AWANA

Friday evening several of us AZ missionaries attended a fund raising banquet for the Zambian AWANA program. AWANA is a children's program run by churches which teaches the Bible through memory and fun activities. AWANA programs take place all over the world. It is expanding in Zambia yet like all things, needs funding. The guest speaker gave a moving speech making the case that Africa is a continent of youth and investment needs to be made in the youth. I think the statistic he gave was that 48% of Africa is under the age of 14. He encouraged church leaders to focus attention on the hearts of the children. If they will learn to live in a biblical way then many can be spared the devastation of AIDS. Our group gave a ride to a pastor and his wife from a church that we have visited. They are a very nice couple and we would really like to go to their church again. This banquet was hosted at a hotel that was very Western(not cowboy western but the West like Europe/US) in style. It really is surprising the contrast of places. Some are very posh and others extreme poverty.