So this is really the end, I arrived at Brisbane airport yesterday (Tuesday) morning - it had taken 1 short and 2 long flights to get me here. It was wonderful to see Jon in the flesh - I suppose having seen him regularly on Skype until I went to Zambia I didn't notice much change. It was then a drive north up to Buderim where Emma was waiting to greet me - I crashed for a couple of hours then went to collect Katy and Jared from school, I was a big surprise as they weren't expecting me until Wednesday. Today we went to the local church which also has a cafe, gym and swimming pool - we had a lovely swim although the water was amazingly warm, then after sampling their latte we walked home. Later when Jon and Emma got back from work we went down to the local beach where I was instructed in the finer points of body boarding - I managed to exfoliate my feet, legs and especially by knees but didn't win any prizes!!
Anyway, back to Zambia - as I'm writing this I'm listening to Ephraim (not sure about the spelling). After we came back from Livingstone we had less than a week to clear up and sort everything out to leave ready for next year and off course organise our end of campaign bash. Geoff, James and Emily worked like Trojans - they were joined by Chika and Emmanuel and Neil and Eirlys on Monday which all helped, the windows were given their final coats of paint, walls painted inside and out and thankfully all left ready for occupation on Friday morning. Friday dawned bright and clear, thank goodness Babrah Benson, Eunice, Evelyn and Jane were on hand to help with the food. They were very polite about having to prepare muzungu food (strange white folks). It was a wonderful afternoon, the food was good - grateful thanks to the guys that helped with the barbecue as I was getting very hot and bothered doing the cooking. It was really good to see all of our partners and the folk from Chamba Valley getting getting along so well. It was also sad when I realised that it would be the last time I would be seeing the guys, especially those amazing guys from the Fountain of Hope. Emmanuel did a sterling job getting photo's so I will paste a few in here so that you can see the new building and some of the folk.
We also had news that the video taken by Steve was posted onto Facebook, its excellent if you would like to view it go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FQMDW6mp1Y
So on Saturday morning it was off to the airport to say goodbye to Geoff and James who were flying to the UK, and to Emily who was going to work with the MacDonalds for two weeks. It was strange saying goodbye as we had been living and working together for 4 months. On the way home Cosmas and Emmanuel joined me for breakfast at Arcades where we were able to watch Steve's video - very emotional for us especially as Cosmas had just downloaded onto my computer the final photo's of all the vulnerable children and orphans that he is trying to get sponsorship for. I will be trying to sort out the photo's etc so that they are in some semblance of order ready for when I go back to Zambia next year. In the meantime I've got to produce a shorter version for Geoff to take to the de-brief day on Saturday.
So the rest of Saturday was spent with Emmanuel, his mum Babrah and Chika who came back later - they gave me a lovely lunch we then went back to the cottages to pack up and sort out all the things that needed to be left for next year. Later in the evening Babrah and Benson came back and prayed for me, such a wonderful, kind couple. In the morning I went to the early service where the congregation prayed for me, and then it was time to go - Cosmas and Emmanuel took me to the airport - the hardest goodbyes to say. I thank God for all the blessings I have received. God has been so good to me, I came hoping to be a blessing but, for the little I was able to do I have received unlimited blessings. Being taken into peoples hearts I now have a new extended family - who are as close to me as my family.
Over the last few days, especially, whilst I was awake on the plane (when all around seemed to be sleeping) I pondered on how God's word has been so alive - I guess having daily devotions in our groups has greatly helped but somehow I think it was being with so many people that not only lived by the Word they were able to talk so openly and honestly about how much they were blessed. This time for me has been a time of exploring what God is saying to me and one recurring passage is Jer 29:11 - I marked this passage in my bible when I was at Loyola on retreat in 2007. It is wonderful to know that God still has plans for me, that there is still work for me to do and that he wants to bless me. So I pray that I will continue to accept the challenges that he will certainly place before me.
I thank everyone who has taken the time to read my blog, and for all the prayers that have really helped me when the going has been hard. Please continue to pray that I will be able to raise sufficient finance to go back and help Cosmas with the orphans and vulnerable children, help Babrah set up her Home Care Givers project and go and help Vasco and Vincent.
Sorry I couldn't get the photo's to upload so I will try and put them onto Facebook
With many thanks to you for reading my blog and praying for me.
Shalom
Carol
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Last visit to Livingstone
So this is the end, team five are in Livingstone and my time in Zambia is fast coming to an end. My mind is full of images, dreams, hopes and prayers for the many wonderful people I've met over the time Ive been here. Its strange to think that I came out here knowing so little and will be going home having built some wonderful relationships but still knowing little. Its humbling to work alongside the Zambians that we have partnered with. Their faith is inspirational and their lives are lived serving their fellow Zambians.
The lady in red is one f the home care givers - they were all sporting the same uniform which they thought was great.
