GEMS in Africa

A Visit to the House of Moses

2010-06-09T09:38:00.002-05:00

Today we went to the House of Moses, this is something that Sophie and Mary Leslie have been doing since they came to Zambia. Every Wednesday they head over to the orphanage, and just hold and love babies. They both have their very favorites! Infact, the very first time I went with them I was invited to go, but I could not hold Natasha! Because that is Sophie's special little girl that she just loves on every week. Mary Leslie has a few that she loves to cuddle and hold.

What a priviledge to just be able to go in to the orphanage and love on these little ones.

The precious little hand of Deborah, that I held the entire time!

Here is the cutest smile from little Deborah! Sophie thinks Natasha is the cutest, I'm not so sure! I think this little girl stole my heart! I think I need to bring her home to one of my kids!

Mary Leslie hanging out with the kids on the blankets.

Now do these future momma's look happy?

Or this Grandma?

Does it get any better than this?

All the kids having lunch, they all have their bowl of nshima, which they scoop up with their hands and stuff into their little mouths. The gal in the back is holding one of the twins I held last time, that has to be 18 months and weighs only 9-10 pounds. Her twin brother is just in front of the caregivers head, they both need to be fed their nshima.

I have been blessed to be able to hold, and love on these little ones today!

More Club Visits!

2010-06-07T13:36:00.000-05:00

Saturday is one of my favorite days of the week! I get to go and visit some of the GEMS clubs that are meeting in Lusaka. Catherine arranges which clubs we visit and then she comes to collect me and we head off through the compound.

Kalinglinga is a very large compound! We started off from the Service Center gate at 10:00 and we walked for over 30 minutes! We headed out past PHC and AFM and kept walking, when we got to the next crossroad we turned left, and then right again. Soon we were up to Kamloops Road (the one we take to go to Bob and Mary's, the same one the Kalingalinga Post Office is on) we crossed the road and kept going, and going. Finally we turned and walked along a football (soccer field) and then we turned down an alley and found ourselves at a gate. This was the house of the club coordinator for Pilgrim Wesleyan. Her yard was much larger than that of Idah's last Saturday, and totally enclosed with the tall brick walls. They were all in there small groups working on their lessons. They were all sitting in plastic chairs, in three circles. I listened and watched as they were teaching, they were doing well. Catherine had said this club really struggled after Annette's death. Annette was the club coordinator and ran this club. The club coordinator is doing well, she is very excited about the club meeting in her yard. She introduced me to her husband, and I thanked him for allowing the GEMS to meet in their yard. He said it is OK, it is the work of the Lord. I gathered the groups together for a club picture and then we were off to the next club.

Awareness Small Group

Advanced Small Group

Pilgrim Wesleyan GEMS

This would be the Mtendere Baptist club. It being very dangerous to walk into Mtendere, and also being on the extreme western end of Kalingalinga we looked for a cab. Catherine is just standing on Alick Nkhata Road waving at every car that passes by. Is this how we catch a cab? Then she says, maybe we should just take the bus. Oh great, I don't want to take a bus......been there done that.....don't ever need to do it again! But it is too far to walk, and so we wait for a bus. I send up a little prayer, "Lord, please I really don't want to take the bus." About two minutes later a very nice car drives up and the driver says, "Need a ride?" I thought so, a mazoongo can't walk near a road without every taxi peeping to see if you want a ride. We jump in and I am once again awe struck at God's goodness! Am I ever going to learn that He takes care of his children? There was Christian music playing! Thank you Lord! Catherine speaks to him in nanja and makes all the arrangements. He will drive us to Mtendere Baptist and wait for us and bring us back to the Service Center when we are done! PTL!

Mtendere is another hard to describe place. It is also a very large compound, but unlike Kalingalinga only having a few roads, Mtendere has tons of roads, and they are very narrow roads and there are markets set up along both sides of the roads and people bustling up and down the streets. With lots and lots of traffic, cars and minibuses! It is a crazy place to try to drive. After weaving our way, through the streets, we end up a the church. They let us in the gate with the car, and our driver parks. We get out, the girls are playing games with the sports equipment. They quickly gather and begin to sing for us. They say the GEMS aim and sing a few more songs. I snap some pictures and watch the CIT's leading. They have some great CIT's!
When it is time for us to go, the club coordinator and another counselor ride back to the Service Center with us. They have come back to collect the Hand'n'Hand supplies. The club coordinator works at a school in the administration, so it is very difficult for her to come to the Service Center on weekdays.

Playing Games

Mtendere Baptist

Catherine and I showed them both, the hot pads, and how to cut the material and braid it. We gave them instructions and they asked questions. It seems to be most difficult for them to not braid the hot pads to tightly, so we went over that and I showed them our samples. They both were excited to try to make one, but they want to bring it by when they are finished to make sure they are doing it correctly. I said that would be a great thing to do.

Another great morning visiting the GEMS clubs. It is exciting to see clubs that we haven't been to before really get it! God is blessing GEMS in Zambia!

Dusty Feet

2010-06-05T10:46:00.001-05:00

Not until you've walked the dirty, dusty roads in Kalingalinga, Africa can you comprehend how dirty ones feet can get. Even on the shortest of journeys through the compound. I walk carefully, lifting my feet so as to not make any additional dust, but to no avail. After every trip through the compound I head to my bathtub and drop in my feet! Scrubbing away the ground in dirt from the soles of my feet and between my toes.

What a task, not only do you drop you sandals at the door, you need to wash your feet! Sometimes I do this multiple times in the same day.

As I sat on the edge of the tub, this morning, once again washing my dirty feet, I thought of the story from John 13, where Jesus washes the disciples feet.

It is only now after walking these roads, do I get a better picture of what Jesus did. I'm pretty sure the ground in and around the upper room, was fairly similar to the ground here in Africa. The disciples feet must have been quite dirty after their trek to Jerusalem.

John 13:14 -15

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

OK washing my own dirty feet is one thing, but would I really want to wash someone else's dirty feet. These are really dirty feet, caked on dirt, dirt between your toes, ground into the soles of your feet and you take this dirty foot in your lap and wash it. That is truly serving others! How many times have I missed an opportunity to serve someone, because I was blinded by not wanting to get dirty or take the extra time or even get involved?

It doesn't tell me in the scripture that I can pick and choose who I serve, it tells me to be a humble servant and do any menial task for others, so that they will see the love of Christ in me!

Fabric, fabric and more fabric!

2010-06-04T03:17:00.001-05:00

Do you have any idea what 8,000 yards of fabric looks like? Me either, but I am starting to see the picture.

Here I am with 1860 yards of fabric!

On Tuesday, I walked to the taxi stop, to get a taxi. As I turn the corner on our road, to the Mtendere Road, I immediately see four guys all running at me. "Taxi, Madam?" "Taxi, Madam, right here Madam." I usually try to look at their cars, and see that they have matching tires, and that there aren't any major spots resulting from a prior collision. Oh, and I look at the guys, and try to figure out if they are nice or not! We've picked up some doozies here! I take the guy with the best looking car, not great, but better than the other ones parked there. I ask how much to Kamwala and back, they always say 80,000 and I always say "No, not more than 70,000!" "OK, OK Madam, you are right!"

I climb into the car and we're off, dodging mini buses, dead dogs, guys on bikes, little kids walking so close to the edge of the road. Oh and then there are the speed bumps everywhere, not to mention potholes! It is definitely a journey!

I tell the driver on the way, that I am going to buy A LOT of fabric. "OK, Madam, that is good." We arrive in Kamwala and there are just no words to describe shopping in Kamwala. Except, busy, crazy, dirty, dusty and crowded. The shops are tiny, and the stuff is everywhere. I've mainly shopped in the fabric stores in Kamwala, but I have gone in search of a few other things and in some of the other shops. If they are selling anything small, it is all behind glass or something similar to chicken wire. You walk into the center of the store, and in the shape of a U on both sides there are large glass windows or wire enclosures, with all their products displayed behind it. You go up to the center of the U- straight back into the store, and a man sits and yells at boys, to get what ever you ask for. If you should decide to buy it, the man tells you how much and you pay him and they hand your item to you over the counter. Oh, then there are the people selling all manner of wares on the sidewalks and street corners. It is a very interesting place!

We pull up in front of the store where I am going to pick up the fabric I ordered on my last visit. I needed 30 rolls of printed cotton, at least 5 rolls of the same design. I also, needed 32 rolls of solid color fabric to go with the prints. That is a total of 62 - 30 yard rolls of fabric. They had the prints all tied into a large gray bag, and after giving them a list of the solid colors I needed they put them into another large gray bag. After I emptied my bag of millions of kwacha, they carried the two large heavy parcels to the waiting taxi. You should have seen the look on the taxi driver's face. I'm sure he was thinking, why did I want to give her a ride! One of the bags filled the back seat, and the second stuck out of the trunk substantially. They tied it in with all manner of cords, and it was not going to fall out, that was for sure. The driver gets into the car, and looks at me, and says. "That is more than A LOT of fabric!" And we were off, the car was scraping, and making noises like it was over burdened and it was! I just prayed we would get back before anything really broke or we had a flat tire. It sounded bad. Remember the speed bumps, oh yeah, much worse when the car is really loaded down. We pulled up to the Service Center, and I uttered a prayer of thanksgiving, that we had made it. We unloaded the car and the trunk, carrying them in a few rolls at a time. There was no way we could lift the full bags, even with three of us!

On Wednesday morning while the girls went to the House of Moses and did some errands I got started on cutting the 30 yard rolls into 7 yard pieces. Each hot pad that they are making takes 3 - 3" strips of fabric 7 yards long.

Two of the samples of hot pads.

From the doorway to the wall is 34' and I need each piece cut at 28' or 7 yards. I am so thankful that the room is this big. It makes rolling it out and measuring so much easier! PTL!

End of day two of cutting and folding!

It didn’t take me long to realize that there is no quality control where this fabric is produced. Some of the rolls, changed prints right in the middle of the roll, some were really similar and some weren’t even close. Oh and then there were the stains that were in the roll, and spots of oil from the machines, the spots where there is no color, and in some rolls just a hole here and a hole there. Crazy!

At any point in a 30 yard roll, a totally different pattern would appear.

Sometimes, two or three per roll! Sometimes really close to the first pattern,

sometimes not even the same colors or anything close????

Do these match?

This one went from green to blue and back to green again!

Or the fact that I asked for 12 rolls of yellow, would they all

be the same shade of yellow? Apparently not!

I began again the first thing Thursday morning. I finished the cutting by about 12:30! Then I needed to organize the colors, and get three coordinating fabrics together for each set of hot pads. That took a couple of more hours. When I was finished I had put on some serious miles, just walking back and forth across the room, rolling out fabric and cutting it, then folding it and starting again! Oh, and then there was my back, I was bending and using muscles that hadn't been challenged like that for a long time if ever! And they were all screaming at me!

That is over 2,000 yards of the 2,760 yards that I've cut!

I am rejoicing!

Until I remember I have 5,240 yards to go!

The small rolls are the 2 yards leftover on each roll that will

need to be sewn together to make 7 yard pieces.

Another BIG project!

The part of this program that is going to surprise me, even though I am already contemplating it, is how fast this amount of fabric is going to disappear once the ladies arrive on Friday to collect it!

Visiting GEMS Clubs

2010-05-31T11:45:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-05-31T01:30:00.001-05:00

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?

2010-05-31T01:10:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-05-27T13:46:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-21T04:59:00.003-05:00

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

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

2010-05-21T04:15:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-05-16T10:37:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-16T09:54:00.004-05:00

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!

2010-05-16T09:40:00.000-05:00

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

2010-05-15T08:33:00.003-05:00

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

2010-05-12T13:36:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-12T10:07:00.000-05:00

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!

Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow!

2009-12-13T08:56:00.002-06:00

This will be my last blog journal from Zambia! Can’t believe where the days went! I am so glad our last day here was a Sunday. How blessed to be able to worship one more time here in Zambia!

We walked to the El Shadai Church this morning, just a 10 minute walk through Kalingalinga compound. El Shadai meets in the Jesus Army School, room 2. It was a room about 10 x 15 and it had a black board at one end and a piece of lace fabric hanging on the wall at the opposite end. There were crude desks, one narrow board to sit on, and a board about 12” wide for the desk top. There was room for two adults on one bench. There are three rows of these desks across the room, with two narrow aisles between them, and the outside desks touching the walls.

Stephanie and I were given a desk across from the Pastor, seats of honor once again. Everyone sat facing the wall with the fabric and a small table with a tapestry covering over it. This is where the pastor stood. His bench and ours faced each other across the short side of the room, so everyone could see us and we could look at all of them. It was a very small church, very few women, several children, and lots of men. Emely one of our GEMS counselors is the club coordinator there and her husband is the pastor.

Things I love about worship in Zambia, services are on Africa time and not by the clock. The Sunday school lesson started about 9:30 and people filed in until well after 10:30. The formality of what you can and can’t do doesn’t exist here. If you need an announcement made you just walk up and tell the pastor or the announcement elder. If you want to sing a song, you just tell the praise and worship leader and they will sing it. While the Pastor is preaching, small children are walking around, going behind him, to get to the other side of the room. A small child stands at this mother’s feet as she sings on the praise team, when he tires of standing there he walks around and checks out all the other children. There doesn’t seem to be a feeling of you have to do this, or that you can’t do that. It is all about worship and that is all that matters.

The service began with a teaching time, followed by intercession and then praise and worship. There were no instruments, just beautiful harmonic voices and hand clapping several different rhythms. There were the clap on the offbeat, and then the double clap between beats and sometimes a double, triple clap. We sang and danced, they liked it that we did not just stand there. The man leading the praise and worship kept watching us, to see if we were moving.

The pastor brought the message in English, he had a good voice and his interrupter translated to the native language. Following the message, they have a testimony time, and one by one they come and sing a song, some come up and ask for others to come and join them singing. The pastor and his wife sing a couple of songs, and then another young woman comes and sings. They ask if I will come and greet them, and I bring them greetings from GEMS and share a scripture with them. I thank Emely and the congregation for the support of the GEMS club.

Then it is time for the offering, a young girl stands and holds a basket, and people file up and drop the money in. It is brought back to the elder who counts it, and then he stands and says that he doesn’t usually announce the amount, but wants to share today, because of the generosity of the visitor’s! I guess it was the larger bills that gave us away.

Then it is announcement time, and then we are asked to stand one more time, and they clap three times and sing for us, welcoming us to their service. The pastor dismisses us, and we are led out and each person comes out and shakes our hand. One of the first little people, who came out, shook my hand and wouldn’t let go. His name was Donnie and he was 5, he just clung to me, as the others passed by and shook my hand! He hangs on until we start off, down the road for home.

How blest I was to be able to worship four Sundays here in Lusaka! Each one different, but each one touched my heart, and gave me new eyes to see what worship in heaven will be like! Each week, there was some hesitancy on my part, as what to expect, and each week God just took those feelings and blessed me beyond anything I could have imagined! True worship in any language changes the heart!

Now as I sit here and the rain pours down outside, I am thankful, that we were able to have lunch and get back before the rains began. When it rains in Zambia it pours, like buckets coming from the sky! There is something soothing about hearing the rain come down, and knowing that this is my last afternoon here. A reminder of how God’s blessings have poured down on me while I have been here. In huge buckets from God!

God has blessed me and He has changed me, by allowing me to come to Zambia and share GEMS. I am so thankful that God chose to use me here in Zambia. When I think of all the wonderful relationships that I have made, I can’t imagine not knowing and loving these women. It was wonderful spending time really getting to know the women, hearing their stories and sharing in their struggles, praying with them and for them. With each knock at the gate, and the greeting of one of our dear friends comes out to say good-bye and wish us traveling mercies, I am just overwhelmed! Wow, God is so good! Does life get any better than this? Only in heaven, only in heaven!

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

Super Duper Saturday!

2009-12-12T13:23:00.000-06:00

It was a super, duper Saturday! The power came on some time during the night, we woke up to some lights that were left on, except the power was only back partly, some lights were dim, some wouldn’t come on at all, we had our two eggs on the stove on high for over 30 minutes and the water wasn’t even boiling. Not enough power to make toast, so once we finally got the eggs hard boiled, we had them on bread instead of toast. Then just as I put water on for a cup of tea, the power went totally out again.

