Twikatane Health Post Groundbreaking

Another great week with a Groundbreaking, projects,

 zone conference and office duties.  

Attended the Twikatane Health Post groundbreaking ceremony

 which was as big a deal as any of our handover ceremonies. 

 The church is building a health post and the community

 is building a staff house and latrines.  

Had a very large crowd including a member of parliament (like a congressman)
 and the district leader. 

Several great songs and a group made up a P-O-E-M that was great

  They memorize long parts too.

Grandpa even got to break ground.  No shovels here. 

 The grubbing hoe is the tool of choice.

At zone conference, we got to do some role playing on a
 ward missionary coordination meeting. 

Great sister missionaries in our Zone.

The Woodlands zone.  Love these missionaries!

Took Elders Tishumbundu (DRC) and Iboi (Tonga) to a Dr. appointment.
 They didn't get any breakfast because the power was out so they were hungry.
  Each put away a large pizza.  Often people are without power for
 10-12 hours a day but for some reason we have been
 very lucky with power most of the time.

The church purchased some sewing machines, fabrics, and table/chairs
 for 'African Smiles'.  They are teaching people with disabilities how to make items
 to sell including bags, shirts, ties, dresses, etc.  

Had a great baptism for 3 people last week. 
One is a police commissioner so Grandpa hopes he can stay out of trouble now.  

Family Visit

This week Trenton, Kaleb and Grant visited. 

 We were in 7th heaven!  So fun to have them here

 and give them a taste of Africa.  The week went way too fast.  

Welcome to Zambia!

Enjoyed Church on Sunday in the Chainama Ward.

We drove to Livingstone and stayed at Tasha Lodge. 
Power was out so waited 3 hours for our supper that was cooked on 2 coal stoves.  

Five meals on coal stoves took a long time.  Good fish!

Crossed over to Botswana on a boat and went on a river safari and
 land safari at the Chobe River.  

Kaleb standing in two countries at the same time. 
One foot in Botswana and one foot in Zimbabwe.  Across the river is Zambia.

Saw lots of animals.  Hippos grazing.

Grant with Cape Buffalo in the background

Just passing by our car, moseying down the highway.

The nest day we visited Victoria Falls.
Grandma tore her meniscus in her knee (on monday) so we all got our exercise pushing her!
 But we all still enjoyed the Falls.

Grant loved the restaurants, especially when he got to have french toast for lunch.

Eating crocodile.  Everyone actually loved it.  

Grant loved the warthogs.  Right at the entrance to the park and restaurant. 

Back in Lusaka, visited a small school where the church put
 in a solar powered pump and taps for running water.

Our contractor donated a drip system and they have already
 started planting maize and pumpkin (squash)

Grant handing out toothbrushes to the children at Famable school.  

School kids brushing their teeth at the school with the new toothbrushes and water. 

Visited Jolly Horizon school.  The kids were excited to sing songs for them.  

 Singing I'm a little flower for Jesus

Grade 1 singing the days of the week

Took the boys out in the bush to Chipilepile where the church is
 building a new 3 classroom building. 
This shows where some of the kids are having school.  

New 3 classroom block going up.

When we were there they were practicing for

 Independence Day which is October 24th.

Took the boys around to meet some families in our Ward.
 Musonda Family.  

With our friend Martin.

They brought lots of treats and supplies.  Grandpa is very happy!
The whole week was better than Christmas!!!

So sad to see them go!  But so thankful they came and made it back safe. 

Mulenje Closing & New Missionaries

We had a handover ceremony at the Mulenje School 

where the church built a teacher's house, refurbished the school,

 and added desks. Now many more children will be able to

 attend school in this rural area.

Completed School in the background with the village ladies out front.

The completed teacher's house.  The education district provided a couple
 who are both very experienced teachers.  They got a raise because he was
  promoted to head teacher but this was quite a sacrifice for their family of 5 kids.
  No electricity and no inside plumbing.  They were used to better accommodations
 but are willing to make the change.  

 Our welcoming committee.

They were singing something about the sponsors

 had arrived and we are grateful for what they have given us.  

While waiting for the other dignitaries to arrive, Grandpa had the boys doing activities.

They had a perfect branch for pull-ups.  All the boys had to try. 

Lots of dancing and celebrations and long speeches. Some really get into it.

Ribbon Cutting ceremony 

Official handover of the keys.  

Our contractor at Mulenje.  We hired him because he was shorter than Grandpa.
  He did a good job.  

Grandpa doing some minor repairs at a flat. 
Anything that requires skills, we hire out because they desperately need work here.  

Elder Mbile and Elder Odongo.  Grateful for the repair.

We visited Matubila school where the roof was blown off. 

 We take a GPS reading at these places then follow them to get back there.

 But there are so many possible dirt roads to take that we sometimes get off course.

  We eventually made it there.  

Roof has been replaced on Matubila School

New roof and floor inside of one classroom

Grandpa inspecting the latrine base.  3 meters deep!

One class of kids meeting outside for school while the classroom building is completed.  

Another older class of kids meeting in an unfinished house. 

Ended the week with a baptism.  Jon was so excited!
 He had to wait a week because we couldn't get water at the church to fill the font last week.
  Elder Smith's first baptism and he was probably more excited than Jon.  Elder Kane also.

We had 10 great new missionaries arrive this week.
 With our new office duties, we do some training on vehicle safety and flat responsibilities.
   Several runs to the airport and running missionaries around.