The in and out of a day in Zambia

So, Andrew has shared his typical day with you in his e-mail update (send me an e-mail if you want to be added or comment below)…. now it's my turn!  So - here's what my Monday - Weds.  looked like for me.

Monday

7:30am - getting ready for the day

8:30am - getting my stuff together to go into town.  Flashdrive to print, papers to photocopy, my bin with my workshop in it to show off.

8:45 - almost ready to leave.  Going to try to photocopy and laminate and print before my meeting at 9:30 with the Education Secretary. (He said 9 at first, looked at me and said 9:30…. I double checked… "9:00 Zambian time. 9:30 Canadian time right?!")

9:00am - Andrew traps one of the dogs, Mango…. plans change.

9:05am - I quickly finish getting the kids ready for the day

9:10 - out the door with the dog in the back and me squished between the kids and our gardener up front with Andrew.

9:15 - they drop me in town at the internet cafe where I print my papers from my flash drive and try to buy internet.  The machine isn't working right now.  They don't have change.  I do get my papers printed. I tell them I'll come back in a couple hours and maybe I can pay then when I buy internet. No problem.  They know me.  I'm in there frequently! 

9:30 - Make it right on time for my meeting and the education secretary (he's in charge of all the Brethren in Christ school that I work with and reports to the lady in charge of the government schools: we call her the DEBS and I don't even remember what it stands for!) - as our schools are government schools run by the church… that makes sense right?! Ha!

-We greet each other and then I show him what I've been working on for a literacy workshop.  Get his help to clear our workshop dates with the DEBS, hand him a report I was given by a head teacher.  Show him iPad screen shots of information online about Edcamps and get him on board.  Pretty short meeting.  I think he liked my ideas because he told me to bring the workshop bin to the DEBS when he introduces me (even though I've met her once).

9:50 - I lock my bin in my office and walk into town.

My 8 literacy workshop bins - all done!

10:00 - walk down a narrow hallway where I've found lots of copy shop type places and enter into my (new) favourite one. They take my photocopying and start working on it.  Heat up the laminator and start running through the papers I want laminated (BINGO callers).  

10:30 - realize I'm going to be short some money so I excuse myself while they are finishing (they know me well enough now that this is okay) and I go back onto the main street and almost next door to the bank.  I withdraw more cash.  (Yes - a bank account!  It's great!  It took us about 5 hours in the bank over 3 days to open the account when we got here though!)

10:40 - I'm back waiting for my work to finish itself.  They even sort it all nice (I bring my paper clips!)  They charge me double for the photocopies.  I say, it was half that price last week.  They change my bill. I buy a stapler and staples too.

11:10 - I've loaded up my papers into my backpack.  I call Andrew - can you come pick me up at the internet cafe again in about 20 minutes?  (I'm carrying all these papers and soon my bin!)

11:15 - I pick up my bin that I locked in my office and keep walking back to the internet cafe.

11:20 - Buy my internet vouchers and pay for my previous papers. 

11:25 - sit at a picnic table outside and make a phone call to a head teacher (principal) that we're all waiting to hear from to confirm a date for our workshop.  He answers and I get my answers. I phone the education secretary and let him know.

11:30 - Andrew picks me up, bringing the kids with him of course.

11:35 - I unload my papers and the kids into the house.

11:40 - have some lunch and lots of water (that photocopying shop was HOT with 2 machines working and a laminator and a computer, etc. in a small space!)

12:00 - go into my home office and start sorting out the papers I printed and photocopied. Cutting up the BINGO callers I laminated and adding them and papers to my bins.  Realize I still need 2 more papers photocopied to finish my bins.  I start putting beans into bags (for BINGO chips).  It's POURING so decide not to go into town to photocopy just yet.

The amount of water we had on Monday turned our yard into a lake!

2:45 - I make more calls, send text messages.  Hear nothing back today….

3:00 - I emerge from my office, drink more water, and decide to take a good break since I remembered I have a work SKYPE call later in the evening.

3:00 - We load up the kids, my two papers to photocopy, our empty water bottles, my keys to my office and we head out to the other MCCers house on the other side of Choma. We stop for gas and the pharmacy and continue on.  Andrew fills up water bottles and our pail again (so we have good drinking water.  The stuff in town we filter but it doesn't taste very good so we get water from them…. they are just outside of town and on well water - that's safe to drink from the tap!) I take the kids next door to see missionary friends, Julie and Sara.  I give keys to Sara - she has recently arrived to Zambia and is helping teach / tutor street kids - and they use the same space as my office.  (Which I rarely use - I prefer my home office unless I'm meeting someone).  Then I walk over and talk to Jan in her office (she's an MCCer).  She's coming with me to Macha when I go Friday. So we discuss that.

