Blessings and Grace


Tariro and Cheepo November 30, 2012 Graduation Day     


“Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a nation."
                                                   -Nelson Mandela

November 30, 2012 was a special day in Zimbabwe.  Thirty-two children celebrated their end of the school year graduation from the school supported by House of Loveness.  In a country where many orphans drop out of school by first grade, these children were beating the odds. It was a moment filled with blessings, resourcefulness and grace.

The blessings were for a school that opened in May 2010 after a conversation House of Loveness founder Betsy Blankenbaker had with a local foster mother in Zimbabwe who wanted to teach but there were no opportunities. The local schools that were open were staffed by teachers who had had no resources for books and supplies and many parents couldn't afford the school fees.  With initial seed money from House of Loveness, a school was opened to serve the needs of orphaned children and local children in an underserved community. 

It took resourcefulness by the teachers who made sure the children had something to eat when they arrived at school and before they headed home.  The children thrived and learned even with modest teaching supplies.



And when all else failed grace filled in. 

When the school first opened, there was no water so a mother would get up at 4am and walk water to the school every morning.  Then a local man offered to build a well at the school and people in the community pitched in to make it happen.  Seeds were donated and a beautiful garden blossomed next to the school.  Books were donated by our angel in Zimbabwe Ann Hamilton-King.  Backpacks, supplies and school fees were donated by people in the U.S. and U.K.  When the needs of the school weren't being met, somehow grace always stepped in and made it happen. 

  We are so grateful to all of you who made graduation day possible! 

Thank you for helping us dream bigger dreams for the children of Zimbabwe.



Graduation Day, November 2012

 

As the children grow bigger, so do their needs. 

  
We have urgent needs to upgrade their home and provide a safe car for their transport (see video below of former car used to transport 5-10 children to and from school).  

Please consider making an end of the year (tax deductible) donation to House of Loveness. 
We have some fantastic perks to thank you for your support including a Service & Safari trip for two to visit Zimbabwe in 2013.

Please visit us in Africa!


 

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