We were excited that the power came on at all; it didn’t go out, as it usually does, by the power station selecting who will have power and who won’t. It went off when the storm struck yesterday late afternoon. The last time that happened it was off for three days, so we were pretty sure that we could be in the dark until we left Zambia. God was good and we had power from noon until about five minutes ago when I sat down at my computer to check my emails. I can still journal until my battery goes dead, so I have about 45-60 minutes.

This morning Siwale took me back to the bank, the teller told me yesterday, that they would be open today. When we got there, it was closed, except for their prestige accounts. Guess that’s not me! So I tried an ATM with no success. We headed back and stopped at one of the fuel stations, and they sucked the air out of our vacuum bags of potholders. These guys think that is the most fun thing! They were fighting over who would get to do it; it took three of them to actually complete the task! Then they each had to hold it and feel it before they gave it back to us!

Hurray the power is back on already, that was a short outage, can’t be more than 15 minutes.

This afternoon, we went to Chianda compound with Shawn (a missionary for Assemblies of God Church.) She is involved with a GEMS club in Oasis of Love, and has been helping the clubs that started in the Chianda compound. She has an SUV and it is a good thing, there is no way that we would have been able to get to the church with Siwale’s car. There were huge washouts from the rain and rocks sticking I bet close to a foot out of ground. The roads in the compounds are unbelievable, really shouldn’t even be called roads.

Rocks we drove around, in the road in Chianda compound

The roads in Chianda compound

The market lining the streets in Chianda compound

When women come to GEMS training, the first thing we ask is can you speak, write and read English. We have found out they all say they can, but many cannot. They have heard about GEMS and want a club so badly in their church. They come to training, and get materials to start a club, and then go back and falter, because they can’t read or understand what they read in the materials. That was the case in Chianda. There were four clubs that we were to meet with today, only three were able to attend. They speak very little English, and I was very thankful for Catherine going with us, to help interpret for us. It was a time that we just encouraged them, and learned about who they are. Each one shared about themselves, and what level of GEMS they work with, their struggles and challenges, and how can we help. All but one spoke in their native language, and Catherine translated. After we were all finished they said that they could understand me well, but they can’t speak English well. I was encouraged about that. Catherine plans to meet with them once a month and help them with their English, and go over the lessons and help them prepare. Chianda is a good distance from Kalingalinga, and the ladies don’t have money to take the bus to join the other counselors at the Service Center on Fridays, for prayer time. When we left today, they said they will try to come at least once a month for Friday prayers. Catherine was happy about that, and then they would be getting instruction twice a month, once when she goes to meet with them and once when they come to the Service Center.

The counselors who attended our meeting

While I met with the counselors, Stephanie kept the kids entertained, they played games and sang some songs, and it was a full time job for her. Kids just kept coming and coming, they wanted to touch her skin and hair, she tried to take some pictures, but each time she got the camera out the kids went crazy and all wanted their snaps taken. She deserves a gold star for today!

It is just amazing how the GEMS program encourages these women to learn English, to have more self-confidence and to grow in their faith. We have seen it over and over. There were clubs that we were ready to give up on, they just didn’t get it, until Catherine came along side of them and walked with them through lessons and how to teach the girls. I’m sure we’ll see the same kind of results in Chianda!

Every compound has its own feel. They all are different, from the kinds of houses, and walls or fences. The roads, the people, the markets, even the dirt and mud are different colors. They all look a lot different from each other and yet they all make your heart want to cry out and your hands want to help. In all my seven trips, I had only been to Kalingalinga compound, Mtendere and Hellen Kaunda, so this time has been real eye opening for me, to see Kanyama, and Chianda totally different compounds. Hellen Kaunda and Kalingalinga are very similar, but Mtendere a lot more populated than Kalingalinga plus busier and more dangerous. Kanyama is the biggest and most populated compound in Lusaka.

Each time I think I have a handle on Zambia, I see with new eyes, a new and different area. I’ve learned much riding with Siwale and having him share information and stories about growing up in Zambia. Siwale is very knowledgeable and reads the paper and listens to the news. He is aware of what is happening throughout Zambia and Africa.

When we got back, Catherine and Shawn both came in, Shawn bought some potholders, for some Christmas gifts. After she had made her selection, she was off. Catherine lingered, she will be gone tomorrow to Kabwe, leaving very early in the morning and getting back late, so doesn't think she will see us again before we leave early Monday morning. We got hugs, and more hugs and she just hung on like a clinging vine, I told her I'd be back in 12 weeks with the whole team, she said that is a long time. I said it would go fast, she couldn't agree! No, it won't be fast! More hugs, and then she was out the gate door and off to prepare for her big day tomorrow.

I did some more cleaning, and packing. Soon there was a knock on the gate, and Margie came with her GEMS girls, to say good-bye and to sing and recite verses for us. That was so neat, Margie is the best counselor! Before they left, Emely came she just wanted to see us, also we are going to worship at her church tomorrow and she wanted to know if we would be able to find it or did she need to send someone to guide us. When they left we heated our left overs in the microwave and had dinner, we even shared the last piece of chocolate cake for dessert! Yum!

Future GEM

Soon after we were finished eating there was a knock on the gate, and Clara was here with another 100 potholders! Said she would be back tomorrow with the rest that she has completed.

So far, I feel the widow with the oil, even though I was sure I'd be out of money, I keep having enough to pay for what needs to be paid! Even without getting any additional from the bank:)

I finished sweeping and cleaning my room, and then I decided to take my bath. Before I was finished, Stephanie is calling and saying I have a visitor; Maxhilda was here bringing another 100 potholders. I collected those from her and she was on her way, but will be back tomorrow to say good-bye. Her nickname is Chatty Maxhilda, she always has a story!

I can’t believe that tomorrow is our last day here. It has been the best time of developing relationships and spending time getting to know the women. To get an idea into how difficult their lives are here, and how it seems that in most families the woman hold it all together. I can’t tell you how many women who have husband’s still living, talk about them being drunkards and spending all the money they earn on beer. The women, go to market, buy things and resell them so that the family has food, and can possibly have enough to send the children to school. Most of the rest of them are widows and care for their children and some orphan relatives. The greatest burden falls on the women, and when we come along side of them, and love on them, support and encourage them, they blossom like spring flowers in May!

I am so thankful that I have been able to be here, and be part of their lives. If it weren’t for the best husband in the world, encouraging me to follow God’s call and supporting my heart for Zambia, I wouldn’t have had a chance to come along side of these women and love them like I do! I am so blessed!

Last Friday in Zambia

2009-12-12T03:05:00.002-06:00

This is my last Friday in Zambia!

This morning started really early, I was awake at 4:30, went to bed earlier because the power was out, and woke up earlier than I hoped. Today was a mostly overcast and cloudy day, with just a few peaks of sunshine now and then. Still hot, just not as hot as when the sun is beating down on you. And the rains started around 5PM.

It was a good thing I was up early, not that early, but before 7 hours there was a knock on the gate, I thought Siwale must be early this morning, but it wasn’t Siwale it was Clara, bringing some potholders.

As soon as I had finished my breakfast, I baked a chocolate cake for the ladies coffee time, following their prayer time. I had to bake one 9” round at a time, cause I only brought one pan. Just as I had the second pan in the oven, Catherine arrived and was ready to bake zucchini bread on the brazier. First, I needed to send her out for some eggs; we were out, so she walked to the markets at the end of our street and got 7 eggs. Next, she said our brazier was too big, so she borrowed one from our neighbor and Catherine’s good friend, Alice. Then we discovered we were out of charcoal, so she had to buy some from Alice.

Catherine lit the brazier, with some dried leaves, small twigs and sticks and a plastic bag. To get it going once she had a small fire, she picked it up by the handle and began to swing it, to make wind. It wasn’t long and she had a perfect fire going. We began putting the ingredients together, and when we got to the grated zucchini, I had purchased a small round squash, it was much harder than a zucchini, and the only way we had to grate it was with a knife, chopping off small pieces and chopping them up. Catherine stirred and got it nice and smooth. We put it into two loaf pans; we baked one indoors in the oven and one outside on the brazier. Catherine set the bread pan inside of a big pot, and then took the lid and tipped it upside down, on top of the pot, and placed the hot charcoals on the lid. There now we just need to let it bake for one hour. In one hour the loaf in the oven was done, as well as the loaf on the brazier. She was very excited to show me that it worked and she can teach the ladies how to make banana, zucchini and pumpkin breads and bake them on their braziers!

Catherine lighting off the brazier

Sticks, leaves and twigs

It is lit!

Swinging the brazier for more air, gets a hotter fire going

Grating the squash with knives

Friends working side by side

Putting it in the pans- one for the oven, one on the brazier

It's in there! Ready to bake away!

The baked loaf straight from the brazier

While the bread was baking, I organized all the fabrics and put them in the cupboard, in 100 potholder quanities. This should hold the ladies for a little while, but they are workers and they love coming together here at the service center to work and fellowship.

I thought I had made my last trip to Kamwala, but Jan had emailed me an idea last night, and wanted me to see what I could find there. After we were done baking, Siwale and I headed for Kamwala again, I talked to three different shop keepers, and got some information and fabric samples. Then we stopped at the bank. I’ve got the banking system down now, so it was less than a five minute wait, as compared to my hour and a half last week. Brought my card to the teller, and he took it to his machine and it was declined. Do you have another? I did, and that was also declined. He said it wasn’t because of a problem with my card, but a problem between the banks. Come back and try again tomorrow! When I told Siwale, he said no problem, we’ll just go to another bank, it was a VISA card and they don’t work with VISA, next bank the same thing. So it looks like we will be heading back to the bank tomorrow.

We made a quick stop at Melissa’s and I got one last loaf of bread, we thought what we had would last us until we left, but we finished up the ends with our breakfast toast. Grabbed a loaf of bread and some banana’s, so glad I did, because we had PB for lunch and PB for supper, since the power went out before the counselors left this afternoon.

Soon the counselors started arriving, and they were talking and singing, then Catherine called the meeting to begin. She wanted everyone to stand in a circle and sing a song, and then for Stephanie and I to sit in the middle and they wanted to pray over us and send us traveling with God’s blessings on us. It just touched my heart, to know how much we mean to these counselors and how they love us. Then

Catherine dismissed us to our work, and she began praying with the counselors. After they finish their prayer time, Catherine sets out the lesson for the next week, and they talk about it and how to present it to the girls. When they finish, I serve them coffee, tea and the chocolate cake, they felt really special. There were 13 counselors here today, some I hadn’t met before. One was Venta from Pilgrim Wesleyan who works with Annette. About 4:30 we went out in the yard, and took some pictures with all the counselors.

I not sure how it got started, but the ladies were showing us how they can dance and dance and move they can. Joyce from Mtendere PHC, is a riot, she doesn’t look like she’d be funny, but, my oh my, how she had us laughing with her moves. A few of the ladies, left and headed for home, it was thundering and getting very dark. There were those, who just weren’t ready to go yet, Margie from Jesus Army, Precious and Grace from Word of Faith, Venta from Pilgrim Wesleyan, Emely from El Shadai and of course Catherine. They came back in and put all the chairs in a circle and we were still laughing at Joyce’s antics, we learned about how they take brides before their wedding and teach them how to dance for their husbands. Whoa, way out of our league! Too much information! From that we got on to the topic of uncommitted counselors, who come to training just to get stuff and then don’t teach at their churches. How Margie had seen a counselor wearing her GEMS shirt in the market, and that is not right. They are only for when the GEMS club is meeting. She said she almost got into a fight with this counselor telling her she wasn’t supposed to be wearing the t-shirt just as a shirt when she wasn’t in GEMS. While they sat and talked it started to rain, and they began talking of spending the night, oh my! It poured for a while and then it gradually began to taper off and they asked to be to pray one more time for us. Stephanie and I both now have a Zambian name, Steph is Chipo Banda and first I was Feba and then they said no I had to be Chimwemwe Tempo! It was around 6PM when they headed for their homes, with hugs and wishes and God’s blessings on us! What a wonderful group of women, God is blessing GEMS here in Lusaka through these on fire women!

Some of the ladies doing one final dance as they start off!

The ladies laughing so hard, Catherine can't stand up!

Margie and me one last hug before she started off!

Well, supper time, no power……. = PB! Steph really stepped it up and did a PB&B (banana) I just did a banana and a piece of chocolate cake! Great supper! First, chocolate in awhile, savored every bite!

OK, now it isn’t quite 6:30, and its dark and it is hot and I’m sticky, so why not another bath by flashlight! Started writing after my bath until my battery went dead, and it was just after 8PM, so what else go to bed. It is dark and hot, and can’t get to sleep, next thing I know I am sleeping, and I hear something, oh, it’s the phone. It was 9:30 and Jan was calling. Talked for a while and learned how things are unfolding on her end, and then it was time to go back to sleep.

What a great way to spend my last Friday here! Baking with Catherine and praying with the counselors gave me something to reflect on as I sat in the dark and drifted off to sleep! These women have so little but give love with hearts as big as all outdoors! What special relationships are being formed here among the women and across the ocean with the GEMS team. They send their love and prayers for each member of the team!

Our Last Visit this Trip to the House that GEMS Built

2009-12-10T13:41:00.000-06:00

Wow! Can’t believe where the days are going! They are just flying by, seems I get up and do a few things, and the next thing, I’m sitting here journaling my day.

Another sunny day, not sure what happened to the rains, but I’ll take sun over rain any day, especially knowing I’m going home to Michigan where I might not see the sun again for months. I do wonder how my body is going to respond to the cold, I am always cold, but not since I’ve been here. Now, the coolest my body has been is probably 75 degrees, one of the mornings when I woke up. It is usually around 81 to 84 degrees when I drift off to sleep, and around 77 or 78 when I wake up around 5 AM. To come home to a thermostat set at 70 is going to seem like I’m freezing! Should be interesting!

Today, Catherine arrived about 8 hours and we rolled out the batting, and began cutting it, first in 4 meter lengths, then 16” strips, and the in 8” squares, and then cut the 16” in half. We got 190 squares out of the 4 meter section. We got 9 – 4 meter sections out of the roll.

Cutting the batting into 4 meter pieces

Even Siwale was helping

While Catherine was cutting, Siwale and I went to the Bible Society. I purchased 12 Bibles, and told them we would be back to buy approximately 500, the last week of April. She said she would be sure to have them in stock for us in April. I priced the larger print Bibles, but the cost is so much more, the small print NIV are 50,000 and the larger print is 180,000. That is a huge difference. They did have a really nice Children’s Story Bible there for 35,000 that would be great for the Awareness groups at GEMS.

Then back to Kamwala, would this be my last trip this time? Maybe, maybe not, we need one more roll of batting to have enough for the fabric we have on hand for the clubs. Siwale said he could get that if I wanted him to next week. We’ll see what tomorrow holds.

One thing I learned is to watch very carefully, the shop owners in Kamwala don’t like it when you tell them they shorted you. As Catherine and I were cutting the prints, there was one that was only 8 meters instead of 12. I took the fabric back with me this morning, and Mr. Patel was not there, only his nephew, who waited on me yesterday. When I said we were shorted he became very angry at one of his employees, which I felt was very unjust! He had handled every piece we bought yesterday, and he didn’t notice one was less fabric. When Mr. Patel was doing the counting last week, he picked one up and said this is not right, they measured and it was a short piece. I commented on how well he knew his product. He said after a while you can feel if it is 12 meters or 8 meters just by the weight. They gave us another 4 meters, but it was not a happy experience. Then we went to the store where they have the batting, and we only got 36’ meters out of what was supposed to be 40 meters, oh boy, that didn’t go over well either. That shop owner says he is a very honest man, and if he said it was 40 meters, it would be 40 meters, and he accused us of cutting it wrong. So he took the 40 meter roll of batting we were about to buy, and unrolled it and measured it for me, and it was 40 meters plus. He was not about to give me any money back or make any restitution for the so called shortage, as he put it, “you must have measured wrong!” I paid for it, and Siwale stuffed it in the back seat, this time without the dirty plastic, because they took that off to measure it, which both Siwale and I appreciated! We brought the batting back and then Siwale and I headed to Arcades, Siwale needed to return a lock he got for the gate, that wasn’t big enough, and I needed to make some copies, we were back in short order.

