Livingstone Trip, Continued

We continued Lauren's birthday celebration with high tea at The Royal Livingstone Hotel, another delightful and relaxing experience, and then returned to Chanter's for dinner.

As we were eating, Lauren got a call from The Haven that baby Sarah had stopped breathing earlier in the day and was having a rough time. Harriet, the housemother's daughter, was taking care of her and was going to stay up all night with her. We ended our day by praying together for Sarah and for Lauren. As Kathi Merritt has warned us, taking care of babies like Sarah is a roller coaster of highs and lows. The next morning Harriet called to say that Sarah was doing better. We heaved a sigh of relief.

Saturday morning we investigated two new medical facilities in Livingstone. Our primary purpose was to find a source of oxygen for babies like Sarah when they are having trouble breathing. So far the hospital at Maacha, three hours away, was the closest source we could find.

The first facility is an emergency/ambulance service that caters to tourists and ex-patriots. Ihanda, the wife of the manager, was extremely helpful in explaining what they have available and said they do have oxygen. She also referred us to a new clinic in town. We visited there as well and were very impressed with the equipment and services offered. We now feel that we have two new resources to tap when we have emergencies at Namwianga. Livingstone is only an hour an a half away as compared to the three-hour trip to Maacha.

We ended our time in Livingstone by picking up Dr. Sid Tate at the airport. He is returning to Namwianga to finish getting the X-ray machine in operation at the clinic. A technician is flying in from Kenya on Monday to do the final set-up and adjustments.

When we arrived back at Namwianga, Lauren found that Sarah has bounced back once again and is doing better. Her weight is now below five pounds, though, so she doesn't have much to fight with. It's a day to day struggle for her. We'll keep you posted.

Chanter's Lodge

After our adventure at the Zambezi Gorge, we checked in at a delightful place called Chanter's Lodge. You can click on the title above to see more photos and information. Richard, the owner, was a great host. He has his own blog for the lodge and has posted our blog address as well as photos of baby Sarah and Lauren.

Zambezi Swing

Lauren's 25th birthday was Friday, so we had a good excuse to go for an adrenaline-pumping, heart-pounding adventure swinging over the Zambezi Gorge. We got up early and went by The Haven to check on baby Sarah before heading to Livingstone. We made a quick stop in town for Lauren's annual Birthday Doughnut (she only eats doughnuts on her birthday) and then went on the Batoka Gorge.

Abseiling, or rappelling as we call it in the US, was the first challenge. We were harnessed into our gear, fastened to a line, and slowly lowered over the edge of the abyss--gorge, that is. This one was fun and not too scary, so we were ready for more.

We had a 20-minute or so hike back up to the top where we did the Fox Run. For this high wire activity, we were put into a harness and hooked to a zip line over the gorge. A quick running start and a giant leap sends you flying Superman-style into the air. I loved this, as you can tell from the picture on the left! It was exhilarating to look down and see the Zambezi flowing in the distance as you fly straight at the rocky crag on the opposite side of the gorge. We each got to do this twice.

The final test of stupidity or bravery, however you choose to look at it, was the Gorge Swing. Lauren and I decided to do this one in tandem, so our harnesses were clipped together. Then we were led up to the edge of the platform. We were going over backwards, so we backed up until our heels hung over the edge. Our guide didn't give us time to think too long about what we were doing as he fired off the instructions: bend your knees, tuck your head down, and LEAN BACK! Then there were about three seconds of pure free fall (and intense screaming) until the rope extended all the way and we began to swing back and forth across the gorge. At that point our screams turned into raucous laughter--probably from the joy of still being alive and still having the use of our limbs. All I could think about at that point was how many times I have lectured my students about the dangers of peer pressure by saying, "If your friend jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?" Well, we did it and lived to tell about it!

David jumped by himself (see photo) and Lauren had enough guts for a second solo jump as well. We all agreed that we'd had an awesome experience that will give us stories to tell for many months! You can read more about the gorge swing at www.thezambeziswing.com.

Election

Watching the elections in Zambia as an observer has been fascinating. Almost half of our students were absent from class on Wednesday afternoon because they had to travel to their homes to vote in their home districts. There were no classes on Thursday because it was election day.

It looks like the opposition party has swept into power. As the results trickle in, Michael Sata appears to be winning. Sata is a man the news media labels a "firebrand." His other nickname is "King Cobra." We were concerned about news reports in which he praises Mugabe of Zimbabwe for getting rid of Western influence. However, we were in Livingstone over the weekend and heard from a man who knew Sata when Sata was mayor of Lusaka. He says Sata is hard-working and did a good job in his other government roles. We will hope and pray for the best.

Tiny Visitor

Here is baby Sarah stretched out on the mosquito net for a little nap. Lauren brought Sarah home to spend the night on Wednesday because Sarah was not doing well. She had a fever, cough, and labored breathing. It was painful to watch her struggle, and we were all worried about her. Lauren was up with her off and on all night trying to keep her fever down and make sure that Sarah got enough fluids. At 5:00 this morning her fever broke, and she has perked up today. She's back at The Haven now in her own bed. Sarah's life has been marked with close calls like this one. Please keep her in your prayers.

Lauren's blog has some great pictures that show Sarah's tiny hands and feet. You can click on the title above and visit her site.

Elections

allAfrica.com: Zambia: Upcoming Elections
Thursday is election day in Zambia. There are political rallies everywhere. Candidates have given out campaign chitenges (women's skirts), and posters plaster the fences and the outside walls of public buildings.

Some of the campaign activities have been rowdy. The American Embassy sent a warning to all Americans living in Zambia to stay out of certain parts of the capital city of Lusaka. Traffic has been stopped at major intersections by unruly mobs, and parts of the main city market have been burned.

There will be no school on Election Day, and most businesses will be closed. We are watching all this with great interest.

Sarah's Story Continued

The trip to Livingstone exhausted both Lauren and Sarah, so both needed a nap on the way home in the bus. Sweet Sarah is one of the most beautiful babies I've ever seen, and she is definitely the smallest I've ever handled. Her features are delicate, her eyes wide, her expressions sweet. Her tiny hands are the size of quarters.

Sarah has struggled to survive since her birth four months ago. There have been times when Lauren and the other workers at The Haven thought she wouldn't live to see another day. Miraculously, she hangs on and is showing some improvement.

Sarah has some things going for her. First of all, she's a fighter. She seems to have the will to live. She balls up her tiny fists in pain but hangs in there. Second, Sarah has people praying for her. The Haven's housemother Cecelia has spent hours on her knees pleading for God to spare this baby. Lauren's blog readers and some of you who read this blog are praying for her. Third, as of today, Sarah has some new medicine to help her fight off infections. But one of Sarah's most important assets is Lauren. It was love at first sight for these two, and Lauren has tenaciously adored and cared for this baby from day one. For a time, Sarah refused to eat unless Lauren gave her the bottle. Lauren cuddles, kisses, and coos with Sarah every chance she gets. It was Lauren who began the search for doctors or programs that might help Sarah, and that search paid off in today's visit to the doctor and the new medicine she's getting. It's obvious that Lauren and Sarah have a special bond, and it is a joy to watch them together. It takes courage to love someone like Sarah when she may not live to return that love. It takes courage to risk a broken heart.

Shopping with Sarah

Tiny Sarah is one of the babies from the Haven. She's four months old and weighs only 5.2 pounds! She is tiny, frail, and absolutely gorgeous. Today Lauren and I drove to Livingstone with Kathi Merritt and Cecilia Siafwiyo (The Haven's housemother) to take Sarah and another baby to the doctor. Afterward we made a stop at the brand new, modern Spar supermarket. Tiny Sarah fit quite nicely in the basket and seemed to enjoy all the attention she got from the other customers. You'll notice that the box of cornflakes is bigger than she is!

Study Hall

My college English students have a term paper due on October 4. I allow them to use my personal books as long as they do their research on our veranda. This has been a typical scene at our house lately.

Sign of the Times

Lauren had a craftsman in Livingstone carve this sign for us. We have it hung above the computer desk in our hallway.

Mukaziwa Outreach Group

Here are photos of our Mukaziwa outreach group from GBCC. In the lower photo, Lauren is teaching the children's class with Kelvin and Shadreck. These two young men are extremely talented with children. It is a joy to watch their animation and excitement. Shadreck is also the director of the college choir.

Mukaziwa Outreach

Last Sunday Lauren and I went on an outreach with the Heavenly Echoes choir from the college. (David and Rodgers were doing medical mission follow up somewhere else.) I had arranged for the group to take the Coaster bus which has seating for 24 people in addition to the driver. I explained to the person who was in charge that Lauren and I were going as well as two Zambian evangelists who had just planted the congregation, and that he should recruit up to 20 others who would go along. In typical Zambian fashion, we managed to cram a few more than the 24 seats were made for, but no one seemed to mind doubling up.

