Beginnings

The OMNI team was up at 4am for their 5 am departure to Lusaka. There were tearful goodbyes, lots of hugs and prayers, as we all said farewell. And so began the next phase of our journey. The team was off to Lusaka for a little (or maybe a lot) of shopping in the open air markets and at our dear friend Esme's shop. As they were boarding the plane to return home, Steve was disembarking, arriving to spend the next week with Karen, Ron and I as we all continue OMNI's work for the children of Zambia.
The three of us spent the day facing new adventures, missing our team mates, and longing for their fellowship this evening. Foster traveled to Lusaka with the team to retrieve the long awaited rototiller and the trailer which will serve as storage at the Children's Village property. So...we had the use of Foster's vehicle today. We were soon reminded that life in Zambia is an adventure. After Ron changed the flat tire, he spent some time trying to locate the button for the car alarm. After a quick call to Foster, the button was located, and we were on our way. Test drive - once around the block and then on our way. What is that funny beeping noise, why are the blinkers flashing, and why is there no power?...the car alarm is sounding. More experimenting, and it stops. Once more around the block. Seems that driving on the left side of the road will be the easy part! As we pass Setanga Lodge for the second time, the gate man is laughing and cheering us on! Small victory - we made it around the second time without incidence. On to fill up with fuel. Hurray! Another victory. We are fueled and ready to go, but the car won't start. The alarm is the culprit once again. Not to worry, push some buttons and we're on our way again. Uh oh - our first police check point - just look casual - and they wave us through without even stopping. One more victory! Then the beeping, and flashing, and no power again. We are so grateful this did not happen at the police check point. The three of us alone in a car with the alarm sounding in Zambia may have had a most undesirable outcome. One more call to Foster and we're on our way. We stopped to at our building site, then dropped off clothes at George, and on to Shop Rite, then back through the police check point and back home. It was a day of celebrating small victories and learning our way around town. Steve and Foster have just arrived with trailer and rototiller on the truck, and all is well. We thank God for their safe arrival and pray for the safety of our team as they travel home. It is so quiet here tonight...we miss our team.