Home?

I have been home for a week now – good on many levels. A joyful 50th birthday celebration for a dear friend just hours after I got home, delightful Elliott time, family time, some coffee breaks with people dear to me, starting to whip the garden back into shape. All meaningful things – but there is that other life and other place where life is simpler, more basic, and people have time because relationships are paramount. I don’t want to get sucked back into an American life where my priorities for the day are working out, sitting in the sun, eating some good food, drinking some good coffee and attempting to look good at my advanced age! None of these things
are bad in themselves but there is so much more. I want to live a
heroic life filled with purpose and being God’s with every breath.
There are so very many distractions from that goal – many of them
good things but are they God’s things? I want to be uncomfortable
and always know that while I am thoroughly enjoying fellowship with
dear ones, much of the world is hungry and hurting. I want to be
ever grateful for my incredible life and ever mindful of the
responsibility I have before God to be of use. What that will look
like, I don’t know. Much prayer and thought need to go into it.

Some of you may have seen the following but I want to include it. It helps me keep perspective.
If we could shrink the world’s population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it
would look something like the following: There would be 57 Asians;
21 Europeans; 14 from the Western hemisphere, both north and
south; 8 Africans. 52 would be female; 48 would be male. 70 would
be non-white; 30 would be white. 70 would be non-Christian; 30
would be Christian. 6 people would possess 59% of the entire
world’s wealth, and all 6 would be from the United States. 80 would
live in substandard housing; 70 would be unable to read; 50 would
suffer from malnutrition; 1 would be near death; 1 would be near
birth; 1 would have a college education; 1 would own a computer.

And what does the Lord require of me? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.

The Journey Home

Well, faithful readers – I am sitting at the Lusaka Airport ready to depart soon for home via Nairobi and Amsterdam. It has been an incredible trip and I know another mark has been made on my heart.

The last full day was packing, visiting with my friends who are here for the next trip and having a wonderful dinner with the new team and some Zambian friends.

The people waiting for this flight are a real mix – African, Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern and a smattering of us white people. Saris, burkas, chitenge, business suits – very fun to watch and be a part of. The universal pushy businessmen are omnipresent, shoving through the security lines and getting to the front of any other line that is queuing.

We will be late out of here but I have a longish layover in Nairobi so no worries.

Nairobi – landed at 5:15 pm and depart at 10:20, supposedly, so I am hanging out a bit. It is rather grungy and crowded here, dim lights and all. Just finished a little chicken pie – dry but tasty. The West African man ahead of me in the food queue was accompanying 5 shrouded women and several children. Some speculation there!

After I landed, I had to go to the transfer desk to get a boarding pass for the next leg. It took over a half hour with just a few people ahead of me. I asked about an exit row seat and was told to return at 7 to check. After some coffee, I sauntered back and the queue was way down the hall! I can’t imagine how long those folks will wait. I will happily content myself with my aisle seat! God continues to spoil me – I am so grateful.
Amsterdam – finally, the last leg. The airport here is lovely, clean, and spacious. I am actually sitting in a recliner type seat where I can stretch my cramped up legs. Yeah for that!

Summary of the “day” in a format you will recognize.
Twelve duty free shops
Eleven pushy people
Ten wailing babies
Nine sighs of impatience
Eight security checks
Seven harried mothers
Six slowly moving queues
Five cups of coffee
Four inches my seatmate encroached
Three flights
Two movies
And one ride to the airport

Now I am sitting on the upper level having coffee, looking down at the main level. A group of statuesque beauties all dressed in airline blue just marched past on their way to a flight. Looked just like a scene from Catch Me If You Can!
Taking off soon so see you in Portland!

Whoa!! Civilization

Back in Lusaka – LuAnn and I left Livingston a bit after 11, after dropping off the rest of the team at the airport. We had spent the morning on some quick shopping and a fly through of the David Livingstone Museum. I really enjoyed seeing some artifacts from his time here pand briefly read a couple of his letters. Quick but good.