I'm afraid all of my photos show me squinting into the sun, this is Beauty the home care giver that came out with me and Steve, the lady in the brown is Barbrah, Emmanuel's mum. We have become great friends, she is wanting to set up a scheme of Home Care Givers in Chambia Valley, she has been out with us helping to interpret etc.I've just had a really interesting conversation with one of the guys who works at Limbo Lodge (where we stay when we are in Livingstone). We were talking about the impact of the teams on the lives of Zambians - I really think in the short term its only sticking plaster stuff but its when they go home and talk to their churches, friend and colleagues that hearts will be stirred to offer real long term help and support. He was telling me about a dutch man who brought a farm which included a lake which had a lot of fish in it. The local people fished the lake and were able to sell what they didn't need. Now the place has been turned into a rose farm, the water in the lake is now poisoned and used to irrigate the roses. The people work on the farm in bare feet and without gloves so they have lots of bleeding scratches on their hands and feet from the thorns. It made me wonder if we always buy fairly traded roses! We then got on to talking about the mono-culture on french beans and mange tout peas for the UK market - is this ethical? Don't start me on that one as I guess I've already bored you in the past with my views.
We had the most amazing baptism on Tuesday afternoon, Pastor Benson baptised one of our team in the swimming pool at Chamba Valley - it was so special and a real privledge for us to witness.
Please will you pray for Benson as he has malaria which has affected his liver, he has only just gone to the doc after a lot of nagging!
So I must close now - we will be going out for supper soon, so until I have a chance to update I ask that you continue to hold us all in your prayers.
With every blessing
Love Carol
Saturday, 3 October 2009
I thought you would all like to see me in my new outfit, trad Zambian, it was a bit sunny so I'm squinting a bit but I'm sure you can see the full effect!!
Well here I am in the middle of the last team, the Zambian Campaign ends on 16th October when we have our handing over event, two classrooms will have been completed for the new Kiine School, years six and seven will be moving in when they start their new school year in January. All the teams have worked really hard, in very hot weather and so far each team has finished its allocated tasks so, well done to James who has been leading the build. Its been no easy task as things are done very differently then on a UK build, for instance both the ground floor and roof slab concrete was mixed by hand - very strange to us when a concrete mixer would have done it so much quicker but the blessing here was that it provided employment for the extra builders which not only helped them, it meant their families were housed and fed and of course that helped traders who they purchased from.
It's so easy for us to bring our UK expectations, but we have to be guided by local people.
So this is a sad time, we are having to say goodbye to everyone, I'm finding it so emotional as I've made such brilliant friends. I now know that I will have to come back as there feels so much unfinished business.
This is me with mu friend Stan, he's living at the Fountain of Hope, but next week he's moving with 20 others to their next stage place where they hope to reintegrate them with their extended families. Stan is 17 and came from Chisamba in Central Province, at the moment he is in grade 7 at school - I don't know his full story - how long he lived on the streets before coming to FOH but as you can see he is holding my bag and calls me mother Carol. In fact they all call me mama Carol which is a huge compliment - Stan wants to be a pilot but whether he is ever able to complete his education i don't know. There is huge costs involved. But I want to keep in touch if I can.
These are some of the younger boys, Stan took this photo, they all love hugs and we have lots of them, I hopeless with languages and they mostly speak Bemba (not sure if that's how its spelt) but hugs speak wonders. Its amazing to think that they have only been at FOH for between 3-6 months. They don't always tell us their stories, so we don't know for how long they may have lived on the street.
On Monday we are taking a load of them to Adventure City the water park, we took half with the last team so this time we take the rest plus any new arrivals. So that will be a very sad day, I've already cried all over Stan so am likely to do the same on Monday - I'm becoming a real cry baby. its now two weeks since Isaac died, they are so upset. Isaac was going to sort out some boarding school places for the older guys who only have one or more years schooling to complete. There is one lad Jackson, who should be in grade 11, he is desperate to go back to school so that he can go to college - now he doesn't know what will happen, please will you pray for him - every time I see him he thanks me for my prayers.
Here I am talking about FOH in a very nice Internet cafe in Arcades, the most upmarket shopping mall - it feels like a million miles away from FOH and city market where the boys who live on the street stay. I've just been and had my hair done and had a whole load of photo's developed so that I can give them out to the guys on Monday. Stan had my camera and took loads of shots of the guys eating dinner, Nshima everywhere! Very tasty too. I'm going to miss going there for dinner with the teams. This time I also took Stan a pair of shoes and Lemi a bible so I bless all the folk that gave me money to bring out. Its all gone now as is all of mine - I've just changed my last £ so it will be hole in the wall from now on. I was also able to give Vasco some money to by some meat for dinner as most of the time they only have beans - these lads eat like horses and Vasco has been hard pushed to get food for them. Amazingly we are receiving the most generous donations from past teams, God is so good.
