Early Childhood progress...

Rev Friday Kapakasa - Moderator CCAP Synod of Zambia

Hello everyone, 

It has been quite some time since I updated the blog!  That doesn't mean I have nothing to say - I have been quite busy the past couple of months!  

In Southern Presbytery (which is also in Southern Province of Zambia), we have three Early Childhood Centres in congregations.  There have been quite a few challenges in two of the centres with the church members and community members not always agreeing.  So, together with the General Secretary and the Deputy General secretary, I have visited Southern Presbytery about 5 times to have discussions with various groups of people about how best we can work together.

Amidst all of the disagreements that were happening among the adults, the children were quite happily playing and enjoying themselves, not realising that there was some tension!

Hopefully things will get better as we move along!

The 18th October in Zambia is a public holiday - National Prayer day!  This is a day when the nation are asked to fast and pray for the country and its leadership.  This year, we were in Ndola preparing for our GAC meeting (General Administrative Council) which is held bi-annually!  This is a time when the Presbytery clerks and some elders get together to discuss and debate some issues to take the church forward!  

CCAP has a relationship with Rev Kim from the Youngnak Presbyterian Children's Church in Chipulukusu compound in Ndola.  There is a Christian primary school and they are also building a secondary school on the premises.  One of our ministers is seconded to work with the children at this church which is solely for children.  Our meetings were held in the church while the delegates slept in the school classrooms as it was half term week.

Rev Kim addressing the GAC

Some actions songs....

During the meeting, reports are given from each Department and I gave the Early Childhood Development report which was well received and I only had a few questions to answer.

Rev Naomi Daka the Youth Coordinator receiving the cup for the Christian Youth Fellowship

The Moderator Rev F Kapakasa, with the General Secretary, Rev S Kabaghe, the Deputy General Secretary, Rev L Mithi and the Moderator Elect, Rev C Chunda.

A cake from Ndola/Luanshya presbytery who were hosting the GAC

 While in Ndola, we took the opportunity to visit a possible site to build an ECD centre for CCAP in the grounds of Kabushi CCAP congregation.  There is a large piece of land and water is available so it looks like a promising location.  In the near future, we will be developing plans for this centre as we pray that this is also God's plan for the site.

In Lusaka, plans are also underway to transform one of our community schools into an ECD centre in Matero compound.

These are both exciting projects and I hope that in the next couple of years, the dream will have become reality!

The 24th of October is another public holiday - its Independence day and this year we celebrated 57 years of independence!  

Its really hot in Zambia right now (October is the boiling month) as we wait for the rains to come.  Everything is incredibly dry and dusty but in the midst of it there is still a lot of colour...

I am heading off to South Luangwa for the weekend - after all the driving and the meetings, I need a few days off to enjoy God's creation in the bush!

Thanks for reading my blog and please leave a comment if you enjoyed it!  Or...better still...come and visit...Zambia is open!

Blessings,

Diane