Easter, Nshima, and Desks

A Wonderful Easter Week!  

What a blessing we have in the atonement and resurrection of Christ!   Blessing is an inadequate word to describe our salvation from death, sin, trials, and weaknesses.  How grateful we are to Jesus Christ for his suffering and sacrifice for us!  Everything that gives us sorrow and suffering in this telestial world was suffered  and overcome by Christ and therefore He has the ability to remove and comfort us in our sorrows and sufferings of every type.   We have experienced and witnessed the effects of that atonement in our life and the life of others who, as we/they turn to Christ He helps us overcome all sorrow and sufferings.  

What better way to celebrate Easter than the baptism of Alice.

Lupani School project is nearly completed.  Desks being delivered to Lupani School.... 
"See Grandpa look.  Look Grandpa Look."

"See Grandpa Work.  Work Grandpa Work."

"See Grandpa Sweat.  Sweat Grandpa Sweat."

School boys helping assemble and carrying them into the classrooms.

The new 3 classroom building with the 60 desks that go inside.

Inside classrooms are now all ready for the students.  They will move in after their school holiday this month.

We were very impressed with their efforts to spruce up the school. 
The grass inside the brick spells Lupani, the school name.

At Mpango school trying to set up the solar power for the borehole pump.  How many men does it take to set it up?  Apparently more than this because it didn't work.  We all concluded the control panel was faulty so they'll need a new one.

While the men were working on the solar system, Grandma was taking lessons on how to make Nshima. 
It is their staple made from corn flour/meal that they eat with everything.  

Grandma's Nshima making teachers that cook for about 60 girls who live at the school.

The finished product, chicken and Nshima.  These are some of the girls that live at the school.  They pumped Grandma full of questions about life in the United States.  They were great posers too.

More young women posing with Grandma.  The Nshima and chicken was delicious.  

At Kaminembe school we saw these children drying, then taking off the corn cob, and sacking their corn (maize)
that they will grind and make into Nshima.  

Moapa Valley Highlight

The highlight of the week was a tender mercy from the Lord letting us know he knows where we are and what we are doing.  We visited this family who were recently baptized and found their son wearing this sweatshirt with Moapa Valley on it.  We couldn't believe it!  Janet and I grew up in Moapa Valley, a very small community in Nevada.  What are the odds of finding that in Zambia?

 

After drilling two dry boreholes at Nchute school last week, everyone decided the best option would be to tie into a community borehole that is about 0.6 kms away.  To do this, they had to remove the hand pump and test for water flow and capacity (inserting the pump below).  The test was successful so we are now getting cost estimates for a solar powered pump, solar panels, water tank and stand, and piping to the school. 

Inserting pump into borehole.  Water was at 15 m but borehole was 50 m deep.  

All the women and children carry heavy things on their head here.  This young girl about the age of Brynlee and Olive made carrying these tomatoes look very easy.

So Grandpa tried it.  There were circular ridges on the bottom that absolutely cut into my head.  Ouch!!!  I couldn't believe she could carry it so effortlessly and painlessly.  The villagers got a good laugh!

Just purchased materials for this Nyabombwe school teachers house so stopped by and found they had made good progress already, with all the foundation and back-fill done.  They decided to divide the building into 4 sections with each of the 4 villages responsible for providing the building sand, dirt, crushed stone, and river sand for their section.  Good idea.  

Boreholes, buildings, and songs

We are enjoying general conference!  Our mission president was called as an Area 70. 

 We spent much of the week checking on existing and potential projects. 

 Progress is going well.  

Borehole drilling at Nchute School.  Went 65 meters in one location and 95 meters in another but never found water!  We hope to get a neighbor to allow the school to pump from their borehole if we put in a solar powered pump and water tank.

Every 5 meters they bring a shovel of dirt coming out of the borehole to see if any is moist and if it is changing.  If water would have been there it would have shown up in the two gravely looking layers.  Mostly solid granite. 

Lupani School nearly finished.  We were inspecting before final payment to contractor.
 Community members installing window panes.  

