February 6th

Reflections by Kathleen: Yesterday we went for "tea" to one of the Zim farmers. (Farmer from Zimbabwe who has had to start all over again.) The kids are all playing barefoot outside. They have 3 dogs, 2 cats, and are raising guinea pigs. The guinea pigs are outside in a pen not in a cage inside like Sena's use to be.

They have a couple of "chicken runs" and a business of selling eggs to lots of the little stores around. Eggs here are all a beautiful brown. The inside of the eggs is lighter than in US.They are growing maize and other crops. They also are starting macadamia trees. And they grow amarylis bulbs to sell to the Netherlands. They take a bulb, cut it into wedges, and then plant each of the little pieces. Newbulbs are formed. It is very interesting. They also have sheep. Most of the farmers do lots of things to be able to make it.

The farm where we are staying has beautiful fields, growing things for essential oils - tee tree, geranium, lemon grass, lavendar, etc. It is beautiful to walk around them. Also they grow cassava which has a beautiful plant with big leaves like lupine in the states.

But in terms of daily life and my pioneer heritage: The "geezer" (Hotwater heater) has been broken most of the time this trip. So I've had one shower, the rest have been sponge baths. We boil water every day to purify it for drinking. And we have a little hot water heater for tea and coffee and to have hot water for washing dishes and washing bodies. It has really been raining the last week. There is mud everywhere. So even though we sweep everyday, if you walk around the house barefoot your feet turn black!

This morning I was making french toast for Bene and me, and he heard the sound of the pick-up truck. Kamau had gone over to do devotions with the trainees and gotten stuck in the drive on this farm. So Benedict went in the Land Cruiser and picked him up and took him over. Don't know how they will get the pick-up out. The vehicles are covered with mud all the time.

Roads here remind me of the gravel roads in Kansas. Most of the roads aredirt, even what are main roads. But then there really aren't that manyvehicles. You can go for several miles without meeting another car ortruck. But of course there are always people walking on the roads.

Although I used the washing machine when I was here before, it is no longer working. So we do all the laundry by hand. Actually us Schwartzes pay to have someone do it. Everything comes back ironed. In this season it has to be ironed if it is hung outside. In the rainy season there are flies or some flying insect that will lay larvae in wet clothes and if you don't iron it to kill the larvae it can cause trouble to your skin (won't give all the details! :) ) If we dry things inside we just hang them up and put the fan on them. Fortunately we can iron. In the villages it is a problem and some of the people have a lot of trouble with their skin, according to AuntieRose, the nurse.

One thing that is interesting here is that things are very expensive. Someone told me that they saw a list of the most expensive cities in the world. Lusaka was number 40 and Chicago was 41. So it's not like you come here and buy everything. Pants for Sena were about $50.00. So we went to one little discount store and got a pair for under $20 but everyone says the quality will be bad and they won't last. We did find out that we can go to Durbin, South Africa and get a vehicle. And if we bring it into this country in the first 6 months of having your work permit, you don't have to pay any tax. After that you pay 50% of the value of the vehicle to Zambia.

It costs $100 each to get into Zambia, and $25 each to get out. The wholepassport, work permit, etc thing is always in the thinking of people herebecause it is very important. In US it is amazing that we can travel forsuch distances without having to go through a check point, border crossingwhere you often have to pay a bribe, or worry about how long you have stayed someplace and violated your permit.

Two little irritations: We have trouble getting cell phone reception here where we are staying. The other is the dish soap! ha! It is the most useless stuff I've ever seen for making suds and cleaning and washing and cutting grease. Oh well, minor things.

Today a YWAM team came. Even before them, we figured that in the 2 weeks I have been here we have had over 40 people either to see our farm, come for sharing group, visit for a meal, etc. That doesn't count that we have 9 people living in this house and for a while the 2 guys were in a neighboring chalet. This team is from Kona and some of them knew Maide and the man who is a Doctor recognized pictures of Christopher. Sitting around the table for lunch we had people from Kenya, Ghana, Japan, Korea, and US.

