And we're back!

Today is Monday and it is running on three days of being back here in Zambia.  This first night I flew in there was a dance party and what a way to begin.  It was super fun to join with everyone out at Mya and Samuel's house where we ate a lot of food (which was good because I had none at my house) and we danced the night away.  To bad no one was there to complain about Kristi's playlists!  haha.

Things are good.  I am living in the Dream House with two Danish folks named Lena and Jakob.  They both just graduated from college and are here for three months.  So far so good.  Today was my first day at Wiphan and I must say...  it is really weird to be here without Kristin.  It was so awesome to see everyone again!  It was great to see the kids as they came out for break.  They all asked where Kristin was and some even demanded that she return now! haha.  Love it!  But...  off I go.  Gotta run some errands and finish unpacking.  Stay posted for more!

Love you guys!

Dear Friends and Family:

            I am very excited to share with you’ll that I will be moving to Ndola, Zambia for a longer commitment to work with Wiphan USA.  This has been quite the process and I will be returning to America (in March) for just three weeks after doing my first round with Hope Community School throughout the last seven months.

            My time at Hope Community School was exciting and life changing.  Because they go to school all year around, I taught grade five for their last term and then moved up to grade six for their first term of the New Year.  I was left to teach on my own for two months and it was both challenging and encouraging.  I have been able to build a relationship with all 45 of my students that would not have been possible in any other situation.

            I am very sad to leave Hope School and my amazing students but so excited to be transitioning to an organization like Wiphan.  Wiphan strives to live out James 1:27 in such a realistic way!  Wiphan has two schools that care for 400 double orphans, a skill training program for 100 widows, a medical clinic, and 4 orphanages that currently house 15 children.  On top of these things, they strive to live boldly and show Jesus in everything they do.

Look at my Ruth read!!!!

            In Ndola, Zambia 86% of the population lives below the poverty line and 45% are below the age of 14.  The average life expectancy is 38 years primarily due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic as well as Malaria.  With the struggles of everyday life, we long for all who come in contact with Wiphan to be able to encounter the Lord and the hope HE has promised to us!

(Check out Wiphan.org for more information)

            When full time with Wiphan, I will specifically be working with several different programs such as: working hand in hand with all our teachers through organizing curriculum and programming, working with the sponsorship program, and I will also be running a follow-up program for our children who have pass their National Exams.  A small group of us have also started a not for profit called ZAMTeach.  I will be heading up ZAMTeach with another American girl named Kristin, as we strive to encourage, equip, and develop the skills of teachers all over Ndola.  These workshops are open to any school in the city and run every few months.

            With all this said, I am extremely excited to be going back to do life with these people.  We have high hopes and great expectation for what God is going to do through us in the next leg of this journey.  I would love your support and partnership in this project, if not financially, through prayer and encouragement.  If you feel in a place to financially give, you can do so online at: http://www.wiphan.org/donate/donate-one-time/ (one time donation) and http://www.wiphan.org/donate/donate-recurring/ (to support monthly).  Please make sure you put Stacey Ernvall in the memo line and all donations are tax deductible.  My total support needed is $1200 a month for the duration of my time in Zambia.

Thank You For Your Love and Support!

Do Someone Say 10 DAYS...

My my how times is flying.  For some reason I feel like it is going even faster now that I only have 10 days left.  The last couple of weeks have been so busy with Ms. Hannah Moore coming back from Wales and the events with Hope.  The last two Sunday's I preached at Hope and it went well.  I realized that I enjoy the prep time of preparing a sermon as long as I have nothing else to do! haha.

Zambia WINS... Zambia WINS!

On top of that excited, Zambia brought back the Africa Cup for Soccer.  We had celebrated all day and all night for a day or two and that was an experience in itself!  Last weekend Kristin and I ran ZAMTeach's second training for the teachers on Ndola.  It was hard to do with just the two of us but we managed.  We had a decent turn out and we taught on Subject Specifications: English (Phonics) and Math and then Kristin did a section on Classroom Management!  Kristin sent Hope back with some dry erase boards and copies and the kids LOVE THEM!  They stay after... or ask if they can stay after and do work with them everyday!  THANK YOU KRISTIN!

