Friday, March 27,2009
Well here is the real picture!
When a man wants to get married he has to wait until he has enough money to pay for a bride. A couple meets and falls in love; most marriages are not arranged any more except for in the remote villages; but it may take three or four years for the man to earn enough. The uncle of the bride receives the dowry not the parents, so the uncles will push for the girls to marry when they are very young.
Our liaison, Maureen, went to a university on a scholarship and her parents really had to fight the uncle because he wanted to marry her off. The family has never recovered because Maureen never married and since she is now 40 the uncle knows that she is past marrying age and he will never receive his due.
Once a couple is married the bride cannot even call her husband by his first name. She must call him Mr. Garner. During the first years of marriage the wife must bow down on one knee when she serves him food. She has to serve every member of his family the same way. If he brings the rest of his family to live with them the wife must wash their clothes, cook, and clean for them.
If she does not serve well enough she will be beaten by the husband’s family and they can ask for the bridal price back. She may be beaten by her own relatives because they have already spent the dowry and cannot afford to return it.
Of course I am such an obedient wife so our housekeeper and cook get such a kick out of me. Brad has asked them to teach me, but as soon as he leaves they whisper to me, “I support you – you do not need to change.” He tells them he is going to get a Zambian wife. One said, “Good, leave Sydney here.” The women have no voice. Every once in a while I bow down and call Brad, Mr. Garner and then I give the girls a ‘thumbs up’ they just giggle.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Today Brad went to visit Samson, a blind man that he met several weeks ago. He tried to visit him before because he was sure he remembered where he lived. He started out and about an hour later he returned. I asked him how his visit was and he said he got lost.
Getting lost here is not the same as is it in the States. Here there are no street signs, no houses, no roads, just a path that may have a fork, and another fork, trees, grass (very tall grass) which often times prevents you from seeing too far ahead. Brad has always had a good sense of direction, so he did make it home.
He said he would try again, of course without asking directions. He said he knew the path to take he just must have taken the wrong fork in the road. Next time he would take the left fork and he was sure he would make it. One day I said show me the path. He said, “That one there.” I asked him if he was sure it was that one or 15 yards away there was another path. Then he was confused, so he had someone take him yesterday.
Samson’s wife met him on the road and said she knew a shortcut. Brad said he tried to remember the way but it was impossible. There are no land marks and shortcuts usually mean a six inch wide path or sometimes no path at all. On the way home he decided to follow the larger path, 18’ wide and he made it.
He had a great visit and is planning to go back two times next week. Samson was a teacher for many years, so they had a lot in common. The only time Samson gets out of his house is on Sunday when his wife takes him to church. Brad is trying to think of something he could buy to help Samson pass the time. Samson has a radio, so if any of you have any ideas let us know.
Only a two more weeks and we will be on our way home.
Today Brad went to visit Samson, a blind man that he met several weeks ago. He tried to visit him before because he was sure he remembered where he lived. He started out and about an hour later he returned. I asked him how his visit was and he said he got lost.
Getting lost here is not the same as is it in the States. Here there are no street signs, no houses, no roads, just a path that may have a fork, and another fork, trees, grass (very tall grass) which often times prevents you from seeing too far ahead. Brad has always had a good sense of direction, so he did make it home.
He said he would try again, of course without asking directions. He said he knew the path to take he just must have taken the wrong fork in the road. Next time he would take the left fork and he was sure he would make it. One day I said show me the path. He said, “That one there.” I asked him if he was sure it was that one or 15 yards away there was another path. Then he was confused, so he had someone take him yesterday.
Samson’s wife met him on the road and said she knew a shortcut. Brad said he tried to remember the way but it was impossible. There are no land marks and shortcuts usually mean a six inch wide path or sometimes no path at all. On the way home he decided to follow the larger path, 18’ wide and he made it.
He had a great visit and is planning to go back two times next week. Samson was a teacher for many years, so they had a lot in common. The only time Samson gets out of his house is on Sunday when his wife takes him to church. Brad is trying to think of something he could buy to help Samson pass the time. Samson has a radio, so if any of you have any ideas let us know.
Only a two more weeks and we will be on our way home.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Tuesday, March 17,2002
I ususally send a story to my students every week for the substitue to read to them. I thought you might like this one.
A Good Cockroach Story
The hot pads that you put under hot dishes are made out of grass here. They are woven together very tightly. We have six of these that we use all the time. We have to hit them on the wall or counter before we use them because cockroaches can crawl into them and hide. When the roaches fall out we step on them or do a quick step dance to get as many as we can.
Well we finally moved into our new building last Friday and we were very careful not to bring any roaches with us. We banged those hot pad holders well and brought them along. Last night at dinner when we had three guests a roach stuck his head out of one of the holders but did not come out. When a roach does get on the table everyone grabs dishes and lifts them up while one student tries to kill it. A student saw this roach but did not want to be rude and did not want our guests to have to grab plates. The student kept an eye on the holder just in case the roach did crawl out. The roach started out many times during the meal but never came out all the way.
While we were cleaning up the student placed all the grass hot pads on the floor and sprayed them with Raid. After about 20 minutes I picked them up and banged them on the wall to make sure no other roaches were hiding. As I banged out fell about 20-30 dead baby roaches. It was so gross. We sprayed the holders again and then put them in the freezer. We will be putting these in the freezer for 24 hours every week just in case.
We learned if we buy anything here that is woven or made of wood we need to put the items in the freezer of 24 hours before we come home to make sure we are not carrying any critters home with us.
One night while we lived in the other house I went into the kitchen at night and flicked on the light and it looked like the whole counter was moving as a wave of roaches ran for cover. I almost gagged. From then on we left the light on in the kitchen until we went to bed and I never walked into a dark kitchen again.
I ususally send a story to my students every week for the substitue to read to them. I thought you might like this one.
A Good Cockroach Story
The hot pads that you put under hot dishes are made out of grass here. They are woven together very tightly. We have six of these that we use all the time. We have to hit them on the wall or counter before we use them because cockroaches can crawl into them and hide. When the roaches fall out we step on them or do a quick step dance to get as many as we can.
Well we finally moved into our new building last Friday and we were very careful not to bring any roaches with us. We banged those hot pad holders well and brought them along. Last night at dinner when we had three guests a roach stuck his head out of one of the holders but did not come out. When a roach does get on the table everyone grabs dishes and lifts them up while one student tries to kill it. A student saw this roach but did not want to be rude and did not want our guests to have to grab plates. The student kept an eye on the holder just in case the roach did crawl out. The roach started out many times during the meal but never came out all the way.
While we were cleaning up the student placed all the grass hot pads on the floor and sprayed them with Raid. After about 20 minutes I picked them up and banged them on the wall to make sure no other roaches were hiding. As I banged out fell about 20-30 dead baby roaches. It was so gross. We sprayed the holders again and then put them in the freezer. We will be putting these in the freezer for 24 hours every week just in case.
We learned if we buy anything here that is woven or made of wood we need to put the items in the freezer of 24 hours before we come home to make sure we are not carrying any critters home with us.
One night while we lived in the other house I went into the kitchen at night and flicked on the light and it looked like the whole counter was moving as a wave of roaches ran for cover. I almost gagged. From then on we left the light on in the kitchen until we went to bed and I never walked into a dark kitchen again.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 10, 2009
Well we have internet about one day out of five and about three minutes out of an hour, so I will posts two entries today if possible.
Brad will be preaching again this Sunday. He and his pastor have become buds. The pastor wanted to take him to Malawi, a neighboring country, so they could be a tag team at a conference. We cannot cross country lines because of our visas without paying and going through several custom officials. Most of the time they just bribe someone to get what they want. It is such a common practice that even Christians do it; otherwise, you would not get your electricity turned on or a building inspected.
Brad is feeling better. The doctor contacted him on Friday and wanted to see him on Monday again, so we went. Brad’s blood pressure was fine and the doctor repeated the malaria test and blood sugar test again. Malaria was negative, but his blood sugar was still borderline. The doctor suggested five meals a day instead of three so we will try that. He has lost 20 pounds.
Brad really enjoyed the visiting professors which eased his stress and gave him time to just talk. Women do not talk more than men. They talked about silly stuff and dumb men movies, but it was good for him so I stayed away.
