***School Update***

I could probably do a commercial for the Rosetta Stone Language Program. It is loads of fun for all three kids and is terrific for building personal confidence during the learning process. An added benefit for Farai is that his reading skills are advancing through each lesson. Farai, Jane, and Prudence look forward to their English lessons every day.

Farai thoroughly enjoys using the computer as he strengthens his English skills. His reading skills have improved dramatically since beginning the program.

Prudence and Jane love every aspect of our little school. What excites me most is that they have begun to dream about their futures and how devotion to studies today will change the course of their lives. What an awesome privilege it is to watch them embrace the opportunities set before them. You all know the old saying, "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." Well these kids are gulping!

Again, I want to thank Tina Peplowski for providing this incredible program to our students. Tina, I pray that you will be blessed immeasurably as you have blessed three kids in Zambia! They approach each day of school with shear delight knowing they will have at least an hour each with Rosetta Stone.

Blessings and joy to all,
Beckie

Helloooo Charles and Petra Sande!!!

Petra with their daughters

Pastor Charles is a worship leader and excellent teacher

I can't tell you how honored I was last night to learn that two of our fellow Zambians have become faithful readers of this blog since locating it about a month ago. Last month, a few days before Debbie and Sharon arrived, Petra Sande asked for our website during a planning session for the women's conference. Since then she and her husband have read every single post! You cannot even imagine how wonderful it was to discover that she cared enough about us and our purpose here to read my ramblings which can get rather lengthy at times as you undoubtedly know.

It was especially soothing to hear about this last night. Every missionary we have talked to or read about has experienced times of discouragement, disappointment, and feelings of failure. Well let me assure you all that we are no different and certainly have no false illusions that we are anything special.

We are ordinary, VERY ordinary people following God's plan for our lives to the best of our knowledge and abilities. The only reason we can minister and serve the beautiful people of Zambia is that we do not depend on our own skills or strengths but on the sovereignty and grace of Almighty God.

We are completely dependent upon Him for His love for and knowledge of Zambian people and their culture. We constantly pray for God's wisdom, His strength, His hope, His love. Without the power of God, we are absolutely nothing.

We were especially disappointed last night for reasons many of you know but that I cannot share here.

And then . . . there was a honk at the gate.

We were soooo not in the mood for company. Petra and Charles knew that and the reasons why which was exactly what brought them to our home. Petra works six long days each week so her time is limited. Their time together is limited. Their finances are limited. Yet in spite of those limitations, they hired a taxi and came to encourage and inspire us.

During our visit, I was quite surprised to realize that Petra "knew" us better than any of our other Zambian friends even though our time together has been minimal and during which we never discussed my life. Hmmmm. . .She asked Caylie if she had "discovered any new species recently." She knew all of our children and their names. She knew about the Matambos and our little school. She knew that Jason had made all of our curtains.

I was completely stunned to learn that not only had she visited our website and this blog, she had read every post and shared them all with her husband Pastor Charles. WOW!

Her desire and ability to research not only this blog and the Sibleys but the Foursquare church outside of Zambia represents my hope and dream for all Zambians. Petra Sande does not depend on what she is told. Through education and dedicated efforts, she has gained the valuable skills to research for herself. People who lack an adequate education must depend on what they are told, not knowing what is truth or lie. Not Petra. Oh how encouraging this is, for it is my dream for all of Zambia's people.

So. . .welcome Petra and Charles Sande. Your visit last night refreshed both Jason and I.

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Maize Harvest (2 of 3)

In the photos below, you will find the next steps toward the end product mealy meal from which Zambia's staple food, nshima, is made. Mealy meal is also used breakfast porridge and baby's first food.

After maize is torn from the stalks, it is shucked, and placed in the sun to finish drying. This is done while visiting, laughing, and chatting about the day's events.





Truly, it has been fascinating to observe this process from the soil preparation all the way to the drying stage. The next steps are still to come.

I hope all of you are enjoying this last day of the work week. Please remember that we think of you often and give thanks to God for you always.

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Maize Harvest (1 of 3)

Fall is in the air. For those of us in the southern hemisphere, it is harvest time! Already the rains have diminished to one small shower a week. The last downpour made its impression the day Debbie and Sharon left Ndola for Johannesburg. We have had a few sprinkles here and there since then but not enough to keep gardens watered.

Yesterday, the Matambos began the maize harvest. Below are the first pictures. I will continue to capture more throughout the process. I am amazed at the amount of work required to till the soil, plant seed, weed, weed, and weed some more, and then finally pull dried ears off of dead stocks. But it doesn't end there.