Our destination was Mukaziwa, a commercial farm a few kilometers away from Sandy Hill. A church had been started there in the 90's, but it died out until just last week when one of the Zambian bicycle evangelists planted a new congregation there. Our outreach group was there to encourage the new group on its second meeting date.

Lauren and I got two of the college guys to help us translate for the children's class, and we did the children's class before the regular service began. The college students conducted the entire morning worship assembly. Then the special singing began. The Heavenly Echoes were first with five of their songs. Next came "Fishers of Men," a group of six college guys who are also in the Heavenly Echoes. Finally, the Mukaziwa women shared their own gift of song.

The church leaders insisted that we stay for chibwantu, "the brew you chew" made from maize and "certain roots of the forest." The Zambians love this drink that looks like milk with clumps of cornmeal. I've tried it many times but still haven't developed a real taste for it. Lauren and I had our water bottles anyway, and no one seemed to mind.

It was 2:30 before we arrived home--tired, dusty, and starving, but renewed in spirit by the fellowship we shared with the college students and our fellow Christians at Mukaziwa.

Namesakes

Emmanuel is one of the church leaders at Chiili and was the organizer of the sessions during our outreach last weekend. When we arrived on Friday afternoon, Emmanuel told David that a baby boy had been born to one of Emmanuel's relatives on the day that David was at Chiili in June. The baby, Emmanuel reported, was given the name David Gregersen!

At 3:00 on Saturday morning there was a loud knocking on the door of the men's dorm room. It was Emmanuel waking them up to report on his wife. She had just delivered a baby girl, he said, and already they had named it Linda Gregersen.

We didn't get to meet either of these two little ones, but I'm sure we will when we visit Chiili again. I can hardly wait!

Life in Chiili

Shown here is Jane, the headmistress of Chiili Middle Basic School. Jane was the driving force in getting a new congregation planted in the Chiili community. The school where the church meets was started in 1996, and Jane has been its only headmistress. When the school opened, she lived 17 kilometers away. She walked to school most days, although when she could afford fuel she rode her motorbike. On days when she walked, she left before sunrise and returned after the sun had set. Five years ago a house was built for her next to the school so she no longer has to commute.

On our outreach last weekend, Jane scheduled a meeting with us to discuss the challenges that the Chiili community faces. In her student body of 430 children in grades 1-8, there are 90 children who have lost at least one parent. Sixty of these are double orphans--both of their parents have died. Many of these are being raised by elderly grandparents who can barely manage to provide basic necessities. After grade 8, students from Chiili who want to continue learning must attend boarding school in Zimba or Kalomo. This is an expense that few from this poor community can afford.

There is no health facility within 20 kilometers of Chiili. Women who are in labor sometimes deliver on the way to Nyawa, the nearest clinic. Sick children must be carried the entire distance. The Chiili community desperately wants the medical mission to use their school as a site for a two-day clinic, but the roads are so rugged that the vehicles could never make it.

In spite of these challenges, Jane is accomplishing good things. She has a positive attitude and works tirelessly to get resources for her school and community. In a land of constant challenges, Jane is doing what she can. God asks no more from any of us.

Cliff

Meet Cliff Meninga, or Cowboy George, as we nicknamed him on our outreach last weekend. Cliff is a young single man who teaches in the remote village of Chiili. Lauren, Dena, and I taught children's classes there on Saturday and Sunday, and Cliff served as our translator. The children obviously adore him--everywhere he goes, one of them comes up to take his hand or sit on his lap.

There are just six teachers at Chiili, and Cliff is the only single teacher. He leads a lonely life, living far away from his family and girlfriend. His "apartment" consists of one room sandwiched between the dorm rooms for boys and girls. He has no electricity or running water and cooks all his meals over an open fire next to the dorm. I asked him how he spends his evenings. His reply was, "I read and study my Bible, and I pray."

Our weekend outreach was a welcome time for Cliff to enjoy some fun and fellowship. As you can see in the photo above, we introduced him to s'mores. Dena Moore had read on our blog about making s'mores for Obrien and Victor, so she thoughtfully stuck the needed ingredients in her luggage. Cliff had never roasted a marshmallow--or even eaten one--and he seemed to enjoy the experience.

Springtime on the Savanna

Our drives into the bush allow plenty of time to enjoy the scenery--we seldom get out of first gear on the rough roads. Lately we've been fascinated by the spring flowers that are sprouting up everywhere. Their fresh beauty is even more remarkable because there has not been a drop of rain since mid-April. We can't stop wondering how the dry, parched earth can suddenly burst into bloom.

Cooking Nshima

Our meals this weekend were prepared and served by Hilda, shown here with Dena Moore. Hilda cooked outside in her outdoor kitchen and then brought the food inside to serve us in her living room.

Dena and Lauren wanted to learn how to cook nshima, so Hilda let them help her on Sunday. They discovered that cooking a big pot of nshima over an open fire is not easy!

In addition to taking care of her husband and four children, Hilda is now going back to school to complete grade eight. Her husband is one of her teachers, she told us. Jane, the headmistress of the school, showed me Hilda's most recent report card and bragged on Hilda's academic progress.

Chiili Group

Here is the group that worked this weekend at Chiili. Back row: Rodgers Namuswa from Namwianga; Jane, the headmistress for the school at Chiili; Lauren; Dena Moore from Russellville, Arkansas; David. Front row: Cliff Meninga, teacher at Chiili and our translator for children's classes; Daniel Mweemba, church planter; and Pastor (Pastor is his first name and I don't know his last name), church leader from a village near Nyawa.

All of us except Jane stayed in the school's dormitory. Since the village serves a large area, even the young students board at the school during the week and go home for the weekends. There are two large rooms (about 15 ft. x 15), one for boys and one for girls. Cliff, who teaches at the school, lives in a small room between the larger rooms. There was no electricity or running water, but we did have metal beds with mattresses.

The Road to Chiili

We thought you might like to see the kind of roads we drove on to get to Chiili (pronounced Chee-lee) this weekend.

Remote is an appropriate word to describe Chiili. The village consists of a handful of tiny shops and a school that goes up to grade 8. It is only 5 kilometers from the southern edge of Kafue Game Park, one of the largest in Africa. Nyawa, the nearest town of any size, is 20 kilometers away. There are no motorized vehicles in Chiili, so the villagers must walk, ride a bike, or rely on the trucks that come in twice a week. One truck arrives on Sunday and leaves again on Monday; another comes in on Wednesday and leaves on Thursday.

Since the school only goes up to eighth grade, the students in the area must go to Zimba (70 kilometers) or Kalomo (120 kilometers) for boarding school in grades nine and up.

Roads like the one shown here are nearly impassable during the rainy season. We were told that the trucks do continue to come during the rainy season, but they often require an entire day just to get to Nyawa.

Campfire Bible Study Photo

David is shown here teaching the campfire Bible study at Sandy Hill Farm on Thursday night. Rodgers, shown in the lower right corner, served as translator.

Bush Tales

Here is a brief description of trips we’ve taken this week and one we’re headed out for:

Last Sunday we went to Mumbuyu to participate in the ordination of elders and deacons at that congregation. The trip was three hours one way over some really awful roads. Lauren and I joked about wearing hard hats or football helmets as protection against the jolting and bumping we were enduring in the back seat. That was BEFORE we hit a really bad pothole and my head slammed against the side window. I saw stars for several minutes and had a headache for an hour or so. The worship service was worth the trip, however, and we were glad to be there for it.

On Wednesday I did another teacher training class for 47 women from four congregations who gathered at the Mulala church. I asked Rodgers how far the ladies might have walked to come to these sessions. His estimate was that those who came the farthest had walked five miles. That’s especially impressive since most of them were carrying babies on their backs.

Thursday night David did a campfire Bible study at Sandy Hill. The highlight of that trip was sighting a civet cat on the road to the farm.

On Friday we are headed for Chiili to camp for the weekend and encourage the new congregation that was planted there in June. Our group will include Lauren, three of our Zambian co-workers, and Dena Moore, a visitor from Russellville, Arkansas. Dena will only be here for a couple of weeks, so we thought this would be a good way to introduce her to the real Zambian bush. It’s a grueling five-hour trip to Chiili, so she may get more of an experience than she wants! Keep us in your prayers.

Everyday Hero

Bernard Mweenda came by yesterday to get an outreach bike. Now that he has wheels, he will be visiting the Kalomo Prison and holding Bible studies with the inmates there. Bernard and others like him are spreading the gospel all over this area.

