Merry Christmas

           Christmas time in Zambia is so different than what we experience in the states.  I think the biggest difference is the heat.  I love snow and I always desired a white Christmas while living in the states, we only occasionally got one living in Oklahoma, but it would usually be sweater weather at least.  Now, here in Africa not only is it not ever sweater weather in Luangwa, but Christmas time is just… (pause for dramatic effect)… HOT.  What I desire here is a cloudy, windy rainy day.  This year we got a few clouds and rain throughout the night of Christmas’ eve and it stayed cloudy most of Christmas day.  It was such a blessing to have the sun hiding for most of the day.

            In the states you are inundated with all things that relate to the holiday season and I do mean holiday, and not Christmas.  More than ever this year we realized the difference between the holiday and Christmas season.  The holiday is about the tree, presents, decorations, snowmen, food and fellowship, etc.  Christmas is about honoring Christ on his birthday.  It’s so easy to get caught up in all things holiday that even as Christians we leave out the most important aspect of celebrating December 25^th.  Jesus Christ came to this dark, evil world to spread his grace and mercy.  We may go to church and say a prayer here and there, but do we really stop amongst the chaos to reflect and celebrate our perfect Savior’s birth.  Do we give thanks as we’re opening our gifts, are we good stewards of the money God has given to us as we buy presents,  do we honor Him with our attitudes as we stand in a mile-long line at the mall while someone is trying to cut in front of us?

            It’s much easier to stay focused on the truth of Christmas here in Zambia.  While there might be a few decorations and a little Christmas music played in Lusaka, out here in the bush there is nothing.  Zambians celebrate Christ by going to church and eating lunch together afterwards.  It’s very humbling to see these people glorify God on Christmas while I’m missing some of the holiday atmosphere from the states.  Now, I’m not saying anything to do with gifts and trees is wrong; I enjoy them as much as the next guy.  But living here, when I get down about missing the states during this season, I’m reminded about how little the sacrifice I’ve made to be here really is compared to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ coming to earth and dying on the cross.

            So we hope everyone is having a good holiday season and an even better Christmas!

African Rock Python

Yesterday was a really good day.  We woke up and got busy getting lunch ready and the house, both inside and out, presentable.  We had invited the chief over for lunch before we left for Thanksgiving and Thursday, December 1 was the date we all agreed on.  The chief and I are friends and I feel comfortable around him so we weren’t all that nervous about having him over but this was his first official visit and lunch.  Lesley cooked up a roast from that Lechwe I shot last month with some mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, biscuits, sweet tea and brownies.  We all had a really good time.  It is always fun to invite the locals over for a meal with silverware, no nshima and deserts.  The clashing of cultures is both comical and enlightening.  Tyler was very controlled and respectable for the duration of the visit.  After our company left, I washed the dishes and Lesley cleaned up the dining room.  We both fell on the couch and didn’t move for quite some time.  I knew I was in rather deep when I didn’t get up to answer the phone the first 5 times it rang over a 15 minute period.  Finally, it got the best of me and I decided to get up.

When I answered the phone it was Humphrey telling me there was a snake in the tree at the gas station and they wanted me to come take a look at it.  I seem to have become the resident herpatologist.  I arrived with my book and a professional snake handling device I made from a piece of re-bar.  They said it was up in the tree so I was hoping for something like a boomslang or a mamba but nope.  It was a python.  I have been waiting for this since we got here.  Yes, for those of you who don’t know, I do love snakes.  I have seen most of the nasties here but I have yet to see a python.  It was a small one, no more then 4 feet or so, but still very exciting.  I located the snake at the top of this tree, grabbed my re-bar and started up the tree.  You should have seen this place.  It was like a circus.  Africans HATE snakes and they were running as soon as I started climbing.  Of course they all think I’m crazy too for climbing up after this thing.  As it turns out, pythons are protected and you can get into some very serious trouble for killing one.  The owners of the filling station know me and didn’t want the snake killed so they were the ones who called to have me come and take it away before the locals got a hold of it.

