Visiting GEMS Clubs

Saturday morning at about 9:00 Catherine was here to walk with me to some clubs. Yesterday, she said we would visit Mtendere Baptist and Salvation Army. This morning it was King of Glory, Word of Faith, and Come to Jesus. First we walked to Word of Faith, no one there. It was 9:20 and they don’t meet till 10:00. So why did we start off at 9:00? Then we walked to King of Glory, I truly got into the Kalingalinga compound. Catherine took me on many shortcuts; it seemed as if we were going right through people’s yards. But in all reality I think they actually were little alley ways

King of Glory meets in Idah’s yard, if you want to call it that. It is the dirt area that is between her house, the outhouse and a fence of shrubs. There was one bench, and two blue plastic chairs, and an old wooden couch, along with 3 really old soft chairs. One of the counselors walked up and dropped her Bible and books on the soft chair and the dust just flew! Idah told me they use to meet in a public area and every time they went there, there would be other groups having a program and they would be turned away. So they just started meeting here. She showed me her roster; she has 43 Awareness names and 37 Advanced. They began by singing, songs that I am beginning to know and that I can sing along with. They sang one that repeated the phrase God never changes, over and over. It had several verses telling all the ways He never changes, in the summer when it is warm, He never changes. In the winter when it is cold, He never changes. When problems come and problems go, He never changes. Then the double, double song! They all love singing that one.

The King of Glory GEMS singing at their club meeting

What a voice in the compound! To hear these girls all gathered here next to Idah’s house, just singing and praising the Lord! God is being glorified through the girls gathering and their voices raised in song.

Praying for their Sister Club in North America

 

After singing they said the aim, twice. Then Idah, took out the Sister Club prayer poster, and held it up, and they took turns praying for their sister club. When it was time for them to go into their small groups, I gathered them together and took a picture. How I would love for Bob to be able to build them some benches when he is here, but that probably wouldn’t be wise. Although, I think most of the other clubs meet in schools or churches, where they have plenty of benches or desks. I didn’t stay long enough to see how they did their lessons, but when girls are sitting with other littler girls on their laps, how do they color. Even as we were walking away, several other girls were still coming. Oh, and then the boys, they were there and listening and singing and squeezing right in. I think there are boys in every picture of the clubs I took today.

Praying for her Sister Club

The King of Glory GEMS and Counselors

                  The younger Awareness Group

 

The older Awareness Group

                                                              The Advanced GEMS

We left the King of Glory club in Idah’s yard and headed over to Word of Faith!  They were meeting in a different room, on the opposite end of the building where they were meeting when we were there last. It was a bigger room and somewhat brighter. Catherine said these buildings are an orphanage, but I didn’t see any children? How I was blessed, at the amazing difference from my last visit there. I remember walking away with the team, and we all were just sad, because they didn’t have a clue to what to do or how to do it. We later found out that they spoke very little English. Even though they attended training every day, they didn’t understand what we had presented. Now Precious was teaching the Advanced girls, she was speaking in English, she had them reading from scripture, she was writing on the chalk board, and asking them questions, all in English! The two older counselors were working with the Awareness girls and boys! They were all coloring their pages.

Club Coordinator Precious and the Advanced GEMS

One of the BEMS (Boys Everywhere Meeting the Savior)

who so want to be included

Word of Faith GEMS Club

From there we walked to Come to Jesus GEMS club. They meet in the church right behind Pentecostal Holiness Church. As we were walking, we passed Marjory a counselor from Word of Faith, going to her club. She said she was late, but that she had begun to do her wash very early, but the water had been turned off, so they had to go get water from a neighboring compound, for her to finish. We also, passed Maxhilda, a counselor from Apostolic Faith Mission club, and her husband. She was on the way to the clinic; they think she has malaria again. Life is so hard here!

When we got to Come to Jesus, they were just getting into their small groups. Again the church is very dark inside and difficult to see. There was just one counselor and one CIT. The other counselor was ill this morning. I had them come outside for a group picture.

Come to Jesus GEMS Club

As I passed by PHC I snapped a few pictures of the small GEMS groups meeting there. They use several CIT’s and they are doing a great job of teaching. They are encouraging and praising the girls when they know the answers to the questions. That club always makes me smile!

Pentecostal Holiness  Awareness GEMS

PHC Awareness GEMS

Oh how I rejoiced in my morning. A club that the team didn’t think would have a chance was going above all my expectations. A club that doesn’t have a place to meet gathers in the counselor’s small side yard. A club using their CIT’s allowing them to teach the younger girls and watching how far they’ve come since being a GEM themselves. To hear them say how GEMS has changed their lives! The CIT’s will be the women someday who lead GEMS in Zambia! A simply amazing, God blessed morning! Can’t wait until next week, to see what God has to show me!

A Glimpse of Heaven!

Miracle Life Family Church

I got to see a glimpse of heaven here on earth today! Today was the dedication of the new church building for Miracle Life Family Church. The church had been meeting in an old nightclub right next to Arcades Mall, for the last nine years.