We got back to the service center to find Stephanie and Catherine sitting on the floor cutting batting. They were cutting the squares to go with the fabric that is going to Ndola. Catherine said the last time they gave Ndola 4 meter pieces they cut it poorly and wasted lots of it, so if she cuts it, it will be right! Sylvia was suppose to come today, but as of now hasn’t shown up. I’ve called her multiple times, I’ve sent her two text messages, I’ve called Judith’s phone, and I got nothing. I called Grace back and she called Sylvia’s son and left a message with him, about picking up the fabrics, and still haven’t heard from her or has she returned any of my calls.

Thursdays are suppose to be Catherine’s day away from the service center, but she came in this morning to get the batting all set for Ndola. We had PB &J’s together, and then we packed up the batting, she started off just before 13 hours.

Stephanie and I headed over to the House that GEMS Built, and spent some time with the kids. The GEMS team gave them a CD/Radio/Tape player and a CD of the new CD by Sarah Berry with the recording of the African girls singing the last song, for Christmas. We bought one for each of the four EOH houses in Lusaka. I had dropped the ones off to EOH houses one and two on our way back from Arcades this morning. Charles was there and he is quite a young man now, said to say hello to all the GEMS ladies. Bringing them to house three and four, was much more fun, because other than Charles, we know all the kids at these houses. Juliet was there, but Florence had gone to the clinic and got back got about a half hour before we left. We gave the kids the CD players, and they were so excited. Usually we greet them indoors and then head out to play games, I said lets go out and I need to get pictures of everyone to bring back to Auntie Jan, so I did that, and we took some pictures of the kids, and then instead of wanted to play a game, they wanted to go back inside and dance. Juliet went and got a cassette tape, and dance they did! Oh my, it was so fun watching them. They all danced in a circle and then one at a time they would go into the middle and do a special little step, Stephanie and Auntie Barb both had to dance too! They had such fun; it was so good to see them so happy! After dancing they played a game, a relay game, they had two teams it was the boys against the girls. The game is one that we play with a coin and if it is heads the first person is the only one with their eyes open and they squeeze the hand of the next person, and right down the line, the one at the end you grabbed the bottle first won. They used a bottle cap, right side up no squeezes, wrong side up squeezes. They played and the girls won every time, so they mixed up the teams, and then the winning was more even. When they tired of that one they said teach us a new game, Stephanie didn’t have any, so I reverted to our old stand by for our GEMS girls. The rhythm number game! One, one –six, six Six, six –twelve twelve. It took them a few minutes to catch on once they did, they loved it, and they played it for over an hour. Finally, around 3:30 I told them one more round, and I think they went three! But then it was time for us to go, hugs and loves, and Esther asked for a grade 8 English book, Ida for grade 5 books, Math, English and Science. They so badly want to learn. They carried our bags and walked hand in hand with us back to the Service Center, more hugs and the girls all grabbed some flowers for their hair and to carry back, and then they were gone! Until April!

Esther

Ida

Cholwe

Lisa

Billet

Maya

Clement

Dixon

Cynthia

David

James

Dan

Michael

Dorcus

Edna

Mary

All the kids from house 3 & 4

Trying to figure out the new CD player

Dancing for Jesus

Playing the squeeze game- eyes all tightly closed

Playing the Rythum Game

Stephanie checked her emails, then I checked on the storm that is supposed to be a blizzard back home, doesn’t sound much like a blizzard, just winter in Michigan.

I made supper, guess what it was…..if you guessed chicken you are correct! How many ways can you prepare a chicken breast in Zambia? I think I feel a cook book coming on, in that regards!

Now, we are sitting here in the dark, and waiting for the power to come back on. I even went and took my bath after the power went out, because if I wait, the water is turned off. A lantern gives just enough light in a small bathroom, to make it work!

What a joy to spend the afternoon at the house, and see the kids laughing, joking, teasing and between the boys there was some pushing and shoving, just like kids everywhere. What did I see? I saw kids who love to be together, being part of a great big family, with loving mom ma’s showering them with love and affection. Florence sends her love to her American family, she pointed to the picture of the team that hangs on the wall. She said, “That is the team, but I too, am a part of the team!” We all work together for these kids. She was so thankful for the CD/Radio! “Thank everyone, for me and send them my love!”

More great presents to store in my heart and bring home with me!

I've got my Christmas Gift!

2009-12-09T13:42:00.000-06:00

Another beautiful day in the neighborhood! Filled with great people and lots of laughter!

Awake really early again this morning, not sure what is up with this 5 AM stuff, other than the sunshine coming in the window! I do get to Skype Bob just about every morning, at 6AM here and 11PM at home. We share the last 24 hours in our lives. Bob had much to share this morning, as Emily was in an accident on her way home from work last night on M-37 right in Caledonia. She slid into the van in front of her on the slippery roads; lost control spun out, crossed the lane of oncoming traffic and ended up in a very deep ditch on the other side of the road. How she wasn’t hit by anyone going north at 5:30PM is a God thing. Her car is totaled, both air bags blew, and she really hit her chin on something, and bruised her arm. Praising God she wasn’t injured more seriously or even killed.

Sat outside around 7 and did my devotions, it is the only time you can be outside and not bake to a crisp. By 8:30 it is way too hot to be in the sun. The sun is so strong here at this time of the year, it only takes a few minutes and you feel like your skin is really burning.

At about 9:00 Siwale and I took off for another batch of fabrics and batting from Kamwala. We got 40 more prints, and 10 more rolls of black. The batting was one of those huge bundles, of 40 meters and it all got squished into Siwale’s back seat. Worst part, is the plastic it is in, is so dirty. I feel bad having to put it in the car. We will have to go and get at least one more maybe two, depending on how many we get out of the 40 meters tomorrow morning. If all our great matheticians were here, I’m sure they could get that figured, I figure the easiest way is to just do it. Especially considering we need 400 more cut before Sylvia gets here tomorrow, to take the material for Ndola with her.

Mr. Patel's store from my seat of honor, next to the fan!

One load of fabrics on the way to the car

Filling the trunk

Steph and Emely carrying in the batting

Catherine jumping on the batting! Just like a little kid!

When we got back, we carried everything in, and then Siwale went to pay the guard service. When he got back, he took Stephanie and me to Manda Hill for some shopping and to meet Shawn for lunch at Kilamenjaro’s. Siwale didn’t have to wait for us, as we rode back with Shawn, so she could talk to Catherine about our meeting on Saturday with the clubs in Chianda. Had a nice wrap, but still stuck to the chicken, so what have we eaten here, chicken, chicken, and more chicken, with a few eggs and some PBJ’s. We know what works, and hate to mess with perfection!

When we got back the counselors were here sewing potholders! They just crack me up they keep wanting more and more materials for 100 potholders. When I told them we weren’t giving any more out, they pout and say but what are we going to do tomorrow? I’ve nothing to do if you don’t give me more! But, until we get the batting cut, they are stopped, but they are putting on the pressure, they will be back tomorrow afternoon (so we’d better get it cut in the morning) to get more materials. At this point, I have 1,303 potholders packed and ready to wing their way across the ocean with me!

GEMS friends

We had such a good afternoon with these counselors, stories came out, that I hadn’t heard before, about the team’s trip to Ndola. How Catherine said she still didn’t understand English so well, so she just agreed to everything we asked. She said that was how we ended up in such a dangerous situation, because she didn’t understand everything Jan was asking. We talked and laughed about the trip and one of the younger gals from Word of Faith, Margery doesn’t speak much English, and wants to learn. Catherine and Emely told her how they learned by doing GEMS and reading the lessons. They kept wanting us to say words in nonja, and I kept saying no you need to speak in English, and then they would laugh and say “No, you’re in Zambia, you need to speak the language!” They sang and we talked about Christmas celebrations, it was a great afternoon.

Catherine and I cut all the extra pieces of print fabric, to go along with 12 meter pieces, we get 86 squares out of 12 meters. Then each 12 meter piece, needs another 1 ½ meters to make it 100. We cut and wrapped those pieces inside the 12 meter pieces, right now we have 24 – 100 meter sets complete both print and black, we have another 25 pieces of prints ready to go and 10 rolls of black in the closet. Catherine said she will cut them later, and out of 10 rolls we will get 30 – 8 meter pieces, so we will have a few extra pieces of black. That gives them 4,900 pot holders they can make by April. We are also sending material for 1,000 to Ndola tomorrow with Sylvia, for the five clubs there. Now I just have to figure how many battings we will get out of the 40 meters, Catherine is coming early tomorrow to start cutting those.

I just am so thankful, for this place the Service Center. Where these counselors can come and feel at home, work together, joke together, laugh and have a good time together. But there is so much more than that, they are supporting each other, caring for each other, helping each other, teaching each other. Emely from El Shadai, Precious and Margery from Word of Faith have all learned to sew on the machines since I’ve been here. Maxhilda keeps telling everyone they need to learn how to sew, and they are. I just sit and the smiles come as I listen and watch how they interact and what special friendships are growing through them being here together. God is definitely using this place to transform these counselors’ lives.

We were talking this afternoon, and I said it was going to be Stephanie’s birthday next week, and I asked the ladies how old do you think she will be. They ranged from 15 – 23, I think there was a 15, 18, 19, 21 and 23. I thought wow, that is quite a range, so I asked them how old they thought I was, well, some as young as 45  and up to 60! I had a 45, 49, 54, 57 and 60! Not bad at least no one said 80 or so! I did learn that the new Florence (she was here saying “Hello”) is 57! 57 and caring for 8 children! Wow, that is quite an undertaking. She is a wonderful woman, and is a great mom ma to our kids!

What a great afternoon, nothing earth shaking or amazing, just great fellowship and friendship with these counselors. How blessed and thankful I am that I could be here and be a part of their lives. Making relationships and learning from each other about our cultures, growing together, developing real lasting friendships! Wow, God is so good to me! I am so blessed! What a great Christmas gift I have to take home, all these special friendships!

Tugging at my Heart Strings

2009-12-08T12:05:00.000-06:00

I knew before today ever began, that it would be an interesting day, but I didn’t count on how it would be so mentally draining, that my entire body just dragged throughout the afternoon. It began as another morning of sunshine, if this is the rainy season, I’m good with it. Hasn’t rained in the last week and a half, clouds up and occasionally thunders in the distance, but we’ve gotten no rain. The ground is dry and the dust is blowing again.

Stephanie and I left with Siwale about 9:30 to meet the headmaster Robbie Kangua at the House of Moses. We were both excited to go to the House of Moses, we wondered if we would get to see any of the children. The House of Moses is an orphanage for preemie and new born babies through two years. Most of these are high risk babies, whose mother’s die in childbirth. Some are abandoned in front of their gate because the parents can’t care for them.

The House of Moses

We arrived and the guard, who opened the gate, asked who we were there to see. Mr. Robbie Kangua just a moment, he went and came back with Mr. Kangua. He took us back to the offices, and we met Bridget who has worked with the Children’s Alliance for many years. He said that the keys he needed were not here, but someone was bringing them, would we like a tour of the orphanage while we waited. “Oh yes!” We entered through the back door, and on the porch where we entered were 8 automatic washers, and a couple of dryers. The first room we entered was a room lined with shelves around the room, there were a couple of young girls, folding laundry there. Then into the kitchen, where we were introduced to Irene the woman in charge, she gave us the tour. We started in the dining area, where the staff eat and gather. In the front of the house was a large room, used to entertain visitors and guests.

From there we went up stairs to the newborn nursery, there were three tiny babies, who all weighed less than 1.9 kgs at birth, they all looked to be about 3-4 pounds now. They were one to two months old, all sleeping so contentedly. These three babies were in one bed, and then next to them were some of the bigger babies, who looked to be 8-10 pounds and were 3-4 months old. As we walked around the room, each set of cribs, the babies got a little bigger. Irene said they usually move to the next room, by six months unless they have growth problems. I didn’t realize how these tiny little babies would crawl into my heart, I was so thankful that they were being so lovingly cared for. But they were still missing their mother’s love, her nurturing touch, and the sound of her voice. Many of these babies come to the House of Moses, because their mother’s died during childbirth. My heart just ached, for these precious little ones.

Next we went to the room where there were six more cribs all with babies between six months and one year. They were all in their cribs, some sleeping, one crying, and one standing up looking out. The most precious beautiful little faces, looking for a hope and a future. How I wanted to scoop them up and take them home with me, to give them the love and care of a family. When I think of each one of my precious grandchildren, and how blessed they are with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. How they know no want or no hunger. How their closets are lined with clothes even before they are born. And these little ones, have so little, just a group of caregivers and hand me down clothes, and the small crib they spend so much time in. Yet these are the ones whose lives were spared, who weren’t thrown out with the garbage, or into a pit latreen to die. Someone cared enough to bring them here to these wonderful people, who do the best they can to care for and love and provide for these little ones. Irene picked up the little girl who was crying in her crib, and she kept her in her arms as we finished our tour. Irene just blessed me so, what a giving servant heart, she said she has been part of the House of Moses for ten years, and she doesn’t do it for the money, but just to know that she has made a difference in these little lives.

The room for the children from one to two years was almost empty, the care givers were changing and dressing the last three, the others were all outside getting some fresh air. There were lots of beds lining the walls of that room. My guess would be close to twenty. I asked Irene how many children do they care for, presently they have 37 and 2 are in the hospital. I asked about workers and she said there is always a shortage, but they try to find women to volunteer to help.

Irene shared that most of the children leave by the time of their second birthday. They either go back to a relative, or move to the next level of orphanage care located in other parts of the city, a few are adopted. If their mothers died in childbirth they usually go back to the father at age two. Irene shared that on the brochure she gave us, was a set of twins that had left recently to go be with their father, now that they were bigger. They encourage relatives to come and visit the babies, and bond with them, some come regularly, some occasionally and some never come.

After our tour we were still waiting, so sat and talked with Irene and Robbie about GEMS, and the Esther School. They were so encouraging of what we are doing in Zambia. It didn’t seem to pale in comparison to what they are doing, giving these little ones a chance at a healthy life, living everyday caring for these babies. My coming to Zambia is to easy, I come I give of my time and I return to a great home, wonderful family, cars to take me where ever I want to go and so much stuff! Not much of a sacrifice on my part!

The lady with the keys finally arrived and we climbed in the car with Siwale. I snapped one picture of the caregivers and the children out under a tree, I hadn’t brought my camera inside, but also noticed a sign that asked that you not photograph the children in their rooms.

Children and caregivers under the tree at the House of Moses

We headed across town for Kanyama, my heart still being tugged at by the big eyes and sweet smiles we left behind. Siwale had said Kanyama was a bad area, and he spoke the truth. The homes in much worse condition that in Kalingalinga compound. There were people walking the streets and there were markets on both sides of the road, and the condition of the roads, hard to believe but much worse than in Kalingalinga compound. We slowly, ever so slowly inched along, trying to find the area of the road with the least potholes, which at times was impossible. When you are going that slowly you have time to take lots of things in as you pass. Men gathered under a piece of plastic watching the cars go by, children playing and running in the dirt and garbage, homes with no windows and a curtain for a door. Siwale says the crime here is very high, which made sense when there are no walls, or fences or doors to keep people away. A little boy about two, with no diaper or bottom on, just running with the other children. Children with worn and torn shirts, pants and skirts. Girls doing each other’s hair, and people mostly women, selling almost anything you can imagine. There was one pile of dirty, empty liter bottles, like we get our bottled water in for sale. There were chickens, fish and something that looked like sardines?

We continue down this road, it seemed like forever, as the car scraped bottom and brushed against rocks sticking up in the road. Finally, we turned a corner and Robbie said “See up ahead there, the blue and yellow buildings, that is the Helen DeVos Christian School. We drove up to the gate, and a young man opened it, but we could not drive in, there was too much of a ridge and we were hitting the bottom of the car badly. Siwale said I will park out here, and the young guard said he would watch the car. We entered, the open lot, was a dried mud area, with tracks and ruts from cars driving there when it had rained. The school was in a u-shape around the open area. The original school started in a house that was on the property, and it was in 2007 that funds were received to add an L shaped piece that made the completed U-shape. That part of the school was opened in June 2008.

The Helen DeVos School is a secondary school, grades 7 -12. They have at the present time, just 7-10, in the next school year they will add grade 11 and the following year grade12. They teach all the basics, math, algebra, geometry, sciences, biology, chemistry, physics, along with English, African history, and religious studies. They are using all donated American textbooks, except for the African history and religious studies.

Newest addition to the Helen DeVos Christian School

Science Lab

The library and all the desks and chairs came in a container from the states. All the library books, were American books. They had 8 or 9 computers, but said only 4 were working at the present time. They have their own printer and copy machine, for the school.

