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".
The Easter Sunrise service in Macha is much different than we have previously experienced.
At about 5:00 some of the ladies from the BIC Church start walking down the streets of Macha singing "resurrection songs" in Tonga. They are all covered in "white sheets" to simulate the women going to the "burial tomb of Jesus". As they walk along singing, others join them and all take the long walk toward the BIC Church. Before reaching the Church, the group stops and spends the remaining time before "sunrise" singing and reading Scripture aloud.
After the short service is over, everyone walks back down the long road into the "rising Son".
The reason the web-page is behind on updates is because we have had only intermitent internet service for the past few weeks.
We plan to bring the updates current over the next number of days. Sorry!!!
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".
On the Saturday before Easter, we attended the Wedding/Reception of the daughter of the lady that cooks for us. Zambian weddings are different than weddings in Botswana, as we are learning. Instead of what we would anticipate as a church wedding followed by a "meal reception", the wedding this time must have taken place at the Magistrate's office or some official location. The proceedure was for the Bride and Groom to enter the hall separately, being led by the wedding party. During the entry and while seated at the wedding table, the Bride looks at the floor and does not smile. She is to act "sad" (not smiling) because of leaving her own family and and not look at anyone in attendance because "eye contact" might indicate that she was flirting with someone.
After the Bride and Groom were seated, the "wedding party" again entered, dancing into the hall, while guests remained seated facing a center aisle, down which all had entered. Each country and tribe has their own special customs. This wedding was an inter-tribal wedding with the Bride being a "Tonga" and the Groom being a "Bemba". This was cause for gentle "barbs" about each tribe being voiced by the "master of ceremonies".
Mid-afternoon Sunday, the container shipped from the Netherlands arrived in Macha. This was a much anticipated event as it was supposed to arrive on Monday 3 April, but because of paperwork mixups it ended up going to Lusaka and back rather than directly to Macha on the route north. But it did arrive!!
The truck carrying the container went to vanStam's house first and it was determined that no one including the driver had a key to open the locks on the doors. Hardened shaft locks are hard to cut with just a hacksaw. Fortunately, Lee (Canadian volunteer) had a grinder with a carbide blade that worked "GREAT".
The truck and its following headed out to ABFA for the "grand opening". Once at the airport, the container needed to be turned around and reloaded on the truck, so that it could be properly placed on its slab. This container will become the office building for the airport.
Positioning of the "big box" took some maneuvering but it was finally settled on the slab.
Prior to the actual opening of the doors, the group gathered for prayer to thank the Lord for the people that did all the donating, collecting and packing of the container in Holland and also for those that would unload it here. Guidance in handling of the dispersal of the contents was requested.
Once the doors were swung open, it was amaizing how every nook and cranny had been carefully filled with "goodies". You can see from the picture that the computer supplies, which are needed immediately, were the first things accessible.
After having been surprised by the students at MICS with a cake, balloons and cards followed by the MICS picnic, Ronda thought she was going to the VCC Cafe for an evening meal. However, instead, some friends had gathered at our Canadian friends house for another surprise party.
Ruth had prepared a delicious meal and cake for the group. Ronda's cake had a large fresh flower on top of the frosting as added decoration. Ruth is a great one for always carrying a scissors with her and cutting all sorts of wild flowers and weeds to make beautiful decorations.
For desert we had the cake and watermelon.
Friday 7 April was the last day of the term for MICS students. They had been working hard to receive points for following directions and doing their work and as a reward they all went on a picnic.
Everyone came to the Macha B&B from school after having surprised Ronda with a birthday cake and cards.
The picnic supplies were loaded in our wheelbarrow and off we headed to a "secret picnic spot". This spot is where there are a few trees and grass at the "exit ramp from the freeway" to the BIC Church and Mission Basic School. You can see the "freeway" just behind where the children were having a relay race.
Once at the picnic spot, sheets were spread on the grass and the activities began. There were relay races with the children carrying spoons with the correct number of beans to be placed in cups. Because the previous week had been "Blue Week", the scavenger hunt was for items that were blue and previously hidden. Finally, everyone sat down for a "feast" of hot dogs, corn curls and the blue cupcakes they had made earlier in the week, along with a piece of the BD cake they had given to Ronda at the surprise party.
On Monday the 3rd of April, the students of MICS visited the Macha Vision Community Center Library. They were told about the library and how it was to be used and the librarian read them a story. Then a library card was issued to the school as a whole and each child was allowed to check out a book of their choice. After each student checked out their library book, they went next door to the tables at the VCC Cafe to look at the books each had gotten.
Today is Ronda's birthday.
Be sure to send her an email (or call her) to wish her a
VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
We Love you Mom/Ronda!
