random thoughts

After the time I spent in Muzoka last week, the people brought gifts to us to thank us for all that we did for them. I have a great picture of me in a Chitenge wrap with a live chicken...my gift from a lady I prayed for and led to Christ. You don't refuse gifts here, so I had to take it from her and hold it until she had left. :) A Zambian friend was kind enough to say he would 'keep' it for me. I am working on getting pictures on here, it's just hard doing that in an internet cafe and nothing ever seems to work as it should.

When standing in line for anything here, you must stand so close to the person in front of you that you are practically, if not, touching them. If you are not willing to break the built-in American rules of personal space, you will be cut in on as though you are not there. If you are not packed in like a Sardine, you are definitely not Zambian, and also, not in line.

I haven't started working yet, so I am trying to just relax and continue to let my body get used to the climate. Sleeping is a much bigger part of my life at the moment. I feel like a growing teenager...needing nine or ten hours at night and a good nap in the afternoon. I'm going over the border to Zimbabwe this weekend with the woman that runs one of the schools I will be working in. She's from England and has been here for two years, so she is a big help to me. She's buying a car(Rav4), which she is already calling 'our' car...very exciting! We have a van now, but you can't go very far in a vehicle that doesn't have off-road capabilities.

I am excited about what I will be doing in the school here, in addition to the work in Muzoka. She wants me to establish programs for students with special needs and do some counseling with 8th grade girls. I also know that I am going to learn a lot from her and from the experience.

'It's going to be a hot year'...

he said, as he took cover in the shade. it's not even technically hot here yet and it is already unbearable in the sun, even for Zambians. i have been here for four days and am just trying to get adjusted. i have been to Muzoka once and will be spending most of this coming week there. very excited about what God is going to do there. you can physically see Him bringing life and hope to that area. i met a family in Muzoka the first time i was here in 2001 that i got to see again last year. one of their children was just a baby when i met them and now she is six. i saw her the other day and she was really drawn to me...have a feeling we will be buds. as we drove away, reality sunk in for me, both of her parents are HIV positive. i felt God say to me, 'keep her close'. this is life here and why i came.