Another death

As I may have written before, I know more people who have died since living in Africa, than for the last 10 years of my life before. This week we received that sad news that Mr. Tembo, our electrician died. We knew he was very sick and the last time he came to do business with Benedict, he wasn't doing well. He did got to UTH (University Teaching Hospital) in Lusaka. Kamau had visited him a couple of days before and he was very jaundiced. Rather than being released to go home, he was Released to go Home/heaven. He was a very nice man and he was working for another group from the states who are doing work about 20 miles from here.

He has 2-3 young children. He used to bring his little daughter with him when he came. He and his wife were also taking care of about 3 neices and nephews. Whether he died of AIDS or not, we don't know. But he is another man in his prime, with a much needed skill and educated, who is no longer able to help build this society. Please pray for his family.

Parent Teacher Conference

We have a 13 year old girl who lives with us - a "sister" of Sena.  Today I went to the Parent Teacher Conference Day at the local Government School - Shalubala - where she is in 8th grade.  I really had a sense of being in Africa when I was there. I was probably the only parent who came in a car and with a white face.  Isha and I got bumped to the front of the line of waiting parents.  I accepted this since I was teaching at our School of Hope this week since Teacher Bosman is away.  Isha and I met with each of her teachers, 6 in all, who were seated around the room.  I was amazed and encouraged by the number of parents who came and who were waiting with their children.

Isha said that some of the kids were really scared since if there is criticism from teachers, then they get beaten.  (The word "beat" is used here like we would say hit.  For example the children in our Village will say, "he beat me." At first I pictured bruises and blood, but it could even just mean a slap to them.)  But I'm sure some parents inflict some punishment from home as well.

I'm happy to say that our "daughter" is #1 in her class of 32.

The Head Teacher saw me and asked me to come to his office after I had talked to the teachers.  He knew me from the insert (inservice) we did in December.  I expect that he will come and visit our school sometime soon.  I'm also hoping that we can share some of the extra books we have with that school.  They do have secure places to keep things now, so the books would not probably be stolen.

Strengthfinders

Strengthfinders

Our friends in Kabwe (about an hour north) who have been missionaries in Africa for many years, have been using the Gallop Poll's Strengthfinders to help all kinds of people that work together. The 3 American couples here had taken the test on the internet to discover what are their top 5 areas of strength from 34 that have been identified by Gallop. We had 2 workshops this week and it was fun and insightful. I think it will help all of us understand one another better and work together in some new ways.

World Cup Party

Thursday morning we kicked off the Soccer World Cup Competitions with a party at our school. This is the first time that the World Cup has been held in Africa, and it is being held in South Africa. They have had to build new stadiums and upgrade a few that they had.

For our party we invited all the people in our Village including the volunteers here now. We also invited Patrick Schimwa, the head of our Education Zone, and he graciously came. The classes had been practicing a program with some dances, rhymes and songs. If you come and visit this summer, we will be glad to perform it again! The older class has been learning all the capitals of the countries playing this time in the World Cup. We all dressed up like different flags of these same countries.

We ended the program by praying for South Africa, for peace, for safety, and for all the policemen. We then all ate lunch together, grilled sausage, shema, South African relish made by Teacher Bosman, and delicious cake made by Kimberly, and Page and Gabriel.

Wish you could have been there!

Hot or Cold?

 

Tonight I have been trying to decide which I would choose if I had to make a choice? – Hot with no air conditioning, or Cold with no furnace.  At the moment I would choose the hot since I know a fan will make it bearable, and I'm cold!  This morning it was 44 degrees F.  It makes it hard to get out of bed when you just want to stay under the covers.  I see some of our teachers finding places to sit in the classrooms where there is sun coming in the windows for some warmth.  But amazingly, for some of the children we have to remind them to wear their "jerseys" (sweaters). 

 

I guess I would have to say that I'm grateful for a God who is the creator of such variety and diversity, and interesting contrasts.

In the Eye of the Beholder

 

This morning our "water pumping team" for the day was loading into my car to go to school.  It was a cool morning and it t the children came a bit late.  As a couple of them were waiting in the car with me, I saw 2 beautiful doves by the side of the car.  I said to them, "Look at those beautiful doves.  They are purple, a grayish purple."

 

Gift small said, "They are good."  I thought I knew what he was referring to, but I asked, "What do you mean?"   He said, "They taste good when you cook them and eat them.  They taste kind of like chicken."

 

This is just another example of how different people can look at the same object and see 2 very different things.  I saw a beautiful bird, he saw a good meal.  It was all in the eye of the beholder.