The bus ride was rather long but fine. It felt a bit strange for just the two of us to quite literally rattle around in the bus. We stopped for lunch and arrived in Lusaka at 7:30. As we had pretty much talked the entire way, the time had passed. We are staying at the same hotel I was at at the beginning of my trip. I had enjoyed it then but was also fresh from the US. As I have traveled in the past, I really thought I was rather inured to much reentry culture shock. However, we pulled up right to the front door of the hotel and climbed out into bright lights, a major hotel lobby, numerous people and there was almost a physical step back. It was good to just get checked in and up to bed.

Today dawned beautifully sunny and pleasant – the theme of this trip. LuAnn and I had a leisurely breakfast at the lovely buffet and then headed out to town for a few errands. I needed bit more money and there is only one type of ATM which will accept my Mastercard debit. Luckily I knew where it was. Then we went to this wonderful nonprofit which makes those terrific plastic bag purses and I had a ball picking out some. My luggage will be bulging! It was also good to be there as it is in a poorer area and the women who work there are more my kind of people. Little children were happy to see us and shake hands, people smiled – it was great.

People began arriving for this next trip that LuAnn is taking out – a water team so we went off to the airport to pick up the first four. They are all good friends so it was fun to see them. Back to the hotel and got them checked in. Three of us then headed over to the IJM office to talk with the woman in charge. The office is only two blocks from here so we walked over. It was a great visit. Pamela is an amazing woman and a lawyer. We talked about the projects they are involved in and were introduced to the staff. It was an especially heart warming visit for me as I have visited their office twice before. On our first trip in 2004 the office had just opened 3 months before and had two staff members and a summer intern. Now it is in a much larger space and has 26 staff and small locations around the country. They are making such a difference for the poor and abused who need someone to fight for them and this has all happened in just 6 short years! It is amazing. God’s hand is really on this organization.

On our return I sat outside and got some coffee and a snack as I hadn’t had lunch. A couple of the group joined me and it was lovely. At 6 we all headed out to the complimentary Happy Hour. What a delight that was! Some drinks and these lovely appetizers and two amazing guitar players. It was an international gathering. We were given name tags upon our arrival with the flag of each person’s respective country on it. I chatted with a white Kenyan lady and had this incredible talk with a French couple who have been cycling around the world for almost 2 years!!!! They have taken a few short breaks to return home but have mainly been on the road. Right now they are cycling from the Cape to Kilimanjaro, which of course they will climb when they get there. Such are the experiences of traveling.

After a very light supper, off to bed. Tomorrow is my last full day in Africa. I am pretty much ready to come home for I am on sensory overload after the last few days. However, this trip has had a huge impact on me so that always involves time, thought and prayer. I will see many of you very soon.

Your correspondent from Lusaka

Victoria Falls and more!

Well, the past two days have been loaded with activities – certainly felt like a tourist some but have enjoyed it very much overall.

Sunday saw us first at the David Livingstone Memorial Presbyterian Church. We arrived late and left early due to schedule but were still there for two and a half hours. Do not think American Presbyterian! The Zambia worship style is applied most places which means great music and dynamic and extended preaching. The message was very good and thoughtful, if loud!

My little elephant

We had lunch at a nice little place on the way to the falls. It also had a great little shop so I started my day of very successful shopping there. One of the pics is of this little metal elephant I bought for the garden – love it.

Then we were off to the falls. It was a gorgeous day and the falls were as spectacular as before. I chose not to get soaked this year so didn’t go in quite as far. However, I got to sit on a rock and stick my feet in the river so that was terrific! I could have sat there for hours.

Then I headed back for some more power shopping at the vendors, who specialize in hassling you and at The Shop That Thunders. The falls are called The Smoke That Thunders, hence . . . Attie, you would be proud. My bargaining skills have greatly improved. I often got things for half the originally quoted price so they only made a good profit instead of a great one. Of course to listen to the vendors, I was stealing food out of their children’s mouths!

After the falls we were to head to our dinner cruise. Along the way we saw the traffic stopped and there was a small herd of elephants down in a ravine. What a wonderful sight! We stayed for a few minutes to watch and then headed off to the David Livingstone Hotel where we were to catch our boat. Well – we had goofed on the time and had missed it! Luckily we were able to switch to the next night so here we were at this unbelievably beautiful hotel on a gorgeous afternoon so we took a table down by the river and got coffee. We must have spent two hours there in utter contentment. It was so beautiful and restful. However I think David Livingstone might have something to say about such a luxurious hotel being named after him!

