Belinda Siame, the Club Coordinator at Pentecostal Holiness Church in Mkipa, recruited women from five churches in her region.  They traveled many hours by bus to attend training in May of 2009. They then went home to start new clubs.  Combined, they have over 450 girls anxious to be a part of GEMS!  When Belinda handed out the personal care bags to her club, the mothers celebrated with dancing.  The women then prayed for the GEMS staff in North America, their Zambian leaders, and all the girls in GEMS clubs.

The GEMS club at Word of Faith church in Lusaka struggled their first year and counselors had trouble understanding the curriculum. But this year they had five counselors present at training and were anxious to have a fresh start!  They have been in contact with their Area Coordinator, are getting answers to their questions, and expect to have a great year!

Consepter Munenga is a widow who learned about GEMS from a friend.  She and two other women from her church came to training.  After carefully considering the ministry, they asked their pastor if they could start a GEMS club.  He agreed and they are starting a club at the Salvation Army church in Lusaka.  With thoughtful leaders like Consepter, God will surely grow His Kingdom in Zambia!

The girls at Oasis of Love Assembly of God Church meet on Sundays after worship.  They have lunch together and then gather under a canopy.  They begin with all the girls singing, dancing, and reciting Bible verses together.  Then the younger girls make a circle and hear a Bible story using the story scarf.  They answer questions and talk about the Bible story.  Next they color a picture page and play games.  The older girls use the GEMS advanced curriculum and meet in their own circle.  This year they will learn about how to become a child of God, what it means to be a daughter of the King, and how to grow in grace while they learn about jewelry making, careers and horticulture.