The new church is not finished yet, but the lease had run out on the old building, and so they moved there a week ago. The church is amazing, but it is definitely part of a huge construction zone yet. As we walked up to the church the wind was blowing the dust everywhere, as there isn’t any grass, tar or sidewalks. The new sanctuary holds 2,200 people. It is a huge mega church, especially here in Zambia.

The service began with a flag ceremony where they had 26 flags, carried into the sanctuary by a person from that country, in their native dress. The first flag was from Zambia, the second was the Christian flag, and then country after country unfurled until there were 26 flags across the front of the sanctuary. Just a small glimpse of heaven, we are here in Zambia worshiping with people from 25 other countries. I thought of the verse from Philippians 2:10 & 11. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Here we are in Zambia worshiping together, singing and praising the name of Jesus together. Just a glimpse of what heaven will be like, when we are there with all our brothers and sisters from every tribe and every nation! Amen, Hallelujah, AMEN!

The Sanctuary after the service.

13 of the 26 Flags from 25 countries represented in worship

at Miracle Life Family Church.

The Foyer

How Big is My God?

How Big is Your God?


I have been wondering lately, just how big is my God? As I walked from club to club on Saturday, walking through the compound, that thought came into my mind. The people I saw walking around in the compound have such difficult lives.

The mother’s carrying their babies on their backs, with large baskets on their heads, filled with bananas or avocados while they dodge children running and screaming. Young children watching other young children, some who can’t be more than eight years old carrying babies around, bouncing and keeping them from crying. As I walked, I passed one of the GEMS counselors, and her husband who were walking to the health clinic, because she is not feeling well. They think she has malaria. I meet another GEMS counselor, who is late for her club meeting, because she was doing her wash, and then the water was off. So they had to carry the water from across the compound, to finish her wash.

These people struggle with just the simple things, which I so take for granted. The things that were bothering me don’t even faze them. They don’t seem to even notice that the dust and dirt are blowing in their faces, and all around. Their nostrils aren’t assaulted by the smells of burning rubbish, or the smell of urine floating from under the doors of the outhouses we pass. They don’t seem to notice the garbage, everywhere on the streets and in the ditches. They don’t notice a man yelling at a woman, or a woman pulling along a small child by the arm, who is screaming. Is this child being hurt or is he just mad? They don’t even look up as the cars pass by and honk, hoping that the mazoongo (white women) will need a cab?

Then I begin to wonder, how big is there God? Do they complain as much as I do, about the little things that bother me? I can complain so quickly about the dust, the smells, the things I miss from home, from chocolate chips to being able to brush my teeth without bottled water, and having a great shower with real water pressure. How big is my God? And how disappointed he must be with me, when He has given me more than most Zambians can even imagine and still I complain.

My God is so BIG! He has called me to Zambia, to train and teach the women to lead GEMS clubs. He has opened my eyes to so many things that I so took for granted before coming here. I know there are more than I could possibly list, but here are two that are on my heart today. He has opened my eyes to see that my grandchildren who are born in clean sterile hospitals with all the best medical care and doctors with equipment to monitor heartbeats and deliver the best possible care, are so blessed! I had never thought about mothers being scared to death to have their babies, because if something goes wrong, they die or the baby dies. Or they are taken to the hospital and die there. 70% of people who go into a Zambian hospital do not come out alive. He has allowed me to see, babies who are starving that are brought to the House of Moses, will now have a chance to grow and thrive. Have I ever seen a child in the US with legs about the size of my thumbs? No never!

How big is your God?

What a difference a week makes!

It was a week ago yesterday, that we brought Sophie to the hospital.  A week I don't ever care to repeat!  I knew that there would be lots of things on my plate here in Zambia, but this was one that I  hadn't even had cross my mind!  Because you just don't go to the hospital when you are in Zambia!

Sophie was released finally on Saturday afternoon.  She was so glad to be back home!  Being in a ward is not a restful place to be, and some of the doctor's could have used a course in bedside manners.  When in the middle of the night they walk into the room and flip on the overhead lights, blind you and then begin asking you all sorts of questions, as you are trying to sort out what is happening.  Mary Leslie had stayed with her throughout her stay, and neither one came home looking very rested.  Over their first 36 hours at home they slept 27 hours.

On Monday, Sophie and I returned to the hospital for a check up.  They did another set of labs and they all came back very good!  We were rejoicing!  Now to just get her to eat, that wasn't something that either Mary Leslie or I had been able to do.  She would say something sounded good, and we would go to work preparing it, she'd take one bite and push it away.  By Tuesday night she was eating a little of this and a little of that, and by Wednesday night, she ate as much as I did!  Now we were truly rejoicing!

After last week, being about as low as you can go!  This week is on a high!  Things are happening, ministry is going forward, girls are giggling and laughing!  God is so good!  We are rejoicing in God's goodness!

