Good Times

We've had a pretty busy few months in Choma (and the surrounding areas!). We have seen more of Zambia than we ever thought possible. Here are a few highlights from the past couple of teams that we haven't yet had time to mention:

Kazoo choir in Maambo

Daybreak Team (from Michigan) - This was a fun group!  Everywhere they went they emanated joy and laughter.  We spent a ton of time with their partner village - Maambo.  You can tell they loved the people there and were fully invested in the projects that had been started (a piggery, hammermill and teachers houses).  Plus, they brought us things from home...how can we not love them!

IWU on a home visit in Sinafala

IWU Public Health Team - a team of 8 girls, led by their male professor (a brave man, he was!).  They were some of the most kind and loving girls we have met. Many nights were spent in our living room with this group, hearing about their days and drinking hot chocolate and eating Jon's delicious muffins.  We had many interesting experiences with this group and we will miss them dearly because of those!

Digging for the foundation

Highpoint First Wesleyan (from North Carolina)- they were our go-getters!  This group not only wanted to get the job done (as they started 2 teacher houses in Katundulu and did teacher mentoring), but the village they were in will be greater because of the relationships they developed.  We have never seen 2 American men get a group of 16 construction workers to laugh that much! And, they brought us stuff from home :)

Now, it is time to rest.  Our hearts our full - it's time to try to sort them out and make room for even more that is to come.

New "Normal"

We were talking a while ago as we were making a trip back from Livingstone what “normal” is for us.  A few months ago, it would have been waking up in the morning, taking a hot shower, making a pot of coffee, driving to work, watching school buses pick up and drop of children, making dinner, watching our favorite shows on tv, going to a movie…the list could go on.

When we first arrived in Zambia, there were things that would make us ask, “How could that even possibly happen?”  Things that, after 3 months, have become “normal.” Things like…

Children walking up to 4 miles to go to school on a highway where

cars, trucks and buses zoom by at high speeds

Small children carrying even smaller children on their backs

Women and children carrying huge basins of water on their heads so their families can have a source of water for the day

Children selling goods on the street and in the market

We used to see these things and think, “How could that even possibly happen?”  Now we see it as life, as a normal part of living in Zambia.  We have learned to suspend judgment, to ask questions, to learn why things happen the way they do. Our heads don’t turn near as much as they used to, but our hearts still ache for the way things could be.

Our House!

We moved in to our house about 3 weeks ago and are loving it!  It even came with a washer and dryer, which we have been making good use of.


Here are some photos...

kitchen

kitchen

Living room - there are french doors that go out to a
large porch

spare room

spare room

our room

our room

one room for the sink,
shower and washer...

one room for the toilet

Jon cooking up a storm...

We've had a great time settling in, filling up the pantry (there's a HUGE one attached to the kitchen), and baking.  Jon has made an apple pie, a few batches of muffins and a few batches of cookies...which we both thoroughly enjoyed!  It's a great place to live and relax between teams.  We are very thankful.