Handover Ceremonies

This has been a very eventful two weeks with handover ceremonies on two projects and Maternal and Newborn Care training in Solwezi. We will have to report on the Solwezi trip later.
Lots of great pictures and videos.  What a privilege it is to see the fruits of the Lord's love for these people here in Africa!  

The Handover ceremony of the Harper Clinic.
 Very low key because the dignitaries couldn't come so they will have a bigger celebration later with them. 
 The clinic was built by a U.S. based group "I Am Zambia" and the church donated the medical equipment and furnishings.  

Village women waiting for the program to start and trying to teach Grandpa some new words

We held the handover ceremony for the Lupani School.  What an awesome celebration!  This has been one of our favorite projects because the school teachers and students take great pride in their school.  It is always well kept and clean.  They have also been very grateful for the help.  The children now do not have sit in crowded classrooms on the floor.  

Waiting for the celebration to begin.
 The new 3 classroom block is shown in the background with the newly painted other buildings.

The Head Men of the Villages that attend the Lupani School

 They started with their national anthem then prayer.  The school choir sang several songs, most of them Christian based.  First was a welcoming song.     

The school choir always came in doing some entrance dance and song before they sang the main song.  Then they would leave the same way.  If you listen closely, you will notice they are singing a song about turning to Jesus as they turn around.  

A group also performed a few cultural dances.   They really get into some of these.  

Several dignitaries gave speeches

This girl carried the keys to us then we handed them over to the School officials. 

School officials and other dignitaries ready to handover the keys.  

This young boy, Brighton, with cerebral palsy would always meet us at the school.  He became our friend and he wanted to sing at the ceremony.  It was pretty cool.  He is quite the character.   

Several more songs and speeches then the choir singing a "We shall never forget you" song. 

 Can they sing or what???

Chisakila and Kaminembe

Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers.  We love our Mothers who influence and love us so much.  

This week our highlights were borehole siting and drilling at a school and clinic.  

At Kaminebe School, our first drilled borehole was dry down to 100 meters. No Water!

While everyone was watching the borehole drilling, we brought bananas and watermelon to share with the community.
 They are always so kind to feed us. 

Watermelons were a hit.

This little guy was enjoying a banana. 

Again they insisted on feeding us Nshima. Excellent!  Grandma with the water engineer and the contractor.  

Second attempt was a success.  Water at 70 meters.  

Yahoo, Water!

The form for the apron and drainage.  

Finished Product after cementing.  

Checking on the Mazyopa Project, we spotted these kids flying a kite made out of a black plastic bag.  Below, some kids there playing a dodgeball type of game.  

On our drive to Chisakila Health Post, we spotted a dozen big monkeys hanging out on the road.
They ran for cover as we got near.  

At Chisakila, discussing the borehole project there.  They have a hand-pump borehole that is contaminated from nearby latrines.  The church will be putting in a new borehole, solar panels and pump, water tank, and distribution lines into the clinic and staff house.  

Kids in front of a Baobab tree at Chisakila.  Their school is in the background.  The school head teacher said some kids walk up to 8 kms to come to school and haven't eaten anything.  They want to give them a meal so they have devised a good plan.  They have found a buyer for Yams if they can grow them in a school garden and they can use the proceeds and the Yams to feed the children.  But they need water.  We decided if the borehole for the clinic is sufficient, we will put a tap at the school and a pipe to their garden.  Sounds like a very worthwhile sustainable project.  

Load of supplies headed for Kaminembe school to finish 3 classroom block.

Ended the week with a wonderful Baptism of Edwin and Elizabeth. 
Their mother (on right) was baptized several weeks ago.

Copperbelt

It has been a great two weeks.  Lots of activities and our trip to Copperbelt Province.  

At Kaminembe School doing the borehole siting.  

At Kaminembe School after class was out, the students carried water and bricks
 for the workers who are building the classrooms.  

The workers bricklaying for the 3 classroom building.
 Notice the scaffolding; pretty clever.  They are hard workers.  

While waiting for the borehole siting work to be done, Grandma is having a bite of roasted Maize.  

At Kaminembe school both times they have fed us.  Nshima with chicken and greens.  It is always very good.
 It is such a sacrifice for them we feel bad but they say it is their way of saying Thank You! 

 Last weekend we went to the Copperbelt Province with Pres. and Sister Kupu.  They were reorganizing the district and a branch there and we did some other business.

There are 2 Districts in the Copperbelt. 
We visited Ndola and Kitwe districts.  These are nice towns up North. 

Grandpa doing some training in Ndola on the Church's Boundary Proposals software.  

We went to two Branches in Kitwe on Sunday. 
These were some of the primary children at one Branch.

The new District President's family.  They live about 1.5 hours out of Kitwe and it takes them several buses to get to church each Sunday.  It is a great monetary and time sacrifice for them but they are so dedicated. They are a great example for us.  The younger boy in the sweater is quite a character.

While in Kitwe, we celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary.
 How many people get to take a trip to Africa for their anniversary?

We were able to spend 30 minutes at the Copperbelt Museum.
 Some good information about the geology and mining in that area.  

At the Museum this shows typical village life that we see a lot.  

Visited Nchute School where they were putting up a tower for their water tank.  It was a bit scary because the tank stand was very high and heavy.  We were worried it might tip over as they were erecting it.  But they raised it a little then dug, then repeated so it all worked out fine.  

And it's standing.  

Visited the Chainda Health Clinic.  The roof is on and they are plastering the inside.  Hooray!

While the children are out on break, at Sosco school they repaired the ceiling because the old one was collapsing.  

Sosco school finished ceiling in one of the rooms. 

Grandma liked this Coat of Arms poster.  The country motto is "One Zambia, One Nation".
 It keeps them unified because there are so many different tribes and languages.  

Progress at Mulenje Teachers house.  Plastering the outside.