Today the girls walked to Kablonga, had lunch at new restaurant there and spent the afternoon together with the Lord!  I went to the bank this morning and then out shopping this afternoon!  I bought 4,000,000 kwacha worth of fabrics for the Hand'n'Hand program!  And that is just a drop in the bucket of what we need!

Tonight, we sat and talked after dinner!  Laughing and telling stories of past Zambian experiences and all the things we are learning about Zambian culture!  What a difference a week makes!  We are rejoicing in our health in new ways!  Praising God for His goodness and healing mercies on us!  Thanking Him for what lies ahead! God is good all the time!  All the time God is good!

Sophie's in the Hospital

I posted on FaceBook that on Wednesday, we took Sophie to the hospital.  But I should also post here for those who don't use FB to know what is happening.

I'll start with Tuesday, at 10 hours the women come for English classes. Sophie is teaching the more advanced women, who speak quite well, but need help with spelling and grammar. And Mary is teaching the women who speak the least and understand very little. They begin at 10 hours, but the students began arriving at 9 hours! It is just crazy here! Early or late, never on time! But we are invoking our new policy, anyone arriving more than 30 minutes (we usually go 45) is not admitted in the gate. We hope this helps get them here on time. We’ll see!


While they were doing their classes, I worked on some of the printing stuff, I added up all of the books that are still needed and checked all the Ndola numbers.

At noon we had left over pasta, and I worked on the Hand’n’Hand project. Catherine and I are going to Kamwala on Thursday to price fabric. Tomorrow I am going with Bob to Chongwe and then to the printing places to see about additional quotes.

Tuesday is BOGO Pizza night, so we had them delivered. Annika (an Every Orphan's Hope 6 month intern) joined us and we had a great evening of fellowship.
May 19, 2010 Wednesday

Bob and I were able to Skype first thing this morning. He leaves his computer on, and when I get up I call him, and he wakes up and we talk for 30 minutes, sharing about each others day. It is usually around 1:00- 1:30am his time.

Bob Sendgikoski  (our building contractor for the Esther School) was here to pick me up at 8:00 we headed first out to Chongwe. He wanted to show me something, I thought it was that the teacher’s house was totally finished, but it wasn’t that. He would like to move the elementary building and the pre-school building over a little and wondered what I thought. We walked the property again; they have begun clearing the brush and are making a road to bring in stones and materials for the beginning of the building these two buildings. It makes sense to me to move it; I’m not sure why it is such a big deal and that he wanted me to see it. He said so I can explain it to Jan, women to women!  The best part of the morning was getting to walk through the house, it is ALMOST finished, they are missing a few of the ceiling fans, they were back ordered. They were mopping the floors getting them ready for paint. The bathroom showers had been tiled. All the tools and equipment had been moved out! And some of the guys were cleaning up outside. They hope to start making bricks on Monday for the new school buildings.

The kitchen in the teacher's house with the lights hung.

The tiled shower, only needs the rod for the shower curtain.

The Great Room for gathering.  Notice the three

white boxes on the wall, those are electical outlets

powered by the solar panels.  What is being plugged

into these outlets?  Phones of the Zambian workers!

The electric is divided into different circuits for different

kinds of electricity.  These are for phones and computers.

There is a circuit for lights and fans, and separate ones

for appliances and curling irons, the real electric grabbers.

We headed back into town, Bob was going to take me to a couple of more printers, for quotes on the books we need. We went to two different places that he knew of, both which do digital printing but not on paper, one was on vinyl and the other on canvas. So we decided to go back to Associated Printers where I got the first quote, BUT I didn’t remember where it was. Siwale was driving, and I wasn’t thinking that I’d need to remember just how to find it again. I knew the area, but didn’t have a clue to what street it was on. We had asked at the second digital printing place we stopped at, and they gave Bob directions. We could not find it, we went to right where they said, across from the Honda dealer, but it wasn’t there. I asked Bob to call Siwale, but he said Zambians don’t give directions. "The guys just sent us across from the Honda dealer remember!" When Siwale and I had gone early last week, we had made several stops and I just couldn’t remember how we got there. I did know how we found it, we had stopped at a printing place on Cairo Road, and they directed us from there. So….Bob and I went back to that place, I could find that one, and then they gave Bob directions. Bob wasn’t so sure, but as soon as we turned on one road I remembered going there. I remembered where to turn and we found it. We parked the car, and where walking up to the building when Bob’s phone rang. I had left mine back at the Service Center. Duh!  He said the call was for me. So I took the phone, it was Mary Leslie; she said Sophie was very sick and she didn’t know what to do.When we arrived Sophie was in a sweatshirt and sweatpants, and had two heavy fleece blankets on her, she was trembling and shaking. I went and found Bob and we agreed she needs to be seen by a doctor.  Bob knew of a hospital where he had been taken and was cared for well.  They took her right to an examination room and told me I needed to go back and give them her information.
We went back down to the room where they had taken her it was a ward with 4 beds on one wall, and only one other bed had a small child in it. We were so thankful, that they began working on her immediately and she didn’t have to wait long for the doctor. He came and told us he believed it was food poisoning, but they wouldn’t be sure until the lab tests came back. He also said the blood work would show if it was malaria. Because they are here for such a long time, they are not taking the malaria pills. When he said food poisoning, I thought but we all ate pizza last night, and only Sophie is ill. But then I thought, we all had our own pizza’s, so that we have lots of left over’s. Both Sophie and I  had a veggie but still it was different pizzas. Bob and I continued to wait in the hall, going in every 30 minutes or so, to check on her and see if her labs had come back yet. Bob and I headed back home to get her some things she needed. While we were gathering up the things that Mary Leslie had asked for, Mary Leslie called and said they were going to admit her. They didn’t have the labs back yet, but they wanted to keep her for the next 24 hours. Bob and I headed back to the hospital and just as we walked into the room, which now had someone in all four of the beds. The doctor was reading her lab work. They started her on an antibiotic before we left the room. We waited another 30 minutes and went back in, she had some color in her face, and her lips were once again pink.  The nurse came and said they were waiting for a bed in the ward, before they could move her. Bob had to be home before 5:00, so we left and he brought me home.  Mary Leslie will stay the night with her at the hospital. Bob and Mary Sendgikoski are going to dinner, just across the street from the hospital, so will check in on her tonight.

