This page contains updates on our life here in Zambia. Please check back often for news of us and our mission. Scroll down for older entries; there are also links to other months on the home page.
November 2009
Follow us as we serve the Lord
Thursday 11/5
We are still here serving our Lord & Savior with Gospelink and the Bible College. What fun we are having. We laugh each day as we hear the children and some adults just singing and laughing as they walk down the road. There is a young man named Joe who lives next door, who we must admit is one of our favorite new friends. He just sings all the time and I have seen him doing some pretty cool dance moves as he walks down the road. He is always willing to help Paul with any job as Paul usually pays him for his work in “talk time” for use on his phone.
Each morning when I wake up, Paul has already got his coffee made and the garden and flowers weeded. He really does enjoy that as it is relaxing for him. I am doing a lot of my correspondence down in the office area, which is in the same building as the shop. Jess always expects to be in the shop with Paul or with me whatever I am doing. Everyone says “She is the Queen of compound #1”. They all think she is the most spoiled dog in all of Zambia. I think they may be right. I need to remember to ask someone to send me a 2010 calendar. I will ask just one of you so I don’t get more calendars then we needJ
Here is something I read in “The Voice of the Faithful” book I have. “Thank you for all the dedicated volunteers who assist Christian workers in Zambia and other areas in spreading the Gospel. May You, Lord send many volunteers this upcoming year to the Bible College and other areas where assistant is needed. Show me if I am to take my vacation time to be a volunteer on an overseas short term mission trip”. This prayer just reminded me once again to say Thank You to all of you who served at the Bible College this past year. As you and new people read this diary page, we once again ask you to be in prayer about coming over to visit us and to serve in a ministry that has eternal value and eternal rewards.
My Dad & Step Mom called us the other night and we had a great visit. They too were able to get a reduced calling plan for Zambia. We are very grateful to those who have taken time to call and write. What would we do without your love and support.
Good news is that Paul and I have each lost 30 lb. since we have been here. We just work and sweat it off. I need to keep going with the weight loss as Paul is good where he is. I am very glad I do not like the cookies the store sells here. I think most of them taste like what dog biscuits would taste like if I ever ate one. Paul dunks them in coffee and says they are not too bad that way. My friend Diana and I are weighing in each Tuesday together to hold one another accountable. We both did the “Lose it for Life” program at E. Free in Grand Island and really like the program.
Today I painted a door and door frame on one of the cabins with the oil base green paint. I learned that this paint will seep through your clothes. I had green paint in quite a few spots and it only comes off with kerosene or some type of oil. I learned my lesson.
At 3:00 pm today, Lucy, Christine, Mildred, the students and I split up into two groups and did outreach evangelism to our area neighboring villages. We were gone about 3 hours and got home just before dark. It was time well spent as 4 people prayed to accept Jesus. We invited everyone to join us at the College Church and are picking up one large family on Sunday to join us. Please pray for these families and others to join us at church where they can hear the gospel again, be blessed by the singing and have their children included in the choir. We saw so many children and some so poorly clothed they could hardly keep the old clothes on. It is so hard for the families to keep the children anywhere near clean. The dirt is like a dust that just cakes to you. I can take a shower each night with soap and wash my clothes, but for a lot of the families this just is not an option if you live far away from a water supply. Please keep these families in your prayers for good health and for better water to be brought closer as the government needs to dig more wells.
One of the older men said he did not attend church, but he was saved but was just too old to change the denomination he was in. A lot of people say they are saved but have no regular church attendance so do not have a support of believers when they need them. We shared with them that we want to be good neighbors and to come to us when they are confused on an issue, need prayer or just some other type of support. I think to reach out past family members is very hard for these dear people. We were able to leave a pkg of smarties candy to each of the children so we did get many smilesJ. I saw many types of trees I have never seen before and some beautiful rock formations. It was strange to me how I did not have to walk that far to see different landscape. We walked many different paths and I don’t know if I would have made it back on my own. I just followed the student’s as they led the way.
We sure miss our new friends from all the missions’ teams and we want you to know you have blessed our lives, and you are in our prayers.
