June 30 – Museum, Crafts and Adventures

After morning devotions with CACZ staff we prepared to go to the Lusaka Museum – in 2 vehicles as we were unable to use the bus (known as BOB). We learned a little about the history of Zambia from prehistoric to present.

We returned to HOM for a delicious grilled cheese sandwich and fresh tomatoes and peppers.

After lunch we had 14 6^th graders from Garden Presbyterian School join us at HOM for crafts. The kids had a great time with their art project, and had some spare time to play a game outside before returning home.

6 of the team went to Bill and Bette Bryant to play with the toddlers. They took some new dresses for the girls to try on that had been made and sent by Good Shepherd Presbyterian in Snellville GA. They were a real hit! One little girl cried when we left. This was real heartbreaking.

We returned to HOM for a meeting with the social workers where we learned the history of some of the children.

Tonight we had an adventurous dinner consisting of rice, nshima, fried caterpillars, cabbage, goat, chicken, impwa (a cousin of eggplant), pumpkin leaves and lumanda (small leaves mixed with pounded ground nuts). Some of us even enjoyed it!

Posted by: Donna Sackrider and Nancy Bevan

June 29 – Chelstone Church

Our last Sunday in Zambia began with a delicious breakfast of French toast. The House of Moses staff is wonderful, and they take great care of us! After breakfast we traveled just a few blocks to Kevin and Matilda’s church, Chelstone Presbyterian Church of Zambia. The pastor was a visiting pastor from Zimbabwe. His message revolved around faith, perseverance, commitment, and inheritance. We were reminded we will all encounter challenges, and as we do we must keep moving forward and pressing on.   One of the best parts of the service was listening to the choir sing hymns. The acoustics in this church were amazing. The beautiful voices bounced off the ceiling, and you could hear rejoicing for the Lord in their songs. After the service, we stepped outside and members of the congregation were waiting for us with orange, grape, or pineapple Fanta.

After being refreshed literally and spiritually, we jumped back on the bus and headed to a local strip mall for lunch and a little bit of shopping. Here we spent our last kwatchas on bowls, jerseys, and bracelets. We returned to the House of Moses for an evening with the little ones. A trip to the Bill and Bette Bryant House was disrupted as the bus was involved in a small accident. None of the team members were on the bus, and those involved are doing fine. We made the best of the evening by taking some of the toddlers outside to play. We ending the evening with hamburgers and guacamole (made by our own Kim). Looking forward to tomorrow and the adventures it will bring.

Posted by: Krista Parker

June 28 – SHOPPING!!

With many kwatcha in our pockets and ideal gifts in our heads, we headed to the Dutch Reform Congregation Craft Market. The market had many stalls outside in the courtyard, as well as ones under a big pavilion. The cloths were spread out right next to each other and if they had tents, those were practically on top of one another as well. If you couldn’t find what you wanted in one stall, you didn’t have to go far to see what you would. The vendors there were a lot less pushy than the market we went to last Sunday. However, there were a few that really, REALLY wanted you to look at all the things they had to offer. I think everyone got at least one animal that came in all types, sizes and material. There were cloth animals that looked like toys, as well as wooden and stone ones that were meant to just look pretty. I decided that after how many elephants we saw at Chobi, that would be my animal. I got a small wooden one from my sister and another that was a bit bigger for one of my friends. Many of the vendors had paintings that were absolutely spectacular. From the size of a notebook to a huge wall painting, they were done on recycled paper to canvas, in lots of bright colors. There were paintings of trees, of women with baskets and chetengues, of all sorts of animals, houses, landscapes and many other things. Another popular gift was wooden bowls that were painted with all sorts of patterns. 

Our schedule was to do most of the shopping before lunch, eat from the food stalls that were there, and finish up before the bus came to take us back to the house. There were many decisions for food, from noodles and spring rolls, to tacos and nshima. I decided on the fried spring rolls, which weren’t bad at all but nothing like the ones we had at home. After lunch, once I was completely out of money, it was time to trade. I had brought four pairs of socks and I headed out with Jake to see what I could get with them. We were told by our cousins before we came to bring lots of socks and their advice was not unheard. I got the elephant for my friend for three pairs of socks, and a really cool woven bracelet for one pair and a hair tie. With all of us feeling very successful with our purchases and very grateful for the ability to buy them, we headed home to give some more love to kids we will be missing so so so much by the end of the week.

