Weekly Update (with pics to follow!)

Hey everyone! I haven't written an update in awhile, and I know you are all DYING to know what's happening at New Day :)

Electricity: Still none. Last we heard, a head guy in Livingstone had to come out and inspect it for himself before he gave Lusaka the ok to give Choma the approval. It's like a maze! He told us to give him 2 weeks and he would be out here to inspect....

Water: Our water tank is on the ground again! Our tank stand was just too unstable, so we put the tank on the ground until we can figure out a better solution. Thankfully, Donny from our last team hooked us up a pump to the water tank to be able to pump water into the house, even when it's on the ground! Blu did figure out a better solution for another tank stand, by putting one of the thick electrical poles directly under the tank. So he has that tank up and has been working on plumbing for the girls/guys workers houses all week long!

Girls house: Most of our attention has been focused on the girls house, because they are coming to New Day this coming Wednesday!!! Their house is almost completely finished and they are going to love it! Darbi has been painting, cleaning, and decorating, while Blu has been plumbing!

Kitchen/Dining/Classroom: Once the girls are moved in, we are going to all work on things together. Our first step will be the classroom so that the kids can begin learning. From there we will move on to the kitchen and dining hall. Busy busy!

Social Welfare: Social Welfare is the department in Zambia that will give us guardianship of orphans. This past week, the Social Welfare officer in Choma asked to come out and see our place! He came and was very impressed with our facilities!! He said that there was nothing up to the New Day standards in the Choma area! He said that as soon as we are finished (with kitchen/dining/classroom and first orphan house) he will give us recommendation to get certified in the capitol city, and that as soon as that happens, we will begin getting orphans in as soon as one day! We are shooting for April for this, but it's going to be a lot of work!

Other things: We are beginning preparations to have another American couple join us as full-time staffers at New Day. This job is simply too big for one family, so we are relieved that God has called another couple to join us here! We had someone donate us a 20 foot container to have storage facilities at New Day! And, our store and grinding mill are still doing great! Darbi has begun 2 weekly Bible studies with 2 different groups of women in Mapanza! Blu has begun a Men's Bible study for our male staffers.

As you can see, we have been working/ministering like crazy, and we are ready for a little break! Thankfully, Darbi's sister and family will be returning from the USA on March 1st, so we will get a few days break in the capitol city!