Conrad and Janie

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Zambia -- November 2009: Work at Emusa

Driving from Lusaka to Chipata --
crossing the Luangwa River

We stopped to buy dried fish at the Luangwa River

The road from Chipata to Lundazi is very bad --
so bad, in fact, that most vehicles drive on
the shoulder rather than the road!

Rough roads = tire puncture #1
(the first of three!)

Women with babe's on their back watching our tire change
and the muzungu -- "white people!"

Charcoal for sale -- a common sight along the road
and on the back of bicycles!

Recent rains clearly reveal the wash-board condition of the road

Children taking cover under the eaves during the rain shower

Typical family homestead

Activity in family yard

Kaitlin & Janie with Alfred, wives and children

Lunch in Alfred's home (nshima, eggs, rape, and dried fish)

Conrad at work......

Janie and Kaitlin at work too.....making an extension
for the staff gauge to measure storm readings

Finished project -- and team!

Taking a break from the sun....

and eating lunch under the banana trees!

Time for silliness....

Tire puncture #3
(Puncture #2 had happened just a few miles back
so we had no spare left for puncture #3 -- our driver
hitched a ride to Chipata to get both tires repaired
...while we waited there for four hours....)

Conrad teaching Kaitlin how to eat mango
while way-laid by tire puncture #3

Blowout #2 -- we spent four hours waiting again!
This time the driver and Conrad went back to Chipata
to buy two new tires....definitely a streak of bad luck.
(No pictures of blowout #1 -- although it was most frightening!)
This has to be a record....
3 tire punctures and 2 blowouts in one week!!
Thank God for His protection!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Zambia -- November 2009: Choma/Nakeempa School

Back to our favorite Bus Company for the trip back --
but this time only three hours to Choma,
where we stayed at a Brethren In Christ Guest House.

Young "egg salesman" at the bus station waiting for business...

The road from Livingstone to Choma

Kaitlin thoroughly enjoyed

her snack on the bus

On Sunday we drove out in the bush to visit
Nakeempa Basic School. This BICC School
receives support from Global Family/MCC.
Our family participates in Global Family
so we were very interested in visiting and learning
more about the school and community.

Driving out to Nakeepma

We arrived in time to attend church -
and were warmly received....

...and invited to speak!

Following church there was a greeting line in which each person
was greeted by every other person present...

...and then we were quickly off to the Headmaster's home for lunch.

First we washed our hands...

..and then enjoyed a delicious lunch of
nshima, stewed village chicken, and green beans
(properly eaten with our fingers!)

After lunch we went back to the school for a program
that had been arranged for us to meet
orphaned students who receive Global Family Support,
their caregivers, teachers, and leaders of the community.
But first, we enjoyed a program of music and dancing
performed by the middle school aged children.

We sat on chairs facing a crowd of students and caregivers

who had gathered under a huge mango tree

..but shortly the storm clouds thickened and the thundering
grew ominously close so everyone quickly moved inside --
with only moments to spare before the heavens opened
with the first rain of the rainy season for this community!

We met individually with caregivers....

...orphaned students.....
(approximately 95 receive Global Support at Nakeempa)

...and community leaders.

It was a powerful experience to realize that one
$300 Global Family Sponsorship
makes it possible for 8-10 orphans to attend school.
We left feeling very moved and deeply committed
to continuing our support of Global Family.