• Monday and Tuesday we picked up our girls—Tiffany, Ashley and Amanda—who are visiting from Canada. A few bags were missing, but they have now been found and are in our possession! The girls have quickly adapted and the house is full of girl talk and laughing! So much fun! Besides that they cook and clean and iron! And there are a few more high school and college kids around—especially of the male gender! The girls made us mango smoothies for breakfast this morning—not something I'd even thought of!
• My driving horizons have expanded. Richard and I had to start making tracks this week as with going to Lusaka we lost a couple of work days while construction projects and paying of school fees and final selection of 2008 scholarships are in full swing. So, like back home, he took one vehicle and I took another and we each worked at our lists. We are still quite Canadian! Up until now I had mostly driven within about a nine kilometre radius of here! My horizons were expanded as I drove to Zimba and a few other places this week.
Sue's driving experiences!
Zimba is about a thirty minute drive from Kalomo. Since it was my first longer distance I wanted to take a male passenger who could help if it was needed (my only other passenger was a blind pupil from Kalomo High School!). Luckily, Passwell came by the house with nothing else to do since he cannot return to College until he receives his first year marks—maybe in March! We had an uneventful trip and the vehicle was full on return from Zimba, including the elderly brother of Wilson Siazilo. He is a very lively chap and filled all of us in on the education history of Kalomo and of himself personally! He is a very honest, Christian man and admitted that as a child (fifty plus years ago) he lied to get a scholarship from the American missionaries. He said he was a double orphan and years later told his parents what he'd done so that he could get his education! As a teacher he has assisted MANY others to complete school, including most of his own children. I learn something everyday!
Twice on Thursday I got severely stuck in the mud. The first was with the DYNA when Ashley and I were driving to Kalomo on the Namwianga road. The extreme rains have left all shoulders of the sandy roads very mushy! I was trying to avoid the deepest part of a newly formed lake so I swung to the right a bit too wide and suddenly felt the rear left tire sink! OOPS! I called Omas on the cell phone while one fellow went back to the clinic to bring manpower and shovels. Pinegar and Cecelia happened by with the Haven's Isuzu. With Cecelia's directions and pushing (along with Ashley and others who were standing by) Pinegar and I were able to loosen the DYNA from the muck! The DYNA is a three-ton Lorry! Ashley was amused, and maybe a bit scared at choosing to accompany her aunty, but I hope not!
Later the same day I got stuck in the Isuzu at the Mulamfu's house. Again, I got off the edge of a more solid area and went way down! Tiff's friend Amanda is a country girl—so with her direction, I put the truck in four-wheel low and with the girls pushing and Obert (a one sponsored student), Voila! We were out! Then a neighbour came by and remarked, "Oh, that is a low spot!" (Now he tells us!!) I didn't even call Richard for help! Or Omas!! More amusement for Ashley.
Zambian English
Zambians will often fail to say the Y sound at the end of a word, e.g. Tiffany is ALWAYS called Tiff-ann. Then (to make up for it!?) on some words that don't have a Y sound, they add the Y sound, e.g. ant would be ant-y. Yesterday, two college girls were doing laundry for us and as I walked out of the house dressed in my Saturday garb—pants, Audrey says to me, "Madam, I like your pantys." I was a bit embarrassed, but quickly tried to figure out why she would be saying she liked my panties. Then I figured it out, she liked my pants; I held my laughter until I returned to the house!
Update on Phineas's finger
Phineas is a Kalomo High School student. Last week I took him to the clinic because of an infection in one of his fingers. It is still quite ugly, but a bit less inflamed with a deeper hole than last week. I looked at it on Friday and sent him back to the clinic. If he doesn't get some very strong antibiotics, he will end up losing the end of the finger with a severe bone infection. I'll check back with him on Tuesday.