Augustine ripped the corn off their stocks and carted them by the bags full over to the kids who husked them while chatting, giggling, and laughing the entire time.

After all ears are stripped of their husks, they are spread out under the warm sun to dry. I will capture those pictures tomorrow since the sun had slipped below the horizon by the time this last step was completed.

Work and play are heavily intertwined here in Zambia. Kids grow up playing while they work instead of separating the two. I am confident that our kids will treasure these times forever.

As always, our loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers. We miss you all and can hardly wait until our wild and crazy friend Dan Elliott arrives in July for a whole month! We are all thrilled to pieces!!!

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Debbie & Sharon in Ndeke

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

I know you will find this hard to believe but the picture posted above was not doctored in Photoshop. The sky was that blue. I didn't have a polarizer on my lens, nothing. Don't you just love God's magnificent creation? I never tire of Zambian skies. In fact, I enjoy them as much as I do the snowcapped mountains of the Cascades near our hometown of Redmond, Oregon.

I thoroughly enjoy posting all of these photographs of our days with Debbie and Sharon for each one opens a floodgate of memories. All of the pictures in this post were captured this past Saturday in the Ndola township of Ndeke which means "airport" in the Bemba language. This little community was suitably named as it borders the Ndola airport.

Pastors Charles and Sarah Mwila (Sarah was our interpretor at the women's conference that we soooo enjoyed) invited us to visit their home and church which we were thrilled to do. Debbie, Sharon, Isata, Shauna, Sia, Caylie and I all piled into a taxi and off we went.

Once we visited a bit with the Mwila's at their home, it was off to the building site of the Ndeke church. In the picture below, Pastor Mwila hold's the umbrella to shield Sharon from the sun, although upon closer inspection, it appears he had all of the shade!

Winnie, the Mwila's granddaughter, was happy to have someone more her size to play with. What shocked us is that this little girl is only three years old and yet she is nearly the size of Caylie! This was quite a surprise as Caylie is as tall as many Zambian eleven-year olds.

Visiting with the Mwila's in their home.

I am afraid this is the last of our "Debbie and Sharon" pictures. I think I will wait until they have fully recovered from their eventful trip back home before I start hinting for them to return. We miss you Debbie! We miss you Sharon!

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Family Fun

Awesome Muscles
Left to right: Shauna, Caylie, Isata, Carlin, Sia, Steven

We finally got some good family pictures while Sharon and Debbie were here. For all of you who gave Sharon instructions to get a snapshot with ME in it, you will be happy to know that she took your directions seriously. She scouted the yard for the perfect background. By the time we got around to capturing the images, the sun shone brightly on that area so we chose another one in front of the orange tree.

I know some of you wanted full-length shots of me but geez, talk about "outside my comfort zone." No one, well no one I know, feels comfortable with full body shots, ESPECIALLY me (and my adorable friend Tara Doty).

We actually have a photo of US! Thank you Debbie and Sharon!

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

WHEW!

We are thanking Jesus for answered prayer tonight as I received an email from Greg with the joyous news that Sharon and Debbie are in the USA and should be home soon!!! I know that all of you share in our relief, joy, and sincere gratitude. The thought of our precious friends stranded outside of the terminal in Johannesburg with not even chairs to sit on was crushing for all of us.

I can't wait to hear all the details once our precious friends recuperate from this adventure.

Blessings and great joy,
Beckie

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

We just received an email from Greg, Debbie's husband, that due to the horrible weather conditions the flight from Ndola was delayed 5 hours causing Sharon and Debbie to miss their connection out of Johannesburg. They are STILL in Jo'burg! Not only that, they are stuck OUTSIDE the terminal because Sharon must now travel standby for missing the flight. Please pray for protection, peace, and a place to sleep.

Below is the copy of Greg's email:

Debbie and Sharon's flight out of Zambia was delayed 5 hours, so they missed their connection from Johannesburg to Washington DC. They are on a 24 hour delay as of the call I got at 1:00 PM this morning. The biggest problem is Sharon is on a stand-by ticket now and they are not allowed into the terminal until they get a boarding passes. There are no chairs outside and they are enduring the weather there.

Your prayers are needed to get them home,

Thank you,

Greg

* PLEASE PRAY for our treasured friends! *

Mwenda Bwino Debbie and Sharon

Zambian sunset on first day of visit.

