Ninas Family Missional Life

Lynne buying tomatoes in Choma Yesterday           It is a bright, sunny partly cloudy day here in Mapanza.   Lunch for the staff is 12-2 PM.   Gives you time to eat lunch and take a power nap if you like.   The pace of life here is comfortable (some might say slow, but you start to enjoy it once you get settled into your Zambian skin.   Morning devotion is 7:30 am or whenever most of the staff is there.   You can wait for everybody because people trickle into the gathering and quietly take their seats.   It is a short work day here below the equator because it is winter.   June 21 st is our shortest day of the year.   The some rises at 6:30 a.m. and sets at precisely 6 a.m. daily.   The school schedule for the children runs by a precise schedule, but little else does.   Tonight is praise and worship in the dining hall.   We will be praying for the Rosemont team, as the staff here...

Guest house footings. Lynne washing dinner dishes.  I dry them. First sunset ever from new water  tower!!! Sunset in Zambia!!!

Blog June 11- WOW!  What a day!  I led the devotion this morning, finishing my series on the question, “Why was Jesus born, and why did he come into this world?”  If you want to probe that question, let me direct you to the book of John chapters 17-19.  There is one answer to that question in each chapter.  Stephen’s favorite is in chapter 18 when Jesus is with Pilate.  It is awesome to begin each day in worship with the NDO staff and study Scripture on which to build your day.  We worship and learn Biblical truth entomwe (together-probably misspelled the Tonga word).             After devotion, Lynne, Wes, and I departed for Choma the nearest thing to civilization within an hour of NDO.  You never leave NDO going to Choma or Lusaka without a list (and kwacha) from folks who need stuff.  So Lynne had a shopping list, as did Wes, and a few other lists with us.  We drove on a wash...

Self-portrait at sunrise.  Temps in the 30's. June 10 th -Where to begin???  Last night was the coldest night we have had yet.  I am pretty sure it was in the upper 30’s.  Wes said I should warn the mission team to bring layers of clothing for the nights and early mornings.  As I have said before, I wear a long sleeve t-shirt and fleece jacket and it is very comfortable.  If you are sensitive to the cold, you could add a sweat shirt to what I wear and be fine.  It is 10 a.m. here right now and the temperature is upper 60’s to lower 70’s (don’t have a thermometer or Weather Channel).  That is a very comfortable temperature.  It was cold enough last night that Max and Nala were banging on the door, jumping up and grabbing the door knob begging us to let them into the hut where it is warm.  Fire in the hut?  Nope, stays pretty comfy over night.                ...

June 9 -The Rosemont team may be wondering about clothing to bring.  It is brisk and cool the first hour or so of the morning (6-8), but it warms up fast.  A sweat shirt or fleece (my preference) will get you through the morning.  It is in the mid-40’s early in the morning, but dry.  High temperatures are in the upper 70’s to lower 80’s, but remember it is very dry.  There is almost always a breeze blowing, but it is dry also.  Chapstick is a must, as well as, lotion for your hands and feet.  Your lips, feet and hands will dry out quickly.  A hat and sunglasses will serve you well.  We are south of the equator, but close to the equator.  The sun is very bright and intense.  Did I mention it is dry here?!?!?!?!  Bring a water bottle!  The water here at NDO is drinking water.  I have been drinking it since I arrived with no ill affects!!!!           Sunday is a day to rela...

June 8- Saturday at New Day means Kids Club.  There will be children from the surrounding villages coming to play, hear the Gospel and enjoy a meal.  My goal was to turn on and check out the 5 computers someone donated to the staff, but the electricity is out.  It is usually only out for 2 hours at a time, but it is not always a convenient time.  Lynne and I had dinner with the children last night and the power went out (load shedding), so we broke out flashlights and ate in the dark.  The children were unperturbed.  They hugged us and loved on us all the way through the meal and afterward.  Our supper was fried chicken and fried potatoes.  Kulanga, the cook does very well turning out meals.  Wes says Kulanga spent the first part of his life working in amethyst mines.  Kulanga is also the musician for our morning staff devotions.  He has a hobby of learning greetings in different languages.  Lynne and I were able to teach hi...

June 5  2013  Mapanza Zambia  We left Atlanta Saturday June 2 at 6:30 PM.  We finally arrived at New Day Orphanage around 9:30 PM June 4.  Our luggage arrived a couple of hours later.  Since it was so late we spent the night at Wes and Laurie Wilcox’s house.  I am sitting in front of our hut typing this waiting for the African sunset that is at least 1 ½ hours away.  Max and Nala, our two Siamese cats are asleep on the door stoop.  Lynne is off at the garden harvesting okra seeds (not Oprah).  Sonic,  the Rhodesian Ridgeback just became bored of my company and sauntered off down the trail to visit someone who doesn’t talk to himself.  Forgive me Sonic!!                 Blu gave Lynne and me a tour of the property today.  They have had a tough time with the garden, although a couple of the okra plants had okra and blooms.   Lynne has chosen...

        As I write this we are at the headquarters of Mubuyu Farms, sitting on the veranda sipping freshly pressed Zambian coffee.  How did we get here?  We were driving from Lusaka to Mapanza today.  As we started to climb Munali Hill in the 4-wheel drive van, the motor began to make a loud clanking and banging sound.  Wes said maybe we were low on oil. He prayed, "Lord if we can just make it over the hill to Mubuyu Farms where we buy coffee, we can check the oil!"   We made it to the main gate, and were able to buy some Zambian coffee grown and roasted by the Lublinkhof family.   Andrew, the farm foreman, rode a motorcycle down to the gate with 5 gallons of oil for us to put in the van.  Soon Jesper, and father William joined us.  It soon became apparent it was beyond just needing oil. We contacted Blu at New Day, and he was on his way with two vehicles to pick us up.  Jesper (pronounced yesper) invited us to lunch at t...

My First Zambian Sunrise at 30,000 ft. HOORAY!!   We are safely in Lusaka, Zambia.  Lynne, Laurie, Wes and I are siting at the MBattista Caffe at the arcade in Lusaka enjoying a cup of Zambian coffee and the cool morning weather.    We had a bus fire in London, but otherwise our trip has been uneventful.  We appreciate all of your prayers.  We are spending the nite in Lusaka at the Baptist Mission Guest house and driving to New Day in Mapanza tomorrow morning.  Thank you for your prayers!!!!  Another post when we get to New Day!

      The school year has ended.  Teacher ran screaming from the building yesterday with tears of joy covering the sidewalks like the morning dew.  As I write this we are a little over 48 hours from departure on Saturday afternoon.  Anxious?  Nah!!!  Excited? You betcha!!!  I know volunteer season is a mixed blessing at New Day Orphanage.  Although they enjoy the volunteers and what they contribute, after the third or fourth group passes through Mapanza, they have to become weary of being host.  Our goal is to be more of a blessing than a burden.      You may be wondering what kind of food they eat in Zambia.  I found some good photos and information on The Baxters website while they were serving with Hands at Work .   So the photos are descriptions are theirs. Here you have nshima (corn meal paste) made from maize ‘flour’, fried chicken, soup (a sauce made from tomatoes and onions) and finally cabbag...