I thought you would all like to see me in my new outfit, trad Zambian, it was a bit sunny so I'm squinting a bit but I'm sure you can see the full effect!!

Well here I am in the middle of the last team, the Zambian Campaign ends on 16th October when we have our handing over event, two classrooms will have been completed for the new Kiine School, years six and seven will be moving in when they start their new school year in January. All the teams have worked really hard, in very hot weather and so far each team has finished its allocated tasks so, well done to James who has been leading the build. Its been no easy task as things are done very differently then on a UK build, for instance both the ground floor and roof slab concrete was mixed by hand - very strange to us when a concrete mixer would have done it so much quicker but the blessing here was that it provided employment for the extra builders which not only helped them, it meant their families were housed and fed and of course that helped traders who they purchased from.

It's so easy for us to bring our UK expectations, but we have to be guided by local people.

So this is a sad time, we are having to say goodbye to everyone, I'm finding it so emotional as I've made such brilliant friends. I now know that I will have to come back as there feels so much unfinished business.

This is me with mu friend Stan, he's living at the Fountain of Hope, but next week he's moving with 20 others to their next stage place where they hope to reintegrate them with their extended families. Stan is 17 and came from Chisamba in Central Province, at the moment he is in grade 7 at school - I don't know his full story - how long he lived on the streets before coming to FOH but as you can see he is holding my bag and calls me mother Carol. In fact they all call me mama Carol which is a huge compliment - Stan wants to be a pilot but whether he is ever able to complete his education i don't know. There is huge costs involved. But I want to keep in touch if I can.

These are some of the younger boys, Stan took this photo, they all love hugs and we have lots of them, I hopeless with languages and they mostly speak Bemba (not sure if that's how its spelt) but hugs speak wonders. Its amazing to think that they have only been at FOH for between 3-6 months. They don't always tell us their stories, so we don't know for how long they may have lived on the street.

On Monday we are taking a load of them to Adventure City the water park, we took half with the last team so this time we take the rest plus any new arrivals. So that will be a very sad day, I've already cried all over Stan so am likely to do the same on Monday - I'm becoming a real cry baby. its now two weeks since Isaac died, they are so upset. Isaac was going to sort out some boarding school places for the older guys who only have one or more years schooling to complete. There is one lad Jackson, who should be in grade 11, he is desperate to go back to school so that he can go to college - now he doesn't know what will happen, please will you pray for him - every time I see him he thanks me for my prayers.

Here I am talking about FOH in a very nice Internet cafe in Arcades, the most upmarket shopping mall - it feels like a million miles away from FOH and city market where the boys who live on the street stay. I've just been and had my hair done and had a whole load of photo's developed so that I can give them out to the guys on Monday. Stan had my camera and took loads of shots of the guys eating dinner, Nshima everywhere! Very tasty too. I'm going to miss going there for dinner with the teams. This time I also took Stan a pair of shoes and Lemi a bible so I bless all the folk that gave me money to bring out. Its all gone now as is all of mine - I've just changed my last £ so it will be hole in the wall from now on. I was also able to give Vasco some money to by some meat for dinner as most of the time they only have beans - these lads eat like horses and Vasco has been hard pushed to get food for them. Amazingly we are receiving the most generous donations from past teams, God is so good.

Another project that I'm helping with is documenting all the children that need sponsorship to go to Kiine School. So far Benson and Barbrah have identified 120+ vulnerable children and orphans who need help. I'm hoping that when I get back we can encourage some folk to help send them to school. I'm also going to be rising money to provide books for Dorothy's school - I visited them this week with Sarah one of the team members - we had a fab morning and taught them some songs, she did the singing and played the accordion and I did the actions. Great fun and mostly I managed to keep up with the actions. The children do laugh to see this white haired, white lady jumping around. its very hard trying to explain Our God is a Great Big God without!! I can hear you laughing. I'm afraid my voice hasn't improved but folk here are so gracious - Benson our Pastor told me that I'm a Soprano!!

I'd better finish now as I must be running out of Internet Time...

Love to you all and I pray that you will be blessed for all the support you give me.

Shalom

Carol