Many of our orphans in Zambia have a roof over their heads and are fed adequately enough, but they are starved of affection and are rarely affirmed. Nothing and nobody can ever compensate for the loss of a mother. 13 year-old L attended the funeral of her father on Monday. Her mother passed away several years ago. L is at least is cared for by an aunt and enjoys the company of her teen-aged cousins. She is enrolled in the Kafakumba Christian School and she is a member of the Kafakumba Singers. She is clever and likes to play chess. But the plaintive look I sometimes see in her eyes gives away the sadness she feels.

A (13) comes to our recently-started running club. I often see the same look in his face. He is tall, but thin and doesn’t go to school. The other boys mock him. He wants to join the choir. E (12) is already a member of the choir. He is lively and cheerful and he connects well with those around him. But his mother suffers from a mental illness so is not able to care for her son. He lives with his grandparents, nether of whom enjoy good health.

An aunt of K (17) and her sister L (14) died in Lusaka on Saturday. Their grandma, with whom the girls live, hysterical with shock and grief at the loss of her daughter, was immediately bundled off to Lusaka, leaving the girls and two other children in the house in Baluba to fend for themselves.

We could go on. Mother Teresa also said we should deal with the ones in front of us, because the mass of poverty around us can be overwhelming. So this is what we try to do. We are aware that even the smallest acts of kindness can mean so much to these young people. Thank you to all those who support and pray for us in this.

The August school holidays have given the teachers and children a welcome break. Our NZ volunteer Kirsty Lickfold ran an excellent holiday programme at Kafakumba and had well over 70 children every day for 5 days. Only one teaching vacancy needed to be filled at Limapela Cedric’s and our staff in both schools are settled.

The roof replacement project at Luyando is all but finished, and painters are on the job this week while the teachers clean everything and get furniture back into place ready for the children as they start term 3 on Monday.

Alison and I will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary on Friday 1 September. We are planning a barbecue with the Kafakumba Singers on Saturday to celebrate, then a camping trip later in the month.

With thanks and warm greetings to you all.

— Matthew Raymond