The Most Awesome Way to Buy Veggies

I shared before how shocked we were to find the cost of living in Ndola much higher than we expected. Our rent is more than double our budgeted amount. Buying groceries at the only full size grocery store is also very expensive. I turned the situation into a challenge (I can see all of my friends laughing right now) and determined to find a way to live within our budget even when it seemed there was no way to do so.

When we lived at the guest house, I bought our veggies from some women on the corner a couple of blocks away. When we moved to this house, we lost our source of fresh vegetables. I asked Augustine and Bridget if we could arrange to have a vegetable seller stop by the house.

"Oh yes, yes!" was their reply. "There is a lady who comes into our neighborhood every day selling fresh vegetables from the farms located near the river."

"Perfect!" I said. That afternoon, Augustine found the lady and told her we would buy fresh vegetables from her every day that she could come.

I can't tell you what a blessing this is to me. Truly! We must buy our vegetables daily because our refrigerator freezes them. Yes, we lowered the thermostat but still, the vegetables were frozen by the time we were ready to cook in the evening. Appliances work very differently here. Going into town every day doesn't work because transportation is so high as are the store's prices.

We are grateful for the fresh veggies. We are grateful for the opportunity to bless this dear lady by being her best customers. And we are grateful for the prices. Today I bought three bunches of pumpkin leaves, (a true delicacy here in Zambia), garden eggs, (some sort of white peppers), and nine mangoes for 7,000 kwacha. That amounts to $1.75. We will eat the vegetables tonight for dinner and the mangoes were gone before lunch was over.

Last night we had fresh corn on the cob, rice, and "relish" which is what they call anything you top rice or eat nshima with. I cooked the relish with garlic, onions, fresh spinach, and vine-ripened tomatoes. Talk about delicious! Usually, Zambians also add ground nuts (peanuts) to the relish too. We haven't tried that yet but I imagine it must be tasty. For those of you outside of Central Oregon, tomatoes are outrageously expensive there. I would have never considered cooking them!

Oh, and did I mention that this lady appears to be in her sixties? I hope you enjoy these images as much as I enjoyed capturing them. I never thought it could be fun to buy vegetables. I know, I am spoiled rotten!

Here she comes with the huge basket on her head. I cannot pick up this basket, I tried. This lady carries it on her head up hills and fairly long distances!

She brings a different variety every day. I asked for cucumbers but she didn't have any. However, there are so many choices, who needs to be picky? Not me!

She has the kindest face and most beautiful smile. She must also be very healthy because people her age are few in Zambia.

After we bought our goods, Augustine helped her put the basket up on her head. I tried to help but couldn't make it budge an inch off the ground!

So what has eating all of these vegetables done for our health? Oh my, where do I even start? I estimate that I have lost between 35-40 pounds and we haven't even been here three months. We don't have scales so I can only guess but my clothes are all way too big. I feel incredible most of the time unless I stay up too late working on my blog :)

Jason has thinned down too. Of course he had much less to lose than me so he needs to maintain his weight now. The kids haven't lost weight, but they eat more rice, potatoes, and nshima than we do. They also eat bread. Since whole grain bread is not available here, I don't eat the bread at all as I just can't stand white bread. The kids use it for sandwiches at lunch. All of them, including Caylie, eat 1 1/2 sandwiches each and usually a piece of fruit. Every now and then we buy canned tuna or sardines for them.

We are fortunate to have available fresh farm eggs, the most delicious milk you ever tasted, and yogurt. You may be wondering why we don't eat meat. Well, meat is processed differently here than in the States. It's difficult for any of us to even walk near the meat section of the store because of the overwhelming smell.

Soon after arriving in Zambia, Isata asked me why we don't buy chicken. I told her that I would take her to the meat department and see if there was something she wanted. We got almost there when the odor caused her to around and say, "Okay, now I know why we don't buy chicken." I hope this doesn't come across as being disrespectful to the people here. It is just the way it is. The reason I don't try to work through it is because we are doing just fine without meat. It is extremely expensive so we really don't need to develop a taste for it as there are many other ways to get our protein.

