Thank You from The Ransoms!

A sweet church in Iowa asked their children to collect a "noisy offering" to help support Randy and I on our mission in Lusaka, Zambia. A noisy offering is the children's change and makes a loud noise as it is collected and shaken each week! This is a short video highlighting a little of what we do here in Zambia and is a Thank You to ALL of YOU who have prayed and supported us financially!
God Bless,
The Ransoms

To support the Ransoms, please visit:
http://www.legacymissions.org/theransoms

God Bless,
The Ransoms

Tree of Life Children's Village Opening Day

This is a video of the opening day at the Tree of Life Children's Village this past May. Fourteen children started brand new lives on this day. Many were double orphans living with relatives or in the case of Dorcas and her two little brothers they lived with neighbors who had kindly taken them in. Dorcas's parents had abandoned them over two years ago. Now, several months later, 63 children live at the Tree of Life and it has been our privilege to watch them grow and become more confident little ones just over the past 5 months. The goal is to build 25 homes for orphans and three more are under construction.

Fun DAY in LUSAKA!!!

The children from Tree of Life had an absolute blast at Saturday's Fun Day at St. Columba's Presbyterian Church here in Lusaka, Zambia!!! A local bible study made up of ex-pats from Europe, South Africa, America, Zimbabwe and other countries donated tickets and funds for our 63 children from the Tree of Life Children's Village to attend a carnival at a local church. My husband and I loved accompanying the entire group as well! There was so much to do from the merry-go-round, ferris wheel, jumping castle and some of our children even got up and sang with the live band!!! Now the ferris wheel and merry-go-round are hand operated and don't even begin to compare with what is available in the states at a theme park but the kids didn't know the difference! They were all smiles and it was the perfect way to tire out a group of 63 energy filled little munchkins. They had a blast eating hot dogs and softies donated from the church as well!!! We even celebrated one of our children's 10th birthday by getting some of the church's cupcakes for sale (luckily they had enough for all of our children)! You can just see the joy in their excited faces in my favorite pictures from Saturday!

We're Back in Zambia!!!

Yes, Randy and I arrived in Zambia the night of August 10th and yes it is now October 1st and we're just now updating the Blog! We've been doing so many things and our blog efforts have just now been successful! We left Zambia on May 30th for a short break in the states and then returned to Zambia after 10 weeks! While we were home, Heather's father passed away from Leukemia. He was in the hospital the week before he died and it was a blessing to have spent so much time with him before he passed. I miss him very much and his laughter will never be forgotten. His favorite joke: "What's a Row of Rabbits Walking Backwards", answer "A Receding Hareline!" His favorite quote: "Stop and Smell the Roses!" These are pictures of Heather and her Dad! We've also posted a video honoring my Dad.

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The day before we left in May the Tree of Life Opened it's very first home for orphans!!! While we were in the states, an additional three houses opened their doors. Sixty-three darling children now call the Tree of Life home and it is such a blessing to know that they are now thriving in a new school and a new home environment where they are getting three meals a day. Many of these children I had the privilege of visiting in their homes and communities prior to their life changing completely at the Tree of Life! What a transformation it has been as the children have put on weight and are beaming with life now!

The month of August the children were out of school as they are on the 3 month on, 1 month off schedule here in Zambia. Every Wednesday in August we took the little ones out for special outings. One time we took them swimming,

we took them to the zoo and saw real lions (and I mean up close and personal, there is just a chain link fence separating you from a very large lioness),

then we took them to a reptile farm which also had fishing (yes we managed to catch 4 fish even with 63 loud children),

and then we took them shopping in our containers for new shoes and clothes!

Ah, these days are so precious!!! WE LOVE SERVING THESE KIDS FOR THE LORD!!!

It's Birthday Time in Zambia!