A Small world. It is nice not having TV. So most evenings we play games and go to bed early. Sometimes we go to bed around 9, and then Bene and I are awake by 5 am. Of course that is about the time you all are just going to bed!Yesterday I was asked to help with the music at the Zim church so I playedwith the couple whose turn it was to lead worship. That was nice. They had a large group. I think that was because they had guest missionaries who have a Children's Ministry. Those missionaries are leaving soon and in a year will be going to Sudan.

Love you all and thank you for your prayers and interest in what we aredoing. xxxxxooooo Kathleen

February 2nd Highlights

Reflections by Kathleen: Another week has passed since I wrote my last report. Here are some of the highlights of this week.

Sunday we attended a local church pastored by Pastor Zulu. They had great singing. There were about 100 people, including the 11 of us, packed into a small structure with the thatched roof. We sat on wooden benches. They seated us and I looked over to where Sena was and she was holding a baby. It sure didn't take very long. Pastor Zulu is an excellent preacher, and sometimes very funny and dramatic. He preaches in English with an interpreter. They both went very fast so sometimes it was hard to understand. But he has so many good points that it was still an excellent sermon. The service lasted a little over 2 hours.

Monday we all took the day to go to Chimanga Game Preserve. This is a place first used as a family retreat by a wealthy family. About 20 years ago it became a resort and game preserve. To get there we traveled on one of the main roads - dirt road and very bumpy. Makes us appreciate that our farm is on the Great North Road - well paved. We had a wonderful meal there. While we ate it was really raining. But when we got into the safari vehicle to drive around to look at the animals, it stopped raining. We spent over 2 hours driving around. We saw lions, cheetahs, all kinds of antelopes, kudu, peku, ostrich, all kinds of beautiful birds, giraffe, zebras, and at the end the elephant family with the cutest baby (5 months old). Steve even was able to touch the mother under the watchful eye of the trainer. We had a driver and a guide and it was great fun. On the way home Steve and Sena were riding in the back of the our truck. By the time we got home it was pouring rain and the 2 of them got pretty wet.

Yesterday our family took Steve and Drew to the airport to return to Maryland. We were sad to see them go. What a big help they were and such fun co-workers, but they were eager to return to their families. Then we spent most of the day in Lusaka and did some shopping. Good Shepherd School, where Sena goes, had collected money and we were able to get books, and games to use in the school.

Today we (Sena, Kristina, Christine (farm managers daughter) and I) were at the school. Sena always helps with the 14 preschoolers. Kristina and Christine do tutoring in different classes. Once again I got the oldest class. Since it is Friday all the shifts of classes come in the early morning. I was expecting the teacher to be there and I would either just watch or work with small groups. Well, the teacher said that he had a problem. Apparently in the rain last night all of his things had gotten wet and he wanted to be able to go tend to that. So I had Level 6 & 7 - about 30 students for 2 hours. We worked on short vowel sounds with my little homemade papers with the vowels written on them for each student. Then I read one of the books I had gotten - The Gingerbread Man. Then we "wrote" our own story on the board so we could all read it together.

How different from what parents expect for children in our country. Some children come barefoot. Some have old uniforms. Most of the clothing is very old and may have holes or be very worn. The walls of the classroom are unpainted cement. No electricity or lights. The floor is a mixture of dirt and cement. Some of the desks today held 3 children. They are meant for 2-3, but with the big kids, they are kind of packed in tightly. A couple of children pulled out maize (corn on a cob) during break, probably their only food all day until the evening meal. Their maize is much tougher and not as sweet as what we are use to.

Tonight we have some folks coming here for a sharing group. Tomorrow we are expecting Rich and Melissa and their daughter to come out from Lusaka. She is the deputy head of US AID here in Zambia. The amazing thing is that they lived in Bel Air, MD before coming to Zambia. Rich was a friend of our Pastor Craig.

Sunday our group will probably split between 2 different churches. Monday a YWAM (Youth with a Mission) Team will be visiting from Lusaka to see what we are doing here.

We have been getting lots of rain. Roads, cars, and shoes are pretty muddy. The temperature is very nice although we do sleep under fans. I'm trying to bring some of my organizational skill to all the many activities of All Kids Can Learn Zambia. There are so many ways that a persons gifts and talents can be used here.