I am glad we will be here long enough to develop healthy eating habits. That's already happened but only because we don't have other options. If I had fresh ground coffee, half-n-half, pizza, Costco, I'm sure the good eating habits would fly right out the window. The reason I know this is because when we talk to Justin on the web cam, he drinks a huge cup of coffee right in front of us! Then laughs about it! Every time I see his cup of coffee I know that if I had half a chance, I'd be downing it just as much as before.

Below is a photo of last night's relish before it cooked down. It was yummy!


Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Edited to add: Scratch the pumpkin leaves. Carlin loves them but he is the only one. We'll stick to spinach. But hey, you don't know until you try right?

More School Pix

All of the kids love working on maps. Farai is thrilled to pieces that he has something to take home every day. I know that he doesn't grasp a lot of history because of the language barrier but he does very well. Most importantly, he has discovered that learning is fun!

Paper, pencils, colored pencils are all in short supply. The next time you go to Costco for ruled paper, think of us. We cannot purchase regular lined paper at any price and what is available is extremely expensive.

Ooops, just when I thought we had a real "Norman Rockwell" moment, Farai started coloring on Shauna's map which almost brought her to tears. She is very meticulous about her work.

When we first moved here, Farai was a little stinker. As the only biological child his parents will ever have, he was rather unruly. Actually, that is an understatement. He was rude and obnoxious. We weren't here two hours when Jason had finally told him to go home.

He climbed the security gates that surround every window downstairs. We would walk into a room to see Farai looking in while hanging on the iron grates. When he spoke to any of the girls, he would say "Girl, come!" in a very demanding tone. The final straw was when he chopped the head of a frog just for the fun of it. That's when Jason told him if he was going to behave that way, he would not be playing with our children.

You would never know all of this now. He has learned to address all of us politely. He has not killed any creatures. He uses "please and thank you" and generally has become part of our family. Actually, we enjoy him very much these days.

About a week ago, Augustine and Bridget were here following a wild storm. The kids were excitedly running all around the yard. Farai jumped up into the tree and the said, "Caylie, will you come here please?" His parents stood there with dropped jaws. They thanked us many times for their "new" son.

It's time to get back to my little ones.

Blessings and joy to all,
Beckie

Our New Student

Educating our children at home here in Zambia has raised many eyebrows. It's just not done. How is it possible to learn without wearing uniforms, without a school building? If at all possible most people choose to enroll their children in private schools. Government schools are notoriously over crowded and understaffed. Sound familiar?

Farai Matamba is in grade 4 and still unable to read. This is terribly embarrassing for him as well as his parents. Individual attention is not possible as his classroom is crammed with at least 45 other students most needing help.

From what I can tell, children are taught penmanship, how to read, and some math. Algebra is not even started until high school. Augustine was shocked to see what our children are learning. He told us that they are working at a grade 9 level here in Zambia. That said, every Zambian's penmanship that I have seen is flawless. I was absolutely shocked. Penmanship is one thing that is drilled from preschool on up.

Elementary students are on summer break for six weeks. They will not return to school until January. Farai asked if he could participate in our "school" during his long vacation. We are hoping to have him reading between now and January. He is working on math facts as well and seems to love sharing the day with us. Of course all of our studies are in English as are those in Zambian schools. Kids are not taught in their native Bemba language.

Farai, Carlin, and Steven work every day to learn each other's languages. Farai has a basic understanding of English but not enough to really understand our history, geography, or science lessons. But that doesn't keep him from trying. We are trying to find maps and a globe here as it is really difficult for all of us to function without maps!

We are very mindful of not starting something that cannot continue after we leave Zambia. So I will work with Farai in his spare time but he will stay enrolled at his school.

I thought you would enjoy these photos of the boys and of Carlin helping Farai learn to sound out words. These days are priceless with all of our children. I thank God every day for the privilege to be their mother.




I tried posting this entry yesterday but was unsuccessful as our internet connection is very unstable. I spent way too much time re-trying over and over again. The internet works well for a few seconds and then is interrupted. The key is to hit the "publish" button during those seconds when everything is operating correctly. It just didn't happen last night.

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Pressing Forward

I struggled with writing this post so soon after BJ's memorial. How do I focus on daily life when time stands still for his family, friends, and church? What can I do to honor him since we couldn't even attend his memorial? As I reflected on how Jason and I first came to know BJ, the answers to these questions became clear.

