Taking part in the emconomy could save a whole continent!

Fact- The whole of Africa takes part in 1% of the worlds economy.

Fact- If Africa was given a chance for 1% more, they would be making more money then the whole continent receives in AID every year!

Africa is tired of AID, they want Fair trade.

Buying merchandise, food, coffee, that has been unfairly traded is actually making billions of people poorer, contrary to popular thinking.

FALSE- Them having the unfair trade business isn't helping them, they barley survive on it. making people poorer doesn't help them.

please find out how you can fight against this.

Faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.

Child headed homes in Zambia

Information on some of the problems we face in Zambia, poeple looking for the same answers we're looking for...

Zambia: Help for Child-Headed Homes

Zambia is grappling with the growing problem of thousands of child-headed homes, created by one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world.
Kapiri Mposhi, a commercial hub in central Zambia, about 200km north of the capital, Lusaka, has one of the highest levels of HIV prevalence in the country and a significant number of child-headed homes. UNAIDS estimates the national HIV rate at 17 percent.


The town is situated halfway between the industrial Copperbelt province and Lusaka on the Great North road, the only highway linking Zambia to Tanzania in the northeast, and is a mandatory stop for truckers. It is also a significant stop on the railway line connecting Zambia and Tanzania.

"Because it is a transport hub, frequented by truckers, the town has become a commercial sex centre with a high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate," said James Zulu, a spokesman for the Zambia Red Cross Society, which runs programmes supporting child-headed households.
The UNAIDS '2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic' estimated that Zambia had about 710,000 AIDS orphans, of which over six percent were homeless and less than one percent were accommodated in orphanages. The rest either fend for themselves in their parents' homes or are looked after by elderly grandparents.

According to Charles Mwinuna, district director of health in Kapiri Mposhi, there are over 850 officially registered orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in a population of less than 300,000 but the unofficial number could be higher. "We have not been able to establish as yet how many of these vulnerable children are currently in child-headed homes, but we know that they should be in big numbers because of the locality and socioeconomic nature of this town, which has put people at greater risk of contracting HIV/AIDS."
Many orphaned children end up as sex workers along the highway, but there are exceptions. Memory Kawaya, 16, has looked after her two younger siblings for the past seven years. The family of three lives in a grass-thatched hut on the outskirts of town. She attends schools and sells mushrooms to help support the family, and she and her siblings have twice tested negative for HIV. Kawaya is determined to maintain her negative status by abstaining from sex.
"Many people have been approaching me for sex and [they] promise to give me money, but I refuse to give in because of what I have heard and seen about HIV/AIDS. I want to become a teacher after completing school, so that I can look after my brother and sister - that's why I don't even think about any sexual relationship," she said.
Kawaya was nine when she lost her mother, and her two siblings were aged seven and five. "We do not have any relative to look after us ... we have been living like this and we often eat only once per day - we can't afford three meals. I am only happy that we are all in school, although I am usually frustrated by my headmaster, who is always harsh with me for not looking as smart as other pupils," she said. They grow cassava, beans and maize in an adjoining plot to help feed themselves.
The Red Cross Society has started initiatives working with vulnerable children. "We have identified 734 orphans and vulnerable children in the town, whom we support with groceries, clothing and school fees," said Zulu. The Red Cross caregivers also visit child-headed households in Kapiri Mposhi to ensure they are coping.
Relevant Links

Zulu said the society was also encouraging older children to run small businesses, mostly vending, to support their families. "We do not want to encourage child labour, but we provide them with small amounts of money to buy groceries or other foodstuffs to sell."

Let it Snow Let it Snow Let it Snow....

here's Vinjelu and I on the Snow machine, about to go for a spin in the field! It was Vnjelu's First time to ride or drive one. he had a blast!

Theres our mustang... sad sight I guess... Hibernating for the winter.

We still love you stang...

Accepted for Foundations in Community Development School!!!

Below is our exciting e-mail!

Dear Vinjelu and Kathryn,
Well we are thrilled to let you know that after praying over your
applications that you are accepted to the 2007 MT FCD starting on March
26. We know this is a school that will further equip you for the
work
God has called you too.
As we mentioned before we cannot guarantee a scholarship at this time.
There are at the moment 6 worthy African applicants (including yourself
Vinjelu) asking for scholarships and we at this time just have one
available. Pray for us as school staff that God will give us wisdom
who
out of these 6 we should recommend for a scholarship.
We would encourage you to seek the Lord and good counsel to do all
that
you can in raising the necessary funds for the school. As we do the
possible God is more than able to do the impossible. Do include your
YWAM
leadership in Calgary in the process as much as possible as to
confirming
God's leading to do the FCD at this time.
Many blessings,
Arnold
PS Don't hesitate to contact us with any further questions or concerns.

Merry Christmas Season!

Good link - please chek it out

http://www.phrusa.org/research/sudan/

Mercy Works- Kathryn going to Sudan

I have been praying about an opportunity I have been given to be apart of a Medicle relief team to the Sudan. The team is lead by a man in his early 70's, a doctor, he's been in YWAM for years. The team is going for three weeks to give medicle releif to Sudanese people in refugee Camps. It's from February 12-March 8 2007.

If you would like to check out the web site for the Relief team it's, www.mercyworks.org

I am filling out an application and will be sending it in the next few days. I need the flight money for this trip within the next week. And so need to really trust God for his provision. The whole trip will cost $4000.00.

Please look at the post below and take time to read some of the history behind the war in Sudan, as well for those of you that have DSL or somthing take 5 minutes and watch some of the Flash videos of Darfur villages and hear some of the refugee stories.

If you have questions or commnets please leave them on here or call. I have really been praying and thinking about this opportunity alot... so would be great to hear what poeple feel and think.

