A Word from Carol McBrady - Spring 2024
My Dear Friends and Family,
I write this evening from a very busy household. Just today, we gained four new children for Kulanga Bana, three of which are little girls. We haven’t had little girls for a long time and I look forward to being part of their lives.
I am so grateful I had the opportunity to hire our new house mothers in January. Without them, we could not have taken these precious girls who, along with their brother, are destitute and in need of immediate shelter and care.
School was supposed to open January 8th. However, a terrible cholera epidemic occurred throughout Zambia and schools remained closed until February 12th. It was a very sad time for the country as hundreds of people died.
Because we have been blessed with clean water and a good sewer system, our children were not affected and all is well with us.
Having all the children home all day, each and every day, presented its challenges, but our teachers and volunteers stepped up and we had classes right at our homes. The kids returned to school with a good head start.
2024 saw six more students off to college or trade school. As of now, 6 of our children are in college and 4 in trade school. I love watching them grow and become wonderful adults that can manage on their own. But also, like every parent, I miss them every day and can’t wait for the end of the semester to have them all home again.
We are still busy finishing up the new Redemption House in Chongwe. We’re down to buying furniture, light fixtures and paint. We should be finished soon and then it’s time to party with a grand opening for all! There are no words to describe how much the children, staff and I (as well as social welfare) appreciate the funds given to build and renovate.
Because of that, we have empty beds for the first time in over 10 years. We are able to take more children off the streets and get as many as possible reunited with their relatives or a permanent place at Kulanga Bana. And that my friends, is what we are all about.
We are so thankful for the chance to return to the streets and say “yes” when a child cries to come home with us.
As we continue into our Lenten season, the children are busy with their service projects and Gospel reflections. Due to the late school start, the only day off for Easter is Good Friday. Our reconciliation retreat will be very short, but we’ll do the best we can to squeeze in the important things. We have twelve infants signed up to be baptized on Easter Sunday. It’s going to be an exciting day for all!
As I end this letter, I wish you Happy Easter and ask for your continued prayers for the children and all of us here in Zambia. We are so appreciative of you and all you do to support us. It is with grateful hearts that we say Thank You.
May God Bless You Today and Always,
Mama Carol McBrady and the children of AFCZ
Click Here For The Full Spring 2024 Newsletter