This is Africa

(June 2) Ruhtt and I made the hour and a half trip to Livingstone today to recover the delayed bags from the airport.  All 14 of the checked bags arrived, although some were a bit worse for wear.  As we sorted through the contents and checked the items off our lists, we discovered that 9 of the bags had been inspected and the quart of paint that Angie wrapped in quadruple layers of ziplock bags was confiscated before the bags left the USA.  We met with Ruhtt in the evening and her schedule for our weeks of activities only had a couple of surprises, so we are mostly convinced that everything will go well.  There was a short power outage during evening meal preparation, and I immediately thought of Mary Beth.  In 2010 she pointed out that often the power was off during meal time, but it reappeared when it was time to watch the World Cup Soccer matches.  Interestingly, tonight was Zambia’s qualifying match for the World Cup.  Grayson left with Ruhtt so he could watch soccer at their house.  The rest of us enjoyed a lovely meal and devotional with Joan and a 6 week old baby from orphan care who was a bit fussy and just needed a little TLC. 

~ Marti

The weather is incredible. I cant believe how beautiful it is. Perfect temperature during the day, wonderfully cool at night excellent for sleeping.  Marti had said that the people were friendly but I had no idea how friendly they really would be, everyone greats you with a smile and a polite, “Hello! How are you!” though this is probably the most english most of them know.  I absolutely love the culture.  At any point I can strike up a conversation about soccer and get into a lively discussion about the pride and joy of these people, the African Champions, the Zambia National Team.  Though they lost to rivals Sedan in the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers saturday night the 2nd. As I went to watch a soccer tournament between the basic schools I was welcomed to join a game of juggling and then keep away on the side.  I faired well enough and have now been able to enjoy watching quite a few full soccer games.  Overall I am overwhelmed by the beauty and grace of the country and its population.  I look forward to going into the schools to work with the children and play even more soccer! The babies here are also incredibly adorable! - Grayson

As Chris wrote yesterday, we arrived, but our bags did not.

Finally, after much paperwork and many extra miles, we collected all 14 bags.

Sunday morning devotional at Kasensa House (the Seven Fountains Orphan Care) offered an another opportunity for us to hold the babies.

Chris preached at Siabalumbi and Mr. Mono translated.  The church was full, and the count was announced at the end of the service -- 26 men, 48 women, 48 children.  Rachel, Emma, and Ruhtt conducted Bible Class for the children.  We all loved the singing.  We didn't get back to Seven Fountains for lunch until after 2 p.m., so Sunday dinner tasted especially delicious.

One more item to mention is that the internet service here is either very slow or very unfriendly, or both.  We purchased an internet connection USB and "talk time", however, the tin roof on the house blocks the reception, so the Stewarts have figured out that if they go outside to the middle of the lawn, they can get a signal.  I'm using dial up at the moment thanks to Joan's generosity.  We have a very big day planned for tomorrow beginning with at 6:30 a.m. departure, so it is time for bed.  Thank you for your comments and your prayers.

Shortly after 6pm on June 1 we arrived safely at Seven Fountains Farm nearly 72 hours after leaving Lawrence.  We arrived tired, and without our 14 suitcases, but for the most part well.  Rachel suffered with travel sickness, but seems to be recovering today.

Because of the changed itinerary due to the tropical storm on Tuesday, we had a tight window to make our connecting flight from Johannesburg to Livingstone.  We were running to make it to the gate on time.  Marti barely boarded the bus before the door closed to drive us out onto the tarmac to board the plane.

We made it in time, but our checked baggage did not.  Our fourteen suitcases were to be sent on the next flight, which was schedule to arrive at noon today.   Marti and Ruhtt drove the 120km back to Livingstone to pick them up.

Seven Fountains Farm is beautiful and the people are very welcoming and kind.  We were pleased to meet about 25 of the sponsored students from Kalomo high school who came this morning for a work day.  Austern led a devotion and the students sang  several beautiful choruses before returning to the school at noon.

