melodyhammond's photostream Zambia trip pictures

melodyhammond's photostream on Flickr.

Most of the pictures from our trip, I think....jet lag + vertigo = still a lot foggy in the head. :(

July 4th Celebration in Zambia, Africa

I just have enough time for pictures today from the July4th Celebration yesterday.

Katie & Cason

Melody & Katie

Blu & Darbi

The group

Katie & Jeremy playing the dice game

 

More to come soon.

Finally at New Day

YAY! I finally am able to log on to blogger! This will be just a quick update. We have prayer & praise tonight! We got to NDO about 4:00 pm (Zambia time) on Monday afternoon. We arrived & everyone was out to greet us with singing & lots of hugs! Top of the list for most amazing moment so far! The jet lag has really been crazy! I am just so tired! Getting closer to 100% everyday! We got a tour on Tuesday with a bonus...a short ox cart ride. We also played with the kids so the staff could have their monthly meeting. Katie & I also milked Martha the cow! Blu & Darbi taught Katie how to play spicey uno. Blu won 3 times & Darbi won 1 game. I think tonight is Katie's night! We have these wall spiders that hang out on the walls at night & I will post pictures if all of this a different time because the pictures are on the other computer.
Blu & Darbi are the most AMAZING hosts! Blu made us chocolate iced cake donuts( my favorite), We had spaghetti last night, taco salad Monday night & baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and delicious homemade bread!
We organized the library this morning, we helped the kids make birthday cards for Laurie's mom who will be 80 soon. We also spent some time in the library with the kids. I had a whole group wanting to read to me all at the same time. Katie had a group of the younger ones that she read stories to.
Katie has been spending a lot of time playing with the kids. They love her!
Darbi spent a lot of time cooking, and baking for tomorrows 4th of July celebration. They have invited local American missionaries & their kids over for a bbq & games.
We will also have a campfire & that should be fun!
We are headed out to Prayer & Praise where we all get together & sing and pray.
You can check out facebook for some pictures. I will try & post some more soon.
The sunsets are AMAZING here.
I know this is all so short & reads quite fast, but I need save some stuff for the stories when we get home!
Love you all! Thank you for constantly praying for us, and everyone here at New Day.
We have had so many adventures so far & it is only (almost the end) of day 3. We look forward to what else God has to show us.

Thanks for checking in on us!

Single digits

The countdown has actually been in the single digits for a few days, but today we are at 7 days until we leave for Houston.

Satan has thrown some roadblocks in our way this week but I'm excited to see how God is going to clear the way. 

Please continue to pray for the loved ones we will leave behind, for us & New Day Orphanage, along with the people God is leading us to.

I'm ready to see what He has in store!

A song sent from above

So driving today I heard this song on the radio:

"Set the World On Fire" sung by Britt Nicole

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it's burning bright for You
It's everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?
I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I can not do
Nothing I cannot do

I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the Father's hands
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I cannot do
Nothing I cannot do

My hands my feet
My everything
My life, my love
Lord, use me

I wanna set the world on fire
I wanna set the world on fire, yeah

Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I cannot do
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
There's nothing I can't do
Nothing I can't do

I'm gonna set the world on fire
Set the world on fire

How amazing is my God to give me the words that I have been praying, and to give it to me in song form...Wow! I was crying driving down the road, overwhelmed by His great love for me and affirmation of His will for this trip. 

Another reminder to constantly keep our eyes, and ears open and seek His voice.

Signs from God

Driving home today (Father's Day) from visiting in- laws I saw a church sign that read "The safest place to be is in the will of God". 
Literally a sign from God...do not fear your safety in the middle of the bush in Africa. I am with you always even to the ends of the earth!!! 
I love my God! He always gives me the right signs for me to get His message!

19 days & counting

I'm getting even more excited every day for our trip! I was reading on Darbi's blog: www.tidwelladoption.blogspot.com & read that there are a few long term volunteers at New Day! One of these volunteer couples are Larry & Lynne, and I started following their blog too! What an added wealth of information. Ninas Family Zambian Adventure is the name of their blog.
Here are a couple of the pictures he has posted so far:

Baobab trees


Lynne helping with Kid's club meal

I'm to the point though that there is not much left to do except sit back and count down the days! That makes waiting so much harder!
I have been researching what we should do in London on our way home, Livingstone & Victoria Falls, and watching the videos that the Tidwell's have posted on their website www.newdayorphanage.org. Visually taking a tour (even if it is from a few years ago) is so exciting.

19 days...

The countdown begins

In 48 days Katie & I will be headed to Houston to leave for our journey to New Day Orphanage in Zambia, Africa. June 29 - July 12, 2013

  

A little more than a year ago my daughter Katie & her friend Jessica Barnes felt that they were being called to go on a mission trip to New Day. With a heavy parent heart I really did not want my 18 year old & her 17 year old friend traveling half way across the world by themselves. I told Katie that she needed an adult chaperon to go with them. I told her if she didn't have someone who could go with them that I would go. For reasons beyond her control Jessica was not able to go on the trip which just left Katie & I. Without any other people able to go we started our travel plans. We contacted the travel agent that our missionaries suggested & got our airfare quote...! Wow! The doubt started to creep in but God quickly pushed those doubts back & we started the fundraising. We began with support letters, and God provided above & beyond what I even thought to ask Him for. This has become a recurring theme throughout our planning!

Next we had a garage sale. I started to spread the word & lots of family & friends donated goods to the sale. I would say 90% of the profit from the garage sale came from someone else's items! We were able to wire transfer our money for our flights with a little money to spare. 

Katie has also been saving her Christmas & Birthday money for 2 years now. I look forward to seeing how she will be rewarded for these small sacrifices!

As the new year approached the plans really started to take a back seat to life going on around us.

I decided instead of another garage sale that we would try t-shirt sales. How fun! Something for us to wear on our trip, something for other people to wear to remember to pray for us while we are gone, and maybe even take a few with us to hand out to Blu & Darbi! 

Which brings us to today! We turn in the t-shirt order forms tomorrow. Now all that is left is to pray that God would prepare us, those we will meet, and all those involved in our mission to follow God where He leads us.

Thank you for reading and following our story. This how we will keep in touch while we are away from home so check back again soon.

God has blessed us with amazing family, friends & a very generous church family! 

THANK YOU!!!

Melody & Katie Hammond

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! Romans 10:15