Happy Birthday to Joseph & Michelle!

Today we had a birthday celebration for Joseph and Michelle! Joseph will be 6 on the 25th, and Michelle turned 23 on Jan 5th, but she was out of town! Rainbow cupcakes!

Joseph loved the gifts from his sponsors - he loves puzzles!

Tied to the truck for water pouring...

Splash!!! It didn't last long - a storm was blowing in so it was chilly and they both ran home to change clothes :)

A new life for Kefbert :)

It has been 3 months since we've received a new kid here at New Day, and we're all getting antsy, but we have learned to trust God's timing when it comes to getting new children! We trust that He knows what is best as far as the time kids need to adjust, etc. That being said, we were SOOOO excited to get a new boy today! The same woman from an area near us had a big part in us getting Phillip, Christina, & Mweene. This woman called Blu on Friday to tell him that the grandmother that has been wanting to meet with us for months has finally returned to her village. Blu, Elizabeth, and Debbie set off on the orphan visit this morning and found that Kefbert, who was born February 11, 2009, is in fact a double orphan (both parents died in 2010 and 2011) and he was staying with his great-grandmother. After a good round of medical checkups, he arrived here!! When his great-grandmother asked him, "Do you want to go with the white people?" he replied, "Yes...but will they bite me?" :) When I put his new tennis shoes on him he said over and over again "Mine?? My shoes?? Mine??" :) Thank you Jesus for the opportunity to love Kefi.

SBU Team - Missouri

We've enjoyed having a team from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri here with us at New Day this week! This team of 3 is a survey team, coming to check thiings out before they send a large team over Spring Break this March. The coolest thing about this team is that the former girls' soccer coach at their small Baptist college is Coach Ben Wade - The Dragonslayer!!! Any die-hard Survivor fan will appreciate that!!!) :) These students are in a group called Enactus at their university. This group consists mainly of business/management/accounting majors who are seeking to change the world around them for the better. They will be participating in a competition where they must submit a project showing that they helped bring about positive "business-related" change somewhere in the world around them. Enactus chose New Day as their project, and we are excited to both help them and be helped! The project (occurring mainly over Spring Break, although they certainly got started this week) will center around New Day's grinding mill and shop. The team will help us to convert our diesel-powered grinding mill into an electric one, making it more profitable for us. They will also help us to expand our job. Other projects include sewing so that we can make clothes for the orphans ourselves, problem-solving with the cheese cave so that we can store cheese/vegetables for long periods of time, and helping our staff with financial concerns (accounting and Quickbooks). It's always fun having college kids around - here's a glimpse of their week! Aaron & Nathan worked on clearing a path for electric poles to take electricity to our grinding mill and shop!

They also enjoyed some quality time with our kids!

Axer just doesn't take a bad picture :)

The kids loved watching the boys do gymnastics/tumbling!

Joseph said "I can do that!"

The kids enjoying some playground time

School's out for the day!

The Lion King pose with one of our puppies :)

Maxie, the only girl of the group is a Management major who is interested in fashion design. She loves to sew her own clothes, so she worked with Joyce all week teaching her how to cut out patterns and how to make a cute dress/jacket for each girl!

Cynthia's new dress!

Maxie also spent a lot of time hanging out with our staff girls - going through their clothes and putting together outfits for them, watching TV with them, just hanging out!

We've had over 12 inches of rain in 6 weeks...

This is what we walk through every day!! (or we make Blu drive us!!)

Nathan & Ben

More tree chopping!

Nathan & Blu clearing some land

The kids LOVED all of Nathan's backflips!

Our new school looks great!

We have 7 new puppies - make that 6...Blu ran over one yesterday!

Have I posted a picture of our poor fence that caught fire?? No grass to fix it until the rainy season is over!

Thank you SBU for a fun week - can't wait to meet more of you in March! :)

First Day!

First day of the school year in Zambia! Caedmon is starting 3rd grade, Cambree is starting 2nd grade, and Cason is starting his second year of preschool!

Almost ready!

I feel like I haven't posted in awhile, but when I checked it has only been 3 days!! We picked up my parents & Teacher Diana at the airport on Wednesday morning, and after a breakfast at Mugg & Bean (yum!) the Tidwell family headed back to New Day with Diana & Michelle. (My parents went 12 hours north of Lusaka to spend 2 weeks with my sister!) All of the New Day staff is officially back from Christmas vacation, so all we are missing here at New Day is Wes & Laurie!! We have been running around like crazy here getting ready for the first day of school on Monday! The new school is completely done and the teachers are decorating their rooms, getting their first week of lessons ready, and each enjoying having their OWN room this year!! The children's side of the library is officially done and we will be having our first elective classes in there Monday afternoon! We have converted (thanks to the last team!) the old classroom into an office for Elizabeth, our social worker, so she is keeping regular office house and preparing for an orphan visit on Monday (possible 6 year old boy). The dining hall is full-size again and we are getting it back in order after 1/2 of it was used as a classroom last year. Meanwhile, tomorrow is Kids Club! We have seen a slight decrease in the number of kids the last few weeks, because most of them are required to work with their parents in the fields during the rainy season. But we are still averaging almost 100 kids on Saturdays, and their bellies and hearts are getting full! And on Sunday, we will have the first church service in our new area, Nabukowa! So many of you helped get the work started in this area and have been praying for this area, so we are excited that the people are ready to start a church of their own! Blu & either Mulenga or Kalenga will be going there each Sunday to lead church. I think that gets you updated on what's happening at New Day! Next week = Routine!! Something we are all ready for after 6 weeks off! :)