I couldn’t grab it because it took off up the tree to the very top.  I came back down to move over to a better spot when one of the guys who works there climbed up as well.  He reached the top and was close enough for an extraction.  I told him to grab the snake by the head if he could and lo and behold he did it.  I was so impressed.  He didn’t even flinch.  Now when we came down he didn’t want to see it again, even in the sack.  Well, it turned out to be a real hoot.  I ended up taking the bag down the river a good ways to a place where there are no villages and made my way to the river to find a suitable home for him.  I parked and walked down this dry creek bed to the river.  Along the way I am making my way through a mine field of elephant dung, fresh hippo tracks and even slipped up on the back side of the very elusive and shy bush buck.  I have to tell you it was very exciting but also very real!  I was not in the woods back at 815 Lynwood Spring, Texas.  I found my way to the Zambezi to a tiny sand bank while I watched the sun slip behind the mountains.  The hippos were just in front.  Their deep bellows make your chest shake and the frogs all started to sing as the sun began to sink.  I opened the bag and off he slithered.  I know this is not what most people would find appealing, but it sure was a great feeling to be in the middle of nowhere and see all that God has created, even the snakes.

The swimming pool

Long ago, someone at the top thought it was not prudent for missionaries to own pools.  They were obviously stationed somewhere like a city or somewhere in a cold climate.  I am certain whoever made that call had never visited Luangwa.  As unfortunate as it is, there are still alternative ways to keep one’s self cool.  We have a wash basin that is big enough for you to sit in, and a really good size for Tyler to splash around and have some fun.  We have 2 tanks for water.  Both are 2,500 liters.  One is atop a platform and the other is buried.  From October – March/April we really don’t need the hot water heater.  At night we use only the cold water faucet and it is still, almost, uncomfortably hot.  However, when we use the water from the buried tank it is much cooler and refreshing.

Most every day will find one, if not all of us getting a few laps in the pool.  We get a few looks from passer-byes but we don’t mind.  The fun really begins when Tyler wants in with you.  He loves to splash and spray you with the hose.  In the late afternoon the sun is on the back side of the house so we move the pool to the front.  The chickens, guineas, ducks and dogs all chase the same shade.  Tyler shows no mercy with the water hose.  He has such a great smile and laugh.  He plays and splashes every time like it was his first time.   Soon enough he will have someone else to splash around with.

Speaking of Kenley.  She is doing great!  She handles the heat just fine.  She still sweats like a champ but it doesn’t seem to bother her too much.  At least she doesn’t say anything. =)  She is starting to roll over and smile a lot now.  I can’t believe you can actually forget just how awesome it is to see your baby smile at you.  I used to make fun of people who acted all goofy around their baby and made stupid little baby noises, but not anymore.  Now I am the one doing that very thing and loving every second of it.  She’s a little chunk and when you put her up against a baby of the same age from someone around here she looks like a giant!  Tyler is still so sweet to her and treats her so softly.  Of course she doesn’t want to play with any of his toys yet.  We thank God for our children.

Teaching T.E.E.

It has taken me a while to really feel like I have gotten my feet under me as a missionary.   I still think I have a little further to go but I have learned so much since we have been here and just recently I am starting to feel like I know what I am supposed to do and more importantly, how to do it.  Every missionary is different in their style of leadership, personality, gifts, talents and how they perceive God leading them to do His work in their area.  I have never fancied myself much as a pastor.  Instead I feel more at home when I am teaching.  It is the old adage of fishing for someone or teaching them to fish.  I am not saying that a preacher does the fishing, I am simply saying that I would like to teach people to fish.  I won’t be here forever.

I have taken 2 of the students from the Bible school, Humphrey and Felix, under my wing and am teaching them the ropes of teaching.  As a student in the Bible school they are to participate in extra-curricular activities such as teaching T.E.E., church planting, evangelism etc..  Teaching is usually a long and slow process where one usually does not see the fruits of labor for a while.  For me, that time has passed sufficiently and I am now beginning to see those fruits.  We meet 2-3 times a week and study the following week’s lesson.  Most of what I am teaching is super simple and would be taught to a younger youth group, or so thinks me.  Yesterday, we learned a simple 5 step formula for helping them to study and get a lesson prepared.  I took the sweetest 30 min lesson and crammed it into 2 hours and 40 mins.  Not an easy task, I know, but the Lord granted me much steadfastness.