I started helping with the children’s program at our church a couple of weeks ago. When the children left the service, I left and volunteered my services. The Zambian people are so gracious and humble; they welcomed me in. The teacher told me what the story would be, started, then left. I thought she would be right back so I waited. The children started getting restless so I thought I would review what happened before Pharaoh let the people go. I reviewed the plagues and the teacher finally returned.
This past Sunday I returned and the teacher said, “What are you going to teach?” I told her I did not know I was to teach, but asked what the lesson was. She said whatever story I wanted to tell, so I continued with Moses. They divided the class into two and gave me the older ones and they took the preschoolers outside. We did the manna and the quail.
They have no materials at all. Last week they used the back of bulletins from the States to draw on. They had six pencils that were about four inches long and one container of crayons which they had broken so everyone could have a piece.
This Sunday, I took the 53 pencils which we use for the art program and in my class I had two pencils left. Two more students showed up late, so God provided. The students were so glad to use a pencil with an eraser.
Can you imagine 53 children ages 5-10 in a 10 x 10 room? Plus there were three tables, a stove, three bikes, a wheelbarrow, fencing, and some broken chairs. The students sat on every available item. Children’s Church lasts 90 minutes. Some of the students had infants on their back.
We had a wonderful time acting out the story, reacting out the story, and drawing pictures of people collecting manna and quail. They laughed and laughed at my quail. We played a game and sang songs in Tonga. I found a broken drum and they took turns beating it to the rhythm of the song. I looked at my watch and we still had 20 minutes before the sermon would be over.
We were having so much fun that they sent in all the preschoolers to join us, but no adults. Now I had over 70 children. I picked up the drum and said follow me and out we went. We marched around the church and sang at the top of our voices. Church miraculously ended 10 minutes early.
We continued to sing, but I only let girls beat the drum because it was a holiday, “Women’s Day”. The rest of the church members stared at us as they did the handshake, where you shake everyone’s hand in a big circle (which takes another 20 minutes).
Next week I will be prepared for the whole 90 minutes with activities and supplies.
I know that you are praying for us because God is providing.
Well we have internet about one day out of five and about three minutes out of an hour, so I will posts two entries today if possible.
Brad will be preaching again this Sunday. He and his pastor have become buds. The pastor wanted to take him to Malawi, a neighboring country, so they could be a tag team at a conference. We cannot cross country lines because of our visas without paying and going through several custom officials. Most of the time they just bribe someone to get what they want. It is such a common practice that even Christians do it; otherwise, you would not get your electricity turned on or a building inspected.
Brad is feeling better. The doctor contacted him on Friday and wanted to see him on Monday again, so we went. Brad’s blood pressure was fine and the doctor repeated the malaria test and blood sugar test again. Malaria was negative, but his blood sugar was still borderline. The doctor suggested five meals a day instead of three so we will try that. He has lost 20 pounds.
Brad really enjoyed the visiting professors which eased his stress and gave him time to just talk. Women do not talk more than men. They talked about silly stuff and dumb men movies, but it was good for him so I stayed away.
I started helping with the children’s program at our church a couple of weeks ago. When the children left the service, I left and volunteered my services. The Zambian people are so gracious and humble; they welcomed me in. The teacher told me what the story would be, started, then left. I thought she would be right back so I waited. The children started getting restless so I thought I would review what happened before Pharaoh let the people go. I reviewed the plagues and the teacher finally returned.
This past Sunday I returned and the teacher said, “What are you going to teach?” I told her I did not know I was to teach, but asked what the lesson was. She said whatever story I wanted to tell, so I continued with Moses. They divided the class into two and gave me the older ones and they took the preschoolers outside. We did the manna and the quail.
They have no materials at all. Last week they used the back of bulletins from the States to draw on. They had six pencils that were about four inches long and one container of crayons which they had broken so everyone could have a piece.
This Sunday, I took the 53 pencils which we use for the art program and in my class I had two pencils left. Two more students showed up late, so God provided. The students were so glad to use a pencil with an eraser.
Can you imagine 53 children ages 5-10 in a 10 x 10 room? Plus there were three tables, a stove, three bikes, a wheelbarrow, fencing, and some broken chairs. The students sat on every available item. Children’s Church lasts 90 minutes. Some of the students had infants on their back.
We had a wonderful time acting out the story, reacting out the story, and drawing pictures of people collecting manna and quail. They laughed and laughed at my quail. We played a game and sang songs in Tonga. I found a broken drum and they took turns beating it to the rhythm of the song. I looked at my watch and we still had 20 minutes before the sermon would be over.
We were having so much fun that they sent in all the preschoolers to join us, but no adults. Now I had over 70 children. I picked up the drum and said follow me and out we went. We marched around the church and sang at the top of our voices. Church miraculously ended 10 minutes early.
We continued to sing, but I only let girls beat the drum because it was a holiday, “Women’s Day”. The rest of the church members stared at us as they did the handshake, where you shake everyone’s hand in a big circle (which takes another 20 minutes).
Next week I will be prepared for the whole 90 minutes with activities and supplies.
I know that you are praying for us because God is providing.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
We are settling in to our smaller family lifestyle with just the four remaining students. It is very peaceful.
Last Sunday our pastor encouraged the congregation to visit one of their members that was in the hospital and has no family. When you are in the hospital here your family must bring you food because the hospital does not provide it. One student was touched by this and asked the pastor if she could visit the man.
The week came and went and nothing was done about it. We try not to make the students serve, but let them take the initiate. Friday the student called the pastor and found out that the man had been released from the hospital so today, Saturday the 7th, three of us went to visit him.
We cooked a hot meal and froze three more meals. Most homes do not have any type of refrigeration. We took him a 20 pound bag of mealy meal, their staple food. We also took two shirts and a pair of trousers. Many of the students that returned to the States left clothing behind. I found two shirts that were smaller and a pair of trousers that were a 34 Long. Most Zambian men are 5’10” or shorter and very thin. I figured he could roll them up and tighten his belt.
We took a cab to the church which is about 1½ miles, to meet the pastor who was going to take us to the home. We had planned to walk home since we would be empty handed. The pastor asked if we thought we could carry all of our gifts. We figured since the man lived in the neighborhood it wouldn’t be a problem. They consider the neighborhood to be larger than we thought. We were going to walk two miles to the man’s house and two miles back to the church and then the 1 ½ miles home.
He left to get his bicycle so he would put our load in the carrier. While he was gone I said, “Let’s pray that these will be the shortest two miles we have ever walked." So we stood outside by the church and prayed. When the pastor returned he corrected himself by saying it was 2km which is only a little more than a mile. Thank you God!
We barely knew it was a mile. As he pushed the bike, Pastor Munga talked about his life and asked us questions. We only stayed 40 minutes with Allan Shipunde, the man recovering from malaria. One student read a Psalm, the other read a prayer inserting Allan’s name into it while the Pastor translated. I prayed for him and we gave him our gifts. Allan happened to be a tall man so the trousers will not have to be rolled up after all. God thinks of everything.
We took a couple of pictures so we would remember to pray for him and we left. The walk back was over before we knew it. It was wonderful to get to know our pastor so well and learn about the history of the church.
The area where Allan lived is in the slums of Choma. Only a handful of Zambians own their own homes, so when they come out of the hospital they no longer have a home unless a family member takes them in. Part of this area is used what we would call a nursing home. There are five or six small one room homes in a cluster. The landlord lives in one of the homes and rents the others out to the sick. Our pastor said it would cost about $4.00 a month, but an average worker makes about $20.00 a month.
These homes are about four feet by eight feet concrete brick with flat tin roofs and dirt floors. No furniture, no water, no electricity - no nothing. They have the clothes on their back and maybe a blanket if they are lucky– that’s all. Allan used an old car battery for a step to his house which also doubled for a chair. The landlord cooks outside for the people who live in her/his huts. They share food which is usually one meal a day.
There were probably five square miles of these cluster homes. Sharing a room in a nursing home sounds pretty good.
I will be writing more since our life has settled down.
Brad is still feeling dizzy and tired. He read the labels on his medicines and found out that one of his regular prescriptions and the malaria pills cite dizziness as a common reaction which he was taking at the same time every day. He is going to try to take one in the morning and one at night to see if that helps. The chocolate and rest prescription was not helping; although, he has enjoyed it.
Thanks for your prayers.