 

Posted by: Meghan Vance

June 27 – Back to Lusaka

Breakfast at 8:00, on the bus at 9:30. Leaving the property we were graced with a giraffe walking across the road in front of us. Also spotted 3 more in the bush. The trip was the reverse of the journey we did on Tuesday. We did note that Friday must be market day as each village we passed was crowded with cars and trucks and people selling their wares – clothes, furniture, fruits and veggies.

We arrived for our rest room stop at 2:00 and were all back on the bus by 2:30. Waterberry had packed us sandwiches and bananas for us to have on the bus. We made it back to Lusaka around 5:00, just in time for rush hour with start and stop traffic. The high point of the trip was passing the local zoo where we were able to see the zebras. That got a cheer from the bus.

Arrived at HOM around 6:30, making the return trip 9 hours. The girls had our dinner waiting for us – quiche and garlic toast. Early to bed for most of the group.

Posted by: Juanita Pearson

June 26 – Chobe National Park, Botswana

Chobe Game Preserve, Botswana

We were up early today for an early start. Breakfast started at 6:00 as we needed to leave at 7:00 to make our safari reservation at Chobe.

We headed out in the bus to drive to the Kazungula crossing with Botswana. We had to wait in a long line at the border to get our passports stamped on the way out of Zambia. When we left the Immigration office we were met by several men carting baskets full of handmade items for us to purchase. They swarmed about us trying to strike up conversations and make a connection so we would return and buy from them.

We walked down the concrete drive to meet our waiting water taxis to take us across. Our boat captain explained that the opposite side of the power lines was the Zimbabwe side and we stayed well above the power lines when we crossed to Botswana. As we crossed the Zambezi, he also pointed out upstream where the Chobe river emptied into the Zambezi. The peninsula (that looks like an island) that sticks out in center of the river belongs to Namibia.

We were met by Jenson who drove us to Botswana Immigration where we again waited in line. We met another family traveling together from New Jersey (the Patels) who ended up being with the same safari group as we were.

Once through immigration, we loaded up in the bus and Jenson drove us to the office of Kalahari Tours. On our way, we got a history lesson on Botswana, and more specifically the Chobe area. Botswana became a British protectorate when Rhodes (who colonized Rhodesia) started eyeing Botswana. Some British missionaries working in the country took the 3 chiefs who shared leadership over it to see Queen Elizabeth and ask her to protect Botswana from Rhodes. In 1965, Botswana held elections and became their own country out from under British rule.

The island where present day Namibia is at the Zambia/Botswana border once belonged to Germany. While Botswana was a protectorate, England traded the island for Zanzibar in Tanzania. The area now known as Namibia was known as South West Africa and when the Germans left, the South Africans swooped in and claimed it. Eventually, Namibia became its own country and the South Africans had to let it go. Since then, the Namibians have attempted to claimed Sidudu island off the coast of Botswana. The Namibians wanted to build commercial farmland out of the island and the government of Botswana insisted that the land belong to Chobe and should be a protected island for the animals. Namibia wanted to fight over it, but Botswana took the matter to International Court in The Hague. Last year, in July, the Court sided with Botswana due to an 1835 land treaty that said the boundaries between countries are at the deepest point between them. The main channel of the Zambezi is 10m while the middle of the Chobe is only 4m, so the country boarder is on the Zambezi and the island between the Chobe and the Zambezi belongs to Botswana.

We arrived at the safari office and turned in just as a warthog crossed the street. We had a small breakfasty snack (fresh deep fried donuts and muffins/coffee and juice) before we set off in the boat trip.

The boat captain explained, as we were traveling upriver to check in at the Chobe office, that there were several military bases all over the park working to protect the animals from poaching.

We went upstream on the Chobe and started seeing wildlife immediately. Vervet Monkeys, Chacma Baboons, African Fish Eagles, Nile Crocodiles. Cape Buffaloes, Hippopotamus, Great White Egrets, Water Monitor Lizards, Malachite Kingfishers, and African Elephants. The beauty and majesty of the elephant bringing tears to my eyes. Across and up the beach there was an entire family if elephants with super tiny babies walking in between the largest of the adults. When they drank from the water, the baby stood so close to the patriarch that you could not see the baby, it was completely underneath.