Another project that I'm helping with is documenting all the children that need sponsorship to go to Kiine School. So far Benson and Barbrah have identified 120+ vulnerable children and orphans who need help. I'm hoping that when I get back we can encourage some folk to help send them to school. I'm also going to be rising money to provide books for Dorothy's school - I visited them this week with Sarah one of the team members - we had a fab morning and taught them some songs, she did the singing and played the accordion and I did the actions. Great fun and mostly I managed to keep up with the actions. The children do laugh to see this white haired, white lady jumping around. its very hard trying to explain Our God is a Great Big God without!! I can hear you laughing. I'm afraid my voice hasn't improved but folk here are so gracious - Benson our Pastor told me that I'm a Soprano!!
I'd better finish now as I must be running out of Internet Time...
Love to you all and I pray that you will be blessed for all the support you give me.
Shalom
Carol
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Team 4
We are now half way through Team 4, this is our smallest team, just 6 people so the dynamics are certainly very different. Its also now becoming much hotter so I'm starting to find it much more difficult to be out in the sunshine, luckily there is now painting of window frames to do, so I'm able to do that indoors which is a real blessing for me. The building work has gone on steadily, the first floor slab is nearly completed over the two classrooms which we are aiming to finish. Next week the outside of the school will start to be plastered, ready for team 5 to paint.
I checked my emails just before lunch time today and was thrilled to hear from Max (he took over as a steward from me) at church, that they will be having a retiring collection next Sunday to go towards the cost of the school building. I really praise God that they will be doing this for us.
I think it must be at least a fortnight since I last updated my blog, and of course I writing this not quite knowing when I will be able to post what I'm writing now onto blog spot.
This week has been a time of very mixed emotions, we have one lady who also came to Zambia last year. I was really blessed to be able to go with her to visit Elizabeth who has just returned from Johannesburg where she has been hospitalised for kidney failure. I first met Elizabeth when Geoff and I went to EFZ to make the arrangements for the teams to work in different compounds going out with Home Care Givers. Elizabeth was one of the project leaders that we met, at that time I was so struck my her graciousness. I will always remember her saying 'that we have to forgive everyone who has been naughty (meaning that they are now HIV+) because they live under such a load of guilt that its really difficult for them to feel that they can be forgiven my our Father. This guilt is somehow even harder for the ladies to deal with as not only have they infected their partner they have probably also infected some of their children. Elizabeth is now staying with her parents as she can't yet manage to look after herself, she has lost so much weight and could barely stand. She now has to go to the main hospital in Lusaka for kidney dialysis three times a week, this is an incredible burden for her family as the weekly bill is just over K1million a week, about £140-£150. it looks as though she and husband will have to sell their house to pay the bills. Her husband doesn't have a job and although her children are grown up I got the impression that they don't have well paid jobs themselves. Yet, despite being so ill, Elizabeth was continuing praising God the whole time that we were there. We were taken there by Hope and Annie, the visit was such a joyful occasion, lots of tears when she first saw Gaynor, they have been in regular communication since Gaynor was here last year. But in the depth of such despair there was such hope and peace.
Yesterday we visited the compound with Annie's homecare givers operate, we again met such wonderful people, we met two Granny's who are now looking after all the grandchildren, both the ladies we met had disabled children, a little boy of 12 who looked as though he might have CP, he looked about 6 yrs old, wasn't able to walk, talk or fed himself and the other granny had a little girl of 7 who looked about 3yrs old, she also couldn't walk or talk. She was also learning disabled. To see these grey haired ladies carrying these children was so hard, the little boy does have a wheelchair but its broken so not much use. We then went to visit a lady who had a little baby, she lives with her two grown up sisters and a number of children in one room. It was a real privilege to be able to pray with these ladies. They have such joy in their hearts, the first lady we visited gave Penny and I a verse Jer 1:4,5 – we came to bless them and instead we came away blessed – I'm kinda getting used to this but this was the first time for the rest of the team.
I didn't manage to finish this – life certainly speeded up since I wrote the first part of this blog. We started Saturday with Chris and I painting window frames in the morning then we both had a quiet afternoon as the rest of the team went shopping at the local market then onto Manda Hill where the big supermarkets are. Its quite a contrast for the team seeing the other side of life in Zambia.
Then on Sunday we went back to the Fountain of Life church, amazing worship – we were thrilled to see that the roof is now on the new church, they hope to build up the walls a little more, so at least when we go next time we will worship in their new church.
Its now Wednesday, so I really ought to get a move on and get this posted, but I can't do that until I tell you about just how amazing God is and how he is really blessing our team out here.