We are settling in to our smaller family lifestyle with just the four remaining students. It is very peaceful.
Last Sunday our pastor encouraged the congregation to visit one of their members that was in the hospital and has no family. When you are in the hospital here your family must bring you food because the hospital does not provide it. One student was touched by this and asked the pastor if she could visit the man.
The week came and went and nothing was done about it. We try not to make the students serve, but let them take the initiate. Friday the student called the pastor and found out that the man had been released from the hospital so today, Saturday the 7th, three of us went to visit him.
We cooked a hot meal and froze three more meals. Most homes do not have any type of refrigeration. We took him a 20 pound bag of mealy meal, their staple food. We also took two shirts and a pair of trousers. Many of the students that returned to the States left clothing behind. I found two shirts that were smaller and a pair of trousers that were a 34 Long. Most Zambian men are 5’10” or shorter and very thin. I figured he could roll them up and tighten his belt.
We took a cab to the church which is about 1½ miles, to meet the pastor who was going to take us to the home. We had planned to walk home since we would be empty handed. The pastor asked if we thought we could carry all of our gifts. We figured since the man lived in the neighborhood it wouldn’t be a problem. They consider the neighborhood to be larger than we thought. We were going to walk two miles to the man’s house and two miles back to the church and then the 1 ½ miles home.
He left to get his bicycle so he would put our load in the carrier. While he was gone I said, “Let’s pray that these will be the shortest two miles we have ever walked." So we stood outside by the church and prayed. When the pastor returned he corrected himself by saying it was 2km which is only a little more than a mile. Thank you God!
We barely knew it was a mile. As he pushed the bike, Pastor Munga talked about his life and asked us questions. We only stayed 40 minutes with Allan Shipunde, the man recovering from malaria. One student read a Psalm, the other read a prayer inserting Allan’s name into it while the Pastor translated. I prayed for him and we gave him our gifts. Allan happened to be a tall man so the trousers will not have to be rolled up after all. God thinks of everything.
We took a couple of pictures so we would remember to pray for him and we left. The walk back was over before we knew it. It was wonderful to get to know our pastor so well and learn about the history of the church.
The area where Allan lived is in the slums of Choma. Only a handful of Zambians own their own homes, so when they come out of the hospital they no longer have a home unless a family member takes them in. Part of this area is used what we would call a nursing home. There are five or six small one room homes in a cluster. The landlord lives in one of the homes and rents the others out to the sick. Our pastor said it would cost about $4.00 a month, but an average worker makes about $20.00 a month.
These homes are about four feet by eight feet concrete brick with flat tin roofs and dirt floors. No furniture, no water, no electricity - no nothing. They have the clothes on their back and maybe a blanket if they are lucky– that’s all. Allan used an old car battery for a step to his house which also doubled for a chair. The landlord cooks outside for the people who live in her/his huts. They share food which is usually one meal a day.
There were probably five square miles of these cluster homes. Sharing a room in a nursing home sounds pretty good.
I will be writing more since our life has settled down.
Brad is still feeling dizzy and tired. He read the labels on his medicines and found out that one of his regular prescriptions and the malaria pills cite dizziness as a common reaction which he was taking at the same time every day. He is going to try to take one in the morning and one at night to see if that helps. The chocolate and rest prescription was not helping; although, he has enjoyed it.
Thanks for your prayers.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Well no water for almost two days and the electricity comes and goes. Prudence, our cleaning lady, came today with a bucket of water on her head telling us she was going to fill up our bathtub with water, so we could flush our toilets. That probably does not make a lot of sense, but we scoop a bucket of water up, pour it in the tank of the toilet, and then flush. I am not sure where she was getting the water. She made three trips which took about ten minutes each time. I did a little figuring and decided it would take her a couple of hours to fill the tub. I told her not to bother that we would be in an out all day. They are all so concerned that we have all the comforts when they have so little. We are practicing – If is yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down. We send the students home if they have to go.
The electricity is back on right now, so students are here supposedly working like crazy to get school work done so they can send it to professors back home. What we really find is that they are actually sending emails to friends and writing on facebook. Then the electricity goes off or the internet stops and they complain that they did not get to take the test they needed to or send a paper. Students are students no matter where they live. They are used to waiting until the last minute to do their work at home, but here you have to plan ahead. A few are beginning to wake up but some will be working on the plane home trying to finish the semester’s work.
Yippee! Brad found a pair of trousers. I salesman at one of the stores guaranteed us that he would get in some trousers and some would even be for “big” men, and he did. He told us, “I was saying to myself what happened to that big man that wanted trousers I thought you had forgotten about me.” He had saved some pants back just for Brad. Remember it is a compliment to be fat or big here.
Thanks for your prayers.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Today I went to the St. Mulambo School’s 23rd birthday party. This is the school for the deaf, blind, and special needs. They are never quite sure what to call the special needs children. Some speakers called them “the others” – “We are so glad to be here at this school for the deaf, blind and ‘the others’.” Some called them “the slow” and several called them “the dumb”. They had a mass and then the students did short performances. They let the blind sing, the deaf dance, but ‘the others’ just sat there.
It is amazing to watch the deaf students keep right with the beat of the drums; however, some of the dancing was a little too much. They were dressed in native attire and the boys had body paint on their faces and chests. Several of the special needs students could not stay seated, so they got up and joined in shaking their booties all over the place; they had some moves. Then they came right up to those in the audience and pulled them out onto the grass to dance with them. Teachers, men in business suits, even a couple of nuns shook and shook and shook all they had to shake. It was a shaken good time. Luckily I was taking pictures so I was not asked to dance, but since they love to have their pictures taken, I was getting private performances up close, sometimes too close. If only I had a video camera with me, of course I wouldn’t be able to show it because some of it was x-rated.
They served us lunch and I got to talk with several nuns that are in charge of providing funding for this school. Hey Mom, I even met and talked with a Baptist missionary that teaches at the Baptist Bible College here in Choma.
That is all that is shaking here.
Well no water for almost two days and the electricity comes and goes. Prudence, our cleaning lady, came today with a bucket of water on her head telling us she was going to fill up our bathtub with water, so we could flush our toilets. That probably does not make a lot of sense, but we scoop a bucket of water up, pour it in the tank of the toilet, and then flush. I am not sure where she was getting the water. She made three trips which took about ten minutes each time. I did a little figuring and decided it would take her a couple of hours to fill the tub. I told her not to bother that we would be in an out all day. They are all so concerned that we have all the comforts when they have so little. We are practicing – If is yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down. We send the students home if they have to go.
The electricity is back on right now, so students are here supposedly working like crazy to get school work done so they can send it to professors back home. What we really find is that they are actually sending emails to friends and writing on facebook. Then the electricity goes off or the internet stops and they complain that they did not get to take the test they needed to or send a paper. Students are students no matter where they live. They are used to waiting until the last minute to do their work at home, but here you have to plan ahead. A few are beginning to wake up but some will be working on the plane home trying to finish the semester’s work.
Yippee! Brad found a pair of trousers. I salesman at one of the stores guaranteed us that he would get in some trousers and some would even be for “big” men, and he did. He told us, “I was saying to myself what happened to that big man that wanted trousers I thought you had forgotten about me.” He had saved some pants back just for Brad. Remember it is a compliment to be fat or big here.
Thanks for your prayers.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Today I went to the St. Mulambo School’s 23rd birthday party. This is the school for the deaf, blind, and special needs. They are never quite sure what to call the special needs children. Some speakers called them “the others” – “We are so glad to be here at this school for the deaf, blind and ‘the others’.” Some called them “the slow” and several called them “the dumb”. They had a mass and then the students did short performances. They let the blind sing, the deaf dance, but ‘the others’ just sat there.
It is amazing to watch the deaf students keep right with the beat of the drums; however, some of the dancing was a little too much. They were dressed in native attire and the boys had body paint on their faces and chests. Several of the special needs students could not stay seated, so they got up and joined in shaking their booties all over the place; they had some moves. Then they came right up to those in the audience and pulled them out onto the grass to dance with them. Teachers, men in business suits, even a couple of nuns shook and shook and shook all they had to shake. It was a shaken good time. Luckily I was taking pictures so I was not asked to dance, but since they love to have their pictures taken, I was getting private performances up close, sometimes too close. If only I had a video camera with me, of course I wouldn’t be able to show it because some of it was x-rated.