More Teacher Training

Last Thursday Rodgers and I went out again to do teacher training. This time 77 women from six different congregations filled the church building at Kauwe. Again the response was enthusiastic as we challenged them to teach children the Word of God.

On Sunday afternoon we visited a leader of one of the participating churches. He and his wife proudly told us that their daughter-in-law had taught the Sunday School class that morning.

Of Snow Cones and Missionary's Kids

Lauren and I were preparing ice the other day using our usual zamgenuity. We never have enough ice cube trays, so we freeze ice in cardboard milk containers and then crush it (or pulverize it) using a meat tenderizer. Lauren commented that the result looked like snow cone ice. Later that day I found a recipe in Southern Living for snow cone syrup—one of the few recipes that we actually had the correct ingredients to make. I even had some cone-shaped cups left from a previous medical mission. All we needed were two little boys. . .

Noah and Bryson Davis came a day or two later with parents Brian and Sondra Davis. These Missionary’s Kids from Northwestern Zambia have won our hearts with their good manners and delightful personalities. We were glad to be able to introduce them to their very first snow cones!

On a more serious note, I have the greatest respect for the missionaries who raise their children in the mission field, especially in a developing nation. There are parenting challenges that we never even thought about in the US. Education is a big hurdle, as most missionaries must either home school or send their kids off to boarding school. Medical care is another huge issue. A major medical crisis would require air evacuation to Johannesburg, South Africa, and that would take at least 24 hours. Brian and Sondra and other missionaries here take these challenges in stride with great commitment to the work and faith in God’s promise to provide for the needs of their children. They are a blessing.

Missionary Kids

MKs presented a puppet show for the Vacation Bible School at Calder's Farm on Saturday. Note the "zam-genuity" in the puppet stage--it's a broomstick threaded through a casing on the edge of my tablecloth. Sterling Merritt is on the left and Joshua Calder is holding up the right end.

The lower photo shows the MKs posing on Sunday after their presentation of the Parable of the Lost Sheep. This time the veranda served as the puppet stage. Daniel Calder and Melina Mbomwae are in the foreground.

Missionary Retreat - August 25-27

Shown here are some of the missionaries who gathered last weekend for a retreat at Namwianga. Front row: Brian and Sondra Davis from Solwezi, Kathi and Roy Merritt from Namwianga, Michelle Drew, visiting from Nashville. Back row next to us are Sheri Sears from Namwianga, Lauren Hickmon, living with us, Rita and Don Boyd from Solwezi, and Rod Calder who with his wife, Sue, runs an orphanage on land adjoining Namwianga. In front of Rita Boyd is Ruhtt Mbomwae from Namwianga. Not pictured are Bart and Staci Bruington.


This weekend’s Missionary Retreat at Namwianga provided times of fellowship, inspiration, and sharing for those of us on the mission field in Zambia. Here are some of the highlights.

The total attendance was 34, although we never quite managed to have everyone here at the same time. We had 10 family units represented, including 18 children who ranged in age from 2 – 18 years.

We gathered at our house for our meeting times and most of the meals. David presented messages on the theme of “Defining Moments.” We had wonderful sessions of singing and sharing. Perhaps my favorite was when we all shared what we have learned about God during our time in Zambia. Most of us agreed that serving in Zambia has led us to realize that we are totally insufficient on our own strength. We have learned to rely on God fully and trust him completely.

The MKs (Missionary Kids) enjoyed being together. Our veranda became their hangout where they created works of art on long sheets of butcher paper, played marathon card games, and even presented puppet shows for the adults to enjoy. On Saturday morning we loaded up the Missionary Kids and traveled to Rod and Sue Calder’s farm where we did a Vacation Bible School program for the children of the farm workers. The MKs read flip charts, acted out stories, did puppets, handed out crafts, and had a great time together.

We were blessed to have food leftover from the medical mission to serve at some of our meal times. Brentwood Oaks, our sponsoring congregation, had also sent some special treats this summer. Many in our group were thrilled to enjoy tortilla chips, saltine crackers, chocolate chip cookies, Crystal Lite, and other American delights that aren’t available here in Zambia. (You know you've been on the mission field a while when saltine crackers are a thrill!) Lauren proved to be a great help in the kitchen. She and I have decided we could do well with a catering business someday.

In addition to our official gatherings, we also had times to just talk, relax, gaze at the stars, and enjoy each other’s company. Fellowshipping with those who share the same goals and dreams for the Lord’s work in Zambia is indeed a great blessing.

Sunday School Teacher Training

“Come and help us teach the children.” Through my interpreter, the lady with the kind eyes and wrinkled face begged for help teaching Sunday School. We were at R R Chileshe on the last day of the medical mission. I promised her that I would try to come in August and teach her and others like her how to teach children’s classes.

Rodgers Namuswa set out on his motor bike last week to organize just such a meeting. He arranged for the women of four congregations in the area to come together at R R Chileshe. Yesterday he and I (and our usual contingent of riders heading that direction) bumped and jostled through the bush to what Rodgers calls Ahla Ahla (R R -- Zambians have trouble with the letter “r” as it is not in the Chitonga alphabet, and they usually pronounce it like an “l”). He had scheduled the meeting for 10:00. We arrived at 10:45 just as ladies were beginning to reach the place on foot. First we tried the school building, but it was locked. “We will go to the church building,” the ladies decided, so we headed off in another direction. On the way we met a teacher who offered to unlock the school. We turned around and trekked back. He unlocked the school room—a totally empty classroom. The furniture was locked up next door. Some of the ladies hurried in with brooms and began to sweep the floor (lots of bat droppings to get rid of) while others began carrying desks from the storeroom. In 20 minutes or so we were ready to begin.

The next three hours were some of the best I’ve spent in Zambia. Thirty-two ladies from four different congregations sat with rapt attention as I taught them the basics of teaching children. The generous members at our sponsoring congregation, Brentwood Oaks, had sent over boxes of The Beginner’s Bible, a simple English text illustrated with bright, uncluttered drawings. Using Rodgers as my interpreter, I showed the ladies how to use The Beginner’s Bibles to teach, how to help children memorize scripture, how to involve children in the lessons, and how to apply Bible truths to daily life. We played games, acted out stories, and just had a great time! Many of the ladies, especially the older ones, nodded enthusiastically as they heard my instructions. There were many smiles and much laughter as we tried various activities.

The ladies ranged in age from very young to very old, from those who were fluent in English to those who were illiterate even in Chitonga. I told the women who cannot read English that they will need to find a helper—a child, grandchild, friend, or teacher who can read to them and for them. At the end of the session, I reminded all the ladies that the Bible records many examples of one person who made a difference in a nation. I challenged them to change the future of the church in Zambia by teaching children.

As we closed, I explained that each congregation was receiving a copy of The Beginner’s Bible and a Chitonga Bible to be used in teaching children’s classes. The books are to be passed around the congregation to the various ladies who will be teaching. In a very hushed and formal ceremony, a representative from each congregation came forward and received the two books, along with a set of instructions for teaching.

Next, each congregation designated one of its older members to make closing remarks. Over and over, they thanked me for coming. One woman took the two books lovingly in her hands as she looked at me and said, “You have given us a container. This is a container that has food for life. We will teach it to our children.”

Next Thursday I’m off for Kauwe where Rodgers is organizing another group of ladies to come for another training session. Please pray for these wonderful women who will teach the Word to the next generation of church leaders.

News and Notes- August 24

I missed my usual mid-week posting because we were in Lusaka. It still amazes me how a task that would require only a few hours in the US becomes a two-day saga here in Zambia! While we were out bumping over the bush roads to an outreach point on Sunday, a warning light came on in our vehicle indicating that it needed a new fuel filter. Since it's still under warranty, we had to take it to Lusaka to the only Toyota dealership in the country. We also needed to take care of some other business, so we decided to drive to Lusaka on Tuesday, take care of our errands while we could drive around in our own vehicle, spend the night, and then take the vehicle in early on Wednesday morning to be repaired.

Lauren and Michelle are always ready for an adventure, so they came along, of course. We managed to get our official business taken care of on Tuesday, did some shopping, and even had time to go see a movie Tuesday night! It had been nine months since David and I had been in a theater, so this was a real treat for us.

We spent the night at the Baptist Mission Guesthouse and enjoyed a wonderful shower with lots of hot water and water pressure--rare commodities in our lives. David had the car at the dealership early on Wednesday morning and was first in line for repairs. While the car was in the shop, we took a taxi to the National Museum and enjoyed seeing the displays there. We also finished up a little shopping and spent some time just relaxing--another rare opporunity on a trip to Lusaka! Usually we have to be in a frenzy to get everything done in time to head home before dark. By 2:00 the car was finished. We did a quick run through at the grocery store and headed for Namwianga at 3:00. All in all, the trip was a nice break from our usual routine.

