Unstained: Help Us Serve The Children of Kwathu Children's Home

Friends, prayer warriors, and supporters,

In the southern region of Africa, a small and beautiful country faces a large and ominous problem. In this country, Zambia, 1.4 million of its 14 million people are orphans (according to UNICEF), and an energy crisis has caused tariffs resulting in price inflation, resulting in the prices of food raising 25%, while the Zambian Kwatcha (Zambia's currency) reached a record high of 13.90 per US Dollar in November 2015, now hovering around 11 per USD. Prices are soaring, the country's currency is losing value, and a large population of orphans are struggling to survive.

In themidst of thi crisis stans a childre's home dediaed to prvding shlter, edcation, ood, water, and Christ's love to orphans and abandoned children, Kwathu Children's Home. "Kwathu" means "my place," or "my home," in the Nyanja language spoken in Eastern Zambia. The home provides for and shelters children aged 2 to 17, and fosters an environment for caretakers to show the love of Chris to the children who have endured so much. However, Zambia's economic struggles are making it difficult for the staff and caretakers to provide for the children, with the cost of food getting higher and higher while the value of their currency drops. They are in great need of a sustainable food source, and as James 2:15-16 says:

"If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?"

That is where a new opportunity for me and my friends at Grace Klein Community comes in. We have been asked by our friends at Kwathu to come and build a chicken coop, and provide chickens for the orphanage. This will bring a sustainable food source to the children, while also providing economic opportunities in selling the chickens' eggs. This will also be a strong source of protein for children whose diet mostly consists of grain. Our trip, though originally scheduled in January has been delayed until June. With such an awesome opportunity to serve the Lord through loving and looking after His children, one might ask, why do we have to delay, why aren't we going right now?

Well, the inflation and financial struggles of Zambia have made it so we must raise $2,000 per person and $3,000 for equipment, making this trip to fill an important need is only possible with the help of our friends and community. And though we all wish we could just open our checkbook and cover it ourselves, just as in most missions situations, that's not how God made this trip work. In global missions, when you give a donation or buy a T-shirt or participate in a fundraising event, you are glorifying the Lord just as missionaries going to the field. We are all called to use BOTH our feet and our finances. So readers, and friends, I want to invite you to be a part of this mission, this solution to an ominous problem of food shortages at the Kwathu Children's Home.

Through buying a t-shirt you can be a part of a team of supporters that brings Grace Klein's skilled workers to serve a children's home in a country where so many children are orphaned and need a home. Your gift or purchase will help Kwathu Children's Home to look after and love 15 of these orphaned or abandoned children, providing them hope and opportunity for a bright future, helping them walk with the Lord and lead in their communities, and help this beautiful country of Zambia to a brighter future. Fulfilling a James 1:27 mission.