We got some "GREAT NEWS" today. Our work permits for allowing us to stay in Macha have been approved and are ready to be picked up at immigration in Lusaka. The application for the work permits were submitted on a "Professional Basis" not a "Missionary Basis". They were submitted through the assistance of Macha Mission Hospital and CHAZ (Christian Health Association of Zambia).
The way in which Zambia issues work permits is different than in Botswana. Each person here must be approved for a permit; not as a spouse of an approved ex-pat. The concern was that Gil is not a certified teacher and the work would be with a school. But God opened the doors for both of us to be approved quite quickly. Sometimes it takes many months of waiting. PTL another confirmation that this is where God wants us.
Included in the things purchased from the family returning to the USA was a breadmaking machine. Ronda used the machine for the first time on Tuesday to try things out and a half loaf was baked.
Now the shocking news !!!!
Today Ronda was not feeling up to par, so, Gil decided to use the machine to make some bread. He added and measured all of the ingredients, including cracking and adding an egg (without shell bits). The machine was started but after a period of time the power went off in Macha. So, the dough was taken out, placed in a pan and the wait began. After several hours the power came back on. Now the dough is back in the machine and we shall see what happens. Wonders will never cease !!!
So.... Come to the Macha B&B and we can break bread together!!
Our house, ie: Macha B&B, has had some welcome additions made thanks to our new friends from Canada. Lee and Ruth are in Macha volunteering for three month for the second year in a row. Lee is heading up the maintenance department for the Mission Hospital and Ruth is assisting both at the Hospital and the Vision Cafe.
Earlier, Ruth helped Ronda decorate the house and install the curtains and valances that were purchased from the family in Lusaka.
Lee also helped with the decorating by mounting pictures and wall hangings at the house. Today, he provided the expertise for the installation of both the washer and dryer that also had been purchased from the family heading back to the States.
In addition to the "tithe scholarship" student sponsored by MICS, we also have a student sponsored by a missionary family in Macha.
The picture is of Beauty practicing her "letters" by writing in the sand.
Beauty is a little Zambian girl whose mother remarried and the new husband rejected her as a daughter, so she lives with her grandmother. The missionary family, has sort of adopted Beauty and she spends most of her daytime hours at their house. She does go to her grandmother's neighboring house to sleep.
Beauty's tuition is being paid for by this family and was actually the first MICS student sponsored by a caring family.
You, too, could help partially sponsor a new student who might not be able to afford to attend MICS and learn English at an early age.
Because of the limits places upon visitors as to the length of time they can be in Zambia during a given year, we had to return to Botswana for a time this month. Our days in Zambia had exceeded the 90 day yearly limit. The papers for our Zambian "work permit" are in process but not completed.
We returned to Tlokweng to see friends of the past 8 years and get more of our "things" sorted out. Ronda spent some time doing "teacher observations" of some of the new staff that had been hired for this year.
We had a great time back at TDS and were able to pack another load to bring to Macha. (some of the things we forgot to bring in January) Word came that our papers should be ready at immigration in Lusaka and we were e-mailed a copy of the receipt for processing the work permit. (a mere K 1,000,000)
When we got to the Zambian side of the border, immigration was only going to give us 2 days to go to pick up our permits. After much pleading and whining about the condition of the road to Macha, they agreed to allow us 10 days. Customs did not give the same hassle that they did in January.(PTL)
On our trip "south our car developed a great thirst for oil. Coming back to Zambia this thirst continued. We felt that we needed a second opinion about the car.
So....our limited time meant that we had to promptly proceed to Lusaka to get our more permanent papers. Monday 27 March we drove to Lusaka, taking 3 additional people along, dropping 2 in Choma and the third person accompanying us to Lusaka.
In Lusaka, the car went into the "hospital" for major surgery (an engine overhaul). And, our papers were not yet completed; but immigration did give us an additional 30 days. So,we flew back to Macha again on Wednesday. Fortunately, there were flights scheduled to and from Macha, even with the shortage of AvGas here in Southern Africa. This is "Life in Africa".
Our garden is taking shape thanks to the hard work and knowledge of the gentleman who is assisting us at the house.
The yard area for the garden has been worked to allow some planting of vegetables that will start to grow in this season (the start of what we might know as Fall). However, in order to add neutrients to the soil, fertilizer needed to be delivered. And with this being the rainy season, the collection of "cow manure" is very difficult. So, an alternative was to bring wood-ash from "the fires" at the Mission Hospital. (These "fires" are where the relatives of the patients prepare the meals for themselves and the patients.) This ash would be transported to our yard by "ox cart", however there was a delay of several days because the "ox cart" had a "puncture". Finally, the two loads of ash was delivered along with a third load (of fence posts) for the fence to keep animals (cows, goats, etc) out of the garden.