I came home, put the left over pizza in the trash and made myself some vegetables for supper, beans, carrots and a potato. Just as I finished my dinner, the power went out and has been out now for over an hour already. Glad my computer has good battery backup, but I’m sure it is running low now.

What a day, first rejoicing in the Esther School house, and being able to see it again. See the progress beginning on the next building site. To driving around downtown Lusaka looking for a printer I don’t a clue where it is. To rushing home to find such a sick Sophie, I know she was the sickest person, I have ever seen in all my years of being a mom. Praying we were doing the right thing, bringing her to a Zambian hospital. She needed the fluids when we got her there, and had them within 30-45 minutes after our arrival.

I am just so thankful that I was out with Bob this morning. That he had a vehicle to take her to the hospital with, that he knew what hospital to go to and that he was there to offer support. Nothing in Zambia ever goes as we think it will. I am so thankful today God was there walking with us each step of the way! PTL! Just like He does every day, but when you’ve been through a day like this you know you could not do it in your own power!

When I was there yesterday afternoon,(Thursday) they  were still giving her fluids and antibiotics by IV. 

 If you can imagine some of the hospitals you see in movies of the late 1940's and early 1950's and that is what I would compare this one to.  Mary Leslie says she is receiving good care.  Just not all the technology and services that we're use to!  Visiting hours are strictly maintained.  You don't get in if it isn't visiting hours.  I know that because I tried! And I was denied!

Attitude Adjustment

Usually when I’m in Zambia, I feel so close to the Lord. I am so dependent on Him for everything every day! Maybe it is because of the extended period of time, that I am struggling with the same feelings I have at home. The feelings that tell me I am entitled to certain things, and that I need certain things to ensure my happiness and well being.

Some of my feelings may stem from having had it really well here. The first two weeks the team was here, we didn’t have one power outage. We had the water go off each night at 8:00, but we knew that going in and we compensated for that. The week after the team left, we had several water issues, where the water would be out for a couple of days, and we compensated for that as well. Making sure that we always had jugs to flush toilets and wash up with. Now this week, we are having power outages in the daytime, off for an hour or two, back on for 10 minutes and off again for an hour or two. In the evenings it has also been going out for several hours, usually just after 18 hours here. Last night it didn’t come back on until sometime in the middle of the night.

When the power goes out the internet goes out as well. Besides those times, the internet comes and goes as it pleases. Being the winter season, there are days when it is very windy. On those days the internet is very sporadic.

It may also have to do with having been alone here alot lately. I really like some of my own alone time, always have and sure I always will. With the girls being gone last Saturday and Sunday night, I was really good with that. Then since Sophie was hospitalized on Wednesday, I’ve been alone. Which in itself does not create a problem? I am not at all afraid staying here we have a good guard every night. The part that gets to me is having no power for hours on end. I’ve read every book I brought, and what do you do in the dark for hours at a time by yourself?

When Mary came home yesterday, she left out a movie for me to watch. Out of Africa,  I was so looking forward to watching that last night. Then the power coming and going so much yesterday, my computer battery didn’t have a chance to be fully charged. So when the power went out, I thought I’d have at least 1 ½ hours of battery, so I put the movie in and watched the first 20 minutes, and it was gone, dead battery That was it, it is 6:30 and it is totally dark, I have nothing to read, no one to talk to. Just sit in the dark and feel sorry for myself. And let me assure you, I did!

At 8:00 I headed to bed, why not? What else am I to do? During the night I woke up and saw that the power was back!

