Hello friends!!
Thanks for checking out this place even though
there's been an awful lack of updates lately! :( One afternoon while I was helping in the AIDS office at the hospital I tried to write a post but had internet troubles and it was deleted :/
Now I'm trying again at 5am!
I think where I had began was recounting the cobra story. It was just after my last bog post. I arrived home from my internet session at the hospital at 12.30am and walked into my dark kitchen... then I noticed some movement and saw this terrible 1m-long snakelike form making its way out from under the oven. So scary! I tiptoed to my room to grab some shoes for protection then got out a bunch of brooms and sticks which I put in strategic locations so I could win the fight against the snake at any angle. I struck at it at least 5 times but I didn't count on it being so fast, it was crazy! It soon became aggressive, rising up and jutting its head toward me. I wanted to be the hero of the house saving my friends from the night predator but then Dr Missy woke and her solution was to trap the non-conforming snake in a tupperware, which actually worked! The next day another missionary's outdoor worker disposed of it for us.
Since then the tally of sighted snakes has gone up to about 6 I think! Yesterday I succeeded in killing my first one.
The rainy season has finally arrived and I've been caught miserably in a couple of big downpours! I didn't hear much of the last church service even though the bilingual preachers were shouting at the top of their voices, because of the loud rain. There is thunder and lightning all the time! I'm really enjoying the storms, though we have a lot more bugs and frogs and snakes around now. The fireflies are cool though. We had a really clear starry night on sunday so me and my housies took the opportunity to go chill at the airstrip and just soak in God's awesomeness. I still haven't found the Southern Cross though!
I have felt incredibly blessed lately with the friendships God has brought into my life here, both mzungu and Zambian. It's great to learn new things and see things from the local perspective.
Apart from that I've been eating HIPPO, caterpillars, and lots of nshima!
Last weekend I went to a Zambian friend's place and we made Viseka together - a local beverage made from mealie meal [maize] and plant roots. You have to be careful to refrigerate it though because it turns alcoholic after a few warm days!
^We've had some monkeys about the place, and I finally go to see them last week! They're so cool, I could watch them all day. There were probably about 20 leaping through the trees and babies falling through the branches.
I have spent a few afternoons recently visiting a Paediatric ward at the
hospital. It's lots of fun playing with the kids (mainly suffering from
burns) and trying to communicate with their mums! This boy is Ilunga, who has stayed in the ward for about 4 months - had terrible body burns and they thought he wouldn't make it but he was just discharged last week, praise God! He was just starting to use his arms and legs again so he loved football and it was exciting seeing his improvement each time!
^ A group of the gr2 Academy kids who are sometimes a bit overwhelming, but totally gorgeous! I help with their class a couple of afternoons in the week by taking the better readers outside to an open building where we practice reading together and helping each other learn 'big' words. I am finding school a bit stretching lately as I've covered for some teachers who've been away, but God is giving me strength.
^Chilling with some kids at the tennis court. Mande, on the right, is a gr2 girl from school. I have spent a lot of afternoons playing with these girls and a bunch of others at the court across from my house. Last time I was in Solwezi I bought a soccer ball and it has made me even more popular with the kids! Every day we get several knocks at the door - my housemates here it and s second later 'Ruth!'... yep, my little friends have come to play, or ask for water, or just greet me :)
^These are two boys Caliph and John (L-R) with their father, Mr Kasalwe. Caliph and his slightly older brother have been doing a bit of outdoor work at my house to give them something worthwhile to do and help them earn some money for the family. Last week I walked out to their village, Kivuku, to visit the family. It was great to see their place and get a tour of their garden (pictured), they grow the typical cabbages & maize.
Something to praise God for is the progress on the new school building at the Academy - last week the roof was put on. It's so exciting :D
I was really encouraged by a sermon I heard lately from Nehemiah 1 - teaching us about a leader's heart and using him as an example for prayer. I want to encourage you to check it out!
thanks for following my journey!
Remember that
the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) :D