The learning process was 2 fold.  First, they were having to ingest something that was a bit foreign to them.  We discussed the how to organize your thoughts and stay on track through the whole process.  Secondly, I was having to learn how to teach what I considered to be super simple.  We worked together and came up with a super simple formula for taking any scripture verse and developing a lesson from it for teaching.  I think one of the things I have been trying to wrap my mind around is the concept of time.  I did 2 things yesterday.  I taught a Bible study for an hour in the morning and then spent 2 ½ hours teaching in the afternoon.  When I filter all that thru life back home, it really ain’t all that much for an 8 hour work day.  When we first got here I was constantly fighting that battle.  I still like to get things done in a timely fashion and use up all of the daylight being productive but the definition of those 2 concepts has to be re-evaluated.

When I am hungry, I go to the pantry or fridge, get what I want and then either nuke it or turn on the gas and cook it.  I can go from hungry to full and ready to get back to work in under an hour.  You can’t forget the people with whom we are working do not have what we have and can take as long as 2-3 for the same process.  Then there is the issue of getting from point A to B.  It takes me 7 mins to drive to Mandombe where Felix lives but it takes him almost 1 hour to walk to where I live.  Let’s not forget it has been in the 130’s this week and he is walking to my house.  Another fun cultural difference is the “having to” stop and chat with some folks along the way.  My culture allows me to tell you I cannot stop because I have to be somewhere and you are not offended and I continue on my way.  Here, you have to stop and chat with some folks.  If you are thirsty from walking, because a 1 hour walk in 130 temps will make you very thirsty, and need to stop and ask someone for a drink, the process can take up to 15 mins.  Life is definitely different here and I am learning to love it.  I am really excited for this coming year and how the Lord will work.  Please pray for Humphrey and Felix as they are being obedient and diligent to God’s calling on their lives.  Pray that God will bless them with understanding as we continue to teach and learn together.

Running

I have been running lately trying to keep up the work I started while we were in South Africa.  I have a small home gym but I have to say, due to the heat, it is very difficult to get in there.  So to supplement, I have been running.  The only time to run out here, without DYING, is in the early morning or late afternoon.  In case you don’t know me all that well, I am opposed to the sun peaking in the window before 0700.  Since the sun begins its ascent at 0500, running in the a.m. is out of the question, which is unfortunate because it is the coolest part of the day.  For this reason, I choose to run just as the sun is falling behind the mountains.  Right now that happens around 1745 and, so that I don’t get caught out in the dark, I leave around 1730.  By this time the temp has fallen to around 115.  I know, it is still hot but way cooler than 130.  Can I just tell you how beautiful it is at that time of day around here?  I run an out and back along the back roads.  Leaving, I am privy to the Zambezi river on my left with a great view of Zimbabwe as the rift valley opens up.  Directly in front of me are the rising mountains of the valley as the sun sinks behind them coloring the sky with a beautiful array of colors.

I am always met by a slew of kids hollering “Muzungu”, which means “Hey everybody, look at the white guy”.  For the most part it is still charming but they say the only English phrase they know over and over and over and over, which is “how are you?”.  I am usually out of breath so I just wave and smile.   I see the same people every day and wave and say hello.  I also see the same herd of cattle walking along the road.  They make for a dusty run.  The road is really pretty good.  It is like a descent trail run back home.  Along the back stretch you can see signs of elephants and I always ask myself, could I get away?  I usually pump myself up by saying how fast I am and that I am light on my feet.  Well, Thursday evening I was out on my run and around the ½ point I heard the distinctive sound of an elephant meandering thru the underbrush just off the road.  My heart skipped a beat as I whipped my head around to try and find him.  By this point in the run I was exhausted and in need of a Big Gulp.  I kept running but didn’t see anything when, about 10 more yards, I saw a man picking fire wood through a break in the brush.  WoW!  That was a relief.

The run back is no less gorgeous.  Now the mountains are behind me, the Zambezi is on my right and in front of me are the mountains rising up in Mozambique with a view of the Luangwa river.  As the sun sets behind me it casts some beautiful colors onto the clouds around the mountains in front.  I pass the same cattle and kids on my way back home.  The kids usually run alongside me for a little while, reminiscent of Rocky.  Waiting for me when I arrive is a Texas sized cup of Sweat tea and a wash basin big enough for Tyler to get in full of water.  I curl up and slide into the wash basin in an attempt to cool the engines.  If I had a treadmill with A/C I think I would still choose the outdoors.  The air, the view, the people and everything else.  What a blessing.