-Kathryn

Sudan- be a voice

Women in a Refugee Camp

Two children orphaned by the war

http://www.darfurgenocide.org/darfur.php

Wake Up and Smell the coffee...

Check out the site

Become aware

make a difference

Stand for justice

Rent the move from your local block buster

Child Soldiers- Become Aware.

please visit, www.invisiblechildren.com

Step One: Go to Good search Type in "Invisible Children."

Step Two: Click on the link to the Invisible Children GOOGLE VIDEO, and take 45 minutes to watch and make your self aware of whats going on and has been for year in Northern Uganda.

There are millions of children displaced in Uganda, disapeared, vanished... where?
I know alot of poeple would just say this is Africa, thats the way it is... but I beg to differ...
Children all over the world, poeple deserve the same rights, human rights, and life style, color race or country shoulnd't make is ok to be slaughtered, raped, and destroyed as a child.

Thousands of children are abduicted by the "Lords Resistence Army" in Uganada, they mostly abduct children between the AGES OF 5-12, because they are moldable at theat age. The first thing that happens when the children arive at the LRA's Camp tied up is, brutal murder, the children have to kill in order to be saved, they are forced to stand and watch or, to do it them selves.
Many children in rehab now have gone mentaly retarded because of the trama they've gone through while in the LRA.

Please read and find out whats happening in the world. Keep your self informed!
If you already are, great! Spread the news!

Relief Teams

I've just found out about a relief team that YWAM has running, one out of Texas and Austrailia. Some YWAMers sign up to be apart of these disaster relief teams, and stay on call of any emergencies. This is something I have always been very passionate about, but didn't know how to go about it safely. So I am looking into it more and some of the relief trips coming up in the next few months and years. I may sign up to be apart of this list as well go down to Texas for training. It excites me because it helps me understand where I can further my education and also get practicle experiance on the feild. It's all just in the beggining stagest though.

Kathryn

Gave our demo out...

Those of you following our music news...

we went to an event tonight held at the centre street youth church, (it wasn't a centre street youth thing though, they were just using the venue) Anyway, the guy vinj has been in contact with introdued us to a lady who organzises up and coming bands, she promotes and sets up gigs for them. As well as has a lable and a recording studio. So we met her and gave her some of our songs. She's going to cantact us... hopfully.

Anyway, she seemed very buys like one of those rich important people... but we found her waiting for her husband to pick her up, so I talked with her a bit. Turns out she knows Kevin and Ivy Birch.. weird... and she has been to new Norway. So, that was cool.

We will keep you posted.

Gave our demo out...

Those of you following our music news...

we went to an event tonight held at the centre street youth church, (it wasn't a centre street youth thing though, they were just using the venue) Anyway, the guy vinj has been in contact with introdued us to a lady who organzises up and coming bands, she promotes and sets up gigs for them. As well as has a lable and a recording studio. So we met her and gave her some of our songs. She's going to cantact us... hopfully.

Anyway, she seemed very buys like one of those rich important people... but we found her waiting for her husband to pick her up, so I talked with her a bit. Turns out she knows Kevin and Ivy Birch.. weird... and she has been to new Norway. So, that was cool.

We will keep you posted.

ThE WaY - A new up and coming Hip Hop Group

Vinj contacted a guy that's in the music business (or has been) in Clagary and has contacts in Calgary and beyond... so he's been in toush with him over the past year just talking about different opportunities that could work between us. So yesterday vinj really shared the heart behind our music. The guys said he was trying to get "Pigeon John" a hip Hop artists who had recorded with KJ-52 and Toby Mac. anyway, He siad if he gets him to come and play we could open up for him! Cool hey! So vinj and I have been practicing, we are looking into getting a drummer, and vinj has contacted a guy in Calgary who raps and wants to get into live shows, so there is a possibility of him rapping with us, it depends on him alot though, there is a specific purpose to our music we're not just up there entertaining. So we will see. We'll keep you updated.

Our Flat Mates!

Art and Corina Kung

These are our friends. Before we moved into their house we were over there almost every day anyway, so the transition to living with them was very easy and natural. It's going really well actually. I think vinj and I have gotten used to living with other poeple over the past 5 months. its somthing you really have to grow into i think. anyway, they are both awesome people who encourage us and bring so much life to life!

The NEw Locks

The Beautiful Blond

The Crazy Red Head.... it only last 2 hours this time.

The ned result, a rich dark auburn for Kathryn... what do ya think?

I first dioed it what was suppose to be a dark auburn, but I guess my hair had never been so blond before, so ti turned VERY RED, which maybe in my teen years would have loved, but not so much anyway more, so we went back to shoppers and died it again:) Dar Brown. So here it is. It's fun, I was nervous though because my hair was so light. I like it alot though.

Trisha my friends from toronto dyed my hair. as most of you knwo I am secretly very picky about my hair and who touches it, but she did an awesome job! Thanx trisha!

P.S I feel like this is very useless information compare to the many problems in the world... but I guess it's ok to be girl some times:)

Calgary

P.S- I have posted about 6 things today... scroll downa dn check out the other posts!

How's Calgary?

Well, right now we are going through somthing very serious and hard in YWAM calgary. So there have been some extra meetings and prayer this past week. This has made things a little emotional and trying. Details aren't nessesary in this situation.

Work?

I, Kathryn am wokring at a coffee shop working 8 hours a day, I like it... it's ok, not my favorite way to spend my time... but it is a gift from God to have a job in this season in our lives.

Music?

Vinj has been woking alot on our music, we preformed at a community night in McKenzie Towne last Sunday night. We did an acoustic soung, I played guitar vinj rapped and I sang. It was great. (Chris vinjelu's frined played a box drum with us as well, its was awsome) We are also sending some of our music to studios and producers... so we'll see what happens.

