ZAMBIA
June 2008 Update:
June 2, 2008, 1 x 40 ft. container filled with 36,250 pounds of assorted canned vegetables, children's school kits (paper, pens, etc), health kits, and hygiene kits (tooth paste, tooth
brushes, etc) were shipped out of Baltimore, Maryland.
On June 3, 2008, 1 x 40 ft. container of specially fortified soup mix was shipped out of California. This soup mix is valued at $82,000 and will provide 748,800 serving meals. The container was loaded with 43,000 pounds and shipped direct to Lusaka, Zambia. The food and supplies will be used to help the 4,000 orphans FTN is supporting.
April 2008 Update:
On April 15, 2008, Feeding The Nations loaded 1 x 40 ft. container with 285,000 vita-meals and 1,000 Bibles to be distributed by our new administrators Dave and Connie Keating throughout the 15 orphanages we continue to support.
Additional images in the photo gallery
November 2007 Update:
In October 2007 we were again blessed to see some of the wonderful work being accomplished by Feeding The Nations in Zambia. This was our second trip to Zambia. Last year we were able to be part of the FTN team. To be able to visit the orphans and churches again this year was a double blessing. Ruth and I saw first hand the food and Bibles being given to the orphans. What a miracle! Bishop Frank
Mwiinga from Lusaka and his pastors are overseeing the distribution project and have worked with Feeding The Nations before. The warehousing, security, trucking of the food, and Bible distributions are all being carried out with excellence. Feeding The Nations has shipped 1.6 million dollars worth of supplies so far this year and there is more being planned. We were not able to visit all of the 15 orphanages selected to receive supplies over the course of the next six months but we know it will be done and done well.
Dr. Romney and Ruth Ann Ashton
October 2007 Update:
Feeding The Nations has seen the great need first hand and have returned to many
orphanages and schools that were helped in the last quarter of 2006. This
second project began in July
2007 and will continue over the next 6 months. FTN
started the project by shipping two (2) forty foot containers on July 17th and July 20th. These containers left Maryland and
California loaded with 80,000 pounds of cereal, dried soup,
peaches, nectarines, vitamins and 500 Bibles. FTN selected
15 orphanages and Christian schools to support with food
and Bibles. On August 23rd a third container left Maryland laden with $1,171,929 worth of vegetable soup, dehydrated peaches and nectarines, diapers, Kellogg's products and
medication. FTN shipped a fourth container on October 23rd with 35,376 pounds of assorted food and supplies. This container was filled with soup, dehydrated fruit, new clothes, toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, and lotion. Also included
were specially formulated meal packages made from rice, mixed vegetables, soy protein, chicken flavor, vitamins and minerals that were specifically developed for malnourished children with no daily intake essential vitamins and minerals.
2006 YEAR IN REVIEW
UPDATE: FTN blessed Zambian hospitals, HIV clinics, orphanages and schools with 215,500 pounds (1.3 million meals) of fortified rice/vegetable meals, vitamins and minerals, cereal, and canned vegetables worth $1 million.
ZAMBIA
Additional images in the photo gallery
Providing Food, Medicine and Bibles, While Teaching the Word
In the book of James, we are told that pure religion is that we would take care of the orphans and widows in their distress. Zambia has more than 1.3 million orphans living on the streets-more than 10% of the nation's population! Most Zambians do not live to see their 40th birthday.
In October, Feeding the Nations (FTN) was able to bring hope and help to one of the top three poorest countries in the world-one that knows malnutrition, HIV and poverty. Through a project called Shalom Zambia, FTN fed the hungry, helped touch the sick and shared God's love during their most desperate hour. This was an experience the 85 team members will not soon forget, nor will those who received the many blessings.
It all began more than a year ago when Paul Wilbur Ministries asked the president of FTN, Steve Sumrall, to provide food for the Zambia outreach. FTN would be part of an international, cross-cultural, multi-faceted team, joined together and led by the invitation of the Holy Spirit.