Crossing the River

If you come out of the New Day property and turn right, you immediately reach a low water crossing bridge. It floods several tiimes during the rainy season. This route is 45 minutes from our main shopping town, Choma. If you come out of the property and turn left, you will go about an hour on a dirt road to get to tarmac. Then you can either go to Choma (another hour) or back to Lusaka (about 3 hours). On Sunday morning, the kids and I were supposed to meet the team in Choma. I had to buy orphanage groceries, and then I was going to continue with the team to Lusaka while Debbie headed back to New Day with the groceries. At 7am, I turned out of New Day to the left and this is what I saw...

We have crossed this bridge numerous times with water on it, but I wasn't sure how much I could cross with. Also, there was a tree stuck in the middle of the bridge. I immediately, without giving it much thought, turned around to head the other way. I called Blu & let him know I would be about 2 hours late. As I drove about 10 minutes, I started second-guessing myself. I could have crossed it! I passed two friends on the road, Godfrey & Savior, and I almost turned around, asking them to remove the tree so that I could cross. (Sidenote: I would NEVER have crossed with my kids in the car - I would have crossed alone and had Mulenga carry them over!) I really hesitated with what to do - I didn't want the team to have to wait for me and I just didn't know what to do! I remember thinking, "I turned around with no hesitation - that was my first instinct so that must be what I was supposed to do." On this route, there is a long bridge about 40 minutes down the road that is sometimes impassable. I started praying that I could pass. Instead, I got about 20 minutes down the road and came to a very small bridge that was completely flooded. My heart sank and I called Blu, telling him there was no way I could get out. He said "We'll come get you! Send us the grocery list and we'll get what the orphanage needs and meet you across the bridge and carry things over." So I turned around yet again and headed back to the small bridge. The tree had been removed, but the kids & I waited it out until Blu, Debbie, & Kenny arrived. When they got there they carried all of the groceries and our luggage across, and then the kids, me, and Debbie!

It was definitely an adventure, but the most amazing part of the story is that later that day, two different people emailed me to say that God woke them up and they started praying for us, right at the time I was making the decision on whether or not to cross the river. Isn't God amazing?? What an awesome reminder that he is Jehovah Roi - the God who sees!

(On a sidenote - Mulenga called yesterday to say that he drove into Mapanza to get some diesel and the hood of the truck welded and when he headed back to New Day, the bridge was once again flooded. He spent the night beside the river in the truck! Please pray that the government will build us a new bridge!)

Gardening...

So a couple of months ago I decided I was going to become a gardener. Just after the first rains I hoed four big rows of soil, added compost, tilled it, waited 2 weeks, and then planted onions, green beans, carrots, and cucumbers. Maybe some other things as well but I've forgotten now. I planted and watered, and then once the rains started I didn't really go back out there. Caedmon (age 7) loves to be in the garden, and he planted his own maize, and I knew that he had planted some beans somewhere. So today I went outside and looked at everything and see TONS of weeds. I hadn't been out there in a few..um..weeks ;) So I see this patch where I didn't plant anything, and it is covered in all these weeds all over it! So I start pulling them all up, and then I saw where Caedmon had planted maize, and there's weeds all around it too, so I tell Cambree to start digging those up. Once we are almost done, Caedmon (who was checking on the strawberry patch) comes over and stops and says, "What are you DOING?! Cambree, those are my beans!!!" I look up and see his face which was in utter shock. I was like, "So..this was where you had beans planted??" And he said "Yes!! Don't you know if you plant beans next to maize they will grow really big?!" (for the record, no I did not know that..) By this time I'm feeling SO bad because I knew Caedmon had planted beans and that he couldn't wait to show Grandpa, I just didn't know he had planted them THERE!! I plant everything in nice and neat rows and this was just utter chaos! I said "Oh man...your daddy is gonna be so mad at me.." And Caedmon just heaved a big sigh and said, "You all just go inside. Let me talk to him and I will explain everything." It was SO sad but so funny too! His voice was not hurt, it was more like "You all clearly have no idea what you're doing, just go inside!" I ran inside and got some more beans and Caedmon went to work replanting them, in the hopes that when Grandpa gets here on January 28th, there will be some beans to show for it! I think my days of gardening are over!

