Delic Family Update

Dear Lifesong supporters,

As many of you know, our family came to Canada back in March to be at my father’s side in his final days. We had hoped that we would return to Zambia shortly after, but God had other plans! We have been in Canada since then and plan to remain until mid-September. We are thankful for the time we have been able to spend with friends and family here in Canada, but our thoughts keep wandering to those we serve in Zambia.

The Delic Family

The ministry in Zambia continues to adapt during these trying times. Although the majority of our students are not currently in school, that has not stopped our teachers and staff from serving our community. Our feeding program, through your generous donations, has continued with a different look. Our teachers put together food packages for our students and their families and make sure that no one goes hungry. Not only are they covering their physical needs, but our teachers have also been providing their students with schoolwork to make sure they are not falling behind while they are unable to attend the school. Our teachers are such a great example of the love and sacrifice that a teacher has for their students. From the latest reports we have heard, it seems that schools in Zambia will reopen in January. Until that time, our teachers will continue to serve and provide for our students. Our teachers have been paid the entire time – from when the pandemic started, to now, and into the future. They continue to give so much of themselves during some particularly challenging times.

Lifesong Vocational & Technical Centre

At the school, construction continues moving forward on several projects. The Lifesong Vocational and Technical Centre (the LVTC) is now complete. We have 30 students currently attending the vocational school and they are currently studying bricklaying and tailoring. The home economics and biology classrooms are also complete. In another area of the school grounds, we have constructed a new medical building. There had been a medical building on the grounds, but this was a building we inherited, and it was not in good shape. The building was taken down and the site will be used for the grade 12 classrooms. The new medical building is complete, and we are now raising funds for the medical supplies ($25,000) as well as for the grade 12 classroom buildings $(40,000). If you are interested in helping us raise funds for either project, please visit the Donate page on our website at lifesongcanada.org. As these projects are being worked on during the current pandemic, our workers are following the necessary social distancing guidelines to protect themselves and others around them.

As the world continues to struggle through some of the strangest times we have ever seen, it is only natural that our first instinct would be to retreat and hope the challenges just pass us by. As humans, we want to feel safe and protected. However, as Christians, we are called to do the opposite. While our first instinct may be to make sure we ourselves are safe and taken care of, Philippians 2:4 encourages us to “look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” As Christ “came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45), so too must we serve those around us. We are so blessed to have so many of you who have taken up that call to serve others and supported the vulnerable and orphaned. May God bless all of you for your unwavering support of this ministry, and for the love you have for the children at Lifesong Harmony School.

Sincerely,

Dennis Delic