On Monday morning we visited the area behind the market where the street children and youths live, I suppose some of them could be 9 or 10 but a some are older. Visiting in the morning is so different to the afternoon visits that we have previously made, the youngsters are not as high on sticker and you can hold coherent conversations with them. This time we had the opportunity to really pray with them individually – it was amazing that they were so open to hearing that God loved them and that he thought they were really special. We came away really uplifted by the responses that we had as they promised to come to the Fountain of Hope (FOH) in the morning. We then went of to Adventure City a big water park where we spent a lovely afternoon with ½ the kids from FOH (we will take the rest with team 5). So last night we had a call from Vasco who helps to run the centre to tell us that 13 young people turned up on Tuesday morning. They have never had such a response before. So do please pray for these youngsters – it will be really hard for them to go cold turkey to come of sticker which they sniff. This team also brought a number of bibles which they gave out to the boys at FOH, they need 6 more bibles then everyone there will have their own copy. Every time we go they ask for a bible, they really want to read God's word which is no easy task for most of them as they are really behind with their schooling. They have a talking circle and when we visit they always have to introduce themselves, say how old they are and in which grade at school. I always feel so sorry for the great big lads who are in Grade 7 with 12-13 yr olds.
One of the lads Lemi, he had only just come of the street when we first visited is an artist, he is recording a CD he writes his own lyrics and sings rap – I've really taken to him, he's about 17 and in grade 7 and sometimes looks so sad – he calls me mama and always comes for a big hug when we visit. He walks with a real swagger, trousers hanging down half mast, and always with a big shirt, I've given him my wooden pocket cross that Lee gave me, he really wants to know the Lord so do prayer for him as he finds life very restrictive after being on the street for so long, able to come and go as he pleases.
So I'd better finish here, will try and write again before too long.
I checked my emails just before lunch time today and was thrilled to hear from Max (he took over as a steward from me) at church, that they will be having a retiring collection next Sunday to go towards the cost of the school building. I really praise God that they will be doing this for us.
I think it must be at least a fortnight since I last updated my blog, and of course I writing this not quite knowing when I will be able to post what I'm writing now onto blog spot.
This week has been a time of very mixed emotions, we have one lady who also came to Zambia last year. I was really blessed to be able to go with her to visit Elizabeth who has just returned from Johannesburg where she has been hospitalised for kidney failure. I first met Elizabeth when Geoff and I went to EFZ to make the arrangements for the teams to work in different compounds going out with Home Care Givers. Elizabeth was one of the project leaders that we met, at that time I was so struck my her graciousness. I will always remember her saying 'that we have to forgive everyone who has been naughty (meaning that they are now HIV+) because they live under such a load of guilt that its really difficult for them to feel that they can be forgiven my our Father. This guilt is somehow even harder for the ladies to deal with as not only have they infected their partner they have probably also infected some of their children. Elizabeth is now staying with her parents as she can't yet manage to look after herself, she has lost so much weight and could barely stand. She now has to go to the main hospital in Lusaka for kidney dialysis three times a week, this is an incredible burden for her family as the weekly bill is just over K1million a week, about £140-£150. it looks as though she and husband will have to sell their house to pay the bills. Her husband doesn't have a job and although her children are grown up I got the impression that they don't have well paid jobs themselves. Yet, despite being so ill, Elizabeth was continuing praising God the whole time that we were there. We were taken there by Hope and Annie, the visit was such a joyful occasion, lots of tears when she first saw Gaynor, they have been in regular communication since Gaynor was here last year. But in the depth of such despair there was such hope and peace.
Yesterday we visited the compound with Annie's homecare givers operate, we again met such wonderful people, we met two Granny's who are now looking after all the grandchildren, both the ladies we met had disabled children, a little boy of 12 who looked as though he might have CP, he looked about 6 yrs old, wasn't able to walk, talk or fed himself and the other granny had a little girl of 7 who looked about 3yrs old, she also couldn't walk or talk. She was also learning disabled. To see these grey haired ladies carrying these children was so hard, the little boy does have a wheelchair but its broken so not much use. We then went to visit a lady who had a little baby, she lives with her two grown up sisters and a number of children in one room. It was a real privilege to be able to pray with these ladies. They have such joy in their hearts, the first lady we visited gave Penny and I a verse Jer 1:4,5 – we came to bless them and instead we came away blessed – I'm kinda getting used to this but this was the first time for the rest of the team.
I didn't manage to finish this – life certainly speeded up since I wrote the first part of this blog. We started Saturday with Chris and I painting window frames in the morning then we both had a quiet afternoon as the rest of the team went shopping at the local market then onto Manda Hill where the big supermarkets are. Its quite a contrast for the team seeing the other side of life in Zambia.
Then on Sunday we went back to the Fountain of Life church, amazing worship – we were thrilled to see that the roof is now on the new church, they hope to build up the walls a little more, so at least when we go next time we will worship in their new church.
Its now Wednesday, so I really ought to get a move on and get this posted, but I can't do that until I tell you about just how amazing God is and how he is really blessing our team out here.
