Its Friday night and joy of joys we have electricity which means we also have water. We were without electricity nearly all day yesterday – they (ECZ) did put the generator on for a few times so we could get water but by the evening we were all feeling fairly miserable as we couldn't have baths before we went to bed. So tonight I've already had my bath in case we get a late power cut!
We are now all geared up for the teams which are coming out on Sunday, they will be leaving the UK tomorrow and arriving in Lusaka Sunday lunch time.
So I've been wondering how the guys coming out will find life in Zambia. It feels as though I've been here forever, I'm starting to know my way around the city – and the shops! Today I had my first experience of bartering – we wanted to buy some blankets to take out with us when we visit families, many are really suffering because of the cold. Its going down to about 4 degrees C at night so this is a real need, so we had the idea that we could take a blanket out as a small gift, of course once we got to the shops the shopkeepers were very resistant to bringing the price down even after we explained what it was for! We walked out of the first shop and found somewhere else a bit cheaper, but not a lot. We ended up buying 20 blankets at about £5 each, this should see us through our first visit. We will also be giving each family a bag of mealy meal (their staple food) oil, beans etc which should fed a family for about 3 weeks. We are praying that everyone's fund raising has been successful!
Its a real place of contrasts, but as I guess you would expect its the people who really stick out. Today we met a couple who have been working with street kids since 1991 – they now run a drop in centre where the youngsters can wash themselves and their clothes, have some food, get counselling etc and just outside of the town they have a centre with two dorms for boys and girls where they stay until they can be re-united with their family, or if not will be sent to boarding school. The centre has no funding, the six helpers haven't been paid for three months and everyday they don't know if they will have enough food for the following day. Its run totally on faith. That is really challenging for me. Can I - Will I believe that God will supply all my needs by faith? Is my faith strong enough ? What a challenge, its so easy for me to believe in God from the comfort of my home, even here in Zambia I'm in a safe place, protected and looked after by the people on the ECZ compound.
Yesterday we went to the Fountain of Life project in the town centre, again a project working with street children – we were taken to a local market where the children hang out, most of the ones we met were high, glue sniffing. It was something out of an Hogarth painting, young people reeling around, high as kites, it seems they collect polystyrene packing and melt it down with petrol, sounded incredible dangerous. Back at the centre we joined the youngsters who have left the streets in their weekly bible study which the local Baptist Church hold at the centre. The were studying Abraham and were talking about Sodom and Gomorrah - I could quite see that they could relate to the story as it was just like where they have been living. Is that why we find it so hard to believe because we have moved so far away form the reality of life?
Sunday, and the first team has just arrived – all in good spirits despite 5 of the team having lost their suitcases. Soon after they arrived the power went of so they quickly learnt the reality of life in Zambia. The hard work will start tomorrow – so for now its time for some R&R before supper.
I've really been thinking about home, today in Horley a number of friends were formally taking on membership at HMC – a special service that I missed being at. Then my post arrived via Mission Direct – some cards for later in the month but included was the HMC history book, I will enjoy browsing through it later tonight. Ian and Pete put such a lot of work into it, a splendid memorial of the last 100 yrs at HMC.
We've had a fantastic first week with the team – its been very full on, incredibly busy but its amazing to see how God is changing the folk on the team. We've been building the school, the foundations are now 6 blocks high so this week will be spent shuttering around the steel - rebars and back filling with cement. I've not actually managed to get to the building site as there has been so much to do with organising the ladies who cook for us etc. But we've all been out on some amazing visits. We fed 500 children (expected 350) at Kymbaya School. We were entertained to African dancing before lunch – then washed children's hands and served them lunch! We've also been to the McDonalds farm and learnt about Farming Gods Way and met 29 street kids they have taken into their home, been on Home Care Visits and I've even taught in a school, they were quite small (the children not the class) so it wasn't too hard. The text book they were using was published in 1963 so I was fine showing them how to add up the way I was taught. They are so short of books especially ones that are culturally relevant. It really doesn't make sense to send over our old books they would be much better to buy books locally (they are only about £2 each). We also went to the maid training centre, we showed the ladies how to knit and found out that they would like to aprons to wear so we went home via the market and brought a load of material. So on Saturday we went back and showed them how to cut out tabbards and sew hems, and the younger girls that came with us demonstrated how to make chocolate cake. It looked really yummy so no doubt they enjoyed it lunch time.
Today we've been to the Fountain of Life Church the service lasted for 4 hours which was followed by lunch so we didn't get back until nearly 3.30pm. They are in the process of building themselves a church, the walls are about 2 metres high but there is no roof yet, their services are held in a pole barn with tarpaulin walls today we didn't have any chickens in during the service as there have been on other occasions when we've visited. I think we may have eaten them as I had a nice piece of chicken on my plate. They had organised a visiting choir from a sister church who were amazing. The whole service was so spirit filled even if you couldn't understand the songs you could join in. Otherwise the service was in English and they translated for their people which was amazingly gracious of them. They had some amazing testimonies, some from our people and we even stood up and sang a couple of songs to them. You will be pleased to know that I stood well to the back!!
So know its a free afternoon, the swimming pool is freezing cold but the youngsters are all in it! So I think that's about all for now. I've really appreciated hearing from friends, do keep emailing. Please continue to pray for me and the team, your prayers are valued and much needed as I said its a really busy schedule and its important that we (the team) stay on the ball.
Lots of love to you all
Carol