We are here and busy

Blessings from Zambia!  We are sorry to have be silent for so long but the internet is quite precarious right now. We hit the ground running the morning after our arrival.  Our flight was long – it was non-stop from NY to Jo’burg into a head wind; currently it is the longest non-stop flight in commercial flights. There we said “good bye” to Ben and Ryan. Most of us have done well with the time change. All of our bags arrived except the post-hole digger which after Richard filed a claim has appeared in Livingstone. Jako will work tomorrow with Customs to obtain it’s “release” as we need it for working the fence line.  Our first day we were up with Jako and the rooster – yes,Kerry I did mutter “kill the rooster” but he is a handsome one.  We worked around the mission area, visited the orphanage and sorted through the supplies we brought.  On a personal note, I kept thinking heard Kerry talking somewhere on the home site – jetlag I am sure. :)  We had a traditional Zambian lunch of n’shima; cabbage and tomato relish and ground nut (peanuts) and pumpkin leaves – it was very good.  Yesterday, started very early – Jako woke us with some praise music – boy was it dark! The women had a prayer and Bible Study time while the men started the fires and breakfast prep. We went to the cattle farm for inoculations and dipping.  In large part due to your prayers there were only a few minor scrapes and bruises. We used the shoot to do most of the cattle.(Just a reminder to families this may slow us through customs on the arrival home.) Then we returned and part of the team began work on Alyssa’s school house addition – measuring and digging the footers.  The rest played with the children and Barbara and I did a Bible Study with the house mothers that was a blessing to all.  Then the whole team continued work on the footings. We had dinner with the house mothers and orphans after our bucket showers in the enclosed outside shower rooms. The meal was so good,but made all the sweeter by a chance to spend more time with the children.  Isaac and Ruth look so good – I know many of you have prayed for them both.  We were quite tired at the end of yesterday. Today we had a slower start and did preparation for Tuesday’s eye glass ministry before heading to church. Richard spoke about the upcoming marriage seminar we are offering Wednesday through Friday this week.  Jim, Alyssa and Rachel did children’s ministry and Jim lead us in worship songs – he sends his love Liz. :)  We rode on the tractor and walked back while the tractor went to get poles for Alyssa’s hammock.  The goat was killed today – it is being cooked as I type but this year there is no contest – Alyssa’s friend Rachel had already asked to kill it and she did with Jako’s help.  Deb,Richard and I butchered the meat after it was skinned.  Chris has found a new friend in little Jeremiah – she is now nicknamed the “baby whisperer.”  Tomorrow will be a long work day as we are working to complete the footing dig and begin the fence around the orphanage. We feel your prayers sustaining our team as we work here – please keep them coming.  They are more important then the food we eat – they sustain us to the very core!
With Love from: Barbara, Chris, Deb, Denise, Jim, Richard and Steve along with Amber, Jako, Jakob, Jeremiah, Alyssa and Rachel