On Monday morning we visited the area behind the market where the street children and youths live, I suppose some of them could be 9 or 10 but a some are older. Visiting in the morning is so different to the afternoon visits that we have previously made, the youngsters are not as high on sticker and you can hold coherent conversations with them. This time we had the opportunity to really pray with them individually – it was amazing that they were so open to hearing that God loved them and that he thought they were really special. We came away really uplifted by the responses that we had as they promised to come to the Fountain of Hope (FOH) in the morning. We then went of to Adventure City a big water park where we spent a lovely afternoon with ½ the kids from FOH (we will take the rest with team 5). So last night we had a call from Vasco who helps to run the centre to tell us that 13 young people turned up on Tuesday morning. They have never had such a response before. So do please pray for these youngsters – it will be really hard for them to go cold turkey to come of sticker which they sniff. This team also brought a number of bibles which they gave out to the boys at FOH, they need 6 more bibles then everyone there will have their own copy. Every time we go they ask for a bible, they really want to read God's word which is no easy task for most of them as they are really behind with their schooling. They have a talking circle and when we visit they always have to introduce themselves, say how old they are and in which grade at school. I always feel so sorry for the great big lads who are in Grade 7 with 12-13 yr olds.
One of the lads Lemi, he had only just come of the street when we first visited is an artist, he is recording a CD he writes his own lyrics and sings rap – I've really taken to him, he's about 17 and in grade 7 and sometimes looks so sad – he calls me mama and always comes for a big hug when we visit. He walks with a real swagger, trousers hanging down half mast, and always with a big shirt, I've given him my wooden pocket cross that Lee gave me, he really wants to know the Lord so do prayer for him as he finds life very restrictive after being on the street for so long, able to come and go as he pleases.
So I'd better finish here, will try and write again before too long.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
After the 3rd team
Its now a week since team 3 finished working at Chamba Valley - its been a hard two weeks. Beside the building site work we have also been running in parallel a holiday club in the local church on 3 mornings and painting at Kumbayah School. The team were amazingly hard working and achieved a lot - they worked so hard that it was challenging to keep up with them. This was besides all of our usual visits to our partners.
Interestingly we had two Anglican clergy, husband and wife Bob and Sue I'm sure they wont mind me mentioning their names. Bob is profoundly deaf and communicates mainly by BSL sign language. He worked as a teacher in the early 70's in Zambia so for him it was a return visit, we were able to organise some visits to meet folk from the deaf community hear and a visit to the school he used to teach at. The highlight for me was that they gave us communion on the last morning before they flew home. Bob celebrated using sign language with Sue translating. It was such a special service, outside in the grounds of Limbo lodge where we were staying down in Livingstone.
So this week its been busy relaxing and catching up before the next team arrive on Sunday. This will be our smallest team just 6 people, I'm sure it will be a case of quality not quantity.
I will catch up with some more of this another day as I need to close now.
I just wanted you all to know that Zambia is where its happening!
Love to you all
Carol
Interestingly we had two Anglican clergy, husband and wife Bob and Sue I'm sure they wont mind me mentioning their names. Bob is profoundly deaf and communicates mainly by BSL sign language. He worked as a teacher in the early 70's in Zambia so for him it was a return visit, we were able to organise some visits to meet folk from the deaf community hear and a visit to the school he used to teach at. The highlight for me was that they gave us communion on the last morning before they flew home. Bob celebrated using sign language with Sue translating. It was such a special service, outside in the grounds of Limbo lodge where we were staying down in Livingstone.
So this week its been busy relaxing and catching up before the next team arrive on Sunday. This will be our smallest team just 6 people, I'm sure it will be a case of quality not quantity.
I will catch up with some more of this another day as I need to close now.
I just wanted you all to know that Zambia is where its happening!
Love to you all
Carol
Saturday, 15 August 2009
2nd Team
Its been really wonderful to hear that so many folk have been reading my blog, and that Team 2 found it helpful before they arrived. They have now been out here for a week – one of the guys said to me this morning that it feels as though he has been in Zambia forever and would love to stay. In fact so many people do want to come back, I've just heard from Ella who was with the 1st team that she tried to book for team 3 but unfortunately we are full to busting so its just not possible. We still have places available on the 4th and 5th teams but of course that's out of school holiday time so not possible for so many people.
So life in Lusaka continues – I had a wonderful birthday and the biggest cake – it even had candles and I was thrilled that Anna managed to phone me, I just hope it didn't cost her too much as I don't expect she used the cheap number. Last week it was so cold we had to get extra blankets for everyone, but this week its been warmer and today really hot – I had to get out my sun hat.
Today we've been really busy – we started at the House of Moses feeding the babies and toddlers (37 in total) and then went to Kaunda Square where the local church was holding a clinic, they provide this free service once a month in different locations. Doctors from the university teaching hospital volunteer their time and the local home based care workers work as voluntary staff. We arrived at about 11.30am, they had already seen about 50 people when we arrived – usually they see between 180-200 patients. They start by weighing and measuring height and taking patient details, then they have their blood pressure taken, are tested for diabetics, given an eye test and have the chance to talk to a doctor. The church provides medicine, so its a really amazing service, Faith in Action. This morning in my devotion group we studied James 2 where he talks about Faith and Deeds, here we see how a group of folk have set up a church in a really poor neighbourhood, their main outreach is too the poor, sick and marginalised – in this place they have followed this teaching in a way that is so inspirational.