I must say to all of you, how lucky and blessed I've been to be married to my husband for almost 9 years now .  My birthday falls tomorrow, but my husband has already let the cat out of the bag on my present this year!  It really touches my heart and brings tears to my eyes that he thought of dedicating a fruit orchard to me at the Tree of Life Children's Village!  How darling that he thought of blessing the kids here in my name! He's calling it Heather's Fruit Orchard and it will be home to many, many fruit trees that will bless the orphans at the children's village for years to come!  I can just see the kids scampering up and down the rows of trees playing hide and seek, chasing each other, and finding a sweet snack before dinner.  My husband is planting the following seven fruits:

• Bananas
• Mangoes
• Guavas
• Oranges
• Lemons
• Nectarines
• Avocados (do really well here, you should see how big they get!  We've had so much guacamole over here, it is just a little hard to find tortilla chips!)

My husband is so darling!  I'm so happy to have been with Randy since I was 18! What a journey it has been from freshman sweethearts at Texas A&M (Whoop!), to engineers at Rockwell Collins Inc. (what an amazing, engineering company), and finally to full-time missionaries in Lusaka, Zambia (a country we had never heard of 4 years ago!).  Thanks for the birthday present Randy!  I love this picture of Randy, he is hugging on one of my sweet girls, Patricia, from last summer's CAMP LIFE.  All during camp, he was able to get this double orphan to smile every day by tossing her up into the air and making her laugh!  What a cute, husband!

  

Randy with Patricia!

Goliath Lungu

This past year, both my husband and I have worked with some of the most innocent, sweet, and God loving people we have ever met!  I can't wait to tell you about one such person at the Tree of Life Children's Village.  Goliath Lungu is the landscaper at the village and he has been working for our ministry for a year and a half now.  A few weeks ago, Randy noticed several new pretty flower additions that had been planted around Lahema's House (the first house for orphans built at the Tree of Life).  When Randy asked Goliath where the flowers had come from he informed Randy that he had purchased the plants with his own money.  When Randy offered to reimburse Goliath he refused, saying in his sweet broken English "No Sir, I am a Christian."  Goliath wanted to personally donate to the Children's Village in his own way.  Goliath doesn't make very much money, but his servant heart motivates Randy and I to work harder for these darling kids.  I hope this story has been an encouragement to you.

WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS!

Heather and I have been joined here in Zambia by some other Americans as we make the final push to open the Tree of Life Children's Village.  We are trying to open the Village before Heather and I return to the US on 5/30/09.  We are running short on funding, time, and energy.  Please, please remember us in your prayers that God will give us grace so that we can give these kids the miracle they need!

Recently, Heather had the chance to visit a little girl named Sete during one of our monthly food deliveries and give her a special blessing!

  

Our Sunday Afternoon Friends

Our Sunday Afternoon Friends: Charles, Benard, Dan, and Mustafa

Every Sunday afternoon Heather and I go to the market at the Arcades shopping center here in Lusaka, Zambia.  There you can buy souvenirs, get some ice cream, or just walk around in the sun.  Every time we've gone for the last couple of months we've run into our "Sunday Afternoon Friends".  We always see these 4 boys and we know them from our previous Camp Life experiences.  Every time we see them we somehow help them out whether it's school fees, shoes, backpacks, money for the doctor, or just some fried chicken or ice cream.  One of the ways our ministry works for children is to economically empower their caretakers through micro loans so the caretaker can start their own business.  It's better to teach a man to fish than to give a man a fish.  However, often it is necessary to directly intervene in the life of a child.  These four boys often go hungry as none of them currently have an American sponsor. 

If you are interested in sponsoring one of these boys ($36/month) please follow the link below and select "Charles C" on the right side of the page (or please select another boy): 

https://fathersheart.legacymissions.org/ambassador.php?aid=1A.00000082

For Heather and I it's really rewarding to watch these four boys smile while they eat their chicken & fries and ice cream!  It's funny how in America if someone eats the skin on fried chicken you think "Oh that's terrible it's full of fat".  Over here, it's great to see kids eating the skin on fried chicken because you know it's going to put some meat on their bones!

Soft Serve Ice Cream Dipped In Chocolate: Good in America and Good in Zambia!

These bags of mealie meal (the staple food of Zambia) will sustain these boys for almost 2 weeks!