The rest of the day will be spent resting, recovering from the jet lag, and sorting our supplies to be ready to begin work on Monday.  Tomorrow we'll worship with the church that meets here on the farm.  I'm told there will be about 300 villagers who will walk in from the surrounding area.  ~Chris  

Still Leaving

We had a wonderful prayer send-off from our brothers and sisters at Southside. 

We loaded one truck and two cars with bags and people, and made our way to the Kansas City airport bound for Washington DC - Frankfurt - Johannesburg - Livingstone - Kalomo - Seven Fountains.  Everything was right on schedule, until we learned that the flight to Dulles (DC) was cancelled.  At first, we were told that we should return on Tuesday because there was no way to get to Frankfurt tonight.  You can imagine the shock and disappointment.  Fortunately, God had gone before us and placed a marvelous customer service agent, Mary B, behind the counter.  She spent almost an hour on the phone making the best arrangement possible under the circumstances.

 We were in the air headed for Chicago as the sun was setting somewhere over Iowa or Illinois.

The next hurdle was getting 14 pieces of checked luggage, 6 carry-ons, and 6 backpacks from baggage claim to the hotel shuttle.   Everyone pitched in, and we were safely in our lovely hotel having our evening devotional by 11:30.

Did I mention that God provided the hotel rooms when normally, hotels are not awarded for weather delays?  Did I mention that although this schedule puts us one day later arriving in Livingstone, it gives all a little more time to rest before our international travel?  I am convinced that God knows just what we need.

Nothing like an experience like this to remind us that we are on God's timetable and this is HIS work, not ours.

~ Marti

Packing Day

Eleven of us gathered in the Southside fellowship hall to pack 14 suitcases with gifts and food and supplies and toilet paper and plastic bags and curriculum and....  Well, you get the picture.  Thanks to J.L., Lorene, Susan, Nontalie, and Helen: Many hands make a burden light!

Rachel packs shirts which will be gifts for the teachers in the community schools.

Grayson powerlifts jelly as he awaits instructions.

Fourteen suitcases?  We were planning to take 18, but were able to pack efficiently.

Angie and J.L. may have filled this one too full?

Victoria Falls

Chris Newton showed this photo during his sermon at the Southside church of Christ today, shortly before calling us to the front to pray for our team.  (Thanks for your prayers, Southside!)

While the photo was on the screen, Marti leaned forward, looked down the row at me, and mouthed, "That's Victoria Falls." We'll be visiting the falls shortly before we board the plane for our return flight at the end of June.  I then pointed to Marti and back to myself and then up at the screen as if to say, "Let's do what those guys are doing!"

Yeah.  Right.

How many suitcases?

 Looks like we are taking 24 suitcases full of stuff...cuz the folks there don't have much stuff...so here's what's going in those bags... or just a few things :)

baby clothes,  frisbees, candy, lotions, 135 ladies scarves, soap, pens and pencils, notepads, bandaids, winter coats, bibles, bible curriculum, paint to paint the bible timeline on the wall, markers, hot chocolate mix, tuna/chicken packet, clothes, quilts, granola bars, nuts, pbj fixings, happy meal toys, and sooooo many more things i can't even think of all the things we have been placing in ziplocs, ready to be packed on Monday morning...

So thanks to all of you who helped with the gathering...so encouraging to see God at work in so many lives as people are moved to help advance the kingdom!

sweet friends…and puppy dogs…

-by Angie

• our precious friends, Geoff and Beth, are keeping two of our furry family members during our trip to Zambia, so Chris faithfully drove to Dallas on Monday this week to deliver them…Otis is the our aussie, and Yancie is our dobe… I keep thinking, where are they, and keep heading to let them in, or out, or feed them… missing them already.
  thanks G and B for the gracious loving friends you are to us…God has blessed us richly thru u!  20 years of friendship going strong :)  At least this trip won’t be as long as our year long stay in Costa Rica!! (“Unless, of course, the Lord decides we’re to stay!,” said Chris, smiling.)