Here is a recap of the last couple of days. The remaining members are Jim, Jane, John, Dave, Patrick Sr and Patrick Jr. Four of the church men have been helping us each day. The team has now finished installing the windows and the security bars over them on the clinic container. The interior trim has been installed. The interior has been prepped, primed and painted. 

On Saturday, the floor under laiment and PVC tile is being installed and the door installed. The lights have been installed and the clinic is now ready for Zambia power to be connected.

The exterior now has a coat of primer and paint. Many community members are wanting to know when it will be open for care.

On Thursday Alfred and David traveled south to Sinanjola to see the improvements and check on the progress of the new roof being installed on two of the school rooms. the community was over joyed with the improvements to their school for their children.

David is on his way back to the states.

Clinic work site

the team settled in at the work site in Kanyama where the health clinic will be. We are starting to install windows than security bars on the windows. shelves are being made and paint is flying. The community is very excited about the progress. tomorrow wil be more of the same.

The Lords day in Zambia

The remaining members that are still in Zambia are Jim and Jane Kirchner, Dana LaDow and David Atkins. we went to Kanyama A church in the morning, Dr. Alfred Kalembo spoke and spent the afternoon visiting with orphans and vulnerable children of the community and updating their information. the church received Christmas outfits for the kids and the got to use them for the first time today. The kids were really excited.

1/26/2013

Saturday we left for the airport at 5:45. We are now boarded and the flight is on time!! In 10 hours we will be in London

1/25/2013

Friday, the Choma team went to Choma Secondary School for morning Chapel services. This is the boarding school Alfred attended. Alfred gave the devotional. There were several hundred students in attendance. Normally there would have been around 1000, but some students have not yet arrived at school.
When school is first back in session, swollen streams can prevent students from getting to the boarding school. This school was built in 1964 for 500 students. They currently have 1800 students enrolled and must split the day into 2 sessions to handle the load. The first session starts at 6:30.

We then went to back out to the farm to deliver some garden seeds, hoes and boots to Panest and Monise  who are the caretakers of the farm.

On the way back to town, we stopped by the Sibanyati primary school to distribute more school activity packets. We met the rest of the team in Choma for lunch.

The 2 teams joined back up for lunch in Choma. We then started the 5 hour drive back to Lusaka. We reached Lusaka at 7:00 pm.

We met with the board of the Zambia Council of Churches for dinner. Then went back to Alfred's house for Muumbe's birthday. We enjoyed cake together.

1/24/2013

On Thursday, Dave, Dana, Cory and Alfred went to Jembo to the Bible college and Jembo mission. The rest of the team went to Livingstone. We were able to distribute packets to 1-3 grades (approx. 240 students). We also gave soccer balls and backpacks. We also saw books and desks that were sent.

We came back to Choma to eat dinner. While eating dinner, a friend of Alfred's who had worked for the government agricultural office for 30 years met us. We talked for about an hour about different ways of farming and the best practices of growing, harvesting and marketing. His knowledge was very helpful.

The part of the team that went to Livingstone, spent some time Wednesday at the Zimba hospital and another school to distribute packets. Saw lots of elephants.

It was pouring rain when they went to the falls. So the were soaked before getting wet by the spray! They stayed the night in Livingstone.

1/23/2013

Wednesday we went to the farm at Choma. The corn looked good. We went to see Panest and Monice who are living on the farm. They had a small peanut field planted also.

The rest of the team went to Siachitema village to give out packets to the school, and hospital. They have over 1000 children attending school there. The team was impressed that the nurses were able to do so much with so little. The doctor from that clinic was in school, so the nurses had to do it all.

Brian and Cory stayed at the farm to look at the equipment, and try to pick out the best land to plant and  clear first.

We came back to the guest house around 7:00 for dinner and then discussed what has impacted each of us the most during the trip.

1/22/2013

We arrived in Zambia at 1:30 Tuesday morning. We cleared customs and arrived at Alfred's house, it was 4:00 am.

Muumbe cooked us a delicious breakfast this morning. The team then went to Kanyama B to see where the clinic container and storage container were placed. We walked to Kanyama A and were excited to see the church members had varnished the pews that were built last year! They look really nice!

