2015 in review part 2

Behold, the second installment of my year 2015 in review.  This has proven to be a difficult task!  This year I have tried to tell our journey through pictures more and more and MAN do they accumulate!  So, I have done my level best to pick a few of my favorites.  I am attempting to show you what I see on a daily basis in my life here in Zambia and how I view the folks in it. ENJOY!  I would love your feedback!  

Groovy Store Fronts

People I see on the Streets

In front of Bank Buildings in Lusaka this is a common sight.  

I just thought she was super fierce in her red dress

We were at a Zumba class that held a community class to raise money for Streetwise.  These girls showed up and had the time of their lives. 

Many kids can be found at the stop lights around the city begging at cars that are waiting.   I am guessing this guy is around 10 years old

Saw her at an art function and thought she was fierce in her face paint.

Some of the littler guys we work with at the Streetwise feeding program.

One of the guys on the streets we work with.  You can see the pain of life in his eyes. 

I thought this guy had the coolest beard.

Luis and I were having debates about whether the black and white or color version of this photo rocked it best. 

Simba is shown here sniffing glue or "sticka" as the kids call it. 

THE SHOP.......We work out of an outreach center called THE SHOP.  There we create reclaimed wood art to sell and that helps to fund the work we do with the Street children of Lusaka.  Here  you will see a small sample of who we see daily in The Shop. 

Matthews sells oranges to help feed his family and pay for school fees.

Ocassionally he brings friends  

This is Sophia, Matthews little sister.  She is a fire cracker 

Christopher is one of the building managers where The Shop is located.  He is a strong Christian and loves life as you can see depicted.  

One thing we have done is open up time to folks to bring their kids for craft time.  PLUS, this little guy is so friggin adorable I just thought he deserved a spot. 

More of Matthews crew

Joe works with us full time.  He helps to run and coordinate our outreaches to feed the kids on the streets and as time permits he helps in the shop.  

This is Matthews big brother, his name has slipped my mind

We had a fourth grade class come for a field trip.  They got to learn about our work with the kids and got to make crafts in the shop to take home. 

Joe tries his level best to ignore me when I am in "camera fever"

My husband has named this "Don Cheedles Long Lost Offspring"

2015 in review part 1

I have decided that instead of writing something flowery to describe our 2015, photos will tell the story.  This isn't even a fraction of what I wanted to send. Maybe installments?  Enjoy!!!

Amira discovered the wonderful world of selfies 

Amira is a Coney Island Warrior at heart!

I agreed to jaw reconstruction surgery for a dog so that my kids hearts wouldn't break.  

Hannah began to turn into a real beauty

Brooklyn discovered the joys of taking a shower in the rain

Hannah was not so sure about the idea of taking showers in the rain

I am thankful that God has blessed me with a husband who loves our girls like they deserve to be

Feeding programs began.   Christopher had me rub his belly because he was so happy to feel full

We saw more construction coming to Zambia, furthering the divide between the rich and poor

Jesus rescued Joe off the streets 4 years ago, now he can be seen all over Lusaka praying with kids, feeding them, taking them to hospital....basically doing what needs to be done, however it should be done.   

The first day we began the feeding programs.  She is holding nshima paddles.  They are used to make nshima, the staple food here in zambia,  It is served with a heavy stew.  

Selfies with the Nshima paddle lady  

Hannah had a long day at school

Brooklyn's punk rock side began to show more this year.  

Brooklyn and I went to an art exibit that featured art done by students all over Zambia depicting various aspects of Zambian life and issues.  

Streetwise moved from our living room to AN ACTUAL SPACE!!   Thanks to the generous donations of folks from Times Square Church

Amira told me that I am like a creepy stalker with a camera!  Can you believe that!!

Brooklyn is showing how big the pot is that we use to make the nshima for the feeding programs. 

Our dining room BEFORE we move into the space!   

I was holding this baby back in the neighborhoods.  Took this right before she decided to pee on me.  

Amira was into the idea of taking showers in the rain!

Sister love

At the Dutch Reformed Market where we sell the Streetwise Craft Co products that support the Streetwise Outreaches.  We get colorful visitors. 

We expanded the Streetwise Craft Co line to furniture! 