We took the deeper channel on the Namibian side of Sidudu Island back down to the safari office and got off for lunch. The buffet set before us had a lot of options but our table was most excited about the beets, pan fried potatoes and the bread.

After lunch we loaded into vehicles to head up for the land part of our excursion. There were 10 of us in each jeep. We set off, it was a short drive to the entrance of the park. As we pulled aside for our driver, OT, to go inside, we saw a Red Billed Hornbill with a beautiful curved beak and black and white striped feathers (like Zazu from The Lion King)

Once inside, we again started seeing animals fairly quickly. Ground Hornbills, Impalas (the McDonalds of the animal world providing fast food for the lions), Kudu, Banded Mongoose, Maribou Stork, Sable, Reticulated Giraffes, and more African Elephants than I would have ever believed we could see. We would come around a bend and the elephants would be standing, walking or posing for our cameras. They were not afraid of us (no hunting in the park makes them at ease with the what-must-be constant traffic of safari vehicles) and some came VERY close to our vehicle.

We witnessed a bull following a female elephant around as she kept running a away from him. He was trumpeting in frustration at his inability to catch up with her. When she started running at our vehicle, OT quickly started up the jeep and we headed off.

The ride was over all too soon and we were dropped off at the immigration office by our jeeps. A long line, a wait for the water taxi, another long line on the Zambian side (this time again being followed by Zambian craft marketers) and we finally got in our bus and headed back to Waterbury.

The return ride felt shorter and we were all grateful to arrive safely back at our lodging. We had about 45 mins to relax, change clothes, sit around the campfire and chat, etc before we sat for dinner @7:00. It was a farewell dinner to remember with an artfully presented scrumptious dinner and a fantastic chocolate cake with ice cream for dessert.

I will be slightly sad to be leaving this lovely oasis tomorrow, but I am anxious to love on babies again and serve God with active and loving hands and feet.

Posted by: Debby Vance

June 25- Victoria Falls

This was a spectacular day to visit Victoria Falls. The thunderous sound greeted us before we ever saw this majestic wonder. We donned our rain gear and crossed the bridge to view the falls. We stood in the mist from the falls that produced a steady rain in brilliant sunshine and we were overwhelmed with joy. We saw double rainbows glistening in the gorge while a bungee jumper dropped from the bridge. It was surreal. We walked along the rushing river and headed back to be greeted by rambunctious baboons running alongside us on the path. We ended our day with a bush dinner served with traditional Zambian cuisine including nshima. The setting was complete with bonfires and a banquet set on the ground for 30 Waterberry Lodge guests. The spectacular day was only matched by the incredible night sky. None of us will ever forget the beauty of this incredible place. Tomorrow is our safari day and we can’t wait for this unbelievable adventure to continue.

Posted by: Cindy McDonald

June 24 – Travel Day

Today we travelled 600 km from Lusaka to Livingstone for a little R & R. We were up bright eyed and bushy tailed to be on the road at 5am. The trip took 8 hours and was mostly uneventful, with just a short detour that was like riding along a cow path. We were told that the same trip by train takes two days.

We arrived at the Waterberry Lodge just outside Livingston at approx. 1:30 and after being shown to our rooms we were treated to a wonderful lunch.

Our rooms had lovely names like Heron, Songbird, Owl, Weaver and Jacana.

After a chance to rest and recharge our bodies and souls, we set off on a Sunset Cruise along the Zambezi River, the highlight of our day.

Between the two boats we sighted the following – Hippos, Baboons, Bee – Eaters Colony, Impala, Monitor Lizard, and a rare sighting of the Malachite King Fisher and the majestic Fish Eagle. Part of the group was fortunate enough to even see a group of Giraffes.

Our day closed with a wonderful meal, a hot shower and a welcome bed.