Now we are busy getting ready to host the missionary retreat here at Namwianga this weekend. Three missionary families from other parts of Zambia will join those of us at Namwianga Friday - Sunday. We are looking forward to a time of rich fellowship and inspiration as we share together.

A-Maize-Ing

We saw this grain storage building at Nyawa on Wednesday. The bags of maize stacked outside the building are from this year's crop. Inside are 10,000 bags from 2005 that are infested with weevils. The government has yet to come and destroy the old crop so that the new grain can be stored inside.

Bluebonnets!

It's springtime in Zambia and look what's blooming in our backyard! We brought seeds from Texas and are now enjoying these beautiful reminders of home.

Losses

Death is ever-present in our community. Seldom does a week go by without word of the death of someone associated with Namwianga or a family member of one of the workers. Still, we never get used to these losses. This week was especially hard.

A young boy who lived in a compound on mission property died on Wednesday. He was seen at our clinic last week and then transferred to Kalomo Hospital where he died a few days later.

Thursday one of the babies at The Haven died--an eight-month-old with pneumonia. Michelle Drew, an American nurse practitioner who is doing a rotation at the clinic, worked tirelessly to try to save him. She and Kathi Merritt were taking him to Macha, the nearest fully equipped hospital, when he died in Michele's arms.

The Zambians accept that life is fragile and uncertain. The songs they sing reflect this understanding and their longing for God's comfort. We join them in singing "This world is not my home" and "Farther along we'll know all about it" and "Some glad morning when this life is o'er." It occurs to me that we hadn't sung those songs very much in recent years in the US. In fact, we didn't spend much time contemplating heaven and the uncertainty of life when we were busy with our comfortable, affluent lifestyle. The losses of this week serve to remind us that we are, indeed, just passing through on a journey to a much better destination.

A final observation: We were coming back from Choma on Friday when we met the funeral procession for the young boy. It was quite a contrast to our experiences with funeral processions in the US. The lead vehicle was a small yellow pickup with a camper shell. The rest of the vehicles included a sedan or two, a couple of motorbikes, and three large trucks with people hanging off all sides as they traveled through the roiling dust.

The Wedding That Wasn't

Daniel Mweemba’s son, Day, has been regular visitor in the past few months. We knew he had chosen a bride, so we were delighted when we heard the news that he had gotten married. We were even more pleased when we were invited to attend the wedding feast. Wednesday was the scheduled day, so our entire household loaded up and took off for the big event. Michelle, Lauren, and I all dressed up in our African outfits. Obrien and Victor (Day’s brother) came along. Before we got off Namwianga property we had picked up three extras who wanted to ride along for various reasons, so there were nine of us bumping over the bush roads.

Two dusty, jolting hours brought us to the bride’s village where we found her working outside--alone. “The program has changed,” she told us, laughing and smiling. She directed us to the place where Day and others were busy making bricks to build a church building for their congregation. Day assured us he had tried to call us but had been unable to get through. The wedding feast will take place on August 30 if he can raise the money to afford it. We all made a quick visit to Day and Victor’s home where his mother insisted on sending us home with a live chicken and some pumpkins.

By this time it was nearly 2:00, so we stopped in a small village and bought snacks and sodas for our riders. Michelle and Lauren discovered a “zam-genius” checkerboard that used bottle caps for checkers and had fun playing for a few minutes. We retraced the potholed trails and roads, laughing and enjoying a beautiful day and a fairly typical Zambian experience.

Nazzibula Leadership Training

Pictured in the top photo are the 47 church leaders from 30 congregations who gathered at Nazzibula last weekend for leadership training. The men in the bottom photo were presenters for the seminar. They taught lessons on The Servant Leadership of Jesus, The Leadership of Nehemiah, The Character of Elders and Deacons, God’s Provision for the Church, and other topics related to church leadership.

Nazzibula is two hours north of Namwianga. The village is on the edge of the Kafue Game Park, one of the largest such preserves in southern Africa. Zambia Medical Mission conducted clinics at this village in 2003 and 2004, and several congregations were planted as a result of that effort.

This was a weekend meeting, so the Namwianga team arrived at Nazzibula on Friday afternoon and camped until Sunday. Many seminars like this are planned in the next few months to develop and encourage leaders in the rural congregations.

Another Perspective

We are now a two-blog household. Lauren is creating her own unique account of her adventures here. Click on the above title if you'd like to check it out.

Goat Tuesday

Way back last August, my wonderful Zambian friend, Mrs. Jope, had promised to give us a goat when we got moved into our new house. The months slipped by until she reminded us again that she wanted us to have one of her goats. We set this Tuesday as the day and began joking with Lauren and Michelle about "Goat Tuesday."

Harold Sichimwa and I took off early Tuesday morning to go get the goat. We picked up Mrs. Jope at her house and headed over rugged pasture roads to her farm a few miles from Namwianga. She graciously introduced me to her mother and showed me around the farm compound while Harold tied up and loaded our "dinner" (still on the hoof and bleating) in the back of the truck.

Harold, Victor, and Obrien prepared and roasted the goat all day in the back yard. Dinner was delicious and Goat Tuesday was pronounced a success.

Trip to Nyawa

Chief Nyawa, shown on the left in the bottom photo, is in charge of the area around Singwamba. He is shown here greeting Ellie Hamby (second from right) and Star Ferguson (far right). The Chief has asked Namwianga to plant seven new congregations in his district. David is shown in the top photo with Daniel Mweemba, Rodgers Namuswa, and Peter Mafwafwa. These men met at Daniel's home near Singwamba last week to plan the strategy for starting what we now call The Seven Churches of Nyawa. Please pray for this effort.

News and Notes - August 12

The mission and our house are settling into a quieter time. The secondary students left for their break on August 4th, and the college students left on the 10th. A mission team from Canada had been here since July 20th working with schools in the area. They left yesterday. Ellie Hamby starts her journey back the US today. Now the campus seems eerily quiet!

Thankfully, we still have houseguests to keep life interesting. Michelle Drew, a nurse practioner, is doing a clinic rotation to complete her master's degree in tropical medicine from Tulane. Lauren Hickmon from Searcy, Arkansas, is staying with us and working at The Haven with the babies. These two have been a joy to host! They are flexible, enthusiastic, and can always see the funny side of our unique African experiences.

Obrien and Victor (see related blog articles "Starfish" and "Victor and Obrien" from January) are also here during their break from Kabanga Christian High School. As usual, they are devoting themselves to studying. This week they have been getting some special tutoring in geography and history from a teacher at Namwianga Basic. The next two weeks they will be taking special classes to prepare for the Grade 9 exams in October. We talk about high stakes testing in the US, but in Zambia the stakes are even higher. Only those who pass the Grade 9 exams can continue to go to school. Victor and Obrien are taking the test very seriously and spend every free moment studying.

Last night, though, we tore them away from the books long enough to introduce them to S'mores. We had some Hershey bars and graham crackers left from the medical mission. Lauren and Michelle managed to pick up some marshmallows in Lusaka on Thursday. Obrien and Victor built a fire in the outdoor kitchen for us, and then we taught them the fine art of roasting marshmallows and making S'mores.

David is camping at Nazzibula this weekend with Bart Bruington, Rodgers Namuswa, and Peter Mafwafwa. They are doing a leadership training seminar as part of the medical mission follow-up. The rest of us are going out to Kasibi tomorrow to do a children's program for the camp meeting that is being held there.

Bibles

This lady carries her new Chitonga Bible proudly. Few people in rural areas of Zambia can afford to buy Bibles, so the books are a highly valued item. Every year Christians in Abilene organize a drive to purchase thousands of Bibles in the Chitonga language. The Bibles are distributed free of charge to church leaders, new Christians, congregations, and other individuals.

It's easy for us to take our Bibles for granted since most of us have a collection to choose from. Watching the Zambians receive their Bibles with such joy humbled me and reminded me that God's word is very precious indeed.

Hole in My Heart

Last Saturday we drove to Livingstone to take Sara to the airport. She had been here almost a month, and I had treasured the days. After a year apart, we had lots of catching up to do. I found myself marveling at a daughter who is now a young adult instead of a child. I still surprised myself when I introduced her to others and announced that she is a math teacher in Tulsa. How can that be, I wondered, when it seems that she should still be a student herself. It was a joy to watch her do her job on the medical mission, interact with her friends, and play with the Zambian children.