Simakakata Church
Today we loaded up the DYNA with our girls, and some secondary school boys and one college boy. Timmy did the preaching, Victor did the Lord`s supper and one of the secondary school boys led singing. We delivered mealie meal to the hungry ones at Simakakata and as usual they were deeply grateful! Following all this we stopped by the Kalomo Hospital and delivered baby clothes and blankets to three new moms and babies—all boys! We also visited the pediatric ward (where some very hopeless cases are); some are definitely in the final stage of AIDS. Too sad—but the family members were happy with a new little blanket and most of the patients and family sang along as our guys sang choruses in the atrium of the hospital. A little encouragement for some very sick folks!
Sue's driving experiences!
Zimba is about a thirty minute drive from Kalomo. Since it was my first longer distance I wanted to take a male passenger who could help if it was needed (my only other passenger was a blind pupil from Kalomo High School!). Luckily, Passwell came by the house with nothing else to do since he cannot return to College until he receives his first year marks—maybe in March! We had an uneventful trip and the vehicle was full on return from Zimba, including the elderly brother of Wilson Siazilo. He is a very lively chap and filled all of us in on the education history of Kalomo and of himself personally! He is a very honest, Christian man and admitted that as a child (fifty plus years ago) he lied to get a scholarship from the American missionaries. He said he was a double orphan and years later told his parents what he'd done so that he could get his education! As a teacher he has assisted MANY others to complete school, including most of his own children. I learn something everyday!
Twice on Thursday I got severely stuck in the mud. The first was with the DYNA when Ashley and I were driving to Kalomo on the Namwianga road. The extreme rains have left all shoulders of the sandy roads very mushy! I was trying to avoid the deepest part of a newly formed lake so I swung to the right a bit too wide and suddenly felt the rear left tire sink! OOPS! I called Omas on the cell phone while one fellow went back to the clinic to bring manpower and shovels. Pinegar and Cecelia happened by with the Haven's Isuzu. With Cecelia's directions and pushing (along with Ashley and others who were standing by) Pinegar and I were able to loosen the DYNA from the muck! The DYNA is a three-ton Lorry! Ashley was amused, and maybe a bit scared at choosing to accompany her aunty, but I hope not!
Later the same day I got stuck in the Isuzu at the Mulamfu's house. Again, I got off the edge of a more solid area and went way down! Tiff's friend Amanda is a country girl—so with her direction, I put the truck in four-wheel low and with the girls pushing and Obert (a one sponsored student), Voila! We were out! Then a neighbour came by and remarked, "Oh, that is a low spot!" (Now he tells us!!) I didn't even call Richard for help! Or Omas!! More amusement for Ashley.Zambian English
Zambians will often fail to say the Y sound at the end of a word, e.g. Tiffany is ALWAYS called Tiff-ann. Then (to make up for it!?) on some words that don't have a Y sound, they add the Y sound, e.g. ant would be ant-y. Yesterday, two college girls were doing laundry for us and as I walked out of the house dressed in my Saturday garb—pants, Audrey says to me, "Madam, I like your pantys." I was a bit embarrassed, but quickly tried to figure out why she would be saying she liked my panties. Then I figured it out, she liked my pants; I held my laughter until I returned to the house!
Update on Phineas's finger
Phineas is a Kalomo High School student. Last week I took him to the clinic because of an infection in one of his fingers. It is still quite ugly, but a bit less inflamed with a deeper hole than last week. I looked at it on Friday and sent him back to the clinic. If he doesn't get some very strong antibiotics, he will end up losing the end of the finger with a severe bone infection. I'll check back with him on Tuesday.
Simakakata Church
Today we loaded up the DYNA with our girls, and some secondary school boys and one college boy. Timmy did the preaching, Victor did the Lord`s supper and one of the secondary school boys led singing. We delivered mealie meal to the hungry ones at Simakakata and as usual they were deeply grateful! Following all this we stopped by the Kalomo Hospital and delivered baby clothes and blankets to three new moms and babies—all boys! We also visited the pediatric ward (where some very hopeless cases are); some are definitely in the final stage of AIDS. Too sad—but the family members were happy with a new little blanket and most of the patients and family sang along as our guys sang choruses in the atrium of the hospital. A little encouragement for some very sick folks!
1 comment:
What a great experience for our girls. Thank you for loving our Master. Thank you for loving the Africans. They are blessed as they bless you. Life is all about relationship...
Alicia
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