After I let the guard out at 6, I tried the internet; this is my time to Skype Bob. Nothing! Plugged and unplugged, booted and rebooted, nothing! Grrrr! I had my breakfast, tried the internet, nothing! I took my bath (hoping that the water and power stay on tonight, because I don’t have a blow dryer to dry my hair if I wash in the mornings.) Tried the internet again, nothing! Grrrr! I picked up my Bible and My Utmost for His Highest; put a chair just inside the gate to the veranda, out of the wind. The sun was not quite up to over the outside walls yet. I opened Oswald up to May 21. Having God’s “Unreasonable” Faith is the title. The scripture is from Matthew 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Oswald writes – The great concern of our lives is not the kingdom of God but how we are going to take care of ourselves to live. Jesus reversed the order by telling us to get the right relationship with God first, maintaining it as the primary concern of our lives, and never to place our concern on taking care of the other things of life. OK, Lord can you get in more in my face than that?

I went to the scripture and read from Matthew 6. I read first the NIV and then the Message. The very last verse from the Message “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6:34 OK, Lord thank you for reminding me that not having power, water or the internet isn’t the worst things I could be doing without.

I sat and began to pray, it was a little chilly, but it was OK. I asked God’s forgiveness from my selfish, self-centered wants. As I was praying the sun broke over the wall that protects us from danger and theft. It began warming the top of my head. It felt so good, just like God’s love warming my mind, with thoughts of Him and His love for me. As I continued in prayer the sun went higher and started warming my mid section with its rays. It gave me a renewed peace, of God’s “Sonshine” warming my heart. The sun’s rays continued on warming my hands. Oh how I praise and thank you Lord for this sensation of how you fill me with your "Sonshine" every day of my life. May my hands be used today, to be your hands, filled with your love. Finally, I felt the warmth all the way down to my feet. Guide my feet today Lord, lead me and let me follow obediently after you where ever I am go.

I was in awe of how good God was to fill me with the “Sonshine” of His love, and to let me so feel His presence in my life.

What does it matter if I have power, water or internet? Life goes on without those earthly things, but I have the power of God’s Love, the water of His baptism and the internet to His heart, every day of my life as long as I seek first the kingdom of God! Halleluiah! Amen!

PS....when I finished and went back to my computer the internet was on!  What an amazing good God, who even cares about if I get to Skype Bob at home!  Thank you, Jesus!  May your "Sonshine" fill the lives of all your children today!

My Fourth Sunday in Africa!

This was an unusual day! This was my first full day of being alone, without my housemates. I was up at 6 to let the guard out! Woke up at 5 worrying that I’d over sleep and he’d have to pound on the door to wake me up, but then fell back to sleep just before the alarm sounded at 6. Decided to go to the 11:00 service today, Miracle Life Family Church has three morning services, and I thought if I went to the late service it would break up my day some. Today was the last Sunday in the rented church building, which was a tavern and disco before. Miracle Life has been renting there for the last six years, next Sunday we will meet in the new building.


The Pastor is an American, and I enjoy his messages. He preaches very American, but the church is filled with mostly Africans, some Asians and a few whites. The service is more similar to our services. We have a half an hour of praise and worship, then about 15 minutes of announcements. The message is usually about 45 minutes. The service lasts 1 ½ hours, by having multiple services, they can’t go past that time.

I do miss the true African churches; I love how they worship in those churches. I do not miss being the guest of honor and having to speak and bring greetings each time I attend. Nor do I miss them announcing how much the offering was today, because of the generosity of our American visitors. That is embarrassing! I would rather bless someone without it being announced!

After church I returned home and called Bob on skype, he was driving Melissa through Tennessee in the pouring rain. He said they were still making good time. When they stop tonight, he will continue on in the rental truck, hoping to be home late tonight. He was so surprised that I could call his cell phone from Africa! He didn’t know who I was! Oops, maybe I’ve been gone to long!

I really can’t believe that I have been here for over 4 weeks already. And 4 weeks from tomorrow Bob will fly out to experience Zambia and bring me home! We’ve reached the half way mark! Hooray!

Ida and Dixon (from the house that GEMS built) stopped in this afternoon. They wanted to say hello and wonder when I will be coming to visit them. We got to see them while the team was here, we had a birthday party for all 32 of the kids in all the Kalingalinga houses. There are four houses with 8 children each. I haven’t been to the house that GEMS built to visit since the team left.

Enjoying my Sabbath and preparing for the week ahead. Blessings to all.

Water and Wind

Water and Wind


What do you think of when you think of water? My first thoughts go to Lake Michigan and walking along the shore and feeling the water rush through my toes. When I think of water at home, I think of a great forceful shower on my head, all the hot, warm or cold water I could ever want.

What do I think of when I think of water in Zambia? Make sure you bathe before 8pm or the water is turned off. Oh, and then it is turned off whenever they (not sure who they are) feel the need to. It has been off since about 10:00 yesterday morning. But we are prepared, we have a basin of water in the tub, at least we can wash our feet before bed. We have jugs in each bathroom to flush the toilets. Oh, and we have a sink full of dishes that can’t be done until it comes back on. When we cook, we use bottled water, so we are good there! Glad I did my laundry first thing yesterday morning, before it went off.