T.E.E.

I have been teaching Theological Education by Extension, T.E.E., now since we got back from South Africa.  The course is called “The Shepherd and His Work”.  This is a really good course for the leadership of the churches in the area.  The turnout isn’t always stellar.  In fact, the church at the bridge has beenbegging me to spend some time with them and teach them something, even to the
point of verbally letting me have it just before we went to South Africa.  I told them that when we get back from SA Iwould be teaching this T.E.E. course and that they needed to get the books and begin the work.  There are 3 from the bridge church and 3 from another church which is just up the river.  So far, none of them have done the work, except for 1, and they all have lame excuses.  This past Wednesday I almost picked up my bags and left when they told me they hadn’t done the work.  However, in a matter of seconds the Lord reminded me that everyone is at a different level.  Not to mention there is 1 that does his work.  There are actually 2 but let me explain.  After each lesson we have a small test.  So, the week 1 test was being handed out and one of the students was talking to one of the guys that came with me on the trip.  Humphrey made his way over to me and began telling me what was said.  I was already getting my hard line disciplinarian answer ready when I was stopped cold in my tracks.  One of my students, who was very attentive in class and answered questions and even asked some, can’t read or write.  Let me just tell you, I was speechless for what seemed like forever.  Humphrey read the test to him and then wrote down his answers.  This takes place every week and every week he does the best.  I will go teach at the bridge if he is the only one who says he would come.

Let me give you a short run down on the day.  We meet on Wednesday’s.  So, between 0700 and 0800 I leave and pick up 2 guys who go along with me.  I am training 2 guys from the Bible school how to teach.  This is and has been a great little mentoring program that allows me to teach them to teach at the same time giving them the opportunity to put into practice what we learn.  I, too, am learning from them at the same time, culturally and linguistically.  Some of these folks out in the bush have a thick accent.  Nothing like Alabama but thick none the less.  So, these guys do a good job helping me with the tough questions.  Not to mention, when they have a question, they don’t just ask the question.  They preface the question with sooooooo much extra talk that by the time the question comes around I am not sure if he is talking about prayer, salvation, the tribulation or planting corn.  Anyway, it takes 1 ½ hours to get to the bridge if there are no elephants and I don’t stop and pick people up.  We teach for 1 ½ hours and then head back home.  30 mins closer to home is Chitope where the other 2 churches are.  These guys are a lot sharper than the bridge.  They all do the work and are really good at answering questions and taking the test.  I really like teaching this crowd.  That is not to say that I don’t like teaching the bridge churches.  In fact I do love the challenges that are faced at the bridge.  That place is very dark and lost.  We usually get home just in time for dinner.  It is a long day but a really good day.  We will be finishing up with this
course December 7^th.  I am trying to get some pix for ya’ll but it is really difficult to take my own pix while I am teaching.  Just know that I am working on it.  Please be in prayer for the men at the bridge churches as they grow.  Pray for their dedication and that God would bless their efforts.

The up side of heat.

It’s 1400 on a Saturday afternoon and it’s 110 degrees in the house. There are so many things to complain about in this heat but who wants to hear people complain? Exactly. So, for that reason, we would like to give you the positive side of 110 degrees in the house in the form of a list. This is not a ploy for sympathy or an attempt to get the medal for living in this heat. In fact, if there is such a medal, it is one which we would not want. If you have any other ideas on how we could view these next few months from a glass half full, please let us know.
- You don’t need a knife to spread peanut butter, it pours right out.
- There is no need for putting food in the warmer while you are cooking for large crowds. The counter will work just as well.
- Cuts down on heating costs.
- No need for the hot water heater.
- You don’t have to start your car 15 mins before you want to leave in the morning.
- No need to heat water up for tea or coffee, it’s ready straight out of the tap (and that’s the cold side of the faucet).
- Cans of soup are ready to serve right out of the pantry.
- Water boils faster.
- Leave a brisket out overnight and wake up to beef jerky.
- No need for the dryer. You can take clothes straight from the washer to the closet.
- Wet wipes are like the hot towels they give you after a long flight.
- By the time you walk from the shower to the dresser you are already dry.
- You can eat a Hersey chocolate bar with a straw.
- You don’t have to worry about lying on cold sheets, you instantly feel the heat from them.
- You don’t have to dry the dishes.
- Meat thaws very quickly
- You don’t have to worry about that pesky ice getting in your way while drinking.