I think it was a year ago more or less that BJ approached Jason about accompanying him on a short-term missions trip to repair homes damaged during hurricane Katrina. As much as he wanted to go, the timing was not right for Jason to be away from home and work since we were preparing for our move to Zambia.

BJ made a difference in this world by reaching out to others and the community in practical ways. In honor of everything BJ Fisher stood for, I dedicate this entry to his memory.

Edited to add this quote from an email I received earlier this evening about the memorial service. It blessed me so much I just had to share it with all who read this blog. (used with permission)

"The memorial for BJ on Saturday was absolutely amazing! I think the entire Redmond Fire Department showed up (they took up 2-3 rows in the balcony) and the trucks were parked out in the big parking lot, which the city had roped off. The fire dept crews extended the hook and ladder all the way up and then hung a US flag at half-mast to honor BJ. Just looking out at the Fire Dept. vehicles and seeing that flag made me cry. The sanctuary was packed to literally overflowing! We added about 50 chairs and still there were people standing in any available space. The fellowship hall was set for 100 and it was full, standing room only, and there were chairs and people in the foyer. I would guess 600+/- people there to honor a real man of God. The “open mic” time was a real testimony to how many lives BJ touched. There were so many MEN that got up to share and show how much BJ had affected them (only about 3 women) it was very touching. The general consensus is that he is in heaven building homes for all of us! He will definitely be missed here at home." Dianna Veldsma

*****

As I shared in earlier posts, the Matamba family lives behind us in a tiny dwelling originally built to house servants. In exchange for rent, Augustine teaches our children Karate. He is also the grounds keeper and he cleans the floors in our home which requires about three hours each day.

Each morning, except Sundays, Augustine sweeps, mops, and shines the floors in our home. Every few days, he applies "Cobra", a paste wax. The days after, he buffs the floor with a rag and buffing brush. The floors in this house are in terrible condition. Many tiles are missing or damaged but keeping them polished every day makes them look beautiful.

He says that he enjoys this work very much because it allows him to train while he works. Jason teases him that if he trains, he has to pay us. If he cleans, we will pay him. The best way to describe Augustine's work ethic is to say he works with the same level of integrity as my wonderful husband. I don't know too many people that I can say the same thing about. What a blessing he is to us.

Last week, he approached us about making bricks here on the property. Foundation bricks are quite expensive, at least $1.00/each. For someone with monthly earnings of less than $100, this price makes it nearly impossible to build a home in time to raise his son there. If he can make the bricks himself, then his cost is reduced by half.

A few years ago, Augustine and Bridget had saved enough to buy a plot of land for $1,000 (4 million kwacha). Since then, they have gathered materials little by little to begin building their house. They plan to have the house ready to move into by the time we move back to America in three years. Since they are paying for supplies as they use them, they will own their house completely debt free.

One of Augustine's Karate students pays him in materials. This month, he bought ten metal roofing sheets and several bags of cement. He also bought a mound (I have no idea how much) of "flat stone" with which to mix cement for making bricks. The day that he had enough materials to begin brick-making, he was excited as any little kid at Christmas.

Making the bricks here, behind the security wall is the only way to protect them from thieves. If the Matamba's took everything out to their property, it would all be gone by the next morning. So creating the bricks here has given us yet another way to bless the family.

Mixing cement by hand is grueling, back-breaking work. These bricks will be used for the foundation so it is essential that the mixture is correct or the whole house could suffer. In the photo above, Augustine has everything ready for the molds. He fills it, then tamps it down to remove air, and then tops it off.

This is a close-up view.

He carries the 30 pound bricks over to the side where they begin to cure. During the first 24 hours, they are suppose to be kept dry. About 3:00 this morning, a huge storm swept through Ndola. Augustine was out in the pounding rain covering his newly formed bricks with plastic.

There are three parts to the brick mold. Above Augustine removes the second part. The first is sitting by his boots.




And here are the finished products. The amount of work involved in this is incredible. Augustine plans to make 100 bricks each day. After the foundation bricks are done, he will begin the much smaller red bricks which will make up the sides and walls of the home.