It makes you so thankful when you have water. Even when the force from the faucet is puny. So much so, that you wonder if you can get all the shampoo out of your hair. Oh, and then regulating the water temp, it takes about 4 minutes to get the hot water coming, and then if you add cold to it, it immediately cools the hot water off so much that you freeze. You spend most of your bathing time trying to regulate the water temperature to be not to cold or to hot! But I am so thankful there is water, most of the time! We’ve had more trouble this time with the water going off, than with the electric! PTL! We’ve only been in the dark two nights and not for more than 20-40 minutes each time! PTL!

What do you think of when you think of wind in Michigan! Once again, my thoughts turn to the beach where there is usually a breeze coming in off Lake Michigan. Ever been to the beach, when it whips the sand into your face, hair and all the folds of your skin? If you picture that, you can picture walking down the road in Kalingalinga. The wind whips the dirt (not sand) into your face, hair and all the folds of your skin. I never leave the house without my sunglasses mostly to protect my eyes from all the dust. The rainy season, just ended in April, and now it will be dry until next November. Already the dry ground is spewing the dust in every direction. Into the houses, cars and unto the people! It’s a crazy thing! It has been very windy here the past few days. Siwale says it is early this year, to be so windy already. The wind also effects our internet connection, when it is blowing we can’t get our reception. Oh the joys of Zambia!

Give Thanks for Screens!

Today, I cleaned my bedroom and bathroom. It had been a week, and there is no way to describe the dirt and dust that comes into the houses here. I think only Lia can understand, because she lived in South Africa and I don’t think it is any different there than here. The windows are open from when you get up, until sun set. There are no screens, have you ever been thankful for screens, if not, do be thankful for screens! They keep out the flies, mosquitoes, and some of the dust and stuff blowing through the air. I swept under the beds, there are three beds in my room, and I couldn’t believe all the dirt I collected! It is crazy that it could be so bad in just one week, with just one person walking in and out of the room.
 
 

The dirt from one week in my bedroom!

When you get ready to prepare a meal, you always wipe off the counters before you take out any food. And even if you totally wiped them down after the last meal, your rag will be brown with dust. And we seldom open any windows in the kitchen, because it brings in the flies even worse. But the dust still gets on every surface.

Today marks a new experience for me. From noon on I will be home alone for the next few days. The girls, Sophie and Mary have gone away for a few days to spend time talking to the Lord. It can be difficult here, because living in the GEMS Service Center, even though we post our hours when we are open, there are always counselors passing through. Either from areas outside of Lusaka who need to pick up some supplies, or counselors from the area who just want to bring us greetings. Then there are the random knocks on the gate, of men and women seeking employment. There are more now since we put up the GEMS sign outside the gate. There are the neighborhood children who just want to come and see the mazoongos (white people.) Or neighbors who don’t have water and usually get it from the local well, which is monitored by someone they hire to turn it off and on. But when our water is out, so is the water from the public well. For the people here who don’t have running water in their homes (and there are many) they pay a fee, and twice each day at 6 hours and 15 hours the water is turned on and they can get their containers filled. If the water comes back on at 7 hours they know that they won't be able to get any until 15 hours and then it may be out again. So when th know the water has come back on, they will come knocking at our gate so they can fill their containers without having to wait until the well is turned on later in the day. Not to mention the men who come seeking wives, and wanting to see if Mary and Sophie, are interested in marriage.

Thus the girls wanted to get away and spend time with God, without interruption, seeking His direction, on their ministry here. I am good with being alone. I feel very safe. First there is the gate, and then every door and window is covered with rebar grilles, and there are I think somewhere around 5 or 6 padlocks between me and the outside. At night we have a night guard who comes at 18 hours (it is just getting dark then) and we let him out at 6 each morning. He sits outside all night; I would think he must be totally chilled by morning.

My Room

                                                               No one is getting in through here!

The front door with all the slide bolts and padlock.  It has just one on it now, but you could have three!

                         The veranda gate just outside the front door with its slide bolts and padlocks.

The main gate with its two padlocks,

I don't think I could be any safer!

My True Identity

Who am I? I really feel that I am I different person here in Africa than I am in the US? I’ve thought a lot about that over the past few days and nights.

Who am I? Am I the person who lives in my beautiful home? Or the person who has at least three cars to drive out of my garage after I push a button and the door goes up. Am I the person who has a several closets full of clothes?

What defines my identity? Is it my house, the cars I drive, the clothes I wear, the computers, TVs, DVD players in our home. Do any of these things define who I am? No, they don’t, so then why are they so important to me and cause me to spend so much time maintaining them. Why do I feel so different while I’m in Africa?

Is it because, I have so little here? I wear the same 5 skirts, week in and week out. No one cares if they are in style, or have gone out of style years ago. If you walked into my closet at home, you would be hard pressed to know that I am gone for ten weeks. My rods and shelves are full of clothes, more than I can even wear. I’m sure you’d even find some with the tags still on them.

