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

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