**Breaking News**

After 44 days of living with raw sewage gushing around our house and through our yard, the crisis is over (we hope)! Hooooray!!! Tonight was a victory celebration at the Sibleys. Cleanup begins tomorrow.

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

"If anthing is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things."

I titled this post with the last few words of a well-known passage of scripture, Philippians 4:6-8. Is it possible to find anything excellent or praiseworthy after forty-one days of the neighborhood's sewage gushing all over our property? Honestly, some days, okay all days, (keepin' it real here), it seems I can't tolerate even another minute of it and yet that is not a choice I am privileged to make.

Actually, I am astounded that Beckie Sibley, who gags at the slightest sight, sound, or smell (particularly smell) of bodily fluids has managed to carry on a somewhat normal life while thousands of gallons of sewage meanders under her windows and through her yard. Seriously, it is absolutely disgusting to see what people are flushing down their toilets particularly when it is ...uh I'm sure you get the picture.

Below are a few images I captured recently no more than twenty feet from the foul-smelling sludge. As you can see, God has showered me with precious gifts all of whom are "excellent or praiseworthy" so they are what I choose to "think on". Enjoy!

Justin asked for pictures of his little brothers and sisters. After sitting for individual sessions (which was quite painful for the boys) they wanted group shots. Of course they could barely keep from laughing. We all had fun. Jason was being crazy as only a dad can do keeping us all in stitches.

Here are our sweet daughters. Their sisterhood has grown deeper since Sia and I returned from the States.

Aren't they just the cutest girls???

Okay, the story behind the above picture: Carlin is telling Justin he needs to get used to being second place in the family because he is not the "little kid" that left for Zambia a year and-a-half ago. Sibley men are constantly teasing each other over who is top dog. These boys can hardly wait to see their big brother and show him who is boss.

Can you hear the giggles through these images?

I just had to include this picture of Jason polishing the wood floors. He cranks up the music and really goes after it. Notice the sweatband? I absolutely LOVE my husband to pieces!

Living with raw sewage is one of the worst things I've ever experienced; yet it has provided another opportunity to see scripture come alive with relevance to my daily struggles. So again I ask the question, Is it possible to find anything excellent or praiseworthy in the midst of my current circumstances? I give all glory to God and say with utmost sincerity, YES.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Philippians 4:6-8

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

A Special Home and Family

One of the most awesome and unexpected surprises to come along our Zambian journey is discovering Marlena Bellavia of Bend, Oregon (just up the road from our hometown of Redmond) and Vima Lupwa Homes in Mukomfwa, Zambia. Be sure to check out the website to learn more about this wonderful home and family.

Last Friday, we made a huge batch of potato salad with lots of our own fresh eggs, packed it into individual containers, and let it sit overnight (in the frig of course) for all the flavors to blend. Saturday, Shauna, Carlin, Steven, Sia and I scrunched into Jefferson's taxi and off we went to see the family.

We always take the same two books Handa's Surprise and Chameleon's Clever Trick as they are favorites. We will sneak in a few more next time but for now, these bring delightful squeals.

After Shauna read Handa's Surprise, Mwape and Alek identified all the animals. It brings me great pleasure to see these children become absorbed into the story.

Shadrek's eyes lit up at the first taste of potato salad as did the whole family.

Next, Carlin read Chameleon's Clever Trick. The children laughed and laughed. Loveness finds the camoflaged chameleon.

Loveness and Melody proudly demonstrated how they created these beautiful doilys. Someone named Winnie comes to the home every Tuesday morning to teach art and tutor the children in reading. I hope to meet this special lady on my next visit. The children can't wait to show her off to me.

Before moving to Zambia, I had no clue that peanuts are grown in the ground. Here Mwala holds up a plant with all the peanuts attached to the roots. We left with a whole bag of freshly picked peanuts and instructions to boil in water for 20 minutes. We had them for dinner tonight and they are quite yummy.

Below, Shauna and Mwape just about have this plant picked clean.

God has given me a real passion for children. Hearing their laughter, watching them play, gives me great joy. Being part of their childhoods is a tremendous privilege. Ooops...I'm going to save all of that for another post.

Now for an update on our sewage/water saga. Hard rains have kept the workers from being able to fix the pipe due to mud slides in the trench; BUT...drumroll please...WE HAVE WATER AGAIN! Woooo Hooooo! We are celebrating and giving thanks to God that we have our water back. Now if he would just stop the flush of our neighbors toilets from flowing under our windows and through our yard...

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

"Hello Beckie? Edith is dead."

That is how I learned that our friend Edith had died of what no one really knows. It doesn't seem to matter to anyone because knowing the cause of her death doesn't change the fact that she is dead. Dying, death, and funerals are processed very differently here. Death is an enormous part of life in Zambia.

The last time we saw Edith and her darling little girls, they were leaving for Lusaka to visit relatives in September. An illness delayed her return home to Ndola but we were under the impression that she had recovered. Her husband joined her in Lusaka after several weeks.

Edith is survived by her husband Sidney and their daughters, five-year old Shanda and baby Shalome who will celebrate her first birthday next month. She loved her family dearly and was a devoted mother. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

The following pictures were captured July 27, 2008 during Dan's visit to the Ndeke church.

Above: Isata asked to use my camera after church. The first person she photographed was Edith who was happy to oblige. She adored Isata and the feeling was mutual.

Below: This is 5 year old Shanda singing with her Sunday school class before the congregation. Her life will be forever changed.

Below: I captured this image during the same service. Edith is cuddling her baby daughter Shalome.

Below is husband Sidney.

Please keep Sidney, Shanda, Shalome, and all of Edith's friends and family in your prayers.

Blessings,
Beckie

They Broke the Water Lines

It happened last Thursday but since we have a large underground cistern, we still had water to our house until yesterday. We are capturing rain water off the roof for flushing toilets.

I guess the people who told us, "It could be worse" were right. It is worse.

Thank you for your prayers, words of comfort, and support. As a family, we all agree that we will laugh hardily about this someday. But not today.

Blessings,
Beckie