Fire

Burning is big in Zambia. In August many farmers burn their fields. The burning gets the ground ready for the new planting season and it also gets rid of snakes - poisonous black mambas and spitting cobras to name but two. Some people burn their yards as a precaution, as well, because no matter who starts the fire each person is responsible for protecting their own home and fruit trees from the flames. And it is easy for the fires to get out of control. We saw a lot of fires as we went to and from town - both day and night. But the fire we witnessed as we walked around Kasupe has its own story.

We were walking through Kasupe seeing the tomato farms, the sewer creek, the women carrying water and learning about the area. We came to a hill and a couple members of our group decided to wait at the bottom while the rest of us continued up for a bit. Off in the distance we saw a person burning the dry grass around his hut and trees. From one tree hung a bunch of white things - charms - denoting this to be the home of a 'healer' (witch doctor). We walked a bit further and then stopped and talked with our guides. The fire in the distance was getting bigger. Then suddenly our guides said we should go back down the hill because it looked as if our path would be cut off by the flames. As we headed back down the hill the fire grew and got extremely close. We ended up running down the rest of the way to our team members who had stayed at the bottom. It was a scary experience but an amazing memory.

Take Notice

In a previous post I mentioned a bit about the water situation in Zambia. But now it has come to life. This photo is of a woman who stopped us while we were out walking in Kasupe. She asked if we would please take her picture - not for vanity's sake but for a desire she had in her heart. She told us she wanted women in America to see and take notice of what women in Zambia do. This woman walks several miles to get water - lifting the heavy container up onto her head to carry back home. And the thing is, she does this 4 or 5 times a day - everyday - seven days a week - 365 days per year - rain or shine. Imagine walking several miles in the rain while carrying an extremely heavy load and shortly after you return home you must head out and do it again, and then again, and again and again.

May we all take notice of the work Zambian women are doing in order to care for their families - praising God for their willingness and petitioning Him to give them added strength and joy.

Rocks

Okay, I no longer think I have a bad case of jet lag. Or, more precisely, I do not think that is all I have. You see, in addition to being tired and stiff with a head ache, sore throat and fever I am now on the verge of hacking up a lung. And although I try to be tough when I am sick (I am a MOM, after all) I am getting close to the end of my rope. Today I go in to the doctor to see if I picked up something in Africa or on the flight home or if my body is just throwing a fit from the time zone changes.

But today as I was moaning and groaning I was reminded of some people we saw in Lusaka. These are people we passed every time we left the farm or returned to it. They sit along the side of the road from sun up to sun down breaking rocks. Men, women (most with babies on their backs) and young children sit in the hot sun breaking rocks to try to sell for the equivalent of $1.00 per bag. That is their life - everyday. So although I am feeling completely miserable, I have the hope of feeling better in a week or so. But for the rock breakers there is no hope for a change in their day. Or their future.

The next time you walk down a gravel driveway, pour cement for a project or drive by a giant boulder please join me in praying for the rock breakers in Lusaka. Or, better yet, pray for them right now.

Sheemuh!

Yes, I know it is not spelled sheemuh - but that is how it is pronounced! In an earlier blog I wrote about the staple food in Zambia - the corn meal mush stuff - and I was worried. Well, I'm here to tell you it is actually really good!! It did not taste like corn meal at all - actually more like mashed potatoes, on the dry side. And it is served with a 'relish,' meaning a side dish. It is made out of maize that is ground up very fine - and it is super filling. Most Zambians eat 'sheemuh' everyday - at every meal they eat because it is so filling and so inexpensive. The interesting thing is that they eat it with their hands. More precisely, they eat it with one hand. The first time we ate it we were having dinner with the AWANA Zambia team and so they showed us how to do it - and laughed at us a bit, too! What you do is you take a bit of sheemuh in one hand, roll it into a ball, push your thumb into the ball a bit to make an indention and then use it to scoop up some 'relish.' With our first bit of sheemuh we had cabbage and chicken and another time we had beans and some sort of meat. And it was quite a hoot to watch us eat - Zambians don't get dirty when they eat but our team had food up to our elbows!

We are back...

We are back - got home early Wednesday morning. Thanks so much to those of you who were praying for us! While we were in Zambia we were reminded how fleeting life is. In one case a man, father of three, who was also there on a short term trip was in an accident (on one of the roads we traveled) and died. His remains arrived back in the states one day before we did. Another incident happened when our family was staying in town at a missionary guest house. The night guard approached a car that was in fact being stolen from the fenced grounds and the thieves kidnapped him at gunpoint -they threw a bag over his head, put him in the car and drove off. Thankfully, they let him go and he arrived back at the guest house by police escort. And all of this happened right outside of our window.

Please continue to pray for us as I am fighting a horrible case of jet lag - at least that is what we think it is.....

We have so much to share but I do not want to overwhelm you. I will try to tell a little bit at a time - if possible.

But for now - please know that God is alive and working in Zambia!!

Off we go....

Okay - we are at the SeaTac airport and are all ready to check in. Some of us are excited, others nervous and scared - please continue to pray for us! We are so thankful for your prayers! (and thank you, Vonda, for caring for our animals - and Mom and Dad for caring for Jubilee and Jeremiah while we are away) I am not sure when I will be able to post again - but please know that when we get back we will have lots of pictures and stories to share with you! Much love to you all!