It was a sad day for all of us yesterday when the blessing of Sharon's and Debbie's presence with us came to an end. As a fitting backdrop to our melancholy moods, the dark gray sky gave way to heavy sheets of rain, not for a little while but for the entire day. We tried to watch a movie but the relentless pounding of rain drowned out any sound.

To top it all off, we lost internet connection in the early afternoon, (it just now resumed) most likely due to wild rain. Ughhhh. . .BUT we never lost power or electricity during their entire visit. This is the longest time we have enjoyed uninterrupted services since moving to Zambia six months ago. It was WONDERFUL!

There are no words to describe what an incredible gift this two-week season was to our family. Sharon and Debbie brought with them not only their tremendous love but that of our treasured friends from home as well. They also brought with them refreshment which we so badly needed.

Thank you Debbie for stepping out of your comfort zone to brave the African environment and all that it offers. Thank you for adoring our children and teaching them so many little "Debbie jingles." Whenever the mood got a little low yesterday, I would hear someone practicing their books of the Bible or saying the little rhyme to help them remember. Thank you for hauling heavy trunks and suitcases half way around the world to us. We love you! What's more, all of our Zambian friends love you as well.

Our dear and precious Sharon. . .you are a constant reminder of God's love and goodness. Of all the homes available to you and Don, God led you to the one just eight houses away from ours. Oh how blessed we were to live so close to you. You are a model of a true servant of Christ and your gracious example shines brightly as we continue to live out His will for our own lives.

* * * * *

This past Sunday we visited the Holy Spirit Church of Zambia (where Matambos pastor) with Debbie and Sharon. Jason video taped large portions of the worship and service. I transferred part of the footage to a DVD and sent copies home with Debbie and Sharon.

I still need to figure out the camera and movie programs but when I do, I will send more DVD's to our loved ones so that you can all get more of a feel for our life here. I'm not sure how long it will take for disks to get from us to you but it's worth a try!

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Women's Conference Zambian Style

Wow! Today was perhaps my most favorite of all since moving to Zambia six months ago. The Foursquare Women of Ndola Central, Ndeke, and Mufulira joined forces to host a women's conference in which Debbie, Sharon, and I were guest speakers.

How in the world can I describe this day? I have no idea so I guess I'll start with the babies. Yes babies. I know this goes completely against our American mindset but I loved seeing babies and small toddlers with their mothers during the entire event. Actually, they are with their mothers at every event but this is the first time I've seen so many in one place. Mothers worshiped and danced with their little bundles snuggled firmly on their backs.

I'm convinced that song and dance are part of Zambian DNA. Women sing and dance during their daily activities so naturally they do so during worship. And boy can they SING and DANCE! Their voices are strong and beautiful. Combine them with passionate worship in familiar hymns and songs in the Bemba language along with energetic dance and you get an incredible experience.

Thankfully, I am the only one with a camera. During one of the songs, Sarah Mwila, our interpreter grabbed my hand, drew me to the front, and proceeded to teach me how to dance like a Zambian. Mortified, I gave it my best shot which seemed to please and entertain everyone in the room. I was so glad to know that neither Debbie nor Sharon knew how to operate my camera. Whew!

Debbie was first up and did a fabulous job. Sarah Mwila interpreted our messages into Bemba and the Zambian women's words into English. Debbie is an outstanding teacher.

In between sessions, we prayed over several ladies and all of the pastors' wives. Truly, it was a powerful time.


Sharon is an amazing speaker and lover of people. Everyone in the room adored her and appreciated her teaching and prayer ministry.

I followed Sharon. I'd love to say I was a natural but that would be a total lie. I had written the wrong scripture reference so when I looked it up and began reading, it was on a completely different subject. Ughhhh. Finally, I just looked up and said "I'm sorry everyone. I am REALLY nervous right now." They were very understanding and accepting.

This is the first time I've shared in front of a group for years. The only thing that got me through was knowing that "in my weakness, He is strong!" It is not about me or my ability. Trust me, there is no way I can get puffed up with pride. I wanted to crawl in a nearby hole. Still, I loved every second of this conference and being with these ladies.

Oh! I almost forgot. When it was my turn to speak, I was introduced as "Our Zambian speaker" which really touched my heart, eventually. At first I looked around to see who the Zambian speaker would be. Finally, I realized it was ME!




At the end, Debbie and Sharon received a gorgeous traditional skirt and matching blouse each.

Here is everyone waiting for transport and chatting about the day. Oh! One more thing. Our dear friend Bridget Matambo joined us for the conference. It was wonderful to have her there.

