SoMacha.com

We walked with some lions in Zimbabwe.
They were 18 months old and we touched and hiked with them. AND we lived to tell about it.

Livingstone's statue had to be captured by at least part of the MARS team.
Edith and Joy did the proper pose to capture the moment. God provided a wheelchair for Edith, so she could see the full extent of VF without getting too tired.
The "Miller Trio" needed to have the beauty of the falls in the background to show we were all "on site".

Hi everyone!
Sorry for the website problems. The server went down while Edith and Joy were visiting Africa. Since the server is located at Edith's house, there was no one home to reboot the system...so we just had to wait until the big trip was over.
We will be updating soon with pictures and stories from MARS (Most Amazing Race Senior edition) as well as other events and updates.
Thanks for visiting our site and all your support!
Please keep coming back!

Term 2 is officially over and the beginning of the break was celebrated with a "Fun Day". All of the students met at school and proceeded to the "Party Place". Games started with the African version of "Duck, Duck, Goose" ie: "Elephant, Elephant, Lion". There was face painting by our resident "Dutch Clown" and more games. Eating marshmallows from a string tied to the clothes line was aided by a slight breeze. The final game was a water relay race including parents, followed by treats and drinks for all while relaxing.

Monday 7 Aug. was "Farmer's Day", a national holiday in Zambia. In celebration of the arrival of the two MARS visitors, Mrs. Esther gave a traditional Tonga party at her house, complete with the women dancing, singing groups accompanied by home-made guitars and a Tonga meal served inside a traditional Tonga hut. It was a great way to introduce Ronda's Mom to the community.

Upon arrival of the FM plane bringing Mom and Joy from Lusaka, Ronda was presented with a little white bag of goodies. Then after things settled down and Mom and Joy got out of the plane, Ronda was given a beautiful bunch of roses from Sue Bolthouse.
The one day delay was a blessing in disguise, as Mom and Joy got a chance to get a good night's sleep in Johannesburg and be fully rested when they arrived in Macha. All of their luggage was with them and they were ready to start the Zambian leg of MARS.

This last day of second term had special events for the MICS students. One of the events was to pop popcorn with the cover off the pan and see how the kernels popped into the air. Everyone sat at the edge of a sheet, with their own pile of popcorn, waiting for the oil to get hot and the kernels to start flying in the air. Once the corn started, there was plenty for everyone to eat.

Edith and Joy (Ronda's mom and sister) left Milwaukee early Thursday morning. M.A.R.S. ("Most Amazing Race - Seniors") as we like to call it for fun, is underway. They will be traveling for 2 days...and arrive in Macha on Saturday.
Please pray for them and thier trip.
We have many exciting things planned for their 2 week visit.
Check back to see updates on some of our adventures with our special visitors.

Just wanted to say thanks for all the support and interest in the container shipment and the buy a brick campaign!
We also wanted to let those of you who were having problems with the donation link, that things are now back up and running.
Thanks again!

This was the last week of the term, so numerous fun days were planned. The week was spent learning about circus activities. Most of the children had no idea what a circus is like because of the culture, but everyone including the parents cooperated, as you can see. Wednesday, was clown day where everyone came to school dressed as a clown and also got their face painted. It truly was a fun experience for everyone.

We have recieved several request about an online option to donate to the MICS Buy a Brick, Build a School campaign. We finally have an option for you!
If you are interested in getting involved in this project, there is a secure link to make a donation by credit card, on the left side of this webpage. If you are interested in donating by mail, there are 2 other options available to you. Please view the options listed on the left column of this page. If you are unable to see the link, please clear your web browser cache and reload this page.
Thanks so much for your interest in this project. If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to email us at SkipRonda@gmail.com
The Lord is doing amazing things in Macha. We appreciate all the prayers and support from home.

Just wanted to pass on a story from our Buy a Brick, Build a School campaign. A couple of weeks ago, we were spending some time back in Botswana visiting some of our friends and helping out at Dayspring School (the school where we spent the last 8 years). While there, we were approached by Nate Sabin, the son of a missionary family that is working at Dayspring School. He told us that he wanted to help out the children in Zambia. Nate had been doing some outdoor work, helping out at Dayspring school. He had saved up all the money that he had been paid for these projects and wanted to donate it to the buy a brick campaign and buy 3 bricks. We were so touched because he wasnt just donating a portion of the money that he made, he donated everything, all $36. He told us that it is better to give than receive, and that it makes him feel good when he does something for people that are in need. We are so appreciative of Nate, he may be young, but he has a very big heart. Thank you!

Our first contributors for the Buy a Brick, Build a School project came as a wonderful surprise. Menomonie Alliance Christian School (in our previous hometown of Menomonie, WI) collected an offering from the students for the MICS project in Macha. The student council matched this collection. The total donation was $360, this was enough to buy 36 bricks toward the new school building project. We are truly grateful for the generous hearts of these kids. Thank you very much!

MICS students have been studying the seasons in science. This day summer was the topic, so they had a parade wearing different types of summer hats. (It is still winter here in Macha, however) They paraded around the yard of the school with each child wearing a hat and making the sound of a band instrument.
Mrs. Sakala and Miss Zawa wore their hats also.

Last weekend a group from Macha decided to visit Lake Kariba for a time of fellowship and relaxation. There is a beautiful place overlooking the lake with ample sleeping quarters, a pool and a beautiful view of Lake Kariba. Some were brave and went swimming. even with a metre long croc (made of wood) in the pool. We all also took advantage of a relaxing boat ride on the lake and even saw some animals. SO, it is not all work and no play in Macha.