Tree of Life Children's Village Update

Randy's primary assignment here in Zambia is to lead construction of our organization's Tree of Life Children's Village.  The village will house children in a safe, loving environment with plenty of food and access to quality education and medical facilities.  The orphans that will live at the Tree of Life Children's Village will have a new life as many of these kids currently suffer from neglect, serial abuse, lack of food, or serious medical issues.  The village will eventually have 25 houses for orphans, a school, a medical center, and a convention center (the convention center will generate income to support the village).  Phase I of the village includes construction of 7 houses, Phase I of the school, water infrastructure and security infrastructure.  
Children are scheduled to begin living at the Tree of Life Children's Village in Summer 2009!

Our Main Water Tank

House #8: It all begins with a masonry block slab.

House #7: Almost ready to begin roof framing.

House #6: The roof is on and it's time to start exterior plastering.

House #5: Almost ready for exterior paint.

House #4: Almost ready for exterior paint.

House #3: Interior Finishing in Progress.

House #2: Interior Finishing in Progress.

House #1: Working on the Final Touches!

Gift Phiri Update!

Many of you are wondering how Gift Phiri is doing so we thought we would give an update.  God has blessed us greatly.  Gift is permanently living in one of our LifeWay Homes and is receiving the nutrition she needs.  The Family Legacy Health Department always takes Gift to her regularly scheduled monthly medical injections.  We were blessed by an American cardiologist, Dr. Chandra, who reviewed Gift's medical data.  Dr. Chandra concluded that Gift does need heart valve replacement surgery.  We are working to find out if Gift can get the surgery done here in Lusaka.  If that's not possible we'll explore other options in the US, South Africa, or potentially even India.  Once we know where to have the surgery done we'll start fundraising for Gift.  Please keep praying that God will make a way to save Gift's life and get her heart fixed!

Gift Phiri

Below is the story of a Zambian girl named Gift Phiri.  Something is wrong with Gift Phiri's heart (it's either in the wrong position or she has a heart valve defect).  Heather and I are leading the effort to get a proper diagnosis for this sweet child and to raise the money for whatever surgery she needs.  We're currently looking for a cardiologist in the United States who can look at the test data. Please e-mail us if you know a cardiologist that might be able to help us!  God is already starting to work in this situation as we were able to take Gift into the Family Legacy boarding school where she'll get the proper nutrition she needs.  

 

TROTTERS!

Time for my lunch at the Tree of Life Children's Village.  The orange liquid is soup (cooking oil not water based) and the white material is nshima.  Nshima is similar to a very fine and dry form of grits. Nshima is eaten by Zambians at lunch & dinner, every day.  They never tire of nshima; it is the staple food of Zambia.  It is served plain (no salt, butter, garlic, etc.) Whatever you eat with the nshima is called relish.  Can you guess what the relish was for today's meal?  I'll give you a better look:

TROTTERS!

If you can't tell what this is it is a "trotter"... as in the part of a pig that the pig uses to "trot" around on.  No you don't eat the toe nails and no you don't even taste the hair.  Truthfully there isn't that much good meat on a trotter; just a lot of fat and some tendons.

Here I'm taking a bite but usually I just suck on the trotter to get the flavor!

Our workers at the Tree of Life Children's Village love trotters and it's always a treat when I bring some!

School Fees Paid!

This is what 115,000,000 Zambian Kwacha looks like (the kwacha is the unit of currency here in Zambia).  Heather and I used this money to pay the school fees of over 800 children!  Public education in Zambia is not free and part of the money Father's Heart sponsors donate goes to pay school fees for sponsored children.  The largest Zambian bank note is a 50,000 ZMK (Zambian Kwacha).  At the current exchange rate this is roughly equivalent to $9.10.  Think about that...the largest bill is worth about $9!  Also, checks are rarely accepted meaning you have to pay cash for everything.  This particular day I walked out of the bank with 115M ZMK (about $21,000) in cash in my backpack!  My backpack was literally heavy from all the cash.  This was about 40 years worth of salary for the average Zambian!