The kids

We’ve been back now for a while and we have some pix to share.  The ones of Tyler are all different, vibrant and will of action and joy.  The ones of Kenley, however, are all of her sleeping.  So, to liven’ things up a bit, we changed her clothes and the angle of the pic.  Tyler is such a good boy with his new baby sister.  He is still learning the meaning of gentle but his affection is unquestioned.  Kenley doesn’t seemed to be phased by the heat.  At least she hasn’t said anything to us about it.  All she every seems to cry about is food.  Enjoy our kids thru some of these pix.

We’re back in Luangwa

Our time in Joberg was useful and we were able to get a lot of needed things accomplished while we were there.  The folks in Joberg have totally set the bar for what every other country should look like in the way of mission office and personnel.  This is not a slam on any other country’s office or personnel but rather an opportunity to say to the folks at the head offices in Joberg how wonderful ya’ll are.  We left Monday last week from Joberg and headed to Gabs, Botswana.  When we were crossing the border out of South Africa, I gave all of our passports to the lady and she asked me where the other 3 people were.  I told her they were in the car because one of them was just 2 weeks old and mamma was feeding her.  So she asked me where her papers were and I told her she was holding them, the passport.  She said this wasn’t good enough that I needed more.  And I was like you want to see a receipt or something?  The whole thing was rather comical because every question they asked us the passport answered.  Needless to say we made it across with no probs.  We stayed in Gabs with some friends of ours we met at 40/40.  What a great family and wonderful hospitality.  Brent and I went huntin’ for warthog one day.  What a great way to welcome the birth of a new child, right?  We had a really good time out in the wide open.  Amanda’s sweet tea should be patented and Tyler and Taylor played like long lost friends.  We spent 2 days there as we slow rolled our way back home.  It is a 30 hour drive that takes 3 days and we decided to take a little longer with the new one.

Thursday morning we headed down the road a bit and made it to Nata, Botswana.  Here is a hidden gem.  We stayed there for one night and got some pretty good rest, woke somewhat early and loaded up the truck then made our way to the border.  We got to the border about 1230.  There ain’t much to Botswana so I was ready to cross the border and liven things up a bit.  Just before the border we ran into a few elephants and Tyler had been asking to see them for the lat 3 hours.  So that was a real blessing.  As we crossed the river on the barge, Tyler was all about finding hippos.  On the Zambian side the passports were relatively easy.  I didn’t have Kenley added to our work permit so that caused a tiny hick-up that bought us 30 more days to fix but should be an easy fix.  Customs was cake as well getting all of the things we bought stamped.  Everything seemed too easy but the X-factor was 30 feet in front of us.  We still had to get thru the gate and passed the customs agent.  I asked one of them where to get my gate pass.  (BTW, I know where to get the gate pass, I was just so excited to get thru customs with all my stamps and no hassle I bolted out to the vehicle that I forgot to get it.  I say all this because the agent was approaching me cause we were parked by the gate apparently blocking some truck traffic and he was coming over to ask what I was doing.  So I thru him a curve ball.)  He told me not to worry about it that he would check us thru.  We made the requisite small talk then he proceeded to peer into the windows.  Thanks to a new tint job from our time in SA he couldn’t see in.  As he made his way to the back he asked me to unlock the door so he could see in.  Mind you, the truck is packed to tightly it took me 2+ hours to pack up.  Tyler and Kenley weren’t pitching fits but they weren’t angles either.  I had to run back to the front and turn the vehicle off to get the keys to open the door and on my way up the pressure from the kids and the trucks we were blocking caused him to say, “Don’t worry about it.  Just go.”  BLESSING!!!