It was fun sharing this experience with Debbie and Sharon. I can't wait for them to tell you all about it!

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Marcella Market

Beckie, Debbie, and Sharon

Today Sharon, Debbie, and I braved Marcella, Ndola's most popular market. Well, I don't know that "braved" is exactly the right word. We asked Augustine to escort us. It would have been a much different experience had we gone by ourselves. What an adventure for Debbie and me. The adventure brought back fond memories for Sharon.

Just about anything from baskets to fish and caterpillars can be found in this huge, lively market.

Below Sharon, Debbie, and Augustine pose for a photo in front of chickens destined for tonight's dinner. Uh, no--not ours!

The Women's conference is tomorrow from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 in the afternoon. Of course Debbie and Sharon have been prepared for a long time. I need to finalize my part this evening so will bring this post to a close.

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Debbie Teaches Fun Memorization Techniques

Debbie is a fantastic teacher. This morning she taught all six of our children a fun technique for memorizing the books of the Bible. Even though I wasn't part of the class, I still found myself saying the rhyme with them. Now that is effective teaching!

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Debbie and Sharon Update & Pictures

I know all of you at home are missing Debbie and Sharon to pieces and I thank you for sharing them with our family and the beautiful people of Zambia. I captured the following images during church this morning.

There is so much to tell you about today but I really need to get some sleep. We have another full day planned tomorrow to prepare for the ladies conference on Wednesday.

Our time with our treasured friends is whizzing by. So. . .I have a plan. I will process and post pictures as I take them but will add the commentary when I have more time. There is much to share as you can probably tell by the following photos. Truly, it was a fabulous day.

























I can't wait to tell you all about Sharon's and Debbie's first Sunday in a Zambian church. It was incredible!

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Best intentions. . .

Yes, I always have the best intentions but sometimes circumstances get in the way of my carrying them through. I wanted to post with pictures at least once a day while Sharon and Debbie are here but I just can't keep up the pace and still have time to enjoy our guests. That said, I will continue to do the very best I can.

I am happy to report that both of our dear friends slept through the night for the first time since they left the USA. I was a bit concerned for them as they were wide awake by 2 a.m. Then we all stayed up after the children went to bed to visit.

I am afraid we have talked their ears off. It is WONDERFUL to have loved ones from home to visit and connect with. I didn't realize just how much energy goes into conversing with friends from another culture until Debbie and Sharon arrived. Visiting with them is like using a top-of-the line sewing machine instead of needle and thread to construct a garment. Can you tell that we are enjoying them thoroughly?

Right now, they are in Mufulira with Jason. He teaches MTC classes up there every Saturday. Sharon and Debbie wanted to join him to see a little more of Zambia and to possibly visit the orphans that Pastor Mwaba and his community are ministering to. Jason called a bit ago to say that they were in fact going to be visiting the children and their guardians before returning home. Oh how I wish I could be there with them!

Jason took his camera so I will post more pictures tonight, HOPEFULLY. I wanted to get this one out now, so that you would all have it first thing in the morning. If I were in your shoes, I would want updates on both Sharon and Debbie too. Thank you for understanding.

Edited to add: Although they did indeed visit some of the children, there are no pictures! The battery in Jason's camera died after a few test shots. Ughhhh! We are all very disappointed.

I hope you all have a glorious day.

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Debbie and Sharon Pictures

I will make this post another short one as it seems almost impossible for me to concentrate at the computer when we have "family" visiting. Debbie and Sharon are two of the most precious ladies in the whole wide world.

Sharon wasn't too thrilled about having her picture taken with her feet propped up. But hours and hours of cramped air travel requires a bit of TLC. It took my legs and feet more than a week to fully recover. But then I am not Sharon. . .she is much hardier than me!

Debbie and Bridget just before the nshima was made. Bridget, Augustine, Jane, Prudence, and Farai joined us for dinner Thursday evening.

Caylie adores Debbie, as do all of the kids. She is never too far away from either Debbie or Sharon.

The above photo was taken on Thursday. Caylie proudly showed her the pictures that Jessica sent to her.

I couldn't wait for Debbie and Sharon to meet Mrs. Kalunga and to see all of the yummy vegetables she sells. I snapped this picture moments after Debbie helped Mrs. Kalunga remove the loaded basket. She was stunned by the amount of weight this sweet lady carries to her customers six days a week.

Above, Sharon and Debbie help return the vegetable basket to it's most familiar place atop Mrs. Kalunga's head.

We are having fun, can you tell?

Blessings and joy,
Beckie