It was a relatively quiet week.  I drove by myself twice and only got lost in Lusaka once.  I managed to get unlost without too much lost time.  Also went to immigration by myself and renewed my extension on my visa while my work permit is in process.  Feeling pretty accomplished.  Driving stick on the wrong side of the car and the wrong side of the road where there are few roads with name signs takes some time.

Yesterday and today we spent driving to Mpulungu.  It's in the very north western part of the country on Lake Tangynika.  It is very beautiful here.  It's the second deepest lake in the world.  A lot of the beautiful little aquarium fish called cichlids come from here.  We are here to do community health evangelism training.  I get to do one session on prayer and will watch and learn from Christine and Lovemore.  Looking forward to it!

Sunday was a very good day also.  Christine and I went to Bishop Mondo's church.  He's the head of the Assemblies of God Zambia.  He preached a great sermon on the children of Israel leaving Egypt.  Several points stood out (besides loving his preaching style...actions, walking up and down aisle, incredibly energetic).  First, it was God who brought them out guiding them with a cloud and pillar of fire.  He protected them in front and behind.  That same God not only goes before and behind and over us but resides in us.  Second, it is an all-powerful God who can part the waters of the Red Sea in front of you, no matter the problem you are facing or how close the devil is behind you.  Third, He provided again and again for His people.  First born of Egypt dead, release from captivity, parting of the Red Sea, drowning of the Egyptian army, manna to eat, clearing bitter water and water from a rock...and even quail (at their request...murmuring).  We had a powerful time of prayer.  The service ended with a baby and child dedication.

Afterwards we were invited to his house for Sunday dinner.  It was a special time of fellowship.  He and a visiting Ghanaian evangelist shared stories and insights of the Scriptures and the African church.  Incredible to hear about his encounters with witchcraft and demons when a young pastor in the rural villages.

I had a full weekend.  Went to the western area of Zambia to the town of Mongu.  It is amazing how different is was there.  The landscape is a big flood plain with tall sand dunes.  I felt like I was walking/climbing the Lake Michigan shoreline.  Only difference is the sand turns your feet black.  On the way out we drove through Kafue National Park.  Unfortunately we only saw a few impala and vultures (at a kill, kind of cool).

We brought out 500 children's Bibles for the church and orphanage in Mongu.  There is a Village of Hope there that has about 8 children in two homes with housemothers.  The children's parents have died or were abandoned with extended family unable to take care of them.  Each one has a heart-breaking story, including the housemothers.  We left Bibles for each of the children and housemothers.  The rest the church will give out later.  It was very touching to see the kids holding their own Bibles and so excited to find their favorite Bible story.  One girl particularly pulled at my heart.  Conga is about 11 years old and has lots of spunk.  She will take some molding but her strong backbone is why she is still alive.  Even though she could be a little pushy, she also was very helpful with the younger children and kind.  She brought her Bible to me and asked to find the story about Jesus feeding the 5,000.  That is her favorite...this child who has known more hunger then I can imagine.  We found it and she went on to "read" it to me.  She told how Jesus told everyone to sit down and he prayed for the food and the disciples passed it all out and everyone ate and had enough.  Jesus told them he would provide and take care of them, and they should rest.  She went on to tell how the children came to Jesus and he blessed them.  She is sharp and listened well to whoever told her that story. The blessing of the children comes right after the feeding of the 5,000 in the gospel of Mark.

This is Panda.  He is one of the children at the home.  He has the greatest smile, loves gardening and taking care of their pet rabbit. 

The picture on the left is all the kids with their Bibles at the Village of Hope.  The picture on the right is Amy giving Conga her Bible.  

I also spent half a day doing home visits with the Zambian nurse who works at the feeding program they run. It's called "Save a Life."  Sponsors from South Africa and America support the program's through donations for the food.  Children are referred from the local hospital and government social workers.  They have to meet a pretty severe level of malnutrition to be in the program (all the kids in this area are somewhat malnurished).  The moms receive training on nutrition and make the food themselves.  They have lessons on hygiene and safe water and other health topics.  Each child is in the program only 6 months so as not to create dependency.  At the three month mark, lessons start about microenterprise and helping the moms set up small businesses so they can support themselves and children. The picture is of Annie, the nurse and a mom about to graduate from the program.  She was running a business selling tomatoes, charcoal, and fish.  Her house was neat and tidy with her baby sleeping under the mosquito net and water nicely covered in clean bottles.  Hard working woman who put her lessons to work.

 Am I in Michigan?  This is the sand dune from our house to the school.

 This is Sue with little Blessing.

Best reason ever to stay up late!

