Fambai Zvkakanaka (Travel Well)

FOSA Newsletter

Fall 2012

Website: www.fosakids.org Email: fosakids80@gmail.com Phone: 402.714.5968

As I sit here writing this reflection, knowing that you carry Fairfield’s children constantly in your heart and mind warms my soul. Each child is so worthy of being prayed for, cared for and loved. Every child is special in God’s eyes and in the eyes of the “mother” who care for him or her at Fairfield every day. This summer at our board meeting in St. Louis, we projected ourselves into the future of Fairfield and saw that we must raise more money for each child and home to thrive and advance. Just as our FOSA board members paid their own ex-penses for the St. Louis retreat, all spon-sors and donors sacrifice for Fairfield’s 80 children and staff. We appreciate and need your generosity. To demonstrate the urgency, I would like to share an ex-ample - in less than six years, Zimbabwean primary school fees have risen from $12 USD (U.S. Dollars) a year per child to $165 USD per year; that total is $2,695 per term or $8,085 per year just for our 49 elemen-tary school children’s tuition. With this hyperinflation comes the reality that each child needs at least three sponsors to cover school fees, food, medical expenses uniforms, textbooks, salaries, maintenance of the homes, household expenses, utilities, etc. Secondary school costs between $40 and $500 per term, depending on the type of school. This means that one young person could range from $120 to $1,500 per year; this is the reason we have reached out to you to help us find more sponsors or donors. We deeply appreciate the sacri-fices of our sponsors and donors who are already supporting the children, however the need continues to escalate. Specific needs reported by the Fairfield Children’s Homes Administrator, Luke include: A differential for the combi (van) - $1,000 Multiple taps (faucets) needing replace-

ment - $120 each Monthly grocery bill support – minimum

of $1,300. This includes food, cleaning supplies, soap,etc. Kapenta (small, dried fish) costs $48/month and mealie meal for sadza (the staple Zimbabwe food) costs $280/month for all of Fair-field. Also each month the prices rise.

Additionally, FOSA is determined to ensure that the children of Fairfield be-come productive members of Zimbabwe-an society. The children’s varied gifts will carry them into different careers, appren-ticeships or vocations. As we continue to celebrate the three girls in college and technical school already, we recognize the many expenses and needs that occur on campuses distant from Fairfield. These three young women’s total expens-es range from $2,400 to $4,000 per year and more with each passing year’s in-crease. This is why we are establishing Careers for a Bright Future, a project where money can be targeted for post high school training. Please see fosakids.org for more information. While the needs are great and many challenges lie ahead, I look to the strength of the Zimbabwean spirit. About two months ago in the dead of the win-ter, the temperatures in Zimbabwe, for the rare occasion, dropped below freez-ing and all the winter crops perished in the field. Remarkably, FCH rose the next day optimistic that the summer crop needed to be planted soon and that the next season will be better. I love how they stare down tragedy and rise from the ashes. This spirit fills the rooms, play-ground, and gardens of Fairfield. These children are loved by you and they feel hopefulness and joy. The future is indeed bright at Fairfield Children’s Homes. Thanks for being their strength in times of struggle and their hope for tomorrow.

Inside this issue:

A Trip to Fairfield 2

Photos from Zimbabwe 3

FOSA’s Non-Profit Status 4

Sponsors Needed 4

Sponsors Needed

Meet Prince

DOB: January 2003 Age: 9

Prince is very playful, but still helps around the house. He likes music, singing and watching TV. Soccer is one of his favorite activities. He does well in school.

Fairfield Children’s Homes: A 20/20 View By Francie Markham, FOSA Board Chair

Arriving to Fairfield late in the evening

on June 15th meant that all the children

were already in bed for the night, but the

light of the guesthouse had been left on

as my three wonderful roommates await-

ed my arrival. Charlsie, Katherine, and

Ann Marie, students at the University of

Southern Mississippi and volunteers at

Fairfield for the summer, welcomed me

graciously and asked me to join in with

their daily activities starting the very next

morning. Throughout the next week and

a half I packed as many things into each

day as I possibly could!

Fairfield seemed even more joyful and

beautiful to me this summer than when I

last visited two years ago. Always a wel-

coming place, the mothers and staff

made me feel at home with their warm

greetings and loving embrace. The smiles

on every face were contagious. It was a

blessing to reconnect with so many

friends and meet new ones! I met Abby

and Grace, Janine’s adorable twin baby

girls, and spent hours playing with them.

My dear friend Nyarai, who now attends

college in Mutare, went to Mutare Pres-

byterian Church with me one Sunday and

I treasured every second I had to catch

up with her before and after the service.

Most of my days were spent outside at

Fairfield playing on the playground, hold-

ing little chocolate-brown hands, and

taking picture after picture of these be-

loved children. They’ve all grown up so

much since my last visit and I was excited

that some of the younger ones, now in

school, are speaking

English extremely well!