I best sign off and get to work on that newsletter.
We continue to be well and working hard. I think I have mentioned how hard Kris, Bobby and Jack have worked these past few weeks, a lot of electrical and woodworking done. I just painted and stayed out of their way.
Friday was a very big day as Chief Bunda Bunda, his wife and many of the headwomen and headmen from his area were here also. Much preparation took place for the Chief's visit. The campus cleaned up and weeds chopped down even more so then what the student's had done.
It is really an honor for the Chief to come and visit the college. When he was making his speech he even mentioned how unusual it is for him to go out as most of his visits and business with his tribe members or tribesmen is done at his palace. Kris one of the members of the visiting team shared the gospel message with many illustrations from the bible. It was a wonderful opportunity to present the gospel message and we want to thank all of you who were praying for this event. The praise team from the college shared some of their songs with all of us.
A wonderful meal was prepared for the Chief and everyone in attendance: Boiled chicken, rice, macaroni. vegetables, potatoes, beef stew and I am sure some more items that I just cannot remember. Everyone was very grateful for the great meal. Mildred supervised the cooking as Lucy & Christine were working on the decorations. Everything looked very nice for the Chief's visit. The Chief gave a very nice speed after the gospel message was presented and he thanked Kris for sharing about God. The Chief speaks English very well.
Really nice shelves that you can also hang your clothes on were made and installed in many of the cabins. Of course that means they all need painted :). Once again an invitation to come over and see us on a short term mission trip. I would love some help with all the painting that need to be done. You could even take a tour of Paul's flowers, veggie garden and pretty landscaping. I pretty much supervise this and can be trusted to do some watering. I do not have a green thumb like Paul does.
11-12,
It is official, the rainy season has started!! This past week we have had some nice gentle rains and they really do cool things done. On Friday I woke up me matter in my left eye and it felt like I was coming down with a cold. Well on Sat. am the eye was mattering worse and was hurting. On Sunday am it was hurting so bad I knew we needed to go to the Medical Clinic. We arrived at the clinic at 9:00 am and arrived back at the college at 3:30 pm. It was a whole-day eye appt. Well it appears I have an ulcer on my cornea, so the Ophthalmologist sent me home on 6 meds, drops and ointments and I was to go see her on Wednesday. Well on Wednesday she looked at it again and was not pleased—some improvement but still not good. She send me home on the same meds with instructions to clean, clean everything I tough and clean my eye almost continually thru out the day with tea water and salt water. Now this does not go in the eye but just to wash off the matter on the outside, then we go see her again this Saturday morning. Please pray for total healing of my left eye and that the infection does not spread. Thank you!!
The shipping container is close!!! Maybe here even next week. God's timing will be perfect.
Now about that rain. Last night was a gully washer. Rained hard, lightening and thunder all night long. The water was coming in the bottom of the cabin door so we got up and moved all the boxes and other stuff off the floor. Poor little Jess did not sleep at all as she was shaking and so afraid of the storm. I just felt like I was in Nebraska only with no Tornado warnings!!!! Well today Paul put a board to stop the flow of water into the cabin.
OK, you know we have been using the restroom in our house with no roof since we have arrived. Well now that rainy season is here, that is kind of a challenge. The house floor is covered in water and I could sail a ship on the bathroom floor. Plan B
Paul and I bought a big umbrella off the street vendors that says' I love Zambia!!! We were both so thankful for it when we made our nightly trips to the restroom with all that rain. I really had a taste of walking to the bathouse, with flashlight, umbrella and the wind and rain just blowing away:) I smiled as I walked inside the cabin, saw the water on the floor and Paul just snoring away:). Love is so blind!! We had a good laugh this morning as everything looked pretty wind and rain blown.
Paul continues to work on more windows for more cabins. The painting department is way behind!
I am hanging laundry on a line down in the shop that Paul put up for me. All the comforts of home in the shop and in our little cabin.
I guess I best get to work. The students have presented me with a challenge for medical care so I will keep you posted on this latest adventure.
