Visiting Kabwe Clubs

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

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

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

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

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?

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!