Greetings from Zambia

 

Greetings from Zambia!

We have been in Zambia for almost 2 weeks and we are getting settled in. It is a bit strange to be in November and not putting on coats, hats, gloves, etc before heading out the door. The kids said it feels like we walked into summer. It has rained some and more rain forecasted in the near future, so we are praying the crops and garden produce will grow well with this beneficial rain. 

We were able to get a direct flight from Chicago to Ethiopia, and then Ethiopia to Lusaka, Zambia. It was long flight but all did very well considering the circumstance. The airline had us scattered throughout the plane, but thankfully they had a section of 6 seats available for us all. It was a very full flight to Ethiopia so it was a miracle that we were able to be all together. We made it through the Ethiopian airport smoothly, but no one mentioned to us that our gate number was changed. We were sitting at our gate but no one seemed to be boarding which we thought was strange as we were supposed to be departing soon. Thankfully, an attendant for the airline came over to our gate and made a last call for Lusaka. We jumped up and quickly got our things together and we were the last ones on the plane.

I think all of us were happy to reach land. 😉 We spent a few days in Lusaka to rest and to complete our Work Visa paperwork. We also needed an inverter so we could be one step closer to setting up our own electricity at the mission and let us be able to purchase a few appliances in the future.

Nate and Jako went on a few shopping runs. On one of their runs Nate saw a Land Rover that was for sale. To be honest, Nate has been on the lookout for one for quite awhile 😊 , but decided to hold off until we could look in Lusaka. This vehicle is designed for a large family and has excellent 4x4 capabilities which both are so important for travel and ministry needs. Jako and Nate were so shocked to find that this Land Rover was for sale for a very reasonable price (both of them actually crawled under the vehicle because they felt like there must be no engine or some mechanical issue) but after talking to the mechanic who is selling the vehicle all of those concerns were set aside. The seller was willing to sell it to us for $14,000. We are arranging the purchase, and  would like to pick it up in a week or so when we travel back to the capital. This is a large investment for us, but we will be able to have more freedom to go to town when needed and set up a schedule that works well for the ministry and us. 

 At camp this week we have unpacked, and we are finding ways to help the mission operate. Our kids are getting to know the children at the children's home and we have enjoyed watching them play and interact. Nate is meeting old friends and looking forward to having more conversations with them in the future. Melanie has been up to the preschool and on Monday she will visit the grade school. It is so wonderful to see the teachers again and see how they have created a learning environment for the children. 

We were able to celebrate Thanksgiving 😊God has blessed us with friends here to enjoy a yummy Thanksgiving dinner with, and relax in the evening. We are beginning to figure out our roles here. God knows what we need and can provide others to help us grow as we make these transitions. In Deuteronomy 28 it says, “And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them.” Deuteronomy 28:13 ESV. Learning to obey the Lord is such an amazing journey. We are so thankful He is patient with us as we grow in our walk. It might be slow sometimes, but knowing that we will "go up and not down" is so encouraging. What a mighty God we serve. Thank you all for your prayers and support. We are so grateful to serve in Zambia for the Kingdom!