So many people we met, have very little materially but their faith is as high as mountains, they truly believe that they have been saved, they proclaim the kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ at every opportunity. They are not shy about sharing their blessings and welcome us into their homes. I have been so blessed to receive this welcome, this sense of kinship in the love of Jesus. Knowing that we are all brothers and sisters, that in Christ there is no black or white, disability or ability – we are all equal in His sight if we love and follow him.
On the subject of blessings and answered prayer, our coach window was mended, the insurance came through to pay for it. We are now praying that our next trip down to Livingston will be uneventful and that more of the new road will be opened up for us to use.
We are now down in Livingstone, another hard journey – on the way we saw 2 overturned lorries, neither of them were small – the trailers were on their backs looking very sorry for themselves with the load spread all around. One only just landing on the railway line so I guess that will cause all sorts of problems. It was extremely hot as we motored towards Livingstone and once we hit the dirt road we had to shut off all fans and windows as the dust was really bad. I just kept praying the we would be surrounded by God's angels who would surround the coach with their protective presence as so many other vehicles were going really fast and could easily have sent another stone winging its way towards us.
This afternoon we took the team down to the Zambezi for a sunset cruise. The colours were amazing God is amazing to have created such a beautiful place. As the sun sunk below the horizon the river was coloured the most amazing pinky red, if anyone tried to paint a river with these colours we wouldn't have believed that they could be real.
So hear I am back from Livingstone, Dorne who is working for 3 months at MacDonald's Farm came to stay on Monday for 2 nights. She was such a blessing, we talked an prayed together she was such wonderful company, on Tuesday night we went to the internet café at Arcades and had a very companionable time catching up with emails and Facebook friends. I didn't get time to copy this into blogspot so it will have to wait until next time I can go on line.
I would really appreciate your prayer for a family that I went to visit on Tuesday afternoon. I went with Eunice and Evelyn who look after the guest houses, the mother was Eunice's sister in law, she had died on Friday ('whilst I was in Livingstone) leaving 8 children aged 3 – 22yrs and 2 grandchildren. Her husband had left her for another lady who he is now married to. He will have nothing to do with the children, the close family do not have the means or room to take the family on so the mother's sisters feel it would be better for the 4 younger children to go back to the mothers village and live with their grandmother which would leave the 4 older girls to fend for themselves financially, but they could keep an eye on them. The two younger girls should be in school but neither can afford to go, at the moment these older girls plait hair which just about pays the rent and buys a little food. They live in two rooms with a very smelly outside privy which is shared by several other families, they don't have any furniture, we sat on bamboo mats on the floor. But before anything can happen they need about £50 for the fare to get the small children to the grandmothers village. I'm feeling that God is saying to me that I should give them this money, I've already given them about £18 to pay for some food to keep them going so do please pray that I am making the right decision. This won't of course help the older girls who need to return to school but I can't take on that kind of commitment. After I wrote this I ha an email offering me £50, so I've given them the money
I feel so privileged to be here, how many folk in the UK would welcome you into their home and then ask you to pray for them, my prayers seem so inadequate but I know that God honours our prayers; so I pray for his continued love for this family and to give me wisdom in using my resources wisely.
I've also been really sad to hear that my brother in law, Jim is in hospital – he is very ill and all the family are extremely worried about him. Please do hold him, Sue is wife in your prayers. Jim is out of hospital now, praise the Lord he is home from hospital although still feeling really rough.
I think that's all for now, except you will be pleased to know that I now have a work permit which means I can stay here until 2011! No more visiting the immigration dept to get my passport stamped.
So I pray that God goes with you.
Love Carol
ps I've just spoken to Jon, Katy and Jared on Skype - wonderful to see and hear them
So life in Lusaka continues – I had a wonderful birthday and the biggest cake – it even had candles and I was thrilled that Anna managed to phone me, I just hope it didn't cost her too much as I don't expect she used the cheap number. Last week it was so cold we had to get extra blankets for everyone, but this week its been warmer and today really hot – I had to get out my sun hat.
Today we've been really busy – we started at the House of Moses feeding the babies and toddlers (37 in total) and then went to Kaunda Square where the local church was holding a clinic, they provide this free service once a month in different locations. Doctors from the university teaching hospital volunteer their time and the local home based care workers work as voluntary staff. We arrived at about 11.30am, they had already seen about 50 people when we arrived – usually they see between 180-200 patients. They start by weighing and measuring height and taking patient details, then they have their blood pressure taken, are tested for diabetics, given an eye test and have the chance to talk to a doctor. The church provides medicine, so its a really amazing service, Faith in Action. This morning in my devotion group we studied James 2 where he talks about Faith and Deeds, here we see how a group of folk have set up a church in a really poor neighbourhood, their main outreach is too the poor, sick and marginalised – in this place they have followed this teaching in a way that is so inspirational.