We pray for you, and remember, You are loved by Jesus and us.
Monday, 11/16
This update is coming to you from the MAN cave. Well really every where here is the man cave, it's great. From living in a cabin to riding my motorcycle to working in a large carpenter shop, where I am the boss, what is not to love about that?
On the other hand, I just want you to know that I have been visiting with a few of the nations around the college. The other day I went to see a gentleman because God has put him on my heart and in my head, so I went to his home but he was gone. On the way home I saw another man whom I consider a wise old man. While in his hut visiting he started talking about wanting to be an elder at his church, but has been turned down twice. The reason they are giving him is that his wife does not attend with him. They said that if he does not have his house in order he can not be a leader in the church. They are telling him that salvation is a family thing so his wife and children are also saved so they should be attending with him.
Now he started quoting scripture to prove his side and he told me scriptures that he church was using to prove their point and our conversation was going in circles. Then God put it in my head that they are both missing the big picture of why Christ died for us and also why we attend a church at all and to stop using the Bible to prove their own view point.
I also told him that salvation is an individual choice and that his wife and children may not be saved and that he should lead by example and pray for them.
If it was salvation by association I would have been saved 26 years ago because that's when Lori was saved and I do know better than that.
I will not give up on either of these men and I do know I will catch up with them in the future and will have more to share with them, as God directs me.
Now back to the man cave, work is going great, but the rains have started so I work in the shop a lot and most of the workers are busy planting their own gardens. Our gardens look beautiful and we are eating the wide selection of produce. We have fresh peas, lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, and many native veggies I do not know the names too. Very soon we will have sweet corn.
The bushlander is running great and is very fun and ready for it's first oil change. I can hardly wait. My nephew, Wesley in Phoenix sent me some fuel filters as the fuel is so dirty here.
Well I better go water my garden and pull a few weeds. The flowers I planted are really blooming and looking good.
Till next time, pray for me and the two men I am talking with. I know God wants them in HIS kingdom.
Back to the man cave.
Paul
Monday 11/16/09
Love from Zambia. Another week has gone by and we have been here 5 months. No matter where we live it seems the time just flies by. Paul & Henry spent a full day again in town doing lots of errands and hopefully taking time for a good American lunch! I went to the Dr. again this week and she said the ulcer is gone now we just need to get rid of the infection. I am off all meds for 3 days then she will look at lab work of the sample she removed from my eye and put me on the best antibiotic. Thank you all for your prayers as my eye does not hurt anymore it just is red with the infection that I know will clear up with the right medicine.
When Paul got back from the trip to town he said he figured out why he has had a headache for 2 days. We bought deaf coffee and not the regular. Nothing like a caffeine headache to make you want more caffeine not to give it up, go figure.
I had a great visit with my personal secretary Nina on the phone. It was so good to hear a familiar voice and just to visit with a girlfriend. Nina is putting our newsletter together on the computer and will be mailing that out soon.
Jess and I are staying in the cabin this morning as the rain comes down. We had to get out some sleeping bags as the sheets got caught in the rainJ. I am listening to Christian Radio and am again thankful for this gift from the Lord.
After Paul and I finished eye appt. we bought groceries and stopped at the post office. Yea, a card from my Fun Sister Gayle, you know the older one!! We brought some chicken and chips home for supper, so no cooking tonight. We also stopped at the road side market for watermelon that looks really good.
I was wondering as I walk back and forth to the bath house if carrying a metal handled umbrella with is such a good idea in a lightning storm. My shoes do have rubber soles. What do you think?? Walking in the dark night with the rain coming down is a sweet way to commune with our creator and creation.
Here are a few things I thanked God for as I was walking. His love for me while I was yet in my sins, His Son Jesus and His Holy Spirit, Paul, Ben, Family, Friends, Music, Body of Christ, Pastor’s and Teachers of the Word, People all over the world, Government officials, Shelter, Food, Clothes, Dr’s, Medicine, Fun electrical things that can run on batteries, batteries, flashlights from Quentin, Umbrella’s, Motorcycle, Toyota, Charcoal, coffee, coke lite, crystal lite, slip on shoes, candle’s, our wonderful 5 senses and the beautiful world God made for us to live in.