Home Life?

Home is good, we're living with a family, it's great living with them. We have enough privacy... or maybe it's cuz we're used to living other poeple by now... I don't know:) anyway, we get alog really well with this family and have always loved spending time with them.

but we will be getting a few days in the house by our selves! it will be fun to be alone for a while, we haven't spent time alone in a house since May! So it will be a treat i think. so don't call on the weekend:) heehee

Any Questions... ust ask.

Oh, Rob if you read this I used that budget data baes, it's great! very easy to use and revamp for personal use. Thanx for sending that!

Madalisto and Gwanire Kolombe

By Kathryn

Tobias-Gwanire-Vinjelu Muyaba

Love, sweet love....

Gwanire and Madalitso on their wedding day

Photo's take By Kathryn

Beauty of a culture

This was quite a family night, left to right: Madalitso's head (vinjeu's brother in law)-Gwanire(Vinjelu's sister)-Faith family sister- Wendy our best friend- Philip cousin- Tobias vinjelu's brother- Vinjelu... and me(but I'm taking the picture).

somthing I love about this picture is it's a picture of the culture in some way, you don't have enough chairs for everyone... "so what" just make room on one of your chairs for the extra people. You don't stress cuz you don't have enough seats, or have some people sit in the living room. No you jusy simply make room with what you have. This is a picture of that culture, make somthing amazing about what you have, I do think there is a positive and a negative to this actually... some people never get out of the servival mode, but others use this attitude to actually make it further and to make the most of life. It wa ssomthing beautiful I found about some people, makes you feel like anything in possible in some way...

Family house in Lusaka Zambia

This is the small 5 acre Muyaba Farm. This is where we stayed while in Zambia (Well when we were in Lusaka) it's quite a nice house, 4 rooms, lots of room for people. it was mostly full while we were there. Thats a Mango tree in the front there. One of my favorite parts of the house in the front portch, you can watch the sun go down every night, and also sit out front in the morning with coffee or tea with the hot sun shinging right on you. Really beautiful.

Calgary News October

We are now finding our feet in Calgary. Kathryn is working at Tim Hortons ( coffee shop) . She began with a really stressfull first week, but she is beggining to find her feet. vinjelu has been having a little culture shock being back in Calgary and finding rythm with Ywam. YWAM is a bit on a slower pace than usual. We are re-evaluating our programs, re-vamping our filing system, and also praying through some big decisions that need to made in the next year. We are also cleaning out the office and so ther is alot of practical work to be done. Vinjelu is helping with facilities (making sure that everything has a place to go!!)

Right now we are trying to see where God is leading us. We actually don't have enough Mission Financial support and so the issue of raising supporters comes round again. But since we believe that support should be relationship based, it is a problem that will not go away any time soon, since relationships take time.
We are living with a Canadain Chinese couple (Art and Corinna Kung). They are very easy to live with . We occupie two rooms. One is our office, the other is our bedroom. Here are some photo's!

As you can see we are still moving in, soon we will have photo's and pictures on the walls, and it will be our home untill March 2007! Come and visit if you can, we're in south East Calgary!

Victoria Falls

Now that we're home we can post a few favorite pictures from Zambia! So here's the first one. This was one of the two holiday days we had while in zambia.

Being Home- Kathryn

Since coming home two weeks ago, we've been visiting family. It's been amazing seeing them again, I love how you get to know your brothers and in-laws better and better every year... and I love become my mom's frined more and more.

I have been sick for about a month... actually a bit more then a month, the doctors found out after some testing in the past week that I have a parasite in my intestines. Witch has been making me feel sick, and other side effects... I'm sure you can imagine, I was actually kinda relieved, cuz I thought I had worms.

I have an interview/orientation on monday in Calgary. Going to strat work at Tim hortons, I had some opportunities to work with Autistic Chidlren, but felt I would get to busy again volunteering with YWAM and working that high stress job. So I am taking the easy route with Timmies. I am starting out as a supervisor, so thats nice, and I am making more an hour than I ever have... (interesting..) I get to smell like a tim bit again (Yeah). Good thing I don't like dougnuts!

Today I attended my Great Auntie's funeral. She died of Cancer. It was very sad to see her go, she was only in her 60s. It reminded me of how precious people are, and how precious it is to know people, really really know people. They are so beautiful. I was so privilage to know my Aunty and be touched by her true kindness and peronsl interested in my life.

So in the next few months we will be with YWAM Calgary, involved in our House Church, working on our music, and hopfully taking a church planting course. Look out for our news letter with all the details.. (if ur interested in getting our news letter just e-mail, or drop a note on the blog!)

I'm out...

We're Back in Canada!

leaving Zambia,,,,

This is quite hard. We are excited to come home... for things like meat and potatos and gravy... but we're leaving behind so many people. 3 months has been long, becoming part of a communities every days and then goign back to a completely different culture. crazy...

Leaving so many poeple in the same place or worse then you found them, is hard as well, the vision we have for Zambia just grows stronger because of that, people's stories and faces now inspire vision even more.

Good bye Zambia....

Zikomo Maningi Victoria!!!!!!!!

Victoria, thank yuo so much for frist of all checking our blog and finding out we needed some help woth tickets to toronto! And secondly for booking and paying for them in the mean time! That mean so much to us, we really needed the help with booking and all that, so thank you so much!

and for looking up those flights from London! Mom got the one, so we're hooked up!

Love you VERY MUCH! Give your self a hug from me!
Kathryn

My Mom...

Mom I forgot in the bustle of the day yesterday to write this.
On the bus very early in the morning, over all the bumps and dust in my face I was thinking about our childrens names (our children to come)... then thinkking about how serious it is to be a mother... then was thiking about my memories as a child right to the age of three... and how I always felt loved, cherished, safe, cared for, all the time. I didn't go through abandonment which is so rampant here. I was almost in tears as I was thinking and remembering your love.

