Monday, February 12, 2007

Back in the USA

Well, I've just returned from the express tour of Zambia. I must admit that I was reluctant to travel to Zambia out of fear that it would not be what I remembered and I would dread returning for two years! Well, no such thing happened! I fell in love with the people and the country all over again. I cannot wait to return in April!
The trip was so eventful it would take several pages to tell about it but a few highlights are:
  • Purchase of a Zambian cell phone and receipt of my first Zambian phone call.
  • Brief tour of a local supermarket.
  • Travel to Choma for a short visit with Jeff Johnson of World Hope International.
  • Landrover breakdown on the two lane road through Zambia late at night with zooming 18 wheelers.
  • Arrival in Zimba in the sputtering Landrover where it finally died within walking distance of our sleeping quarters for the evening.
  • A sick team member.
  • Tour of the Zimba hospital and identification of my living quarters for the next two years.
  • A very wet yet beautiful walk through the Victoria Falls National Park.
  • Presentation by Wayne and Eric to the Jembo Bible School students.
  • Very poor internet service due to lack of rainy season and a lightning struck satellite dish.
  • Tour of the Jembo High School, Basic School and Clinic.
  • A special church service in a bush village organized just for Wayne, Eric and I.

Below are a few pictures I want to share with you so you will have an understanding of the place I will be and with whom I will be associated with during the next two years.

Victoria Falls is situated on the Zambezi River, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. They are 1 mile wide and 420 ft high. The falls are only 1 1/2 hours away from Zimba where I will be living.



This is the 2 bedroom flat in Zimba that has been identified for me to occupy. Although at this time the water does not work and there are some minor repairs that need to be taken care of, I'm sure it will be ready when the container with my things arrive at the end of May. But wait, no promises.....TIA (this is Africa!)



Joan Wallace is a missionary with Global Partners and has been in Zambia for two years. She lives in Zimba and works as a nurse at the hospital. She is looking forward to having a friend in the area and wants to get a bicycle so that we can ride together. I'm sure her time and experience in Zambia will be a great asset to me as I settle into the culture. I am blessed to have Joan living nearby.




Rev. Sitali Kakungu is the National Superintendent of the Pilgrim Wesleyan Church (PWC) in Zambia. The PWC has over 200 churches, several hospitals and clinics that Rev. Kakungu is responsible for. He will be my "in country" supervisor. He has a great vision for the growth of the church and creation of community projects that allow ownership among the village residents and less dependency on foreign involvement.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Two Months and Counting

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
- Deut 10:12

Dear Friends,

The verse above sounds pretty simple doesn’t it? Until He asks you to leave your friends and family…. Many of you have expressed how “brave” I am to leave the comforts of the USA and go to Zambia. Please know that I am really a wimp, I’m afraid of what God will do if I don’t go! It’s that “fear the LORD your God” that gets me every time! Really, I am so excited and honored to be doing this. I can’t wait to send updates and show each of you how God is working in Africa.

FYI, it’s just a two months before I leave for the two year assignment. I am traveling February 2 to Zambia to settle living and financial arrangements. I will return on February 9. Please pray for safe travel and good health during this time for me and my traveling companions, Wayne Sneed and Eric Angel. We will be meeting with representatives from the Pilgrim Wesleyan Church and World Hope International. Wayne and Eric will be speaking at the Bible College in Jembo. I’m hoping to see some of the children from the choir that performed in Memphis in October and I’m also hoping to see one of the water wells completed! I plan to purchase a cell phone so that I can distribute my phone number to everyone before I leave in April. I’m also going to check out the grocery stores so that I can see what food items I may want to take with me. It’s been a while since I have had to cook.

Update on the sale of the house:
Last Saturday, "a few good men" came to my house and loaded my worldly goods into a truck and placed them in storage. A dear old friend has generously agreed to provide this for me while I am away. I did not have an offer on the house when I did this…it was a step of faith that God would provide a buyer at the perfect time. Well, Monday I received an offer and we are negotiating the terms now. Please pray for smooth negotiations and a final contract. I’d like to leave Friday knowing that the house is sold.

Dates to consider:
February 18 – TLC (The Love of Christ Church) – this will be my last attendance at TLC and they will be officially sending me to Zambia on this day.
March 18 – CUMC (Christ United Methodist Church) – there will be a commissioning service at 12:15 in Wilson Chapel.
I am inviting each of you to attend one or both of these events. Your presence will be such a blessing to me. More details to come….

I praise God for such dear friends and loved ones. I am missing you already!

Janet