Thursday 11/19
I have not written for 3 days; what’s with that?? Went to Dr. again yesterday and she said ulcer on my cornea was gone but now we needed to clear up the infection it left behind. She will have me be off all meds for 4 days and then come back to the office. Another doctor will swab my eye; that will go to the lab and I will get more medicine. She told me it would take time to heal and that my eye was past the danger point and my vision would be ok. I have not really done any painting for one week, as I can use my eye for a reason to just take it easy. It is amazing to me how I can fill a day with devotions, reading, spider solitaire, checking in with Paul, making the usual sandwiches for lunch, short nap after lunch then do it all again. I know I need to take good care of my eye, and I am by taking it easy, but since I have worked hard for my entire adult life it is a an adjustment to just sit and be still. In my head I hear God’s word saying Lori, Be still and know that I am God”. It doesn’t say anything about the more productive I am the more value my life has. I will continue to stay in God’s word and remember stillness is a gift and an art to be practiced.
Things that are the hardest for me, the heat and the flies. When I think about our soldiers in Dessert Storm and the heat, sand and just the hard way life had to be for them, I stop being mad at the heat and the flies and again thank God for all He has done for me. You know what?? Paul never complains?? What’s with that?? For some reason I think if I complain it will surely make the situation better. Well it does not and it does not help my attitude so I am thinking about giving it up. Maybe for the Lenten season. I know, I know a daily give it up thing. Alright, alright you don’t have to nag me with calls and emails.
The students went to play football (soccer) yesterday and we very disappointed as the other team did not show up. I did want to update you on the medical situation with one student. He went to a clinic with a back ache and the person on staff sent him home with a vial of vitamin B, needles and syringes?? She told him he would need to find someone to give him the injection?? He wanted me to do it. I told him I could give an injection but I did not see the reason for it. I advised him to see a Dr. for a second opinion. He went in after a few days and the Dr. gave him so medicine and told him the injection would not have helped. He is doing much better and glad he went to the Dr. Here is another story about that. Paul takes him to the clinic and there is a loooong line. Well Paul see’s two men dressed nicely heading down the hill. He goes over and asks them if they are doctors and they say yes. Paul tells them of his friend with a sore back and they escort Paul and the student right in the back door and take care of him!! If I would have tried that I would have gotten a traffic ticket of some kind and told to move to the back of the line. Do you suppose that is somehow related to my complaining thing??
Paul & I had another new food experience. Flying termites boiled and fried. Yum!!!! Well I can tell you they did not taste like chicken! They tasted more like popcorn. They look like a cross between a wasp and a bee. Kind of cute of an insect but will not be on my regular menu. The ladies and children all ran around catching these insects when they landed and had quite a few to cook up and share.
Big fields of corn have been planted since the rainy season started. The sweet corn will be ready soon as the ears are getting bigger. We have some fresh peas again yesterday with a lettuce salad. More radishes are planted. Beans, okra, cabbage, pumpkin leaves, and others are all looking good. The students are getting a break from watering all the gardens so that is very much appreciated. God is so faithful to provide the rain and sunshine to provide us all with food to eat. Where ever we go you can see the people planting and preparing their field areas. Even in Lusaka if I see a bare spot of land it seems I see someone in it hard at work planting. This is such a visual reminder to me if most of these people do not plant their own foods, they do not eat.
The students are continuing with their creative landscaping. It will be such fun for all of you when you come over on a short term trip this next summer to see all the students have done. They are working hard, but still are they having fun. The contest will end in about 3 weeks so they are down to the countdown.
Paul made a comment about what a nice plastic jar we had once the crunchy peanut butter was empty. This was one of the big jars of PB that Kris brought over with him, along with other goodies for us. Well, now that empty jar is being used for making sun tea, and also mixing up powered milk in. So, Kris, Thank you for such a nice big reusable jar.
Mildred continues to work with me on learning my Njana words, so we have fun with our class time.
