In the past few weeks I have managed to settle into my house (mostly), visit several churches and good Zambian friends, have a couple housecalls, get my work permit approval and get all the paperwork for my Zambian medical license.  God worked graciously so that I didn't need to restart the work permit process but just renew my old one.  He also was good in allowing me to contact my medical supervising physician in Zambia just a week before she left for further training in South Africa.  She went above and beyond to get me the letter of recommendation and approval form so I can take it to the Medical Council this week.  I'm applying for full registration from a temporary license.  This will allow me to practice medicine in Zambia and I will just need to complete continuing education credit, like in the States.  Please pray for favor as I go to the office on Tuesday.
     I met with the director of Circle of Hope this week and have an invitation to come volunteer there.  It is a clinic from one of our Zambian churches, Northmead PAOG that focuses on HIV testing and treatment.  Christine is starting the mobile medical clinic there doing cervical cancer screening.  Once I get my license, I will go through the training for that and join her.  I will also be partnering with the PMTCT department.  That stands for the prevention of mother to child transmission.  We will look at community outreach as we go and I hear more.  I'm excited about this opportunity.
    I got to see how my moringa trees are fairing at the Ministry Center.  One has grown quite tall and I will have him cut after we get the pods.  The other two are in the wetter part of the plot and you can really see how moringa do not like water.  One started tipping over during wet season.  We'll have to start over with him too but at least I'll have some seeds.  I was excited to hear Lovemore telling me 3 of the CHE groups are using a lot of moringa leaves/powder.  We will be visiting a few places to see how to help fill in knowledge gaps and see how they are doing.  Community Health Evangelism has grown so much in two years it is a little unbelievable.  I look forward to following up with the groups and meeting new people.
     

Today I made a fun purchase at the market.  This hippo followed me home.  Help me think of a name for him.  

Greetings from Lusaka Zambia.  I am excited to be back on the ground.  I had an incredibly smooth flight from Milwaukee all the way to Zambia with 9 suitcases and a heavy carryon.  All the cases made it over and everything inside is intact.  That is a huge praise report!  I've been staying with Christine Little, my fellow missionary and nurse practitioner for a few days.  I did go to my new duplex/apartment and unpack most of my things.  God provided wonderfully.  One of our veteran missionary couples, Mike and Judy Santiago, retired after 50 years in missions and I took over their rental place.  They left it furnished for me.  So I got a great deal on things like a washer/dryer, mattresses etc and didn't have to shop for all these things and they didn't have to try and sell everything at a rummage sale.  I'm looking forward to making the place my home.

I started driving a little and fared well staying on the left.  I get to use the same Speed-the-Light vehicle I borrowed last time.  Thankfully driving stick came back to me pretty quickly.  Tomorrow I will move fully into my new place and start the process of renewing my work permit and Zambian medical license.  

Today we had a powerful service at Northmead PAOG church.  There was a visiting pastor from South Africa and her team.  There was such a unity of message from the worship to Pastor Banda's opening remarks to her remarks.  She then had two of her team members share what God had placed on their hearts in the first service.  It was a powerful word about Zambia being a land and people of peace, restoration and unity.  There was an emphasis on not focusing on the political scene (elections are coming up in August) but on the Church.  She shared how during South Africa's difficult time many South Africans came to Zambia and Zambians opened their arms and country to them.  After Independence, South Africans left Zambia and now there is violence against Zambians who come to South Africa.  (fear of them taking jobs etc).  There is also a story about how a group of South Africans came to Zambia and in conjunction with the elections, performed witchcraft rituals at a certain spot.  She asked forgiveness and reconciliation.  It was very moving.  She also emphasized Zambia is to bring this peace and Gospel to countries in Africa and the world...being birthed as a light and bread basket to the world.  This so matches up with what God has spoken to our U.S. missions leadership, my heart, and this church group.  Bishop Banda, the pastor of this church and a leader in the Pentecostal Assemblies of God, Zambia announced earlier in the service they are sending out their first missionaries to Angola!  This is a huge answer to prayer.  They started out a little over 30 years ago and have matured to be a sending church.  

     The other interesting part of the story takes us back to my itineration time.  At Mount Hope Church in Lansing, Mrs. Thompson told me about the impression she had when looking at my prayer card.  Zambia is highlighted with a circle around it on the continent of Africa.  She kept coming back to the thought of Zambia looking like a baby in the womb; a place of birth.  Zambia is in such a perfect place to reach its neighboring countries.  The Zambians have easier access and less cultural barriers than us in reaching those from Angola, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Malawi.  The personal counterpart to that is my work with babies and children and women.  I love how God confirms things to a whole people group, country, specific congregation and person all at the same time.  Aslan is on the move!