Last night I got to Skype into the Southwestern Medical Clinic provider worship and give an update to all my partners in Michigan.  It was a great time to hear everyone...and to see you all across the room.  For those not familiar, Southwestern Medical Clinic was started by a few surgeons in the 1960's with the express interest to have a place for people to train and go overseas but have a base to come home to for medical practice.  It has grown into over 70 providers with about 12 overseas full-time and many going on short term trips and everyone supporting many missionaries.  Some of the founding members were roommates/contemporaries with Nate Saint and Jim Elliott.  To be a part of that legacy is amazing.  Last night I felt the incredible support behind me.  It is a privilege to be the arm between two continents to help connect the body of Christ.  I truly felt how connected the Church is to one another no matter physical distance.  Never minimize your role in His Kingdom no matter your location!

I received sad new yesterday.  The young woman we visited at her home because she was so ill passed away Sunday evening.  She had gotten a little better with the medicines we had given her.  She was able to eat some with vomiting.  But then she got worse so her family took her to the hospital.  The message we got back is "she ran out of blood."  Think that means she was too anemic.  My heart is sad for her family and for the potential she held here on this earth.  My heart is comforted with the knowledge she is in heaven and her family and I will see her again...with no pain or tears.
There is more motivation to work on the Moringa tree project.  The area she is living in has such levels of malnutrition, and it could help so much.  Many of the area crops do not have high amounts of protein.  Moringa does.  I made my first batch of Moringa leaf greens.  I enjoyed them and Christine said she did.  More recipes trials to come.

Proud of my purchases at market today. Cute crocheted plastic bag purse made by the Chikumbuso women, almonds, honey, pineapple, a cute aloe plant and lemon grass to start my garden at the ministry center.

This picture holds a story only partially told so far.  This is three generations of women living in a small community outside Lusaka.  We did a house call to their home because the youngest woman was too sick to come to where we were.  She is 19 years old and almost finished with grade 12 but has been too weak to go to school.  We were able to bring her medicine to help.  Please pray for her healing.  I enjoyed talking with her and her mom and aunts and grandma.  Her grandma is 89 years old and is full of spunk.  Her statement broke my heart.  She asked about a few medical problems of her own and after listening to her and examining her, we decided a chest xray would be best before treating.  She dismissed the idea (it is not near by so money would be for transport and xray and then medicine), saying she is ready to be done and meet Jesus.  She said her granddaughter is supposed to bury her, not the other way around. I am very drawn to this young woman.  She has a spark in her and should have so many dreams and plans in front of her.  She was so tired she had to lay down after visiting with us a short time.  The humbling part was after giving the medicines and instructions and praying, they gave us a large bag of maize and tomatoes.  They have so little but still want to give.  I think it is the most fulfilling payment for services I have received so far.  

There is much to share about the last week.  On Tuesday we attended a CHE graduation.  CHE stands for Community Health Evangelism.  CHE workers go through about 150 hours of training voluntarily to help out in their community.  They learn about health topics like vaccines, pit latrines, hand washing, nutrition etc.  They also learn to share it with their neighbors along with the Gospel.  The groups have their own leadership and can go in different directions.  Some groups have started some microenterprise projects like raising chickens or community gardens.  It's up to the people in the group and the needs in the community.  In this community in Mungule, they have been part of a feeding program.  They did screening to find malnurished people and placed them in a program that gave supplemental high energy protein supplement.  Wednesday we returned to do the 6 month follow up in the community.  It was encouraging to see an increase in activity levels of many of the participants.  I am looking forward to introducing moringa trees in this area.  

 We had a wonderful time of singing.

The above picture is the CHE's acting out a home visit, showing what they have learned about advising neighbors. 

Each graduate gets a chitenge (piece of cloth that is worn as a wrap skirt) and a Bible.  The Bibles are provided by Light for the Lost.  They are in their local languages too.  Represented in this group were English, Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, and Luvale.  For many this is their first Bible.  It is key to allowing them to share the Word with their neighbors.

It was a privilege to be a part of the ceremony.  I look forward to working with these people and others more.

This post will be a little random but had to share a few pictures unconnected to each other.  

The first was the source of the intense buzzing sound outside our house I heard last night.  A swarm of African honey bees is on the move.  We are hoping they keep on moving.  

I also had to share this incredible picture Jonathan Cooper took of the moonbow at Victoria Falls.

Third is a picture to prove we did work/meetings at our retreat, not just safari.  This was a time we each shared what we are doing on the field (or planning on doing).  

I was able to snag a few more pictures from our missionary retreat from Christine.  All photography skill praise goes to her.

 Beautiful pattern I haven't seen before on this giraffe.

 It's a long way down to get your salt.

 Gimme a kiss!

 Wonderful group of southern Africa missionaries.

 What else would Heather do at night?  Games, of course!

 Gotta love hippos!

 Moonbow over Victoria Falls.

Good Friday service at Dominion Ministries Church.  I got pulled out to join the dancing celebration!