After one year of planning and with the request from President Mwanawasa to come to Zambia, FTN shipped 215,500 pounds of rice/vegetable meals, Frosted Mini Wheat's, vitamins, minerals, canned vegetables and over-the-counter medications. The six 40-foot containers were collectively worth over 1 million dollars and the food provided 1.3 million meals. FTN also played a financial and logistical role in providing 10,000 Bibles for this outreach.
Randy Souza, Director of FTN, led a group of 25 team members as they visited orphanages, schools, hospitals and HIV clinics where they distributed food, toys and provided a ministry of love to the children. The remaining 60 team members led by Dr. Paul Williams-including doctors, nurses, dentists and pharmacists -created a medical clinic and provided exams; handed out medication, vitamins and shots; and provided tooth extractions and teeth cleaning. The clinic reached out to 3,000 people by meeting their basic medical needs and then praying with each one of them, leading 850 to Jesus Christ.
Gateway Church of Dallas hosted the Lusaka Pastors Conference with Pastor Steve Sumrall, Pastor Bill Winston and Pastor Mark Jobe providing the teaching. In addition a Marketplace Conference was held to train entrepreneurs in God's economic principles. On the final day, a large concert and crusade was held in an outdoor stadium with around 14,000 attending. As Paul Wilbur played his guitar and sang unto Yeshua, the Messiah Dance Company danced before the Lord. Pastor Steve Sumrall shared a strong message on healing and Pastor Bill Winston's message followed. At the altar call 3,000 people came forward and received Jesus and the gift of a new Bible.
The FTN team spent ten days in Zambia bringing the Good News to children and adults throughout the Lusaka area.
The group visited the following locations:
Lazarus Project orphanage where the team ministered to boys rescued from the streets. The team gave a teaching and then showed compassion to the boys by giving them gifts. The orphanage received a full truckload of assorted food and vitamins.
Messianic School had no electricity, dirt floors, no chairs or blackboards, and no windows in the 90-degree weather. The group shared the Gospel, passed out clothes and provided three truckloads of food. The school director said that God answered her prayers as the food pantry was empty.
Kabwata orphanage where the team ministered to the children and gave them small gifts and provided a truckload of food and vitamins.
Avila Home cares for 40 children, 39 of which have no father or mother due to various deadly diseases that took their lives. Team members shared the Gospel with a puppet show, which was the first time the children had seen puppets. They also filled the nearly empty pantry with a truckload of food.
Circle of Hope HIV clinic where family packs of rice and vegetable meals were provided to the patients after laying hands on and praying for them. The group that toured the clinic was told they only had medicine to treat 550 HIV patients out of the 2,000 on their list. Next, the FTN team drove to a village where more food was given to other identified HIV patients.
Jesus Cares orphanage where almost 150 children are being cared for. The team delivered a truckload of food, performed skits and gave the children gifts.
Zambia Lusaka Hospital contained 2,000 beds. Most of the beds were full and there was no air conditioning in the 90-degree weather. The team went to several wards and prayed with the patients, and then presented the hospital with a truckload of food and essential multi-vitamins.
Kalingalinga orphanage provides care and support for 300 children who are taught the Word of God. The team saw numerous scriptures written all over the orphanage interior walls. The Messiah Dance Company performed for the children and then taught them some dances. A large truckload of food and vitamins was presented to the leadership of the orphanage.
Chibolya, which also means "refuge" or "throw away," is an area were the outcast and poverty stricken live. The entire 85-member team handed out 1,000 family packs containing 108 meals in each bag. Pastor Steve Sumrall preached the salvation message to the group of over 2,500 people.
Zambia, like many other African nations, is at a crossroad. Who or what will they worship? The Muslims buy and burn Bibles, while at the same time God opened the door for the team to bring in 10,000 new Bibles, proving that the Living Word cannot be stopped. We have heard their cries and we responded with food, medicine, training, praise and encouragement. Praise God for the harvest of approximately 4,000 souls that were brought into the Kingdom of God.