On Friday 14 July the MICS students had a kite party at the ABFA airstrip. They each had made and decorated their own kite in the classroom and this was the chance to see if they would fly. We started out with a surprise activity provided by Dorien Visser, a volunteer from Holland. She had a large parachute silk that was used for some games to see how the parachute reacted to the wind and student handling. Balls were bounced in the parachute and a type of ring-around-the-rosie was played. Also, we all got a chance to see how much pull the wind had on a larger kite.

The one kite we used was Ronda's; one that her father had especially made for her emblazoned with Christian symbols of a cross and a dove.

After flying the kites, each student had an opportunity to "eat a kite and its tail" .The edible "kites" were pieces of bread cut in the diamond kite shape and the "tails" were strands of red licorice. Each student could put butter and cinnamon and sugar on their "edible kite" to decorate it before making it disappear as a snack.

Tuesday is the day for a PE outing at the ABFA (All Blessings From Above) airstrip. Each Tuesday, at the end of the morning classes, we all climb into the Pajero and head for our PE time at the airstrip. Because of air traffic control's flexibility, we were able to play dodgeball right on the runway surface. An outing and exercise all in one.

Merel VanStam went with her mother to visit relatives in Holland for 2 weeks. Being the diligent student that she is, she started doing her homework while waiting for the plane at the Lusaka International Airport.

Let me tell you how God used you months ahead to meet a need on the very day I needed it........

The month of June brought another student to MICS. We now have 11 students in Grade 1 and 1 in Grade 3. MICS is growing at a nice pace.

On a recent trip back to Botswana, to collect more of our things, we encountered another of the hazards of traveling from country to country in Africa. DELAYS!! After we had crossed the Zambezi river, separating Zambia and Botswana, and cleared customs and immigration on the Botswana side, we found a long, long lineup of trucks waiting to cross into Zambia. Many of these trucks use this route to transport goods from the tip of South Africa, through Botswana and into Zambia. The line extended for several miles and the drivers had already been there for 4 days and expected to wait another 2 days before entering into Zambia. One reason for the long delay is that the ferry can only carry one truck and several smaller vehicles. Delays like this for truckers is commonplace.

The start of the Second Term at MICS saw the introduction of computers to all of the students. We only have 4 computers, so each of the students spends 20 minutes per day learning how to use the mouse and becoming comfortable opening and closing the selected programs. They are all becoming proficient as we introduce new programs.

MARS (Most Amazing Race - Senior edition ) began this weekend with the celebration of Edith's (Ronda's mom) 80th birthday. For those of you that followed last years "Most Amazing Race" you will remember that this is our fun way of copying the TV show and creating an adventurous trip (feel free to check out www.MostAmazingRace.com ).This years adventure started with a big birthday celebration for Edith in Milwaukee, WI. Dinner was at one of Edith's favorite restaurants...Yen Ching Chinese.
This was followed by a day of shopping, fun, and an overnight trip to a bed and breakfast in southern Wisconsin with Linda and Joy (Ronda's 2 sisters).The adventure will take a brief break, but will continue in August, when Edith and Joy will travel all the way to Africa to visit Ronda and Gil in Macha, Zambia!

On the Monday after arriving in Lusaka and staying at Sue and Joel Bolthouse's B&B at Chilongolo, We went to a location near Lusaka where we had hoped to be able to go on a game drive. However, ther was a conference being held at the Protea Safari Lodge and all the game drives were booked.
So..... we had a relaxing dinner and went for a walk on the grounds of the Lodge. We encountered a female kudu nibbling the brush next to the children's play area and also several hartebeast resting in the grass in the shade. These critters were all used to people being in the area, so they did not run away.
The next day, the Dittmers left for Canada, taking a 7-foot carved giraffe along with them.

Flying Mission was able to schedule a flight out of Macha for us on the Saturday morning after the departure party. This being done even with the shortage of avgas in all of southern Africa. It pays to have good friends in the right places.
Lee and Ruth were scheduled to take a BA flight out of Lusaka International on Tuesday morning and had wanted to also take a flight in a small plane; So, FM accommodated us all.
Many of the Dittmer's friends from Macha came to the ABFA aerodrome to see the volunteers from Canada off on their next leg to Luaska.
As the plane rose and circled Macha everyone waved "goodby" and we could see the village in the distance and even the workings at the new site for MICS.

The Friday night before Lee and Ruth were to leave for Lusaka/Canada, a taco party was held at the Macha B&B. Friends from the Mission Hospital and from MIAM were all present. One of the local mid-wife/nurses made matching outfits for the two of them. Fun was had by all. And later, Lee and Ruth sang songs for us with Lee playing Harmon's guitar.

During the break between 1st and 2nd terms, we had some welcome visitors from the "south". Actually they originate from the "north", but are teaching at TDS in Botswana, which is south of Zambia.
Grace, Rosie and Lydiah (all from Kenya) came to visit us in Macha. Their arrival was a very welcome event. Mid Sakala and Ronda rode into Choma with Mid's husband, Ben, riding in Sakala's truck. After doing some shopping, they waited for the bus from Botswana bringing the three ladies. After a quick transfer from the "big bus" to the "Macha Express", they all bounced their way, for 2+ hours, to Macha on the "Choma-Macha Expressway" (all 70 km. of it).
After a night of rest, a tour of MICS was in order, followed by a bun and Coke at the VCC cafe. We all also had the "Macha Tour" in the back of Sakala's truck, including the ABFA airstrip, the area being cleared by hand for Flying Mission's hanger and refueling, and the area where the new school is under construction. Grace tried her hand at breaking rocks for making the concrete for the foundation and everyone studied the plans of that the "host house" will look like.
We were sorry to see them leave, but they did go to Victoria Falls on their way back to Botswana.
P.S. Their trip from Kasane was made more exciting when the bus left them behind at a "Hoof & Mouth Control Barrier".