Our time together passed far too quickly. On Saturday David and I stood with her in the long line waiting for the airport security check, wondering how to say goodbye again, wondering how much she would change in the next few months, wondering how we could bear to see her leave. All too quickly her bags were on the conveyor belt and she turned to us for our last round of hugs. We fought back the lumps in our throats and tears in our eyes. “Love you,” we whispered, and then watched her walk into the departure area. We stood and watched for a few more minutes, just to make sure she had no problems with luggage and tickets, and just to hang on a little longer. Finally, though, her pink sweater disappeared into the swarm of other passengers, and we turned toward the exit.

We waited anxiously on Sunday to hear word from Sara that she had made it home safely. Late in the afternoon a friend sent an e-mail giving us good news on our son in Austin. John’s schedule makes it difficult for us to communicate with him, so we often rely on friends to keep us informed of his activities. Then late Sunday night Sara sent us an e-mail that she was home. We sighed with relief and prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s blessings on our children.

I have decided that the best way to describe being a continent away from my children is to say I have a hole in my heart. A mother-shaped hole that aches—a gentle ache sometimes, excruciating at others, but always there is the ache to be with them. Like someone who deals with chronic physical pain, I have learned to live with this hole in my heart. And God is good to send me other people’s children who help me fill up that hole. I can always find someone here who needs my hugs, my advice, my cooking, or my scolding. But the hole still aches.

2006 Medical Mission by the Numbers

Here are the numbers for the six days of clinics on this year's medical mission.

Medical patients: 12,096
Dental: 1,988
Optometry: 2,402
Total patients seen: 16, 486
Total baptisms: 104

Number of hours spent in planning and praying for the mission: countless.

Zamgenuity

A post from David this time.

Zamgenuity-- A term describing the creative ways Zambians accomplish their everyday tasks without the resources and tools routinely available to Americans.

As I travel throughout Zambia watching my Zambian friends live life, I marvel at their ability to get things done. This creative genius or “zamgenuity” seems to be driven by the motto “Where there is a will, there is a way.”

Here is one example of “Zamgenuity.”

My friend, Daniel Mweemba, is a wiry, 55 year-old from a tiny village two hours north of Namwianga Mission. He is a gifted church planter who supports his family by gardening and operating a “lumber mill.” Sixty-feet tall hardwood trees called “moquas” grow on his land. Moqua wood is used to make furniture, so Daniel cuts the trunks into planks or boards and then sells them to carpenters. Since he lives in the bush where there is no electricity or other power source, he uses his zamgenuity to saw the wood.

In the sandy forest floor he digs a pit six feet deep, eight feet long, and four feet wide. He places two five-foot logs across each end of the pit. On these logs he lays the tree trunk. Then, with a two-handled saw, Daniel and his son, Day, cut the trunk in half. Next it is cut (trimmed) two more times to make the log flat on two sides. On the broadest side of the plank, Daniel takes a piece of charcoal and marks the cutting lines for the boards. Each of the boards is an inch and a half thick. To cut the log into boards, one of the saw handlers stands in the pit while the other stands on top of the log, guiding the saw along the lines. It’s not the easy way to mill logs, but it gets the job done in a place where there is no electricity and where not everyone can afford a chain saw. Zamgenuity at its best!

Home Health Care

Our newest houseguest is Michelle Drew (right) from New Orleans. Michelle is a nurse practitioner who is completing her master's degree in tropical medicine by doing a rotation here at Namwianga. We put her skills to work this afternoon. Misozi, one of the US sponsored students at the high school, usually radiates happiness and joy. Today, however, Misozi had lost her sparkle when she arrived at our door to deliver a letter. She was miserable with a stuffy nose, headache, fever, and watery eyes. Nurse Drew came to the rescue, giving Misozi a quick exam in our living room and sending her back to the dorm with medicines to help her feel better.

Everyday Hero

Wayne Biggs is the head American cook on the medical mission, second in command to Leonard Sichimwa. Wayne hails from our home congregation in Austin and was a good friend even before he made his first trip to Zambia in 2005. Wayne has worked in the restaurant business and has an intuitive feel for portion sizes and how much of this and that to add to make something taste just right. He also loves the Zambian people and they love him. Wayne's wife, Janie, is a hero in my book just as much as Wayne is. Janie has some serious health problems and has difficulty getting out of the house without Wayne to help her. It's a great sacrifice for her to let him go off to Africa for two weeks. Those of us who enjoy the good food during the medical mission are very grateful for Wayne and Janie and their willingness to serve the Lord.

Crossing Over

Our house seems to get a little quieter each day. On Wednesday we took five of our houseguests (Richard and Angie Prather and their daughters Chelsea and Cortney, plus Michele Broadway) to Livingstone to catch their flights back to the US. The Prathers were leaving from Livingstone on Thursday afternoon, while Michele Broadway was scheduled to leave on Thursday from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, along with Wil and Jenny Pippin and their two-year-old son Jonathan. The plan was to take Michele and the Pippins to the Zambian border crossing Wednesday afternoon where a driver would meet them and shuttle them across to Victoria Falls. There they had arranged to spend the night at Russell’s Lodge before flying out on Thursday morning.

We arrived at the border a little after 4:00 and began to wait for the driver from Russell’s Lodge. We waited, and we waited, and we waited some more. Wil tried many times to reach Russell by phone, and finally succeeded. Russell thought the driver was waiting on the Zimbabwean side of the border and said he’d phone him and send him to Zambia. We waited some more. At 5:15 time was running out. It gets dark before 6:00 here, and no one wanted to be crossing into Zimbabwe after dark.

About that time a man in a double cab pickup arrived at the border gate. Richard Prather sized him up and thought he looked like a nice guy. Richard briefly explained the situation to the man and asked if he might be willing to deliver the group to the other side of the border. The man quickly agreed, telling us that he was the descendant of some of the early missionaries. He was also acquainted with other friends of Zambia Medical Mission in Vic Falls. He knew the location of Russell’s Lodge and was willing to take the passengers there. We quickly stuffed the many pieces of luggage in the back of his truck, said our goodbyes, and watched as Michele and the Pippins climbed in the vehicle. Richard offered to pay our new friend, but he refused, saying he was glad to help. Off they sped across the Zambezi River Bridge.

Wil Pippin called an hour later to report that they were safely settled at Russell’s.

We didn’t see any wings sticking out of this guy’s T-shirt, but we think he just might be a Shuttle Angel.

What's Cooking?

Leonard Sichimwa (left) is the head cook for Zambia Medical Mission. He does a tremendous job of preparing three meals a day for over 210 people, and he does it without a cookstove or running water. He's shown here stirring a pot of soup with a wooden paddle that could easily double as a boat oar!

In the background you can see Marco Myoba roasting a goat. The community wanted to provide a cape buffalo, but their hunters weren't able to locate one in time. They sent a goat instead.

Convoy

It takes many vehicles to move 210 people into the bush with all the water, food, tents, and medical supplies needed to conduct three days of clinics. Our convoy included two yellow school buses, three smaller 24-passenger buses, two Land Rovers, three pickups, and five flatbed trucks (lorries). The mile-long caravan kicked up plenty of dust as it snaked slowly over the rugged bush roads.

New Look

Michele Broadway has put her superb computer skills to work and improved our blog site. Now you can always tell what time it is at our house. She also managed to get our photo onto the opening page--a feat I had attempted several times and failed to accomplish.

Michele was my (unpaid) personal computer trainer in the US and spent many hours by my side getting me through graduate school projects. I saved up a list of computer jobs to have her work on while she's here at Namwianga!

The Internet Cafe

Ronnie McQueen was one of our frequent visitors to the "internet cafe" on the front veranda. We actually have some wooden benches available for seating, but Ronnie seemed to prefer sitting directly on the cold concrete!

Mission Report - July 24

I am SO sorry that I have not posted on the blog for many days. I’ll give a very brief synopsis of our recent happenings and then try to provide more details in the coming days.

We left for a second set of clinics on Saturday, July 15, and traveled to Singwamba. The drive was long, slow, and bumpy, but we took an alternate route and avoided some of the worst sections of the road. Once again the wonderful advance team had arrived early and set up our tents for us.

Sunday we had a worship service with the Zambians who were waiting for treatment and then opened the clinic at mid-morning. We saw streams and streams of people for the next two days. Early Tuesday morning we were up before daylight and headed for a one-day clinic at RR Chileshe. We finished seeing patients there by mid-afternoon and loaded up one more time for the final trek back to Namwianga. After four days in the bush, we were all dreaming of hot showers and sleeping in real beds. David couldn’t resist teasing our convoy by playing “Splish, Splash, I Was Taking a Bath” over the walkie talkies as we bumped and jolted over the dusty roads.

Wednesday was Project Day—a time set aside for our American team to join with the Zambians at Namwianga for work, fun, and fellowship. Our team painted classrooms, repaired windows and doors, and sorted library books in the morning. Some of the American teachers taught classes at the secondary school and college. Each of the teenagers paired up with one of Namwianga’s high school students and attended classes for the morning.