What about my home? Does my home give me my identity? What does it say about who I am? Will I invite someone in if it is messy, or will I think I’ll do that next time the opportunity arises? Is it a place to impress people or a place to be home for my fantastic family? If I’m going to be truthful I’d have to say I want it to be both. It is a place where my kids call home and feel comfortable coming and hanging out together. When I think of friends, I want it to be a home that impresses them, that makes me look good. And whom am I trying to impress, anyway? Does my home give me my identity?

The same applies to cars. I am more than happy with my Toyota and Buick. To me a car is a car. Then why when I pull into a parking lot and park next to a Lexus or a Hummer, do I think twice about what I drive?

I don’t want anything more or different. I’m very content and grateful for everything I have. Sometimes I am so humbled by the home and yard that I have to enjoy, but then there are those times when thoughts and doubts, about it being nice enough take over. There are times when I think, oh but so and so, they have this or that. It is those times when pride raises its ugly head and I fall victim to it and listen to those lies.

In Africa, no one cares about what others wear. No one ever compliments you on your clothes. I’ve seen the same red, gray and black striped shirt on Marjory, every year we’ve come, on multiple days. I’ve seen skirts that team members have left behind, being worn with pride and joy, a little too big or to small it doesn’t matter. It is a new skirt to them. No one has a car. Most of their homes don’t have electricity. Some of them live in houses with no roofs, just plastic spread over sticks keeping out the rain and wind. It can be very windy here! When it rains they stay up all night pushing the water off the plastic so it doesn’t break. Remember the rainy season goes from November to April. Do they complain, oh no! They just praise and thank God for the little that they have.

What does this tell me? What is my true identity? Could someone look at me at home and say “She is a child of the King!” Or would they say, she lives here, she drives these cars. Or she works there and goes here. Oh, and she always wants more!

I pray that is not true, but I can surely see it in my life, when I come to Africa. I give thanks to God for so many things at home that we don’t even consider each day. Zambia is a place where you just depend on God for everything. You give thanks that the water stays on till 8:00pm, so we can bathe. I get so excited when the electricity stays on for days at a time! I praise Him that I get to have peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and rejoice over them. I am so thankful I can do my laundry in the tub, and hang it out to dry, and that I don’t have to iron the bugs out of it. I give thanks for the evenings when the electric stays on until we’ve cooked our dinner. I give thanks for God allowing me to draw close to Him, and fellowship with Him in ways that I don’t take time for at home. I give thanks that I have no fear of being here, because I know He is always with me!

My prayer for myself is that my identity changes, and when I return I will be showing everyone I meet that I know who I am! I am a daughter of the King of Kings, and Lord or Lords! Blessed beyond measure with the absolute best husband in the world, great kids who love the Lord, and almost 14 of the most amazing grand kids, anyone could ever imagine! I have no needs. I have more than enough of everything anyone could possibly want. God has blessed me with more than I ever dreamed of having.

Romans 12:2 The Message

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Romans 8:16 & 17

16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Micro-financing Program for GEMS Counselors

So have you been wondering how I could fill a week here in Zambia without the rest of my team!  Probably the best way to tell you is with a few pictures.  Besides doing some cleaning, laundry and moving beds around and making more room in the bedrooms.  I sorted t-shirts by sizes, and colors.  I counted bread pans and put them with the measuring spoons and cups.  I have enough for over 30 counselors.

Then we had the shopping to do for all the flour, sugar, oil, baking soda, vanilla, and eggs for the micro-financing program!  That in itself was a large feat!  We took a taxi to the store, and got most of the ingredients, only they didn't have the small bottles of vanilla or the baking soda.  So we had to go to another area where they are building and it is so crazy to drive into that area.  We try to avoid it by all costs!  BUT we needed those missing ingredients.  By the time we got all the first ingredients into the trunk, the car was hanging, and rubbing on the tires when we hit a small bump.  Ooops! Oh, and I didn't mention that we also got our groceries for the week, while we were there.  We try not to hire a taxi anymore than we have to!

Sophie pulling one of the three carts, with the 28  bags of flour and sugar!

Then there were the 22 dozen of eggs!

First we brought everything into the back bedroom, and then I bagged it all in bags for each counselor.

Every bag had 2.5kg of flour, 2 kg of sugar, a bottle of cooking oil, a bottle of vanilla, a package of baking soda and 8 plastic bags.  The bread pans, measuring cups and spoons with 8 eggs tucked into the pan!  The 24 banana's were in a separate bag!

The next step was filling in the paper work and making sure that they understand the terms of the loan and how and when it needs to be paid back.

Then packing it all up and carrying it out on their heads.  Marjory with her son on her back, her bag on her arm and her box on her head is as happy as anybody I've ever seen!

Here I am with just three of the six boxes of 1,356 bananas!  Fresh from a banana farm on the way to Chongwe. They came complete with some really BIG spiders!  The ladies just laughed as I grabbed my sandle and swatted away, jumping around and trying to kill them.  They said those were some of the best moves they had seen me do!  But.....I just need to wiggle my hips more!  Never will be African in that regard, I just don't move like they do!