Augustine and Bridget pastor a small church in the compounds. They have asked to be included in Market-place Ministries Training when Jason begins teaching. The family already ministers to people daily but they desire and need foundational teaching so that they can raise up solid leaders. How exciting it is to be part of what God is up to in Zambia! Solid leaders living lives of integrity will have huge impacts on the country.

I know I've said this before, but it is worth repeating again, Jason and I are just one small part of an amazing team. We are making a difference here in Zambia because each member of the team is doing its part. Not everyone can live here. Not everyone can give finanically. Not everyone prays. But everyone CAN do something. And that is what makes the SibZam team effective. Each member does his/her part. In that way, you are affecting Zambia. But Zambia is also affecting YOU. It is certainly a WIN-WIN situation.

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Heavy Hearts

It came as a total shock then turned into deep sadness and heavy hearts when we received news that one of our friends and SibZam ministry partners, BJ Fisher, died unexpectedly at the age of 44 earlier this week. When Jason and I opened the email, we had to read it several times before it finally sunk in that it was indeed our friend who passed away and not someone else with the same name.

Today a memorial service will be held for BJ at our home church in Redmond, Oregon. While we cannot physically attend, our hearts and minds will be there with our church family as BJ's life is celebrated.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Lori and the children as they prepare for a future without husband and daddy.

Blessings,
Beckie

Simple Pleasures

These images were captured a few nights ago. Steven and Carlin are absolutely thrilled to pieces with the lizards, frogs, bats, and insects that are abundantly available within our own yard. Farai is a bit afraid of frogs and lizards which is why he was content to hang onto the boys instead of another frog. Caylie was right in the middle of all the action as well. Aren't these just the cutest little faces?

Carlin and Steven wanted me to be sure to post a closeup of one of the frogs. So...here it is.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. This year we are especially aware of the awesome gifts of friends and family that God has so graciously given us. While we don't have the "stuff" to celebrate, we do enjoy the love and relationships just like we did before we left. For each one we give thanks.

Blessings,
Beckie

Quick Update on Jason

HE IS HOME!!! He called me when the bus rolled into Ndola at 9:00 p.m. our time. Caylie tried to wait up but she finally crashed about 8:30. The rest of us were so excited that we stayed out by the gate for 20 minutes until the taxi finally turned the corner on our road.

The evening was priceless. As soon as their father collapsed in the nearest chair, the kids put his feet on the coffee table, removed his shoes and socks, then rubbed his neck, shoulders, and feet while listening intently as he shared his experiences of the past week. He was so glad to be home again.


There is so much to share about the trip. Jason captured 239 photos that are downloading to my computer as I type.

We decided to declare tomorrow a "no school" day so that we can enjoy every minute with Jason, Daddy, and Papa.

Thank you all for your prayers for his safe return. He is skinnier, dehydrated, exhausted, and HOME!!!

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Do you recognize any of this Sharon? It's one of many photos taken from the Malawi church property looking out.

Learning to Cook Nshima at Home

It just doesn't get any better than this for my girls. I've shared before that nshima is Zambia's staple food. Little babies take their first bite of it before they are a year old. Small girls look forward to the day when they will be strong enough to stir it on their own. Nshima is not just food here; it's a part of Zambian identity. It is prepared at least twice each day requiring strong arms and shoulders to stir. There are two ingredients in nshima, water and mealy meal which is a heavily processed maize (corn) flour.

There are two different grinds, coarse and breakfast. The breakfast grind is a powdery texture with just a tiny bit of grain. The coarse is about the consistency of Cream of Wheat. Both grinds are made with water only. For lunch and dinner, the cook continues adding flour (mealy meal) a little bit at a time until it forms a stiff dough. It is always eaten by hands only, no utensils of any kind.

For breakfast, it is much thinner, like porridge. No matter how it is eaten, it seems to be a real comfort food and must be served to Zambian guests or they are almost, no they ARE offended. This is one of the first cultural lessons we were taught by more than a few people within days of landing in Zambia.

All of the Sibley kids like nshima. The girls have been waiting for Bridget to teach them how to cook the sacred dish on our own stove in our own pots. The pictures below tell the whole story.

