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The Children of Zion Village is a Christian home for orphans in the southern African nation of Namibia. It is located along the Zambezi River in the northeast corner of Namibia. Our children come from several different tribal and language groups.
The "village" opened in January, 2003 and is now home to 57 children. Most of the children have been placed in our care because they have lost their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to AIDS.
Here the boys and girls receive love, nutrition, shelter, healthcare, academic, vocational and Bible education, and become part of one large Christian family. Our missionaries, volunteers, and Namibian staff work together to raise the children in our "village".
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VILLAGE NEWS
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Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 06/02/2013 - 07:35
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Of course when we learn we like it to be fun. No matter how young or how old. Also, when it is a “hands on project” it allows for more responsibility and feeling of accomplishment when it is over. When it comes to food, everyone is benefited and those that cook can serve. And, certainly, God calls us to serve.
So, one evening at dinner we were asking who wants to be what when they grow up. Some want to be doctors, some nurses, some teachers, some in the army, some want to cook food in a restaurant and some want to do it all. Somehow we got on the cooking topic. So, we ask them if they wanted to come up with their own menu. YES was the answer.
- First step, come up with teams of 4.
- Create a menu to be approved :)
- Shop and price check/compare brands and stores.
- Clean and mix/prepare the food.
- Dish out the servings on the plates.
- Serve to the rest of the group.
- Clean the pots, pan, plates and kitchen.
I wish we had pictures of the shopping trip because it was the last day of the month (PAY DAY) and EVERYONE comes to shop. The place was so packed with people and everyone was pushing and shoving (maybe like Black Friday in the states and even worse!). After we were finished I think we needed tee-shirts that said “I survived shopping at Shoprite on the last day of the month”!!!
Saturday afternoon some of the boys and Travis started the fire for the 4 girls that would be cooking. First cooking group was Emelia, Elisa, Isabella, and Maria. The girls started to work. The menu: hamburgers, fries, plums and birthday cake. So surprised!!! An ALL American menu and something that we never have here!!!! First to wash hands and mix the spices in the mince.
  
Second step to make the patties and Travis got to stand over the hot fire and smoke.
  
Third step: Cut the rolls and get the fries into the oven. Wash the plums. Load the plates!
  
Forth, PRAY, serve the food and ENJOY!!! It was YUMMY!!!!!
 
Stay tuned for the next menu and the next group of 4 cooks:)
Give thanks to the Lord, Call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Psalm 105: 1, 2
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Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 05/25/2013 - 08:06
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Africa Day is the annual commemoration on May 25 of the 1963 founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). On this day, leaders of 30 of the 32 independent African states signed a founding charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.[1] In 1991, the OAU established the African Economic Community, and in 2002 the OAU established its own successor, the African Union. However, the name and date of Africa Day has been retained as a celebration of African unity.[2] 2012's theme of Africa Day is "Africa and the Diaspora." It should also be noted that Africa Day is observed as a public holiday in only five African countries, that is, Ghana ,[3] Mali, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The theme of the 2013 Africa Day is ‘Investing for Sustainable Success’. Following on from last year’s theme of ‘Taking Ownership’, we aim to explore what is being done in Africa to ensure that success is not only achieved but also sustained.
Well, we heard there were going to be celebrations at the stadium in town so we thought it would be good to take the children to see and to learn. So, we loaded 2 cars and 22 children and off we went. When we arrived at the stadium they were playing soccer and net ball. OK, so maybe there will be sports for a while then speeches, singing, dancing… Well, not so much. There was ONLY sports!! So, we watched sports for a while then took our 22 and walked through town to the market. Everyone was handed a N$1 to choose either a banana, roll, or lollipop. So, they enjoyed the opportunity to choose and pay for their purchase.
 
Then we bought them some juice and handed out jiggies that we brought along. Back to the stadium. Still, just sports. But, there was a court space now open and the boys brought the basket ball, so they all played for a while then we loaded by about 1:30 to come back to the village. A bit disappointing but none-the-less, it was a fun outing with the children.
  
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Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 05/25/2013 - 07:39
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On 21 May 2013 the schools in Namibia opened for the second term. School here starts in January and goes for the whole calendar year with 3 major breaks – one month mid-April to mid-May (now), 2 weeks in August and one month from mid-Dec to mid-January. Unlike the states, we are starting winter now. It is not yet really COLD, but the mornings and nights are chilly.
The day starts with some cleaning at the school and around the school. Then they organize for assembly. There is assembly and devotions every Monday of the school year, but each opening and closing day of the school term opens or closes with the “directors” leading the devotion. So, after some singing, Travis led the opening devotion. We then accepted prayer requests and praises and had prayer time. The assembly was closes with saying the pledges and singing of the national anthem. It was a nice start to the day and the second school term at Zion Mission School.
 