The day before yestersay there was a small boy walking in Balastone park (the farms where we live) when he saw our bus stop breifly he was cry asking for 500K (14c) ... people laughed and the bus started off agian, the boy with tear streaming down yelled/cried out loud and ran and ran after the bus BEGGING for 500K (14c) ... People said he was fake crying, even if thats the case it is a travesty, so terrible to see that desperation in a small child as old as Emma (6yrs).

Thank you mom for your love, the wholistic love you showed me. In the coming years when vinj and I start a family I will remember what you were to me and be that to my children. I want to love like you loved me. I love you and appreciate you more then any of the words in this world could ever express, really.

Love
your daughter,
Kathryn

Last weeks here....

Hey Kathryn here...

Well we had a big family gathering these past few weeks, because of Vinjelu's sisters wedding. Gwanire and Madalits got married on the 26th of August. It was quite an exeriance.

There was family demanding the bride price (Labola) from Madalisto's family, but vinj and Tobi (his brother) already refused that tradition for different reasons, one main one being Gwanire didn't want to be paid for. That was quite an upset lots happened, and all of their family from their biological mom's side didn't come to the wedding, because of the bride praice not being paid.

For people interested the bride prices range from 3 million Kwacha to 10 million Kwacha, and even higher.

alot of poeple had problem with the tradiation not being in the wedding, it was almost imossible for them to have it thought because of the bride and goom coming 12 days before the wedding day... so the wedding looked a bit like a canadian wedding, although there were some Zambain tradiations.

So the wedding was beautiful, but not without problems.

Now we are getting ready to leave. On that note PRAISE god vinjelu got his visa!!!! Now we just need a flight from London to Toronto... been looking and looking can't find at the moment...

We are doing our last bit of recording in the next few days, we may be leaving Zambia on Sunday with Vinjelu's mom. We will stay in JOhannesburg with some friends, and will both be flying out on the 6th in the evening.

We will be back in Canada on the 7th... as for now our flight back to edmonton was cancelled and so now need to find a different flight home, it may have to be a few days later... I don't know I have to look into that again. Anyone interested in looking for us? The money we get back for that is about $500.00 for two flights from toronto to Edmonton.

There are alot of stories to tell, pictures to be shown... video to watch... see you poeple in Canada soon.

MARRIAGE.

These past two weeks have been straining because fo the wedding and all the fmaily stuff, straining on our marriage that is, vinj has to be here and there and so did I. It has been nice to have a few days alone, not sleeping with my mother in law in our room, or cousins! We have our room back untill we leave. Please just pray for unity to be there and appreciation for one another. Time, stress, full days all that puts a strain on us.

Feeling at Home

I-Kathryn

Am feel much more at home, able to get around knowing where I am, and also the language is a big thing as well... wich I am getting to know more and more everyday. It feels just normal waking up here and the rutine you go through in the morning. (Exceot boiling water for 10 people in the mornign to bath takes HOURS!!!)

The sounds, the gecko's, spiders, weirs flying things every where.... I'm used... it's nice actually. People have come to know me and even some to love me, it's comforting, and I am very thankful. I know that I fit into this make shift family here, and that toughes me deeply. I wondered what ti would be like being in a family with no mom and dad, it's interesting. But other poeple fulfill those roles some how... I look forward to having long chats with Vinjelu's mom about how life was like for her here... in amongst different culture, family, oh ya and color.

Gotta go...

Kath

Staggette for Gwanire!

Hey guys,

Yesterday was Gwanire's staggette... I was pleasantly surprised that all of the girls I invited came, there were 15 of us in all.

Gwanire was SOOOOO touched, excited... so much that she almost cried when thanking me. I dressed her us as a "tribal Princess" , with the short skirt and little top out of cloth. You will see photo's soon.. anyway it was great, and lots of people brought gifts, really was an amazing night for her, they made her feel very specail. It was amazing I got all those people when I didn't know half of them! :)

So today we are buying decorationd for the wedding, and possibly catching a movie later.

Thursday we are going to YWAM Lusaka again to visit and sleep over.

Trinah Vinjelu's cousin is staying with us for the week!!! Very cool, she was my first friend in Zambia, and so is very specail to me, and obveously vinj, being that they are related...

We are also finishing up some recording and hoping Trinah can do some as well.

Vinjelus mom is coming on Saturday! This is goignt o be so exciting! The last few days have been great wioth all the family around, we have a VERY full house! And it will be even more rich with Muka here as well.

I think thats all for now.

P.S- I Kathryn and getting much better at speaking Nyanja... I am so chaffed... :) heehee I am also getting very good at hustling for stuff... like taxi etc... :) Truly Zambian.

Victoria Falls- Sun Set Cruise Zambezi

Well, wendy arrived on Tuesday, it's been so great having her around.... for the last three days we've been talking non stop, definatly not bored with eachother. We've had alot to catch up on from the past two years. Wendy is a great frined of our, whom we met in YWAM a few years ago.

Again, we were not able to post photo's, sorry. (Mom we are storing all our photo's on the laptop:)

We went on a Sun Set Cruise on the Zambezi river yesterday, it was beautiful, really amazing, on a prettyubig boat, we had drinks (local beer) and food served to us. We sat on the top lervel of the boat, we saw hippo's, crocks, elephant, birds, impalas, water bucks... and a beautiful Sun Set.... all of which are on video now.

