Handover Ceremonies

This has been a very eventful two weeks with handover ceremonies on two projects and Maternal and Newborn Care training in Solwezi. We will have to report on the Solwezi trip later.
Lots of great pictures and videos.  What a privilege it is to see the fruits of the Lord's love for these people here in Africa!  

The Handover ceremony of the Harper Clinic.
 Very low key because the dignitaries couldn't come so they will have a bigger celebration later with them. 
 The clinic was built by a U.S. based group "I Am Zambia" and the church donated the medical equipment and furnishings.  

Village women waiting for the program to start and trying to teach Grandpa some new words

We held the handover ceremony for the Lupani School.  What an awesome celebration!  This has been one of our favorite projects because the school teachers and students take great pride in their school.  It is always well kept and clean.  They have also been very grateful for the help.  The children now do not have sit in crowded classrooms on the floor.  

Waiting for the celebration to begin.
 The new 3 classroom block is shown in the background with the newly painted other buildings.

The Head Men of the Villages that attend the Lupani School

 They started with their national anthem then prayer.  The school choir sang several songs, most of them Christian based.  First was a welcoming song.     

The school choir always came in doing some entrance dance and song before they sang the main song.  Then they would leave the same way.  If you listen closely, you will notice they are singing a song about turning to Jesus as they turn around.  

A group also performed a few cultural dances.   They really get into some of these.  

Several dignitaries gave speeches

This girl carried the keys to us then we handed them over to the School officials. 

School officials and other dignitaries ready to handover the keys.  

This young boy, Brighton, with cerebral palsy would always meet us at the school.  He became our friend and he wanted to sing at the ceremony.  It was pretty cool.  He is quite the character.   

Several more songs and speeches then the choir singing a "We shall never forget you" song. 

 Can they sing or what???