Alvarado Team - Last from New Day!

The team has left New Day and is on their way to Livingstone to experience Victoria Falls and a safari. I stayed behind with the kids, but I was headed to Choma to do my usual orphanage grocery shopping. We got word that the river was flooded, so Blu & I drove to check it out. The bridge was nowhere near passable! It will probably be covered until late tonight or early tomorrow. Blu left with the team to take another route. Though water was covering the long bridge on that route, there wasn't much water so they were able to safely cross. The bus's tires are much higher than my truck tires, so I opted to stay here today. We are officially flooded in! I'm glad the team was able to make it out and I'm praying the river goes down so that I can get groceries tomorrow! On Sunday I will meet back up with the team and go to Lusaka with them (to pick up my parents & Teacher Diana!) Since I'm stuck home today, I have a great opportunity to get my house back in order, do laundry, and post this massive blog for you! :) So here are pictures from the trip...in quite possibly the longest blog post ever...in no particular order.. :) If you've ever been to New Day, you've received a "Welcome" like this! I love this pic because it shows the excitement on ALL of our faces!!

Axer shows off the fish she made in VBS

This looks like the beginning of one of those, "How many Aggies does it take..." jokes :)

Blu shows Tony how to eat nshima at Kids Club

Look at this little one's full tummy after his meal at Kids Club!!

Marshall is enjoying his meal :)

We have a group of older boys who love to come and play soccer!

Our library is looking good! Yes we do have books to fill those shelves - that is next week's project!

Our security guard, Mr. Choma. I love the little bat he made as a weapon! :)

Muchoni & Francis show off their house to the team

Muchoni loved his new watch from Papa Wes & Mama Lala!

This is the mud we have to walk through to get anywhere...

The Nativity play that the kids did was so cute! I know this was the first time for a lot of our village kids to hear the Christmas story, so it was an added blessing for them to get to see it acted out! Cassie & Mrs. Kelly worked SOOO hard with the kids and did a great job!! Angels :)

Shepherds :)

The wisemen

Cason the Cow

Cason the Cow & Kelitah the Sheep

The entire Nativity cast

Elizabeth & Zechariah played by Sisi & Misheck

Muchoni played the Angel Gabriel - I love the wings Laura made!

I'm not biased or anything, but I've got to say that I think King Herod stole the show. He had a perfect "mean" face!

I asked him, "Caedmon, how did you not smile at all those people?!" And he looked at me like I was very dumb and said "Mama, I was King Herod."

Herod is dead!

Mary (Machila) is surprised by Angel Gabriel's news!

Love this picture - Mweene picking his nose :)

Building bookshelves for the library..

Brandi & Cassie enjoying some Zambian wildlife!

Cassie & Kelly at play practice

Christina working on her guitar skills

I thought some of you who have met Margaret may be interested to see her daughter, Chu-Chu, and her granddaughter Christy!

The classrooms are getting ready for school on January 14th!

Pretty Cynthia :)

These pictures show a progression of what we look like from morning to evening. Here is Debbie looking nice at church.

And Debbie that same afternoon...

And Debbie that evening...

Cason gets a lift from Francis

Mr. Jimmy with all the kids

Jimmy & Chu-Chu's son, little Jimmy!

Kailey coming out of the chicken houes - Kailey wins the prize for having the most African experiences as she visited the mortuary with Blu and stayed at the funeral for 5 hours while the rest of us came home after 2 hours!

This is a Zambian dish called kapenta. We call them "minnows" in the USA :)

Almost everyone tried them! Kelly & Ashlee got them down!

Kelly & Axer

Kelly tries to teach the kids how to make her REALLY loud whistle!

Kenny & Blu work on bookshelves together

Sawing..

I'm not sure what's going on, but it looks complicated!

Blu & Ashlee leading a song at Kids Club

Priscilla (6 months pregnant!) and Blu came by to sell some rugs to the team

Can you see the rainbow?! Gorgeous!

A close up pic of our Kids Sponsor Board

The whole team with the New Day kids

Tony got to have a drum session with Kalenga on Wednesday night

He also got to help get the truck out of the mud!

One of my favorite pics - Tyler trying to chase goats out of the church!

I had to post one more a pic of Tyler getting water poured on him!

A fun game of Limbo at VBS!

And then the rain came...

The shelter full of VBS kids after Day One! Love it!

We cannot thank the team from FBC Alvarado enough for giving up your Christmas holiday to come and minister alongside of us in Zambia. Christmas can be a hard time but this year it was fun to look forward to the team coming! You have planted seeds in the lives of children that we will be faithful to water and help grow, trusting that Jesus will produce the fruit in their lives! Thank you to all of the supporters back home (our church family!) who prayed, gave sacrificially, made curtains (which turned into head scarves for our play costumes!!), and sent your children to Zambia. We hope to see you at New Day again!