Day 21 - Sunday July 8, 2007

Greetings:

   

    First of all, we don’t read each other’s e-mails so I may be repeating something you’ve already heard.  If so, too bad!  This morning (Sunday) Gary, Frank, Kevin, Jackie, two of the long term volunteers and some of the girls attended an Evangelical church in Seshece, Zambia.  Even though the church is only 15 minutes away, it is over the border, and we had to check our passports 4 times during this trip!  The church was in a classroom in a high school that was probably worse than what we would see in Baltimore, There were over 150 people in the congregation during this service.  Needless to say it was crowded.  The girls who accompanied us sang two of their songs and were enthusiastically supported with cheers while they sang.  The service was what we would expect an African service to be with very spirited singing.  There was one choir of men and women who sang and Beckie K. would have loved it because they all made eye contact with their leader, they didn’t hold music and they rhythmically moved in time to the bongo drum.  They even moved together in unison, Beckie, unlike the Spirit Singers!  The other interesting thing was listening to the sermon delivered by Gary in English followed by the church’s pastor in Losi.  I guess that means we listened to the sermon twice.  At the end of the service we filed outside and in a manner which we have to show because it’s too difficult to explain everyone shook hands with each individual.  It was quite a road trip with 9 teenage girls from the home chattering the whole time in a mixture of English and something.  They were very entertaining.

    

    Meanwhile back at the Childrens home Sarah gave a message to the remaining children and staff on hearing the call of God. Carol read I Samuel 3 while three of the boys acted out the parts of Eli, Samuel,and the voice of God.  We sang praise songs, some that the kids already knew and some that were new to them, and the boy’s band played several spirited (and loud) songs on their electric guitars and drums.  Courtney gave another tap class after worship today which was very well attended and obviously in high demand by both boys and girls.  The boys didn’t even mind wearing girls tap shoes!  The afternoon activities included a "sad" game of Capture the Flag, reading with kids, Bible study by Sarah, organizing kitchen pantries (Linnet), Jamie playing in the dirt with the little kids, basketball games (Frank) and lots of food preparation by Carol and cook Maundy.  During chore time we found Kevin milking a goat and Courtney bottle feeding a baby goat (a first for both of them!)  Melissa was working on the goats hooves again today.

   

  Our days are long and tiring, but we are all falling in love with these kids and this beautiful place they call home.  Just a note to sort of describe our surroundings.  As you drive up a very sandy road you approach the Mink’s house which is like a long bungalow right next to the Zambezi River.  From the house you walk down a little path, over a little bridge to a gate behind which is the children’s home.  You walk into a big room where they eat and congregate.  To the right are the boys’ rooms and to the left are the girls’.  The kitchen is just off of the big room.  As you go back out the childrens’ home you walk to the left and the 3 school rooms are in another small bungalow.  Just past the school room is the bungalow in which Linnet and Courtney are staying.  That’s what it looks like here along with beautiful blue skies, big fluffy clouds and amazing stars at night.  You would not believe how many stars you can see from here.  Wow.

  

    We feel surrounded by God’s love here and we are uplifted by the knowledge that we are in your thoughts and prayers.  When we have the chance we do think of you, but we are really really busy!

  

Love to all of you.

Carol and Jackie

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Published:
7.8.07 / 4pm
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Team 2 Mission e-mails
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