At an outreach.  The boys were appalled that I showed up with paint on  my hands so they used Sticka (the glue / alchohol solution they sniff to get high) to clean the paint off my hands. 

I am adding a photo of titus because I am believing God for him this year.  He has many obstacles to over come.  Who will commit to help pray for him this year?  I am believing for a good report on Titus' behalf.   

We hosted our first TSC missions team!  

We hosted a team from the World Race for a night.  That was fun! 

a new year already!?

Would someone please tell me where 2015 has gone!?

We are facing some uncertainty in Streetwise that is really testing our faith.   I must admit that I haven’t coped very well with it.   Praying and reading my bible have been difficult to say the least…..you know those moments when all you can say is GOD PLEASE!!  and the words of the Bible just swim in front of your eyes?  I have run the gamut of feeling angry, anxious, depressed, extremely lonely and resigned.  The whispers of the enemies voice in my ear have been come almost audible.  I have honestly never known anything like the intensity of what I have been through this month.   Questions of "Are we doing any good?" "Has there been a point to all this?" have been running a muck in my brain.  

Yesterday God began to bring to memory the kids lives on the streets that we work with.   Please bear in mind that these kids literally have had no home training.  They have been left to them selves pretty much their entire lives so their existence depends on having “I am going to get mine” attitude in order to survive.  These babies are MASTER manipulators.  

So, God began to remind me that in recent months we have been witnessing changes and victories in their lives.   They are beginning to see their need for Jesus in real ways.  Boys are beginning to ask for prayer to deal with anger issues.  Some ask for prayer to deal with addiction issues and some even ask if they can pray for us!   You have to understand THIS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!!!!!!  It has always been self focused and material, but now slowly and surely we are seeing them recognize their value in Christ and how sin is keeping them from recognizing their full potential.  

This boosted my heart by leaps and bounds!!!  I saw that God is working in the lives of the kids on the streets of Lusaka, and it has nothing to do with Luis and Myranda.  I saw that Streetwise was birthed in the heart of God and that He will see it to completion.  

One thing that has become abundantly clear to me and Luis this month is that we need help!  In this coming year we are asking for partners. 

1.  We need people to come help with the outreaches!  We need help in building the team and increasing       our capabilities on the streets.  As it stands we are feeding once a week.  We would love to see that increase to at least three times a week.  

2.  We need administrative help!  Someone to help us with the books, help with the day to day admin of the work and the trade school.  Luis and I have been doing all of it and we are swamped.  

3.  We need prayer support!  The devil IS NOT happy!  We need folks to stand with us in prayer, to commit to pray with us and for us. 

4.  We need financial help!  We would like to purchase a van to be used in the outreaches and all that entails.   We can get a good van for about 10,000 USD.   

THANK YOU SO MUCH for reading this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  God is good and we are so thankful for each and everyone of you! 

I just wanted to leave you with one thought......It is ok if you are in a place right now like what I described above.......When all you can say is "GOD PLEASE!!!!" and "JESUS HELP!"  that is ok!  He hears you and will answer you!  HOLD ON!  

If you would like to give financially to Streetwise you can go to tscnyc.org and click on GIVE, then follow the prompts to MORALES FAMILY / ZAMBIA

clouds of marshmallow fluff

I know its been a while since I have written a blog.  Life has been moving so fast and so many things have been happening it has been difficult to wrap my brain around it all.  How can I put it all into a few paragraphs? 

So I will tell you about Shadrack.  Three weeks ago he was involved in a knife fight over drugs.  I am not sure on the details, but all I know is that poor Shadrack ended up with a KNIFE IN HIS EYE!  Thats right folks, A KNIFE IN HIS EYE!!!  Luis saw him and said that there was no way he was going to keep his eye.   I am happy to report that Shadrack walked out of the hospital days later WITH TWO HEALTHY EYES!!!  The doctors talked about the miracle that they witnessed.  Every time we see Shadrack he can talk only about how much God loves him.  He KNOWS God performed a miracle on his behalf.  What Satan meant for evil and Shadracks destruction, God turned around for His honor and His glory and has begun a beautiful work of restoration and healing on Shadracks heart.  Will you pray for Shadrack?  