We then headed back to town and had a leisurely dinner at a nice restaurant. Getting served here is definitely done on African time. Waiting for close to an hour for one’s food is not unusual.

Following dinner, we met in one of our chalets and had a valuable debriefing time.

Impalas

Today saw most of us off on a drive through safari – very short. Yes, At, it was the same one! However, unlike three years ago we set off at a decent hour and did not freeze to death! And also unlike last time we saw animals! At first it was the impalas and a few monkeys, the entire extent of our viewing before. But then we came upon zebras and then a giraffe, which was what I was really hoping to see. It made my day! Time for the happy dance. And on top of all of that there were wildebeast, warthogs, who are so ugly that they are cute, and finally a short walk back to see some white rhinos! My cup overflowed. What a treat.

Lunch was at the lodge and a quick time for some shopping followed. Then we all gathered promptly so as not to miss our cruise again! The bus we took out was shared with a church group from Devon England here on a mission trip. Delightful people. Then we boarded this lovely three level boat and set out on the Zambezi. Drinks and some lovely appetizers were included so we lounged at this tables in comfy chairs watching for wildlife and later watching the sunset over the river. There was a very diverse group on board so it was fun to chat them up. One Zambian man had been ambassador to Japan where he had met his traveling companions, an American married to an Austrian! I love these kinds of connections.

As I stood at the rail, with my glass of wine and a yummy appetizer watching a hippo, I again was struck by what an absolutely incredible and blessed life I lead. Why God chose this for me I will never know but I am forever grateful and pray I never take this rich life for granted.

Upon our return it was packing time again. The group leaves at midday tomorrow and then LuAnn and I take our group bus back to Lusaka. It will be a long day but we will have the bus to ourselves and can spread out and talk to our heart’s content.

I head home on Friday, arriving Saturday. It will be good to be home but I will so miss Zambia.

Blessings and love

Volunteer to Tourist

Friday was my first tourist day – a bit strange but the day was great. The day started with a lie in so that was delightful. A leisurely breakfast and then started organizing and packing. The group had planned to go out onto the lake in Keith’s boat but the winds had come up and the water was very choppy. Waiting it out seemed like the best idea so a few of us went into the village of Sinazongwe to visit the clinic and a couple of shops. The clinic has a mother and child building for pregnancy and delivery as well as free inoculations and check ups for little ones up to 5. The place was full of mothers and babies waiting patiently for their appointments. Another building we saw was new and funded by Hoops for Hope. This clinic is used primarily for HIV-AIDS testing and counseling.

Next we quickly checked out a couple of little shops and I got to see Alice, Kingsley’s wife and her beauty shop or saloon as it is spelled! We returned to the lodge for a great cold lunch and then I even had time for a rest.

As the wind had died down, we headed out on the boat. It was terrific. We headed over to an island to see another lodge that Keith and LeeAnn are developing and maybe to see some wildlife. However, as dusk was approaching, we didn’t see much – some kudo but they pretty much blended in with the rocks. It didn’t matter much though as the ride was glorious and on the return we watched the sun go down over the water. A terrific first day of being a tourist. We had our final dinner with grateful acknowledgment of Keith and LeeAnn.
Saturday I bid my final farewells to my lovely little hut, the incredibly beautiful lake and my friends there as we all headed out to Livingstone. We stopped first at this huge harvest and thanksgiving celebration and got to see the little huts set up and some dancers. It is a very big deal here so I was glad we got to stop. It was a travel day with a nice break for lunch. I have gotten where I can even sleep on these roads so that helped pass the time. We arrived in Livingstone at 4:30 so had plenty of time to relax. I took a bath! The lodge here is lovely and feels like luxury. I soaked off a few days’ worth of dirt from my feet and just savored having all the hot water I wanted! The tub was huge so I could totally stretch out – a little bit of heaven.