Justina & Catherine Zimba

These girls were robbed, their parents stabbed, but our ministry was able to intervene!

Our House Has Sold!

Our house has sold!  Thank You everyone for your prayers on this. This was a beautiful home in Plano and it was a great blessing to live there.  It took 2 engineering incomes to support this house and now that we are missionaries it is a great relief to no longer have this large financial commitment.  Lord willing when we return home in June we will be able to purchase a small home near family in Coppell, TX.  Thank You again for your support and prayers!

Valentine's Day In Lusaka!

Yesterday Heather and I celebrated Valentine's Day here in Lusaka!

GUYS ONLY:
I didn't have any trouble finding roses or a card but finding chocolates was a different matter.  I looked all over and couldn't find any place that sold chocolates.  I finally found a box of chocolate covered almonds in a red box and I was able to convince Heather they were Valentine's Chocolates!

Zambia Tip #12

When you come to Zambia you need to have the right car.  This is essential given the poor road conditions and precarious situations you may find yourself in.  I recommend the car we currently have, a 13 year old Toyota Corolla we affectionately call Melba. 

This car makes me look cool!

Now granted, Melba should not be taken to the Tree of Life Children's Village construction site when it's raining or she will get stuck in the mud.  On the plus side you don't have to worry about being carjacked in Melba because she just looks like another taxi!  

Hey, why's the steering wheel on the wrong side? Note the bear with angel wings.  It helps us distinguish Melba in a crowded parking lot.  You wouldn't believe how many old Corollas (many as taxis) are running around Lusaka!

This car looked like a beat up taxi until we put some new rims (o.k. hubcaps) on it.  For $18 total we made this ride cool.  Note the zip ties on the hubcaps so you don't loose your sweet hubcaps to monster potholes, rocks, or thieves!

Another Video From Father's Heart Xmas Party!

By request here is another video from the Father's Heart Christmas Party.  This video features two sponsored boys, Michael Chalo and Dimase Musekwa, having their best Christmas ever!  Thank You  to Michael and Dimase's Sponsor who made this special day possible for these boys!

Nora's Clinic Visit

This brief video shows the impact of our ministry's health department on Zambia's sick children!

Father's Heart Christmas Party

Heather made this video for a friend of ours who's sponsored kids (Maggie, Susan, Peter, Musonda, and Junior) attended the Christmas Party our ministry put on for sponsored children.  US child sponsors donated money for their sponsored child to receive a Christmas gift.  We had a Christmas party for the children where we fed them breakfast and lunch, played games, danced, and ate cake!  The children had a WONDERFUL time and at the end of the day they each received two amazing presents!  The first present was a bag filled with stuffed animals, toys, candy, pencils, crayons, bubbles, towels, and clothes.  The 2nd surprise present was a bag full of food for them to take home to their families! 

Zambia Tip #11

So you're coming to Zambia and you want a recommendation for an authentic Zambian culinary delight.  You're interested in a real delicacy, something special you can share with your Zambian friends. I suggest the following:

VINKUBALA!

Yes, they are caterpillars.  I'm not a big fan but Zambians really like Vinkubala.  You can eat them raw or (like everything else here) you can fry it in cooking oil.  That is my preferred method of consumption.

That Vinkubala in my mouth kind of looks like the ear creature in The Wrath of Khan!

Heather did try Vinkubula but she swears she's never eating it again.  Okay so maybe you are not in the mood for caterpillars.  Last Saturday I ate the last Snickers bar we had brought from America.  Yesterday I really needed a candy bar so I headed to Lusaka's nicest store, Game (a variety store similar to a 1992 Kmart) and purchased a Nestle TEX.  

A Better Version of a Kit Kat

Admittedly the name reminded me of Texas and that is part of the reason I purchased it but this is a tasty candy bar.  I also very much enjoy fried chicken and Zambian fried chicken is the best!  The chicken is fresh and they fry it in cooking oil and it is DELICIOUS.  But can you get fried chicken goodness from chips?

The answer: Not Really!