They served us lunch and I got to talk with several nuns that are in charge of providing funding for this school. Hey Mom, I even met and talked with a Baptist missionary that teaches at the Baptist Bible College here in Choma.
That is all that is shaking here.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Monday, February 09, 2009
I went to St Mulambo, the school for the handicap, today. I was observing the student that is doing her practicum there. I am watching her teach and all of a sudden two boys jump up, grab the yardstick, and start charging around the room. The student teacher was very calm and I thought “Oh good, some bad behaviors, let’s see what she does.” Instead she explains to me that a mouse just entered the room. After about two or three good swings of the yardstick the mouse was dead. Now this boy has cerebral palsy and can barely write, but he was dead on with that yardstick. The student teacher said in an enthusiastic voice, “Thank you I will take it from here.” She proceeded to grab a handful of tissue and pick up the dead mouse and put it in the trash. She did not bat an eye. This must have happened before. She is getting more than a life time of experience.
Brad will be preaching at his church on Sunday, so as I was walking home from the school he was walking to town, so I joined him. He wanted to buy a pair of dress pants for Sunday. Since clothing is a luxury here there are two stores in town that sell pants and they are much like a Big Lots for clothing. I should not say “pants” I should say “trousers”. Pants means underwear here. You do not ask anyone if you can wear pants to the worksite because they get big eyed and real quiet. You have just asked them for permission to wear underwear.
One store did not have his size. Most of the men here are a size 30, everyone is so thin. The second store had a pair that might fit so he asked to use the fitting room. The man said it was broken which meant that they did not have the key to unlock the padlock on the door. It looked like someone had tried to pry the lock off unsuccessfully, so we left.
It seems everyone is becoming more active at their churches. Some are ushers, some work with the children, giving testimonies, etc. They are so eager to plug us in. The churches take a love offering once a month for the pastors. They get paid, but not much. One of our students was an usher at her church and was collecting a love offering when a woman walked up the aisle and placed a cabbage in the bucket. Our student said she almost cried. We are all being humbled.
Now comes the real challenge, trying to post this. We usually make a word document then try to slip it on, if the internet is working. Many times right as you push the send button, it disappears and you start all over. We have learned to save everything. I am not in the habit of saving an email as a draft, but after rewriting one three times the other day; I am learning.
Talk to you soon.
I went to St Mulambo, the school for the handicap, today. I was observing the student that is doing her practicum there. I am watching her teach and all of a sudden two boys jump up, grab the yardstick, and start charging around the room. The student teacher was very calm and I thought “Oh good, some bad behaviors, let’s see what she does.” Instead she explains to me that a mouse just entered the room. After about two or three good swings of the yardstick the mouse was dead. Now this boy has cerebral palsy and can barely write, but he was dead on with that yardstick. The student teacher said in an enthusiastic voice, “Thank you I will take it from here.” She proceeded to grab a handful of tissue and pick up the dead mouse and put it in the trash. She did not bat an eye. This must have happened before. She is getting more than a life time of experience.
Brad will be preaching at his church on Sunday, so as I was walking home from the school he was walking to town, so I joined him. He wanted to buy a pair of dress pants for Sunday. Since clothing is a luxury here there are two stores in town that sell pants and they are much like a Big Lots for clothing. I should not say “pants” I should say “trousers”. Pants means underwear here. You do not ask anyone if you can wear pants to the worksite because they get big eyed and real quiet. You have just asked them for permission to wear underwear.
One store did not have his size. Most of the men here are a size 30, everyone is so thin. The second store had a pair that might fit so he asked to use the fitting room. The man said it was broken which meant that they did not have the key to unlock the padlock on the door. It looked like someone had tried to pry the lock off unsuccessfully, so we left.
It seems everyone is becoming more active at their churches. Some are ushers, some work with the children, giving testimonies, etc. They are so eager to plug us in. The churches take a love offering once a month for the pastors. They get paid, but not much. One of our students was an usher at her church and was collecting a love offering when a woman walked up the aisle and placed a cabbage in the bucket. Our student said she almost cried. We are all being humbled.
Now comes the real challenge, trying to post this. We usually make a word document then try to slip it on, if the internet is working. Many times right as you push the send button, it disappears and you start all over. We have learned to save everything. I am not in the habit of saving an email as a draft, but after rewriting one three times the other day; I am learning.
Talk to you soon.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Update about the school where we are holding art classes.
There are no doors on the building just openings. About one-third of the building did not have a roof and there was a pile of bricks to the side on the front door – I mean front opening. It is an abandon building, but when the owner found out they wanted to use it he still charged them rent.
The bricks had fallen off the side walls; however, they put the bricks to good use. The students picked up a brick as they entered and that is what they sit on. Some students stacked 2 or 3 bricks, so they could have a higher seat. The bricks are broken and uneven so it is a real trick to balance on the top brick and still use your lap for a desk. Most of the bricks are about eight inches by four inches and that is not a very wide seat. They had a few broken chairs and since we were guests, we got them.
I touched one of the student’s shoulders accidentally and caused him to become unbalanced and he slid off of his bricks. When all the students stand up and leave for their break all that is left is a bunch of bricks which they return to the pile at the end of the day. Several classes were held outside because it was a nice day. stacked
They use a piece of wood painted black as the chalk board but it kept blowing over. The surface of the wood is not even smooth, so when they write on it it looks like a crazy font. Theyseveral bricks around it to hold it up – it still fell over.
We brought pencils for them to use and they all wanted one because ours had erasers. Their pencils do not have erasers; they sharpen them at both ends. Guess what no pencil sharpeners, so the teachers uses a razor blade to sharpen them. At first they drew a little line so they could erase it. I am sure the erasers will be gone before the pencils even need to be sharpened.
They 5th, 6th, and 7th grades meet in the morning and then the 1st-4th grades meet in the afternoon. There were 52 students in the 5th grade, 46 in the 6th, and 41 in the 7th. They sit all crowded together so 50 students only take up about as much space as a walk in closet. They whisper so you never know another class is nearby.
School is supposed to start at 7:00, but because the students walk for several miles many are late. Some have to do chores before they come to school. When we got there at 7:00 there were only about 40 students and we thought the principal had stretched her story about how many students came to her school. As the minutes passed, they were like ants coming down the road – they just kept coming.
They do have an outhouse. I did not go in and neither do the teachers. No toilet paper. They call them trenches – no seats. Use your imagination.
We had a great time. It took them a while to begin drawing because most of them have never had the opportunity or paper to even doodle. They were worried they would do something wrong, but soon they were drawing and laughing at each others pictures.
We are so blessed.
Update about the school where we are holding art classes.
There are no doors on the building just openings. About one-third of the building did not have a roof and there was a pile of bricks to the side on the front door – I mean front opening. It is an abandon building, but when the owner found out they wanted to use it he still charged them rent.
The bricks had fallen off the side walls; however, they put the bricks to good use. The students picked up a brick as they entered and that is what they sit on. Some students stacked 2 or 3 bricks, so they could have a higher seat. The bricks are broken and uneven so it is a real trick to balance on the top brick and still use your lap for a desk. Most of the bricks are about eight inches by four inches and that is not a very wide seat. They had a few broken chairs and since we were guests, we got them.
I touched one of the student’s shoulders accidentally and caused him to become unbalanced and he slid off of his bricks. When all the students stand up and leave for their break all that is left is a bunch of bricks which they return to the pile at the end of the day. Several classes were held outside because it was a nice day. stacked
They use a piece of wood painted black as the chalk board but it kept blowing over. The surface of the wood is not even smooth, so when they write on it it looks like a crazy font. Theyseveral bricks around it to hold it up – it still fell over.
We brought pencils for them to use and they all wanted one because ours had erasers. Their pencils do not have erasers; they sharpen them at both ends. Guess what no pencil sharpeners, so the teachers uses a razor blade to sharpen them. At first they drew a little line so they could erase it. I am sure the erasers will be gone before the pencils even need to be sharpened.
They 5th, 6th, and 7th grades meet in the morning and then the 1st-4th grades meet in the afternoon. There were 52 students in the 5th grade, 46 in the 6th, and 41 in the 7th. They sit all crowded together so 50 students only take up about as much space as a walk in closet. They whisper so you never know another class is nearby.
