From Sioma To Shikwaru With Some Falls Inbetween

 From August 13th

It was an early, dark, cold morning when we got up today.  We have to fly out of Sioma today so we needed to be packed and ready to go well before it got light.  We got up at 5 AM and were ready to go the 10 kms to the airfield.  It was a mighty cold ride in the back of the truck, but at least Crystelle got the seat inside.  As we arrived at the airfield Simba and Janix were there to meet us with the aviation fuel.  Another prayer answered, now we will have plenty of fuel for the flight back.  We attempted to pack our bags back under the plane after we fueled up. Now we said good bye to Janix and Simba and thanked them for all they had done for us.  As we flew off towards Livingstone we were able to watch the sun come up right in front of us.  What a difference flying early in the morning before the landscape heats up.  It was a very smooth flight all the way and much more enjoyable for everyone.

Once again it is is hard not to reflect on the things we saw and did in Zambia while you fly over all the mud hut villages.  We have learned so much more about Zambia and Sioma in particular than we knew before.  We have learned about the people in the western province and are privileged to meet so many amazing missionaries who have sacrificed a lot to work in that area.  I hope that I will be able to pray more effectively for them after life and the pace of home starts to get in the way again.

After landing in Livingstone Jacques and us separated for the rest of the trip back to Shikwaru.  He needed to wait to pick up Ben and Conrad who would be driving into Livingstone after taking the drilling truck to another location.  We would have about 3 hours to spend in Livingstone and Victoria falls which is only about 20 minutes away.  

After attempting to exchange some rand to kwacha at the airport with no success because of how early we were there we were introduced to a cab driver who said he could help us with everything.  Of course we were a little nervous and needed to talk through what he meant but we soon built some trust with him as we made a deal to pay $50 US funds for him to take us to and from the falls, stop for us at a bank to exchange some money, and to lock our baggage in his cab while he would walk around the falls with us.  We were told it would cost us $20 for a cab ride each way so we figured this was a good deal.  Crystelle talked him down from $60 to $50.  He was an extremely friendly guy and more than willing to help us out.  Seems strange compared to most of the cab drivers you would meet in North America.  It sure made it more manageable to get around the falls as we would of had nowhere to leave our bags while exploring.  Although it seems less than ideal to adopt a cab driver for your Victoria Falls family time it worked out well and he was able to even snap some family pictures for us, although his photography skills left a little to be desired!  The only other draw back was the extreme smell of BO wafting off of him.  Despite spending time with many people in the villages in Zambia who possibly have never bathed he still takes the cake!  But without him and his willingness to help  we never would have been able to experience the falls the way we did.  It would not have worked well to take our bags on even the simple walk at that top of the falls.  We were even able to walk down through what seemed like rainforest to the base of the falls and back before having to leave for the airport.  

Not sure who was more pushy in Victoria Falls, the shop owners trying to make deals with us to buy souvenirs, or the crazy amounts of monkeys and baboons in the parking lot trying to take your bags or water bottles.  I guess I’ll say the baboons as they are the only ones that took a swipe at me while trying to keep them further away from Terrace!  

After a quick drive back to the airport we were ready to check in and fly to Johannesburg again.  Back to South Africa for the rest of the trip.  I was looking forward to this part of the trip as well since now I would be able to introduce the rest of our family to places and people that I have already met.  So much has happened on this trip already it is hard to believe it isn’t even half over.  Arriving in Johannesburg we made it easily through Immigration and then were met by the familiar face of Banie, who I had met last year as part of the Centershot team.  It was awesome to see him and have a good visit on our way out to the lodge.  

As always they made us all feel so welcome and helped us get settled into our rooms before a great meal at the African Pot restaurant.  We were given a few instructions for the plan in the morning for the next day an then it was off to our rooms for the night.  Thank you Lord for another safe day of travels!  That is seven flights in under a week now!  Please pray that we will be able to learn more about Shikwaru and their ministries and be able to find ways to serve while we are here prior to the rest of the Centershot Team arriving.