Thursday and Friday were spent in Livingstone where we enjoyed shopping and sightseeing before sending off most of the team on Saturday morning.

The population of our house has declined from thirteen to just nine now. Those remaining are cleaning, packing, and organizing the supplies and materials for next year. Most of them will leave on Wednesday to return to the US. Sara will be here until Saturday.

More to come . . .

Photos

You can go to http://zambiaupdate.blogspot.com to view some great photos of our first set of clinics and get a good overview of how the clinics operate.

Back from the Bush - July 14

We arrived home last night after spending four days out in the bush doing clinics. The trucks, buses, pickups, and trailers rolled out of Namwianga on Monday around noon. The Calders at Seven Fountains Farm fed us a wonderful lunch of poiki (stew) featuring reebok and leechwe (antelope) meat before we headed south on the dreaded Kabanga road. For the next six hours we moved at a snail’s pace over washboard roads, dodging potholes and breathing the red dust stirred up by the caravan of vehicles. Two flat tires had to be changed along the way, and one of the trucks had to make frequent stops to fill and check on a radiator, but we finally made it to Kanyanga just after dark. The advance team had gone ahead of us earlier in the day and set up the camp, so our tents were waiting and dinner was cooking over open fires when we arrived.

We held clinics at Kanyanga on Tuesday and Wednesday, seeing over 4,000 patients on those two days. David and I worked in the spiritual counseling area conducting Bible studies and praying with individuals and small groups. Sara worked in the “Pills on Wheels” pharmacy bus filling prescriptions.

We camped a total of three nights at Kanyanga, pulling out just before dawn on Thursday to go to Kapaulo. The plan called for a two-hour trip, but the road conditions and trailer breakdowns turned it into three and a half hours. We quickly set up at Kapaulo and saw as many patients as possible, but the crowds were huge and we were unable treat everyone. Our triage team assessed each person and was able to refer those who were sickest to our team of doctors and nurses. People who were not seen by the medical team received vitamins and painkillers. At 5:00 we closed down the clinic and loaded up, heading back to Namwianga just as the sun set.

I haven’t yet gotten the totals for the number of patients seen at Kapaulo, but I’m sure that in three days we treated well over 5500 in the medical, dental, wound care, and optometry clinics. We had 55 baptisms at Kanyanga and 16 (I think) at Kapaulo.

After four days with no running water, we were all thrilled to get hot showers or baths and to sleep in real beds. Today (Friday) is a rest and re-pack day. Some team members are repairing and refueling vehicles. Others are reorganizing and packing up the pharmacy, children’s ministry, and kitchen for our next set of clinics. At some point today everyone will have a chance to go to the Kalomo market and tour the campus. This afternoon I am hosting a reception for team members who participate in the needy student program so that they can meet and get to know the students they sponsor. Tonight the people who are staying in the homes of Zambians here at Namwianga will eat with their host families. The rest of us will head up to the Merritts to enjoy dinner with Roy and Kathi.

A stomach virus has been making several of our team members miserable. The only thing worse than having the stomach bug is suffering through all of that while you’re camping in a tent in the African bush! Thankfully our doctors and nurses try hard to keep everyone as comfortable as possible, and we are hoping that the virus has run its course.

Tomorrow morning we are off again for another set of clinics. This time we will be going north to Singwamba. Please keep us in your prayers.

News and Notes - July 9

We added one more person to our house yesterday, making a total of twelve under our roof. One more is stuck in Johannesburg and should arrive today. Richard Prather and David are the only males in the group and are feeling very outnumbered.

Here is a snapshot of some of the things that happened in or around our house the past few days. In the living room I have been sewing a new curtain for the children's ministry puppet stage. This thing is made of three double bed sheets, so it's huge. Michele Broadway has been on the computer working on curriculum for the children's ministry. On the veranda we have had anywhere from one to three people at a time on laptops checking e-mails or working on projects from home that have to be completed during the next couple of weeks. In the back yard some workers have been doing laundry by hand for our group. Our 12 "residents" have been in and out as they go about their tasks on campus. Several meetings have been held in the living room or on the veranda. It's a happening place around here!

Today (Sunday) there will be several groups of medical mission team members going out to village congregations. We think this will be a highlight of their visit to Zambia as they interact with the gracious Zambian people in a worship service.

Monday afternoon we will leave for the first set of clinics. We'll be out in the bush camping in tents until we return late on Thursday night. Please pray for our efforts this week and we try to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of the Zambian people.

Remember that you can follow more of the medical mission news on www.zambiaupdate.blogspot.com

Cable Angel

Keeping the vehicles running at Namwianga is a constant struggle, and that task is especially challenging when medical mission time rolls around. Several guys have been working diligently for the last two weeks to get the necessary vehicles up and running.

Last week Josh Massingill and Martin Mwiimbili made a trip to Lusaka to find a cable for one of the Nissan trucks. They spent the better part of a day going from store to store, showing the worn-out cable and trying to find a replacement. No store had the needed part, and some clerks assured them that no one else in Lusaka did either.

Finally they decided to try a new part of town. They had just gotten to the new shopping center and were stepping into a store when a guy walked up to them and said, "You need this. Come with me." He held up a brand new cable, still in the plastic wrap. Josh and Martin followed the man up to the third floor of a nearby building and negotiated the price.

As Josh's dad, K. B. Massingill, puts it: "Either the spare-parts network in Lusaka (a city of a couple of million) is very organized and word had gotten out that we were looking for this cable, or this was an angel sent to us with a spare cable. Perhaps the next time we need a difficult-to-locate spare part, we will just go stand at the market and wait for someone to approach us."

Math Workshop

Zambians readily admit that math is a weak area for most people in this country. I've heard them talk about this many times. One of the Namwianga teachers and I came up with an idea to start attacking this problem.

Michele Broadway and my daughter Sara are math teachers in the U.S. Michele teaches at Brentwood Christian School and Sara teaches at a middle school in Tulsa. A few months ago, they agreed to prepare a workshop for secondary math teachers in the area. I invited all the math teachers and student teachers from Namwianga's satellite schools and from the government schools in Kalomo to come to the Mission on Friday for a two-hour seminar. Twenty-eight teachers from nine different schools participated.

Michele and Sara did a wonderful job with their presentation. They began by describing math anxiety and tracing its causes. Then the rest of the time they had the teachers involved in games and activities to show them how to make math fun. The teachers loved the workshop and were thrilled to get handouts and materials that they can take back and use immediately. One of them said, "Why didn't you do this for two days instead of two hours?"

Hmm. Maybe next year. I'm already thinking about how we could get a grant to pay for food and materials so we could do just that.

No Luggage

The rest of the medical mission team--50 or so people--was due to arrive in Livingstone yesterday (Saturday). We sent two buses for the people and a flatbed truck (lorry) for the luggage. We could have skipped the luggage truck, because not one single piece of checked baggage arrived with the passengers!

It seems that the airline for the last leg of the journey from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Livingstone didn’t purchase enough fuel. The heavier the weight, the more fuel required--so the airline’s solution was to send the passengers and keep their luggage in Johannesburg for a later flight. They also decided that there were too many passengers, so six of our team members got to spend the night in Johannesburg.

The good news is that those who did get to come arrived safely and were able to get settled in at Namwianga. The overnighters will land in Livingstone at noon today—hopefully well rested. The luggage is due in later this afternoon.

News and Notes - July 5

Our daughter Sara arrived yesterday, along with 13 others on the early team for the medical mission. I can't even begin to describe how wonderful it was to hug Sara that first time after not seeing her for a year! We drove to Livingstone to meet the group. Their tickets had been redone to fit the new airline schedule, so they had to fly into Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and be transferred by a tour company bus to the Zambian side. They almost made it through the Vic Falls airport without incident, but Star Ferguson got stopped with her four bags of pharmaceuticals, and the customs people couldn't let that go without a hassle. To ensure that the drugs were only in transit and would not be sold in Zimbabwe, customs required the tour company to post a deposit. Then the deposit was refunded at the border.

Sara also ended up with one piece of luggage missing. It seems that the bag never made it onto the plane when she checked in at the DC airport! She brought two suitcases--one with her clothes and one with items to give to us--and the one with her clothes is the missing bag. The airline agreed to send it to the Livingstone airport, and we're hoping it will be here before the weekend.

For the trip from Livingstone to Kalomo, the medical mission group traveled in a 24-passenger bus owned by the Mission. The bus pulled a small trailer that held most of the luggage. We were following in our truck with the rest of the baggage. As the bus made its way over and around the huge potholes in one stretch of the highway, a tire on the trailer blew out. This pulled the bus off the road onto the shoulder and gave driver Klay Bartee a chance to show off his driving skills as he managed to keep both bus and trailer upright! A quick tire change and we were on the road again.