The sign up and collecting of supplies was on Monday and Tuesday.  Wednesday we did a baking class.  One of the counselors, Agnes is a professional baker and she wanted to help the women learn how to bake the bread.  At 10 hours on Wednesday, the class began.  The counselors were given their cookbooks, with recipes from the AC's & LT's in North America and put together for them at ACTS Training the weekend before we left for Zambia.  They found the Banana Bread recipe and Agnes began her class.  She has a very quiet, sweet spirit and she did a great job teaching.  She had some of the ladies mashing the bananas, some mixing the dry ingredients, some adding the liquid, while one greased and floured the pans.  The first loaf went into the oven, the second loaf went unto the brazier.  We used our biggest pot, filled with about 2 inches of sand in the bottom, and while the ingredients were being mixed, Agnes had the pot on the brazier heating up the sand.

The pot with the sand in the bottom.

The loaf of banana bread in the pot just before the cover goes on and it bakes for an hour.

Agnes with the finished loaf of bread just out of the pot on the brazier.

It is my prayer that God uses this program to help the counselors help their families.  One of the counselors was sharing her story with me this morning.  Both of her parents died in 2002, and they were caring for her sister's two children who were orphans.  With the death of her parents, her sister's children became her responsibility.  When she returned home from burying her father, her husband said we cannot take in these children.  If you continue to keep them here then I will leave you and he did.  He died in 2006.  She continues to care for her two nieces as well as her own two children.  She said this program will mean

she can keep her children in school.

That was just one story, I'm sure if I went around the room, there would be a similar story for each and every counselor participating.  May God bless these women as they participate in this micro-financing program.

God Sightings

OK! So tomorrow is a week since the GEMS Training team returned to North America. I thought time would really slow down once they left, but that has not been the case! Time is flying and each days slips by before I am ready for it to end. Hence no blog posts all week!


Why is it so much easier to see God at work here in Zambia, than back in the US? Why do I think multiple times each day, that the events of this day are in God's hands? Are my days more in His hands here than when I am at home? This is where I want to begin with this blog post. Just to share some of the God sightings that the GEMS team saw over the two weeks we were here together.

1. The skies cleared enough from the ash, so that we could fly on our scheduled departure date.

2. We were told that the London Heathrow airport would be out of control, there were lots of people and it was busier than we had ever seen it before, but it sure didn't cause us any problems.

3. We were a team of seven, with our dear Wendy rejoining the team, after a year off to battle cancer.

4. We arrived in Lusaka with all 27 pieces of luggage!

5. We were greeted by Sophie and Mary who we loved immediately!

Along with Siwale and a bus to transport us and the 27 bags we checked, along with our 14 carry ons.

6. Worshipping at Miracle Life Church, with a North American pastor.

7. Seeing Siwale and his family coming to church as we were leaving.

8. Alice who cooked for us.

9. Sophie and Mary and watching them connect with the CITS!

10. Tuesday night pizza!

11. The Counselor handbooks arriving from the printer just minutes before we needed to hand them out.

12. The Pastor’s Tea and how appreciative they are of all that GEMS is doing in their churches.

13. That Clara accepted the role of Area Coordinator, with her sweet gracious spirit.

14. That her and Catherine the Leadership Trainer work so well together.

15. That the kids from the EOH houses could bless us with their Bible skits after our party with them. Seeing the joy in the cake and ice cream we had for the group birthday party! Celebrating all 32 children’s birthdays together!

16. Being able to go and see the progress on the Esther School’s teachers house. To be able to walk through the house, and imagine the North American teachers preparing their lessons. To hike out over the 25 acres or hectors of land, and see where the pre-school and kindergarten buildings will be built, as well as the library and the clinic. To circle and pray seeks God’s guidance and direction for the next steps. Giving praise and thanksgivings for what has already been completed.

17. Being blessed by the giving out of the t-shirts to the children in the EOH houses in Chongwe. For their beautiful voices they raised in songs of thanksgiving for their gifts!

18. For Bob and Mary and how they love us and we them.

19. For the amazing team of get-along girls we are!

20. For the three great training opportunities, the joy flowing from the returning counselors and for the 27 new clubs and the nearly 300 counselors who came to training. For them telling us that we brought them a new hope for the future of women and girls in Zambia.

21. For the safe travel back and forth to Ndola and Mkushi, the roads here are crazy.

22. For finding Margaret, through Kathy and her gift for Annette’s daughters.

23. For Jan being able to open a bank account in Zambia!

24. For seeing God in the beautiful diverse creation at Chaminuka.

OK, I need to stop, those are the first ones that pop into my mind, I know there are some I am forgetting, some of the things we would so take for granted at home, but we see as such a God thing here!  Each night as we gathered for devotions and a wonderful time of sweet fellowship with the Father and together, we would share some of the God Sighting we saw that day!  How blessed I am to be a part of the GEMS Zambia Training Team!    All the time! God is so good!