We convened for drinks and then a nice dinner – although we have been pretty spoiled by Keith.

Tomorrow is my last Sunday in Zambia. There will be church, Victoria Falls, and a dinner cruise on the Zambezi – just your typical Sunday.

Life is rich and God is so good.
Love to all

Too many goodbyes

“He is able more than able to handle anything that comes my way. He is able more than able to accomplish what concerns me today. He is able more than able to make me what he wants me to be.”

This song was playing in the van this afternoon after we had left Syamyala Basic School. It is the very overcrowded school I had previously visited one morning. I wanted to come back in the afternoon to see the primary grades – classes up to 101 in grades 1 – 4. There are 5 classrooms in poor condition. A latrine construction project is underway but not yet completed as there are currently NO latrines at the school! And this is the school that won the reading competition! I am in awe of the teachers – they do their planning and grading under a tree in good weather and on the very narrow porches in front of the classrooms in foul. Is God able to address all of this? Of course He is but I think it is us who are called to be that means of accomplishment. Now please do not think I am trying to lay guilt upon you, my faithful readers. I would put “me” rather than “us” but it seemed a little arrogant. God will call those He wishes to use here. Your call may be in some very different arena but (a little editorializing here!) I think all believers have a call to help in some field or other – time, resources, money. Whatever. OK – enough preaching!

The morning today was my training teachers time. We had cut the time down as we thought our numbers were going to be very small due to the exam week schedule. We had originally invited 20 but 13 actually showed up so I was very pleased. I had pretty much put my unease about addressing teachers with all these problems, to rest. I am here to only do what I can.

We started with just listening to their concerns and needs. Many of them centered around lack of supplies and books (many were lost in the spring floods here – another story) and of course overcrowding. Then I had some materials for them which we went over and them did some exercises I hope they can use in the classroom. The tiniest surface scratch but I think it was worthwhile. Some of the teachers had walked a great distance to come and a number of them had never seen Lake Kariba so a visit was in order. We broke a little early to walk over but just as we were preparing to leave, the bus returned with some of the team. So we were able to drive them over! What a gift. It was fun to watch their excitement at the sight which I have sat and watched for hours. We all returned to the office for lunch and then Kingsley and I headed out to the school.

Upon our return, we got together with the staff for our farewells. It was, for me, an emotional time of mutual appreciation and encouragement. Gifts were exchanged and some tears shed. It was a precious time. I did not have to say a final goodbye to my closest friends here so that helped but there many others that are dear who I will not see again. I am certainly looking forward to seeing all of you at home but the leaving is rather wrenching.

Luckily the day ended with another great dinner and good conversation and the promise of an easy day tomorrow. No alarms will be set so that already starts the day well!

Good night

My dear Betty

A Wednesday Blog

The day started out with the yummiest corn fritters – lovely!

After breakfast we headed out to a school I had visited last week – the one that had not existed last year. We were greeted by singing and dancing again. It was fun to watch the folks who had been there last year when there was nothing and now there are some buildings and it is so changed. Very fun – I got pulled into a little dancing which I am sure was ugly but great fun! (I danced yesterday too!) We then visited some sponsored children, which is always a pleasure.

After lunch at the office, we again went out to visit some AIDS patients who live at home and are tended by a community health care worker. It seemed a bit intrusive to me but the WV staff assured me that the visits are very honoring to the people as there is still a tiny bit of a stigma attached to it here.

The first woman we visited was the hardest as she is really sick, even with the drugs. She also has cancer in one eye which was covered but obviously quite swollen. Her house was destroyed in the terrific rains they got earlier this year and she is living in a cobbled together hut with her youngest son and two grandsons. The village will build her a new hut but it hasn’t started yet. She told us her story which was hard to hear. Her husband is gone, too, which is so often the case here. We shared with her some and were able to pray with her. The stuff of heartbreak. The other two visits were to younger women whose situation is much more positive and hopeful. One of them had the sweetest 6 month old baby girl. Newborns can be given a treatment which can prevent AIDS so she should be fine.