As soon as we arrived at the Mission we headed out to Jordan Rock for the traditional Fourth of July wiener roast. Hot dogs, potato chips, Cokes, and ice cream are especially welcome treats over here! Just after dark we returned to the houses to get everyone settled and found the campus completely dark--no electricity--so another set of guests got the candlelight tour as they found their rooms. This proved to be a relatively short power outage since the lights came just a couple of hours later.

We're thrilled to have friends and family here as we get ready to set out on the medical mission next week.

Bus Stop Bargaining

We returned to Namwianga on Thursday after picking up some members of the early team. At one spot along the road we found a group of ladies and young girls selling fresh produce. As soon as the bus stopped, the vendors mobbed the bus, holding up their vegetables and yelling, "Buy mine! Buy mine!" Riders passed kwacha out the windows as the produce came in. A few minutes later we were on our way again, leaving a few happy sellers and several disappointed ones as well.

Zambia Medical Mission Blog

Zambia Medical Mission has a blog that will be updated frequently during the next three weeks. The address is http://zambiaupdate.blogspot.com/ You can visit this site for more details on team happenings.

News and Notes - July 1

The medical mission is scheduled for July 10 – 19, and Namwianga is buzzing with preparations. On Monday we traveled to Lusaka and picked up some of the early team members. Several others arrived in Livingstone on Thursday. There are now 30 Americans on campus doing everything from labeling tents to making photocopies. We have five extra people staying at our house, with more due to come in on Tuesday. We’re eating all our meals together at the Hamby House, and I admit that I’m enjoying the break from cooking.

Our house is fast becoming an internet café. Several of the Americans brought along their laptops and are taking advantage of our wireless internet connection. Last night we had quite a group gathered in front of the fireplace visiting and sipping tea while some worked busily on their computers. At times like these, it’s hard to believe we’re in rural Africa. Of course, we had just recovered from a two-hour power outage in the early evening that forced us to eat dinner by lantern light, so I guess we’ll not get too comfortable with technology.

This weekend is also the Namwianga Lectureship, so people from all over Zambia are on campus for that event. David has been involved in planning the program and is one of the speakers.

Our daughter Sara and two others from Austin arrive with several other team members on July 4. Their trip here is a long, complicated affair involving two overnight stays in hotels. They had the misfortune of getting caught in an airline changeover that rerouted all their original flights and turned a two-day trip into a four-day odyssey. Instead of landing in Livingstone, Zambia, they will end up in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and have to go through the border crossing process. I’m sure they’ll have stories to tell when we meet them on the Zambian side. Please pray for their safety and patience as they travel.

Filling Station

When the filling station in Kalomo closed its pumps, our nearest source for diesel was a 30-minute drive away in Choma. With the medical mission approaching, we had to find a better way to fuel all the vehicles that will be needed to transport 200 people into the bush for the clinics. We now have these two 2500-liter tanks across the road from our house.

The tanker truck shown above arrived early on Saturday morning to fill the tanks for the first time. Unfortunately, the drivers didn't have a pump to get the diesel from their tanks into ours. The two guys had to sit around all day while they waited for a pump to be sent from Lusaka. Around 5:00 in the afternoon they finally finished their task and went on their way.

Everyday Heroes - John and Webster

John (left) and Webster are standing with their brand new bikes. They will use these every weekend for their trips to preach at Msasa and Kemcas congregations. John and Webster have been going out every week for several months now, but they've had to borrow bicycles. Having their own wheels should make their lives a little easier. They earn the distinction of "everyday heroes" because it's a three-hour journey that they make every Sunday morning--one way.

Sandy, a doctor in Abilene, is another hero in this story. She contacted a large discount store and managed to get these bicycles and several more donated.

One Year!

One year ago we moved to Namwianga. It doesn't seem possible that the time has gone so fast, and yet in other ways our life in the US seems long ago and far away.

We have grown and changed as we have learned to live in a different culture. The fears that haunted our first few weeks have disappeared, replaced by the confidence that comes with learning new customs and routines. Although we miss our family and friends from home so much that we ache for them, we have made wonderful new friends who love us and care about us.

Our faith has been tested, our patience stretched, our courage summoned. Through all our new trials and adventures, we have had an overwhelming, God-given assurance that we are where we should be, doing what we need to do. We have felt the support of our faithful friends and even people we have never met who regularly assure us of their prayers on our behalf. Our sponsoring congregation at Brentwood Oaks has been incredible in their care for us and their generosity in meeting our needs.

It hasn't all been easy, and we certainly haven't enjoyed every experience, but we do admit that we're really having a good time. I guess David says it best when he signs off on his e-mails with the phrase "Having fun in Africa." We're looking forward to the years ahead.

Medical Mission News

The second container arrived last week, to everyone's great relief. Ellie Hamby and Wil and Jenny Pippin are also here now, and preparations for the medical mission are well under way. Thank you for your prayers.

Kids with Heart

These girls are students at Brentwood Christian School in Austin where I taught for 17 years. BCS sponsored a Money for Medicines drive to raise funds to purchase drugs for the Zambia Medical Mission pharmacy. They distributed pill bottles full of M and M's (Money for Medicines). Students were asked to eat the candy and return the bottle filled with money. The 700 students in preschool through 12th grade raised over $9,000! As you can see in the picture, much of that amount came in the form of nickels, dimes, and pennies. The shape of Zambia in the middle of the "continent" is formed from some of the leftover pill bottles.

This Is a GOOD Family

“This is a GOOD family.” My father made this announcement with pride when all of us gathered for meals. He would wait for the designated pray-er’s final “amen” after the blessing. Then his face would beam as his voice boomed the words that reminded us that our family was special.

I have thought about my dad’s words these past few days. My older sister reminded me that she is the only one of the four siblings in the United States this week. My brother is directing a medical mission in El Salvador and my other sister is there working on his mission team. A nephew and two nieces are also there helping in this effort.

Mary, the one who remains in the US, has done her part by collecting supplies for both El Salvadoran and African mission work. Our daughter Sara will be here with us in just a few weeks to participate in Zambia Medical Mission. Aunts and cousins are helping to sponsor needy students here at Namwianga.

My father died in a farming accident in 1973. I’m sure he had no idea that one day his children would be spread around the world doing mission work. But he planted in us the conviction that we were supposed to be working for the Lord and making a difference. You can’t leave a better heritage than that. I’m very blessed to be part of his “GOOD family.”

El Salvador Medical Mission

Click on the above title if you are interested in reading about the medical mission that my brother, Ralph McClurg, is directing in La Palma, El Salvador.

What Would Martha Stewart Do?

We love having visitors from the US here at Namwianga, so we were looking forward to having a group associated Mapepe Bible School in Lusaka visit us last Sunday. Our good friends David and Lorie French were bringing their two daughters and a group of eight Americans from their sponsoring congregation. They planned to stay overnight on their way to do some sightseeing in Livingstone. Wil and Jenny Pippin and their son had arrived at Namwianga on Thursday, so we had invited them to come eat with this group on Sunday night. David had left on Saturday for his weekend outreach, but I thought he would be back by mid-afternoon on Sunday when the visitors were scheduled to arrive.

I got up early on Sunday morning to get started on preparations for the Sunday night meal. I baked a couple of cakes and made egg noodles before I left for church. When I came home and turned on the water tap in the kitchen, nothing happened. I tried all the other taps in the house—no water. Our tank was empty. I called around and found out that the rest of the mission had been without water for the entire weekend. At least I had had enough in the storage tank to make it until Sunday.

I did some math in my head. We had an extra Zambian houseguest, so I was expecting 18 people for dinner. Nine of those were to stay overnight at our house—and we had no water. I also had no vehicle since David was gone. It was time for creative thinking. I had the keys to Ellie Hamby’s house because some of the guests were going to sleep there Sunday night. Since no one had been staying there this week, I hoped that her tank might still have water. I got the wheelbarrow out and headed down the road. I filled up a 5-gallon Igloo at Ellie’s and brought it back to my house in the wheelbarrow.

The group arrived at 3:00. David and Lorie have water problems at their house, too, so the guests were very understanding as I pulled out wet wipes for hand washing. With the extra drinking water I had stored earlier and the five gallons from Ellie’s house, I managed to get dinner ready. We had a delightful time enjoying our meal together--but without David. He called at 7:00 saying he was still at least two hours out in the bush. The water finally came back on, to everyone's relief. We still had no hot water, because the water heater forms an air lock whenever it gets empty and refuses to work until the plumber comes to fix it. Lorie French pitched in and the two of us managed to heat water and get the dishes done. We got everyone situated for the night before David finally got in at 9:30.