Library

They also have a grist mill, where they mill their own corn for the meals that they feed the children. They also grind corn for the community for a fee. That helps them buy other food items for the children’s meals.

Grist Mill

We had a complete tour they wanted us to see every classroom, although most were just the same, and they also wanted to know if we wanted to walk outside around the walls. By this time it was after 1:30 and Steph was feeling a little shaky, so we declined and thanked them graciously for the tour and their hospitality.

We headed out to the car, and inched away down the roads, toward town. Once again, looking at the children playing along the streets, as we drove away, my heart ached with hopelessness for them. We talked about why they put the school in that hard to get at location in this poor, poor compound. Siwale said that there are hundreds and hundreds of kids living in the compound of Kanyama. That a school like that offers hope to some.

Hope, yes there is hope for some. Looking into the eyes of those beautiful babies this morning, because of the care they are receiving at the House of Moses, they may have hope of a normal life some day. Because of a Christian school, tucked away in the back of an awful dirty, destitute compound there will be hope for the students who are privileged to attend there. Because there are Christians who are listening to God’s call and answering His call there is HOPE! How is God calling me to deliver hope to those in need? Am I really listening?

A Big List and a Week that will Fly By!

2009-12-07T12:45:00.000-06:00

This week is going to be a week of checking off lists! Making sure I don’t forget anything, and getting everything I need to do done! Where did 27 days go? It seemed as if I’d have tons of extra time this trip, and the only thing that was different was the evenings. Usually the team spends the evening planning the next days, training lessons and workshops. This trip our evenings were free for journaling, reading or just sitting in the dark, talking. As we are right now. Power stayed on through dinner and my bath, I was just brushing out my hair when it went dark at 6:51pm.

Today, started as a bright sunny day, although soon the clouds rolled in, and then they were gone. We still have had no real rain since the storm one evening last week. Every day, Catherine arrives and says it is going to rain tonight, and it looks and feels like it, but it doesn’t happen. When we traveled to Kabwe on Saturday, Joyce was sharing that it is very dry there, that all the rains have been coming near them and around them, but none in the Kabwe area. She said that is very unusual for this time of the year. She said they are normally planting (it is planting season here, now) in the rain, and the soil is very easy to turn over because it is damp, but not the case this year.

Siwale was in this morning around 7:30 and wondered what the program for today was. He really needed to go to the bank and get his ATM card, so that he could withdraw his payroll from his account. He wondered if it would work for him to go right away, he said there will be a line. I assured him that would be fine, and he was off before 8 AM.

This morning I spent the morning with money! Counting, and figuring. If you know me well, I don’t like handling money, ask Bob! He has always been on top of all our finances and I just know, what he says I have to know, and do what I have to do. I write the checks, he tells me how much and who to! So…..if I thought that the Lord was finished stretching me and growing me, I was wrong. I know I have been stretched and grown in ways that I wouldn’t have even begun to imagine before GEMS. And I thought He had to be done with me. Not so much! OK, Barb, now I want you to take care of money, lots of money, thousands of American dollars, and millions of kwacha. The Zambia dollar is the kwacha, and the largest bill is 50,000 which depending on the exchange for that date is worth about $10.00, so we buy lots of things here in Zambia for 1,000,000,000 kwacha. Now it is my responsibility to handle the money, keep track of every kwacha, and record every expenditure. Crazy, but it seems like I spend a great deal of time each day keeping track of money. The first week and a half I was here, I spent every spare minute trying to figure out how to get the money from my account into my hands. Now, that I have it, I just have to keep counting it, and keep track of where it is spent! I hardly dare wonder what is next Lord?

After counting my money, I figured out how much fabric to buy today for Ndola, and some extra for here. I am sure I will have to return at least once more to purchase enough to keep the ladies going through April when the team returns.

Steph did some laundry, and took advantage of the very warm, no just say it, hot sunshine, to dry her clothes. Late this morning her friend Cathy a CIT from Living Rock stopped by to say hello and chat for a bit. She and Steph have become good friends. She is a beautiful girl; we talked about the connection of Living Rock and Oasis of Love churches. It seems that Eunice was a former member of Living Rock before she shifted to Avondale, and started worshipping at Oasis of Love. One the former CIT’s from Living Rock, is now a CIT at Oasis of Love, because Eunice is her aunt, she is living with her and Eunice is paying her school fees. Cathy needed to get more ribbon for Emelda, and we were out.

Soon it was lunch time, and Siwale still wasn’t back. I had a peanut butter sandwich and tried to sit in the sun to eat it, but it was too hot! You know how your skin prickles when, you‘ve been on the beach all day and had too much sun, that is how it felt before my sandwich was half gone, so I slid into the shade and enjoyed the rest of my sandwich looking at the sun. Siwale got back about 1:30 and he had been standing in a line at the bank since 8 AM, he was worried I was waiting on him; I assured him he hadn’t kept me waiting and that we could go whenever he was ready. I got him a cold glass of water, and gathered my stuff together. Our first stop was going to be at another bank, where I could use my card and get a larger amount of money, than getting 2,000,000 from the ATM machines. We walked into the Barclay’s Bank at Long Acres, and there are people everywhere. I see a machine handing out numbers and I go to it, first you select the subject or reason you came to the bank. Deposits, withdrawal, check cashing, there are at least 15 or more things to choose from, and by what you select you are given a number. I assumed I wanted withdrawal, seeing I was drawing money from my card. So after waiting over an hour, and counting over 50 people waiting along with me, my number was up. I went to the teller and he told me I needed to go to international draws. But he said go right to the teller, and tell him you selected the wrong reason from the number machine. With in just a few minutes, I had received my money and was out the door with Siwale.

Our next stop was the ATM right outside the bank, Siwale had never used an ATM machine and asked if I'd coach him through withdrawing funds with his brand new ATM card. There was no one in line for the ATM, which should have been our first clue, but I just thought, everyone is in the bank, and not out here. He put his card in and entered his pin number, and then went to withdrawal and nothing happened. We canceled the transaction and tried again, still nothing. Every button you pushed beeped, until you pushed the withdrawal button and nothing happened. So we retrieved his card, and went down the road to the next Barclay ATM, and it worked perfectly, he got his money, and we were off. As we were walking back to the car, I asked him, how he felt about doing it by himself next time. His reply, not so confident, maybe if you could stand by me one more time, and I could do it, then I would feel better. He remembers Jan losing her card and what a hassle that was, and so is a little afraid that he might not get his card back if he thinks about what to do next for too long.

Then we were off to Kamwala, and the fabric store! I am getting used to being an honored guest when we worship, but now when I walk into Mr. Patel’s store, I am also given honored status, a stool to sit on with a small piece of fabric over the top, and it is put right in front of the fan. I am also handed a bottle of cold water, I keep wondering if they think I’m Jan! And that I might faint like she did! They send the low man on the totem pole back into the way back, where they store the fabric pieces from floor to ceiling, like two stories high. The only way in is through a hole in the wall of display fabrics, that is only maybe waist high, or less. Jan and I have both had the opportunity to crawl back in there and pick out what pieces of fabric we liked. Now they pretty much know which ones I’ll take and what I won’t. He started out by bringing 20 pieces, I said I need 30. I had to send 3 back, and then he came out with 13 more. Siwale double checks to see if we are given the right amount, along with 10 rolls of black fabric. I pay Mr. Patel, and he always knocks a little off to give me a really good deal, but in the long run, we have given him hundreds of dollars of business every time we come. So no matter what kind of deal he gives, he is still very happy with what we are purchasing from him. Siwale and his men carry the large bundle of cloth and rolls to the car. Then Siwale and I walk down the street to check on batting, they have just received a shipment, and have multiple 40 meter rolls. We tell them we will be back later this week. Mr. Patel, doesn’t have any more small black ribbon, but Siwale say he saw it one of the other shops, we checked and bought 24 more rolls of ribbon.

Then I needed a quick stop at the grocery store for the last time before we head home. We needed a few things, and Catherine and I are baking again tomorrow, so I needed to get more eggs and sugar for that.

Siwale and I arrived to find Steph still working on editing her video. Siwale checked his emails and I then he knocked off for the day. I made supper and the power stayed on the whole time. We ate and then I took my bath and the power went out just as I was brushing out my hair. Perfect timing.

Hopefully the power will come on and I can check my emails and would love to call Lis on Skype tonight, but only if the power returns before I run out of steam. I really like these 5 AM mornings, but boy by 9:30 I’m ready to sleep!

Sunday's are the Best!

2009-12-06T12:44:00.001-06:00

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Today, is Tessa Claire’s 4th birthday, where has the time flown? She will be celebrating with her oma and opa and Grandpa this afternoon, I wish I had been more on the ball and had her present ready, I was so busy thinking about Christmas before I left, I forgot to think about missing her birthday! But, we will have a GRAND celebration when I get home!

This morning was overcast again, and I think we are very thankful, when the sun did pop out from behind the clouds, it was intense! It is dry enough again, for the wind to whip the dirt around. Hard to believe we go from mud and puddles everywhere to dust blowing again.

We were scheduled to go to the Oasis of Love Church and GEMS today, Stephanie needed some final video for the CIT video she is working on. Charity is a CIT and she leads the girls in singing, at their club.

Got to Skype Bob, this morning, he has been going to bed and then setting his alarm to get up about 1am so we can talk. We had a nice morning chat, and when we said good-bye, I got up to make some toast and the power was out! Missed out on breakfast, a granola bar will do.

Flancine said she would pick us up at 9:30, so about 9:35 I headed out in the front to wait for the sound of her car, a few minutes later Stephanie joined me. We lock the front porch gates, then go into the house and lock the front door, all with padlocks. Then we exit through the back door, lock the door and then double lock the gate in front of the door. We sat there and then realized the power was back on. Did we want to go back and unlock the back door and gate? We were sure that as soon, as we did, she would arrive. A cup of coffee sounded awful good to Steph, we sat some more, soon it was 10:00 then 10:15. We said why not maybe they forgot us. We went in, Steph made herself a cup of coffee, and we both had a piece of banana bread. Just as we finished we heard the car honk at the gate. We hurriedly locked up the back and it wasn’t Flancine, it was Eunice another counselor from Oasis of Love. Flancine was preparing Holy Communion so she sent Eunice with her car for us. We arrived just in time for the last praise and worship song, we were welcomed and the sermon began. This would prove to be our shortest worship yet. Seeing we missed the first hour and a half, they start at 9:30 with intercession and 10:30 begins praise and worship, then the message, communion and dismissal. We were out just before 1:00.

Grace , another of the GEMS leaders, prepares lunch for the girls, because they begin their meeting at 2:00. We had lunch from the bounty of rice, chicken in a sauce to pour over the rice, green beans, native beans (Grace made me try some, she gave me the little spoonful, and they were good) and a cooked cabbage dish. We are the guests of honor, so we are served first. First we are brought a basin, and a bottle of water, they pour it over your hands, and dry them with a towel. After we are washed all the girls come to get their hands clean before they eat. We are served first, on china plates with real silverware, the girls have plastic divided plates and plastic forks and spoons. That are washed in cold water and reused each week. They never use hot water for doing their dishes. It surprises me that there isn't more illness passed around because of this. The children are fed well, they had more rice on their plates than Stephanie and I had combined. They all sit in plastic lawn chairs in a circle. The older girls in regular chairs the little girls, in small child size plastic chairs. The very little ones, share a plate, they sit with their knees touching and both scoop until all the good food is gone.

GEMS Girls finishing off the left over communion bread while they wait

Waiting to get their shirts, they keep them at the club and give them out each week

Beautiful GEMS

Sweet and precious

Talking with Stephanie

Preparing the lunch

Eating their fill

Sharing their plate

Soon Flancine is telling them to hurry, they only have two minutes to finish, they lick the plates clean, there is nothing to throw away, except for the few chicken bones they have knawed clean.

They begin their GEMS with Micah 6:8 and then proceed to march around the outside of the chairs singing. “We are marching, we are marching!” They sing several songs as they travel around the chairs, one of which is Father Abraham. I love how they pronounce Abraham! After, they finish singing, they sit in their chairs and Joyce tells them about the visitors from North America. We both introduce ourselves and tell them we bring greetings from our clubs, they clap and welcome us. After chanting “we welcome you, we welcome you, we welcome you!”

We're marching! We're marching!

Joyce begins to go over the prayer poster Kathy left with her, telling the difference in English phrases and the British English phrases they use.

Next they recite a Bible verse, the advanced use a method we used at training, where the verse is written on several pieces of paper and they have to put it in order and say it. The awareness girls just get up and recite.

Advanced GEMS

Awareness GEMS reciting their verses

Now it is time for them to break off into their small groups, which are large small groups. The advanced meet with Joyce and the Awareness meet with Lilan. The CIT’s , Charity, Mercy and Purity, sit in on the awareness group. Charity did lead the singing, but they don’t have a very major role.

Awareness GEMS

Advanced GEMS

Soon it is time for us to leave, we need to be back to the service center by 15:30 to meet the other girls from Pentecostal Holiness and Deliverance who sang on the CD for a picture. We need to get a cab, because with the girls who need to return for a picture there are nine of us. As we drive on to our road, I am anxiously looking for the girls from PH and Deliverance, they should be here, cause we are a few minutes late. No one is around! Oh shoot, nothing is ever how you imagine it to be here! I go inside and call Catherine, she says that her girls are on their way, except for Gatrude, is out of town. I can’t believe that, I told her how important it was to have everyone here for the picture. I ask about the Deliverance girls, she says she will call Alice. Alice is our next door neighbor and attends Deliverance church, she use to be a GEMS leader, until she needed to work more to help support her family. She came over and said the girls had another program this afternoon and couldn’t come! Augh! They were here yesterday, and said they could be here at 15:30, I said I had the CD and they would be able to hear it, I was sure that would get them all here.

OK! Plan B! Can we take two photos and photoshop them into one? I think we can, Stephanie thinks so, although she has never worked with photoshop. We take a picture of the girls who are here, only one is missing her shirt. Of course she is one of the shorter ones, and needs to be in the front! We did take some close ups of their faces and we’ll see what we get. If we can get the other three girls here at the same time. The best laid plans of GEMS ladies, don’t ever seem to go right, here!

Some of the CITS who sang on the new CD

The photo finished and the girls are off, and Steph and I look at each other, and can’t imagine how we can be so tired, from just going to church and club. It was only 4:45, but we didn’t have much lunch, we are a little wary of African prepared food. We ate just enough to be polite at lunch. Another thing, we are never sure what time the power will go out, usually somewhere between 5 pm and 7 pm. We made some scrambled eggs and toast and called that supper!

Steph always looks forward to our Sunday nights here, she calls her Mom and catches up on everything at home. They talk and laugh, while they are on Skype.

The tree behind the house, the whole house smells of the beautiful fragrance of these flowers

The sky just before dark....the heavens declare the glory of God!

Tomorrow, proves to be interesting, we have much to accomplish in this last week, but some of the things depend on information from Jan that I haven’t received yet, so we may have do to some juggling of our days around, until I hear from her. Nothing ever goes as planned in Zambia!

Visiting Kabwe Clubs

2009-12-05T14:07:00.001-06:00

Another morning like the others, awake early as the guard begins moving at daybreak. Today was a sunshine in the window morning, twinkling through the curtains.

After breakfast, as the sun was shining, it was a great morning to do some laundry. Got that washed, wrung out and hung on the lines to dry.

I worked on the forms for registering as a non-profit society here in Zambia, filling the parts I knew in, and emailing Jan for what I didn’t know. Went on line, and looked for peanut butter making machines, only sold in China and India, for approximately $1,000 to $2,000 US. Recorded money spent and prepared for the trip to Kabwe. On line I found jam and jelly recipes that don’t take a fruit pectin to firm them.

Had a peanut butter, jelly sandwich just after 11:30, as Catherine would be here at 11:45 to leave at noon for our trip to Kabwe.

Siwale said it would take us an hour and half to get there. We were to meet with the counselors from the Rock Way Chapel and the Reformed Church in Kabwe.

The drive began along the Great North Road, heading north away from Lusaka. The road is like a state road, two lanes, and in good condition. The road is filled with semi trucks and traveling very slowly, especially up hills. We would speed along at 120-130km (calculated that into mph and it is 80.7, seemed much faster) and then slow down and inch along behind a truck until it was clear to pass. Then we would speed along again at top speed, this happened over and over and over. Interestingly enough the speed limit signs I saw on the roads were a constant 80km, oops we were going a little faster than that!