Wednesday was a very full but wonderful day. We started with a final visit to the village partnership. A time of sharing and exchanges of mutual appreciation. I really liked seeing this new work and the people are so motivated and hard working. However my heart is with Siabaswi as that is my village. We then headed over to my school – a visit for the group but farewells for me. I got to introduce the group to my classes which I loved. It was hard to say goodbye, especially to my sweet grade 11.

While there, we went to the site of new construction and the teachers in the group got to lay a brick! Very fun. The workman probably redid them after we left but we got a kick out of it!

We then headed out to Siabaswi and numerous sponsorship visits. As it is a long drive, we stopped along the way for a picnic lunch. Please don’t imagine an American rest stop but a dusty turnoff with a single twig table on which the food was placed. Then we took our boxed lunches of chicken, fries and salad and dug in with our fingers being the only eating utensils. Great lunch. Among the group who so kindly brought our lunch was Asin, the man who had driven me the first two weeks. He is a very good person so I was delighted to see him again. He made me something to take home but I don’t want to say what it is as it is a surprise for a very young special someone!

Finally we arrived at the village and there was my child, Bevice! What a joy to see him! We have sponsored him for 7 years and have seen him twice before so we have a long relationship. He is 12 now and looks so good. Charity and I did the official visit to his home, which looked very good, and also got to see his very dear mother. She is terrific and hardworking, raising her family alone – another widow. Bevice stayed with me as we did the village visit and talked with the headmen and pastors. He wants to be a pastor so I pray that happens. The time ended way too quickly but had been such a gift. This is the village where there is a borehole in Paul’s memory so this is a sweet place for me.

We did not arrive back until 8 but then enjoyed a terrific barbeque supper of sausage, ribs, chicken and corn. There were also rolls again, which is always noteworthy for a bread fiend like me. It was the first clear night the group had seen and it was memorable. The moon rose bright orange over the lake! It became white as it climbed higher in the sky and left its long ghostly trail across the rippled water. (That’s my eloquent sentence for this post!)

Thursday I will do my training time with some teachers while the group does some more visits.

We leave here on Saturday for Livingstone.

One of the dear staff ladies here always greets me with And how is the lady today? I just love that so on that cheery note, I will say goodbye. Blessings

Groups and gardens

The group arrived about 8 this morning. It is good to see them and they were quite happy to finally make it after the problems of yesterday. It is a little bittersweet for me as my quiet times and my times with individual staff are really at an end but it will be worthwhile to share with them as well.

After a cheery breakfast we headed to church – the same one I attended last week. Very lively but also worshipful. We were REALLY preached at one time – between his enthusiastic preaching and the almost simultaneous translation, it was a bit overwhelming! Then we heard from two more men but for less time and with less intensity! It really was a good morning. Just before heading back for lunch, one of the men who had preached pulled me aside. He is also a teacher at one of the schools I have visited. He wanted to know why I had come to Zambia – what led me here. It was an overwhelming question for me because how do I adequately express my enormous gratitude for this time – for the chance to serve – for the blessings that God continues to lavish on me without sounding like some pious goodie-two-shoes. I guess I conveyed the right message as our brief conversation was very good.

Lunch was great, of course, with the highlight being some fresh baked rolls! They were terrific and a first for me in Zambia.

This afternoon was some time to rest and a time of organizing the bags for all of the sponsored children who will be visited.

Keith and LeeAnn continue to be the most gracious of hosts, even having a sort of Happy Hour for us with drinks – such spoiling.

After supper people were ready to head to bed.

This morning we got off to an early start. Breakfast – devotions – and off to the village the church is currently partnering with. This primarily is an irrigation/gardening project. We visited several gardens that have been hacked out of the wilderness. All the owners were women and they had cleared the land, dug irrigating canals, planted seeds, initially watered bucket by bucket, weeded and tied up the tomato plants! They also keep watch or find someone to keep watch at night to keep out the monkeys. I feel like a lazy bum around them. The gardens are really things of beauty. Then we went into the village for the official welcome. We had been greeted with songs and waving palm branches. We were presented with small bouquets of bouganvilla and there were strings decorated with flowers and wrapped with toilet paper! More amazing music and a few short introductions. Back for lunch at the ADP and then off for a few sponsorship visits. Those are always very dear. The iPad also was broken out to entertain the masses and it worked its magic.