Today we went to the victopria falls. I got in as a Zambian, because we had our marriage cert with us. Thankfully, so I got in for 0.50c instead of $15.00. Wendy had to pay though.... Anyway, we took many pictures and had an amazing afternoon at the falls. it was beautiful, of course. We taped some of it as well. Oh, on the wya back form the falls we saw a whole hurd of Elephants on the side fo the road, and one in paticular was VERY close, so we got pictutres and video again. Really awsome!

Livingstone as well has the BEST ice cream in Zed! SOOOO good and cheap, wich is shocking cuz everything else hwere is very expensive beacues it's such a tourist city.

Tonight we're hitting some pubs checking out some of the night scene a bit.

We willo be back in Lusaka on Friday evening in time to pick Gwanire (vinjelu's sister) form the airport on Saturday.

Livingstone etc...

Well we have been traveling around alot!!! Haven't been home for two weeks and still will not be home for another week or so.

Last week we were recording in Lusaka East, very far from home, so we stayed at a friends plcace the whole week. The recording went pretty well, it's hard work... but we managed to record about 6 songs so far. SOem of them need re-recording. They have not been mixed yet by the producer, so there is still alot of work to be done. the quality is okey, but ofcourse it is not the best considering the amount it cost. Most of the music has been re-made ( all the beats and things are different) so it was abit hard to let go of all the beats we had made. But they sound good! We stayed with a friend who used to be very close to me (vinjelu) , he is now in the army so i cannot disclose any more info..except that he gave us the best hospitality yet. He gave up his really nice room and we got to sleep in a confortable bed.

We were also staying about 5 minutes from Naomi's (Joshua's mom) parent's place. So we got to see Naomi almost every day. We even got to baby sit Joshua for a whole day!!! It was fun! Not hard work at all, although Kathryn did most of it!! She was really in the role of mother and stuff. People were staring at this white mom with her black baby. SO it was an experience3, i think we will make great parents .

We will post pictures tomarrow hopefully. Becauser we have been traveling and stuff we haven't had much time to sit and write and wait the two hours to post two photos.... so maybe tomarrow.

TOMARROW- Wendy arrives one of our best best friends, she is coming from Namibia to stay with us untill the end of the month. We are SOOOOOO excited for her coming, I Kathryn havent seen here for 2 hyears... vinj just saw her last year. So thats gonig to be great!

It's going to be nice to be away from the studio for a change...

We will be visiting YWAm for a few days as well... goign to the falls... maybe check out world visions stuff here as well. For njow we are staying with one of vinjelus aunties form his moms side. So it's free accomidation, we wanted to see if we could stay in a lodge for a night for fun... we'll see, we have friends with a lodge and might be able to get in on that connection.

We have been discussing alot of things for when we come bacjk... where we'll live, how it's going to work.. all those things. And honestly feel we knwo less form before we came:) Funny huh.. so we will be praying alot about thia and just seeking God on different things.

Thats that for now. Love ya all..

Oh and our anniversary was nice. We went out for Indian food, went to a big african market, and saw the Lake house (with wightson) it was great fun, we have pictures as well.

Copper Belt - YWAM

Hello everyone,

We are in Kitwe at the moment. We have visited the YWAm Base here, and am niow visiting gwanire's uncle in-law, i think we are going for lunch with him.

It was very good to visit YWAM, we were apart of the staff meeting today for about 2 hours.

We are going back to Ndola this after noon to visit our aunty again to say goodbye. We are then going back to Lusaka for wedding prepartions, crazy crazy crazy!!!!!!!!!!!

Beggingin of August we are going to Livingstone, visit family and YWAM again...

Unfortunatly we are broke at the moment, and will not be doing anything for our anniversary.
It happens... I guess thats why adults have to be mature eh..

So thats whats up for now.

Gotta go.

Kathryn

Wightson and Linda

Whitson has been Vinjelus' best friends for years... he's helped us out alot already in the past month...

Vinjelu and Grandmother

This is Vinjelu's grandmother from his mom's side. She has had 10 children and has out lived 5 of them... she is a mighty mowen of god... literally the moment we walked in the dorr and gave hugs she got us to kneela nd she prayed over us! She said she won't be dying anytime soon because the work that God has for her to do hasn't finished yet... when it's done she will go.

She is really full of life. A beautiful women.

Answering Questions

Ok Bike question... it costs 25$ to bring one bike from Canada to Zed... so we are going to be bringing our bikes from home.

2) Car... there are different opptions... we are porbably goign to take the opption of getting a double cab Toyota or Nissan from Japan, which will cost about $8000.00 CND.

3) Ndola and Kitwe.. we are going to visit YWAM there meet our fellow volunteers, and check out what they are doing. As well as meeting Gwnires future family... making some wedding plans. Also visiting World Vision Development sites. We will be gone for a little less then a week, or maybe a week.

4) Socializing.... ya it's going ok. W've been ruinning around tryig to get immegration things sored the past two weeks or so haven't had that much time... but ti is going ok I would say... still a bit hard. Vinjelus' friends have become my friends actually, some of them anyway. Espceially Wightson and LInda his girl friend. As well as Joshuas mom Naomi, she is a friend as well. So it's going ok, not the best, just because of not being settled here and stuff. But I am getting a bit used to being the white chick around... althugh I think it will take a year or so to really settle in.

I think those were the main questions...

Right now we are going to have a meeting with JOshua's parent's deciding hat is gouign to happen with him.

Ok I gotta go will write more later..

kathryn

July 16? I think...

Ya know I cant get this thing to post a picture, so I am going to go to a different internet cafe later today to see if I can get ti to work, in the mean time...

Today vinjelu is trying to get his National Registation Card, so we can get a Zambian Marriage license, so I can get a visa that allows me to come in and out fo the country easily. If it doesn't work we will be disapointed and a little frustrated. But today we are believing for Gods favor!