Today, we had a wedding party come out to the college and wanted to use some of our area for the pictures. They had their pictures taken in Paul’s flower garden area, and near some of the nice white cabins. They used some of our chairs for seating and used some other areas also, so we sure hope their pictures turn out like they would like. The wedding itself was in a neighboring village.
We found out one of our family friends passed away this week. We are in prayer for the family and our son Ben will be attending the funeral and give the family our sympathy.
Paul is working on a very large cabinet to keep all the good tools in and to keep all the new tools in from friends who donated them, that will be coming on the container. Paul will be like a little boy with lots of new toys when he gets to put all those tools away and even more when he gets to work with all the new tools. We want to thank everyone who donated tools are gave money to buy tools.
We were blessed this week with a call from Dick Strickland and from Kevin Heigel. It was great to hear their voices and I know Paul appreciated having some friends to visit with and to catch up on their lives. We are excited and will be praying as Kevin hopes to be able to be with us in Zambia for 4 weeks this summer!!! Please pray for him that all the plans will be to God’s glory.
Some of you have told us you have tried to call but cannot get thru. Well just these past 3 days our phones were not working for some reason?? I don’t know why some call goes thru and others do not. The phone numbers on our web site are the right one’s so maybe you can check with your phone provider and see if you need to do anything special?? We sure hope you are persistent as we love to hear from you.
Well, Paul and I went to town yesterday 11/18 and I will keep our experience brief but it seem like it took forever to us: Once in Lusaka we went to our favorite internet café for breakfast. Try to find a pharmacy that is open, no luck. 9:30 am go to Eye Dr. again. Dr. Takes sample swab of eye and tell us WE need to take it to the lab ourselves. So we drive around for a while until we find the lab. Fill out paperwork, pay for the service and results in 24 hours.
Now back to look for a pharmacy, the first one we stopped at did not have the medication. The second on we stopped at did have it, but it was a total zoo in there. This pharmacy had everything from pills to corn seed. It was quite a place. Well after awhile we did get the medicine and some deadly ant spray at the same place. I guess that is kind of like Wal-Mart, only this store was locally owned.
The one good thing about going to town is we can bring pizza and or fried chicken back with us. We of course brought both back so we’ll have a few evening we won’t have to cook. The girl that fills our Toyota with gas is now always expecting a cold pop when we fill up. I guess that means we better keep a cooler in the Toyota. She looked thru the window and saw the pizza box and said she was sure hungry. We still took the pizza home.
That crazy little Jess just goes WILD whenever we return home. I mean wild, she runs around like a crazy dog; the dog sounds she makes I have never heard before (and we have always had a dog in our home). We just laugh and laugh, but we sure missed and loved.
Paul built that big cupboard in the shop area so the tools would be close by when he needed them. The ones that won’t get used as often can be stored in the locked storage rooms on the other side of the shop. Paul plans to make the office space which is in the middle of the shop building so it will be more office usable. Of course you all know what that means. It will need to be painted!! Bring your brush and roller and come on over to see me. You can fill out a short application for the painting dept, and it will be processed very quickly and we can start a new painting job. You will receive benefits, like; singing, laughter, maybe some tears, music, working beside Jess and some great food. We do get breaks in the painting department.
**************COMING SOON TO A MAIL BOX NEAR YOU*****************
Be looking for our first ever newsletter from Zambia. Our editor, formatter, printer and mailing department all work out of our Grand Island, Nebraska Evangelical Free Church office. A more supportive team of Pastor’s church staff and church family we could never find. Thank you all for everything you do!!
Once we said “Yes” to God for Zambia our church family, family and friends all said “How quick can we get them out of the country?” Paul and I still ponder the meaning of this. How quickly people answered God’s call to support us and send us on our way. We choose to believe that you all heard from God to support the work that Gospelink is doing in Zambia, and not just that you gave us l way tickets out of the country! We are so loved, so blessed, so saved by Jesus and the work He did for all of us on Calvary. We have each asked Jesus to be our personal Lord and Savior. God offers salvation as a free gift, but we each one must personally receive it. We pray you have received the gift.
