Visit to the Village

 Our first night in Zambia was a bit of a shocker.  Being so much farther north (closer to the equator) than South Africa I assumed the night would be much warmer.  What I didn’t take into account is the river that really seems to cool things off, plus this place is really in many ways like a desert.  I was afraid the girls would not want to sleep out here again, but they survived and to my amazement seemed to mostly enjoy the experience.  I would imagine that most of the people here don’t have blankets like we did.  It must make some of the nights here very long waiting for the sun to return to warm you the next day. It seems like a land of extremes!

After we had some breakfast we headed down to pontoon boat with intentions of heading to the village Mazeba across the river and talking to the school principal and village leader to get permission to have a children’s ministry the next morning.  What an incredible walk into this village!  As we walked from the shore where we landed up towards the village it was like going back in time.  If you were to draw a picture of the stereotypical Africa that we think of as North Americans that would be exactly what we were walking into.  Mud round huts with thatched roofs, most of which about the size of our garden sheds, random small areas with corn or maize as they call it.  Some larger huts but still built the same way.  The only real signs of any progress would have been the cloths the people were wearing.  The kids especially had cloths that were similar to ours but tattered, dirty and worn out.  Many likely handed down multiple times before they got them.  We did see an occasional cell phone in some peoples hands, and there was a few plastic littered bottles and wrappers laying around., signs of a more modern day.  The only building in the whole village that was not a “mud hut” was the newer school building that was a relatively small brick and mortar one room structure that had not even been completed by the government.  As we walked in you could see various people walking to get water, or sitting by their huts cooking or keeping a fire going.  No one seemed alarmed to see us, but I know most would recognize Jacques as he has been in this area with various ministries to this village, including recently using RaG drill rig to drill a new solar powered water pump for their drinking water.  

We easily found Martin the Principal of the school and he agreed to inform the village that we would be back the next day at 10AM to put on a program for the kids.  He would just walk around from hut to hut to advertise for us.  Martin told us there were 200 kids that attend his school although Jacques felt it was more like 80 kids that attend there from his experience. 

After speaking with Martin we continued on the go speak with the town leader Induna Bennie.  Induna is the term that represents the leaders of these villages.  Apparently this area of Zambia is still under a "kingdom rule" where there is a king of the land with various chiefs in regions and then each village or settlement has an Induna.  We were taught by Jacques how to properly greet an Induna by clapping gently and then shaking their hand with a slight bow.  Induna Bennie seemed like a very soft spoken man and graciously thanked us for coming to see him and for our willingness to come work with the children.  All the people we have met in Zambia seem so peaceful and friendly.  It is known as one of the most peaceful countries in Africa and we can see why as everyone is willing to greet you with a smile and a wave. 

The other aspect of our visit to the village that was awesome to see was the new well with solar pump from RaG.  There was a constant stream (pun intended) of small children and ladies coming to get water in large jugs and containers.  The water from this well is clean and good for drinking and allows them to save a bunch of time as they don’t have to walk all the way to the river.  For some it cuts their work day in half!  Despite that we still saw several people walking to the river to get water too. The other benefit of the well is that not going down to the river to get water is much safer.  The Zambezi River is full of crocodiles that are looking for easy meals.  Unfortunately many children are lost to the crocodiles every year.  Already in our short time here we have seen how the crocs can surprise you and be right close to the boat when you are getting in or out.  We have not seen them but twice already have heard them right next to the boat spook and make a splash as they dive under while your coming to shore.  A little exciting but unnerving as well. Can you imagine sending your child to get water knowing that it is the most dangerous job of the day?  Jacques told us that this year alone 31 people have been killed by the crocs from the RaG base area down the river to the next community!  What a shocking fact.  I can only imagine how many are lost along the whole river system.  No one thing in our cities is killing even close to that many people!  These wells can save many lives over the years, give opportunities for workers to teach about gardening options for more food, and allow people from the mission to be welcomed into the community to share the gospel with the kids, just as we had been welcomed today!

In the afternoon we headed to the base camp for RaG to help prepare for the upcoming teachers/pastors training conference.  We sat in on a couple planning meetings with the partners that had come together to provide this conference.  We met Pastor Isaac of Awana, and Pastor Williams from Judaeo Ministries who were partners with Jacques and his team to put this conference on free of charge to the 60 participants who would be coming from across the western province of Sioma.  These trainees will be the next wave of leaders in their communities to be their church pastors as well as children ministry leaders.  This week they will be provided with the skills to do these jobs.

We then spent time as a family preparing our lesson for the village for the next day.  We had packed beads and string that we were planning to use as a craft to do a “wordless bracelet” craft and object lesson with the kids.  That plan went out the window as we realized we had left those supplies in another bag that we didn’t bring to Zambia.  Time to adapt and overcome.  All our well planned packing and then we forget to bring it along.  Hopefully we can use it in South Africa for the kids there.  We came up with several games we could play with the kids as well as three object lessons to help share the salvation plan with them.  One of our object lesson would still be the wordless bracelet idea but now just told using balloons for the colours.  

While at the base I also helped to set up some tents that the pastors and teachers would be staying in during the conference.  Then we were off back down the river by boat to try some more Tiger fishing on our way back to the ministry house.  Along the way we were able to hook up with three Tiger fish!  What a fight!  They are amazingly ferocious fish with teeth like a piranha.  Thus their name I suppose. We managed to land two of them.  What a bonus to end our afternoon!

Our fish were kept and brought in for Conrad to cook up and add to his already amazing supper.  We had a great supper with most of the team in Zambia.  It was great to get to know Simba and Enny better and hear how they became a couple and started working with RaG.  Part of their story includes having to be away from their four year old son while they are doing ministry in Zambia.  Grandma and Grandpa help to take care of him while they serve.  What a sacrifice that many of these people make to minister to the children of Zambia.  Jacques has been away from his family for two weeks now as well.

So far it has been amazing to see the ministry here and how they work to find locals to train and work in their own communities.  Mentoring is a term that keeps coming up and we had a great conversation with Jacques and Ben (who is being mentored by Jacques) this evening about its importance and how a trip like this even serves for us to be mentors for our girls and provide mentors for them to see.  It has been fun to have them with us and watch them interact with those around us.  We are also really enjoying watching them work together and enjoy one another company!  I am so proud of them.

Please continue to pray for health as Jacques has been sick and is treating himself for Malaria (not as serious when caught for locals as it would be for us) and tonight Terrace was feeling a little sick but we think it may be lack of food taken with her anti Malaria medication.