January 26th - From the Veranda

Reflections by Kathleen: I will begin this 3rd report from the veranda at the house. Today is both Kimberly and Benedict's birthday. So I'm the cook tonight - spaghetti. Also Mangoes that Kristina will go into the yard and pick off the trees. We have ordered a cake from Michael who cooks for the guests here. Michael is an excellent cook. Last night Drew and Steve treated all of us to one of Michael's excellant meals. For those of you - like my mother - who like to share menus, this is what we had: leg of lamb, potato dish, gravy, risce with some vegetables, cooked vegetables (mainly eggplant), delicious fresh green beans, coleslaw, and fresh green salad with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and a little cabbage. For dessert we had "bread pudding" made from lemon pound cake (I think) with a sweet sauce.

Just as midwesterners use different words sometimes from easterners in the US, here they have some interesting expressions. You don't move from one house to another. You "shift." You don't ask, "Where do you live?" You are living where you are at the moment. So the question is, "Where do you stay?" Hamburger (which they never heard of) is mince meat. And my favorite so far - a period at the end of a sentence is "full stop."

I think it was probably in the 80s today, and no rain. Usually there is a breeze wherever you might be. It is really a country with great weather.

One of the worship leaders at the church we attended last Sunday had asked me to come over so that I could help him with some worship leading things. So on Tuesday night Benedict, Kimberly (who also plays guitar) and I went over to his house. They are some of the white Zimbabwe farmers who had lost everything. We had a wonderful time with them. I'm sure glad I brought my guitar since I'm using it almost every day.

Tonight after dinner, Joseph, the young man in charge of the conservation farming will come over. Benedict had given him the guitar Benedict had bought for me on the last trip. Joseph wants me to give him a guitar lesson. Tonight Joyce and Christine Kumani (husband John is the farm manager here) will also join us for a little birthday party. We will have birthday cake and a great time singing and playing.

Today we were back at the school. Some classes were combined so I had level 6 & 7. They combined classes that day because it was "cleaning" day. Don't ask me why that is so. When we were done teaching the children were working around the yard and probably inside too.

Today I did a very rudimentary evaluation of the students. I gave every desk (2-3 students each) something to read. Then I went around to see who was able to read what I had given them. I identified 7 who could read - out of about 32 or so. You will have to tutor me, Christopher, on teaching English as a second language.

When we were talking about questions and answers, I asked each student, "What do you want to do when you grow up?" The responses: doctors, nurses, truck drivers, teachers, soldiers, and farmers. Such answers makes me want to do whatever I can to help them be able to read.

I realize that my reports are somewhat one sided - based on my activities. Each day Benedict and Kamau are kept busy with all the activities of the farm - talking with the electrician and Zestco the electric company, getting items needed for the contruction, transporting workers, overseeing the builders, purchasing 2 oxen, meeting with folks in Lusaka, hosting visitors who come to see the project, etc.

The crops are growing, land is being cleared for the wholesale produce market and more land for the second round of crops, roof is going on the 3 cottage, walls are being finished on the 4th cottage, the interiors of the first 2 are being worked on, and plans are being made to hire the first house mother. So much is happening.

Thank you to all of you for your interest and prayers. Please feel free to send this to anyone you think might be interested in knowing all the things happening here.
With love, Kathleen

Update from January 25th

Reflections by Kathleen: It is Thursday and we are in Lusaka to do business and for the girls to get their hair done - a 6hour activity. Our days are full and lots of things happening. Sena, Kristina, Christine (the daughter of the farm manager where we are staying), and I are helping at the community school almost every day. They have about 230 students - age 2-17. Sena helps with the preschool class. Kristina and Christine are working with small groups of older children. The first day we went they said to me, you teach the older students. So I have a class of 17 students - age 12-17. I thought I would also do tutoring, but they gave me the whole class. Talk about a challenge - I had no lesson plans for that size, I don't know what they know, they have no books, etc. But they do have a very big chalk board. So I did the best I could - and of course I had a lot of fun. Can't pronounce half of their names, and some kids look at me with blank stares, so I don't know if they understand me or not. But the teachers are happy to have us there and I love teaching - especially with the large chalkboard! So I have the class for 2 hours. The last half hour or so I do music. Then I go outside and do music with most of the other students. Children under about 7 or 8 don't know any English so that makes things interesting.