3:45 - I gather up the kids and head back over to Andrew. He's on his way to see what happened to us.  

4:00 - we stop in town.  Andrew takes Malachi into the grocery store.  I take Kate into the Book room.  I photocopy my papers and buy her more sticky tac to put up her sight words and her art.  We buy bananas on the way back to the car, drop our purchases and head to the grocery store.

4:30 - Andrew spots pizza slices in the bakery area.  I buy 2 for supper for the kids and I.  Still waiting for the store to have cheese again to make my own.  They haven't had any cheese besides processed cheese slices since we've been back after Christmas break.

4:50 - arrive back home.  Unload groceries and kids and water as it starts to rain. Put the groceries away.  Cut the pizza for the kids and I.  Should have known - made with processed cheese.  Oh well.  Still good.  Won't buy it again though.  (Dough was under cooked too).  Kate didn't even eat hers.  So I found some leftover pasta and squash for her.

5:30 - Clear the table.  Change into jeans and socks and reapply mosquito repellant. 

6:00 - read a book for awhile.  Check my e-mail to make sure my meeting is at 7pm or if it's at 6pm.  It's at 7pm.  Browse online a bit.  Make sure everything is working, type in the new Skype name, etc. Read new e-mail. Keep reading my book.

6:55 - sign in online.  Try to group Skype but doesn't work so the one person phones the other and can hear us on speakerphone.  Chat about hosting an Edcamp and the challenges that come up and how those could be magnified by being in Zambia (with African time and all).  Encouraging and nice to know they are around to support me.  Surprisingly both of them have visited Africa.  One even to Zambia!

7:20 - Keep browsing the internet since I'm online anyways….

7:40 - Better go help Andrew put the kids to bed.  The kitchen is clean and the vegetables and fruit have been washed (and bleached).  Yeah Andrew!  I finish up the bedtime routine and get at least one kid to bed. Andrew puts the other one in bed.  

8:10 - start reading my book again.  Kids interrupt at some point before 9pm.  Both of them.  

8:30 - I get a "page" - a one-ring phone call.  Means someone wants to talk but doesn't have the money for airtime.  It's a number I don't have in my phone book but I have an idea who it might be so I call them back.  My Zambian friend Carol.  We chat a couple minutes.

9:00 - Kate eventually falls asleep.  Malachi still going strong - he did nap today. We just ignore him and he plays by himself.  

10:00 - Malachi goes to bed.  Us shortly after.

Now- since it's already Thursday and I haven't posted this yet…. another day!

Tuesday: 

8:00 - let in Memory (house help).  She starts sweeping, laundry, and cleaning the house after we greet.  I finish getting the kids ready for the day.

8:30 - the kids are watching a movie on the computer, I go outside to make a few phone calls.  The reception in our house isn't the greatest. It's hard enough to understand between my Canadian English and their Zambian English without a bad connection. The first call is answered. One workshop is now planned for Feb. 14th. I text the other two schools involved with the confirmed date and time.  Another head teacher I can't get ahold of.  He gave me two numbers - the first one tells me that that number does not accept incoming calls.  Okay. Strange.  Call the second number.  It rings one quick ring and hangs up on me.  Is he out of range? Or is he aborting my call because he's in a meeting? No idea.  My last call is about my meeting tomorrow.  I call. He's in a conference and quickly tells me he'll call me later. Done.

9:00 - I start sorting out the last bit of photocopying I finished yesterday. Put the last bag of beans together and put them all in my bins….. they are done!  Now to get them to the schools. I try calling the out of range head teacher again.  Nope.

Putting the last papers and beans into the bins

9:45 - I start getting "tea" ready.  When Andrew's not around it's more of a coffee break. Hot water, instant coffee (both Memory and our gardener like this better than tea - but it took me a month to figure it out!), bread, peanut butter, chairs.  I set it out on the porch.  The kids are all underfoot trying to help AND they are hungry.  They call to the gardener "Lwiindi time for tea." He washes his hands and joins us.

10:00 - we sit together at our table on the porch, I pray for the "meal" today. Then I help the kids get peanut butter and banana sandwiches and they drink their juice.  I  decide to have a cup of tea today instead of coffee.

10:20 - Memory starts collecting the dishes and the tea items and helps put everything away and she does the dishes.  I push Malachi on the swing for about 15 minutes. 