If not and you want to know more about how you too can be saved just email us or call and we will be happy to listen and share with you.
Remember, you are all loved by Jesus and us.
(Did you know? Paul and Lori were both born and raised in Grand Island, Nebraska and are exactly 6 months apart. Of course Paul is older and Lori is just so much prettier.)
Friday 11/27/09
Happy Post-Thanksgiving!
We pray everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and took some special time to thank our God for all of our blessings. I know if we have accepted Jesus as our personal savior each day is thanksgiving, but I am so grateful that America still celebrates this day.
11/21
It rained all evening but nice this morning, with promise of sunshine tomorrow. I painted all day down at the shop while Paul did some woodworking. Of course last evening when it was raining Paul and I discovered we had left our one and only umbrella down at the shop. We were thankful we still had our jackets with the hoods on them as we made our nightly trip to the bath house.
It rained again all evening, it is now 7 am and it is still really raining. We had visitors in church today, even with the rain. It is sad for me to see the women in church without their husbands, as I attended church for so many years without Paul. What a joy for us to be attending together for this past four years. Yesterday Jess and I painted some more windows and Paul put in the screens, they look really nice. It rained again all day. It is nice to see rain coming straight down and not sideways like in Nebraska.
Well another knock on our door and one of the students showed up with an abrasion on his arm. (Notice how I said “abrasion”) I did that for all my medical friends who read this. I would normally say just an open sore or scrape. Well here is my medical procedure: Put on sterile latex gloves, wipe wound, abrasion, sore, scrape…… with sterile wipe, sterilize the needle with another sterile wipe, lance the sore, squeeze out the pus (sorry for the squeamish) pour peroxide 3 times over it, dry off, put on antibiotic ointment and band- aid. Asked student to return the next day and we would do it all again. Well medical friends: how did I do??? When he got this abrasion he noticed at the same time a lump under his arm. Well I told him if he still had it in one week he should have a doctor look at it. The lump went away after a few days and we thanked God. Now we must all remember I am not a nurse and I am sure I barely passed health & first aide class in high school.
Well the Chongwe River is officially flooded. We can stand on our road and look off to the east and see the water rising in the river. How exciting. The rains just continue.
Corn planting in full operation all over Zambia I think. It does appear to me the women to most of the work in and outside the home. The ladies are following the oxen as the plow and putting in the fertilizer and seed by hand. It is just amazing how fast it goes and a large field is planted in no time at all. I see the women plant the corn, harvest the corn, grind the corn, cook the corn, and clean up after everyone else has eaten the corn. The ladies here I tell me I work so hard when they see me outside painting or helping Paul with a project. I tell them I have a loooooong way to go to ever work as hard as they do. They are amazing as they hoe the weeds with a heavy hoe and a short handle. I would last maybe 30 minutes, then I would need a one hour break, ice water and a recliner in between rows. Let’s just say I really admire the women here and how very hard they work to feed their families. It is hard for me to remember that this corn planting feeds these families their nshema, boiled corn meal for 2 or 3 meals everyday for most of their lives. I think most families only eat 2 meals a day. When I remember this I do not complain about our PBJ or tuna sandwiches each day.
Pastor David gave the message in church today about the 2nd coming of Jesus and to be ready. The praise team had some new music which was just beautiful and some members shared upfront some of their favorite songs. We had l0 visitors today with 6 being children. The new children just loved going to choir practice with the regular children and I could tell they just were so proud to stand up front and sing a few songs and recite a memory verse. I must say it “They are just all so cute and precious”.
Monday, it rained all night again. Paul and Henry were going to town at 7 am but had to turn around as the road was too flooded. They waited until 10 am and the water had gone down enough for them to cross and get to town. I am glad Jess and I stayed home and played it safe. I have started the bible study “I saw the Lord” by Anne Graham Lotz. The ladies at my E. Free church in Grand Island just finished doing it so they sent me the book and the DVD. I am really learning and being challenged in my reading of the word. Thank you Nina, for sending it to me.