Colleen and Shamrock having a language lesson  

On a side note regarding that fight…..Had Joe, our outreach coordinator, not been there to calm the waters an all out gang fight would have started and….well let me just say it would have been bad.  God used Joe powerfully that day!  

Allow me to also tell you about Mayben.  A couple of months ago Mayben came to us with a foot swollen three times the size it should have been.  He stepped on glass and it remained in his foot FOR A MONTH.  OOUUCCHHH!!!  I took a picture and sent it to a surgeon friend of ours here in Lusaka and she told me to promptly get him to the hospital, that he would most likely loose his foot, but we needed to keep the infection from getting to his heart.  Upon examination she discovered that the infection hadn’t gotten into the bone and that it only required a heavy dose of antibiotics and he was fine.  Our doctor friend, who is a born again Christian, marveled at the miracle…..Her faith was boosted and Mayben got to keep his foot.  His story is a bit different from Shadrack’s in that Mayben is very angry and hurt.  As a result he keeps getting into fights and keeps getting beaten pretty badly.   Would you pray for Mayben?  

Mayben is behind Luis and to the left.  He is wearing glasses

I will be honest with you.  This work isn’t all fluffy pink marshmallow clouds of missionary bliss.  This is tough, hard, bloody work.  On an outreach a few weeks ago I went around and collected all the boys sticka (their drugs kept in water bottles, they sniff it to get high.  It smells like demonic nail polish).  While doing that, one boy started to steal the shoes right off another kids feet, so the mayhem that ensued was pretty colorful.  It took me and Chanda (one of our volunteers) to physically restrain them.  Last week I stopped a boy from chunking a rock at another kid because he dissed his mom.  In those moments I think “God REALLY!?  I am NOT cut out for this!”  But then I hear about Shadrack and I watch Joe.  

Yesterday in church Joe sat next to me and I listened as he sang his heart out the lyrics “I am no longer a slave of fear I am a child of God”.  I thought about the drunk angry Joe we found 4 years ago and I try to reconcile the Joe we know now.   It made my heart so full!  

This was taken 3 years ago right after Joe entered Teen Challenge.  

The mandate God has given Streetwise is “One Child At A Time”.   So that is what we do.  One child at a time.  Some days we pull up rocks, some days we turn the dirt, some days we plant and water and some days I get to sit next to a young man in church clothed, in his right mind and totally set free and listen to him rejoice about how he is God’s child!  WOW!!!!!!  That sorta rocks my face off!!!

How can you get involved with Streetwise?   How does God want you to be a part?  EVERYONE has a part to play!  You can…….

1. PRAY!   Specifically right now we need prayer for our work permit to get pushed           through.  Every 2 years we have to renew it and we have hit a glitch. 

2. You can do things at church that would help raise awareness…..penny drives, bake sales, have sunday school kids write letters or make videos for the kids…..SO MANY WAYS!  

3.  You can give financially.   Currently we are needing a ministry vehicle.  A bus or truck.  Joe could use it when he takes kids to the hospital and when we visit the kids.  It would ROCK it so many ways.   You can give to tscnyc.org. Click on GIVE and follow the prompts until you get to MORALES FAMILY/ ZAMBIA. 

4.  YOU CAN COME OVER HERE!!!  We are looking for folks who would be willing to give a few weeks of time to help us make a video.   We are also looking for folks who are good at administrative stuff.   We REALLY need marketing help as well!!!  

We love you all SO VERY VERY MUCH!!  If you rock with what we do here would you help us spread the word?  Share this blog with your friends and family and help us get the word out!!!  

bupe's funeral

As many of you know we have been dealing with the death of one of the street kids that we work with in Streetwise. 

It took three weeks but finally!  We were able to find his family and and give him a proper burial.  I would like to thank all of you for praying for this difficult and LONG process.  Our hearts in the entire situation was that these kids would begin to realize that through the way we treated Bupes death with love and respect that it would speak to them of how important and valuable their lives are.  

I really don’t have words to describe it so I am going to let the pictures below tell the story.  

Luis and Joe picked up the kids from a local center that helps streetkids.  Fountain of Hope

Luis was taking pictures of the kids while they were waiting to have the burial plot finalized