Bridget is stirring with a heavy wooden spoon she brought from home while Isata adds mealy meal a little at a time. After the mixture is a porridge like consistency, it is covered to keep the boiling blops inside the pot where it cooks undisturbed for ten minutes.

Sia and Shauna prepare the vegetables that we will eat with the nshima. They like each ingredient finely chopped which seems like too much work to me but they are the cooks!

Okay, ten minutes is up. It is now time to add more mealy meal slowly while trying to keep the hot mixture from bubbling all over the stove or bare hands.

During this process, Bridget was talking to the girls about nshima and how to make it just right. I am in awe of Zambian women. They are STRONG!

Bridget show Shauna how to stir just right. She doesn't pull the spoon over the whole pan. Instead she uses it to squish the mixture against the side of the pot.

Now she turns the mixing over to Shauna. It must be mixed thoroughly to remove any lumps. Isata is cooking the "relish" which is anything eaten with nshima.

Now it is Isata's turn to stir. This was very difficult for both girls. But they enjoyed Bridget's instruction and presence in the kitchen.

Sia prepares more vegetables. They are so yummy!

After cooking, the pot is covered for a few minutes while the rest of dinner is prepared and served. Then it is scooped out of the pan with a special spoon. After cooling just a bit, it is ready to dig into, literally. It is eaten with fingers and hand. Last night, there was more juices than usual in the sauce. The kids had a ball but oh were they all a miss when they finished.

Jason should return from his trip to Malawi this evening. He will be absolutely exhausted. He called me last night just before climbing on board the bus to sleep. Yes, you read that right. The bus was scheduled to depart at 4:30 a.m. so everyone just spent the night on a parked bus.

They were hoping to reach Lusaka in time to catch an early afternoon bus to Ndola. That didn't happen but he still should be home some time tonight. Once he gets rested, I hope he will write a post about the trip to put on our website www.sibzam.org under the journal section. We've only talked a handful of times for just a few minutes. But it was enough for me to hear the extreme exhaustion in his voice. He is absolutely spent. My heart ached for him all night knowing he was trying to sleep on the bus.

Thank you all of your love and prayers. You are with us every step of the way.

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Camera in the Hands of Boys

A couple years ago, Justin gave his little brothers an old digital camera with the stipulation that they invest what they were prepared to pay him for it into an ING account. They each opened an account in their own names with a balance of $10. Carlin is already talking about his retirement and how much that $10 will have grown after 55 years.

Once the boys got their hands on the camera, nothing nor nobody was safe. They figured out how to operate their new contraption completely on their own. Carlin actually captured several minutes of Joey Harrington (former quarterback for Oregon Ducks, Heisman trophy candidate, graduated the same year as Justin) playing professional football on our television. Of course that was along with the dog, bugs, worms, anything he could find. Think paparazzi.

It didn't take long for Steven and Carlin to realize that they needed more memory. They pooled their earnings and bought the largest memory card their crumpled wad of cash would allow on EBay. That little camera ranks right up there with Legos for keeping them entertained. In fact, the camera continues to work for them despite continual mishaps.

Imagine the fun our Zambian neighbor boy had with the little camera and his American friends. I shared my blog with Farai and his family and they were thrilled to pieces that their pictures were featured on it. The boys got their camera out and the three of them have played with it all day.

These are some of the results. Remember, this is life viewed through the eyes of three little boys. I had no idea what I would find on their memory card.

Carlin said, "And here is Shauna working on her favorite subject." What she thought of that comment is written all over her face.

Next they went to the Matamba home and asked Augustine to show off his muscles. Obviously they need to work a bit on their framing skills.

Of course, neither of the Sibley boys were going to be out shined.

When I saw this one, it brought back memories of Justin. He was quite impressed with his own muscles at this age too. Carlin is actually kissing his bicep.

Of course they always get the most flattering photos of their sisters.

They placed the camera on a table, set the timer, and posed. This is what any bad guy would face if he jumped our gate. Scary!!!

See what a few weeks of Karate can do? This is another of their self-timer pictures.

When I downloaded these pictures, the girls and I laughed and laughed (Jason is still not home). These guys aren't the least bit camera shy when they are the ones in charge of the camera.

I hope you have as much fun looking at these photos as we did.

