Hello everyone,
Where do I start? It has been so hectic here! David is working day and night to get the buildings ready, the IWU team needs to be moved in the guest wing by next week and the administrative offices (all three buildings) will pack up and move to their new home March 1st. The excitement is beginning to build and the WHIZ staff can hardly believe it is finally going to happen. There are so many loose ends to be tied up but God will provide all that is necessary. What a glorious testimony to Him, these buildings are miracles! If you are on Facebook, I have a page set up with many pictures on it. It’s much easier to load pictures there than on the website, but I still update the site.
Can’t get over how beautiful it is here this year… Travelling to Lusaka last week David and I came over a hill and the view was spectacular. A myriad of shades of green, like a color palette. The foliage is growing so quickly, it’s actually spreading onto the road in some places. We were watching a young boy of about 8 herd a dozen cows that were all much bigger than he, with nothing more than a broken twig. They were obeying him too! The children learn to work very young here, they all need to do their part to assist their family. It is normal to see a young people pedalling an old beat up bike with 100 pounds (45.50KG I’m practicing my metric) of homemade charcoal strapped on it. Do you know they make charcoal for cooking and heating from trees here? No coal.. It’s for sale, in tall bags, along the road everywhere!
The knitting classes began early last week, we are meeting in the church. The ladies are “sewing” (it’s what they call knitting here) like crazy! The first class was so much fun, we were all laughing at ourselves and each other. None of the ladies had ever seen a circular knitting needle and they were very confused. After a few demonstrations they all vowed they would not sleep that night until they figured out how to “sew” in a circle. Loveness, one of the ladies, stayed up very late figuring it out by candlelight. They came to class two days later and I was stunned. They all had the upper leg finished and were anxious to move onto the heel. The ladies were thrilled with the quality of the “cotton” (yarn) and amazed at the patterns that are emerging from the yarn. I have seen many rip out their work and start over again because it didn’t look right. My friend, Prudence, is an excellent knitter. She wanted me to explain what I called knit and purl stitches yesterday. Zambians call them front and back stitches. A total of 22 ladies have come to class with a waiting list of 10 right now. I only had 22 pair of needles so if any one wants to send more…
While in Lusaka last weekend purchasing materials for the building, in a 12 hour period of time we met two amazing women, one from the US and one from Canada. What we found we had in common… our love for the Zambian people. The first lady is from Boston and was here working on a health program, she was sharing her amazement at the faith the Zambian people have in God. The second lady hails from Canada and has been here working with an orphanage and a school. She has managed (with Gods’ help, of course) to raise funding for a set of four textbooks for each child in the school/432 children. She loves it here and couldn’t say enough about the love and kindness she has felt from the people. I pray you will have the opportunity to visit someday. I can’t find words to express what it’s like to see a family of six on their way to church… on a single bicycle. They are talking and laughing, the man pedals with a young one on the fork and another on his lap, another child is on the handlebars and then mom is riding on the back with a baby in a chitenge and one on her lap. The fact the man can pedal, let alone talk at the same time…
As I sit here I can hear the children in pre-school. They are singing and every once in a while, I hear a chorus of “Jesus”, the answer to all theirs and our questions. I remember when I first began teaching Sunday School years ago, whenever I would ask the kids a question and they didn’t know the answer the first word out of their mouths was “Jesus”. How right they were… He is very tangible here, imagine waking in the morning with no food in the cupboard and going to Him in prayer, trusting and knowing that He will provide for all your needs. Maybe not today but He will provide… It’s tough here right now, due to the harshness of rainy season last year, there is very little maize available. Choma Milling Company is going to suspend operations until the current maize crop can be harvested. There is no maize to grind and sell. The lines at the milling outlets are so long and people are waiting hours for a small bag of mealie meal. Please keep the need in your prayers.
Rainy season is said to be normal this year. It rains once a day, maybe for a hour or so and then clears and the sun shines. It’s actually been cool a few days and we’ve been enjoying the reprieve. It’s still difficult to travel to remote villages as the roads become impassable due to the rain. The road from Livingstone to Zimba is challenging, the detours are now mud and the biggest problem seems to be navigating around semi trucks that have gotten stuck.
The IWU team is doing well, they are really settling in and enjoying life here. Professors from the University of Zambia in Lusaka have travelled here to lecture on Zambian culture and lifestyles. It’s quite interesting. They have been spending two days a week visiting neighbouring villages and working with and for the people. Yesterday they travelled to Jembo Bible school and helped the staff revamp the student library. The team will travel to Lusaka next week for three days and visit the University, attend classes and see the BIG city.
Well must get back to “work”, all of the WHIZ staff are going over to the new site today to plant grass seed, should be fun! We pray all is well with you and your families and please remember you are always in our thoughts and prayers. From time to time we struggle and I can’t tell you how much we appreciate the prayer support we feel, twalumba! David is so excited, it looks like his dad and sister will be coming to visit in the summer. We miss our families and it’s great to share our life here with them.
Leza amuleleke
Ba David and Mrs. David
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