School is supposed to start at 7:00, but because the students walk for several miles many are late. Some have to do chores before they come to school. When we got there at 7:00 there were only about 40 students and we thought the principal had stretched her story about how many students came to her school. As the minutes passed, they were like ants coming down the road – they just kept coming.
They do have an outhouse. I did not go in and neither do the teachers. No toilet paper. They call them trenches – no seats. Use your imagination.
We had a great time. It took them a while to begin drawing because most of them have never had the opportunity or paper to even doodle. They were worried they would do something wrong, but soon they were drawing and laughing at each others pictures.
We are so blessed.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
One of the IWU student will be holding art classes at a school nearby, so we met with the principal. The school has 325 students. The conversation went something like this.
Do you have any art supplies? - We are a poor school.
How many classes do you have? - We have first grade to seventh grade
Will we go from classroom to classroom? – We only have one room.
You have 325 students in one room? - It is a big room.
Does the room have dividers? - No, One class faces this direction (she turns her head), one class faces this way (she turns again), one class faces this way, (she just continues turning)
[By now we are looking at each other like we cannot believe this]
Do you have desks or tables? – No desks or tables.
Do you have chairs or benches? - No chairs , no benches. The students just sit on the floor and work on their laps.
[Now our eyes are getting really wide and we look at each other, and change our questions a little]
Is the floor concrete? – No, it is dirt.
Do they have pencils? – Some do, some do not so they pass them back and forth.
[We are beginning to think what kind of art program can we do?]
Do you have electricity? – No, we get light from outside.
So you have windows? - We have big openings - no window panes.
Do you have water? – We can get buckets of water and carry them to the school.
How many students are in each class? – Up to 50 or 55
[Now we are sitting there with our mouths open - we do not even know what else to ask]
Do you have any behavior problems? 85% of our students are orphans and many live on the streets, so yes we have behavior problems.
Well we go on Monday, so I will let you know how it turns out. I guess we will draw in the dirt with sticks.
If you have any great ideas on what kind of art we can do without any supplies, let us know.
The woman that started this school use to work for the government when God spoke to her and she knew that she had to do something for these children who had no way of getting an education. So she alone started with 6 children off of the streets about four years ago and now the school has 325 children.
The government does pay for 2-3 teachers the other teachers are volunteers. School is from 7-11am and then some of the children go back to the streets. Although the school only goes to seventh grade they have students up to 18 years of age because they have never had the opportunity to go to school before.
I told her I probably would have pulled a Jonah, she said she has considered it many times.
I told her she was a miracle worker and she said she named her daughter Miracle.
Pray for this school.
Pray for Brittany, the IWU student, as we go on Monday. I am going just for crowd control or as a helper, the IWU student will do the teaching.
Love to all.
One of the IWU student will be holding art classes at a school nearby, so we met with the principal. The school has 325 students. The conversation went something like this.
Do you have any art supplies? - We are a poor school.
How many classes do you have? - We have first grade to seventh grade
Will we go from classroom to classroom? – We only have one room.
You have 325 students in one room? - It is a big room.
Does the room have dividers? - No, One class faces this direction (she turns her head), one class faces this way (she turns again), one class faces this way, (she just continues turning)
[By now we are looking at each other like we cannot believe this]
Do you have desks or tables? – No desks or tables.
Do you have chairs or benches? - No chairs , no benches. The students just sit on the floor and work on their laps.
[Now our eyes are getting really wide and we look at each other, and change our questions a little]
Is the floor concrete? – No, it is dirt.
Do they have pencils? – Some do, some do not so they pass them back and forth.
[We are beginning to think what kind of art program can we do?]
Do you have electricity? – No, we get light from outside.
So you have windows? - We have big openings - no window panes.
Do you have water? – We can get buckets of water and carry them to the school.
How many students are in each class? – Up to 50 or 55
[Now we are sitting there with our mouths open - we do not even know what else to ask]
Do you have any behavior problems? 85% of our students are orphans and many live on the streets, so yes we have behavior problems.
Well we go on Monday, so I will let you know how it turns out. I guess we will draw in the dirt with sticks.
If you have any great ideas on what kind of art we can do without any supplies, let us know.
The woman that started this school use to work for the government when God spoke to her and she knew that she had to do something for these children who had no way of getting an education. So she alone started with 6 children off of the streets about four years ago and now the school has 325 children.
The government does pay for 2-3 teachers the other teachers are volunteers. School is from 7-11am and then some of the children go back to the streets. Although the school only goes to seventh grade they have students up to 18 years of age because they have never had the opportunity to go to school before.
I told her I probably would have pulled a Jonah, she said she has considered it many times.
I told her she was a miracle worker and she said she named her daughter Miracle.
Pray for this school.
Pray for Brittany, the IWU student, as we go on Monday. I am going just for crowd control or as a helper, the IWU student will do the teaching.
Love to all.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Well today when I headed to the worksite I must say I was looking good. Dirty capris, a blue shirt with paint and grout on it, tall socks, work boots, and a lavender chitenge wrapped around me. Once again I am sure I brought joy through laughter to all who saw me. I did pray on the walk over that I would be willing to do whatever they asked and “do it their way” without hesitation.
I lose the chitenge, the two and half yards of material they wrap around themselves, when I enter the worksite. I got to grout the kitchen walls – floor to ceiling eight inch tiles and I was prepared to leave the gout on the wall. By the way the floor I did last week still has not been cleaned. I think they just keep walking over it and the excess grout wears off.
I was just grouting away when a man passed by with a rag and wiped a little grout off; I guess he was just checking my work. I told him if he would get me a bucket of water and his rag I would clean it all off. He did it!!! So now I was a happy camper.
Six hours later with a cut finger from a jagged piece of tile, pruney hands from the water, and aching arms from grouting above my head, I was ready to go home. Plus there was no place to go to the bathroom. It is all men and I knew that I could not go wherever it was that they went.
I told the boss I was leaving so he told another guy to finish. I know enough Tonga to know the guy did not want to do it. Since I had cleaned the tile as I went he thought he had to do the whole room. I guess the boss told him I had done three wall because the worker said, “No!” and then went to check it out himself. All I can figure out is that they have never seen someone clean as they go because he called several other guys to come and see. They were caressing the wall and I heard one say, “Wow!”. I asked if I had done it wrong and one said, “No, no it is wonderful.”
I did not press my luck by saying they could do it the same way and I would be glad to show them how. I just said “Thank you” and left.
God is good all the time.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Last week in town I purchased some snappy chitenge material ($4.00 for 5 yards) to have an African outfit made. A lady next door makes them by just measuring you. I told her I wanted an outfit that would make me look thin. She just laughed – it is so easy to bring joy. I showed her my material and she looked confused. She looked at me then at the material, so I figured she needed more material to make me look thin.
I had gotten two different patterns with the same colors that I thought were very complimentary, and by the way so did the students that saw my material. I told her I wanted the top out of one and the bottom out of the other. She put her hand over her mouth and her eyes got real big and said something to the fact that I must not do that.
What it boils down to is that you cannot put two large prints together. I asked if the Zambians would laugh at me and think that I was a clown. She said, “Oh no they would not laugh at you they would just think you were very funny.” The seamstress told this story I guess to everyone, so I am spreading the joy faster and faster.
The truth be know the Africans quite often put two different prints together that are not nearly a complimentary as mine, but I decided to stick to one pattern. I do not want to be the talk of the town.
Thanks for your prayers and support.
Well today when I headed to the worksite I must say I was looking good. Dirty capris, a blue shirt with paint and grout on it, tall socks, work boots, and a lavender chitenge wrapped around me. Once again I am sure I brought joy through laughter to all who saw me. I did pray on the walk over that I would be willing to do whatever they asked and “do it their way” without hesitation.
I lose the chitenge, the two and half yards of material they wrap around themselves, when I enter the worksite. I got to grout the kitchen walls – floor to ceiling eight inch tiles and I was prepared to leave the gout on the wall. By the way the floor I did last week still has not been cleaned. I think they just keep walking over it and the excess grout wears off.
I was just grouting away when a man passed by with a rag and wiped a little grout off; I guess he was just checking my work. I told him if he would get me a bucket of water and his rag I would clean it all off. He did it!!! So now I was a happy camper.