Yesterday was the first time I have wore long pants since I have been here. It did not last long only a few hours in the am then back to shorts with the heat and humidity. I think the humidity today was 99 percent. I painted outside and I must of lost 5 lbs in sweat. It was a tough day and this evening is even worse, not that I’m complaining mind you, I hear sweating is so good for your skin!! I should have very healthy skin.
Jess and I went down to the shop and painted a few more windows, then I took her in the shower and she got all cleaned up, she looks so pretty.
As Paul is down at the shop this am, since it is raining Jess and I are tucked inside the cabin. Oh, for a good soft recliner. See how I am, I have all I need and so much more, yet it seems I always want more. How quickly my selfishness and it’s all about me kicks in, and this was just after a very special bible study and prayer time. If left to myself I would go to the depths so easy. Thank you God, for rescuing me from me.
Paul and I made trip to Lusaka to do some paperwork and the usual groceries. We did not go to the eye Dr. as my eye is doing well. I do use a lot of rewetting drops as my eye seems so dry all the time. I am thankful for the healing.
WOW, are we loved!! We have received pkgs from so many of you, Dwayne & Deb, Maureen, Larry & Carol, Nina , Paul & Diana and more pkgs are on the way. It is such a blessing to stop and the post office and have mail. You can get an envelope from the post office and mail it for $13.00. It can hold about 2 dvd movies and that is if you leave them in the big case they came in, hope this gives you an idea of cost. We have received some nice size pkgs and they have cost $25 – 60 dollars to mail. Ouch. So we just again are so thankful. Want to know what we have gotten?? Huh, do ya??? Well, sugarless gum, crystal light tea, books, bookmarks, bracelet, smelly good stuff for the car or where ever, movies, Pastor Mike’s messages with the study notes. Tea bags, picture of my nephew Cody graduating from boot camp along with a 2010 calendar, chocolate and a dvd of the Singing Christmas Tree at our church. I am sure I have forgotten some things, Oh yes a really cute pedicure set. Paul said most of the stuff is girly stuff and I say yes, because I am easier to buy for then he is. We are planning a few days off to explore with Paul & Diana when they are here in January. Paul will be teaching and Diana and I will be working on many projects. I sure hope I don’t wear her out. Paul & Diana are both very gifted musicians and I have bragged about them to the students. Of course the students are looking forward to any help and suggestions they can get from Paul with their guitar playing and help from Diana with some new music selections. So you see, they will be very busy.
Whenever we go to town one of the students watches Jess for us. We usually bring back some chicken and chips for them as this is the most requested treat.
Thanksgiving Day was a beautiful sun shining day. Paul and I were determined not to let it be just another day. We both set aside time to just be quiet and thank God for all He has done for us. We chose not to do any regular work and just do some fun stuff, you know admiring our flowers, taking Jess for a walk, talking to the student’s about Thanksgiving. We had a special evening worship service with about 25 young men, singing, teaching and praying. It was a wonderful ending to a special day. Then when we returned to our cabin we were blessed even more by some phone calls from my Dad and his wife Arlene, my brother Glenn and my fun sister Carol. It was great to hear their voices and hear about their plans for Thanksgiving. Paul and I did miss time with family but once again God met our needs and gave us a special time with the students.
Our Thanksgiving meal was super. We bought a big chicken and pretended it was turkey; we bought beets and pretended they were cranberries. We had fresh from the garden, mid-west sweet corn, peas, tomatoes, lettuce and boy oh boy was it good. We had M&M’s for dessert that were sent to us, so we felt very satisfied. Now don’t get me wrong, we did miss the sweet potatoes’, and pumpkin pie with cool whip, but we had a wonderful meal.
Stay tuned for next update when you will hear Paul say “When is the painting department going to get caught up”?
Remember you are loved by Jesus and us.
(Little known facts: Paul & Lori were married in l975 and had their only child Ben who weighed 2 lb 12 oz at birth, in January 1977. He was our miracle baby and is a strong healthy man today. He is God’s greatest accomplishment in our lives.)
11/29/09
The container is here, the container is here!! We give God the Glory and thank Him.
