Keeping Busy in Zambia

Amy's Class

Jim and I had the pleasure of teaching at Justo Mwale Theological College University from April to June. I had 12 students in the first year Pastoral Counseling course (one woman).  Jim taught a counseling course on AIDS to 4th year students. We both enjoyed discussing various Biblical passages regarding gender equality. Not surprisingly the Christianity brought to Africa by colonialist was a male dominant leadership model. Thinking about human beings made in the image of God and the feminine characteristics of God was challenging for many. I arranged for a tea just for female seminary students to meet and share their challenges and experiences and to encourage one another.

President and Mrs. Bush with Zambian
First Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba

At the end of June President and Mrs. Bush made another trip to Zambia to encourage cervical cancer prevention and treatment. During the week they were in Livingston Jim organized many local volunteers to paint a health center and I watercolor painted in the hotel room. President Bush has taken up painting (oil) as well and is doing a series on world leaders he has met. I thought I could do the same and have a series of one (him).

In July Jim attended the African First Lady's Conference in Tanzania, to encourage other countries to bring women's health issues, specifically cervical cancer, forward in their countries. You may recall Jim was tasked with reducing maternal mortality by 50% in one year, a task many said was impossible. Results from the project are coming in and through the combined efforts of CDC, USAID, and many others it looks like we may actually hit our target. Now to expand country wide!

Terra

In July Terra, an almost 8 week old female German Shepherd joined our household. This was just days before Molly Crane's month long visit. Our socks, pants and skirts have small holes as do our legs from Terra teething.

I left in early August for a month in the US ostensibly to visit my parents and three of the kids. My dad has had several surgeries and hospitalizations and it looked like a good time to visit. It turned out I needed foot surgery and then a molar extraction for a large abscess I had failed to notice until Bob LoCascio took routine wing bite films. I wasn't even planning on getting my teeth cleaned until January but then there was a cancellation and I took it. As the oral surgeon said, "Someone is looking out for you." "Yes, you are right. God is" I responded.  

In August, Ruth began courses at Oakton including acting, creative writing, and a design art course. She seems to be thriving and has recently dyed her hair blonde for a role (check her out on facebook).

In September, Miriam adopted a lovely black cat, Magic, from Heartland shelter.  

Miriam continues to thrive living independently and participating in the PACE program. She put her guardian angel to the test recently, when she was struck by a car while crossing a busy road. Typical of Miriam, she flew and tumbled, broke her glasses, but told the police and paramedics, "I am fine, no need to go to the hospital..."  She is resilient!

Perhaps we won't drive this way...

John visited us for two weeks in September, following his summer as a camp counselor at Phantom Ranch and before he headed back to Seattle Pacific University. We took an adventuresome drive to the Lower Zambezi National Park. Typically one drives around the escarpment to remain on paved roads for as long as possible. Instead Jim suggested a short cut out Leopard's Hill Road 'through the bush' - only about 90 miles, but really off the beaten path. Jim spoke to others who had made the trip, and they said, "No worries, as long as you don't encounter another vehicle while in the mountains, and bring food, water, extra fuel, a satellite phone, and a winch ..." We did pretty well, using every bit of the 4-wheel capability of our Land Cruiser, until we encountered a truck coming at us in the mountain pass. Fortunately we got to climb the wall of the mountain while he got to inch along the edge - we exchanged looks of terror as we passed, and a big thumbs up when it became clear we would both live!

John and Chris fishing

The Park was awesome - amazing encounters with elephants, including a juvenile bull charging Jim as he scrambled to get into the tent - if only the elephant knew how flimsy that canvas was he might have kept coming. I helpfully pointed out to Jim that there was a large elephant charging at him as he struggled with the tent zipper. We tried our luck fishing for tiger fish on the Zambezi, always with an eye on the nearby crocodiles. No bites from either.

Thank you all for praying for the food situation in the prison. Just a few weeks ago, while I was in the US, the women and children incarcerated with them, were again allowed to have food brought in by their families. Prior to this they had only some dried fish and nshima provided by the prison.

Tumekutana 2014 Planning Committee

After returning to Zambia, I flew to Ghana to meet up with Caryl Weinberg and Rev Erica Rader and the Tumekutana team to begin working on the 2014 conference "Freedom in Christ: From Slavery to Empowerment." You can be in prayer as plans move forward.

Back in Lusaka Chris is busy with the school musical (Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre, set to Fleetwood Mac!) and the IB program (large amounts of homework every day).  Chris worked this summer at the Embassy - in IT. Jim regularly meets people who comment on how great a worker Chris was and how they want him back next summer.

Tenacious

I  put five of my paintings into an exhibit and sold three (2 to Jim - he couldn't stand to see them go) to benefit wildlife conservation in Zambia.

Behemoth

We have home leave this December-January and so are looking forward to time with family and friends. We will try to look at a few colleges with Chris during the time, but mostly we hope to rest and enjoy running water, electricity, internet, and paved roads...