10:40 - I go back into my home office and the kids come inside too (seems like if I'm out they play outside and if I'm in they come in).  I sign onto the internet and look at the websites that the EdCamp leaders gave me via e-mail after our Skype call. I add information about EdCamp to MCC's "The Hub" in the education section.  The Hub is MCC's shared resources for other service workers. I also check my MCC work mail and my personal mail.

12:00 - start making lunch for the kids.  If I keep them well fed they seem to be happier! 

12:30 - eat lunch myself.  Read more of my book.

1:00 - Andrew is home for an hour for his lunch break. I'm surprised as he stopped in earlier in the morning for snacks as they were heading off to Macha to do some work (an hour away).  They must have been done quickly.  Chat with him for awhile.  Put Malachi down for a nap.  He's up within 15 minutes again.  No nap day.

2:00 - Andrew leaves again for work.  The kids are playing nicely for now.  I text the head teacher that was going to call me later. He calls me shortly after getting my text.  "Can we move tomorrow's meeting to Monday? Something has come up."  Sure. The 3rd time we've rescheduled, no problem. I am in Africa after all.  I'm just glad we keep rescheduling!

2:05 - decide I really want Chicken wraps for supper… do the next best thing and start prepping them to have for Weds. lunch.  Make tortillas (from scratch).  Make some of the them into baked chips - yum!  Start brining the chicken (makes it juicer and not as tough!)  

3:00 - gardener leaves for the day

3:30 - start telling Memory it's time to "knock off" as she didn't take a break for lunch. 

4:00 - Memory leaves (after quickly making sure the kitchen is spotless and the dry laundry is down.  She reminds me there is still some on the line).

4:05 - I put the (whole) chicken in the oven to roast. 

4:10 - Put the laundry away.

4:30 - start making chips (french fries), from scratch of course. Let the kids play iPad while I do supper.

5:00 - get the kids to put away iPads. Set the table

5:10 - Andrew comes home from work

5:15 - sit down to a yummy  meal of chicken and chips (seems like a restaurant meal tonight - that's mostly what we find that's actually ready at the restaurants in town)

6:00 - do the dishes while Andrew pushes the kids on the swings

6:30 - read my book, go online, the kids are playing nicely

7:00 - read stories to the kids.  Give them a bedtime snack

7:30 - 8:00 - put the kids to bed.

8:00 - pull out the Scrabble board to play a game with Andrew

8:20 - Kate out of bed.  Take her back. Malachi's sleeping good (no nap day!)

9:00 - Kate out of bed again.  Take her back.

9:30 - Michelle manages to win by 1 point - but only because of the house rule (that after one player goes out the other player gets one more turn)

10:00 - bed.

Now Wednesday:

1:00am - hear a noise.  Sounds like someone poking around the house - by the bathroom window. I lay in bed scared and listening.  Hear noise every few minutes. 

1:30am - still hearing a noise.  Really need to use the bathroom though. Get out of bed.  Turn on the bathroom light, see a gigantic cockroach. (At least this is only the first big one to be seen in our house so far).  Wash hands in other bathroom because it's too close to the sink in the ensuite.  Turn on the lights in the living room and go into the kitchen.  Get the fly swatter  Go back to the bathroom…. cockroach gone.

2:00 am - finally go back to sleep.  The noises stopped.  Rain starts.  

6:30am - Andrew wakes up to discover that there were thieves around last night - our two porch chairs are gone.  Strangely there is a pot on our porch with the lid on (otherwise we'd blame the dog). It ends up being Caleb - our neighbour's pot. Just the 2 chairs have gone missing, The lights I turned on all over the house probably scared them away.  All the tools, broom, pail, soccer ball were all still around.

Now to make a storage shed to lock the stuff up in.  And figure out how best to move our washing machine in and out of the house as needed so it's secure.  And we've been locking up the couple windows we've been leaving open at night. It's hot season when that is so much harder to do!  Right now it's cool in the evenings so it's not a problem.

I sleep until almost 9 as I'm tired from my night awakenings.

Since my meeting / workshop has been cancelled I feel like we have a free day.  So we do a bunch of errands we've been putting off: take the cat for booster shots, pick up more bread at the store, go to driver's services and get the papers to start getting our Zambian license. Andrew changes the oil and filter on our vehicle.  I actually play / hang out with the kids as I don't feel (much) work pulling me away.

Living Life

So, I don't really have anything much to say - but since I haven't written a post for almost a month I thought I should at least say hi!

