Zambia

We have just returned from an assignment in Lusaka Zambia.  It was 33 degrees which is a bit over 91 Fahrenheit. Hhhhh...too warm for me, but the Jacaranda Trees were in full bloom filling the sky and littering the ground with beautiful lavender colored blossoms!

Saturday we had a little time before our meeting so we hired a driver to take us to the 

Kabwata Cultural Village.  

Our driver, Francis Mulamata.  Doesn't he have a great smile!

Saturday President Erickson (mission president) picked us up and took us to the church.  We enjoyed a great meeting with all the leadership of the 7 branches.  President Erickson taught them about holding effective council meetings and then let them break off and hold their own branch council. They also talked about becoming a stake, which they are very excited to do.  They almost have enough membership but not enough active, so they are focusing on activation on the "centers of strength."  After the meeting, Chris & I held a training meeting for the District & Branch clerks which included some newly called members.

Me, Br. LuBula Chikopa, Elder King, President Erickson

On our way home we saw a lady carrying a large bowl on her head full of bananas all arranged so pretty as to curve over the edge of the bowl.  She reminded me of the Chiquita banana lady.  

I did a double take as I saw a lady carrying on her head a big bowl full of live chickens!

I do wish I could have gotten a picture!

Sunday after church in the Libala Branch, we did two training sessions, one for a new branch clerk and one for two stake auditors.  While we waited for the 2nd meeting we were entertained by some adorable children.  The little girl asked us if we spoke Nyanja, to which I said no and then she said "That's because you're white people."  Ha ha!  It really is amazing in Africa, how many languages people grow up with.  Most people speak at least 4 languages, and apparently, we white people are known, even by 6 years olds, to be rather slim in our language assortment. 

Chris has fun stories loaded onto his ipad for our grandchildren.  He pulled it out and let the kids listen to lovable furry old Grover reading "The Monster at the End of this Book".  They loved it and wanted to hear it again and again. :)

We ended the day with a lovely dinner with President & Sister Erickson in the mission home.  She served a lovely meal of pasta, salad, garlic bread and peach cobbler for dessert.

Smell Walking

In the office with Elder & Sister Eppel

Being an office missionary has a downside... it does not give you exercise or vitamin D so we have to force ourselves to exercise.   Chris rocks on the elliptical!!  For me, I get my exercise by smell walking.  Ha ha, that's what I call it because even though the flats all looks the same, there is much variety in the smells.  Mmmm they are wonderful to breath in and then imagine what nationality lives there and what must they be eating etc.  Near flat 120 is most always incense and today 103 was pizza!  Mmmmm but no pizza here is like NY pizza!  (well, actually, no pizza anywhere is like NY pizza)  On the 2nd floor it smelled like a pork roast with rich greasy drippings.  Someone loves to clean in flat 350.  It usually has a delightful smell of clean laundry or sudsy fresh dish soap.  402 is most always curry.  Tucker (Jen's dog) would be so proud of me, sniffing out everyone's dinner. ha ha  I told Jen about it and she described it as a nostril feast.  It's amazingly quiet on all floors but now and then I have discovered that in 405 there is a guitar player who very much imagines himself being a great singer.  He will never be an Andrew King except perhaps in the enjoyment he gets out of it..  So my walk is inside, since we have been advised by our security person that it may not be safe to take a walk outside after work.  I go up and down and across all five floors.  Also - every morning we walk down 8 flights to the parking garage and of course back up at the end of the day.  Hopefully it'll keep the ol' bones from rusting out.

Andrew - 100 Days!!

Andrew has 100 days until his mission begins!  Isn't that exciting!  Also, he just got a promotion at work and a new calling as Executive Secretary in the Bishopric in his ward in Buena Vista VA!  :)  How blessed and well pleased we are in our wonderful children.

Singing with the Children

At the orphanage this week, Chris brought his ukulele and we sang songs including "You Are My Sunshine", "Little Grass Shack" & "Pearly Shells".  I taught the kids the hand motions and they LOVED it!  They were so cute.  They don't speak English so it was a bit challenging because I couldn't explain to them what the hand motions meant but they followed along as best they could.  

They then flocked around Chris, wanting a turn to play the ukulele.  They were all smiles and even the baby in a high chair was grinning.  Oh those kids are cute.  I so love them.

The sweetest thing happened as we were leaving the orphanage the last time we were there.  A little boy called out "I love you!"  I was so touched because they don't even know English!  

I love this picture.  One of the missionaries has it hanging on her wall.