So many people we met, have very little materially but their faith is as high as mountains, they truly believe that they have been saved, they proclaim the kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ at every opportunity. They are not shy about sharing their blessings and welcome us into their homes. I have been so blessed to receive this welcome, this sense of kinship in the love of Jesus. Knowing that we are all brothers and sisters, that in Christ there is no black or white, disability or ability – we are all equal in His sight if we love and follow him.
On the subject of blessings and answered prayer, our coach window was mended, the insurance came through to pay for it. We are now praying that our next trip down to Livingston will be uneventful and that more of the new road will be opened up for us to use.
We are now down in Livingstone, another hard journey – on the way we saw 2 overturned lorries, neither of them were small – the trailers were on their backs looking very sorry for themselves with the load spread all around. One only just landing on the railway line so I guess that will cause all sorts of problems. It was extremely hot as we motored towards Livingstone and once we hit the dirt road we had to shut off all fans and windows as the dust was really bad. I just kept praying the we would be surrounded by God's angels who would surround the coach with their protective presence as so many other vehicles were going really fast and could easily have sent another stone winging its way towards us.
This afternoon we took the team down to the Zambezi for a sunset cruise. The colours were amazing God is amazing to have created such a beautiful place. As the sun sunk below the horizon the river was coloured the most amazing pinky red, if anyone tried to paint a river with these colours we wouldn't have believed that they could be real.
So hear I am back from Livingstone, Dorne who is working for 3 months at MacDonald's Farm came to stay on Monday for 2 nights. She was such a blessing, we talked an prayed together she was such wonderful company, on Tuesday night we went to the internet café at Arcades and had a very companionable time catching up with emails and Facebook friends. I didn't get time to copy this into blogspot so it will have to wait until next time I can go on line.
I would really appreciate your prayer for a family that I went to visit on Tuesday afternoon. I went with Eunice and Evelyn who look after the guest houses, the mother was Eunice's sister in law, she had died on Friday ('whilst I was in Livingstone) leaving 8 children aged 3 – 22yrs and 2 grandchildren. Her husband had left her for another lady who he is now married to. He will have nothing to do with the children, the close family do not have the means or room to take the family on so the mother's sisters feel it would be better for the 4 younger children to go back to the mothers village and live with their grandmother which would leave the 4 older girls to fend for themselves financially, but they could keep an eye on them. The two younger girls should be in school but neither can afford to go, at the moment these older girls plait hair which just about pays the rent and buys a little food. They live in two rooms with a very smelly outside privy which is shared by several other families, they don't have any furniture, we sat on bamboo mats on the floor. But before anything can happen they need about £50 for the fare to get the small children to the grandmothers village. I'm feeling that God is saying to me that I should give them this money, I've already given them about £18 to pay for some food to keep them going so do please pray that I am making the right decision. This won't of course help the older girls who need to return to school but I can't take on that kind of commitment. After I wrote this I ha an email offering me £50, so I've given them the money
I feel so privileged to be here, how many folk in the UK would welcome you into their home and then ask you to pray for them, my prayers seem so inadequate but I know that God honours our prayers; so I pray for his continued love for this family and to give me wisdom in using my resources wisely.
I've also been really sad to hear that my brother in law, Jim is in hospital – he is very ill and all the family are extremely worried about him. Please do hold him, Sue is wife in your prayers. Jim is out of hospital now, praise the Lord he is home from hospital although still feeling really rough.
I think that's all for now, except you will be pleased to know that I now have a work permit which means I can stay here until 2011! No more visiting the immigration dept to get my passport stamped.
So I pray that God goes with you.
Love Carol
ps I've just spoken to Jon, Katy and Jared on Skype - wonderful to see and hear them
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Next blog
I see that I started my last blog on a Friday, so here I am again – catching up and preparing before the next team arrive.
Our first team left from Livingston airport on Sunday, we stayed the night in Livingstone and drove home on Monday. A long drive, we left at about 11.15 am arrived home at 8pm, we only had two stops but it was so slow, a stretch of the road is unmade up and there are a lot of potholes on the older sections. Chika our driver is the most amazing man. He's with us everyday when the team is here. I've never seen him rattled and he is the safest driver I've ever driven with – I've never once had to put my foot on the brake or look away which is my usual coping strategy when the going gets hairy. Actually, it did get hairy on the way down as a speeding lorry through up a stone which broke a side window. Thank God no one was hurt, but of course its left the coach owners in a difficult position as it seems insurance take any thing up to a year to come through – so when they bring the coach back tomorrow we will be interested to see how they've mended it. I'm guessing not with glass as I can't imagine they will find any the right size in Lusaka. Did I tell you that the coach came originally from Hastings, there is an address of a coach company painted on the side. I can't imagine how old it is – well actually I can, really, really, really old. Oh, and sometimes the doors don't work, we had to exit via the emergency exit which entailed taking a chair as some of us stiff ones couldn't get in and out. At the moment its working – well it was when they took it back for its weeks holiday.