Mulenje Teacher house progressing along.  Up to the roof line. 

While checking on progress at Chainda clinic, we heard this group of kids practicing for church.

 We love their lively songs.  

At Mpango School drilling a borehole.  Discussing how deep they should go.

At this school, they found water at 85 meters.  Can you see the mud?  Everyone was very happy!

We visited a new school.  Drove 70 km on a bumpy dirt road each way. 
This is the shelter they are using for classes while they build a new 3 classroom block. 

This is the new 3 classroom block they have been working on.  They made their own bricks using a small brick mold.  We were very impressed with the community's hard work and initiative.

Some of the children at the school in the outside classroom.  We tried to talk with them but they didn't understand much English but when we asked if they knew a song, they lit up and sang for us. 

A new project at Nyabombwe school.  The day before this we met them in Lusaka and paid for their materials. The next day they were hard at work building a teachers house.  They made their own blocks. 

The community gets involved.  They are carrying crushed stone to the construction site. 

Happy Birthday

Things are progressing well.  Lots of trips to stores and sites to get stuff and deliver it or check on progress and get contracts signed.  We also taught a 5th Sunday lesson on Family History and Temple work.  Strengthened our testimony of this important work of salvation on both sides of the veil.

Taking in supplies for the Harper Medical Clinic

Putting beds together and checking equipment in the clinic.

More supplies for the clinic

We hope this clinic will be a blessing to many in this community.  The closest clinic is 18 kms away which is a long way when you have no transportation.

The interior of one of the Lupani School existing classrooms getting a face-lift. 

Patching and getting ready to paint. 

Lupani school students in between classes.  Because their classrooms were being painted, some classes met outside under the trees.

The older kids having fun posing.

The painted new 3 classroom building.  The contractor is finishing it up this week and they will be able to hold classes in it as soon as the desks get manufactured and delivered.  We will begin scheduling a closing ceremony soon.

Grandma teaching the Sisters and Elders how to clean their apartments at Zone conference.  Believe me, some really need this instruction.  But most are doing a great job keeping things clean.

Birthday girl got a new apron.  A young man in our Stake who is going to Uganda in April on his mission made it. 

Two baptisms today.  Sister Doris and Brother Samuel (can't remember last names)
Missionaries are Elder Davis and Elder Latola

Out and About

Grandma had a Mission Sisters Night while Grandpa found a good Indian restaurant.  They had dinner, devotional, and Grandma gave a talk along with others.  Sisters sang a song too...

We drove to Chisamba to talk with their Education District leaders.  Grandpa loved it because it was a farming area.  The district has a lot of challenges we hope to help with a few.  

Found where our favorite milk comes from.  There really is a difference in milk tastes.

These yellow flowering trees are in bloom everywhere.  

Stopped by the Chainda clinic.  The church is helping build a maternity building.  It is progressing well.

Inside the Chainda Maternity building.  The church will also be providing a mechanized water pump and storage tank with piping into the clinic.  Now they get water from a hand pump outside the building. 

At one of the major roundabouts there is a chicken in the middle because there is a chicken farm nearby.  They were going to destroy it and replace it with something else.

But thanks to the community, everyone wrote in to "Save the Chicken" so our beloved chicken is now safe.  

On our P-day we visited a local game reserve and went on the game drive.  Saw many animals but many were hidden in the tall grasses that have grown through the rainy season. 

Elephants would only give us their best shots.

Wildebeasts hanging out.

A shot of the Savannah land with a watering hole. 

Ostriches.  Some big birds!

There's a small giraffe in there somewhere

A member of the antelope family (can't remember the name).  Male's horns curve back but the females are straight.  This poor guy was relegated to the bachelor herd.  May go challenge the dominant male later to impress the ladies.

As we were leaving these kids were so excited to get on the truck for their drive.  

We do some flat checks so Grampa was trying to figure out this shower.  The shower head kept plugging up so the sister took it off and prefer just the stream coming out of the pipe.   Like bathing under a hose.

Elder Davis's washing machine.  All the young missionaries wash by hand. 
We are thankful we have a real washing machine.