Struck by Joy

It finally happened.  The joy that has been missing since the day Adam died has finally made a reappearance.  These are the women I have to thank for that: my Zambian sisters.

Anna, Pamela, Elizabeth, Agnes, Sandra, Mrs. Pirry

God has orchestrated an opportunity for me to partner with a Zambian church organization to provide long-term assistance for the widows of the Lilayi community. On Tuesday, I met 10 of the most needy widows in the community and talked with them for over an hour about their current situation and how they needed help.  After hearing their stories (some of which made me cry) it was apparent that they needed food for their families. These women have suffered much. 

Today I was able to bring them each a 25 KG bag of mealie meal, the staple food that will last up to a month for each family.  As the bags were unloaded they started singing and dancing, praising God for His provision for them.  Yes, it was God that provided this food for them, I simple was the conduit to make it happen.  And Joy was my reward. 

In the upcoming weeks I will have the opportunity to make some home visits and get a good understanding of the living conditions of these women and their children.  I also hope to record their stories and share them here on the blog.  

The women were very upfront from the beginning that they did not want perpetual hand-outs, but rather a way to make a living for their household.  Bishop Yamba, the founder of the the ministry will be organizing the women into groups according to different skills (ie. sewing, baking, gardening, etc.) and helping them come up with a business plan.  The plan is to give the women small loans to help them start up their businesses. As the women prosper at their business and start to pay back the loan, the money then will go directly into the Yanos school to provide tuition for the many                                                orphans and needy children that attend.  

This is all new to me and I am hanging on to God for guidance. As God has been faithful in providing for our family, I want to be faithful in helping these women provide for their families.  Please pray that Bishop Yamba and I would have God's wisdom in proceeding with this new ministry. 

Zambian food day

This afternoon I asked the kids what they wanted for dinner.  "Nshima, relish and mangos," they said.  Are they turning into Zambians!?  When we got back from town Micah and his friends climbed the mango tree in the back yard and picked some mangos for everyone.  Mangos right off the tree are a sweet, juicy mess.  It's kind of like biting into a Georgia peach at the peak of ripeness. Mmmmm, good!  

Here is dinner--nshima with tomato and chicken relish.  Nshima is made of ground corn maize and looks a little like cream of wheat when cooked.  You simply take some nshima in your hand, roll it into a ball and dip into the relish. Finger food at it's finest. (I think that's why the kids like it--no utensils needed!)

Holly and her flowers

Holly loves posing for the camera.  The vegetation is lush and green now, so we have many opportunities to explore the plants and flowers around us. 

This flower smelled divine!

Notice the sticker on the forehead...it's the newest thing.  Yesterday she walked around the grocery store with stickers plastered on her face, arms and legs.  Crazy muzungus (white people).  

Future pilot?  She may have to grow into the headphones...

The Gecko Tail

About a week ago Micah got this brilliant idea to chase after the gecko lizard that inhabits our house, with his bow and arrow. This is one of many geckos that call our little cottage "home." I was making dinner and Micah was running all over the cottage like a little mad-man trying to trap the lizard, divert the lizard outdoors or kill the lizard, which ever came first.  During the scuffle Micah cut off the gecko's tail.  We didn't see him after that.  Maybe he will go tell all of gecko-friends of the horrors that he experienced in the cottage and they will  all STAY AWAY!  Micah wants to keep the gecko tail for his treasure box.  YIKES!

Lilaya Feeding Project

Today, Micah and I had the opportunity to hand out food and Christmas goodies at the Lilaya Feeding Project that is put on by our local church.  Lilaya is a small community outside of Lusaka.  Last year, two women from South City Community Church, saw a need only a few miles from their home and were determined to be part of the solution to help orphans and very poor children get a good meal.  Most of these kids have very little food to eat during the week and the nshima and soya relish that Yolanda and Illka bring every Wednesday is probably the most nutritious thing they will have have all week.  

These are the youngest that come to Lilaya.

Micah helps hand out food with Yolanda.  I was so proud of Micah that he got right in there and helped and played with some of the younger kids.

Micah wanted to eat some of the nshima...he's not choking in this picture....just a funny shot. 

Some of the kids that got a meal today.  The adult in the picture, Anna, is one of the teachers at the school.  She and her husband run the school and orphanage. 

We saw some pretty happy faces after the treat bag and drinks were handed out. 

Crossing Paths

Tonight was a good night.  I dropped the kids off at the Solt's house for movie night.  A night in which Micah and Holly stuff themselves with popcorn and soda and mom runs away for a little while.  Tonight was Christmas shopping night in Lusaka. Tonight was about making into town and finding SOMETHING that the kids might squeal with delight after opening on Christmas day.

It was a good night because I was by myself, no whining, no crying, no fighting. Alone.  Me and my radio that I just discovered today.  So here I go, windows down, out on the dirt road, the African sunset radiating through the passenger's window, and my radio cranked up playing some Zambian dance music that I can't understand the words to because it is in another language. Very satisfying.

Not far down the road I see a man waving wildly at my vehicle.  I stop to see what the commotion is and it's Webster, a friend of Flying Mission.  He needs a lift into town to take care of some paperwork for a new visa. In a flash he's in the passenger's seat and away we go bumping down the dirt road into Lusaka.

I start by saying "Webster, you probably don't remember me, but you are one of the reasons why I am here in Zambia." I caught his attention. "A year and half ago I was here with my husband and you let me hold your little baby cousin, the one who's father had just died." He listens intently. "I didn't have anything to give him and I didn't know what to do, but I remember thinking 'I'm glad that's not me.'" Webster chuckles.   I go on, "but now it is me, raising two kids by myself." No more chuckle. The truck keeps bouncing down the road as I tell him briefly about Adam.  He remembers hearing about the man who was killed in the plane crash but had no idea I was his wife.

