Beetles, Poetic License and Nala's Adventure

July 3^rd (One week left at NDO)

               For those of you have been praying in response to our prayer request about staying longer thank you.  We will be returning to LaGrange as scheduled Friday July 12 late.   Just wanted to give you an update.

               When we get home I will have to read back over my blog entries.  So much has occurred, we have been blessed so richly and been used by God to touch the lives of other people so deeply.  I know I shouldn’t start reflecting back over our time here until we are gone, but it will help me gain perspective as we move toward our departure from NDO next Wednesday.

               I climbed the water tower tonight for the sunset (BIG SURPRISE!!!)  Melody and Katie were just coming down in a rush to dinner.  Apparently Darbi is not happy when you are late for dinner (just kidding Darbi!  Hope your bread turned out well.)  So as they are walking away down the road to Darbi’s house, Nala comes running under the water tower meowing loudly and looking down the road.  I call her and she stops and looks around for me.  After calling her a couple times more she looks up, sees me, and tries to climb the steel tower to get to me.  Unable to do that she settles at the foot of the ladder to await my descent.  I dedicated tonight to a time lapse, which turned out great.  When I climbed down the ladder after sunset, she meowed (which she rarely does) and fell in step with me to walk back to the hut.  It was so sweet!!!  Max would have meowed all the way back to the hut, but Nala silently followed.  (Parenthetical: Nala and Max are the pair of Siamese cats that inhabit our hut. A hut that is reminiscent of Hagrid’s hut in Harry Potter).

               Computer class today was a blast.  We missed Mulenga though.  We composed a letter and played with the formatting options (margins, tabs, etc.).   The class played a game called Tomb Typer.  They had a blast playing and sharpening their home key skills.  We normally have class Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday afternoon.  However, with my imminent departure next week, we are squeezing in as much computer time as possible (Saturday morning Movie Maker Laurie!!)   What a summer!!  I have given SST reading probes, taught science labs, and taught computer classes in the middle of the African bush.   Would love to come back next summer and do it all again!!!

               You never know when you will be called upon to lend a hand here in the bush.  Lynne and I stopped by the Wilcox hacienda (I love that word.  It makes me think of the TV show High Chaparral.) to borrow a flash drive and Laurie asked us to help move some boxes.  When we moved the last box a huge ground beetle was underneath.  I have learned to always carry my camera with me.  He was solid black with white trim, and about 5 inches long.  No, he was not aggressive.  Yesterday I walked to the Wilcox casa and added 5 new birds to my life list thanks to having my camera with me.  As you have read before on my blog, Zambians eat wild birds so the birds are skittish when you point a camera at them.

               I have begun to work on our page for the New Day Guest book.  Well done Rosemont team on your contribution to the guest book.  Here is the art work I have so far.  You knew “my tree” would have to be somewhere.  I did see the sun just like this through the tower on my way to climb this evening.  One of our page entiries will be “What do I love about NDO?”  Here is what I have so far:

               -The whisper of the wind running through the tall grass.

               -God painting the Milky Way with a brush of comet dust.

               -The staccato laughter of children playing in the ciikuta.

               -The rhythmic chortle from the tree top “I am a red-eyed dove!”

               -Children’s voice floating on the wind as they scatter across the savanna after Kid’s club.

-God whispering in the evening breeze “You’re welcome!”  each night after I thank Him another sunset.

I am still working on it.   Our page will have to include pictures of Nala, Max, and Martha (the milk cow).  The picture of Martha should probably be of her standing on our front porch at night with her son Bud. 

               Tonight was our last Praise & Prayer at New Day.  We heard a solo of This Little Light of Mine by Melody (well done) and a very different prayer service.  Usually after the praise portion the children go into the school office to pray and the adult stay in the dining room. You have to remember our oldest student here is around 10 years-old.  Tonight we had a combined adult and children prayer time.  You have never heard a more precious prayer time.   Children were praying for village churches, adults with cancer, their teachers, etc.  It was such a blessing.  One of the children prayed for Lynne and me to have a safe journey home.  Talk about touch your heart.  Machela prayed for Mallory Jeter.  If you see Mallory please let her know they have not forgotten her.

               It is almost bedtime here in the Zambia.  The sky was gorgeous as we walked back from the dining hall.  The Southern Cross, the Milky Way, Venus shining in the sky; what more could you want in a night sky.  “The the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can.  That’s how many descendants you will have!”   I think of that verse in Genesis 15 every night here in Zambia and know that Abram couldn’t have counted the stars.

               I am looking forward to another great day at NDO tomorrow.  I will be making video of some of the students for a project.  Pray they are cooperative and that I am patient.  I am looking forward to seeing rain.  I have almost forgotten what it looks like.