There are no policemen who patrol the roads, they just have check spots every so often, and these always cause my heart to beat a little faster. We are always sure to have our passports with us, and Siwale often has to show his license. He has a sticker that says his vehicle is licensed to transport passengers and that is up to date, so we think we are good. Depending on the officer, he will sometimes go around the car until he finds something to ticket the driver for, a broken bulb, a windshield wiper that isn’t working, or a lamp out. One time they made Siwale pop his trunk, they took his jack, and said he could pick it up when we came back. Really strange!

I wanted to take some pictures of the scenery as we went by, but because of our speed, most of them are of something, I didn’t want to take, what I wanted I had missed. It was a picturesque drive; I think the city on the north side of Lusaka is cleaner and nicer than where we are located, or even the downtown area. As we left the city, there were the ever present roadside markets, lined with women selling their goods. Hut after hut of them all selling the same things, how does anyone ever decide where to buy their tomatoes? The further we got out of Lusaka the more little villages, with grass roofed huts I saw, men walking behind cows keeping them from the road. The traffic on this road moves very fast, so there were few people walking on the side of the road, and few bikes filled with bags of charcoal. Some were on a second road, a dirt path that runs adjacent to the road, much safer there away from the speed traffic. There were lots of interesting people to watch as we drove along.

A small village

Gathered under a shade tree

This truck with all these people was traveling down the highway in front of us until he turned off, can you imagine going 60-70 mph on a highway in a truck like that!

Another village

Just one of many of the road side markets we saw today

There were groups of people gathered under trees, or men resting in a grass roofed hut with no walls, that look similar to a gazebo. Ladies walking with umbrella’s shading their heads, or chitanga covering them from the harsh heat of the sun.

It started out sunny and warm, which means the afternoon will be hot! And hot it was, as we whizzed along in the little Toyota Corolla, the windows were down. Catherine sat in the front, and Stephanie and I in the back. The wind was whipping my hair into my face, I kept pushing it back, but it was a never ending battle. I was so wishing for a scrunci or a headband, anything to keep it from stinging my face. The wind wasn’t cool and refreshing; it was like a small blast furnace pushing out the heat at you. Every time I started thinking, how really warm I was, I would see a minibus come along side us and I would send up a prayer of thanksgiving for Siwale and his wonderful little car. I look over at Stephanie, she has her iPod with headphones on, her eyes are closed and she is pretending to play the guitar. She is afraid her fingers are going to be all soft and she doesn’t want to forget the songs she loves to play. There are no conversations, the wind is too loud, and Siwale has a tape in the tape player playing African tunes very loudly. We drive on, and we arrive about 2:30, a half an hour late! Oh dear! How I hate to keep people waiting.

Catherine calls and makes contact with Joyce, she tells us where she will meet us, something about the Elephant Hotel, we inquire of a man on the street, he says it is the Tusker Hotel, straight ahead to the roundabout and then to your right. Sure enough, we pull up and soon Joyce and Lucy come up, Joyce rides with us to show us to the church.

We enter the church yard, and there are a couple of girls in pink shirts to greet us. Joyce tells us to wait and she goes around the back of the church, we wait for some time, and then the Pastor comes to greet us. Then he goes around behind the church, after several more minutes, he and Joyce come back, and he invites into the church and to the front rows. He inquires of us, when we’ve arrived, and how long are we staying. He asks about how the Reformed Church in North America is doing. He asks where I attend worship, and then he is excited about it being a Christian Reformed church.

Lucy and Dorcus arrive about a half an hour later and then Fanny from Rock of Hope Chapel. They are all so glad to see us, and welcome us to Kabwe.

Soon, we hear shuffling of feet, and we see the girls all lined up at the door, and they begin coming in down the aisle singing, “we welcome you.” They come to the front and sing 3 more songs, they begin their recitation. Catherine explains that we don’t have a lot of time, so only 7 or 8 girls recite from the group. They recite the mission of GEMS, the aim of GEMS, one girl knew all the information about GEMS, when it began, how many clubs, how many counselors how many girls. In which countries GEMS has clubs, everything! Steph and I went “whoa” she has more facts down than we knew! We clapped and thanked them for sharing what they are learning, and brought greetings from the US and Canada.

The girls singing "we welcome you"

Stephanie took the girls outside and played and sang with them, while we had our counselor meeting. First, we shared about ourselves and our families, then we talked about their clubs, and some of the challenges they face. I handed out their sister club letters. We closed by praying together and having some pictures taken.

Joyce was insistent that we return to her home with her for refreshments, but by this time it is almost 5:00 and we have a two hour ride back to Lusaka, and the sky is full of threatening clouds and lightening. We bring Joyce to her house, she asks us to help her carry in the Bibles and books. I explain that we would love to stay, but that we must start on our way, we have a night guard who arrives between 5:30 and 6:00 and we will already be late. She agrees, but uncovers two large loaves of bread, banana bread she explains, that she learned how to bake while she lived in Canada. Catherine grins from ear to ear and tells her that she made some banana bread this week! She gives us one of the loaves to take with us. We tell her good-bye and we’re off down the road toward home.

When we arrive the guard not finding us, has gone. Siwale calls the guard company and they say they will send him back. Siwale waits until he is here. Stephanie and I throw some leftovers in the microwave and eat dinner, have our baths and rejoice that at 8:30 we still have power!

It was a great day, how we were blessed by these dear sisters and the joy they have in their new clubs. They all shared how they are growing and learning as well as teaching. It was another special day and I am rejoicing in the part I was able to share.

Prayers and Blessings

2009-12-04T14:02:00.000-06:00

Today is Friday, December 4, 2009 hard to believe that I’ve been here for two weeks already tomorrow morning. It seems as if I’m just starting to really feel at home, to know more of the ladies names, to get into the African routine, and I loving it! Stephanie is talking about all the good-byes and I’m thinking I just said hello! For her it is a much different kind of good-bye, she doesn’t know when if ever she will be back. She would like to think that when the Esther School opens, she might come and video tape Moneta going to school. Moneta is the girl in the Esther video that she created and was shown at the Girlz Tour event at Sunshine Church in November. Stephanie’s return all depends on life, and where she might be at that point in her life, so she is saying good-bye not knowing if she will ever have a chance to return.

Today was a full day! Starting early, Siwali was here before 7:00 and Catherine just after 7:30, I hadn’t even started my breakfast yet, when Catherine arrived. She came to begin cutting the fabric we bought on Wednesday, so the ladies could take it when they came for prayers this afternoon. Siwali began hosing down and cleaning the locked closet off from the porch, cleaning and scrubbing the floor. When he finished, he and Catherine went to get gifts for the 10 ladies who went above and beyond when it came to getting all the potholders that were needed to go back with Kathy B. I had asked Catherine what we could do for the ladies, we have learned not to give out money as gifts, so how could we bless them as they had blessed us? Catherine came up with a list of food staples that would help them so much! For each lady we purchased 10 kg bags of sugar, 10 kg bags of nshima, 2.5 jars of cooking oil, a large bag of beans, and a box of tea bags. I’m not sure but I am guessing 10 kg’s has to be close to 20-25 pounds. They were large bags, Siwali had to come and bring everything accept for the nshima back because his car was full and to heavy.

When they returned, Stephanie and I went to Manda Hill Mall, to the Game Store with Siwali. They are putting a large addition on to the mall, and have taken away most of the parking, so it is a crazy place to try and move anywhere and find a space to park your car. Finally, Siwali dropped us and told us to call him when we were finished shopping and he would tell us where to meet him. First we went to a book store and bought a world map, the ladies are always asking where we are from, and what is the difference between Canada and the United States, aren’t they all North America. I thought a map on the wall would be helpful for them, and enable us to show them where we live.

Next a stop in Game, and we purchased CD players for each of the EOH houses as a Christmas gift. I also brought along the new GEMS CD’s with the African girls voices on it. The last time Jan was here, the kids at the House that GEMS Built, were asking her for a radio, so she thought a radio with a CD player would be great for each house. We get to bring them to the kids next week!

Two more trips to the ATM machine, now that my card is working, I can’t stop withdrawing kwacha!

We ended our trip with a little treat for Stephanie and me, she said last year when she went to a small restaurant called Kilamanjero’s she had the best milk shake ever, so a milkshake it was for our afternoon treat!

We arrived back at the Service Center, as the ladies where busy praying, and seeking God’s protection on the ministry. I can’t tell you how much it blesses me to see them doing this. For me to hear them praying, singing and crying out to God, with such fervent pleas. My heart is pricked, have I ever prayed as passionately as they are praying, do I ever pray with such abandon that I can raise my hands, fall on my knees with my face to the floor, cry out to God, beg and pled with Him for His hand of blessing on GEMS or for that matter anything. Then to burst forth and sing praises to His name all in the same prayer time. I think of sitting quietly Praying in Color without ever making a sound, God hears all kinds of prayers and He loves for his children to come to him and hears each and every one of our requests, no matter how we pray. Someday, I hope that I come to that point of abandonment and seek God as my African sister do.

Prayer time ends, and I serve the ladies tea and coffee and fresh muffins I made this morning. They are from a box I brought from home, and they wondered how I made them. They had never heard of ingredients in a box. We learn many things from each other. After they finish their coffee, tea and treat, they work to finish cutting their fabric. It is much easier for them to lay it out on the floor here than to take it with them uncut. Most live in homes with dirt floors, and no tables, so how could they do a good job cutting with those circumstances. Soon, many of the ladies have left, and only five remain. These are five of the ten who worked so hard on the potholders. Catherine says now would be a good time to tell them what we have. I thank them and share that this a gift from us to them, for all their unbelievable hard work to finish the potholders on time. When I tell them, what the gift is they give their African ya hoo! We proceed to tell them, that what we have is very heavy and they will need help, one calls for a cab to help her carry her treasures home, one calls for her two older daughters to come and carry for her, the two others, Emely and Precious say they can do it. They remove their chitanga’s and put the large bags of nshima and sugar on their backs, tie the chitanga around it and off they go, but not before posing for several pictures, with the biggest smiles ever. We have brought them much joy with a gift of food for their families.

Serving the ladies coffee and tea

Maxihilda with her two daughters to help her carry her gift

Emely proudly showing off one of her gifts

Precious just beaming with her chitanga loaded down

Precious helping Emely get her bags on her bag

A high five!

They head out the gate, with bags on their backs, bags of potholder materials and beans, oil and tea bags! Mostly with joy in their faces!

By the time they left it was well after 6:00 and we just had to reheat some left overs for supper. We finished and I had my bath, yesterday the water was off from 10:00 am until sometime in the night, so a bath tonight was really delightful. It is now almost 9:00 and the power has not gone off, looks to be a total day of power! Water was out from about 10:00 this morning until 3:30 this afternoon, back on just in time for me to make tea and coffee for the ladies!

Tomorrow, is a trip to Kabwe to visit with the clubs in that area, we are meeting them at 14 hours or 2:00 our time. Each day is filled with something to make it special! God just keeps on showering us with His blessings for each new day.

Chongwe and Visiting the EOH Children

2009-12-03T13:08:00.001-06:00

This morning was another, gray overcast morning. I keep learning things here in Zambia, some meaningful, some profound and some just kind of crazy. This was the second morning in a row, that I was awakened by a buzzy ole fly, flying around my head. The crazy thing I figured out is…..that the mornings the sun is shining the flies go right to the window to sunbath in the warmth of the sun. Cloudy mornings they have nothing to do but buzz around my head!

This morning we traveled to Chongwe, home of the GEMS Esther School. It is about an hour’s drive out of Lusaka, it was raining some as we made our way to Chongwe. There was no rain when we got there. Our first stop was at the site of the first teacher’s residence at the Esther School. This building was constructed first, so that work teams from NA will have a place to stay when they come to help build additional buildings for the Esther School. Oh, how it had changed since my visit last August. The first major difference was the road. Once we left the main drive just past the new Catholic Church that is being built, we began scanning the area for the drive up to the house. Siwali said this isn’t right, I said I’m sure it is, because we drove right along side of the new church in August. When the rainy season begins and the rains come, the ground totally changes; green grass and weeds pop up everywhere. Stephanie had been there just three weeks ago, and she said the driveway was totally visible. We drove on very slowly the bottom of the car rubbing on the growth of weeds and grasses. Finally I spotted the long tree branch that marks the corner of our property with a flag on the top, we going right, the house will be just beyond the marker. We couldn’t see it because of all the bushes, but as we drove just a little further there it was.

The ground flourishing with new growth right over the drive

We jumped out and cameras started clicking, recording the progress of the building and changes a few weeks of rain makes in the surroundings. Two of the workers, stopped to let us in and watched as we checked everything out. We walked around and down to the septic and checked the progress there. It was exciting to see it coming along, and so close to being completely done.

The Teacher's Residence at the Esther School

The kitchen and door to the patio

Bathroom door straight ahead, bedrooms to left and right

Grass growing up around the house

The septic system

Our next stop was at the Every Orphans Hope homes; currently there are two duplexes that house eight children in each side, for a total of thirty two orphans. Four mommas and one house has both a momma and a dad caring for the children.

Every Orhpan's Hope - My Father's House - Chongwe

The kids checking our Stephanie's picture

Bianca

James

Blaston

Catherine

Girls just being girls!

Stephanie has been there many times since she arrived on October 1st to Zambia. She knew the children’s names and special things about them that she had learned when she had come to interview them on previous trips for the video she is making. Some were really glad to see her and some just a little shy, but after a walk to check out the chicken run EOH is building, they were all following her like the pied piper! When we got back to the yard, she wanted to ask a few more questions for her video, but without an interpreter, that didn’t go so well. She ended up playing games and singing with all the children in a big circle. Now even the most timid were joining in and laughing and having a great time. The one question she did ask earlier and got a great response from was….What makes you happy? “Being able to live here.” These children are all double orphans, no father or mother; some have extended family living in the bush, which they are able to visit occasionally. When you look into their faces, what are their stories, what unimaginable things have they experienced in their young lives. Think about where they would be without EOH and the orphan homes, who would be caring for them, feeding them, clothing them, and teaching them about Jesus. Their Heavenly Father who will never leave them.

Informal interview

Playing games with Stephanie

Girls on a teater toter in front of the church as we drive away

Soon it was time for them to have lunch and we headed back to Lusaka. As we traveled the very good tar road back, we see a myriad of people walking along the road. Many students in uniforms, either coming from or going to school. The government schools are so overcrowded that they all run two sessions a morning session and an afternoon session. The numbers are staggering, 800 students per session to 18 teachers, for less than 4 hours a day. Not what we would consider a quality education by any standards, but they are just thankful they can go and that they can afford the school fees and uniforms. We also see boys with bikes loaded with huge sacks of charcoal. Some have eight or ten bags tied on; some are being pushed for there isn’t any room left to ride. This is not a flat stretch of road, it is up hills and down, and they just trudge along. We see women with babies on their backs walking to market; we see goats and cows being herded along the roadside. We see bikes of charcoal parked and a tired young man lying in the grass resting. I see rows of women working in the fields near the road, they are cultivating the ground with just a handmade hoe. It is time to plant maze, it grows very fast during the rainy season, and the ground is more pliable because of the recent rains. When we’ve been here before in August and tried to drive in stakes for volley ball poles, it was like driving a hole into the cement it is so hard and dry. It is an hour’s drive that passes unbelievably fast.

Handmade hoe

Land cultivated with the handmade hoe

We make a stop at the ATM and for the first time, since I‘ve been trying, I actually get money from the machine! Hooray, now I will have money to purchase more fabric and batting for the ongoing Hand’n’Hand project!

We head back to the Service Center for some lunch ourselves. Just as I am finishing my first half of my grilled cheese (that’s right I said grilled cheese and not PB&J – we have been quite spoiled this trip, living here and being able to cook for ourselves.) When there was a knock at the door, and one of the Club Coordinators, Emelda stopped by to say hello to me. We sat and talked, when we were here last April, Emelda was not able to be at training because her husband was sick. Then when Jan and I returned in August he was still sick. Well, he had surgery last Thursday to repair a hernia, did it really take them eight months to diagnosis a hernia repair. He came home from the hospital yesterday, almost a week and went to his father’s house, where he will be till he recovers in a month.

Emelda and I had a great talk, we shared about our families and she told me about her GEMS club and we prayed together for her husband. That’s what being here is all about, the relationships!