Six hours later with a cut finger from a jagged piece of tile, pruney hands from the water, and aching arms from grouting above my head, I was ready to go home. Plus there was no place to go to the bathroom. It is all men and I knew that I could not go wherever it was that they went.
I told the boss I was leaving so he told another guy to finish. I know enough Tonga to know the guy did not want to do it. Since I had cleaned the tile as I went he thought he had to do the whole room. I guess the boss told him I had done three wall because the worker said, “No!” and then went to check it out himself. All I can figure out is that they have never seen someone clean as they go because he called several other guys to come and see. They were caressing the wall and I heard one say, “Wow!”. I asked if I had done it wrong and one said, “No, no it is wonderful.”
I did not press my luck by saying they could do it the same way and I would be glad to show them how. I just said “Thank you” and left.
God is good all the time.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Last week in town I purchased some snappy chitenge material ($4.00 for 5 yards) to have an African outfit made. A lady next door makes them by just measuring you. I told her I wanted an outfit that would make me look thin. She just laughed – it is so easy to bring joy. I showed her my material and she looked confused. She looked at me then at the material, so I figured she needed more material to make me look thin.
I had gotten two different patterns with the same colors that I thought were very complimentary, and by the way so did the students that saw my material. I told her I wanted the top out of one and the bottom out of the other. She put her hand over her mouth and her eyes got real big and said something to the fact that I must not do that.
What it boils down to is that you cannot put two large prints together. I asked if the Zambians would laugh at me and think that I was a clown. She said, “Oh no they would not laugh at you they would just think you were very funny.” The seamstress told this story I guess to everyone, so I am spreading the joy faster and faster.
The truth be know the Africans quite often put two different prints together that are not nearly a complimentary as mine, but I decided to stick to one pattern. I do not want to be the talk of the town.
Thanks for your prayers and support.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Well one minute you have internet service and the next you do not, so I usually make a word document and try to seek it on the internet at the right moment. Today let’s chat a bit about the living conditions. We are staying in Choma, Zambia. I have asked several people what the population of Choma is and no one seems to know because people just set up housekeeping wherever they want.
Villages are not what you see in pictures 20-30 huts all close together in a community. There may be 3 here, 5 there, 1 a half mile in another direction, so they are scattered throughout the countryside. I am not even sure how they know who is in what village. Most of the huts we have seen this far are about eight foot square built from handmade bricks, about six foot tall with a peaked thatched roof and open places on maybe two sides for windows, and an open doorway; very dark inside. Sometimes they hang material over the windows and doorway, but not usually
We are staying in a somewhat regular house by ourselves Yippee! The floors are concrete, indoor plumbing, all the conveniences of home even a microwave. It has three bedroom and two baths and someone comes in two times a week to sweep all the sand up off the floors and do a few minor cleaning tasks. They sweep with a large handmade whisk boom all bent over. They do their laundry in a plastic tub and hang it on the line and guess what, so do we. No one has air conditioning and we really do not need it at this time of the year. All windows in all homes have bars on the windows; however, they say they almost zero hard crime. Stealing is their largest problem because people are starving.
Almost all houses have walls around them from thatched to eight foot high concrete brick. Many of the brick walls have barb wire, electric lines, or broken glass bottles embedded into the top block to prevent someone from climbing over. There is usually a swinging metal door across the driveway with a smaller pedestrian entrance door cut into the large driveway door. There is a small guard house, three foot square, with a guard that opens and locks the door for you. The house where the students are staying has this type of set up. Since Brad and I are on the World Hope Compound with four other houses, used as offices, we just have a guard that walks the premises at night. You never get to see the houses from the road just the roofs unless the driveway door has been left open.
Usually foreigners have cars – some German people run an orphanage (we saw two white girls at church and a man of 60 in town, but have not had a chance to talk with them yet), Indian people are doctors in town, a few Indian shopkeepers, and Americans from relief agencies; I have seen two or three Zambians with cars. There is public bus transportation, but we do not see them much. We see about 10 cars a day on the roads. In town which is about three blocks, on the same road, of shops we see more traffic; you can really call it traffic. By the way they drive on the opposite side of the road and the driver sits on the right in the car to drive.
Within the last year they got a supermarket, which is about the size of a Gap store in the mall; by no way a Wal-Mart. Very limited brands – only 5 types of cereal. Junk food consists of crackers, chips (fruit flavored chips, tomato chips – we like these the best, and other strange flavors), and a few candies which taste like cough drops.. They do not have the money for snacks nor do they like sweets. It seems like only the boys are losing weight, it isn’t fair. In the supermarket there is a guard posted at the door and you have to check your bags, backpacks, etc., but not your purse. There are one or two guards walking around inside the store also. Most of the shops are smaller than a classroom and offer a little bit of everything. In the very small all purpose stores the stock of items are behind a metal cage. You tell the shopkeeper what you want and he gets it for you.
Many vendors have small booths, 3 x 4 foot stalls right beside the sidewalk with a small stock of 5-10 items. Still other vendors lay their wares right on the sidewalk. Vegetables and fruits are sold the same way. Of course they follow you down the sidewalk asking you to buy something. We were looking for a Zambian umbrella and two guys ran in and out of stores looking for one for us. Then they charge American at least two times what it is worth, so you bicker.
Well that is about all for today. Once again thank you for your prayers.
Well one minute you have internet service and the next you do not, so I usually make a word document and try to seek it on the internet at the right moment. Today let’s chat a bit about the living conditions. We are staying in Choma, Zambia. I have asked several people what the population of Choma is and no one seems to know because people just set up housekeeping wherever they want.
Villages are not what you see in pictures 20-30 huts all close together in a community. There may be 3 here, 5 there, 1 a half mile in another direction, so they are scattered throughout the countryside. I am not even sure how they know who is in what village. Most of the huts we have seen this far are about eight foot square built from handmade bricks, about six foot tall with a peaked thatched roof and open places on maybe two sides for windows, and an open doorway; very dark inside. Sometimes they hang material over the windows and doorway, but not usually
We are staying in a somewhat regular house by ourselves Yippee! The floors are concrete, indoor plumbing, all the conveniences of home even a microwave. It has three bedroom and two baths and someone comes in two times a week to sweep all the sand up off the floors and do a few minor cleaning tasks. They sweep with a large handmade whisk boom all bent over. They do their laundry in a plastic tub and hang it on the line and guess what, so do we. No one has air conditioning and we really do not need it at this time of the year. All windows in all homes have bars on the windows; however, they say they almost zero hard crime. Stealing is their largest problem because people are starving.
Almost all houses have walls around them from thatched to eight foot high concrete brick. Many of the brick walls have barb wire, electric lines, or broken glass bottles embedded into the top block to prevent someone from climbing over. There is usually a swinging metal door across the driveway with a smaller pedestrian entrance door cut into the large driveway door. There is a small guard house, three foot square, with a guard that opens and locks the door for you. The house where the students are staying has this type of set up. Since Brad and I are on the World Hope Compound with four other houses, used as offices, we just have a guard that walks the premises at night. You never get to see the houses from the road just the roofs unless the driveway door has been left open.
Usually foreigners have cars – some German people run an orphanage (we saw two white girls at church and a man of 60 in town, but have not had a chance to talk with them yet), Indian people are doctors in town, a few Indian shopkeepers, and Americans from relief agencies; I have seen two or three Zambians with cars. There is public bus transportation, but we do not see them much. We see about 10 cars a day on the roads. In town which is about three blocks, on the same road, of shops we see more traffic; you can really call it traffic. By the way they drive on the opposite side of the road and the driver sits on the right in the car to drive.
Within the last year they got a supermarket, which is about the size of a Gap store in the mall; by no way a Wal-Mart. Very limited brands – only 5 types of cereal. Junk food consists of crackers, chips (fruit flavored chips, tomato chips – we like these the best, and other strange flavors), and a few candies which taste like cough drops.. They do not have the money for snacks nor do they like sweets. It seems like only the boys are losing weight, it isn’t fair. In the supermarket there is a guard posted at the door and you have to check your bags, backpacks, etc., but not your purse. There are one or two guards walking around inside the store also. Most of the shops are smaller than a classroom and offer a little bit of everything. In the very small all purpose stores the stock of items are behind a metal cage. You tell the shopkeeper what you want and he gets it for you.