So, life has gotten into a routine of sorts after the Christmas season ended.  After Christmas we got to go to Nsobe Game Park for a MCC rest and relaxation retreat.  It was nice.  Damp though.  Saw some zebras and antelope and got to hold a rock python!  Here's some photos incase you aren't on facebook!

termite hill

Zebras

Another zebra

Impala

These are some of the strangest animals seen on our first
safari in Zambia!  

Rock Python.  There was a snake house at the park which Kate and I got to see.

Kate preferred to hold the snake food though.

White breasted cormorant if I remember right.

Coolest Owl I've ever seen!  I need to take lessons on how to wear pink eyeshadow so well!

Chameleon!

So after that fun adventure we are back in Choma.  School has "opened" again for the year.  I have been out to one school, Sikalongo, to meet with teachers but I have mostly been madly trying to finish my first workshop.  I showed the teachers at Sikalongo a sneak peek: The Alphabet Jive song - in English and a Chitonga version.  I was very encouraged as they wanted to photocopy it right away.  I told them they had to wait for the workshop as it was not done (the actions I typed out) and I have assessments to go with it.  Plus the BINGO game.  They have scheduled me for the workshop for January 31st: the soonest date I was willing to do.  (I have visits to the other two schools that will hopefully come to the same workshop the Monday and Wednesday of that same week).  I am almost done.  A bit more printing, photocopying and organizing tomorrow.  Typing out the agenda today.

Our days are back into the routine of school.  Andrew works Tuesdays and Thursdays at Chodort. I take the kids grocery shopping in town in the morning of one of those days. Then I work in my home office (we moved all the junk out of our junk room and put down some new flooring - just thin laminate to cover up the other floor, and changed it into my office).  This weekend we'll probably put the other room (guest room) more in order.  My parents have plane tickets to come visit us in April.  Excited about that!  I was told we still need to take more holidays this year (before September).  We have lots of plans to spend next years holiday time though!  Andrew's parents are planning to visit next winter, and I'm hoping we get to go to Cape Town in December 2014 - adding on time to our South Africa MCC retreat which will be in South Africa (I don't remember exactly where - near Durban I'm guessing.  The beach was mentioned)! Anyone want to come visit before September?  We'll have vacation time to spare this year.  I'm guessing the last couple years will get busier with visitors and our holiday time will revolve around them.  

I'm feeling very blessed.  The spiders and beetles (and all the other critters) don't scare me quite like they used to. I feel like I can get around town and know where to buy most of the things I need. AND it's so great to see my kids playing every day in our HUGE backyard (in January!)  They seem to be adjusting really well now.

Prayer Requests:

-trying to get rid of our dogs is proving hard to do

-work: Chodort for Andrew, schools & workshops for Michelle

-Michelle is planning the first Edcamp to happen in Africa!  Hoping to do it in March. I'm excited about this and hope that I can do at least one per term (or help others teachers to plan them one per term!)

-good internet for Weds. evening (my time) Bible study to face time with my ladies group

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  

Things have been good.  Last Friday, December 20th, I went to a school in Choma (not one of the Brethren In Christ schools) to meet up with some teachers that I took to Nakeempa for a workshop earlier in the month.  I almost postponed it as I still wasn't feeling 100% but I'm so glad I went!  The original trip to Nakeempa was great and I connected with the two ladies that I chauffeured.  Annie and Amanda.  Both teachers, both moms.  Quickly turning into good friends. I managed to track down Annie's phone number and I asked them if there was a time they were free to help me turn some of my English literacy games (specifically: ABC Bingo and The Alphabet Jive song) into something that would work in ChiTonga.  They were happy to help and are excited to see the final copy (I'm still typing / doing the prep work) and use it at their school.  It was great seeing their enthusiasm and they worked so hard.  (I was no help at all when it came to alphabet sounds and words in ChiTonga!) I explained the two items in English and then they took over!  (Writing an English translation beside so I can find the right pictures for the Alphabet song book!)  It's turning out great.  I'm quite excited about it.  I'm hoping to finish it up before school starts on the 13th again.  

I met these two teachers through Nakeempa school (as I mentioned - the school ended up scheduling me to come out for my "What do you want me to help you with?" goals workshop on the same day these ladies were to present a workshop for the teachers as well.  I was being used for my wheels but it was a blessing!  I got to attend the workshop Annie and Amanda put on, first a general review about literacy and a reading lesson plan (which was very informative for me and I found out many of the teacher lingo for such things as sight words - "look and say" words).   Then I learned more about the THRASS program (Teaching Handwriting, Reading and Spelling Skills). These two ladies teach at St. Patrick's School in Choma (the other side of town.  It's a large and lovely government school).