Tomarrow we are leaving for Ndola and Kitwe, it you look at a map it's in the copper belt, north, and then we are off to Mansa to visit the refugee camps.

it's been hard getting things done because we have to walk everywhere... a bit frustrating... but we see what has to happne when we come.

We are also goign to visit Naomi and Jabu today for the afternoon whcih will be nice.

WE LIVE!

Some of you might have heard what happened to Kathryn and I between tuesday night and wednesday morning. Here is the story. Our water heating system doesn't work at home and so we usually heat water in a bucket on the stove if we want to take a bath. So on tuesday (July 11th) night i wanted to make a huge hot bath for Kathryn. I borrowed extra buckets from our workers so that i could heat more water. Our stove has only got two working plates, so i got a charcoal burner. It is traditionaly called a MBAULA. This is a very usefull item in any zambian household. We light char coal and use it for cooking. We heated the water, then after we were done heating, i put the burner in our room becpouse we were having some cold nights. After our bath, we went to be at about 10:30. We were very tired. But then both of us woke up at the same time at about 2 in wed. morning. We both had spliting head aches and so i tried to get up and get some tylanol and water. Still obliviouse of the deadly carbon monoxide gas that the burner had been producing. I was dizzy and had dificulty making sence of my bearings. Then something inside me said oen the window. Without really knowing why, I opened the window the realised that the room was filled with carbon manoxide gas! Kathryn wanted to go to the bathroom. She got up and staggered to the toilet I lay on the bed and heard her moen, so i got up! Wobbled to the toilet and heard a smack! kathryn had hit the floor behing the toilet door. I got to the door but kathryn had passed out and was leaning against the closed door. I was faint and weak at this pint. I tried to push the door open in a panic but i also passed out. Found myself laying on the floor and saw my cousin ( who lives in the house) cross the corridor. i called out to him. He aproached coutiously becouse he thought there was a theif in the house and i had been attacked. he helped me up and i started wher i left off, trying to push the door open. Eventually we opened it, kethryn was still out and i actually feared she was dead. I was frantic , on the verge of cursing myslef but then she came round. PHEW! By this time my brothet was up and help us set a bed in the living room. they opend all the windows . he called some one and we were advised to put our legs up while we slept. And so we took some tylanol( which didnt help) and went to sleep again. We woke up in the morning and through advice felt we should go to the hospital. We left and Kathryn was bout to have her first experince of Zambia's poor medical system. we went to the 'High Cost" section, in the hope that we will be attended to quickly. But it too almost 3 to 4 hours before Kathryn was in a bed ! It made us wonder what goes on in the "low Cost" section. But KAthryn was admitted on wednesday. A docter examined her and felt she should spend the night in hopital. I was doing a little better ad felt i didnt need a bed in the clinic. I n all this Kathryn and i had no capacity to run around the hospital and my best friend Whiteson was there! Tahnk God for friends that are there when you need them. that are willing to take the time to care and take care of us! There was one bed in kathryn's room and one chair. So i took naps on the cahir while kathryn slept. We were regularly inturupted my phone calls! From you! Thank you so much for calling and showing such concern. The truth is that we could have died. Thats a reality that sobers me. Thank you for you support! Concern and love ! Most of all , thank you for your prayers! Kathryn and i slet on the same single bed for most of the night utill i ended up sleeing in my sleeping bag on the floor. It was actually more comfortable.Oh! And whiteson's sister brought Kathryn really beatifull roses! We'll pst up pictures of all this later! Next morning the docter came and let Kathryn go home! So we are now slowly recovering. We hope t be able to travel on tuesday but we are having a few problems with kathryn's visa . but i expect things will work out! But thank you so much for prayer and calls and love! God is faithfull and kathryn and i both kboiw that He woke us up that night! He loves us and we know it is not our time yet! God bless you. Got this from a website.. Carbon Monoxide poisoning What is Carbon Monoxide? Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, toxic gas that has the molecular formula CO. The molecule consists of a carbon atom that is triply bonded to an oxygen atom. Carbon Monoxide is produced by the incomplete combustion of the fossil fuels - gas, oil, coal and wood used in boilers, engines, oil burners, gas fires, water heaters, solid fuel appliances and open fires. Carbon monoxide is a commercially important chemical. It is also formed in many chemical reactions and in the thermal or incomplete decomposition of many organic materials. Dangerous amounts of CO can accumulate when as a result of poor installation, poor maintenance or failure or damage to an appliance in service, the fuel is not burned properly, or when rooms are poorly ventilated and the Carbon Monoxide is unable to escape. Having no smell, taste or colour, in today's world of improved insulation and double glazing it has become increasingly important to have good ventilation, maintain all appliances regularly and to have absolutely reliable detector alarms installed giving both a visual and audible warning immediately there is a build up of CO to dangerous levels. NO SMELL and NO TASTE and NO COLOUR And it is for these reasons that CO detectors are the only way to alert you to increasingly dangerous levels of CO before tragedy strikes. What are the effects of carbon monoxide? Carbon Monoxide produces the following physiological effects on people exposed to the concentrations shown: Concentration of CO in air Inhalation time and toxic developed 50 parts per million (ppm) Safety level as specified by the Health and Safety Executive 200 PPM Slight headache within 2-3 hours 400 PPM Frontal headache within 1-2 hours, becoming widespread in 3 hours 800 PPM Dizziness, nausea, convulsions within 45 minutes, insensible in 2 hours Carbon Monoxide poisons by entering the lungs via the normal breathing mechanism and displacing oxygen from the bloodstream. Interruption of the normal supply of oxygen puts at risk the functions of the heart, brain and other vital functions of the body. The above information is for a healthy adult. Persons suffering from heart or respiratory health problems, infants and small children, unborn children, expectant mothers and pets can be affected by CO poisoning more quickly than others in the household and may be the first to show symptoms

Vinjelu and Kathryn Muyaba

The house

Heat, cold, dust,crowds,cramped. All these couldn't prevent us from seeing how blessed we are. Kthryn and I Just came from a short visit ( one night) to my aunt ( from my mom's side) and a friend of mine who live in another twn about 45 mins. drive from Lusaka. It was a short visit , but filled with beautiful moments. We spent time with a friend of min who is a pastor and Kathryn bonded very well with his 3 year old son ( Jeremiah). His wife ( Anitta) made us agreat super . part of it was white dried beans( but boiled soft for hours). O I love white beans!