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

I Will Never Be the Same

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."
Psalms 19:1

Summer in November takes some getting use to. Yesterday was especially warm. It was also Karate day. Augustine waits until 6:00 p.m. (18:00 Zambian time) before beginning the class so the kids don't over heat. It is usually ten or more degrees cooler than even two hours earlier.

I carried my camera and water bottle to the area reserved for Karate lessons. Both of my little boys ran for the patio to carry over a chair assuring me they picked the very best one just for me. As a mother of two grown children, I know that these days when my six youngest find so much joy in my presence will be gone all too soon. Not only do I attempt to capture these memories with my camera, but I also tuck them away in the corners of my heart.

As I watched my children practicing Karate and listenend to their enthusiastic voices counting in Japanese, I was struck by how odd the whole setting was. There are times when I can't find adequate words to describe my experiences and this is most certainly one of those times. The last sliver of sun had slipped below the horizon. Evening migrations of hundreds of bats flying overhead from the west to destinations unknown, had begun to fill the sky. They weren't alone. Termites and other insects participated in the nightly ritual as well. Frogs could be heard croaking and crickets clicking.

I looked back to where our Zambian friend and neighbor was instructing all of my kids along with his own, in the Japanese discipline of Karate. How awesome and strange were these sights and sounds, like they didn't belong together in my American mind and yet, there they were.

Below are just a few photos that I was able to capture before darkness forced the lens cap on and the camera shut off.

Here is the chair that my sons so lovingly brought out to me.

They leave their shoes at the edge of the grass.

Carlin and Farai make sure they are facing the camera in this shot.

Augustine wears heavy boots to add weight for his legs. After this class, we watched one with young Zambian men who have trained with Augustine for almost four years. Their strength and movements were incredible.

You can probably guess that this is the strength part of the training. I cannot believe how fast the kids have progressed. They go as fast as they can the full length of the grassy area and then return backwards to the starting line where they trade off.

Caylie is right in the middle of it all begging for more and harder exercises. I think she will be an awesome athlete because she constantly challenges herself to keep up with the big kids. She does a really good job of it too.

So why did I title this post I Will Never Be the Same? Because the little box from which I understood the world has grown larger, like going from a child's play house to an extravagant mansion. There is so much more to life than I ever knew. Makes me wonder, is this even a tiny glimpse of how I will feel when I take my first steps in heaven with Jesus?

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Mail, Gifts, and Care Packages

We are loved and blessed by the best friends and family in the whole world. Truly we are! I have received several inquiries about how to send packages to our family from the States. As much as we ALL, including Jason and I, would love to receive care packages from home, it really is not possible at this time. I don't know that it ever will be.

Several people living here have told us that they have not once received a package sent to them from the USA. One person still holds out hope after six months but chances of receiving that box are as improbable as finding a million dollars on Main Street. I am hoping that I can send a photo CD to our worship leader, Pastor Jeremy. If he receives it, then I will continue to send high resolution photos by CD or DVD. But that's about all we can do.

Another issue with receiving packages is the duty tax we are required to pay before taking possession of them. It may be as high as 100% of the cost of each item. Even our sales tax in Zambia is a whopping 17.5%!!! Can you even believe it? So. . .care packages from our friends and loved ones will have to be brought over when someone visits. We are all for that delivery system anyway!

It's hard to imagine that next week is Thanksgiving. There are no turkeys, dressing, jello, COOL WHIP (how can you have Thanksgiving dinner without Cool Whip?) The kids seem to be just fine with it. It's ME that is feeling a bit nostalgic. Our oldest son was due to be born on Thanksgiving day 1979. It was always his favorite holiday growing up.

I use to help my mom every Thanksgiving during my childhood and even afterward if we had the privilege of celebrating the day with her. I find myself wanting to invite all of our new friends over for a traditional meal but I can't find the ingredients. Our children all want pumpkin bread that I have made for the past 29 years. It was Elaine Kessler's recipe and is by far the best we've ever tasted. It will be awhile before the pumpkins in our garden will be ready for bread.

I hope you will all think of us as you enjoy this Thanksgiving holiday. We most certainly will be thinking of you!

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Punctuality? Does this word have any place in Africa?

