I WOKE UP IN AFRICA

wow.
i just have to say wow again...
so many things are just so amazing and others scarry and others discombabulating...!!

well first the ARMANS are absolutely amazing,

They had a room ready for us, with a mosquito net on the window, curtains on the window, anair mattress and even a small shelving unit. Being with them on our first days here is suuuuch a blessing. We're asking them questions all day long and they are relentlessly passing on their locally acquired knowledge and wisdom to us like a slow drip IV...
CALLIA told me last night with a face too cute for words: "I'm so happy that you came to this country!"
Kezia and the girls are great playmates, of course it's taking some adjustment. there are lots of NOOO's!! and MIIINE's!! flying in the humid air...

Another amazing: the Zambians are such a friendly people. Their kindness struck me particularly at the airport, dealing with immigration and missing luggage officers.

The scarry part so far, was outreach. well not outreach itself but the context. Rainy season started a couple weeks ago. Standing there at the intersection of 2 muddy roads, with pot holes filled with filthy water, trash on the sidewalks and a daughter in flip flops, with feet waiting to jump in a puddle(wh she did) and fingers eager to pick things up from the ground and then put them in her mouth...(to only name a few) i must admit that hour and a half was a little traumatising.
I just decided to give myself room for growth and acquired tolerance, which will surely come at some point. There was no need to proove anything, no need to try to be a super-womom. Frustrations can be real and God knows we are but dust! Other team members were encouraging as well. We are so blessed to have friends here. What a huge difference it makes!

Discombabulating? will go into that later. it's sunday morning, 7:oo am, the sun's been up for an hour. And so have Callia and Poema :)

BWI AIRPORT - 10 suitcases, 6 carry ons! (got to check 5 for free!)


PROCRASTINATING GOING THRU SECURITY :)


WELCOME TO ZAMBIA! after 2 overnight flights and a 12 hr layover in london...


KEZIA, CALLIA & POEMA


SIGN SAYS: WATCH OUT FOR FALLING AVOCADOES!


BLUE BARN, a non-typical place to hang out


THE SEARCH FOR AN APPARTMENT HAS BEGUN THRU WALKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASKING AROUND, BUYING THE NEWSPAPER AND PRAYING REAL HARD :)


FRED AND EVELYN visiting the Armans


OUTREACH NEARBY THE CHURCH

NATASHA, peeking over the wall.