So I feel like I have so much to catch up on as the last few days have been so busy, just didn’t have energy to really do it before. I’m not sure where this week went but its crazy to think on one week I’ll be in Amsterdam on the sort visit there. Just praying my visa or debit works there so I don’t get stuck!

   Let’s start with earlier this week, Monday we had already put together the school supplies so Tuesday we decided to start the day by visiting a couple of the schools to review the students and pay fees. This to a lot longer than we thought, as usual, so we only got two schools done. We drove out to Livingstone and checked out a local market. Must say I’ve never been much of a shopper so these markets really overwhelmed me. It was about 40-50 shops lining the street with people waiting to get you into their shop. Then it’s intense pressure shopping, very pushy and you really have to work their prices down. I bought a wrap for $50 Kwatcha, which I thought was decent, worked her down from $150, but then found the same wrap for $25 kwatcha down the row. Every 5 Zambian Kwatcha is worth roughly $1 Canadian, so your constantly doing math while shopping. Trick is to make sure they know your Canadians as well, they typically don’t over charge as much cause it’s assumed the states is rich and Canada is not as well known as tourists. We’ll be off to Victoria falls on Tuesday to do most of our shopping then but this was a good taste. Had to laugh that Rylan and Gerry were way more interested in the shopping than I was. The day didn’t work out as plans but t least the guys had met another bore hole driller and got a step closer to getting these bore holes for water wells drilled. Its a shame the first guy we talked too didn’t get on the ball right away so poor Simeon and Brian have been scrambling daily trying to arrange now 8 holes before the rains come.
    So Thursday we walked around the village of Nazilongo and went hut to hut and met and prayed for a few people. This was definitely a bit smoother than my first village visit but think I’m learning to just stop over thinking and let God show me what to say. As we wandered around the village the children would follow us everywhere!!
     

Think we shocked them when Rylan and I started to pick up and play with a Chameleon. Apparently they are seen as superstitious animals that are dangerous and curse you if they change your colour. Its a shame I don’t have any photos on my phone of it bit what an incredible lizard.
    Later that night we had a church service in the local church. Its pre service started at about 4:30 and don’t think we left till after 10pm. Its was an amazing time, was a small building but packed it out. Only issue is their doorways are not built for tall people!
  

There were three drums in the building so a few of us Canadians attempted to play, yeah we have nothing on the natural African rhythm and beats! Brian, standing in the blue in the left of the picture, has this unbelievable ability to clap out some of these most complex beats. Not something you can pick up on quickly but managed to get a few complex claps in sync.

Their enthusiasm, harmonies and drum rhythm is contagious! You can’t help but get up and want to join in. I only wish I could sing like them! There’s no holding back, no care in the world, they just belt out every song with all they have. Its the most incredible songs I’ve ever heard, and I can’t even understand a word of it!        So the church service finally began at about 6pm or so and then the music really kicked in gear. We all took turns preaching a bit and for most of us this was our first time speaking in front of a crowd, and with a translator. Went really well I think! Funny  part was this church has no electricity, so they had a portable light bulb they hung from the rafters, they don’t need much out here but they really do know how to get by! I know me and Angie were writing our sermons the morning of. I had some notes but what had to be said wasn’t coming, till Thursday morning came then God put on my heart what I needed to say.

I won’t get into it too much but there’s some history about my parents protecting me and moving across the country to do so. I thank the Lord they had the strength and we’re given the ability to do so. I didn’t know this till layer on but I was told a few ladies were crying as I spoke. There’s healing that needs to be done out here in Africa and a lot of women have been pushed aside as if what’s happened to them doesn’t matter. To stand up an say it does matter and that these cycles can be broken was just what God wanted me to tell them. I think seeing that us white north Americans can have some of the same problems they do makes them feel a bit less like they got the short end of the stick. We all have problems, just best not to judge a person by how they look.
   That brings us too Friday, the day we handed out all the school sponsorship supplies. We were at the church in sweltering heat with about 200 people from 9am till 7:30pm straight. Now one thing about Africa is that people don’t use deodorant but do sweat a lot. The people are awesome but sometimes it’s a bit hard to take the smell when you’re confined in a room.

We had the students and parents come by school and group, its just unbelievable how long it took. It went well and happy that stretch of the trip is over with. We all came back to the Lodge, had some food and ice cream and just crashed!!!
   Today is Saturday and we ended up doing another VBS with the kids in another remote village called Mukwela. These kids have so much energy! First thing that caught my eye when we walked in was these two boys wearing Tim Hortons Timbit hockey Jerseys!

And suddenly it felt like home!!
    The day went great, Patrick told two awesome stories, Brian sang, the rest of us acted and sang along. Its not easy working with so many people and only one translator, the pastor. But the day went great and the kids will never forget it! I won’t either because wow they wore me out playing handball, the boys were crazy playing soccer, and all the kids just mauled Rylan and myself. Its hard to imagine what they’re thinking of when they poke my white skin, just want to hold my hand or touch my hair. Being surrounded by 50 kids doing that is still very intense, hard to explain. Although I did scare one kid today, yeah not all kids understand why we look different, add height into the mix gets a bit scary I guess.
   This trip is flying by too quickly, and I’m sure  I’m missing a few things! All I can say is if you get the chances, experience a developing country! It’s a whole new experience and something you’ll never forget!