300 wee orphans in Majakeneng village with a stuffed toy that ‘tells Bible stories.’ Each toy has a solar powered audio device that will be loaded with 10+ hours of Bible Stories in their local language, Tswana, and also in English (so it will be a language skills teaching tool as well). We pray along with YOU, that these toys will give them comfort, while the stories will give them hope.

We began our donation drive in April, to fund the StoryTellers for our orphans of Majakeneng… and, by the grace of God and YOUR generosity, we are getting close to our targeted need.

THEN, this month… June 2014… we have decided to “adopt” another 160+ orphans in the nearby village of Maboloka.  Immediately, we began a drive to provide these dear ones with ‘Christmas Shoes’… custom purchased for their specific sizes and gender tastes.

HOWEVER, several ZoeForKids donors have asked if we would consider giving StoryTellers to this new group too. Sooo…. if God is behind this desire to donate shoes AND StoryTellers, we have to up our game!!!!

What do you think?  Should we do it?  Will you help bless the orphans of BOTH Majakeneng and Maboloka villages?

We think our big hearted donors are right (We know…YOU ALWAYS ARE!)… Think about it… what is the best Christmas gift we can give these dear little ones? Isn’t it… the certain knowledge of God’s love… the hope of salvation… and a little cuddle from a faithful and soft ‘pet’?

Thank YOU sooo much for your prayerful consideration of donating to these StoryTeller and Shoe drives. In any case, may our Father richly bless you and your family.

If God is leading you to make a quick donation now… it’s easy… go to the “Donate” link on the black bar at the top of this page… and you can choose to donate by credit card through Paypal (no Paypal account needed), OR donate through a PayPal account OR send a check.

ZoeForKids thanks YOU, and our orphans THANK YOU… Your generosity of heart is always AWESOME.  And like we always do, we will ‘invite’ you to enjoy our Christmas Parties through posted pictures (and maybe videos!) of our kids rejoicing with their snazzy sneakers and the Word of God spoken by their StoryTellers.

Lets unite together and be a family to AIDS orphans in South Africa!