On Friday we became even better friends.  (And hey - they were doing my work for me!) :)  On Saturday I ran into them in a shop in town.  It was like we hadn't seen each other for years!  I got a very warm welcome, even a kiss on each cheek!  I'm starting to run into people in town that I know now… and recognize! :)  (Before, I would hear my name and have NO idea who it was - I'd met too many people too fast!) 

Wonderbake coffee with Sugar packets: Tablespoons instead of Teaspoons
and fortified with Vitamin A!

On Saturday I got to meet my friend, Julie, at Wonderbake for coffee.  It was great.  I had to say good-bye to my new and good friend, Dorothy, on Weds. as her and her family were heading to Canada for home leave… for 6 months!  At least she'll be back here eventually!  So it was nice meeting Julie for coffee and hearing all about her travels (she had just been in the US for a month and a bit).  AND she brought goodies!  Stuff I asked her to bring, or had my brother or parents send to her to bring!  It was like Christmas!  (The candy canes she brought really helped with that too!)  I'm looking forward to having coffee with Julie once a week (After we're back from our Lusaka / retreat trip!)  

Christmas!  We weren't sure what Christmas Day would be like and thought it would be quite busy so we celebrated just our little family on Christmas Eve with some carols, the Bible story of Jesus' birth (read from the children's Bible), and presents.  I was surprised at how many presents we actually ended up having for the kids (Julie's package helped as I wrapped some of the fun stuff I found in it!)  

Kate when she saw a present with her name on it!

She wrapped a lollipop up for herself "incase
I don't get any presents"  Too funny!

These flashlights I found in town were a hit!

Snow White costume came in the package that Julie brought.  Found the wings and wand in town!

Swings for the swing set!  Malachi thought
they were skate boards for them.  :)

Christmas Day: We were told the service started at 9am, so we did the sensible thing and showed up around 10:30.  It ended up being perfect (there were only two others in the church at that time even… though a few more outside getting ready for the Braii that was to happen after church).  A Braii is a large BBQ pretty much.  Yum!  The service started around 10:45 so we guessed about perfect!  It was nice, a couple carols, a couple people speaking very briefly about what Christmas means to them (me included - they called my name - I guess I was doing too much eye contact?!)  My answer "Emmanuel.  God with us.  God comes to earth to show us what he's like in the person of Jesus."   Someone else, "food!" :)  A sermon on the Christmas passage in Isaiah.  More songs and prayer.  It was pretty short overall though.  Both kids fell asleep - it was very hot today (over 30C I would guess) and both of them were up late and up early!  (Why get up at 5am when you've already opened your gifts?! To play Uno with daddy?!)

Malachi all ready for church.  "He is very smart" they said.
Means the same as "looking smart"  :)

After the service they started the gift exchange (yes - we knew about it!) I'm pretty sure I overspent but I had fun!  And Christmas is about giving right?! :)  They had the kids first.  Started off with one child and then the child that received a gift called the person they had and gave their gift.  It was entertaining when our kids were called - they were both fast asleep!  I woke Kate up but she wasn't having any of it.  There were plenty of laughs and I accepted and gave her presents on her behalf.  Andrew did the same with Malachi.  

Andrew giving his gift.  Conrad got my name so I was up next!

Half of our church.  It's L shaped.  I was sitting on one of the nice plastic green chairs on this side, taking a picture of the other side.  This space is also my office on Fridays.

Then we went outside for the Braii.  I asked a couple young ladies to come with me to the house to get the two cakes I made the day before. People were offering to bring food for the Braii and I didn't know what to bring so Andrew said they were looking for cake so I asked and yes!  Hardly anyone has an oven so cake is difficult.  And to buy at the grocery store is expensive ($20-$25 for a small round one).  I was scared they'd melt in the sun or flies would get stuck to the icing - so I left them at home!  It worked out really well.  They held them while I drove the 5 minutes back (on really potholed roads by our house!  Hello rainy season!) And they whisked them off somewhere and started serving them!  It was pretty tasty if I do say so myself.  And yeah for dessert first!

We were all hiding in the shade!  Brought the chairs outside for the Braii!

The Braii pit and the rest of the church sitting outside.  Our church is small.  These two pictures are it.  About 25 people?