Well, I must confess my attitude has not always been the best when the National people do not work as hard, or give me the service I have come to expect in the good old US of A. I am still adjusting to our new culture and a new world around me, yet I fall back into what is familiar and comfortable to me. My expectations keep getting me into trouble, and then I get frustrated when things don’t work out just as me, myself and I had planned out. Paul and I keep reminding each other when frustration strikes that we are the visitor’s here and we are not in American any more. In church this morning Pastor Henry reminded us that we would all be strangers in a different culture but that for believers no country is our home, we are only passing through. Please pray for Paul & me to receive wisdom and balance as we learn to live in and love the people of Zambia. It is so easy to presume our way of doing a certain job is better since we are from a developed nation, but as we are learning not always. They have much to teach us.
The Story of the Shipping Container; told to you by the woman whose expectations keep getting her into trouble:
Once upon a time in a far away land, the people were looking forward to a gift of a shipping container. They were sure it would arrive on their time schedule and in the way they had planned. Well along came the big bad Revenue Commission with other plans. They made Gospelink pay some money to get the container into Zambia. Boo, Hiss.
The trucking company went to the border and put the container on their Big truck and drove it to Lusaka, where it met with the crane company and they worked everything out.
Well, the trucking company calls Paul at 7 am on Sat. morning and said they are at Lusaka and will call him when they get to Chongwe. The truck driver also told Paul that we would have to unload 5 tons off the container as it was too heavy for the crane to lift. We assumed they would be there within a few hours and lined up the student’s to help unload. The shop also had to be rearranged so what we unloaded would have a place to go.
Well, the day went by, 3:00 pm the truck driver calls and says he is in Chongwe how much farther. Paul told the driver how much farther and that he would be at the turn off waiting to show him the way.
Well, the truck driver called Paul 5 times and asked how much farther even though it showed how far written on the order document he had with him. Paul told him once again to keep going and look for the only white man standing beside the turn off waving at him.
Well, after that 5th call we decided to drive and meet them. We saw them and turned the Toyota around and they followed us to the turn off and then waved for us to stop.
Well, they were quite concerned as the crane did not have enough fuel to make it back into town. Paul told them they had made it this far they would keep going and get the container delivered to the college.
Well, we all made it back to the college where the students had prepared the place for them to sit down the container. Oh no, the truck driver had better plans and he backed up to place it where he thought would be a better place and got the big truck stuck.
Well, the driver and 4 other men jumped out of the truck, and tried to get the truck, unstuck, (is this word)? Well this was no good. David went and got the tractor and was able to pull out the truck.
Well, the crane operator then started his job of lifting the container off the truck. He did this with no thought of how the truck would then get out.
Well, it was a process as once the container was in the air; the truck was at such an angle it was hard for the truck to move away from the crane, so it trying to do so he got stuck again. This really was the crane man’s fault as if he had done it correctly the truck would have been able to drive straight away.
Well, the container was set down, and the truck got stuck again. This time the tractor could not even pull it out. So the crane operator by this time was concerned about the running out of fuel thing. He had to drive up by the diesel tank and we put in just enough for him to get back to town. Oh, by the way, the crane wanted to get back to town before dark as it had so lights on it!!! (You would think if that were the case you would want to start your trip earlier in the day.) Then the crane went back and pulled the truck out and the two vehicles went merrily on their way. Well maybe not so merrily.
We thank God for the safe arrival of the container and the safety for all involved.
The moral of this story…….? I’m not quite sure but once again God reminded us that His ways are higher than our ways and it is His plans that will be established.
Even though we were all a little frustrated by the events, it was a good reminder to look at the big picture, that the college is here to educate the students so they can go out more prepared to share the love and truth of Jesus.
A little thing like dealing with container issues didn’t seem so big in light of God’s eternal plan.
Well, moving on. Paul and I were thinking of all the people who have loved us through prayers, support, emails, letters, cards and package’s, and wondered how we could best thank them.
Well we decided the best way is to just accept the free gift of love.
That is what Jesus asks us to do, receive His free gift of salvations through His love.
