We had an amazing group of New Yorker’s get creative in reaching out to their friends and family in an effort to raise awareness, excitement and sponsorship funds for the children of Zambia through our Father’s Heart Program.  Greg & Ashley Buechele, Cori Packard, and Diane Brouillard put together an incredible Father’s Heart Photography Exhibition and Auction Fundraiser as well as a VIP film screening in New York City of a documentary capturing their time at Camp LIFE.  With Ashley Buechele’s amazing photography, a silent auction was held where people could bid on each print displayed.  Ashely and the group of Camp LIFE Week #5 Ambassadors were so thankful to the Lord for providing twenty-four sponsorships for their children, with an additional six kids being provided for over an entire year simply from ticket sales at the door!  They are elated and overjoyed, and want to thank everyone who prayed and supported them in this endeavor to raise money for their precious kids.

Family Legacy would like to thank Greg, Ashley, Cori, and Diane for all their hard work — THIRTY Zambian orphans are looking at a brighter future now because of their hearts to want to make a difference one child at a time!!  Click here if you’re interested in purchasing one of Ashley’s photos from Camp LIFE 2009.

Below is the video documentary that Diane Brouillard made — Enjoy watching!

[youtube width="640" height="505"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y0u7c2TlV0[/youtube]
Watch the second part here

We were very lucky to have some very talented people come to Camp LIFE with us this year.  One of those people, Cherie Strader, is a professional photographer and took some really great photos for us.  She said what stood out to her were the faces of each child in the photos and knowing that God is intimately familiar with each one.  The video below shows some of her work at Camp LIFE.

[youtube width="480" height="385"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=img1pWpYREg[/youtube]

Thanks so much Cherie for using your talents to show love to the children of Zambia.  You can visit Cherie’s site at www.cheriemarie.com

It is estimated that in Lusaka 22-25% of the population is HIV positive, although those statistics are very rough estimates because over 90% of the population has never been tested.  400 people die every day in Lusaka from HIV/AIDS, and as a result, it is estimated that 75% of Zambian households are caring for one or more orphans.  Many of the children in our programs are HIV positive and through the Father’s Heart program we are able to provide transportation to a doctor who can give them ARVs (Anti-Retro Virals) which, for lack of a better explanation, puts the virus to sleep.

This year at Camp LIFE, we want ALL of the children in our program to have the same opportunity to get tested for HIV/AIDS.  We are praising God for the most amazing partnership with an organization called Tiny Tim & Friends (TTAF), which is an organization that treats children for 6 – 8 months or even longer if necessary in order to stabilize the children and get them on the right path with ARVs.  The results that they have seen have been REMARKABLE.  Over the last number of months, Heather Ransom, our Father’s Heart Coordinator, has formed a partnership with Dr. Meade and his staff.  We are so pleased to announce that Dr. Meade and his staff will be at Camp LIFE every Tuesday testing our children.

Thanks to TTAF, we will be able to test over 10,000 kids and follow-up with those who test positive for HIV, TB and various other diseases.  Dr. Meade and his staff will meet with the families of children who test positive and counsel them through decisions that need to be made.  God has been working so many miracles in HIS ministry to these kids, and we know that this partnership with Tiny Tim & Friends is yet another huge testimony of God signing His Name on Camp LIFE 2009, and also another example of His Heart to bring FULL restoration of HIS Kids here in Zambia.

I always love to see how the Lord moves in people’s lives, especially after a mission trip to Zambia. One special friend of mine attended Camp LIFE in 2008 — Jean Storm. Jean surprised her children and grandchildren by announcing that she was going to go on a mission trip to Zambia, Africa. Even though initially some of Jean’s grandchildren thought she was crazy and tried to discourage her from traveling all the way to Africa, they realized that their “Gran’s” mind was made up. Her daughter, Cari Mercer, caught her mom’s excitement of living out James 1:27 and signed up to go to Camp LIFE with her. They both experienced an incredible week of ministering to the children in their small groups—just by being the hands and feet of Jesus.

While in Zambia, some of the Camp LIFE participants learned that Jean was a jewelry designer and approached her about designing a special commemorative necklace that would signify what the Lord is doing in Zambia. So, that’s exactly what Jean did. Yet she not only designed a uniquely crafted commemorative sterling silver necklace, she’s doing it all for the kids in Zambia. Each necklace sold sponsors a Zambian orphan for one entire month through the Father’s Heart program. Jean has already sold enough necklaces to sponsor several kids for an entire year–but she wants to get even more kids sponsored.

If you’ve been to Zambia, you know how special this necklace is. It has the country of Zambia in the background with the cross in the foreground. It’s a great conversation-starter as people are curious to understand the significance. Plus, just knowing that your purchase helped a child in Zambia should make you smile.

The necklace is available for both men (on a leather chain) and women (on a sterling silver chain) and comes in both 16” and 18” inch lengths and sells for only $46.

Check out Jean Storm Designs online.

Jean’s already making plans to return to Zambia in 2010 with her husband, Paul, and Cari, plus others!! You know, isn’t that what a Family Legacy is all about?