We made it safely to Livingstone on Tuesday Aug 2nd and were welcomed in classic African style with enthusiasm and welcoming arms! It was so amazing to see Sylvia, Brian and Marenga after a long 4 years away. Being around this group and their “Agape Hands Ministries” you just see how many different things they are into to help the locals that are forgotten by the government. As part of the “Beyond the Gate Ministries” team here we are working together with them on many projects, the blessings we see on this trip are just beginning! Now up until our arrival the Livingstone area was still cool at about the mid to low 20’s, well apparently the heatwave waited just for us cause its 32 to 35 out for our entire trip. Good thing our Canadian Summers are just as hot so prepared me for the heat, sunscreen and hat in hand!
So our trip started off with surprise to get the ball rolling. As soon as we left the airport we went to the a local grocery store to pick up some groceries for ourselves but mainly gifts of food for some locals that are working with us. 3 shopping carts full later we go through the cash register and win a raffles we didn’t even know how it worked, the whole bill was zero’d out and all the food was free! We were ecstatic!! The Lord blessed us to start this trip seeing in what amazing ways he works.

 

 

We checked into the Waterfront lodge Tuesday afternoon and are staying in tents for the first few days, it’s the perfect set up that has just what we need for our team. The first night wasn’t as restful as we hoped with interruption s from a neighbouring tent through the night, details I don’t need to get into. But the Lord gave us strength and our team was off for another days.
Our official first Day began on Wednesday,
Now I want to jump right in but first I should introduce our trusty new truck the ministry bought, the Buffalo, aka the beast. This truck is tall and 4x4s without an issue. It was previously owned by a British movie documentary director but was an amazing find for us. Fits all of our gear, and is open air….who needs air conditioning when the canvas walls roll up!!

So off we went, in The Buffalo and before even leaving the road to the lodge we run into a group of wild elephants. What magnificent creatures these are, thankfully we were in the trucks cause still need to be careful with these creatures. Now to the village Siambelele. Here is where we drilled the first water well. By the time we arrived they had already hit water but it is always a sight to see the curiosity and excitement of a village when a borehole is drilled. This borehole is right at the edge of the village beside a home made soccer field that will soon be lines with 120 fruit trees. The villagers will be able to water them with the borehole and are helping to plant the trees but it will take years before the trees nature and produce fruit. We are try I.g to find more mature trees to many but they just aren’t that easy to find sadly. About 60 mango trees are planted so far. The grounds is so hard but the village boys have a lot of strength to get the holes dig for us. I as t to try to dig more but they keep wanting to do it so I don’t have too. They are truly restful for the help I just wish there was more we could do.

The key to everything out here is getting those water wells dug and finished. They haven’t had any wated. In 4 months and none in site. Its amazing how green some areas still are but its not enough to grow food and sustain the people. One thing about the locals is they are so used to drinking only little bits of water they might drink 1 to 2 bottles worth in a day. That would be in heard of back home! Yesterday it was so hot the kids were taking the non potable water from the truck tank that we use to wash our hands and drinking it. It was slight brown and something people back home would touch. How these kids drink that is beyond me, they must have a stomach of steel!!