Around June 2011, I challenged our collection drive participants to gather new backpacks and school supplies for our 300+ orphans… some do not have backpacks at all, others have ones that are threadbare. And YOU came through!!! Again, my garage was stuffed with goodies, again my trusty duffle bags made it to South Africa and through customs. Thank you for your prayers!
Having arrived, we scheduled Thursday to be our day of preparations for the party! We worked with the youth group of Flames Church filling backpacks, and making treat bags! This took all day, we finished in the dark!!! 400 backpacks filled to the brim AND enough school supplies to last the whole year! THANK YOU, EVERYONE!!!!!
A small packet of treats went into each backpack!!!!
On to the school!!! It took a couple of trucks to carry all our supplies for the Christmas Party!
The children gathered together at Majakening school, awaiting our arrival…
They waited patiently!
First, a prayer was in order. Pastor Bruce prayed over all the children.
WE lift our hands in praise to you, our Lord… LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME, Jesus said.
In the Word, God’s people are frequently commanded to take care of the orphans. We want to be obedient. We want to show His love!!!
HERE is our Flames Church, newly-formed, Drama Club! Here are the actors, awaiting to go onstage!
The Christmas play was called “Ronnie Wilson’s Gift”. Reaaaddyyyyyy…ACTION!!!
Poor Ronnie is trying to get his gift for Jesus up to heaven… praying… he then falls asleep…
Jesus then appears in a dream, after observing all of Ronnie’s ‘failed attempts’ to give Him a gift. I mean, a LOT of attempts… trying to mail it, fly it, jump it to heaven. Jesus comes to Ronnie and says, “You gave a gift to me, when you gave your gifts to others… In as so much as you did it to them, you did it unto me!” (Matthew 25:31-36)
THEN the party began! Here they are… wide eyed in anticipation… lining up to receive their backpacks……
Our dear sister, Lorraine, made over 400 cupcakes… and the kids got to frost and decorate their own cupcake! Just like a real ‘down home’ Christmas!
Look at that dear quizzical expression… a look of… what one earth are those? “Cup-whats”? …never heard of one before!
SUCH PRIDE! SUCH EXCITEMENT as new backpacks were placed on their backs!! It is soooooo nice to see smiles… smiles of hope, knowing that someone actually cares for them……
We helped each one get all suited up!
It was funny… the boys wanted the bright colors… I should have known that! Oh, well, next time!
They went around in a circle and received all the goods, and then out to the playground area… not even wanting to go home… AND it was the start of their Christmas break!
Let’s continue to help these dear little children! The party was over and he didn’t want to leave….
Pastor Bruce and two proud owners of new backpacks at the end of another successful Zoe For Kids collection drive! We get the blessing of attending the party… but YOU our supporters are the ones who deserve all the congratulations!!! Thank you!