That afternoon, kathryn and I had visited the Zoo! It was really nice. But the best part was visiting the Botanicle gardens right next to the zoo. Beautifull!! We took pictures but kathryn is having problems putting them on the blogg! All of you would love these gardens! They are very well kept, and even I was impressed!

We slept over at my aunt's house and the next day hung out with my cousin(Trina). She is an amazing singer and we recorded (on video) some of her songs. Well, so long! And please keep praying for us!

YWAM Zambia

YWAM Zambia

Here is the sign for YWAM Lusaka!

We had a great visit at YWAM Lusaka, met with the national leader for YWAM Zambia, it was great time of sharing whats happneing and what they want to see happne. They are anticipating our arrival here very much actually. it's great!

Life happenings...

Hello!

People wanted to know about a tipical day here iN Zambia. We don't really have those... so we'll let yu know what we have been doing...

Today we were in town, trying to get money out... and it worked... so thats great, we also met up with eom friends. We are meeting a few producers, trying to decide who will produce out demo. it's possible our songs will get on the Zambian radeo! Kool hey! Anyway, so we are sorting out music stuff mostly. Also visiting a friend in another part of town.

Tobi has come home from work, so vinjelu has seen him, we will be chilling with him tonight, having a fmily meetng about the farm stuff... so that will eb good to talk about.

Thursday we are going to another town 45 muinutes away from Lusaka to visit Trina and the chitalu's (the family I stayed with when I was in Zambia in 2004) and one of vinjelu's close friends, we will eb sleeping there over night, anf going back home friday. The next week we will be visiting world vision, and Catholic Child relief services. So some of the NGO stuff, as well as the music recording, checking out studios for where we will be recording.

Just sending alot fo time with family mostly. I will answer questions that have been asked on the blog next time.

Like how big is the freezer..... it's a big one like ours... and the house has 4 rooms, big rooms. The workers live in VERY TINY homes to the left of the property.

Later, next time there will be photo's !

Getting Settled

Hey everyone,

we've been in Zambia for about half a week. We're getting settled although the racial thing I was talking about will eb there for some time... Vinjelu's mom was a comfort though, she was able to encourage me in that.

Anyway, I am now in town with Philip vinjelu's cousin... my cousin :) We were just picking up a few things. Sorry I would have put pictues but didn't bring the camera, and around here computers aren't as fast... so it takes time. But you will get to see some pictures maybe by next week we will be able to post some.

Tomarrow we are visiting the YWAm Lusaka base, so that will be fun, meeting all those people. We will also be diuscussing what we will eb doing when we come next year. We have dates with some families to eat dinner with them and stuff... so we're meeting alot of poeple, er I am meeting alot of people.

Vinjelu, Philip anmd I cooked up dinners all day yesterday so when we come home late we have dinnersd already made in the freezer, it was fun actually. Although i have been feeling sick once and a while in my stomoch, we thinkg i just need to get used to the water.

On the Farm...
Besides us (The Muyaba's) there are three other fmailies living on the farm, they are workers. In all there are 10 children ranging from 14-not even born yet... so we have life on the farm , poeple and children. The workers take care of the vegetables, Maze, yard, house, and fruite trees. So it's nice. It's a bit funny having a lady who cleans the house, but it really helps her family with money actually. Her and Her Husband (Mr. & Mrs. Banda) both work on the farm and are making enough to build a house else where, and will be renting it out, so there is development there. It's very encouraging to see.

Thats it for now, I will write later I guess, in the next few days.

Oh, my anckle is doing better, it just hurts if I walk to long on it. I hope it recovers soon completely.

Love you all!