We lost electric early, today before 4:00, but it was only off for about an hour. Then the power came on and the water went off!

We had our supper, no baths without water, and then the power went out again. Glad the battery on my computer was totally charged allowing me time to journal this day’s events.

Today, I compared Zambia to North America, and all the differences. Where do I begin?

Window screens – no screens. Water - no water. Power outages only during storms or from auto accidents – power outages almost daily for always an undetermined amount of time from 45 minutes to 3 or 4 days, usually about 2 hours. (Healthy parents – parents dying of AIDS. Families – orphans. An abundance of “stuff” – not even the necessities. Cars creating no pollution – cars, trucks and mini buses burning oil and leaving long black trails of pollution. Trash and rubbish pick up on a weekly basis – dumping trash and garbage on the road. No bugs in the house - Bugs I’ve never seen before and flies, mosquitoes, ants and spiders in every room every day. (So far no really big bugs.) Sidewalks and well manicured lawns - Dirt and mud everywhere. Homes with every conceivable appliance and electronics – homes without roofs, doors, or windows. Tables where food is tossed into the garbage just because – tables with only one meal a day or perhaps nothing.

I could go on and on, every part of every day, I am reminded of all I have, of all I need to manage at home, and the comparison of the simple lives without all the stuff. The question I keep asking myself is….. who is really happier?

Contrasts and Contradictions

2009-12-02T13:37:00.002-06:00

Today, I awoke not to the sunshine lighting my room, but to a buzzy old fly circling my head! As I peeked at the alarm, 5:10 and no sun, lifting the curtain I peeked out, it was very overcast and cloudy, but it wasn’t raining. When I walked outside this morning, there was a black tub behind the house and it had over three inches of rain in it from last night’s storm.

So, much for sitting outside for my quiet time this morning. About 6:30 I head out to the kitchen and office. Click on the computer, and hope to see that Bob is on; he is a real night owl when I’m away. He is not, so I send him off a quick email greeting, and just as I am about to walk away. The Skype begins to ring, and he is calling! Hurray! We talk about the last few days, and upcoming events. What a way to begin my day, first with my God, and then with my hubby! He wasn’t as much as a night owl as I thought, he had been sleeping, and set his alarm to be able to call me before I got too busy in my day.

Today, we planned another trip to Kamwala for more fabric. Steph and I left with Siwali and I needed to stop at an ATM machine and get some money. This hasn’t worked for me in the past, so Bob had talked with the Credit Union last week, to make sure that I would be able to draw from our account with my debit card. He was assured it would be fine, and they sent the paperwork in to be sure it happened. I tried three different ATM’s for three different banks and left without one penny! So spent much of the afternoon on Skype with Bob, with the Credit card company and with my daughter Melissa, working as go between! Crazy, but everyone says it will work, try again and go to a bank that has an ATM machine in the bank and if it doesn’t work, a teller should be able to access the account and get me the money. OK, I’m game and we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Anyone who has been to Kamwala, won’t have a hard time picturing this, but for those who haven’t I don’t think there are words to express it! After the three plus inches of rain last night, there was water everywhere in Kamwala. Steph was ready with her big rubber boots, I not so much, I left with my sandals on, but could pretty much stay out of the mud. Siwali parked right up on the sidewalk, so I didn’t have to step in a puddle to get out of the car. Made our purchases and headed back out. Last August when Jan and I were there furnishing the Service Center, Siwali took us to a store in Kamwala to get lots of the household things we needed. We needed to buy some additional mugs for coffee and tea so we can serve the counselors when they come for prayers on Friday. I asked Siwali if he thought we could get back there, the roads were awful in August, just how would they be after all the rain, unbelievable! That was Steph’s word, I just can’t believe this, I can’t believe they are like this, ruts and holes and rocks in the road, trash and more trash everywhere. We pulled in front of the store made our purchase and returned to the main road. Unbelievable!

You know how when you take wonderful pictures of mountains, and you say they really don't do the beauty justice. The same here, the pictures don't do justice in capturing the scene.

Then we made a quick stop in Kabata at the Cultural Market. Stephanie wanted to get something to bring home for her oma. She found the perfect gift!

We did another stop for some WD-40 or the African counterpart. All of the padlocks are getting rusty from the rains and are becoming very difficult for Steph and me to get locked and unlocked. Steph and Siwali went inside, I sat in the car. While I sat there I noticed a faucet on the side of the building, women and children came with the yellow jugs, pails and various pans and bottles to fill up with water. Once again I am amazed at the strength of these women and children, as the women hoisted the filled containers unto their heads and walked away. Do you know how much a gallon of milk weighs? These were many more gallons than one.

Soon Steph and Siwali were back with the WD-40, and we headed over to the EOH offices. I wanted to greet Mrs. H it was so good to see her again. She is such a special lady! I wanted to get the names of the children in Juliet’s family. When we visit with the kids in the House that GEMS Built, both sets of children come to be loved on and receive our hugs. We brought cards and letters from girls in North America, but only addressed to the kids in our house. If I had the names of the other children, I can have some of our clubs write notes to all the children. For our next visit, in April.

Came back and dropped Stephanie off, we had borrowed Catherine’s flash drive to download some papers from Jan, so Siwali and I headed over to the PostNet by Steers to get copies.

This afternoon, I spent a lot of time trying to see why I couldn’t get my debit card to work. Calling Bob, and he going to the Credit Union, and calling my credit card company to try and get a pin to use that to draw some cash. Finally after a Skype call to Melissa, giving her the information, she was able to get me a new pin and the CU assures me that my card will work! We’ll give it another whirl tomorrow!

I did some laundry when the sun came out after lunch. Then I cut batting, into pieces. There were three rolls of king size quilt batting in the cupboard, so I unrolled it and cut one roll into 8” squares. How many pieces of 8” batting from a king size quilt…..210! So that will be an additional 600 pieces of batting for 600 more potholders!

Steph made a wonderful chicken stir-fry with rice for dinner. Baths in, and time to journal this day and reflect on the contrasts that I’ve seen here in Zambia.

This isn’t a new revelation, but as I was praying in color yesterday, that is what God brought to my mind. Zambia is such a land of contrasts. Look at the pictures from yesterday; the neatly manicured yard here at our house and the beautiful flowers, now look at the pictures of Kamwala today. Not just the puddles, but the trash and garbage everywhere. How does it exist side by side?

These were some of the contrasts that came to my mind. -

Blue skies - Dark skies

Sunshine - Rain

Beautiful flowers - Dry, cracked hard earth

Green grass - Dirt

Well maintained yards - Piles of garbage abandoned everywhere

Tar streets - Bumpy, potholed dirt roads

Plenty of food - Starvation

Health - Illness

Families - Orphans

Power - No power

Water from a faucet - No water

Education - No education

Private schools - Government run schools

Stoves and ovens - Braziers

Good husbands & fathers - Drunken, abusive husbands and fathers

Secure homes - Shelter of walls without a roof

Bathrooms - Out houses

Jobs - No jobs

Doctors - No doctors

Private hospitals - Government clinics

Clean water - Dirty water

I could go on and on, these are what I have observed, and it makes my heart break, at the injustice in these contrasts. I am very aware of these contrasts, but I really wonder how many of the Zambian people even think about it. They are happy, content, and resilient and never complain about any of these things. Father, help me to remember how little they have and what thankful hearts they possess. When I leave here, I’ll go home to celebrate Christmas with my family, to great meals and bountiful tables of treats, presents and gift giving, and how quickly will I get wrapped up in all the “stuff” of Christmas and forget what I have seen here.

Birds Sing - Rooster Crows and Storms Roll In

2009-12-01T10:47:00.000-06:00

This morning began like most of the others, awake before 5, as the sun winked at me, through the sheer curtains. This morning, I needed to get up and get dressed right away, no lounging in my pj’s, as Clara was going to come very early to collect her fabric.

Dressed and grabbed my Bible and let the night guard out. Then in the stillness of the morning sun, I sat outside and started my quiet time. I think I like doing this, the peace on a new morning. There was a gentle breeze and the birds were beginning their day, with songs of praise while the rooster declared it is morning, crowing in the compound.

The front yard where I started my day

The front yard

Some of the plants that line the walls

A little before 6:30 there was the timid knock on the gate and Clara was here to get her potholder fabric. I asked her if she would like a cup of tea, “no mum, I must go.” As quickly and quietly as she appeared, she left swinging the heavy bag of fabric over her shoulder and she was off.

I went back to the scripture, and this verse just jumped off the page at me. Isaiah 66:2 “This is the one I esteem; he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” How that describes Clara, a humble servant with a very quiet spirit.

My tummy was rumbling, a good sign? It needs to be filled? Maybe some tea and toast would set well. It seems that tea and toast was a good choice.

Shortly after 9 hours, two of the counselors arrived, Joyce from PHC Mtendere, and Precious from Word of Faith. Precious had 100 potholders complete, and 100 that she still was putting tags on. There was another knock on the gate. This time it was Siwali and his wife. Siwali was coming to check his email. I invited his wife in, as it is very warm again today, much too hot to sit in the car. While Siwali checked his email, I gave his wife Phoebe a tour of the yard, showing her Siwali’s garden and how nice everything looks around the house. We went inside she immediately began helping Precious sew labels on the potholders. She is a very beautiful woman, they make a striking couple.

Soon after they left, another knock, and it was Maxihilda and Catherine from AHF, bringing in 100 more potholders. Maxhilda is pressing me to buy more fabric, she doesn’t want to rush, rush like before. As much as I assure her there will never be another rush or push like before Kathy left, she says over and over. “We want to do it bit by bit.” I tell her I will try to have more fabric by the time they come for prayers on Friday. She says, “You must, no more rush, rush!” She said they rushed so and worked so long into the nights on the potholders that some became ill. We surely don’t want that to happen again.

As they are ready to leave, she tells me that they have a Christmas party at her house for the AFM GEMS girls, and that I need to leave them some money for food for the party. “So I can tell them, we have all this Christmas food, because Barbara left money for us to buy.” Hummm…interesting!

Stephanie spent much of the morning trying to get her video editing program to work on her computer; she was getting very frustrated and about to give up until she got home, when she finally got it. She is pretty good at the African cry the women do, and I laughed as she was so rejoicing with her African woops.

The ladies left shortly after noon, and I had another piece of toast for lunch. That too was a wise choice. I think the worst is over and I am close to being back to normal. This afternoon, I went through all the things in the cupboards above the closets and made a list of what is here.

It was very warm today, the warmest since I’ve arrived. The heat slows you down a little! My thermometer read 93 degrees at around 3:00. The sun was intense and the breeze was gone. About 4:30 the clouds started to roll in and we could hear thunder in the distance. It looked like we were in for a good storm. When I thought about the rainy season here, I never thought about thunder storms, I just thought it rained every day, as it did the first few days I was here. There are definitely thunder storms in Africa, and they roll in from the west, just like at home. I took a picture of the dark sky, but it doesn’t look nearly as dark as it really was. The rains started shortly after 5pm and it rained so hard, so really, really hard! It is now just starting to lessen. Our night guide arrived late, he is usually here around 5:30pm, but we were sure he was late because of the rain. When he arrived at about 6:15, he was soaked to the skin, and now he sits outside all night. Maybe he will light off the brazier to dry himself some. When it is raining, or threatening rain we leave the gates to the outside porch open so he can stay dry, but what do you do when he arrives soaking wet. I am thankful at least it isn’t cold or won’t get cold tonight.

Today, I think because of having my quiet time out in the yard, with the birds singing and the beautiful flowers all around, I spent much of the day thinking about the contrasts here in Zambia. Not comparing Zambia to North America, but Zambia to Zambia. I think I’ll reflect more on that tonight and write about that tomorrow.

The sky that looked much darker and stormy than the picture shows

Is Christmas Really Coming?

2009-12-01T00:21:00.001-06:00

This morning I awoke very early. The sun comes up around 4:30 now, and by 5:00 is brightly shining in my window which faces east. I’ve tried wearing the blindfold you get on the airplane, and it helps some. As soon as it is light, the night guard starts moving about, sweeping outside my window. I hear his footsteps and movement of chairs and splashing of water from the rain barrel, as he washes himself. I grab “My Utmost for His Highest” and my Bible, and spend some time reading. I’d never be up this early at home, but I’m not in bed at 9:00 either. It gets dark here later than it ever has, usually it is dark around 6 pm, but at this time of the year, it isn’t totally dark until about 7 pm.

We have to make sure we do our bathing, before 8 pm, cause shortly after 8 the water goes off. You can still get water, just hot water, from the hot water holding tank, but it is too hot to bathe in. We usually go right from dinner, to bathing. Then we have this long evening before us, some nights Stephanie puts a movie into her computer that we watch. I’ve been doing lots of reading. Really enjoying “Listening for God.” Finished a couple of fiction novels I brought and still have one to read about African finances. I’m told that one may be very helpful, as I struggle with how the Zambian people think about money. We are usually ready for bed about 9 and think it must be at least 11.

Today, both Stephanie and I are continuing to have some intestinal issues. Not sure what triggered that, but….not pleasant. We had planned to travel to Chongwe today, but that isn’t a good idea, neither of us wanted to be away from the facilities, for very long. Change of plans nothing new, we are picking up the Zambian style. This morning, Steph and Siwali went to get groceries and I walked to the bus stop where Helen Kaunuda meets Mtendere, and hailed a taxi to take me to Kamwala. I needed to purchase more fabric for Clara’s potholders.

How things have changed from our early trips when we only traveled with the “herd!” Then later trips, when we’d divide and conquer, and do it in twos or threes. Today, I headed to Kamwala all by myself, without even our trusted driver to keep an eye on me. I asked God to go with me and protect me. How often in the US do we leave our homes, with those prayers coming from our lips? We may if there is a snow storm or really bad weather, but everytime we rush out of the door, do we ask for God to go before us. There was a very new looking taxi God chose that one for me, the driver was a very nice young man, his name was Amon. He dropped me right in front of Mr. Patel’s store, and said he would wait, I was pretty sure he would, I hadn’t paid him. I made a mental note, his car was white, and his shirt was red! I made my purchases and one of Mr. Patel’s men, carried it out for me. I looked into the street and there were about eight white cars! Oh my, I just need to find the right white car with the red shirt. Suddenly, I hear “over here Madam” and there is my taxi and Amon. As we are getting near to the stop, where I got into his car, I ask if he can bring to my house, “yes, yes.” I proceed to tell him where to turn, and he says he knows where I am staying, at the old EOH office. I wondered how he knew that, I didn’t hail him, until I was at the bus stop corner. He turns and looks at me in the back seat, with a big grin and says “you stand out here, Madam.” I guess we do!

Lunch didn’t sound so good, so I skipped that. Did have part of a piece of banana bread so I could take my malaria pill I hadn’t taken earlier.

It started out as a bright sunny day, and all of the sudden, it was thundering, in the next few minutes, the sky opened up and the rains came down like crazy, for about 10 minutes. Then as quickly as it started it was all over and the sun was back out and it was a beautiful afternoon. Steph and I were both glad today we got to watch it from inside the house and not standing under an umbrella outside!

While the rain came down, Siwali took shelter in the porch area, I thought this a good time for us to talk. I asked if he could advise me on some things. I brought him a piece of the banana bread I had made on Friday. I asked him to taste it and see if he thought that the ladies could sell this at the markets. He said he thought they would be better off selling it at gas stations all over Lusaka. He said that there is a demand for this kind of food there more than in the roadside markets. We talked about how they would be able to bake it on their braziers. He wasn’t sure about that one, but said when he was in Central Province, he had seen ovens made of bricks. I thanked him for his wisdom and he said the bread was very good and he liked it a lot. “It will sell.”

Shortly after Siwali’s taste test, he came back into the house. He had a counselor from a new club in Chikumbi with him. She had talked with Kathy while she was here, but wasn’t able to visit before Kathy left. She was Monica Mwanza, she was at training last April. At that time her husband who is a pastor was at a church in Katua. They have moved just a short time ago, to pastor a new Deliverance Church in Chikumbi. We talked and shared about our families. She said the location where their new church is located is in a very rural area and there is much farming done there. She said it is difficult to get the families to attend Sunday services, because they will work the fields on Sunday, just like any other day. She said that there are about 50 faithful attendees. She has already begun a new GEMS club there, she started with 4 awareness girls and now has 5, and with 4 advanced and now has 8. I was able to give her the materials she needed. She had already completed the intro books with the girls. She was a delightful counselor and I was so happy to be able to spend time getting to know her better.