I went on in my best Zambian accent, "but God is good and He has provided everything I need, to the point that I am able to share with others.  That is one of the reasons I am here, to wait for God to show me how to He wants me to care for widows and orphans." Then he peppered me with questions, "how, when, who..." "I don't know, but God will show me.  He has promised to make good come from this situation." Yes," he said, "God will show you and will make it work out for good."

Webster went on to tell me of how he was abandoned by his mother at seven months, that his new step-mother did not like him (probably putting it mildly) and that eventually his friend's mother adopted him.  Now at 25 he is far away from his family and soon starting bible school in hopes of becoming a discipleship missionary.  That's why he needs the lift into town, to renew his visa so he can travel to Malawi next year for more bible training.  I ask him if he has heard of Harrison Chinyama. He didn't, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he will before 2011 is out.

Before we parted ways in town, we both agreed that in both of our situations we would never get an answer to "why" this happened.  But we both firmly agreed that God was in complete control of our lives.  He knew the exact time we would be born and the exact time we will die and everything in between.  With that, Webster went to find his friend and I went into the store to buy some gifts.

It was so refreshing to be in the company of someone who has experienced deep loss and has found healing in the promises of God, not just quoting them, but really living them out to the core of their being. Peace and joy were Webster's.  Peace and joy shall be mine in the coming months.

Thank you Lord for the crossing of paths.  Bless Webster in what ever he puts his hand and mind to.  Continue to show him the kingdom and show him the plans you have to give him a hope and a future that is securely rooted and established in your love.

May peace and joy inhabit the nooks and crannies of your heart this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas.  I miss you all!  Love you lots :)

Rain, Rain, Go Away

The rains have been profuse here this past week.  It's like someone turned on the faucet and forgot to turn it off!  It's not supposed to rain this much until February I was told. Farmers are scurrying to finish getting their maize in. It doesn't look like much fun to be out there with a hoe and a handful of seeds while it's pouring rain! I can understand why people back home like to go "mudding" with their big trucks.  It's what I have to do everyday and I have to say I really like the adventure of it.

The kids are starting to get a little stir-crazy not being able to go outside and run around or use the pool like we usually do on a warm afternoon.  Tonight we wrestled and played "tickle-monster" and "kissy-monster" to get some energy out.

I do have a prayer request:  Micah has been struggling with fevers on and off for the last 10 days.  The last 2 days they have been under 100-degrees, but before they were 101, 102-degrees.  I thought it was malaria, even though we are on the prophylaxis.  But a trip to the doctor revealed there has been no malaria in the last two weeks and that he must have a virus.  He is doing better today and his temp was only 99ish, so I'm hoping his body is kicking it.  He is eating like a horse, drinking plenty of fluids and playing like nothing is wrong.  Please pray that his fever would depart soon and that we would all stay healthy. 


This Sunday I will be sharing my testimony at South City Church in Lusaka, the church I have been attending since we arrived.  I am very excited about this opportunity to share how God has sustained us this past year.  But it is still very painful for me to have to walk through these memories and get everything down on paper to be prepared for Sunday.  Please be praying that God will show me the exact parts of the story he wants me to share with this church on Sunday and that He will be my main source of comfort this week. 


That's about all.  I wanted to share some more pictures, but the internet is acting goofy again tonight.
Thanks for being such faithful prayer warriors and friends!

Finally some pictures!

Hi Everyone!! I am so thankful that the internet has been cooperative and has allowed me to FINALLY upload some pictures for you to see.  I thought I would start off with some pictures of our home and the Zambian friends Micah and Holly are making.  After working at the Guest House in the morning we had back home in the afternoon, spend time together as a family and play with the neighbor kids.  They are perpetually curious and Langton (the little boy running in first place up above) is always peeking in our windows when we get home, waiting in anticipation for us to come out and play.  These kids love to race and have some serious speed. My white boy can barely keep up.  This week I taught them "red light, green light" and hopscotch.  They are teaching me loundus (maybe it's roundus--my ears can't hear the difference between their "r" and "l"), which is a cross between kickball and dodgeball.  When the whole crew is over, we have a dozen or more kids playing, ages 3 all the way to 12.  

Holly is getting brave and wanting to climb the tree with her friend Justina.  This little girl is 6 1/2 but the same size as Holly (who is 3 1/2).  Holly loves to bring out her toys and share with Justina. I love to see the neighbor kids' faces light up when they are given an actual toy to play with, other than an old tire or an old, rusty metal stick (seriously).  It took them a couple of tries and having to watch Micah and Holly play with a toy car, airplane or doll to actually know what to do with it.  

Notice the kids are wearing long sleeves and long trousers.  It was actually 80 degrees that day.  I guess we've acclimated to the warmer temps.  When we first moved into the cottage it was 95 degrees inside the cottage when I went to bed at 10pm. Anything below 80 feels chilly to us now!  

This is THE BEST jungle gym EVER! 

Here's our Zambian mansion.  All 400 square feet of it.  It has all the modern conveniences like running water, reliable flush toilets, shower and electricity.  What more could a gal want?  I am very thankful that I don't have to run outside to use the toilet or the shower like most of my neighbors do.  I am also thankful that I am able to employ Charity, a local Zambian, as house help.  Since I don't have a washer and dryer she will be hand washing our clothes and keeping house a few days a week.  I thank God for her everyday as she is a tremendous blessing to me right now.