This next week we have sponsors and a board member from Wiphan USA coming.  I am excited to meet with them and get to know them a little better.  This last week I will be celebrating my time with Hope and enjoying the last few days with my class!  They have been singing me a good-bye song the last few days and I am not sure if they are just practicing or if they are ready for me to go! haha.  They are great thought!

The boys got to erase the board and then they dusted their faces!  Silly Boys!

Good-bye



Joanna



The inevitable has finally happened; it is the end of my time here in Zambia. I wish I could adequately write down all of my feelings and the multitude of blessings these past 6 months have showered upon me, but I know I will just come up short. Firstly, I would like to thank all of you at home for the prayers and support. I know I have said it before, but it is so true that without you this time would not have been possible. I feel so selfish having been given this opportunity. If anyone out there has the smallest inkling to serve God, take it. Don’t question it, just go. He will bless whatever you do. In spite of how flawed and insignificant you are He will bless it, cause trust me, I am very flawed and never feel worthy enough to be here surrounded by these amazing people. It has been six months and I am STILL blown away that I am here. It has not been all laughter and smiles, but it still feels like an amazing dream that in no way can actually be reality.

Okay, now I will try to describe how richly I have been blessed in my last week here. It will probably be short because the longer I write the higher the chances I will bawl all over the laptop and just ruin it so how about I keep it short? The good-byes really started on Sunday (though the tears started days before) with church saying their final good-byes and collecting kwacha for me and mine! Let me tell you, it is an EXTREMELY humbling experience to have some of the poorest of the poor give from their purse to you. I was brought up to dance with the congregation which helped ebb the flow of tears that were falling freely down my face. The next day it was good-bye to both school and Hope House. That was a rough day. It all began with seeing Jane from Hope House, hugging her, feeling her cry underneath my hug, starting to cry myself, and knowing I was done for the entire day. The gifts kept coming, the tears kept coming, and more dancing was forced upon me to try and make me smile instead of cry. At Hope House there was a feast fit for a king laid out, and after I sobbed like a baby while they sang good-bye to me, and was forced to dance some more, they pulled me to the center of the room and all of the kids from the orphanage sang and prayed over me. These children, well actually more like young adults, are too amazing to put into words, and the power of their prayers is incredible. How I wish I could still possess child-like faith. The good-byes with my family ended just as it began, with dancing, singing, laughter, and many pictures. To my other abusungu’s, I have not forgotten about you. Clara Marie and Peter, Jay and Josh, Marci, Bill, and Aiden, and most importantly Stacey, Kristin, and Kristi, ya’ll have made my time here so much richer than I could have imagined. Your support and understanding, laughter and blunt truth, and basically just being you, has made my time more wonderful than I thought possible. I have been too much blessed. I know you at home may not want to hear this, but it has been hard to leave. I feel as if a huge chunk of my heart has been left with Zambia and am not quite sure what to do without it. It is just another home for me, and I have to tell myself that someday I will be back and see my African family again.



Hope House

Shalinepo (spelling Stac?) Zambia. I love you and will miss you dearly,

Sara Anne Blumenshine

“Although mementos can be preserved or displayed behind glass, memories live on in the heart, where they deepen and resonate over the years, providing strength and comfort in times of need.”                     –Unknown Author





Family (minus Humphrey who is never around for pictures. Sorry brother)



Holiday....Celebrate!

That's right; Stacey and I finally took a holiday. Our destination was the beautiful, serene, ever so lovely Lake Malawi. Bright and early Monday, December 26th, Stacey, myself, and our two friends Kristi and Jay began our long journey. Thanks to some amazing missionary friends, The Pedersons, we were able to hitch a ride with them in Lusaka, making the 11+ hr drive much more pleasant than expected.

I won't bore you with the details, but instead let the pictures do the talking today. Every morning (even the rainy ones) were just gorgeous, the water was warm and refreshing, the sun perfect for tanning/burning me to a crisp, and outside of a life threatening snorkeling adventure (which was quite pretty until the current decided to steal my snorkel), it was an extremely relaxing and rejuvenating week.

View from our porch

Biting it while tubing :)

We are now back to school, and I am trying to cram in as many hugs and memories in before I leave. However, I still have this week left so we aren't talking about that whole ugly departure thing yet.

Loves to all,

Sara Anne

P.S. Hope received a 100% passing rate for their seventh graders' final exams. Praise Him!