Story of Zeke

 A short story about Zeke.

Zeke is our great nephew and was adopted by our niece some 10 years ago.  He also has a sister who was adopted by another local family and her name is Bertie.  They both were adopted from Zoey's Place in Malawi, Africa.

Here is how Zoey's place was born. 

"The story of Zoey’s Place began on a mission trip to Malawi, Africa in the summer of 2013. God lead a team of missionaries from Rock Hill Baptist Church on a very specific journey to help a special orphan named Trinity that was only a few days old. Their encounter with Trinity opened their eyes to the life threatening issues that Malawian orphans face. God began to stir a great vision within the hearts of these willing missionaries. It was a vision that seemed too huge to ever be a real possibility, but with God ALL things are possible.  Zoey’s Place is named after a beautiful baby girl, and though her time here on earth was short, the lives she has impacted are too numerous to count.  We believe that God ordained this moment. While here with us, Zoey and her family showed God’s love and grace to so many. Zoey’s Place will also show God’s love and grace to many hungry children in Africa. Orphans at Zoey’s Place will not only receive food for their physical body but food for their spirit, as they are being taught about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Malawi, Africa is home to over 1,400,000 orphans. Malawi is a small country on the southeastern side of Africa. Year after year it remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Health issues such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, cholera, typhoid and many other diseases along with unsanitary living conditions and poverty cause the life expectancy of a Malawian to be very low, leaving many children as orphans. These orphans are extremely vulnerable to starvation and disease, especially in remote villages. These orphans are literally “the least of these.” We believe these children matter to God, so Zoey’s Place seeks to be the hands and feet of Jesus by intervening in the lives of these precious children."

About Zoey...

 Parents of Zoey.....  Samantha and Mark

Samantha is our niece and her husband is Mark.  Their beautiful baby girl (Zoey) passed away in 2012 from complications that she had had since birth.  Zoey was one year old when she passed in 2013  which was the same year that God began a ministry that had not been named yet...

That very year, the mission in Africa was named after Zoey Kate.  

The mission was quickly built and in no time, the building was filled with orphans.  Zeke and Bertie were two of the little ones at the mission.  Our other niece (Samantha's sister) Jiffy, made a trip to the mission the following year and her heart was led by God to adopt Zeke.  After sharing with her husband what God had placed upon her heart and much prayer, Jiffy and her husband (who is also named Sam) flew back to Africa to begin the process of adopting Zeke.  After several months and several trips they were able to bring their little boy home.  At this same time Zeke's sister was adopted by a very loving family and she now lives here in the same city as her brother Zeke. They both attend the same High School...  

There is so much more to this story...Perhaps some day, Zeke's parents will write a book about how God moved not only in their lives, but in the lives of these orphaned kids.. 

By the way....Zeke's adoptive parents had 3 boys and another one on the way....They are now parents to 5 big boys...

Family is important!!

Shug.....