Back at Lake View we cleaned up and then gathered around the little pool and popped our toes in and had a drink. So nice.
It’s been a much busier day than I have been used to. The experience as an individual here versus as a member of a group is so very different. Both have their good points but I am feeling a bit of regret that my teaching/Kingsley days are over.

I still hope to do a training day later in the week but it is examination week in the schools so teachers are reluctant to be gone. We shall see.
I am starting to think about home – there will be many more great experiences but the main work is done.
Loving you all,
Jill

The Americans Cometh

It was an African time day – also it was the reading and math competition. Obviously there is a connection there! Student representatives from 5 area schools gathered at one of them.

My day started with a walk to the ADP offices and devotion time with the staff. I love those times – the singing and prayers are so meaningful to me.

Winners of the competition

Afterwards we headed over to Sinazongwe school. The level of excitement was very high. The competition was scheduled to run from 10 until 12:30. Well, first the teachers had to meet and discuss the procedures and rules. That took an hour. The competition finally started at 11. There were 3 English parts – spelling, dictation and reading. My job was to assist the 3 judges, check papers and tally scores. The math part pitted 2 students from each school against the others. They solved problems as a pair and won points for correct answers. That finished at 2:30. Then the prizes were handed out and that was great fun. The first place student won a bike so it was a big deal! Kingsley’s son, Tabo, won one so that was great. I’m not sure who was more pleased, father or son. There were other nice prizes and the schools also got athletic prizes for the overall scores. The students and teachers had been promised lunch at the ADP office and all needed transport! It took 2 trips with an expanded cab truck. Children were sardined in the back but no one fell out!

It was a long day. The competition certainly showed the differences in the schools and the work of the teachers and headmaster. The host school has the best facilities and most supplies as well as the best student/teacher ratio. They did the worst. The school that is the most overcrowded did the best! Interesting observations there!

Kingsley had invited me to dinner at his house so we walked over there after the dust had finally settled. It was very sweet of them and they had made foods I like such as potatoes. His wife, Alice, is a dear – very quiet and reserved. We ate in their small living room and the TV was on. Kingsley likes this station that mainly features a Nigerian faith healer – the usual slaying by the Spirit, the trembling etc. But the disturbing part for me is this belief that if one just has enough faith he will absolutely be healed or made prosperous or whatever. I’m not sure where that leaves Paul and me but it was the only a bump in an otherwise very nice and generous evening. It was after 8:30 when I finally returned to my little hut. A little down time and off to bed.

I am beginning to feel that my edges are blurring – that I am walking around in this perpetual aura of dust! And I do shower every day! Today I particularly felt it as I walked so much – no sidewalks here. Just packed dirt or ankle deep sand/dust. It’s a little disconcerting to rub lotion on my neck and bring away little cruddies!

Saturday dawned sunny and clear, with a breeze. What else is new here? I had a leisurely morning and am omelet breakfast so got the day started well. Then Kingsley and I walked a good distance to a place where there used to be a training center for fishermen. There are a great number of buildings, some now homes, some used for a school, some for a church. There is even a guest house. A number of the buildings are very run down as the former government really did very little for the country. That is changing now and things are improving. It is a beautiful location, right on the water.

After we came back, Kingsley and Alice came over for lunch. It was my turn to treat them. Alice looked so lovely in a traditional dress and head wrap. I loved it. It was been such a treat to have people over here and entertain them for a change. Keith and LeeAnn have been so incredibly gracious and kind in making all this happen. Another gift from my good God.

After they left I did some serious rearranging in the hut because, as of tonight, there will be 4 of us in there. LeeAnn suggested I take myself and all my stuff to the upper loft so I would have room for it all and leave the main floor completely free for the others. Brilliant idea so I have been taking it all up.

An update – the Lake Grove group was due in today at 4 or so. Then it changed to 7 because of a longer stop. Next we heard that they had had a mechanical breakdown and wouldn’t make until 9:30. The final word – they are spending the night about 2 hours away and hope to arrive for breakfast. Very frustrating for them I am sure.

