The McAuleys In Zambia: Some of the McAuley’s In Africa-Christmas Letter 2014

Northern Black Korhaan - Namibia

Christmas 2014 finds our family apart - Miriam, Ruth, and John are in the US and Jim, Amy, and Chris remain in Zambia, along with cats Gus and Mama, and dog Terra. Those of you who follow our blog will notice that we haven't posted much. This doesn't mean it has been an uneventful year. Indeed this year was book-ended with emergency abdominal surgeries. Amy had her gallbladder out in January in South Africa and Miriam had a cecal volvulus untwisted in November (for the non-medical readers – volvulus can be a really bad thing). The year also included a trip back to the US to clean our house and get it on the market to rent, a failed tooth implant (Amy, ouch), unsuccessful job interviews for both Jim and Amy, and a month for Jim in Sierra Leone. We had a wonderful visit from Jim's college/medical school pal, Carolyn Lamb, and a great visit with niece Annie Getz. There is plenty of room so keep the visits coming.

Without a doubt the most significant, and devastating, event of the year was the martyrdom of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Jerry Umanos, while he was serving in Afghanistan - please continue to pray for his family, especially during this time of year.

Jim is now CDC, Country Director in Zambia. He spent a month in Sierra Leone helping lead a team of 60+CDC workers as they attempted to stop Ebola transmission and prevent export. It was really hard work, emotionally draining, but quite a privilege to work with so many talented and dedicated people. He had the opportunity to preach at St. Columba's and is looking forward to seeing what God has in store for next year. A highlight was going to Namibia with Amy and Chris during spring break 2014. Although quite fun - there was an awful lot of time in the car driving across the land. By the end Chris said, "I enjoy my parents company but I am ready for some people my age."

Oryx in front of dunes

Amy hiking a dune

Amy volunteered teaching at the med school, seminary, and a chaplaincy program, as well as providing medical care in the Lusaka Prison. A library, literacy program and regular Bible studies in the vernacular were established at the prison. She has been hired to see patients at the embassy and conduct health education programs 10 hrs/week. Recent topics include domestic violence, third culture kids, stress management and at risk drinking. Seeing Oryx traversing the huge Sossusvlei orange dunes in Namibia was a lovely highlight. As a young girl in England, Amy learned Oryx were endangered and so she was appalled when Jim and Chris insisted on trying them from the local menu in Namibia. Turns out Namibians are definitely meat eaters and the guys insisted on trying everything - zebra, ostrich, springbok, Oryx, kudu...Oryx was apparently the best. All reportedly farm raised or culled from overpopulated parks.

Miriam reluctantly gave notice to her volunteer position at a church affiliated child care center- in January, to focus on finding a paying job. They responded by offering to pay her, and so she has had a full-time job for almost a year now. She enjoys working there and loves the kids, and they love her. God continues to watch over Miriam. When she developed her abdominal crisis, Grandma took her to the ER and the surgeon mentioned that she attended the church where Miriam works! Her black cat Magic was a loving companion during the recuperation.

Sunset Zambia at Thanksgiving

Ruth lives with Grandma and Grandpa Rubash in Evanston, although we understand they don't see her too much. She takes classes at Oakton Community College while working part-time and helping lead the junior high youth group at church. She especially enjoyed her theater classes and acting debut. Most recently she started studying French. Ruth continues creating lovely works of art and plans to transfer to an art school when the time is right. She made a brief trip to Zambia over Thanksgiving. It was a joy to see her, even if ever so briefly.

John continues the covert operative lifestyle - with rare sightings and relative radio silence - deep cover. However, his sleuth father manages to track him via the bank statements and it appears John remains immersed as a junior in college at Seattle Pacific University. At least he seems to be buying a lot of academic books, particularly Biology related ones, paying some school fees, and drinking huge amounts of coffee. Following a summer working as a camp counselor at Phantom Ranch, he moved into a house with several friends, started working part-time, and is currently taking an ecology course in the Galapagos. He will travel straight to Evanston in time for Christmas. He laughed and said he was the only kid taking a down coat to Ecuador!

Chris with Cousin Annie

Christopher’s summer included working a month in the IT department at the embassy and a mission trip to Joplin Missouri to rebuild tornado-damaged homes. He’s completed college applications (YEAH!) and is in the final stretch of the International Baccalaureate. His college list themes include small to midsized liberal arts schools that have snow, engineering and creative writing. He ran track this year for the first time, training for the 100 and 200 meter events but when the team arrived in Ethiopia, the coach told him he would be running the 4x75, 4x300, 400m, and 800m. Imagine showing up to compete in events for which you have never trained against Kenyans and Ethiopians after an overnight flight to a venue at 8,000+ feet elevation. Good thing he has a sense of humor. He told us that while getting ready for the 800m one of the competitors asked him how he thought he’d do at such high altitude. Chris nonchalantly said, "I think I will run my best 800 ever..." The kid said, "Wow, pretty confident." And Chris replied, "No, just never ran this distance before." He made it to the finals and managed to get some much needed points for the team. Perhaps a good lesson for life - you prepare for one thing, but remain ready to joyfully run whatever race God sets before you.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”Luke 2:8-12