I'm still chuckling. Everyone who knows and understands my sweet husband will get a kick out of this post.

Last week, Pastor Mwanza spoke with Jason about accompanying him on a trip to meet with church leadership in Blantyre, Malawi sometime this week. Since our dear and very precious Sharon Nicholson and her husband served as missionaries to this very church, Jason jumped at the chance to go.

Sunday morning, Pastor Mwanza said that he would check bus fares and schedules then let Jason know when he planned to leave. Late yesterday afternoon, we were pleasantly surprised to see our Pastor and his adorable 18 month grandson standing at the gate. It's been way too long since we have had a little one at our house (over two months since we said goodbye to our Mae Mae). We all, the kids and I, ran out of the house to welcome Mark and his grandpa. Of course we scared the poor child into clinging to his grandfather like Velcro.

Anyway, Pastor told Jason to be ready by 9:30 (this morning). Of course this caught us by surprise, why I don't know as plans often materialize on the spur of the moment here in Zambia. Evidently they had already missed the bus that traveled the shortest route for the week. This means they need to take a bus from here to Lusaka, about four hours out of the way, to catch another bus to take them hmmm I don't remember the name of that city, and then another bus into Blantyre, Malawi. They will travel two full days to reach their destination.

We were hoping for a little more notice than this. However, you know the saying, "When in Rome (or Zambia in our case). . ." So this morning Jason is up bright and early, called the Elliotts (it was soooo good to hear their voices), then finished packing for the trip.

Naturally, my wonderful and extremely time-obsessed husband was ready thirty minutes early. That's after giving the kids instructions on how to behave while he is gone and showing me where the security lights are. I will cut to the chase right here and let you know that it was almost noon when we heard the knock at the gate. Don't you just love God's sense of humor? I do, in fact I'm still snickering about it as I type!

Thankfully, we knew the difference between American and African priorities given to time before we even left. While my husband was a bit annoyed that he spent the morning waiting instead of going to the bank and store, he also appreciates the slower pace here as well. We have learned to find humor in our irritations. Trust me, we laugh a lot these days!

Please keep Jason and the Mwanzas in your prayers as they travel. The children and I are very safe here at home as Augustine has taken our security to heart. Thank you Jesus for Augustine, Bridget, and Farai!

I must bring this to a close as thunder has begun to roll as lightning flashes between the clouds. We love Zambian rain storms!

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Zambia's Orphan Crisis (Warning: long post)

Virtually everyone we meet in Zambia is raising children not born to them for a variety of reasons including extreme poverty, sickness, and death. Children often become sole caretakers of their dying parents as well as younger siblings. This in and of itself is impossible for my American brain to compute.

When children lose a mother or father for whatever reason, not only are they haunted by the painful suffering which ultimately devoured one or both of their parents; but they also grieve the loss of their family identity, moving from roles as sons and daughters to those of extra burdens for new families. Too often, siblings are scattered to different relatives; that is if they are fortunate enough to have living relatives. These family members not only grieve the deaths of their loved ones, but they also shoulder an even heavier load than before as they assimilate more children into their homes.

This creates enormous stress and sorrow for all concerned. Orphaned children are often resented, becoming little more than unpaid servants in their new environments. It isn't that adults are cold-hearted. They are doing the best they can under pressures few of us Americans can even begin to comprehend.

Both Jason and I applied for separate positions listed on the website of Foursquare Missions International for Zambia. Jason would concentrate on supporting current Foursquare pastors as well as training and mentoring new and existing leaders. I applied for a position to train orphanage workers which was to last 2-3 months, knowing that my primary ministry would be educating our children and working with my husband.

I'm sure what we experienced after living in Zambia is common to many missionaries the world over. Actual needs require a much different strategy than we understood before arriving. Thankfully, the years have taught both Jason and I that flexibility is key to making a real and lasting impact through any ministry even in the States. We spent our 32 years together moving from plans A and B to plans X, Y, and/or Z. In other words, we are accustomed to making necessary adjustments when unforeseen circumstances dictate the need to do so.

We have spoken to many nationals as well as seasoned missionaries regarding orphaned children and how best to serve them. What we have heard over and over again is "Zambia does not need to warehouse its orphans in an orphanage. What is needed is orphan support."