Check out our lodge at www.waterberrylodge.com

Posted by: Joyce Abbey

June 23 – Milk and Medicine

MILK AND MEDICINE PROGRAM

After an inspiring and joyful morning devotional with the CACZ staff, we departed for the Kuku compound to assist in distributing food, milk, and medicine at the Chawama Church. Almost half of Zambia’s children are so underfed that their growth is stunted.  Severe disease and poverty cause infants to be abandoned in desperate acts with the hope that someone will feed them.  CACZ addresses the root cause of child abandonment by supplying vital milk and medicine so that children are fed and can remain with their family.  Two hundred children are enrolled in the Milk and Medicine program with five distribution centers around the city. 

When we arrived, a group of mothers and their children enthusiastically greeted us with songs and prayers.  Forty eight children ranging in ages from infants to approximately 4 years old were weighed and measured to monitor their development.  Baby formula, vitamins, ground nuts, cooking oil, baby food, and mealie meal (for the mainstay of the Zambian diet, nashima) were distributed according to the size of the family and the ages of the children.  The mothers packed the food into tight bundles which they put on their heads.  With their babies on their backs and a month’s supply of milk and food for their children, the mothers departed with many smiles and thank-yous for the long walk home. Thanks be to God for this wonderful ministry. – Rachel King

 

June 22 – Garden Presbyterian Service

Today, we started the day by going to services at Garden Presbyterian Church. The team was greeted literally with open arms upon our arrival. The church members (as with the vast majority of Zambians I have met) are gentle and extremely welcoming people. The service itself was not at all what I had expected. The first two hours of the service was a combination of beautiful African Christian Hymns (mostly in sung Nyanja), and prayers (again mostly spoken in Nyanja). The prayers often had a component where the church members prayed out loud. For many of the members this was done with zeal befitting of an intense, passionate relationship with the Lord, compounded by the reverberation of the concrete floor/walls, brought the church to a series of crescendos. Even though we may have been lost in the procedural, there was no doubt the Holy Spirit was present.

At the end of the second hour the leadership announced us as the visitors, recognizing each team member by name where we were again welcomed by a round of applause.

At the beginning of the third hour of the worship service. The minister, Jane Nyirongo, stepped up to speak. The sermon was on the story of Isaac and Ishmael. Jane is an amazing person and ally with CACZ in their mission to serve the people of Zambia. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet her.

After our three hour service, it was time to eat. We went to a local shopping complex (strip mall) that hosts a local vendor market in the parking lot. The team split up to hit several of the restaurants for lunch and take some time to walk the market. Some keepsakes were acquired and we all piled back on the bus for the ride home.

The rest of the afternoon was not scheduled. Many of the team members went to hold or play with the little ones. Some of the team unpacked more of the donation bags. A couple of the team took a nap.

All in all a good day.

Posted by TJ Hughes

June 21 – Soccer Tournament

Waking up early this morning was not an option because we were on our way to the soccer tournament that is held in Lusaka every year. Four teams were competing against one another to win the trophies (and the glory) that our mission trip had brought with us.
All the Faith Work schools had played before, and the winners of those games were to play in the tournament. There were two sections of the tournament; the boys half and the girls half.
The boys played first; one team was wearing red and the other team was wearing yellow.
The boys were very good. Their kicks were straight, and they went right into the game headfirst, stealing balls that I never would have gotten the courage to step towards. They seemed to know exactly where their teammate was positioning themselves so that they could pass to that person.
At almost halftime, the red team scored their first goal. We whistled and cheered while the fans and teammates of the red team ran out onto the field, shouting and obnoxiously waving their red pom poms. The yellow team stood and waiting for the process to end, and I could tell that they wished that the goal had been theirs.
It was hard for the red team to keep up their goal, because the yellow team improved. But when the referee blew his whistle three times and signaled that the game was over, the score was still 1:0.
After a short intermission, the girls began to play. I was excited to watch them, because I play soccer, and I wanted to see the techniques of the Zambian teams. The colors of the girls teams were green and blue.
The green team was especially good, they managed to keep the ball on the other side of the field until halftime. They scored two goals, driving the blue team back to play defense. I was impressed; they played very well.
When we passed out the trophies, the blue team had some girls who were crying. I felt really bad for them, and I made sure to smile extra sweet to them while they were shaking our hands.
We came home and spent the rest of the day holding and playing with babies.

Posted by Helen Vance