Many vendors have small booths, 3 x 4 foot stalls right beside the sidewalk with a small stock of 5-10 items. Still other vendors lay their wares right on the sidewalk. Vegetables and fruits are sold the same way. Of course they follow you down the sidewalk asking you to buy something. We were looking for a Zambian umbrella and two guys ran in and out of stores looking for one for us. Then they charge American at least two times what it is worth, so you bicker.
Well that is about all for today. Once again thank you for your prayers.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Today was Mrs. Bhota’s, our cook, birthday. The students wanted to do something for her. We were advised on what to buy, nothing frivolous. We got a triple pot set 18”, 16”, and 14” with lids (these huge things that we would never use unless you are dining with extended family and making soup) and enough money to buy a large bag of nisma (She-ma), their staple food, which came to about $15.00. We gave her the pots and she was overwhelmed.
You do not often get a present on your birthday, especially from people you work for. She hugged every person, which once again there is very little hugging between genders. Then when we gave her the card with the money in it she did a little dance. The giver always gets the blessing. Later she told me that her children could not believe that we gave her so much. They said, “They must really love you.”
Thursday, January 22
We have traveled two to three days a week to go to more remote villages. After you leave the paved roads you start puddle jumping . These barely one lane terra cotta sand and dirt roads are a ride at an amusement park, especially on a bus. The driver’s helper would get out and use a broom handle to see how deep the water was -sometimes we went right through them, sometimes at an angle and we were sure the bus would tip over, and then sometimes we would go into the adjoining field. When we would get through an “iffy” one everyone would clap. On our last trip we couldn’t go through or around the water, so the bus driver got out with an axe and started chopping down trees, so we could continue. We, Americans, enjoyed it, but the Zambian women would get very anxious, pray, or call out for their loved ones.
We left early for a remote village to spend the day, almost a two hour bumpy ride. The people greet you by shaking hands and then into the church of a formal greeting where important people from the village, World Hope personnel, and of course the stars of the show, “the white family” are introduced and several give welcome speeches, prayers, and song. I really shouldn’t have said “stars” because a taxi driver at the hotel told Brad that most Africans think that Americans think they are “STARS” because of the way they act and expect to be treated.
Women cooked all day, goat, chicken (we cannot quite figure out the pieces), nisma, cabbage, and few things I am not sure of. We tried to help, but we are not real skilled at this type of cooking, so they laughed at us a lot. We are great at bringing joy to all the Zambians in this way.
While we were there we helped to build a piggery. The women form a line and pass the bricks down to move them from one place to the other while the men mostly watch. Women do most all the work while men do very little, especially in the villages. Women are still considered more or less property. It is changing in the towns and cities and in the churches where women are becoming more respected. (I have pictures that I am trying to send).
We didn’t really get much of the piggery done. We played with the children and interacted with the adults. Their favorite thing is to have their picture taken. Some have rarely ever seen themselves. Praise God for digital cameras. One old man wanted me to take his picture and when he saw it he looked down to see if it was true that he was wearing the same outfit that he saw in the picture. He kept pointing to the picture and then to himself and all I could do was nod and say, “Yes, that is you.”
We had a good time and even got some sun which will help us stand out even more. Of course no sun on the legs those are covered with our thrilling chitenges (sha tang a), the wrap around skirts that the thin Zambian women look so good in and then someone like me with no waist looks like a decorated column. They wrap and tuck, I wrap and pin.
Once again thank you for your prayers.
Today was Mrs. Bhota’s, our cook, birthday. The students wanted to do something for her. We were advised on what to buy, nothing frivolous. We got a triple pot set 18”, 16”, and 14” with lids (these huge things that we would never use unless you are dining with extended family and making soup) and enough money to buy a large bag of nisma (She-ma), their staple food, which came to about $15.00. We gave her the pots and she was overwhelmed.
You do not often get a present on your birthday, especially from people you work for. She hugged every person, which once again there is very little hugging between genders. Then when we gave her the card with the money in it she did a little dance. The giver always gets the blessing. Later she told me that her children could not believe that we gave her so much. They said, “They must really love you.”
Thursday, January 22
We have traveled two to three days a week to go to more remote villages. After you leave the paved roads you start puddle jumping . These barely one lane terra cotta sand and dirt roads are a ride at an amusement park, especially on a bus. The driver’s helper would get out and use a broom handle to see how deep the water was -sometimes we went right through them, sometimes at an angle and we were sure the bus would tip over, and then sometimes we would go into the adjoining field. When we would get through an “iffy” one everyone would clap. On our last trip we couldn’t go through or around the water, so the bus driver got out with an axe and started chopping down trees, so we could continue. We, Americans, enjoyed it, but the Zambian women would get very anxious, pray, or call out for their loved ones.
We left early for a remote village to spend the day, almost a two hour bumpy ride. The people greet you by shaking hands and then into the church of a formal greeting where important people from the village, World Hope personnel, and of course the stars of the show, “the white family” are introduced and several give welcome speeches, prayers, and song. I really shouldn’t have said “stars” because a taxi driver at the hotel told Brad that most Africans think that Americans think they are “STARS” because of the way they act and expect to be treated.
Women cooked all day, goat, chicken (we cannot quite figure out the pieces), nisma, cabbage, and few things I am not sure of. We tried to help, but we are not real skilled at this type of cooking, so they laughed at us a lot. We are great at bringing joy to all the Zambians in this way.
While we were there we helped to build a piggery. The women form a line and pass the bricks down to move them from one place to the other while the men mostly watch. Women do most all the work while men do very little, especially in the villages. Women are still considered more or less property. It is changing in the towns and cities and in the churches where women are becoming more respected. (I have pictures that I am trying to send).
We didn’t really get much of the piggery done. We played with the children and interacted with the adults. Their favorite thing is to have their picture taken. Some have rarely ever seen themselves. Praise God for digital cameras. One old man wanted me to take his picture and when he saw it he looked down to see if it was true that he was wearing the same outfit that he saw in the picture. He kept pointing to the picture and then to himself and all I could do was nod and say, “Yes, that is you.”
We had a good time and even got some sun which will help us stand out even more. Of course no sun on the legs those are covered with our thrilling chitenges (sha tang a), the wrap around skirts that the thin Zambian women look so good in and then someone like me with no waist looks like a decorated column. They wrap and tuck, I wrap and pin.
Once again thank you for your prayers.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Hi from Africa
Sunday, January 18
We were divided into three groups; each attending a different church. Four students and I went to Shampande Wesleyan Church. The Zambians are not too concerned with time probably because few of them have watches, so when Sunday school started at 9:00 there were about 20 people there. By the time we ended at 10:00 there were 50-60 present. They just come wandering in one or two at a time without a care in the world. No one considered them late or really even notices. We studied Jonah 3 and it was good.
Here it is rude to rush to answer a question during a discussion because others may want to answer it and you would be denying them the opportunity to answer. It was difficult for us to know how much to talk because we did not want to be rude, but the leader would ask a question and no one would respond for several minutes. Also silence is expected here, unlike Americans who feel awkward when there is a pause. We have been told not to try to fill every minute with idle chatter. So there we were feeling awkward with the silence yet not wanting to talk too soon. So four of us answered one question and quit, but one student did not quite get the rules and kept answering. The leader finally said, "Let's hear from someone new."
Church service lasts from 10:00-12:30 or longer. Since the youth meet outside for Sunday school and the children meet in a different room at 10:00 they came into the church carrying their little brown wooden chairs and benches and placed them at the front of the church. The church is about the size of two school classrooms put together with long handmade pews on either side, so there is only a center aisle. Pews that would seat six comfortably were packed with 10-12 people. Since we were white and visitors they did not want to crowd us too much, so only put 9 on or pew. There were people standing in the back and on the front porch. There were 250- 300 people packed in.
The children’s choir, youth praise team, women’s choir, mixed choir, and a couple did some special music. Each of these choirs sang at least two songs with a few dances. They had a skit and a man gave a quite lengthy testimony then all the visitors stood, told a little about themselves and each person, couple, or group was given an individual official welcome by the church. Prayers, offering, and announcements were dispersed in between these things.