We ate lunch and drove to Mazambuka to look at a Pilgrim Wesleyan church under construction. We drove  to Monze for dinner then on to Choma to spend the night.

Flight not cancelled

Well, our flight was not cancelled last night (good news). The bad news is it was delayed until 12:00 noon Monday. So we went back to the hotel, arriving about midnight. We met for breakfast at 7:30, had prayer and headed back to the airport.

If we leave today at 12:00 noon, we will arrive at midnight in Lusaka.

1/20/2013

Sunday morning we woke well rested and ate breakfast before leaving the hotel. We collected our bags and headed to the airport. We are waiting for the flight which is still operating! It is still snowing and many flights are cancelled today, so we would appreciate prayers for our flight to leave tonight. We have made lots of friends with other stranded travelers and even had out photo on the evening news on BBC! The link is below. We are the ones sleeping on the floor with lime green shirts on!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21095656

Weather Is Not Cooperating

The unusual snowstorm in the UK is causing havoc at Heathrow airport. Over 400 flights were cancelled yesterday and unfortunately ours was one of them. Ours was one of the last to cancel so all hotel rooms were booked. We spent the night in the airport, but are now rebooked on the next flight to Lusaka which is tomorrow (Sunday night). The really good news is we have hotel rooms for tonight!! A shower and bed will feel extra good tonight.

Arrival In London

We all arrived early in London, thanks to 100 knot tailwinds on the way over! It is snowing here, so I hope our departure to Lusaka isn't delayed.

2013 Mission Team Schedule

Saturday 19th 
AM
-    Arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 06:50 hours.   
-    Refreshing at Mission Guest house and viewing the improved national office
      buildings and mission guesthouse.
-    Brunch at M & G Restaurant (Levy Junction Mall). Will exchange money during the Brunch time.
        The Zambian kwacha has been rebased effective 1st January, 2013.  Now  K5,000  is K5 in the 
         rebased currency.  Please bring US dollar notes that are later than 2006.  Just a reminder that $50
         and $100 bills have a better exchange rate than smaller bills.

PM
-    Tour the Kanyama church clinic and school property and meeting with the local church and community
      leadership.
-    Supper and fellowship with the Council of Churches in Zambia Executive Board.
-    Brian and Janette; Brad and Diana; Cory and Matt will spend night at the Kalembos
-    Dave, Jim and Jane; Dana and Shirley will spend night at mission guesthouse.

Sunday 20th
-    Brad Preaching at Mazabuka Main PWC
-    Brian Preaching at Mazabuka Central PWC
-    Matt preaching at a Nazarene church in Lusaka (Matt will link up with the rest of the team either in 
     Mazabuka in the afternoon or Choma on Monday morning.)
-    Overnight in Choma.

Monday 21st
-    Choma farm project
-    Children’s Nest Orphanage (68 children)
-    Meeting with Mariet Nyoni (PWC -Hope for Children Coordinator)
-    Giving packs at Sibanyati School and Clinic  (Near Choma Farm Project)
-    Supper and overnight in Choma

Tuesday 22nd
-    Leave for Sinanjola School after breakfast
-    Supper and overnight in Choma -    This will be a great place for Kansas team hygiene packs 
      distribution.

Wednesday 23rd
-    Choma farm project
-    Visit Siachitema clinic and Basic School
-    Supper and overnight in Choma -    Ideal place for Kansas team hygiene packs distribution.

Thursday 24th
-    Travel to Livingstone and view Victoria Falls
-    Overnight in Livingstone - Some team members who may not want to view the falls could remain to 
      continue working on equipment at the Choma farm project

Friday 25th
-    Departure for Lusaka. The team Lusaka links up with those who may remain in Choma and proceed to
     Lusaka
-    Supper and overnight in Lusaka.  Sleeping arrangement the same as on the 19th night.
   
Saturday 26th
-    Brian’s team departs
-    Dave, Dana, Jim and Jane move to the Kalembos residence
-    Work on the clinic begins       

Sunday 27th
-    Dave, Dana, Jim and Jane attend Kanyama Church
-    Work on the clinic project or visiting OVCs homes.       

Monday 28 – Friday, Feb 1
-    Work on clinic project   

Saturday, Feb 2
-    Dave, Jim and Jane leave (?)