Monday morning I heated water on top of the stove so people could have hot water for taking baths. We had another enjoyable time together at breakfast, and then the group took off for their day’s adventures. I breathed a sigh of relief—at least the electricity hadn’t gone off!

Chiili Church Planting

David returned from Chiili at 9:30 Sunday night with stories to tell! This photo shows some of the 300 adults and 111 children who attended the first meeting of the church at Chiili. The people were very receptive and enthused about a congregation being established here. There were four baptisms and nine restorations. From now on, Daniel Mweemba will ride his bicycle to Chiili twice a month to help develop the leaders and to assist the church in its infancy. It's a 37-mile trip from his home--one way. Please pray for Daniel, the new Christians, and the new church planted in this area.

Weekend Outreaches

Last weekend two groups of students spent the entire weekend teaching and spreading the good news. The Helping Hands Club from the secondary school sent a group of 26 to Sandy Hill and the Heavenly Echoes Choir had 17 who went to Nazilongo. Both groups camped out Friday through Sunday, cooking their food over open fires. The Nazilongo group slept in a church building. Sandy Hill has no building, but the villagers built a grass fence with two areas, one for the men and one for the women. Each fence was three-sided, and on the open side each group had a big fire blazing to provide warmth. It was a COLD weekend, so they needed those fires while they slept under the stars!

The Nazilongo students went door to door in the area around the church building and invited people to come meet with them. They had preaching and teaching sessions on Friday and Saturday nights and on Sunday morning. The Sandy Hill group had preaching on Friday night, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night, and Sunday morning. They also taught children's classes.

There were six baptisms and 37 restorations as a result of the weekend efforts. Both Nazilongo and Sandy Hill congregations begged for another camp meeting. Roughing it in the cold didn't seem to bother the students, as they all agreed that the weekend was a great experience and asked when they can go on another weekend outreach.

They won't have long to wait. Three camp meetings are scheduled for the last weekend in June. Please keep these efforts in your prayers.

Weather News and Notes

It's been COLD this week! We had several days when the morning temperatures were near 50 degrees. Our house, like all the others in the area, has only a fireplace for heating, and these concrete floors and walls stay cold. I've been wearing long underwear and sweaters to stay warm during the day, and David has been building fires in the fireplace on cold evenings.

One evening we stepped outside for a walk around the campus and heard the crackle of a fire. We could see the flames leaping 20 feet into the sky just a block or so away from us. We didn't see anyone running in panic, but we headed down the road to check out the blaze. Two houses in that area have thatched roofs, and we were also concerned about Sheri Sears's house. When we rounded the bend, we saw two men supervising the fire in a harvested cornfield behind Sheri's house. They had obviously set the fire and were watching it burn with no alarm.

The people in this area often harvest the corn, then cut down the dried stalks, pile them up, and burn them. We stopped to ask these guys why they were doing this at night. They told us that they wait for nightfall so that there is no wind and so they can see exactly where the fire is burning.

We continued our walk around the campus. Within 20 minutes the fire was reduced to embers.

Church Planting

Day Mweemba, son of Daniel Mweemba and brother of Victor, arrived at our house yesterday morning at 7:00. He had left his home in Kauwe at 1:00 a.m. and ridden seven hours through the night to deliver a letter from the headmaster of Chiili Basic School. Here’s what the letter said.

"The above mentioned man of God (Daniel Mweemba) visited this school over planting the church of Christ at this school. The meeting was well attended, because the school has (serves) 15 villages, and out of 15, 11 villages attended the meeting. This was a great achievement because the addressed congregation cried before him to plant one church at this school so that the lost sheep of God can be brought back. He also told the community members that on 10th June, 2006, you will be with us here. The people of Chiili are most welcoming you and very willing to see you on that day."

The headmaster and the chairman of the PTA had signed the letter.

So now it’s Saturday morning and David just pulled out of the driveway. The pickup is loaded with camping gear, Bibles, communion supplies, and a large container of water. He and Rodgers Namuswa will head north to pick up Daniel and another worker before heading even farther north into the bush to the village of Chiili. Tonight and tomorrow they will meet with the villagers for preaching and teaching about the message of the gospel and the establishment of a new congregation.

I can’t help but marvel at the letter. I wonder how many school principals and PTA chairpersons in the US would issue such an invitation? Truly “the fields are white unto harvest” in this part of Zambia.

AIDS in Africa

FOXNews.com - AIDS Toll May Reach 100 Million in Africa - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

Click on the title to read an article about the "deadliest epidemic in history." We see the devastation of AIDS all around us here. Some of our very good friends are HIV positive. Many of the sponsored students are orphans, with AIDS as a probable cause of many of the parental deaths. There is not a family in our community that has not lost someone to the disease. The gospel has an additional urgency in a culture where death is a constant presence.

Containers, Part 4

We felt like we were at the tower of Babel as guys speaking Chitona, Bemba, and Lozi all offered advice for getting this electric cart unloaded off the container. Finally it was agreed that the farm tractor should back a trailer up to the container. Then lots of manpower lowered the cart gently onto the bed of the trailer.

Containers, Part 3

David surveys the stacks of supplies that came off the container. The white bags in the foreground hold sleeping bags; the bags in the background hold clothing. The bags of clothing are used to fill in the cracks between boxes and other items so that no space is wasted. The new bicycles will be used by church planters who fan out from Namwianga each weekend to teach and preach.

Containers, Part 2

Robby Banda (left), David, and Leonard Sichimwa pose in front of Container 2 right after its arrival on Friday morning. Robby and David spent hours on the internet and cell phones getting the container cleared. Robby even made a one-day trip to Lusaka to deliver the paperwork so that there would be no delay at the border. Leonard Sichimwa is the chief cook for the medical mission and is in charge of getting all the contents of the container put into the right places.

Containers, Part 1

Containers shipped from the US provide many of the supplies that are critical to ministries at Namwianga. These containers are the size of railroad boxcars. At least one is shipped from Abilene to supply the medicines and foodstuffs for the annual medical mission. Usually another one or two containers come over in the course of a year filled with other supplies for the clinic, schools, and other departments.

Each container moves by truck from Abilene to a port on the Gulf of Mexico. Then it sails by ship to a port in either South Africa or Tanzania. There the container must clear customs and then be loaded onto a truck for its final journey to Namwianga. Every border crossing requires another customs clearance. This odyssey usually takes about two months and is often filled with bureaucratic red tape and complications.

That was certainly the case this year. The container (hereafter referred to as Container 1) for the medical mission was shipped out of Abilene in January bound for the port of Durban in South Africa. A second container (Container 2) with miscellaneous items was shipped a month later and scheduled to enter Africa at the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam.

When neither container had arrived by May, the quest to locate and get them moving began. Ellie Hamby in Abilene, an agent in Houston, and mission superintendent George Phiri all began sending e-mails and making phone calls. Of special importance was Container 1 since it held the supplies for the medical mission in July. It also had most of the food that was to be used for a separate effort, the Northreach Medical Mission scheduled for June 1-12. Eventually the container was found to be sitting in a shipyard in Durban where it had been since mid-March awaiting clearance by customs. Containers are allowed only a few days for this process, so now a fee of $2000 in storage charges was levied. The Mission was not technically responsible for the delay, but there was no way to get the container moving without making the payment, so the money was sent. Still the container sat.

Northreach Medical Mission gave up on the container arriving in time for them and began buying up other foodstuffs and making alternate plans. Phone calls and e-mails kept flying with repeated assurances coming from an agent in Lusaka that the container was about to move. Each time the claims turned out to be false.

On Sunday night, the directors of the Zambia Medical Mission met to formulate Plan B. They decided that if Container 1 does not arrive by June 19, the medicines for the mission will have to be purchased in the US and shipped by air to Zambia at a cost of over $50,000. They put out a plea for everyone to pray for Container 1 to get moving. Meanwhile, on this side of the Atlantic we had already been praying about the issue. David and Robby Banda, the Mission’s financial officer, had started to work on the containers. They began using the internet to locate officials and offices in the chain of responsibility, and they started making phone calls. They were working on both containers: trying to locate Container 1 and get it moving and also making sure that Container 2 was able to clear customs in Dar es Salaam and at the Zambian border.

The logjam seemed to break loose this week as both containers cleared customs in their respective ports and began the journey by truck to Namwianga.

Container 2 has now arrived, pulling into Namwianga on Friday morning at 10:00--one down, one to go. Although we feel very hopeful at this point about Container 1, we won’t be able to celebrate until it arrives and we have the medicines we need here at Namwianga. Please keep this in your prayers!