“From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” John 1:16

Yesterday began a little differently than usual. I left Ron home, resting and praying he will soon feel better. As I drove from town into George, something didn’t seem quite right. The usual police check point on the road between town and George was removed. The barrels normally in the middle of the road were not there, nor were the police officers. So, I wondered, and just drove on. As I drove on, I noticed police officers stationed at each dirt road off the highway. Then I really wondered. They weren’t brandishing weapons, so I wasn’t worried. Yet I wondered if maybe there had been some trouble in the area. When I met up with Foster at George, he explained that there was no trouble, just that President Mwanawasa was in Ndola for the opening of a gem factory and the dedication of a road in Luanshya. I was told the police are there just as extra protection along any highway he may travel. Later in the day, we were also detained as traffic was stopped for about 20 minutes, waiting for the President’s motorcade to pass through downtown. Yesterday was also my first solo shopping experience in Twapia. I needed worm medication for baby Frederick, and was advised by Godwin that I could find it in Twapia. So, I drove the crater filled road into Twapia and parked in an open area near the market. Although the drug stores don’t have many medications, there are several tiny drug stores in Twapia, so I thought my chances were good. So I revisited the drug store where Fridah had taken me. I was in luck, because the girl inside spoke English. The bad news was she didn’t have the medication. But she said she knew a place. So, she quickly led me down the winding, rocky path to another small store, interpreted what was needed, and then she was off like a flash – back to her store. I walked back to thank her for her kindness and asked if she would mind if I took a “snap” of her. She giggled, said something in Bemba to a man in the store, then proudly posed behind her counter.

Today I am happy to say that Ron is feeling better. We spent the day together, picking up and delivering steel bars to be drilled for the roof, and took huge round bars for cutting and welding to the William the Welder. We met with Brown Banda and visited the sawmill again to check on our order for 6 meter timbers for the headers on the porch and veranda. We also stopped at our school at George to take measurements so we could estimate how much paint will be needed to paint the two classrooms. When we arrived, there was a large crowd gathered in back of the school. Godwin explained that every Wednesday another NGO is there for a malnutrition program. They have a baby scale, and weigh the children to make sure they are progressing, and also give 1kg each of beans and soya, which is used to make porridge. The women were cooking greens and nshima. Some of the older children were grinding ground nuts for the little ones, using a big stone bowl and a long branch which had been smoothed over so no rough edges remained, pounding and mashing the nuts, like an antique mortar and pestle. There was also a small group there from Italy – four men and one woman. They only spoke a few words of English, so all I could find out is this was their first day in Africa and they will be here for 7 days. I never did discover who they came with or what they are doing, but like the OMNI team, their enthusiasm and excitement were very apparent. As we were trying to communicate with one another, the women from the village formed a large circle and began singing and dancing. There were women of all ages, and even a few men, all clapping their hands in time with the song, and singing and laughing at one another as they each took turns entering the center of the circle to dance alone. Whoever was in the center really performed, adding a little more hip motion to the dance. Young and old alike, all made it to the center, enjoying one another, and having such a good time. Then they started bringing the white people in, one by one, taking each of us by the hand and inviting us to join in the outer circle. Then, one, by one, they brought us into the center ring as well. Some of the Italian men did a little do-si-do which they found very amusing, and the crowd really howled when one of the men did a few Michael Jackson moves, even leaping into the air. It was an incredible time of sharing and fun and laughter, where language was no longer a barrier. What a wonderful blessing. I’m so glad we went to check on painting the classrooms today!