Before Monica left, Catherine arrived. She walked Monica through the lessons, and showed her all the things that Kathy had displayed for the different badges. It was so nice that she could do that, as Catherine knows exactly what goes with what.

After, Monica left Catherine and I headed to the kitchen, where I explained to her what a recipe was. She had never heard of a cookbook. Nor had she heard of teaspoons, tablespoons or measuring cups. We talked about how the counselors would measure amounts. If the recipe called for a cup, she said they would use whatever cups they have and some would be a small tea cup and others a large mug, whatever they might have. Which makes me think we will have to provide a measuring cup along with the bread pans, to get them started.

We followed the recipe, Catherine stirring in every ingredient and checking me to see if I was correct. She knew what all the ingredients were, but she said the women would not use milk, but substitute water for the milk. Not sure how that would work, but she assures me it would be fine. I think, I’ll head to the internet and see if I can find a recipe that doesn’t use milk. There is no milk in either of the pumpkin or zucchini recipes I brought.

While the bread baked Catherine sent an email, and I showed her the video our club had made for our sister club. We also, looked at both Steph’s and my families pictures. When the bread came out of the oven Catherine, was just beaming. I gave her a warm loaf to take and share with her husband, she was very pleased. She said she would make this banana bread for their Christmas dinner.

We talked about how it the bread could be baked on a brazier, she said she could do it. She bakes scones and this would be just like it. I asked how many of the counselors might have an oven, she said only two. I asked if the other ladies knew how to bake on their braziers, she thought maybe two, but she could teach them. So….next Monday, she is going to come and bring a pumpkin and we are going to bake pumpkin bread on the brazier! How fun is that going to be!

Had a light dinner of part of a baked potato and some fresh green beans. It didn’t set so well, with either one of us:) Hopefully tomorrow will be better, but we are pushing Chongwe back another day. Not going to be tomorrow. Steph got to skype her mom and sisters who are together in Chicago. She enjoyed chatting with them. Shortly after her call, the power went out, and we sit in the dark and listen to Christmas music. We speak of what a change it will be when we leave here 10 days before Christmas and return to our homes and families all deep into the Christmas spirit.

There is no indication that Christmas is coming here, not in my surroundings or in my spirit! How sad that makes me feel. Do I get so wrapped up in all the decorating, planning, shopping that this is what Christmas feels like to me? As I contemplate why, is it because it is warm, sunny and rainy here? Or because there are no decorations? No mention of advent, as in our churches prior to Christmas? Because I've no lists of gifts to buy, no holiday baking or shopping to do? Or perhaps no parties, programs or special Christmas open houses? Why do I not feel excited about Christmas coming? I've been listening to Christmas music on my ipod, but it still doesn't stir me to feel like I do when I'm home preparing for Christmas. I think it must be a heart thing. God is working on my heart, growing it, changing it and maybe opening my eyes too. Helping me to see that Christmas isn't all about decorations, gifts, food, shopping and parties. It is about His gift of salvation through His Son Jesus. Yes, that is what I will think on today! His GIFT to me!

Worship, Raindrops and Tears

2009-11-30T00:14:00.003-06:00

Another Sunday in Lusaka, and we were off to a different church. The churches that have GEMS Girls’ Clubs, all want us to come and worship with them. This Sunday, it was the Mtendere Pentecostal Holiness Church. Joyce is the Club Coordinator there, we had made arrangements on Friday, for her to come for us this morning. We were hoping this meant by car, because we have been warned multiple times that Mtendere is a very dangerous place and we should not walk there. Mtendere is the largest and most populated compound. The markets in Mtendere are on every street, they are selling everything from the roadside. Some sell from makeshift stands, and some place their wares right on the ground. The streets are narrow as the sellers take up much of the streets selling their wares, they use both sides of the road. You will find clothing, vegetables, fruits, fish, chickens, tires, beds and furniture, anything you can think of to be sold. First there are the vendors on the sides of the roads and in front of them walking in the street are all the shoppers. So the cars and minibuses traveling the very bumpy dirt roads, are zig zagging like ants. I think part of the reasons that we have been told to not walk into Mtendere, is for the fact, it is a very dangerous place to walk and not be hit by a vehicle.

We were quite relieved when we heard a car pull in front of the gate shortly after 8:30. Then the knock on the gate, telling us they were here. It was Joyce and Mr. Phiri, a deacon from her church. The car was a 1993 Toyota and it was scraping the ground and making some very strange noises, but after maneuvering around all the people in the streets of Mtendere, we pulled up to a very nice church. It was one of the nicer churches that I have worshipped at during my stays in Lusaka. We were ushered into the front, we sat on the right side of the church. There were benches on the each side and a large center section. Stephanie was just remarking about the quality of the benches, when someone came and said that we needed to sit in the center section, second from the front. In plastic chairs rather than benches, these chairs are for the Pastor’s and special guests. I guess we are special guests!

They are in the midst of a Sunday School lesson about respect. Stephanie and I have had multiple discussions about respect. It is looked at so much differently here in Zambia, than in North America. We looked at each other, and think maybe this was God’s way, of helping us to understand respect here in Zambia. The teaching went on til 9:00 and then the praise team came forward, and led us in worship and prayer. They had a drummer, keyboard and bass guitar along with nine men and nine women singing. Following the praise and worship, we were told that each of the choirs from the church would be singing for us this morning. Starting with the children’s choir, at about this time Joyce came and tapped Stephanie and said come with me. “Barb, too?” She asked. “No, no, no, just you.” She followed Joyce to the rear of the church. Soon the choir came dancing down the aisle, singing as they came forward. It started with very young girls, maybe five years old, and went all the way up to Stephanie and Joyce. (Stephanie does not appreciate that they think is a young girl here.) They sang and danced until they were in three rows in front. Then Joyce introduced the Children’s Choir and said that Stephan (that’s how they all say Stephanie here) was here to sing and dance with them. Her sister from GEMS. Then she proceeded to tell the congregation that her mother was there also, and it only took a second, but I knew she was referring to me. She called me up and introduced me as her mother, and handed me the mic. OK, I had picked a passage during my quiet time this morning, thinking it would happen like last week at the end of the service, so I would be prepared……but always expect the unexpected in Africa. I was so busy wondering why they call me mother, I never even took my Bible out of my bag. Mother, is it because I am so old, many times here Jan is referred to moma Jan or mum, I think it must be an honor. At least that is the way I am going to view it. To be considered Joyce’s sister in Christ, I totally understand, but this a newer concept for me to consider. I bring greetings and thank them for supporting their GEMS club, and thank Joyce for her leadership. Tell them who I am and where I’m from and introduce Stephanie as well. Then before, they rope me to singing and dancing, I return to my seat. The girls sing three more songs, and Stephanie follows their movements so well, stepping and sliding her feet, clapping and moving in sync with them. They dance out of the front, and Steph takes her seat beside me. Next comes a mixed choir of men and women, dancing and singing down the aisle. Next, a men’s group and lastly the women’s choir. After all the choirs are finished, the offering is taken. Then a second offering for missions is collected. Finally it is time for the Pastor’s message. He preaches from I Corinthians about the cross of Christ. After he finishes, he calls the elders and deacons forward, and they are going to celebrate communion. As they uncover the table, I see large glasses and bags of bread. They scoop the bread like wafers into dishes and begin filling the large glasses full almost to the top. First, the elders and deacons take the bread, and then they pass the same glass to each person, all taking a drink, wiping the edge of the glass, and passing it to the next person. Oh dear! All for being careful what we eat and drink in Zambia, how is this going to work.

The pastor asks every other row to turn around, so you facing a brother or sister in Christ. First the bread is served, and you tell each other, Christ gave his life for you. Next comes the juice, and it works the same way, it comes down the row toward me, each person takes a drink, wipes the edge and passes it on. I really felt OK about it! Better than I had imagined I would when I first saw the large glasses and guessed what they would do.

The pastor ended the service, and a deacon came and asked us to join the pastor in his office. There we were served Orange Fanta and flat shortbread cookies. While the pastor asked us lots of questions. When did you arrive? When are you leaving? What are you doing here? What things don’t you like about Zambia? He asked Stephanie if she planned to marry a Zambian. He asked us what our occupations are. What do we think of Zambia? and on and on! Between each answer, there were long pauses, as he munched on his cookie and drank his Orange Fanta. We both thought this very interesting. A knock came at the door, and it was the deacon, who had picked us up telling us that he was ready to drive us back. We thanked the pastor and took our leave.

It had become very hot while we were in church, but the deacon said it will rain this afternoon and cool things down a bit. The sky was filled with clouds and there were some dark ones in the distance.

We were about out of food, and Siwali didn’t come in on Saturday, so we didn’t get to the grocery store. We had talked before church about a walk to Debonaire’s for pizza after church. When we got back we changed our clothes and headed out hoping to beat the rains. We got to Debonaire’s ordered our pizza and decided on an outdoor table. We had just sat down when it started to rain, and it came down in buckets! Then suddenly it was hailing with the rain, how strange to see hail in Zambia. We had the perfect table, we were under the roofs overhang and the rain was not bothering us at all. Our pizza came we ate it, and the rain stopped. We head out and begin our walk back, we are about half way, near the corner of Kudo Road when the rain starts again in earnest, we take shelter with our umbrellas up against the wall of one of the homes. The water is rising at our feet, and the pizza box slips out of Steph's hand, as I am digging in my bag to get the camera to capture this moment. Several taxis’ want to come to our aid, but we are reluctant to ride with anyone we don’t know. We wave them on, the rain lets up a little and we think we can make it to the Petroda station. Not so much, the rain begins again, and dowses us, we are soaked, the wind is blowing, the rain is hitting us all over, and we trudge on. We stop at Petroda and wait it out, soon it lets up, and we finish our walk without any more rain. In fact, no more rain the whole afternoon!

This is just before Steph drops the pizza box. I took it by accident, trying to hold the umbrella, get the camera out and take our picture.

We look way to good, considering we are backed against the wall with our umbrellas, getting soaked! And turning away all the requests of men wanting to come to our aid!

After we are back, dried out and relaxing on this Sunday afternoon, there is a knock at the gate, one of the counselors is coming for more labels and thread for her potholders. I give her what she needs. She begins to walk out, and stops, looking back, says she is in need of prayers. She tells us that her niece who she is caring for since her sister has passed a few month ago, has not been feeling well. She had taken her to the clinic yesterday, her niece is named Beauty, she has tested positive for AIDS. She says she is to young, and needs time to grow. I assure Margie of our prayers for Beauty.

Margie was one of the ladies who was here for prayer time on Friday, and as I watched her beg the Lord to shine His love and mercy, care and protection on GEMS, she blessed me so. Now it is my time to beg the Lord to send His healing mercies down on Beauty and for peace and grace for her Aunt Margie, as she care for her. To pray as fervantly for Beauty and all the other suffering children, as Margie does for GEMS! God is continuing to open my eyes, that I might see, how I might reach out to others. I ask for your prayers for Beauty and Margie, too.

When I think of all we are doing it makes me smile and feel like lives are being touched and changed here in Zambia because of GEMS, but then when I hear these stories, the tears well up within me and I wonder can it ever really change. Will there ever be less death and suffering among the children here? I pray that it will be so.

Today was a day of worship, I so enjoyed the music and choirs at the church. I think about the times when my Pastor begins a morning of worship with the words "As Christians gather all over the world today." They ring true with a deeper meaning for me. While my family is still sleeping, I have been worshipping with brothers and sisters in Christ here in Zambia. I also enjoy, how the Zambian people truly worship, with their whole beings with no regard to the clock. And the rain, it was OK too. It is the tears welling up within, make the biggest impact on today.

Visiting Clubs and Visiting Kids

2009-11-28T08:09:00.009-06:00

How is it that I always feel more blessings here than I do when I'm at home? Why isn't my heart touched and blessed by the things in my club, am I to busy to notice? Am I so busy flying here and there, trying to get everything done and done a certain way, that I miss a lot of blessings? I think so! The slower pace, not having to manage all my stuff, and fly all over the place. On this trip, I am feeling quite blessed to have internet most of the time, that is when we have power. I've been able to skype Bob, Melissa and see and talk to the kids and Rob and Mary too. Sure makes being across the ocean not seem so far away.

Yesterday after prayers, Maxhilda the Club Coordinator at Apostolic Faith Mission in Klingalinga told me her club meets at 8 hours - 10 hours. I told her I would be there. When I shared with Stephanie over breakfast, that I should leave to walk from here at about 7:50, she laughed. "No, you don't need to go that early, no one will be there. That is the time they say, but I have found every time they give me a time, they come about 30 minutes later." Hummm! OK, I'll wait until about 8:10 to start off.

As I walk along the dirt streets of the compound, I am thankful that the rains have dried up over the past three days. The streets are dry and there is not much dust blowing. A dirty plastic bag comes scooting along the dirt and I step over it. Each person, I pass looks rather strangely at me, what is a monzongu doing walking the streets of our compound? They all greet me when I smile and say "Good Morning!"

I arrive at the church, it is now 8:20 and it is all locked, and no one is around. That is OK; I sit down on the step near the door, that leads to the pastor’s home, which is connected to the church, and wait. The area where the church is seems quite unique to me. Even though I have been here multiple times. This time I have time to ponder the setting. There are five finished churches and one unfinished church, all very close to one another. As I sit I can see three other churches. One of the churches is a Seventh Day Adventist Church where they are having services, already this morning. I listen to the singing, the melodies I recognize the words are in a native dialect. I hum along, and sing the words I remember. He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock.

The view of some of other churches from the step where I am waiting.

I watch as a car comes between two of the churches, it is barely inching forward, and sounds like it has lost its transmission. It inches to the open pathway toward the road, turns in backwards and begins backing up and moves along at a fairly good speed. He proceeded unto the road and backed away from me. Interesting!

I watch as young girls come to the church and fill buckets and tubs with water and carry them away. I want to take their pictures, but don't feel that I should. Just a few feet from me they set down their water, and ask why I am here. I tell them I am waiting for the GEMS Club to begin. They ask, to come to GEMS do you have to pay? I tell them no, they say they want to come back.

About 8:40 Catherine, one of the counselors arrives, with several girls following. They unlock the door to the church and head to the front pew. They begin singing, as more and more girls come in. At about 9 hours I think everyone must be here, and I show them the video that our girls made for them. They loved to see our girls singing and doing the motions. They laughed and giggled, and said just like us they sing and dance. Some of our girls recorded messages for them and they liked them very much. They gathered together and sang one more song, and then broke into their classes, two classes of advanced girls one older girls and one younger, and one larger group of awareness girls. The leaders that were teaching were all new counselors at training in April, and they were doing a very good job.

The girls as they arrive

Unlocking the churches padlock.

The girls reading the letters from their Sister Club at CCRC

An advanced group with their leader

Our Sister Club

Club Coordinator from our Sister Club - Maxhilda

About 9:30 Stephanie popped in on her way to Pentecostal Holiness to do some videotaping of the CIT's teaching there. She also wanted to interview the CIT's and hear how GEMS has changed their lives. At 11 hours all the girls at our Sister club gathered for a photo or they would say a snap. The number had doubled since I thought they must be all there. Then they were on their way.

I walked across the dirt between AFM Church and PHC and observed the teaching there. All the classes were being taught by CIT's with oversight from Catherine and Beatrice. These girls are the GEMS Clubs of the future! What great girls. I listen as Stephanie interviews them one at a time, and am blessed by how God has used GEMS to change their lives.

Getrude teaching her advanced class

Mirrium passing out the coloring sheets to the awareness class

A few things are the same in both countries

Just before noon, the PH girls all gather inside, and sing and recite the GEMS aim. Then they are dismissed.

Stephanie and I pack up the cameras and start our walk back to the GEMS office.

About 1:30 we head over to the house. The House that GEMS Built, the children and mommas are busy planting maze. They say it will grow very fast now that it is the rainy season. The sky is threatening rain, and there is thunder and lightning in the distance.