Last night we invited 2 young men who are supervisors to come over to our house for Games night. We had Uno, Skipbo, and Heave Ho going. Popped popcorn and had dessert. Tomorrow night we will have a birthday dinner. It is both Benedict and Kimberly's birthday. Saturday we have a "Put together the well-drigging equipment" party! One family is coming from Lusaka and others from the farm area. Benedict is looking forward to that. He is becoming quite the farmer, "cowboy" hat and all. Since the tractor is always breaking down and fuel is so expensive, we anticipate getting a couple of oxen very soon - more reliable!

Steve and Drew are hard at work making the kitchen cabinets for 3 of the cottages. They will have accomplished so much in their 2 weeks here.

Sena is looking forward on Monday to going over by a little store and sitting with one of the young women who sell cabbages by the side of the road. Sena wants to learn their language and the young woman wants Sena to help with learning English. Kristina is turning out to be a great teacher of the children. It is fun to overhear her working with the students.
There is much more to tell, but we are reminded of our early marriage days when we lived in community and always had a housefull of people. In the house there are 9 and the men are sleeping in one of the chalets. We have 2 cooking crews and take turns cooking dinner. So there are 11 around the table every night. Thanks to the Lord's love and grace we are all getting along very well. Of course it helps that we can go sit on the veranda and be outside almost anytime - expcet when it is raining. The temperature is in the upper 70s I would say most of the time. (Heard Maryland was having snow!)

Thanks to all of you for your prayers and interest. Much is happening, and there is much to do, but everyday brings us closer to receiving the children that God will bring and who are in desperate need of loving care.
Kathleen

January Report from Kathleen Schwartz

Reflections by Kathleen: The new year has begun with lots of activity for All Kids Can Learn Zambia. Benedict, and Aaron Squadroni, our nephew from Minnesota an architectural student at the University of Minnesota arrived first. Aaron was able to draw up plans for the use of the land, the placement of buildings, the layout and furnishings of the cottages, and more. Early in January Pat Tuttle was also here for 2 weeks; he helped with the continuing plans for the businesses that will help provide income for the orphan ministry. Last Thursday, Drew Fender and Steve Christenbury arrived for two weeks to use their carpentry skills to finish out the kitchen in the first and maybe second cottage. Also on Thursday I arrived with Sena and Kristina, our daughters. We have joined Francis and Kimberly Kamau and their 2 children and Marika Galanis, all have been here since the fall. As usual, already we have been quite busy.

On Friday night Kimberly and Kamau had invited friends over to begin meeting every other week in a small home group. Two couples came. They were Zimbabwe farmers who had "gotten the boot." They lost everything when their lands were confiscated and one man was put in prison for a time. They are beginning again here in Zambia. It was a wonderful time of eating a meal together, singing, and sharing. I look forward to meeting again in 2 weeks. They know that putting their faith and sense of well being in material things will not bring happiness.

Today (Sunday) most of us went to a church that is held in a building that was meant to be a community pub. It was a beautiful setting, in the middle of a field and cows in a neighboring field and a friendly dog coming into the service. That made Sena happy to be able to pet it. Kristina had a different opinion! It is a small congregation and many of those there were also displaced Zimbabweans.

Benedict had invited Bruce Wilkinson, a Vice President for World Vision and living in Zambia to come for church and lunch with us. He came with his wife Linda, and 5 year old son. We had a wonderful time and showed them all around the farm. I look forward to being friends with them and seeing her work inone of the slums of Lusaka.

Great progress has been made at the farm. A wonderful road now goes back to the fenced area where the cottages are being built. Two of the cottages are under roof and should be completed by the end of February. The next 2 are coming along as well. There are now 10 farm trainees and the crops look wonderful; cassava, soybeans, sunflowers (yeah Kansas - I'm from Kansas), and maize. Soon production of blocks will resume - some for more building, some for selling. The area for the wholesale produce market on the road is being cleared and construction will soon begin. Another area of land will also be cleared as the next place for growing crops.

I'm sitting on the wonderful veranda at the house we are renting. I can hear thunder and in the distance see dark clouds coming this way. Since this is Sunday it is truly a Sabbath, no one works. Some folks are napping, some are playing cards, others reading. There are beautiful flowers in the yard, some different from when I was here in June.During my stay here, I hope to give regular updates to this "Update Page". Please log again for more info.