The young men were cooking the meat on the Braii pit.  T-Bone (beef) steak first.  Yum and then Chicken.  Yum.  They served the men first. Then the ladies and children.  It was pretty tasty.  I was one of the last to get served - but they were starting at one end it seemed.  Turns out they thought I didn't eat meat!  Ha!  Wonder where that came from?  So we joked about that a bit!  During the Braii I talked to a couple of the ladies nearby me. Overall it was a good time even though it was hot!  We ended up departing quickly though as Kate had been having some issues with diarrhoea all day and finally missed.  :(  

We had a somewhat relaxing (and hot) afternoon.  Then started preparations for supper as we were having 3 people over.  

New friends.  Lisa, Jenny, Micke 

Chatted with my parents on FaceTime for a bit, and my brother for a bit too.  Had a nice supper time.  I ate way too many peppermint meringues and burnt sugar fudge!  

Tried to Skype with Andrew's parents before the kids headed to bed, after our company left and alas - the internet iSpot was not working!  Andrew and the kids chatted briefly on the phone with them instead.

Kate's a walker when she talks!

Malachi's such a big boy!

Overall a very nice day.

Tomorrow - off to Lusaka…. 

Merry Christmas!

Real Tired

My friend, Sarah, from my Abbotsford Bible Study group nailed it this week when she said something along the lines of, "How are you doing?  You're staying fairly positive, but the reality of it is… you're far away in Africa.  So how are you really?"

So - here's some authenticity for you… the real part.  Not that the other posts haven't been real.  But blogging is convenient in that I can post on my up beat days and ignore the blog when I'm feeling down.   Well, maybe it's because Christmas is coming up and I'm missing everything that much more.  Part of it is the weather has been changing…. the rains have come to stay (I think) and when they came so did a sinus headache.  Well, I always get emotional and discouraged when I'm sick.  So I'm sure that's part of it.  And I'm tired.  Oh so tired.  School is out at least and I'm working on my literacy workshop for next school year, so I've been able to sleep in.  Yesterday I slept in AND took a nap.  (And then was up until almost 1am!)

We've been here 3 months now.  3/36 months. But who is counting?  

Every time someone tells me they put something in the mail for us, or donated money to MCC, or any other thoughtful gesture that reminds me that my friends and family haven't completely forgotten about me - it warms my heart… but it also makes me miss "home" like crazy.

My Bible Study group - who I FaceTime with every Weds. morning (for them), evening (for me) is now on break for Christmas. So I've been using a book I brought from Canada with me,  "Rivers from Eden" by Eden and Brad Jersak.  I've had this book for a long time.  It's a book of listening prayer / conversation with God.  I've used it a few times before - but even though it's been great, I always stopped after the first couple chapters.  Good thing… now I have it! :)

So I did "Day 3" Today.  Asking God to show me what he's like.  A symbol or metaphor of an object.  It took me awhile to still myself today.  I heard an answer.  "An Ocean Wave."

Huh?  I was expecting something like a rock.  A firm foundation. A lion. A lamb.

So I asked (as the book prompts) why? And how does that relate to me?

The answer, "Consistent.  It looks like it's floundering but it's in God's control.  He has a perfect plan.  A pattern.  The moon and the sun tug them, he blows the wind that changes the size and direction.  God is in control."

Okay - so that makes sense.  Sounds like what I needed to hear. I continued on reading the rest of the chapter (Eden's conversation with God) and it confirmed what I heard.  Her conversation with God ended up being an anchor.  (I read this part after I wrote down what I heard!) 

One of her quotes spoke to me because I am feeling "off" today:  "When I'm feeling "off," it's because I don't feel secure in a situation or because of the waters in which I find myself.  If I feel directionless, like there's no sign of land on the horizon, it may be that I've been in the waves too long without a place to rest." (p.24).  

I found it interesting that God spoke to me as Him being the wave.  Not the anchor He is to Eden. But it makes sense to me.  I feel like I am in that choppy water and it feels like I'll be in it for the next 33 months without "land."  I will get a rest, a vacation.  Right after Christmas - so soon!  But it still doesn't feel like a true rest.  I'll still be in Zambia, in yet another new location (a game park), with friends who are still new.  

So it's good to hear that God's not just the anchor.  He's the wave.  He's got a plan.  He has a purpose.  I'm just going to surf along on Him.  Surfing isn't always restful but it is joyful and it will be quite the ride of a life time!  I know there will be some dunks into cold water and there will be some moments of flying high. And then the times in between of coasting along.

So - continue keeping us in your prayers.  As I began this post - right at the beginning Kate interrupted me and asked, "how did you know God called us to Africa?"  Good timing eh?  Reminds me that there is a plan.  I felt it.  The plan is still there even if I'm not feeling it so much.  I'm tired.