We meet with the kids inside the house; they all greet us with hugs. Even the children from the other duplex all come to greet us, and gather on the floor around our feet. We ask about school, Lisa shows me a card, that she got for graduating from first grade yesterday. She was very proud. I ask Dixon and Clement, if they remembered what they asked me to bring next time! Huge grins cross their faces and they say "atlas!" I said "yes" and that I have brought some for both houses. I get them out to rounds of clapping! They immediately want to know where we live and begin paging through the books. Three of the boys sit in the corner and study the books. Stephanie and some of the other children look at the other atlas. What small things bring such joy to this family. I share letters that were sent for them, and they read them and share them with the other children from the other house.

The boys with the new atlases

Stephanie showing them about Africa

Playing a game on the porch, notice the garden in the background

Homemade checkerboard and checkers

Now it is time to play games and outside we go, it is just sprinkling a little, so let the games begin. The children look so happy, and love to have Stephanie there playing with them. Fun times for almost everyone. One of the boys from the other house is HIV positive and he is very thin and tired. He does seem somewhat stronger, than he did on our August trip. He is getting medicine now that he didn't get before he came into the orphan home. He watches as the children play games. The older boys are playing checkers with a piece of wood with colored boxes for a board, and bottle caps for the checkers. They are very good! I'm sure I wouldn't stand a chance against them.

Playing a relay game!

After about an hour outdoors, the sky is getting darker and the raindrops bigger, so we tell them it is time for us to go. Again, hugs and squeezes of love from all the children. We assure them that we will see them again soon. They wave goodbye as we step through the gate and begin our walk back.

I knew going into this day, it would be great! Once again God has blessed me beyond measure, I can't think of adequate words to really express how GEMS is changing lives and making a difference in the lives of both girls and counselors here in Zambia. As well as in North America, it is growing bigger hearts in the girls there as well. There is a hope and a future for these girls and it is just so exciting to be a very small part of it. I praise God for this day!

Thanksgivings and Blessings

2009-11-28T04:23:00.002-06:00

Oh how we take things for granted. How often are you thankful for the spin dry cycle on your dryer? How about for electric mixers, maybe even a big Kitchen Aid one?

This morning I began my day doing laundry. Been here a week, and needed to do laundry! You know how you love those big thick, plush towels after your bath....ever think about washing them in a tub on the floor and then wringing them out by hand? I think my next choice might be an older, thinner more worn one. As I wrung out the washed items, my arms ached. What a wimp I am! Finally, got the load on the line and thought I need to be more thankful for some of the things I so take for granted at home. Be thankful for washers and the spin dry cycle:)

Next project of the morning. Making banana bread for the counselors to sample when they come at 14 hours for Prayer & Bible study with Catherine. We thought they could make sweet breads, banana, pumpkin and zucchini, those items are plentiful here. The ladies could bake them and then take them to the markets and sell them. There are just a few things that stand in our way. Some of the ingredients, I haven't been able to find here. The pumpkin would have to be precooked before adding to the bread recipes. Measuring.....we reach in a cupboard or drawer and have wet measuring cups, dry measuring cups, measuring spoons, how do they measure? I am guessing with there hands. So, how do I convert my recipes from 3 cups to 3 handfuls of flour or a teaspoon of salt might equal 1/8 palm of salt? What makes me think a handful would equal a cup, more experimenting. Be thankful for measuring cups:)

Well, once again I think about what they have or should I say don't have here! I've brought bread pans, but what do they mix in. All I have here is a pot, and that is probably all they have also. I begin to add my ingredients to the pan. This is when the mix master comes to mind, as I start to stir and mix. With each additional ingredient it takes a little more energy. I remember how quickly the lumps disappear under the rapidly turning beaters at home. Not the same, as I stir and stir and still see lumps. The recipe is complete, pans greased and oven converted from Celsius to Fahrenheit. For your information - 350 degrees F is 176 degrees C. I place the bread in the oven and begin to ponder how this will work over the counselors braziers. A brazier is similar to our charcoal grills. It is a round cylinder with holes in it, there is no grill on which to set the pans, they are set right on the coals, nor are there covers to keep the heat baking around the pans. Humm?? How will this work. If the counselors enjoy my offering today, next week Catherine and I will experiment with how the baking can be done.

So before 9 hours, my arms are worn, tired, weak and flabby! The strength of these women blesses me so, how hard they have to work just for the basics of which I so take for granted.

My next thanksgiving comes as I take the finished bread out of the oven. I have to quickly cover it with a clean dish towel, to keep the flies from sitting on it. They loved the smell as it wafted in the air. It brought them all inside this morning, there are so many, I could say hundreds, and I don't think, I'd be exaggerating much. I think back to home where we have screens on our windows and doors, and voice a prayer of thanksgiving for them. I am also very thankful for the flyswatter that Kathy emailed me to bring:)

I go from thansgivings to blessings, the counselors here bless me so much. The ladies have a meeting at 14 hours (2:00) and they begin arriving before 11 hours, saying they want to work on their potholders. Catherine takes her place at the machine, Joyce, Emely and Catherine (from AFM-Klingalinga) take there places on the floor and begin pinning the potholders together. While I am doing a little housekeeping, sweeping and getting ready for the ladies later today. The women begin to sing as they are working! They have the most beautiful harmony, one beginning and leading and the others joining in. I stop and listen and feel glory bumps running up and down my arms. How they praise God with their voices and bless me as I listen in.

OK, so I thought I was blessed earlier, when the ladies were singing. Has anyone had what I call glory bumps? They are goose bumps that touch your heart and soul. I've had them over and over all afternoon. At 14 hours the counselors that were here began to pray, there were five of them. One shares a topic for prayer, then they burst into song, and then into prayer over all different areas of the GEMS ministry. They started out asking God to bind the devil and keep him away from the GEMS Service Center and the GEMS Clubs. They are all praying out loud, standing with hands upraised, kneeling, on their knees with their faces to the floor begging God for protection. They continue as more counselors arrive and join in, with each new petition, a new counselor shares it with the others and they sing and pray for those requests. They pray for the GEMS team! Double glory bumps! They pray for the churches who have GEMS clubs, the club cooridnators, the counselors, the CIT's, the girls, and so much more. They are praying for well over an hour and a half on behalf of GEMS! As I sat and listened tears of joy ran down my cheeks. Oh how I was blessed by their fervant devotion to pray for the ministry.

When they were finished, there were eleven counselors present. I explained that I had made some banana bread for them to try. Banana bread?? they ask? Never have they heard of anything like that. They said they have heard of banana cake but never a bread. After I serve them, they are saying "yum,yum" and "yes, yes" they like it very much.

I explain about micro-financing, that we would supply them with the first batch of ingredients. When they have gone to market, and sold the bread, they will have to save money from the profits, to purchase the next batch of supplies themselves and give 10% back to GEMS, the rest is theirs to keep. As I finish, Catherine translates what I have just explained to those who do not speak English as well. The only word that I recognize is the word tithe. And the counselors all nod and say "yes, yes, that is how it will be."

Now, I need you all to be praying! Catherine and I are going to experiment as to how the women can bake the bread on their braziers. That is on our schedule for next Tuesday morning. It is so difficult, everything I think would work, is North American, and not available to them. Please pray that God shows us a way, for this to happen. I'd hate to disappoint them after seeing such excitement for what they call the program. Be thankful for your ovens.

Such a day of praise and blessing with thanksgivings. God is good! All the time!

A Day at Chaminuka!

2009-11-27T11:11:00.000-06:00

As I left home and headed off to Zambia, I felt bad not being with my family on Thanksgiving Day, even though this is the year that my children all go to the other side of the family. I would not be able to spend the day with Bob, and knew it would just be another day of PB &J! Boy was I wrong, that isn’t even close to the day that I experienced today. Soon after I arrived Stephanie began talking about what we would do special before we left for home, she has been here since October 1 and so she in the countdown phase, I haven’t hit that yet, cause I just arrived. Well, she began with wanting to ride an elephant. Catherine had told her of a place where we could go to ride elephants. Oh boy, not sure I have ever had a desire to ride an elephant, but I am game for just about anything, so I told her to check it out. She went online and found out it was no longer available near Lusaka. She also checked on a few other places she found on the internet, but most were quite a distance from Lusaka. Humm….what should we do, we had both been to Chaminuka before, but it was a pleasurable experience each time and it is just over an hour away, not really that distance, but the last 25km are poor, poor dirt roads. So we travel very slowly.

As we sat and cut potholders on Wednesday, the sun had come out, and we were enjoying seeing something besides rain. We got to thinking, if we waited until the end of our trip (which is what we usually have done, it is supposed to be raining 24/7. We got out our schedule, the days that work best are Mondays and Thursdays, because that is when the counselors have other programs and don’t come to the GEMS Service Center. We are really are busy on weekends visiting clubs and worshipping. So….seeing the weather on my yahoo page said it was to be sunny on Thursday (today) we thought lets go on a day when it is to be nice weather. We checked with Siwali and he said it would be good for him to drive us. Steph called and inquired of prices and events, game drives, horseback game drives, boat cruises and it was just as expensive to do all three, as it was to do just a game drive and lunch. I wasn’t so sure about the horseback riding, but that was Stephs replacement for not being able to ride an elephant. I thought an elephant or a horse, I’ll take the horse, it has to have been 25 years or more since I was on a horse, but once again, I’m game for just about anything, so why not! We gave Siwali money for gas before he knocked off on Wednesday afternoon, (another long story about fuel shortages, sometimes early in the day there just isn’t any gas, and you get in lines at the fueling stations and wait.) We told him we would like to leave at 7 hours in the morning. I was concerned that after the recent rains the roads would be worse than before, but not so they were much better than our previous trips.

We arrived at Chaminuka at about 8:15 and were served morning beverages. At promptly 9 hours off we went for our game drive, Collin was our guide and he was so knowledgeable about all the animals. Explaining many things to us about each different animal we saw. We saw lions and hyenas, elephants from a distance, many kudos, antelope, ditka, impala, then we came around a corner and there were three giraffes! Giraffes just happened to be both Steph and my favorites! We got very close to them, and climbed from the truck and took tons of pictures of them. Flat Hunter was very excited to get his picture taken with the giraffes. Giraffes are very curious and this was a bachelor herd (all male) so there were no young. When young are present, they are very protective and you cannot get that close. We took lots of pictures before we moved on to see zebras, warthogs, and many more species of antelope and deer. We were back at the lodge by 11 hours and saw our horses waiting!

Oh boy, here goes nothing. I am praying this horse likes me and is very gentle! We are given helmets to wear??? Oh dear, why are helmets necessary? OK, you can do this, the guide helps me to mount and says “you are experienced, you have ridden before?” I say “Yes” with not much confidence. My horse is named Beauty! We stand and wait, for the guide to help Steph mount, and off we go. There are no saddle horns to hang on to, just hold the front of the saddle. Oh boy! Here goes nothing! As we are beginning, the guide asks questions, like where are you from and what brings you to Zambia. I share with him about GEMS and we ride on. He looks back and asks how I am doing, I reply “Fine.” Then he asks how I learned to ride horses. I explain that my brother has always had horses, but I am sure I haven’t been on a horse in maybe 25 years. He says I am doing well. Then he asks Steph the same questions. We ride on, very nice gentle horses and a great guide. We see many birds close up; we see more of the kudos and impalas, and monkeys. We ride for an hour before returning to the lodge. It was good, and I would do it again, really quiet and peaceful as you try to take in all of God’s beautiful creation.

Then we are served soft drinks with ice, and are told lunch will be at 13 hours. We are seated at a table for two, and smell the outdoor grilles preparing our feast. The food was simply delicious and we tried several new things, eggplant, fried and in a sauce, many different vegetables. There was a great pasta dish, potatoes, a rice dish, salads and our choices of meat were pork ribs, chicken and impala. The impala was very good, so tender and very tasty. There were desserts and multiple types of cheese from their very own cheese factory.

They were very gracious and served Siwali lunch also. He smiled at us as he filled his plate and headed to a private dining room with other Chaminuka staff.

After lunch we went for our boat cruise. Steph was slightly disappointed that we had not seen the elephants close up. She asked the guide if there was any chance we would see elephants on the boat cruise. He said he was sure we would, because it was a very warm day and they like to come to the lake and cool down at mid day! Hooray! She was beaming! We drive to the boat launch, and as we are driving up, I see the elephants across the lake, Steph squeals with delight. We motor across to be in the water, in our fiberglass boat. The guide brings us very close to where they are eating the trees at the water’s edge. Our guide is very cautious, he brings us quite close, but as soon as the elephants start to move, we back away. He tells us elephants are very good swimmers, and could swim the length of the lake without any problem. Then as the elephant continues to eat we move in closer and back away. We stop at a little island, but it is really a termite hill and we take pictures of us with the elephants in the back ground. Steph does her usual jumping theme. I just stand and pose, that is good for me, my feet firmly planted on the ground.

The elephant’s start their trek back along the water’s edge, we motor along and continue to take multiple photos. Soon, we are motoring around the lake and seeing lots of birds, and fowl that live in the area around the lake.

We return to the lodge and find Siwali napping, after his hearty lunch. He is excited at all we’ve seen. We begin our drive out the long Chaminuka driveway, as we are rounding one of the curves, there are the elephants again. We are very close, Steph asks Siwali to stop so we can get MORE pictures. Now we are really close. The elephants have keepers who walk with them all around the game area. This is because the elephants cause so much damage and are so destructive to the vegetation. The keepers only allow them to eat in certain areas, as they reach up with their trunks and just break off branches that are the size of my arm. Chew them up and grab another one. So here we are climbing out of the car, snapping pictures. The keeper says come over here, close and see the elephant. So we go really close and he takes our pictures and then I call to Siwali and ask him if he would like his picture with an elephant, he smiles and says “Oh, yes, Madam!” I take several snaps of him and the elephant. We climb into the car rejoicing at how good God is to give us this extra opportunity to see these magnificent creatures.

On the remainder of the drive out we see so many more animals, all of the different kinds of deer and antelope. Siwali just oohs and ahs, each time we see more. We also see a large black mamba snake; it is dead in the road. But Steph takes many more snaps of it for her brother Darrin.

What an amazing day! God allowed for us to enjoy. How we reveled in His creation, both the land and animals. The beautiful clear blue sky, gentle breeze and good food. This will be a Thanksgiving I will never forget!

The Work Continues!

2009-11-25T12:00:00.000-06:00

After so enjoying the sunshine yesterday, we were so excited to see it shining in the windows as we woke up this morning! The first thing we do in the morning, is to release the night guard. He can't leave until we come out and close the gate behind him, so I hurried out just after 6:30 to let him out. Soon there after, Siwali arrived for the day. He begins sweeping all the areas around the house, and putting the grounds in order. We have our breakfast, and enjoy our our quiet time, while the sun streams into the windows. Catherine arrives first, and begins cutting more fabric into 8" strips, then I cut the 8" strips into squares. Today, I opt to sit at a table with a chair, and cut that way, my back just doesn't do sitting on the floor.As I grab the scissors, the first thing I notice is the three spots on my fingers where the scissors had rubbed yesterday, off to the zip lock bag with my first aid supplies and find the band aids! Now that I have all the sore spots covered, I grab the scissors and begin cutting and cutting and cutting! The ladies begin to arrive, today Annette is at the machine, and Emely is positioned back on the floor, pinning together more potholders. Siwali takes the broken machine, that we got the part for yesterday, out into the porch area and begins to fix it. I see him come in and get a hammer, and then I hear repeated banging, as he is pounding on a part of the machine. a few minutes later he calls to Catherine to come and see if he has it fixed. She checks it out, and it is better, but not fixed. He again does more pounding, and she returns at his call. Yes, we hear the smooth gentle sound of the machine working as it should. He returns that machine and begins working on the second machine that froze up yesterday, while the ladies were sewing, and soon is calling to Catherine to come and try. Again we hear the smooth gentle sound. He returns that machine to its place. We are so thankful that he could fix both machines. Maxhilda comes, bringing with her 100 completed potholders. Sharing that she had received a call and her mother is very ill in Chongwe, so she would not be able to sew today. We thanked her for bringing her potholders, and sent her off with prayers for her mother's health. Soon a young gal comes and helps Annette, Annette sews and she sits in the corner of the room, between the wall and the sewing machine and takes the finished potholders and turns each one right side out. We finish cutting all the fabric and the ladies work again, until after 4:30 today, and when they leave all the fabric is gone, and they are wondering when there will be more! Steph and I have a little leftover chicken cut up in some vegetables, and serve it over spagetti with Italian dressing. Thanks Kathy for the great idea, it was so good! We settle down to a quiet evening, reading and listening to music. No potholders to work on tonight!