Buttons!

My amazing husband took me across the state to go to the huge Farm Chicks antique show. It was super fun - thousands of people (well, I guess waiting in line for half an hour just to get in wasn't exactly fun - but it was sunny!), tons of great items, long road trip with my best friend and much needed time to breathe. At the show we bought a bread box (to add to my collection), vintage fabric scraps (for me to sew with) and an old toy to display in the living room. But the find of the whole trip came when we stopped at a produce stand/antique mall on the side of the freeway between Ellensburg and Cle Elm - this giant jar of buttons!! Isn't it great? Look at it. No, I mean really look at it. Not only is it totally beautiful and wonderfully useful - it is a jar of stories. Each one of these buttons has a story - Where did it come from? Who owned it? How old is it? What piece of clothing was it on? Was it worn a lot or kept in the back of a drawer? Did it get handed down or have only one owner? Did the button fall off or get ripped off? How did it come to be in the jar? See what I mean? It is a fabulous feast for the imagination!

And we are all buttons - okay, not literally, but we all have stories - different stories. I am so looking forward to being 'in a jar' with the Zambian people - to hear their stories and to tell their stories.

OUCH!!

Well, we did it. We got our immunization shots today - and I must say we all did a stellar job!! We joked, freaked out a bit, made a tiny bit of noise as the needles were pushed deep into our arms (okay, that one was just me), and Jubilee was the only one who really cried - and she didn't even get any shots!! Bless her tender little heart!

We were immunized against Hepatitis A, got a tetanus shot, received typhoid pills to take at home and left with a prescription for malaria medication. The appointment was for all of us at the same time and although the doctor discussed everything only once, we are going to be charged for four consultations. So, in other words, we will be paying him four times for the same twenty minutes. Now, how does that work?? And I must admit, I under estimated the cost of immunizations - they are totally expensive! Not sure how we will cover that right now, but I am not going to complain. I am thankful for medicine and health because I know 200,000 people die every year from typhoid and 2,000 children die every day from malaria.

However, I am a bit scared about taking the typhoid stuff. (The photo above is of an actual typhoid specimen.) Usually I am not bothered by things like this but for some reason this time I am really apprehensive. Please pray for peace, no complications and good health.

And just one more thing about our shots - right after I received mine, my arm got heavy and felt a bit odd. The nurse chuckled and said it was all in my head. However, about twenty minutes later my fingers went numb and tingly - and then my forearm. And now, over six hours later they are still numb and tingly and feeling icky. Is that normal? Or???

photo courtesy google image search

Registration open

In preparation for the upcoming elections, voter registration in Zambia has opened. However, registration is down, way down. As different groups try for more political power and as tension rises, please pray for the people of Zambia - that they would register, vote and be able to have a true say in the government of their country.

photo courtesy google image search

Meeting 6 - BBQ

Okay, although we did meet together for a BBQ - it really didn't resemble this picture. In fact Randy, chef at a five star restaurant, was in charge of barbecuing the chicken and, I must say, did a fabulous job! Although there was a little, tiny fire... but I digress. We had chicken, salad, chips and gluten free strawberry shortcake - YUM! This meeting was really about fellowshipping and answering questions. We discussed the luggage limit, malaria medication choices, bringing batteries on a plane, AWANA supplies, and so on. Before the next meeting we are hoping to have more information regarding the plan once we hit the ground in Lusaka. But until then we will continue to plug away and prepare the best we can. Your prayers are much appreciated - especially as our departure date draws near.

Jesus loves the little children....

Here they are! The AZ team gathered together some of the children in the area where we will be working and took this photo. In just a few weeks we will able to tell these children about Jesus - who He is, what He did and how much He loves them! And we will be setting up a weekly program for them to keep hearing from the Word of God. For those of you who are partnering with us - just look at some of the faces whose lives you will touch. Isn't it amazing??!!

water

I am not sure about the water situation in the area where we will be staying but I sure hope we don't need to carry it on our heads. Can I just say, "Ouch!" I must have a very wimpy head and neck because I tried it and, for starters, couldn't get the full bucket up there. In fact, I had trouble getting a half full bucket up onto my head. And it was very uncomfortable. So not only do people in Zambia have to walk miles to get water and not only is it contaminated but they carry buckets full back on their heads. Not sure about you, but I am amazed! Maybe if we worked together we could do something about the lack of safe drinking water around the world. Hmmmm......

photo courtesy google image search

Needing His Light

A recent news article from Lusaka stated, "Chieftainess Kalaba of Mansa district in Luapula Province has fled her palace for fear of being bewitched by her subjects. And several teachers at Lupende basic school in the same chiefdom have also threatened to flee the school due to what they called incessant nightmares caused by wizards." After reading this, 1 John 4:4 came to mind,"...the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." We may not battle with voodoo and witchcraft but the people in Zambia do and they need to see and know the light of Christ. There is a saying - All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle. May we be that light and may we shine so brightly the people in Zambia will see Christ.

photo courtesy google image search