Prayer Requests:

-Health (sinus issues and tummy issues)

-A restful vacation after Christmas, despite more "newness" (and travel mercies to get there!)

-our condo to sell.  (We need it to sell by April 23rd.  Bonus points if it could close on April 23rd!!) Our mortgage comes up for renewal that day - and well, we have no income so most places don't want to take us on for a mortgage.  If we can sell by this date we won't have to worry about renewing!  Bonus if we sell on this date - so we won't have to pay any fees for getting out of our mortgage early!  Though I will stress about leaving it to the last minute!

And some photos:

It's not Ocean Waves - but I love palm trees too!  This one is in our yard

Fanta is sleeping on Cookie now.  :)

Malachi's 3rd birthday cake. Well done Andrew!

The back part of our yard before it was slashed.  There's still a bit left to do.  The snakes are still in there I think.... 

Happy 3rd Birthday Malachi!

One Thousand Gifts

(I've been reading this book called, one thousand gifts, by Ann Voskamp, thanks to my friend, Emily, who gave me the book before we left for Africa.  Now - I'm finding that it's not an easy read.  I don't understand half of it and I'm very slowly wading through it.  I'm maybe halfway through?  But I've grabbed some tidbits out of it and it's the inspiration behind this blog post).  

We were able to go to Macha (about an hour north of Choma) for Saturday and overnight until Sunday.  We celebrated American Thanksgiving with new friends.  I had a great time.  We had a lot of good food… guinea fowl, impala stew, raspberry jello with craisins and apples, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and a whole lot more!  (Pumpkin roll with cream cheese in the middle - yum!) and saw a couple MCC ladies that live in Macha and some new friends too.  It being Thanksgiving (again) made me think about Christmas coming.  Now - I know Christmas is going to be different this year.  A whole LOT different.  (Though we do have a tree!) I want my attitude to be one of Thanksgiving and not one of sadness for what I'm missing.  I know I'm going to have to put a concentrated effort into this but if I start now I think maybe I'll have an attitude of gratitude by Christmas?  

The kids after decorating the tree.  They barely stood still so this is one of
the only not blurry photos!

And I know many of you in North America would agree that you need to focus more on being thankful and less on the consumerism and commercialism and stress that Christmas can bring.  (If you're on Facebook - the Advent Conspiracy is a neat group to check out!)

So - who wants to count 100 or 1000 blessings with me before Christmas?  I'm starting a bit late - but it still averages out to be about 4 blessings a day (for the 100).  Very possible.  1000 by next Christmas should be easy enough....

Let's do it together!  Here's a sneak peak at the first few of mine…  please leave a comment below, or e-mail me, if you want to do this challenge with me and I'd love to hear some of the first blessings on your list!  (They are 1000 gifts from God!) :)

1) I'm not cold!  (It was 99F on an actual fancy thermometer when we left Macha yesterday.  Probably got hotter after that).

2) That we have a gardener to slash the long grass and he's "taking care" of the snakes he finds while he's slashing.  (So far - a small one, and a large "poisonous" one… which was not a cobra… so not sure what!)

3) For a Christmas tree and it's fake so we can have it for the next 3 years!

4) For decorations for the tree and watching the kids have a great time putting them on.

5) For family and friends who are working to bring rubber type swings to us so we can give the kids a swing set for Christmas.

6) That work has been going well and the head teachers are very accepting of me.

7) That school "closes" for the year on December 6th.  I'm starting to feel like I need a break already! (Or at least a slow down!)

8) For a friend to do coffee with once a week to catch up

9) For Wonderbake that makes really great coffee

10) For half price coffee before 10am at Wonderbake

11) For the (different) friend that told me about the half price coffee before 10!

12) For iced coffee at home

13) For Memory, our house help

14) For internet so I can stay connected to old friends.

15) For discovering new stores in Choma all the time! (A new photocopying place that sells lots of office supplies too! And a "beauty parlour" that my friend showed me so I can buy shampoo!)

16) For long newsy e-mails from friends

17) For the impala and the bush buck and the monitor lizard I've seen while driving around.  (Okay - the two deer were behind fences in places I know keep some animals… but I hadn't seen them before!)

and so much more - but I should save some for another day!

Put on your Thanksgiving Glasses (perspectacles - glasses that change your perspective!) and start counting your blessings and see how those glasses change your perspective as you journey down this road with me!

Give Thanks!

