November in Zambia

In Zambia the rainy season has officially started. Mr. Crispin Daka has won the chocolate cake for guessing the day the rains started. However, he has not come to collect yet because of a few issues—one being I've not been shopping in a while and I don't have icing sugar or enough flour! But, eventually he shall collect!

With the rains, the start of the planting of maize begins. Maize is the staple for this area of Zambia where many folks cultivate with oxen and a hand-held plough. This photo was taken just behind our back yard on the mission. There is no rototilling business here—it's mostly oxen in the rural areas unless you farm lots of land. There are some tobacco farms with Zimbabwean farmers around here who farm massive amounts of land, kind of like at home. The maize will be ready in March or April, if all goes well with the rains. Last year the rains quit too early in this area so many people are already facing hunger. The hunger situation will worsen through December, January, February and March.

The second photo is of a male singing group that cycled from Simakakata (approximately 20 km) to Siabalumbi last Sunday where we attended. Siabalumbi is where we have a community school. In order to connect better with our communities, we have a schedule of attending a different community each Sunday. Simakakata is the blind community; they have an active singing group (all of whom can see!). Two of our sponsored students are in the singing group. The tall boy in the blue shirt is Killan. He is in grade 9 at Mwaata High School; both his parents are blind. I really could take this boy home; he is just too sweet! He is such a help for his parents and his whole community. Kelvin is to the right of Killan; he lives with his family a few kilometres from Simakakata. He is a very nice boy; he did the song leading at Siabalumbi this Sunday.

Today, Richard helped the Katungu community haul river sand for school construction. Then we visited with a Victoria couple, the Dills, who dropped in to the orphan home. We had a great visit; it was nice to be able to connect with home for a short while.

Tomorrow we are off to Lusaka to do visa/immigration stuff and of course some shopping. I really think that by the time we receive our official status, we will be on the plane for home!