Arriving in Zambia..... what a story

Well, there are alot of things to share I think. The whole story of how we finally arrived home. Right before we left for my (Kathryn's) flight I sprained my anckle quite badly. I knew what the doctor was going to say, and regardless I wasn't going to be able to do what he wanted me to. So I desided that I would just get to Zambia and treat it properly. So I got on the flight in alot of pain, and drank wine as soon as I could with some pain killers. I got up and put my foot up as much as I could as well. Once I landed in Frankfut it was a struggle getting around with my foot and all my luggage. And my friend was late by 2.5 hours... so I though she wasn't going to come, I was reayd to go and make a bed on one side of the waiting area. I was exausted. But i had to be strong, because no one else was there to take care of me...it was hard and emotional. I did finally get picked up, and I sleped and showered, and then speant the day in a beautiful OLD city eating some german food. That night I got on the flight to Joburg, I cried alot on that flight, I think I just had to let all the stess out (Oh ya in frnkfurt I found out that vinjelus flight had been cancelled from Toronto to London and so would not be there with to fly to Zambia. So I was going to be alone) Anyway, ya it was the hardest trip. So I land in Zambia (skipping the stpry of almost missing my flight to Zambia because fo my ancle and time, and the extermly expensive rate for my baggage being over weight....) I did get on that flight. So I land in Zambia, and find out the rate for a visa has gone up ( Vinjelu should have been at the air port with me, he had all the numbers, our cell phone, and all our money) So I only have $30.00, and I needed $55.00 USD. Which I didn't have. So I was kepted behind immagration for 2 hours or more. I didn have anyone I could call, cuz I didn't know anyones number. I was tired and was getting very agitated with these people. I was telling them I am mrried to a Zambia and shouldn't have all these problems... anyway, finally they gave me a day pass into Zambia, I had to be back the next day to get that moeny and pay for the visa. Because I was delayed in the back the person picking me up came and went without me... thinkign I was not on that flight. So I came out and sat in the arrivals area for 3 more hours, finally I gave up and booked one of the very exspensive taxi to take me home... to a home I don;t even know, I didn't even know where to tall him I live. So I just said Lusaka West Balastone park... he knew where the area was, so we got there, and stoppped at a farm to ask if they knew the Muyaba farm. She did and took me there. There was no one home. Aysh. All the doors were locked, so I had to ask the workers to come open it, I got my luggage in and and laid down to sleep. But I coulnd't I was to overwhelmed... Finally one of the cousins came home Philip and showed me around. Tobi was at a friends funeral and so want there and oculd only make it by 11:00 or so... Anyway, that was my arrival, very bad, and stressful. The next day vinjelu was suppose to land.... but his flight into joburg was late and so he missed his conecting flight into Zambia. I still had the money problem.... so I went on a journey from 10:30am-4:30pm trying to find $55.00, no one took master card, and so from there on I was basically screwed. So vinj phoned he tried to send me money ut coulne;t because he wasn't from South Afrika. . . So I was stuck with no money to pay for the visa I ha to get that day. I cried that day to. I didn't knwo what to do, I was stuck. Then two of vinjelu's friends offered to bring me the money, but by that time I found a bank that does foriegn echange and also delt with Master Card. Soi I got the money and the visa, and left with making all the immegration officers laugh. The next day vinjelu finally arrived, his friends and I picked him up and that was good. Now we are togther. I am struggling with the racial thing. It has totaly overwhelmed me ths time, it is nothing like last time, I feel like I have never been to this country in my life. It's so different. I think because I am looking at i in the eyes of it being my home. So please think of me, in prayer, and also in phoning,finding out how I am, maybe Muka you have been through similar things... I ve made good frined with Tobi's girl friend, and she lives right next door. So I am glad for that. Vinj is here which makes it ALOT easier... but not totlay fine.

That was our arrival story... very crazy...

Goodbye Trish - Toronto!!!

Toronto was great! Such a diverse city. We also met up with my ( vinjelu) high school friends. That was so good to just sit, reminisce, but also talk about the future. Both guys I met want to go back to Zambia. I really believe that God has placed Zambia in the hearts of the people from my high school , and with time, people will come back and help the country grow. So I do not take meeting these guys in Toronto lightly, but take it as a blessing from God! We stayed with Trisha Cullington and her family. Great family, and I just want to say thanx! It is a great house filled with great people and trisha has given Kathryn and I unforgettable memories. Our lives are richer now.

Lundy's Lane, Niagara Fall

We had alot of fun on this street. Crazy, busy, people every where. It was super fun!

Vinj really FAT!!!!
This is the chair belonging to the tallest man in the world. We flet like little children on the chair.

Niagara Falls at night- June 18

We went to Niagara falls at 9:30 on Sunday evening. It was incredible! Huge! At night they shine lights on the falls for effect, and I suppose so you can see them. Our camera didn't work as you could see in the picture below. So I got these off the internet. It was so beautiful. There were fire works there as well. It was quite an experiance.

Rain Forest Cafe

We went out for Supper at this super cool cafe, you couldn't see the ceiling, it was full of vines and plants. there were animals every where, Huge fish tanks every where. It was very cool. We went with Trisha and her family.

Rain Forest Cafe

Flowers Flowers Flowers

I am struck by how many flowers are every where. I love them! Beautiful.

Let's Go Oilers Lets GO! WOO!!!! WOO!!!

We watched the game last night with Karla and Hugo! It was AWESOME!!! Who told me it was over for the oilers (FREDDY and VICTORIA!!!!!!!!!!!!) I don't think so guys! We are going for the stanley Cup! Wish I could have watched that game with my brothers! We'll be having a party at our Friend Trisha's house tomarrow night watching the final!!!!!!! I am so excited, so is vinjelu, how could he not being married to me.

Anyway, Go Oilers Go!

Vndersypens & Muyaba's

Vinjelu's Uncle Hugo and Aunty Karla drove up from Detroit to visit with us for 2 days.
They took us all over, we went out for great food, saw beautiful streets of Down Town Toronto, they took us to the zoo, we saw an interesting Market, and watched hockey and sports of course!

This time was very special, vinjelu hasn't seen his family for years, they have been a great support in his life, and so it was really a privilege to visit with them for this time. It was alot of fun! It felt like a vacation!

Toronto

We've walked around down town quite a bit, it's beautiful. We both enjoy Toronto alot. it's so diverse, and ALIVE. There are all kinds of poeple everywhere! It's very fun. ( In the summer that is, I can't imagine walking around in the dead of winter..) There's quite alot of wind down town, which is a relief from the hot hot sun.

Yesterday (June 17th) was 33c! it was killer hot. We spent most of the day at the Totonto Zoo. It was fun, was saw tons of different animals which we enjoyed very much, but we were all sweating like crazy(which we did not enjoy very much. We got to see polar bears, they are an amazing animal.

Thankfully none of us burned in the scorching sun. (I know my mom would be worried about that...) Anyway, Toronto is very cool, we wouldn't mind living here some time.

Learning to use the Subway

We have had to take the subways almost every day. It is VERY expensive compare to calgary! I guess when everyone's fuel cost go up, so does the public transit. It's fun to catch it, you can get around quite fast, from the far far west of Toronto right into the city centre.