Nakeempa Basic School and Nahumba Basic School

See - I really do work! :)  (Lots of pictures below if you don't have time to read my written words!) 

Mostly my work has involved going around and visiting the 8 Brethren In Christ Basic (Primary - Grade 1-9) schools.  I've now been to each school at least twice.  Lately I've been setting up meeting times for me to come back and make a school goal.  This came about when talking to one of the head teachers who told me (he speaks very freely to me and I'm very grateful) one thing he liked about a past teacher mentor was that she got the heads together and talked to them about what they wanted her to do.  So I thought about it because I liked that idea.  However, it's the end of the school year (they run January - December) and head teachers are busy!  I decided too that though some needs are similar, every school is different.  I started to set up a time that the head and the teachers could meet with me to discuss how I could help them and their school the best.  So far I've had two "school goal" meetings (which ended up being 2 hours each) and I'm sure are getting a bit better polished as I go!  Both of the two schools set a reading goal to improve reading for next year.  (Not surprising as that was one of the main items in my job description!) So I have a couple more goal meetings before schools close on December 6th.  (2 or 3 schools will have their meeting in January).  Over the break I'm going to be working on a "literacy kit" and the workshop to go with it.  It's my dream to give some extra strategies for teaching reading to the teachers here.  They do really well but have challenges like no resources (books, paper, photocopier, etc.) and large class sizes.   I'm working on an alphabet BINGO game made of large flour sacs (each made 24 boards and cost 1.5 kwacha (it's about 5 Kwacha to the dollar) - so 25 cents.  And I'll provide markers and the TIME to make the boards.  As a teacher, I walk away from workshops with inspiration but never sit down and DO the ideas.  So - I'm going to take time with the teachers to make sure they have a functioning kit that they can start working with right away - the next day!  (Plus - I work in English and they'll have to adapt it to ChiTonga - so bonus if I can get them to do that with me and then I'll have a copy too!) :)

So here's my ideas for my workshop / kit:

-Alphabet BINGO boards (can be used for letter names, sounds, sight words, shapes, colours, any language, they are very adaptable to whatever needs to be taught!

-Morning Message (an easy one to use as the teachers here make good use of a chalkboard)

-Alphabet Jive song (teaching letters and letter sounds)

-word wall (put it in exercise books for dictionary for home as well)

-(sock) puppets to teach beginning and ending sounds (rhymes, syllables, a bunch of things!)

Not sure if I'll do any writing activities - but they are tied so much to reading that if I have time I'll also do:

-writing letters in the air / on partners back / in the dirt with rocks or in sand, making letters with bodies

-teach "house" for printing (tall letters like T take up the whole house.  letters like n are only on the main floor, and a letter like p are basement letters.

-free writing in journal: sounding out words, not doing "book spelling" and using sight words

The two schools I visited to set a time for our goals meeting on Weds. were Nahumba (which is in Choma, the closest BIC school to where we live) and Nakeempa (one of the furthest away.  About 30 minutes down the highway towards Livingstone and then another 30 minutes on a bush road to the South West of the highway.  (If you've managed to read all this you get a bonus: We had to stop for a monitor lizard to cross in front of us on the way home from Nakeempa!  It was at least 3 ft. long!)  I'm kicking myself because I wasn't driving (Kajungu was) and I had my camera in the vehicle and the lizard wasn't super fast and I didn't even THINK to grab my camera and try to get even a poor shot! 

Nahumba Basic School.  The middle is the head office. 

Nahumba Basic School (this is to the left of the above photo)

Nahumba Basic School's Soccer field

Nakeempa Basic School (an hour outside of Choma)

Nakeempa school

Nakeempa school (opposite the photo above)

Nakeempa school (middle block with head teacher's office)

Planning a date to meet to make a school goal for next year, myself and Nakeempa's
head teacher, Chindolo Maxwell.

Students at Nakeempa Basic School

Myself and Michello (who came with us) eating Masuko (fruit) spelling?? and another one I'm holding that I don't remember the name (similar to sour sap though).

Kajungu (middle) eating masuko while two teachers at Nakeempa watch.

Yummy!  Best ones I've had yet!

A masuko tree (on our way home).  We were hoping they could sell us more, but they were all out!  (The orange ones are not ripe)

We found some ladies selling some when we got to the "tarmac" - the paved highway near the turn off for Nakeempa 

We aways have a good time when we go to Nakeempa.  I'll be back there on December 6th for my meeting.  I hope to get more masuko.  The season for them is ending - I don't see nearly as many on the trees as I did before.  But mango season is starting to take off! :)