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
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Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 05/24/2013 - 06:19
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We started to have a Spiritual Retreat a couple of years ago with just our staff. We really felt that is was important that the staff be refreshed and renewed by Jesus and also get their cups filled. So, we decided to try this method as a half day retreat when the children were on holiday. That way we could use volunteers to watch the young ones that were here or hire someone to watch them. So, after the first half day retreat, they were so excited and so thankful that we would give them this opportunity that they never had, they ask if it could become a full day and that it could be 2 times in a year and not just one. So, we said “Yes!” to both – Full day, and two times a year. Below, meet our staff: inside workers, outside workers and teachers.
Mid-April to mid-May is the first term school holiday for schools in Namibia. So, we delivered all but 6 of our children to either a parent, grandparent or auntie or brother/sister, or other relative for the school holiday. We are trying to get them used to their family and the village they have come from and might be going back to once discharged from Zion.
We have a few workers from the nearby village that have been doing some extra grounds clean up. Two of them are leaders at the nearby village church that we sometimes go to. We ask them if some of the people might want to come to the retreat. He said, “yes!” Well, we expected maybe 5-10 but he had a list of 30 people that wanted to participate!!! WOW!!! We felt it was another opportunity that God provided for us to share the word of God and also to build relationships in the community. Since there were even more coming from outside compared to our staff, we decided to make it 1.5 days so that we had at least a half day with just our staff. We worked hard to prepare messages, fun games, meaningful activities and food. Auntie Jenny’s specialty are mscones (rolls) so she was teaching all of us to make the MOST delicious ones!!! Yummmyyyyyyy!!!!
  
Day one was the half day. We talked about working for the Lord. We also talked about team work and getting along and showing love, one to another. We discussed the mission and goals of the village. We also had open discussion as to if we were achieving the goals and mission. Then we divided up into smaller teams and given a task to try to build the highest building in the world. The materials included bubble gum (which they had to chew) and toothpicks. We watched how they worked together. Some were the doers, some were the suppliers (chewed the gum), some were bossy and some watched the others.
  
After the morning session, we treated the staff to lunch. Then we were all hard at work to prepare the food for the next day when the 30 guests from the community church were coming.
  
We opened the main day with prayer and worship songs. It was a room filled with joy and love. Travis and Lorna both delivered a message and we ask two people from the community to also deliver a message. The theme was “LOVE” and the verse was John 3:16. We were even blessed to have someone on our staff to translate.
   
We had a delicious lunch and also 2 group activities. First the teams that were developed were ask to use their hands together to make a cross. The second was that there is a drought in the capital city of Namibia – Windhoek. They needed to get water to them but for every drop they lost, there was a person that would loose a life. Two of three teams made it and only spilled a bit but one team started over a couple of times and still spilled the whole cup!!! The teams were singing while they carried their water. Then, the ones that made it, were very excited!!!
  
  
At the end of the afternoon, we introduced “A date with God” that we learned from The Mission Society. God loves it when we come and spend time with Him. Time to talk and a time to listen. We set up 4 stations. One was a prayer wall where they could come and write prayer concerns and also pray for 2 others. Another was a collage wall where they were to ask God to give them a picture of what He sees when He looks at their heart. Another was where they were to ask God to give them a picture of what the Father’s love looks like, then draw it. The forth was called “Revelation Station”. They were to come and sit at the foot of the cross on the heavenly street of gold and meditate on the Word of God. We also prepared “scrolls” with a scripture and tied with a ribbon. Each received 2 scrolls and were to read and pray about one and give another to a friend and pray with them.
  
Since we were all gathered together we took the opportunity to lay hands on some that needed prayer and healing. One of our staff was so sick but she came and it was her birthday. So we baked BIG birthday cakes and sang to celebrate the life and love of Auntie Monica! 59 years young and she still rides her bike very far to come back and forth from her village to work at Zion. She is really a blessing. (Yes, it did make her cry)
WOW!!! What a great couple of days!!! Filled with love from each other, the opportunity to serve the community, the opportunity to refresh and respond. Mostly, it was FILLED with GOD.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
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Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 05/12/2013 - 06:52
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We are thankful that more people are getting to know about Zion Village. Although many of them still do not really know what Zion Village is so there is still education needed. This year some of the youth leaders of the SDA (Seven Day Adventist) church came and ask if they could use the land here to do a youth camp. Then did a small camp here last year and all was good so we said “sure”. Later we ask how many people to expect and they said 500!!! What, camping for 500 youth!!!
Well, the story is not over because there ended up being 716 campers at Zion Village!!!!! Campers for JESUS!
It all started with one lonely tent and grew to be Many!! Boys on one side, girls on the other.
  
They came and they came… Cars, trucks… Packed with people… Packed with chairs, mattresses, tents, food, cooking pots…
  
Each day there was drills (looks kind of like boy and girl scouts and they were also working on badges). Each day there was lots of pots cooking the food over the open fire. Lots of fire wood was gathered each day. Each afternoon was sports/games.
  
Most important, each day was filled with GOD! Filled with prayers and filled with messages from the leaders that were inspired by God and filled with singing and praising. We all (staff and us) were able to attend the major message in the mid-day and in the evening.
  
Then, on Saturday, the Sabbath for SDA, the parents and the rest of the local SDA church people came! We do not yet have the count but we are certain there was over 1000 here. Here to worship! Here to praise GOD!
  
We are definitely standing on Holy Ground and the presence of the LORD IS ALL around!!!! Please pray for the youth and the leaders and ALL of our children. That they should know HIM and Follow HIM and Trust HIM and Live for HIM!!!!
Then the perfect sunset for a perfect week. GOD IS SO GOOD!!
 
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