Anyway, here at the ranch, Keith and LeeAnn and I finally had dinner at 9 after a lovely evening of chatting.

Praying for travel mercies tomorrow.
Blessings,
Jill

Of teaching and tea parties

Wednesday – This was an early morning as I just had my dear grade 11 at 7 o’clock. I did not sleep particularly well last night which is unusual for me thankfully and I mention it only because I am a bit tired and therefore more emotional. Riding to the school this morning was hard. I kept looking at the landscape but especially the children heading to school and found it difficult to know I won’t be seeing this much longer. I am caught between two worlds. I want to come home and be with all my dear ones but this is home too and I can’t have them both at the same time.

After teaching I returned to the office. A passing pastor came and greeted me enthusiastically, as if we had met before. I didn’t recall it but know I have forgotten some people I have met on previous trips. After a brief chat, he asked if he could pray for me. Of course! Well, what a prayer! It brought tears as he prayed for blessing and strength and much more. When he was done, I felt like we had approached the very throne of God! After he left, Kingsley told me I had been mistaken for LuAnn! Brought me back to earth but I still felt blessed. I will share it with her when she arrives on Saturday.

Late in the morning we headed out to Siazwela School. This was a school that until very recently was holding classes under a large tree! Now there is one two room classroom building, a teacher’s house, and a borehole. Another classroom building is under construction and they were doing the floor. It was such fun as they were many villagers there taking part or just hanging there and being enthusiastic – mainly the women and children. It pleased me to see the men working hard! There is still a long way to go – one group was meeting under a small thatched roof with a propped chalkboard. There are 273 students with 5 trained teachers and 3 assistants. Much improved over last year’s single teacher! It was a happy place to be and I continue to meet more of Kingsley’s Tonga “wives!”

I returned a bit early and got a nap in for which I was grateful.

Dinners with Keith and LeeAnn will be over soon and I will miss them. They have become friends. I wish I had brought over another suitcase full of gifts because there are so many people I want to thank and honor.

We had pizza last night! It was terrific. One of them had these yummy mushrooms that are growing nearby on a fallen boabob. Yes, they have been checked and are quite safe. Such a treat and we sat drinking our wine, listening to the lapping of the lake and talking until 9. Good fellowship indeed.

Thursday – had a lovely sleep and nice dreams. One included Elliott running up to me and giving me hugs and kisses! I woke with a smile on my face.

Today was my last day at Makonkoto as a teacher. I will visit next week with the Lake Grove group but this ends my formal time. Luckily I had 2 sections of each class so had some good time. We covered some review materials but near the end of class for grade 8, I asked them to sing and dance for me. Oh my goodness – it was so wonderful!!! I taped it and will try to post it when I get home. With 67 students in the room, there wasn’t too much room to dance but they moved and clapped. One of my happiest memories here.

I also enjoyed the time with grade 11. It is harder to say goodbye to them as I have gotten to know them as individuals. I especially enjoy a couple of them.

Although it is hard to leave the students themselves, I admit to being a bit relieved that the teaching is done. I felt such a responsibility to do well. In the US, if I screw up it just reflects badly on me. But here, I would feel that I had really let down the side – World Vision, Americans and even white people! It’s rather silly, I know, but there it is.

This afternoon I finally had my tea party for the women I have worked with. There were 7 of us. It was rather unlike a tea party at home as I had to make do with what I could buy at the grocery last week. But we had peach tea, cold, and cheese and crackers, orange sections, chips, cookies and candy. LeeAnn had also so generously made a delicious apple cake. The staff set up a table for us so it was nicer than I had even hoped. The people here at the lodge have just been so kind to me! As the time started the women all seemed a bit shy but things warmed up and I think they enjoyed it. One of them prayed for me at the close, such a blessing, and this time I knew it was for me! Charity was also here so I was so happy about that. She just returned last evening. I do hope I can have some time with her tomorrow before things get very busy here. Tomorrow is the reading and math competition. I am really looking forward to it.

It is starting to feel like things are drawing to a close even though I still have two weeks here. I will certainly make the most of it.
Love to all,
Jill

Our tea party!