Off we went headed to Choma for the night.  On our way into Livingstone we came across some giraffe.  We hit Livingstone for lunch but didn’t go to see the falls.  I mean after you have seen it as many times as we have seen it, it’s just another waterfall, right.  No big deal.  (That last line was for a friend of ours.)  Almost to Choma we called our friends for directions only to find out that something had come up and we would not be able to stay.  To far to turn back and yet a ways to go we decided to press on.  We made it to Lusaka that night and stayed there until Monday.  We bought some groceries and then headed out to Chongwe to stay with some friends of ours.  They have 3 kids that Tyler loves to play with.  Then Tuesday morning we got up and headed back to Luangwa.  We got in around 3 and unpacked to a filthy house.  Our house isn’t very “air tight” and August is very windy.  So, you can imagine how dusty and dirty it was.  We spent all day cleaning up and putting up.  There will be more of the same tomorrow I am certain.

The good news is, that we all arrived safe and sound.  Tyler was a real champ the whole trip.  Kenley did fantastic as well.  Our puppies are still alive and we still have all our birds.  The itty bitty ducklings I left 4 short weeks ago are huge now.  The guineas are no long keets and the chickens were all still there.  There are bananas on the trees and the grass is growing.  Jacob is worth his weight in gold, I just wish I had that much to pay him.  It will be good to get back to some sort of schedule.

Daddy’s little girl

We went to the doctor for a visit yesterday and everything looked perfect.  In fact, I can’t remember how it came up but, he said if we wanted to induce he could do it for us tomorrow (i.e. today).  We respectfully declined, but on the way home we discussed how easy it would be to simply pack our bags, drive to the hospital and say, “Ok doc, we’re ready.”  In the back of our minds we liked the possibility but we still wanted to wait a little longer.  After the doctor, we went to help a friend of ours pack up their vehicle for their return trip to Zambia.  Another couple we know from Zambia was down here to deliver.  We got home a little late and hit the hay right away in preparation for a big shopping day on Thursday.  There are several supplies we wanted to pick up while we are here cause they are cheaper down here.

This morning we got up and experienced some minor difficulties so we decided to call the doctor to see what he thought and he thought we should pack our bags and come on in.  Lesley already had her bags packed and after breakfast we loaded up the ride and took off.  It’s a 30 min ride to the hospital and the whole time I was trying to wrap my mind around the idea of having a baby today.  Needless to say, we didn’t go shopping today.  We got to the hospital around 10ish.  By just after 11 I had finished getting some paper work in order and made my way up to our cozy little semi private room to find Lesley.  The Doctor had given her something to help things move along a little quicker.  I wasn’t gonna argue because I didn’t want to pull a double-header that went into extra innings.  Somewhere just after noon we moved into the delivery room and by 1 the lady with the good stuff rolled in.  I am amazed at how fast that stuff works.  Lesley went on a small rollercoaster ride for a little bit before things leveled out.  By 2 she had her sea legs under her and we were just sitting there chattin, trying to pass the time away.  It seemed to slip by pretty fast and 3 o’clock just slipped up on us.  The nurse came in to check on here and said it’s game time.  I was soooooo excited.  I was moving things around trying to get my spot for the big event ready.  In 5 mins the doctor and nurse were in there suiting up and at 3:13 daddy’s little girl took her first breath.  The whole event was such a joy.  We were all talking and being very relaxed.  Lesley was just as awesome as she was when she gave birth to Tyler.  It was a good and short labor and great delivery.  The doctor and nurse were excellent.

They gave Kenley to Lesley almost immediately.  She was 3.52 kilos.  Still not sure yet what that means in real weight measurements but I know she was a might bit bigger than Tyler.  She was 19 3/4 inches long with a head of dark hair and plenty of cute baby chunk.  When Tyler was born we had lots of friends and family around and that was such a blessing.  What a joy it is to share the birth of your first-born, or any born, with people you know and love.  This time was different but also good.  About 20 mins after birth it was just us in the room.  It was very quiet and peaceful.  Tyler came up around 5 to see his new baby sister.  Not sure if he realizes his personal time just got demolished but it will be fun working with them both.  He and I had to come back to the guest house tonight but we will be back up there first thing in the morning.  Please pray for Lesley and Kenley as they both recover.  We thank God for giving us the opportunity to experience a child again.  We thank Him for the patience and the grace and the mercy He has granted to us over the last 2 years.  My wife has been strong and of good character thru it all and I thank God for her.  She has given me two wonderful children.  What a blessing it is to have a good Godly wife.  Thank you baby.  Besos.