Womens Meeting

For the last few days the women in the Great East Road Association have been having a meeting at Chisomo Baptist Church. The theme for the meeting was Spiritual Growth. I was given the two topics of Faith and Giving to come and teach on Friday. However, to my surprise, early Thurs. morning one of the women came and asked if I could come and teach that morning because the other speakers had not shown up yet. I had really hoped to have that day to prepare more but they were in a bind so I quickly got ready and went. I enjoyed teaching on these topics and sharing what God had taught me over the years on these subjects. This past term I have done most of my teaching in this assoc. so it was so exciting to see women that I had taught and not seen in a long time. It was sad to me to think about leaving these women behind once we move to Lusaka. These women are my friends. I hope that from time to time they will invite me back out to Chongwe to share with them in their meetings.

Amai Chabwala came and spoke today on marriage. She used to be my neighbor before she moved to Lusaka. It was good to see her again. (Yes, that is toilet paper as decorations.)

There were at least 90 women at this meeting. Many of them just bring a little bit of clothing and then wash them while at the meeting.

I was so surprised to see these men cooking while the women were in their meeting. Not that there is anything wrong with this but this is the first time I have seen this in the 13 years I have been here. Honestly, I'm very proud of these church leaders who are true servants to come and do this task so that the women will not have to miss any of their meeting. Above the men are cooking the relish of rape. It is kind of like collards.

Here they are making nshima. Zambians eat this at least once a day but sometimes more. It is very good.

It is very hard to stir the longer it cooks.

40/40 Finishes up at Ibis Gardens

This past Monday all the participants said good-bye to their homestay families and boarded a bus to travel about 7 hours back through Lusaka to a place called Ibis Gardens. It is at this lodge that we had our final debriefings, learned a language learning tool. and had some down time. Enjoy the pics. from our time at Ibis.

Even though it was cool the kids still went swimming in the afternoons. Above is: Kylie, Hannah, Olivia, and Karis.

Each morning we hear from someone in administration for about an hour. On this day, Wade C. spoke about strategy.

Sky is teaching PILAT here. This is a language learning tool that will be very useful to the participants as they head to their countries and begin studying their language.

James and Sonya

Doug and Sonya are signing peoples encouragement sheets.

The Mullicans and Armstrongs

all the kids

Kevin with all the journeymen

We had a talent show the last night together. James, Lynn, Ken, and Doug singing in a quartet.

The kids sang and danced to a Hannah Montana song.

Ken and Shannon singing together.

James hitting at a pinata.

Matt singing for us as Doug played the guitar for him. We sure did have a talented group.

40/40 Staff Banquet

While the participants are at their homestay the staff is busy taking down tents and packing everything up. As a treat we all go out to eat at a local lodge called Chimwemwe lodge on Sat. night. Believe me, it isn't a fancy place but when our kitchen staff get all dressed up to go out it makes it a fancy place. Above are all of us girls.

Kevin and Hannah

Matt with some of the men kitchen staff and camp staff.

The girls did some modeling for us. They were so funny! This is Matilda.

Enawas

Mwaka

Esnart

Janet

me and my sweet daughter, Hannah

a serious pic. after all the modeling pics.

Hannah

Matt and Janet

Renee and David

David C., David H., Kevin, and Matt

Janet and David H.

Homestays-Life for 3 days in the Village

This past weekend the participants packed up enough for 3 days and headed out to stay with a Zambian family for a few days. They stayed in their huts, ate their food, and worked in their fields. They got to experience African culture up close! They all seemed to enjoy their stay with their families. Below are some pics. from a couple of their homestays so you can see some of what they did.

The Mullicans are all packed and heading to their homestay.

The Skuza's are leaving with their family.

The Vickery's are waiting for their ride.

JF Tembo and his wife Amai Josephine.

Kylie

Several in our group got to help build a storage bin for maize.

Many pounded groundnuts, beans, or maize.

One of the villages someone stayed in.

Cara even cut wood!

The girls had to dig out some charcoal.

Participants "Happy Place!"

from left to right-Lauren, Heather, Amai Daisy Chipanga, and Cara

Bush Camp Adventures

After our time in Lusaka we shifted the whole group out to bush camp to the small rural town of Petauke. There wasn't any electricity, we had to pump our own water, and sleep in a tent but it was so much fun. The participants continued to do their DFA's each day and learn about culture. The children also continued to do their school work and go on field trips. Below are some pics. from the two weeks in bush camp.

Barb and Doug out in front of their tent.

Kevin during one of the sessions.

We took the kids to the market a couple of times so that they could compare a market in a city and in a rural area. We also enjoyed a coke and a frita.

These are the women who make the fritas and sell them in the market. This woman makes the best ones in all of Zambia in my opinion. A frita is kind of like a plain donut.

Out in front of one of the small shops in the market.

This woman in the market is selling kapenta(small dried fish).

This little boy will enjoy a treat. He is carrying some sugarcane.

Terri Lee serving tea to the Chiefs sister, Chiefs wife, and DC's wife. They came for a visit and a short program.

Our group of women with the chiefs wife, chiefs sister, and DC's wife.

A couple of afternoons the participants learn different skills to help them live in Africa. Above Sonya is helping in the kitchen. She put together the fruit salad for us all to enjoy at one of our meals. The women also learned how to make other recipes such as how to make their own tortillas.

David H. taught a group of the participants about vehicle maintenance plus a lot of other neat info.

A sweet little girl out in the village.



this is where the women took their showers each day.

One day we took the kids to a farm. They got to see lots of animals and even hold a lot of baby animals. Karis is holding a rabbit in this pic.

Olivia holding a rabbit.

Renee held up Logan so he could see the chickens up close.

KB and Kym both caught some chickens. How fun!!

Logan taking the kernels off the corn.

Hannah and Kylie taking the kernels off.

Kym holding a baby goat. Poor thing was making a lot of noise!

The kids got to ride on an oxcart.


Cara carrying a baby on her back Zambian style.

Karis

Kylie

Olivia

One day we took the kids to a local village so they could experience village life before they went on their homestay. KB met a little friend along the way.

the village we went to visit.

While in the village we got to visit with the headman.

The kids also got to pound groundnuts.

walking through the village.

Isn't she precious?

Heather, Cara, and Lauren

Doug T. led us in worship each day.

Several participants had the opportunity to try caterpillars!

Several days at the camp the participants rode in the back of this truck into the boma to do their DFA's(daily field assignment)
.

Breakfast time at camp.

me


Jack