What does this mean? I was told that most Zambian adults are not overwhelmed by the numbers of children in their homes. Large families are the norm here. The stress comes from the additional financial resources required to feed, clothe, and educate the children of deceased relatives as well as provide for their immediate families.

What is needed are opportunities for each family to earn sufficient income to meet the growing demands providing for additional children require. Of course you all know this is right up my alley. I have always found ways to supplement our income and fund my hobbies from fish keeping and photography, to computers, software, and web design.

I am an entrepreneur to the core. What encourages me about the women I meet in Zambia is that most are extremely hard working doing whatever it takes to meet the needs of their families. I have never heard the words "I can't" or "It's too hard" or "That's just not me" from a Zambian mother.

When we lived at the guest house, I bought our vegetables from a group of ladies down the road. They brought their straw mats, braziers, fresh fruits and vegetables down to the corner where they stayed all day visiting together, nursing their babies, keeping toddlers out of the street, braiding hair and selling their goods. They used braziers to heat a special banana dish creating an irresistible aroma for anyone passing by. Their vegetables were clean and neatly arranged. I don't know how much they earned each day, but they could always be found on the same corner.

Often, something as simple as a sewing machine, a few chickens, or seeds to plant a garden can make an enormous difference in a person's ability to earn income as well as provide clothing and food for the family.

Thursday night Pastor Mwaba surprised us with a knock at the gate. He stopped by with Pastor Mwanza. We didn't expect to see him at such a late hour as his home in Mufulira is more than an hour away. He was in Ndola to attend the funeral of his sister. Another funeral! It just never ends. Fortunately, his oldest sister will raise the children left by the deceased. Again, it is impossible for my American brain to absorb so much death.

We brainstormed with both Pastor Mwanza and Pastor Mwaba for ways to care for the growing multitudes of orphans and widows. The goal is to make sure that whatever we do, it will be sustainable long after our family leaves Zambia. We are working on several different avenues all of which are viable options. I will continue to keep you updated as we move forward.

Again, thank you for your never ending love and support. We continue to make known that it isn't just the Sibley family serving in Zambia, but that we are only one small part of a very dedicated team. THANK YOU!!!

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

It's Curtains For Us

Before I get started on today's post, I want to let you know that I added three photos to yesterday's entry of the garden to give you all an idea of just how large the garden area is and how buff Augustine has to be to hand-till the entire area in one day. Be sure to check out the photos.

Now for today:

My multi-talented husband made it his mission to sew curtains for our Zambian home. Mrs. Mwanza loaned us her sewing machine. Since Jason wanted to return it as soon as possible, he dedicated much of this week to measuring windows, buying muslin (we discovered that it is called "calico" here), pressing fabric, designing curtains, and sewing away!

I should also let you know that his ministry hasn't taken a back seat to sewing at all. In fact, many people here in Zambia think Jason is "brilliant" because there is almost nothing he can't figure out (of course I agree completely). They are very intrigued by our partnership since most husbands and wives in Zambia stick to their respective roles dictated by years of culture. Rarely do they deviate from those roles.

Yesterday, Jason attended a weekly meeting with many of the Christian pastors here in Ndola at the invitation of Pastor Mwanza. He was impressed by their unity as well as topics of discussion.

This is Steven's and Carlin's bedroom. As you can see, curtains aren't the only items on our "to do" list.
This is the master bedroom. We chose not to cover the windows to the left as we leave them open for fresh air.

Pictured above is Shauna's and Isata's room. The door on the other side of Shauna's bed opens directly into Sia's and Caylie's bedroom. They love having their own special passage to the big girls.

Here is Caylie's and Sia's curtains. Jason created them first.

And I knew you would want to see what he calls "the sweat shop" otherwise known as the guest room. The conference table came from the neighbors across the road. Shauna and/or Carlin often do their school work here away from noisy siblings. This room is the quietest and least disturbed of them all. It is perfect for projects.

Jason helps Isata with her math. They have similar learning styles so Isata understands his explanations better than mine.

Again, thank you ever so much for your emails and phone calls. Your encouragement and prayers are needed and felt here in Zambia.

Blessings and joy,
Beckie