Hi readers!
We have wrapped up our first month here in Zambia! Never have Jon and I been away from home for such a long period of time! Though we badly miss all our loved ones back home, we are pleased with how all of us are adjusting and are getting used to things around here. I asked the kids for things that stand out to them about life in Africa. Here are some of their responses:
“Crazy driving” – I would have to agree. It’s something that has not gotten more normal as time has passed. A one lane road quickly becomes two (or three!) lanes as people squeeeeze past to get one car length ahead. Many of the roads have horrendous potholes, and deep ruts, making driving a bit of an obstacle course! In other news, I (Renae) drove on my own for the first time last week! With the steering wheel on the opposite side of the vehicle, driving on the opposite side of the road, and the road conditions, it made me hesitant to give it a go. But I'm so glad I did! It's a big relief to know that I can do groceries when I need to, and not have to rely on others to drive me there!
“How people carry things on their heads!” – This is also so interesting to me. The other day we saw a lady with a basket of pineapples balancing on her head, a baby strapped to her back, and she was texting on her phone. Wow!
“People wear pants in the heat” – Amen! 30 degrees and wearing pants blows my mind, too!
“Young kids, with babies on their backs, begging for food.” This one is so heart-wrenching, and probably the hardest thing to witness. It’s bad enough seeing a child so desperate to eat that they resort to begging. This is amplified when the child also must be a caregiver to another child. So, so sad!
More common sights include vehicles filled to the brim:
And outdoor shops like this furniture store!
Last weekend, we headed out to the team house, in town, for dinner. A couple from Mission, BC is staying there, and invited us to join them for dinner. It was so lovely! Sharissa cooked us a feast, and the time away with adult conversation was refreshing! I kept repeating to Jon after that, “That was just so nice!” Tim and Sharissa – thank you for your hospitality!
Last Saturday, we traveled out to Kitwe (around a 2 hour drive) with a big crew of us. We checked out a farm, went to some markets & bought some souvenirs, had our first Hungry Lion (fast food similar to KFC) experience, and enjoyed each others company.
Here's the men sampling some meat at the market.
The owner of the farm had a beautiful and unique backyard!
The amount of avocados growing in his trees was just crazy!!
Due to covid, restaurants in Zambia are just re-opening for dining in. The Hungry Lion we went to wasn't accepting in-restaurant dining, so we just took it to the parking lot!
Here's the whole crew!
And back at Seeds of Hope, we were entertained by some of the older kids. The kids here don’t need a trampoline to master doing flips and tricks! It’s so impressive seeing the air they get, and how easy they make it look!
We are getting in to a pretty good routine with homeschooling, and quite often we'll do our reading aloud novel study in the huts outside. We've finished reading 'Cilla Lee-Jenkins Future Author Extraordinaire' and are half way through 'The Wild Robot' by Peter Brown. I am loving reading with all four kids!
I keep forgetting to actually publish this post...pretty soon it'll be 2 weeks behind. Hope all of you back in Canada enjoy your Labor Day weekend, and for those who go back to school tomorrow, we wish you all the best! Our kids are sad to miss out on the school year at John Calvin Christian School - there are so many wonderful teachers and students they would love to see. We are thankful for JCCS's support, supplying us with homeschool material, and for the prayers of the community! Love you all!
Till next post!
Love Jon and Renae