Typical Saturday at NDO . . .Basketweaving, blogging, etc.

Sitting on my stool, blogging.

 June 29 (D-11)

               Sitting under a mimosa tree outside our hut on a hand-carved wooden stool we bought in Livingstone typing this.  We paid 60 Kwacha ($10.90) for two at the downtown street market.  The original asking price was 60KR for one.  However my friend Wes stepped in and helped me negotiate.  Yes, Wes helped me half the price, but they still weigh a lot.  The man we bought them from said it takes about two days to cut, carve and stain the stools.  I have included a picture so you can see that which I bought and on which I am sitting.

               Something I had wanted to mention previously, but it kept slithering out of my mind.  We have not seen a single snake since we have been here.  Of course, it was 42°F this morning.  There was a snake killed in the manner of Stephen in Acts 7 at NDO while we were in Livingstone.  Blu called it a common tree snake, because it was in tree and they are common.  It was non-lethal.  But, the children here are taught to fear and kill all snakes as a precaution.  Black mambas are called two steps because that is how far you will get before the venom takes effect.  Anyway, all of the huts in Zambia have no grass around them, and the women sweep the dirt every morning with a hand-made broom.  Why?  Sweeping the dirt every morning makes it easy to see the track of any snake that may have come near the hut or into the hut during the day.  Nope, we do not sweep our dirt.  We have two vicious, snake-eating Siamese cats that are known for their awesomeness far and wide in Mapanza.  There are also a few dogs on the compound that keep the snakes at bay.

               We are attending a farewell dinner at Wes and Laurie Wilcox’s house tonight for Christen Ones.  She has been here the last few weeks from Nebraska assessing the students in the school.  She has spent the last few days compiling a report for Laurie so they can alter instruction, if needed, to better prepare the kids in the subjects of math and reading.  She leaves tomorrow for Lusaka, and flies out Monday.  I was able to help minimally with some of the reading assessments.  You may remember me posting that I was doing SST here in Zambia (I think I posted that!!).

               Someone on the Rosemont Team asked what I have missed most while being here in Zambia.  Would you believe I am still processing that question?  There are lots of things we have in the US that we think are necessities, which once you are out here in the bush fade to nothingness.  The focus is different here.  I did miss Cheez-it’s, but Curtis and Shannon took care of that for me.  When I think of what I have missed the words to a praise song come to mind.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Look full in His wonderful.

And the things of life

Will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

If my cell phone rang right now, I would not recognize the ring tone.  If I did not have internet and could not post my blog, I would still be writing about my experience.  I am not saying that we don’t sometimes crave a real hamburger, or other things.  What I am saying is that the focus here is on reaching the villages around us with the Gospel and preparing the NDO children to be Zambian lights in a dark world.  When you do have those cravings for things, you engage in ministry that has you gazing into the face of Christ and they grow very dim.

On his mother's back.  She is teaching Lynne to weave a basket.

               You might remember my post about the wall spiders.  We have lived here long enough to see the old ones die and young ones come to take their place.  How do we know when they die?  We have one that is over the desk near the ceiling that hasn’t moved in two weeks.  I understand the term “patient hunter”, but “come on man!!”  I noticed this morning as at the kitchen sink that the mirror spider has reached considerable size; his legs stick out the side of the mirror.  Before you get grossed out, remember they eat mosquitoes!!!

One of the young girls helping cook for Kid's Club today.  Yes, she was scared of Sikutanta.

               Lynne is headed down to the dining hall for a class.  A young lady from a nearby village has agreed to show Lynne how to weave straw baskets.  The lady said she would bring the material and show her.  They had agreed to meet at 7 a.m. this morning, so Lynne was up early constantly checking the door.  It is now 11:40 a.m. and Lynne’s helper, Noah, just stepped to the door of our hut to tell us the lady is at the dining hall ready to show Lynne how to weave a basked.  Oh!!  She meant 7 a.m. “Zambia time.”    Life is pretty hard out here in the bush so you never know when someone is delayed for an appointment what might be the cause.  The second time I went to Kavanga to teach the Bible study most of the village was out in the field chasing someone else’s cattle out of their pasture.  We waited 45 minutes, started the study and finished it with the 3 people that were there.  Never saw the regular attendees.  You do what you have to do!!!

Weaving a basket takes feet and hands.

Lynne tries her hand on a basket.

              It is time to finish my Bible sermon for tomorrow and get ready for computer class at three.  Lynne and I are happy to answer any questions you might have about life in the Zambian bush.  There are no stupid questions.  We are happy to satiate your curiosity.  You can message us on FB or drop us an e-mail (larryninas@gmail.com or lynneninas@gmail.com).  Yes we have eaten Nshima and it is a lot like grits.  I still cannot make myself taste or eat chicken feet!!  Andrew Zimmern says, “If it looks good, eat it!”  Boiled chicken feet do not look good enough to eat.  Covet your prayers for my message tomorrow.