When they have group prayer everyone prays aloud at the same time, some sit, stand, kneel, walk in the aisle, etc. Even the children lift their prayers. It was very moving to see children on their knees praying the whole 5-7 minutes; however, long it takes. We joined right in – I liked it better than just listening to someone else pray. This all took 1 ½ hours then the children picked up their chairs and went outside for children’s church and the preacher preached for 30 minutes. The pastor preached in English while an interpreter spoke Tonga. Some of the songs were in English, some in Tonga.
Now here comes the fun - When church is over the people leave row by row, starting in the front. The pastor goes out first and the second person shakes the pastor’s hand and then stands next to him. The third person comes out and shakes the pastor’s hand and then the second person’s hand and stands beside him – this just continues. We were near the front so we shook about 50 hands and then we stood in line and shook the other 100+ hands – not all of the children came through the line. Every hand you shake you give a greeting to. When all is said and done there is a big circle out on the front drive/lawn. After the last hand is shaken people stay and fellowship for who knows how long. Our ride was there and we had to leave. It is quite the experience. We will be attending this church for the whole three months. Our cook, Mrs. Bhota, goes to this church, you could see that she felt special knowing the “white friends”. We really do stand out. Since it is winter in the states most of us are "glow in the dark" white.
Monday, January 19, 2009
I went to the school with Lindsay, one of our students, where she is doing her practicum with special ed. students. They were excited to see us back. They enter the room, one erases the chalkboard while the others sit quietly; some talk quietly. I waited until the headmaster was out of his meeting to give him some paperwork and then I walked home.
I had to go through part of the city; women are very friendly, but the men are not. It was about a mile+ walk. I was slightly nervous because they do not see white people just walking around the town, especially by themselves. I figured I was safe because it was about 9:00 am plus I had to walk by the security office and the clinic – just in case I needed help.
Everyone else had gone to visit AIDS patients. Once people know that you have AIDS your family, friends, sometimes the whole village shuns you. Consequently most people will not get tested until it is too late and are really sick. Most of these have caregivers that visit them once a week and bring them food.
I put on work clothes and went to the worksite where they are building a new compound for the offices and guests of World Hope. It was suppose to be done for us, but it still looks like it will be several weeks.
I went to offer my services – very prideful. I got to grout the kitchen tile. It was very difficult for me to do it their way. They use a 3-4 inch metal scraper with rounded corners. The concrete floor was unlevel partly because they have few tools and it is not considered necessary to be too level, and partly because they just mix up concrete right on the floor for other projects and they do not use it all. It hardens and they can’t get it all off. So in order to put the tile floor on level some places needed ½ inch of mortar and some almost an inch. So without a rubber float and just a metal scraper I had to get the grout into these deep spaces. I was quite the novelty for a while since women do not do this type of work.
Then came the true conflict – having to do it competely their way - which is course not the right way!! (according to a Harris girl) I was to put the grout down and then use the pointed tip of a trowel to make “perfect grout lines” which is nearly impossible on unlevel tiles and this scraped most of the gout out. After a few minutes of "discussion" – God spoke and an told me to change. It took everything I had in me – I compromise and used the rounded ends of my scraper-thing. With each scrape I said under my breath, “This is horrible – This is a mess” What’s wrong with them haven’t they ever watched HG-TV.
Then I asked for a bucket and rag to wash off the excess grout before it hardened and was told that they wait 2-3 days before they do that. I was appalled but asked them politely if they would like to inspect my work before I left.
So see you can teach an old dog new tricks. Then all evening I wondered if I got enough grout into the deep holes or if it sunk down after I left - I am not sure who would have the last laugh.
We were divided into three groups; each attending a different church. Four students and I went to Shampande Wesleyan Church. The Zambians are not too concerned with time probably because few of them have watches, so when Sunday school started at 9:00 there were about 20 people there. By the time we ended at 10:00 there were 50-60 present. They just come wandering in one or two at a time without a care in the world. No one considered them late or really even notices. We studied Jonah 3 and it was good.
Here it is rude to rush to answer a question during a discussion because others may want to answer it and you would be denying them the opportunity to answer. It was difficult for us to know how much to talk because we did not want to be rude, but the leader would ask a question and no one would respond for several minutes. Also silence is expected here, unlike Americans who feel awkward when there is a pause. We have been told not to try to fill every minute with idle chatter. So there we were feeling awkward with the silence yet not wanting to talk too soon. So four of us answered one question and quit, but one student did not quite get the rules and kept answering. The leader finally said, "Let's hear from someone new."
Church service lasts from 10:00-12:30 or longer. Since the youth meet outside for Sunday school and the children meet in a different room at 10:00 they came into the church carrying their little brown wooden chairs and benches and placed them at the front of the church. The church is about the size of two school classrooms put together with long handmade pews on either side, so there is only a center aisle. Pews that would seat six comfortably were packed with 10-12 people. Since we were white and visitors they did not want to crowd us too much, so only put 9 on or pew. There were people standing in the back and on the front porch. There were 250- 300 people packed in.
The children’s choir, youth praise team, women’s choir, mixed choir, and a couple did some special music. Each of these choirs sang at least two songs with a few dances. They had a skit and a man gave a quite lengthy testimony then all the visitors stood, told a little about themselves and each person, couple, or group was given an individual official welcome by the church. Prayers, offering, and announcements were dispersed in between these things.
When they have group prayer everyone prays aloud at the same time, some sit, stand, kneel, walk in the aisle, etc. Even the children lift their prayers. It was very moving to see children on their knees praying the whole 5-7 minutes; however, long it takes. We joined right in – I liked it better than just listening to someone else pray. This all took 1 ½ hours then the children picked up their chairs and went outside for children’s church and the preacher preached for 30 minutes. The pastor preached in English while an interpreter spoke Tonga. Some of the songs were in English, some in Tonga.
Now here comes the fun - When church is over the people leave row by row, starting in the front. The pastor goes out first and the second person shakes the pastor’s hand and then stands next to him. The third person comes out and shakes the pastor’s hand and then the second person’s hand and stands beside him – this just continues. We were near the front so we shook about 50 hands and then we stood in line and shook the other 100+ hands – not all of the children came through the line. Every hand you shake you give a greeting to. When all is said and done there is a big circle out on the front drive/lawn. After the last hand is shaken people stay and fellowship for who knows how long. Our ride was there and we had to leave. It is quite the experience. We will be attending this church for the whole three months. Our cook, Mrs. Bhota, goes to this church, you could see that she felt special knowing the “white friends”. We really do stand out. Since it is winter in the states most of us are "glow in the dark" white.
Monday, January 19, 2009
I went to the school with Lindsay, one of our students, where she is doing her practicum with special ed. students. They were excited to see us back. They enter the room, one erases the chalkboard while the others sit quietly; some talk quietly. I waited until the headmaster was out of his meeting to give him some paperwork and then I walked home.
I had to go through part of the city; women are very friendly, but the men are not. It was about a mile+ walk. I was slightly nervous because they do not see white people just walking around the town, especially by themselves. I figured I was safe because it was about 9:00 am plus I had to walk by the security office and the clinic – just in case I needed help.
Everyone else had gone to visit AIDS patients. Once people know that you have AIDS your family, friends, sometimes the whole village shuns you. Consequently most people will not get tested until it is too late and are really sick. Most of these have caregivers that visit them once a week and bring them food.
I put on work clothes and went to the worksite where they are building a new compound for the offices and guests of World Hope. It was suppose to be done for us, but it still looks like it will be several weeks.
I went to offer my services – very prideful. I got to grout the kitchen tile. It was very difficult for me to do it their way. They use a 3-4 inch metal scraper with rounded corners. The concrete floor was unlevel partly because they have few tools and it is not considered necessary to be too level, and partly because they just mix up concrete right on the floor for other projects and they do not use it all. It hardens and they can’t get it all off. So in order to put the tile floor on level some places needed ½ inch of mortar and some almost an inch. So without a rubber float and just a metal scraper I had to get the grout into these deep spaces. I was quite the novelty for a while since women do not do this type of work.
Then came the true conflict – having to do it competely their way - which is course not the right way!! (according to a Harris
Then I asked for a bucket and rag to wash off the excess grout before it hardened and was told that they wait 2-3 days before they do that. I was appalled but asked them politely if they would like to inspect my work before I left.
So see you can teach an old dog new tricks. Then all evening I wondered if I got enough grout into the deep holes or if it sunk down after I left - I am not sure who would have the last laugh.
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