Updates From Zambia

Faith is only 8, our youngest resident, but life has not been easy to this point for this little girl.

She is the firstborn in her family, and her father and mother are both in prison. We found her being raised by her grandparents who are in their 80s – a very rare age in Zambia.

Vincent is Wellspring’s first “boy”, but at this time is part of the ministry as a non-resident.

Vincent is 14 and in grade 6. His father is in prison and his mother struggles to survive by selling vegetables. Vincent stays mainly with his grandmother.

Naomi turned 17 and decided for her celebration the house should enjoy Hungry Lion (Zambian KFC) and a small cake.

The girls enjoyed the celebration with singing and sharing. A tradition in Zambia is that when you have a birthday cake, the person whose birthday is being celebrated is to cut the first piece and then shares a bite of that piece with everyone in attendance. A video of that tradition is included.

Today Micah, Annie, and Mary joined the house as the newest residents.

Micah and Annie are sisters coming from a family of 6. Their older children are brothers, and none of them were able to complete school past 8th grade. Their mother is 46, never educated, and struggles to raise $2.00 a day to support the family.

WellSpring celebrated its first Christmas as a family. On December 25th the families of the girls were invited to come to a special meal and time of celebration.

As the girls are settling into the house and their new lives, we reach the holiday season. Zambian schools are on holiday and that means Clara and Naomi’s younger siblings have come for a visit. Diana just completed her 7th-grade year and over the past couple of years has become a fan of working with Legos.

Today was a special day as we celebrated our first birthdays at WellSpring. Jolima and Naomi turned 11.

Today the first three residents arrived to their “new home” at the first girls house in Mufulira. Martha, Naomi (lil Naomi), and Jolima were brought along with family members to go through orientation and be welcomed into their new place.