Well, I have finally arrived in my new country. Thank you all for the prayers that I would arrive safely and without incident. The 17 hour flight was not so bad and the time went by quickly. I was able to read, listen to music, watch a movie, sleep and eat. What more would you want to do in 17 hours?
I want to thank everyone who came to the airport to see me off. It was a very special time and I loved sharing it with you.
During the 17 hour flight to Johannesburg I was fortunate enough to sit next to Peter, a young missionary in Livingston, Zambia. Livingston is approximately 1 hour from Zimba . He is a good North Carolina boy with great manners and helped me with my bags and shared my dark chocolate M&Ms. It was great to talk to him about his experiences in Zambia. He is a mechanic and may be able to assist me in purchasing a vehicle. Just another contact God has blessed me with.
The only incident in my travel was the lack of my checked bags in Lusaka when I arrived. I was one of the few transfers in Johannesburg and I think they must of offloaded it with everyone else’s. I did not receive it until Thursday so that meant I wore the same clothes Monday – Thursday. (Tammy, I took my extra clothes out of my carry on to make room for something else…)
The guesthouse where I am staying temporarily is very comfortable. I stayed here during my visit in February and so it is familiar. I think that is helping me to feel “at home”. I haven’t been homesick yet… And guess what? I have ice! I bought bottled water, ice trays were available and with the help of the freezer, I have ice with my Coke light! Let’s hope I have this luxury in my permanent home.
The first night I had a cold shower because I did not realize the geyser was the hot water tank and that the switch needed to be turned on in order for the water to heat up. I now know a new Zambian word – geyser! Very important item and I have been assured there will be a geyser at my flat.
I have also had some unwelcomed visitors….spiders, small bugs, a lizard and a centipede. I can deal with the spiders and bugs but the centipede had to go. I didn’t kill it just let it go outside. I hope it stays there.
Internet access is not convenient and what I have used as broadband is still slow compared to the USA. The PWC office has access but my computer is not configured and I have to use someone else’s computer. Each time I have had the opportunity to check email, I felt rushed and did not take the time to update my blog. I am writing this so that the next time I have internet access I can just cut and paste it into the blog and time will not be an issue.
I was very excited to find that the local Celtel office here had a USB modem that I could purchase and then you buy a card for increments of data to be transmitted. This would allow me to have internet anywhere I have a signal. Well, sometimes having the latest and greatest software is not good. The modem is not compatible with MS Vista. Once I am settled into a permanent location, I will be able to work out another solution.
By the time you receive this, I will have been in Lusaka for 1 week. It has been an eventful week!
4/4 Wednesday – purchased “top up” card for my cell phone and the modem that doesn’t work, met with the PWC Medical Officer to discuss my roles and responsibilities and purchased groceries. Purchasing groceries was a real task in that I have not really cooked in years and I was lost in the grocery store. Not only were the brands unfamiliar, I really didn’t know what ingredients I needed to buy. I am living off of peanut butter, eggs, bread, ham, juices and coke light. The Coke light is not Diet Dr. Pepper but it serves the caffeine addiction. I am limiting myself to one a day in order to break the habit and when my container comes with DDP I won’t drink them all in one day!
4/5 Thursday – The acting National Superintendent, Ken, drove me to the airport to retrieve my luggage. Hurray! I now have clean clothes. He drove me to the Kalembo’s home so that I could use their broadband connection. It took us 1 ½ hours to get there due to the market traffic and the beginning of a holiday weekend. When we arrived, Alfred was not at home and he had the key to the office where the internet connection could be accessed. Ken then drove me to an internet café in the city where I was able to read and write a few emails.
4/6 Friday – This was a Zambian holiday and Alfred and Muumbe Kalembo invited me to their home for dinner and to celebrate their son’s birthday. Chile had accompanied the short term mission team in 2002. He is now 17 and plans to attend college in the states!
4/7 Saturday – A Full Gospel minister who was at the guesthouse shared his testimony with me for three hours. It was a great story and I was blessed by his sharing. I teased him that even with an audience of one he couldn’t resist preaching! Later that afternoon, I attended a Bridal shower with the national superintendant’s wife, Justina. Not only was the party great fun, but the use of the public transportation to get there was an experience. I’ll write about this in a separate entry.
4/8 Sunday – I attended church with the National Superintendent and his family (Sitali, Justina, Ann, Stephanie and Edna) I had attended a PWC during my previous visits but this church was more charismatic and I witnessed responses to the Holy Spirit that I didn’t understand but I had no doubt they were authentic. God is surely alive and well in Africa! Sunday evening I watched Fly Away Home with the children on my computer. Everyone was amazed that we could do that!
4/9 Monday – Today is the last day of the holiday so it is a day to relax. I am reading, writing and catching up on my quiet time. I plan to have lunch with the National Superintendent's family. (Note that this is the way they are referred to in Zambia, I am not “name dropping”!)4/10 Tuesday – another day of errands, more cell minutes and groceries. I actually cooked a meal and served it to other guests staying in the guest house with me. Yes! They are still alive!
4/11 Wednesday - Picked out supplies for renovations on my flat. This was really fun and the Zambian men accompanying me laughed as I picked out colors and styles of items. I am glad they waited for me to come to start this project. There is no telling what the place would have looked like! I even got two free light fixtures from the hardware store for doing business with them. I also drove the Land Rover today! Yes, I drove on the left side of the road and did not run over anyone. It is also a 5 speed which I am used to but I had to change gears with my left hand. The only problem I had was that they need some clutch work. You have to unstick the clutch by putting your foot under the pedal and pulling up. NS (Sitali) wants me to drive to Choma and Zimba this weekend when we go. He is ready for me to have my own transportation!
I will continue to blog as I am able but I ask you to continue to pray for my time here in the following ways:
Adjustment to a new culture (realization of mistakes and understanding of differences)Renovations of the flat in ZimbaPersonal and reliable transportation
Reliable and easy availability to Internet access
Openness and acceptance by the people I will work with in Zimba
Partnership with PWC and that my time here to be productive and valuable
Wisdom for the leaders of the PWC
My desire was to update every couple of days but due to the internet access…I’ll be happy for once a week!
Thanks for your love and encouragement.Love to you all,Janet
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