Always an Adventure Living in Africa

Always an Adventure Living in Africa

 

As I was typing emails on our dining room table, the sound of children playing outside was suddenly very loud.  Esther, our housekeeper, was ironing and said, "They have a snake."  She understood the vernacular.  I went outside to see what the commotion was about.

 

Everyone was gathered round a tree near our house.  At first I couldn't see the very green snake.  Where we live, if you see a snake, you make every effort to kill it since most are extremely poisonous. 

 

Apparently the boys were using their slingshots to try and hit a bird.  As they did that, the snake, also in the tree, started to move.  The first thing the kids did was throw rocks and dirt clods into the tree to knock it down.  It wasn't until a couple of the men who work here came that they were able to knock the snake out of the tree.  Then Mr. Luka, who is very good at this, hit it very hard on the ground and killed it.  It was probably a boomslanger.  If you want to know how poisonous it is, you will have to look it up.

 

Earlier in the morning I had gone to Nyrienda Village to visit a friend of mine.  As I was walking back to our Village I saw 6 little boys.  They were playing with a mouse that was tied on a string.  The mouse was still alive.  I didn't go near to get a closer look!  

 

Birds, mice, rats – I guess all are fair game for playing with or eating.

 

Joyful Homecoming

Joyful Homecoming

 

Starting last Sunday, children who had been visiting extended family began returning.  As each child arrived, the children here would all come running with such joy to see each one.  Those who had been gone were coming "home."

 

The team that just left from CO commented over and over again at how much joy there is in our Village.  We have children with smiles on their faces, mothers who laugh together as they work, joy at our different administrative meetings, and so much more.  "The joy of the Lord is our strength!"

Facebook

Facebook

 

If you enjoy reading this blog, and you have a facebook page, please check out the "New and Improved"  Villages of Hope Zambia page.  If you can post pictures, make comments or be part of discussions, that would be great.  We can share about what God is doing in Zambia.

 

 

Children Visiting Family

Children Visiting Family

One of our desires is to help the children keep in touch with family members.  Often this is the grandmother who was taking care of them, but is no longer able to do so.  During this holiday month we have 16 children who have gone back to their villages to visit relatives.  We always pray for these children while they are gone.  Many times they do not get the nutritious food that they get in our Village.  The social workers will monitor their health when they return. 

In spite of the concerns we sometimes have, It is a blessing for these children to stay connected with the family members.  Just because these relatives are not able to take care of the children doesn't mean that they don't love them and want to remain in touch with them.  For some children it means spending time with a mother who is quite ill and even dying of AIDS.  So it can be a special time. 

These children will return on Saturday and then there will be a couple more weeks of the August holiday.  School will start for teachers on September 6, the children will come on Sept 9.

A Summer of Wonderful Volunteers

A Summer of Wonderful Volunteers

Tomorrow we pick up the last team of volunteers for this summer.  We have had families, and couples, and individuals from MD, DE, WI, CO, and MI.  They have painted, helped with the school, organized 40 ft containers, sewed, read books to children, play games, helped with the businesses, spent time with the mothers and all of us, and much more.  Our lives are better for their presence here with us, and I believe they have been changed as well.  A favorite comment was made by Hannah, an 8yo who was here with her mother and just left Saturday.  She wrote in the visitor log, "This is better than Disney World!"  

Another story about school and animals

Another story about school and animals

 

On Friday, Gift small was standing near the school.  A bird flew down close and then landed at his feet.  He picked it up and said that it was injured.  He wanted to eat it.  I said that we need to take care of it, not eat it.  Well within a little while the bird was dead.  (Maybe helped along in his dying by the children?)  Again they talked about eating it.  Maureen (from MI) and I both said that wasn't a good idea.  So they went and put it in some sand.  I even took pictures of this part of the story. 

 

Then something else happened.  All the pots and plates and buckets for carrying water are kept locked at night in the office.  They have to be moved to the kitchen area in the morning.  One child picked up the huge pot used to make shema everyday.  The mothers always leave water in it overnight to soak off the shema that sticks to the bottom of the pot.  When they looked in the pot, there was a "rat" in the process of drowning.  Again, to them it was more opportunity for lunch meat.  The rat got thrown into the bush.

 

I learned later that the bird did get eaten, cooked over the brazier.  Nelson and Isaac cooked it.  I wasn't there during lunch so I didn't get to have a bite.