Talking about people, well me talking, I know you will be saying what's new hey!! But I'm now finding folk I know in the local supermarket. Bumped into Ann from EFZ and Pastor John today when out shopping. Its getting just like walking around Waitrose in Horley when you can always be sure of finding someone you know. And I've booked to have my hair cut tomorrow, my fringe is so long I thought I'd better brave the local hairdressers and see what they can do for me. It seems busy -but quite relaxed one lady was eating chicken and chips whilst she was waiting.
So what about Livingstone, well Victoria Falls were amazing. We started by taking a sunset cruise down the Zambezi. How wonderful was that – amazing – I thought I would take one photo each time I go.
The next morning we went to Victoria Falls, you can only see a small part of it at any time, this was my first picture. The pictures with the rainbows were taken from the top of the falls. Two rainbows how amazing. Lunch time was spent at Livingstone Golf club which has been splendidly restored (the building and the first nine holes) .In the afternoon we went on a game drive.
This is where we stopped for a drink half way around the game drive. Elephants walk /swim over the Zambezi, we saw a whole heard by the side of the road on the way to the game drive.
I'm not actually sure whether these photo's will come out when I copy this onto the blog system. Do hope so. I've loads more but these will do for now. Sorry didn't happen!!
I've just realised what the time is so I'd better close now. Please do pray that our coach will get sorted and for our next team coming out on Sunday.
The building project is on schedule, and all the other visits have been arranged.
This has taken days for me to get back on line. All is well and the second team are doing great. We really need more multivitiams and meal supplements so if anyone can send some to Mission Direct the next team could bring them out.
Please pray for the staff team as we juggle the demands of always being available with getting some space for ourselves
With love and blessings
Carol
I see that I started my last blog on a Friday, so here I am again – catching up and preparing before the next team arrive.
Our first team left from Livingston airport on Sunday, we stayed the night in Livingstone and drove home on Monday. A long drive, we left at about 11.15 am arrived home at 8pm, we only had two stops but it was so slow, a stretch of the road is unmade up and there are a lot of potholes on the older sections. Chika our driver is the most amazing man. He's with us everyday when the team is here. I've never seen him rattled and he is the safest driver I've ever driven with – I've never once had to put my foot on the brake or look away which is my usual coping strategy when the going gets hairy. Actually, it did get hairy on the way down as a speeding lorry through up a stone which broke a side window. Thank God no one was hurt, but of course its left the coach owners in a difficult position as it seems insurance take any thing up to a year to come through – so when they bring the coach back tomorrow we will be interested to see how they've mended it. I'm guessing not with glass as I can't imagine they will find any the right size in Lusaka. Did I tell you that the coach came originally from Hastings, there is an address of a coach company painted on the side. I can't imagine how old it is – well actually I can, really, really, really old. Oh, and sometimes the doors don't work, we had to exit via the emergency exit which entailed taking a chair as some of us stiff ones couldn't get in and out. At the moment its working – well it was when they took it back for its weeks holiday.
Talking about people, well me talking, I know you will be saying what's new hey!! But I'm now finding folk I know in the local supermarket. Bumped into Ann from EFZ and Pastor John today when out shopping. Its getting just like walking around Waitrose in Horley when you can always be sure of finding someone you know. And I've booked to have my hair cut tomorrow, my fringe is so long I thought I'd better brave the local hairdressers and see what they can do for me. It seems busy -but quite relaxed one lady was eating chicken and chips whilst she was waiting.
So what about Livingstone, well Victoria Falls were amazing. We started by taking a sunset cruise down the Zambezi. How wonderful was that – amazing – I thought I would take one photo each time I go.
The next morning we went to Victoria Falls, you can only see a small part of it at any time, this was my first picture. The pictures with the rainbows were taken from the top of the falls. Two rainbows how amazing. Lunch time was spent at Livingstone Golf club which has been splendidly restored (the building and the first nine holes) .In the afternoon we went on a game drive.
This is where we stopped for a drink half way around the game drive. Elephants walk /swim over the Zambezi, we saw a whole heard by the side of the road on the way to the game drive.
I'm not actually sure whether these photo's will come out when I copy this onto the blog system. Do hope so. I've loads more but these will do for now. Sorry didn't happen!!
I've just realised what the time is so I'd better close now. Please do pray that our coach will get sorted and for our next team coming out on Sunday.
The building project is on schedule, and all the other visits have been arranged.
This has taken days for me to get back on line. All is well and the second team are doing great. We really need more multivitiams and meal supplements so if anyone can send some to Mission Direct the next team could bring them out.
Please pray for the staff team as we juggle the demands of always being available with getting some space for ourselves
With love and blessings
Carol
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