I thoroughly enjoyed

waking up every morn-

ing and attending devo-

tions with the mothers

and staff. Inevitably I’d

always be holding a

little one on my lap and

we would clap and

sway to the beautiful

sound of Shona hymns

being sung. Mornings

are fairly quiet at Fair-

field since the majority of the kids are at

school, but energy abounds as soon as

they return home in the afternoons. Dur-

ing the mornings I spent time with the

mothers, visiting their homes and occa-

sionally helping with some housework.

Lydia, a relief mother for House 6, was

impressed by my knowledge of how to

dig up sweet potatoes and Nyasha, the

mother for House 8, proudly gave me a

tour of her tidy and

well organized

home. The girls

from Mississippi

were working on

adding pages to the

“Life Books” for

each child at Fair-

field and I enjoyed

helping gather in-

formation from the

children and learn-

ing about their fa-

vorite colors and

what they want to

be when they grow

up! Their answers were quite creative!

One afternoon we had choir practice

and taught the words and motions to

“Trading My Sorrows (Yes, Lord)” and

“Every Move I Make.” Another afternoon

I led a dance class and we worked up a

sweat getting our groove on! It was al-

ways a joy to see how excited the kids

were to practice soccer with Arabie; they

are a talented little team and look sharp

in their uniforms! When there weren’t

any planned afternoon activities, I could

be found running around playing with the

kids’ homemade toys, pushing them on

the swings, or sitting on the floor of the

outdoor hut surrounded by kids and col-

oring books. During the evenings all the

school children are required to spend

time on their homework and several

nights during the week we invited various

kids over to the guesthouse for tutoring

sessions. I worked with Solomon, a 7th

grader, one night on his math homework

and was so impressed by how eager he

was to learn and how quickly he grasped

the concepts I was teaching!

Though my time in Zimbabwe was

short this summer, it was certainly a

blessing. I was reminded, as I always am

when I visit Fairfield Children’s Homes, to

find joy in the simple pleasures of every-

day life and to be gracious for all the

goodness the Lord has poured into my

life. I left with tears in my eyes, but re-

turned to the U.S. thankful for the rela-

tionships formed and the time spent with

my beautiful Zimbabwean family.

The Simple Joys of Everyday Life at Fairfield Children’s Homes

By Casey Edwards

Casey playing with children of Fairfield Children’s Homes.

Lydia, Fairfield Children’s Homes, relief mother.

More Photos from Fairfield Children’s Homes

Children enjoying eating fresh oranges and

playing on the slides at the playground!

5

Casey hanging out the children after coloring in coloring

books on the porch of the guest house at Fairfield.

Walking around outside after finishing

afternoon chores.

Abby and Grace, Janine’s twin girls, playing with Casey on the

playground.

University of Southern Mississippi students, spent

two months at FCH this summer.

Children getting their hair done. Children playing with the wheelbarrow. Having fun with someone else’s shoes!

Playing on the swings at the playground!

FOSA Celebrates Independent Non-Profit Status

Website: www.fosakids.org Email: fosakids80@gmail.com Phone: 402.714.5968

5500 North Meridian Street

Indianapolis, IN 46208

Sponsors Needed

Meet David

DOB: March 2004 Age: 8

David really enjoys school, especially reading and writing his name and numbers. He does very well in school and always does his home-work before playing. David has many friends and thinks he might want to be a doctor.

Fairfield Outreach and Sponsors Associa-

tion is delighted to announce its inde-

pendent non-profit status! For many

years FOSA has been interested in be-

coming its own non-profit entity. FOSA

was operating under the umbrella of

Meridian Street United Methodist

Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. Their

unwavering support has been crucial

and we are grateful for their time, dedi-

cation and continued partnership.

There are several benefits becoming a

stand-alone non-profit allow us; most

importantly it opens the opportunities

to qualify for more grants. We are con-

stantly looking for new opportunities to

expand our support beyond our gener-

ous donors and sponsors and hope to

utilize grants in this manner.

Other than asking for our supporters to

join us in celebration, becoming a non-

profit will not affect you in any way. All

donations will continue to be tax exempt

and our contact information remains the

same.

We would like to thank our 2011-2012

Governance Committee, including Bob

Greising, Melvin Kelly, Steve Kinyon and

Owen Ross for their time and dedication

to this process. Additionally, we would

like to thank Matt Carr of Krieg DeVault

LLP, in Indianapolis, Indiana for his time

and guidance toward this goal.

Food: (then list all the food and

what it cost per month to feed

kids which I will be able to pro-

vide just a soon as Cecillia sends -

think she was going to send first

of next week)

Combi (van) repair which is the

only transport for 78 children and

administors of home --- $

School uniforms/each students