Greetings,
What a busy few weeks, seems like we’ve been back much longer than 3 weeks. It seemed to take longer to get past jet lag this time and then I had some sort of flu that lasted four days right after we arrived home. Michigan has been getting hit with frigid temperatures and lots of snow, we aren’t sorry we are missing it! The heat and humidity here has taken some getting used to, forgot how oppressive the humidity can be during rainy season.
David is all over the place, he’s been so busy ascertaining and purchasing the final materials to finish the buildings. He left for Lusaka today for materials and should return in a few days. The guest wing is very close to completion, they finished tiling the kitchen, painting all the interior walls and are looking to complete the finish work (light switches, closet doors etc…) in the next few days. . Many of you have heard us speak of Robson, one of the building foreman that David has had a ongoing “challenging” relationship with… Well, the day we returned and David went to the site, Robson came running up, hugged David and then wouldn’t let go of his hand for an hour. Kept telling him how happy he was to see him, that old adage absence makes the heart grow fonder??? Since, he’s reverted back to old behaviour.. David enjoyed it. The biggest area of concern is getting electricity run to the buildings. ZESCO (the only electric company in Zambia) finds it difficult to make accurate commitments so David has to call and “chase” them daily for an installation date. Please keep this situation in your prayers, we really need them working on site!
I didn’t realize how preoccupied with settling in we must have been last year until we returned. Some of our first observations were how green everything is, it’s lush and beautiful. The flora is breathtaking and growing wild everywhere. This rainy season seems more along the lines of “normal” so the crops are thriving and even the animals look good. The cows are FAT and for those who have been here, you know how unusual that is. The kwatcha (currency here in Zambia) has stabilized again and people are relieved. You don’t realize how hard it is to plan ahead and budget when you are uncertain how much everything will cost next week, especially if you are converting foreign funds. Last year the kwatcha fluctuated as much as 25% during a two-three day period of time. The economy is slowly recovering.
This year one of my resolutions is to exercise regularly. I love speed walking and during the past year didn’t have the opportunity to do much. After we returned from the states (each of us carrying more body weight than we left Zambia with) I promised myself I was going to work those Christmas cookies off. I broke down and bought a scale, imagine my surprise when I weighed so little, until I realized it was displaying my weight in kilograms. Now I get to do a math exercise every time I get on the scale. So in the mornings I get up early and set off.. I have noticed so many things. Looking down (which I usually do a lot in order not to accidentally stumble on any snakes) I kept seeing what looked like pods (tons of them) with fuzz on them. I thought it was some kind of rodent or something, imagine my surprise when I finally stopped, bent down and realized they are mango pits. Here I was skirting them in the road day after day.. I wonder how many people got a laugh from that scene. All the mango trees are full of ripe fruit and there are mango trees everywhere. Since it’s rainy season I walk with an umbrella most days because it can rain any time, I see so many people walking to work or school in pouring down rain with no umbrella. They aren’t running or trying to cover themselves, they just walk at a leisurely pace as if it’s refreshing. Big news, the grocery got a new bread slicer! This is wonderful as I have yet to learn how to cut evenly sized pieces of bread. The crowd at the store tells me I’m not the only one!
The IWU team arrived safely and have been busy settling in and adjusting to life in Zambia. They have a busy schedule during the next three months, class time, guest lecturers from Zambia, visits to trusts and studying, studying and more studying. Nice team and they seem to be enjoying getting to know the WHIZ staff and caregivers. The first home based care visits, where they met with AIDS patients, were very eye opening for them. To meet and see people of their own age sick with AIDS and not having much hope was hard. It’s one thing to hear about it or view it on TV but to see the devastation this disease is causing right before your eyes is heart breaking.
I’m excited, I’ve been asked to teach a childrens’ Sunday school class. I taught 3-5 year olds for seven years at our home church and have really missed it. It’s a privilege to be asked and I’m looking forward to strengthening our ties at church. It should be interesting as lots of the kids don’t speak English but I’m sure it can work out. God makes a way, where there doesn’t seem to be one…
Hoping to schedule classes next week to begin teaching people how to knit socks. Thanks again for all the donations of needles and yarn! The ladies were so impressed and touched that so many people (that they don’t even know) donated to enable them to learn a new skill.
It’s wonderful to be back home, we really enjoy life here. My candy “gang” have all realized I’m back so the office has been busy and full of childrens’ laughter. Been busy solving internet issues and fixing computers. I still don’t understand how big bugs can get inside a computer housing. Again, thank you for your love, prayers and support. We had a great time on leave and it was wonderful to see and meet so many of the people “behind” the email addresses. We look forward to another adventure packed year doing God’s work and coming alongside the people of Zambia. Can’t begin to find the words to express our appreciation to those who stretched themselves to support our work during these tough economic times. Twalumba!
Blessings,
Ba David and Ba Beth
Please lift the Zambian people in your prayers, things are very tough this year, the crops that washed away last rainy season were to provide food for this year and many are now hungry.
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