What Graval does to vinjelu....
Vinjelu was feeling a bit sick to his stomach one morning when we were going to Sandys creation in lusaka East, a absolutely beautiful peaceful HUGE garden center/lodge, we go to the garden center side where there is a HUGE jumping castle and a very large play ground for kids. So we just sit enjoying the surroundings and watch our kids play and play for hours. Anyway, so vinjelu was complaning about his stomach (I have been sick alot and so have to really pry compassion out of my self for a small discomfort like that... heehee) so I gave him one graval, I contemplated giving him two and see the end of the nausia, but I thought of his body weight and thought better of it. So... I gave him one, he said he had to go the the bathroom, after 20 minutes I was thinking wow he really had to go, then it went to 30 minutes and after, then out he walks I was like wow what happened to you, “I fell asleep!” -- oh my gosh so FUNNY! He was like drunk I am telling you on one graval! It was hot so we went to sit under a big grass hut thing to cool off for a while there he fell asleep in his chair again, I just let him be (except for the time seth bit his toe, he woke up for a few seconds to yell at him) me and the kids left for the park again once a big cloud covered the intense sun for a while. 45 minutes later Vinj found that he was alone in the hut, he came walking up and I had a coffee waiting for him. It was pretty funny, and he felt better, and I am just thankful I didn’t give him two, we may have had to stay there all night : )
Some of the things I am thankful for this week ...
Herbal essence
My grandma J and cousin left Herbal essence behind for us to finish! And the smell just reminds me of something familiar, home, etc. I use to use it all the time since I was a young teenager. I love the smell, I have been grabbing the bottle and just smelling it.
My new phone
My phone goes onto facebook very easily and cheaply, and I can go on all day and see updates from all my friends, I just wish there was a chat function on it, but I am so thankful for this awesome gift! I miss home so much, sometimes so much contact with home makes me miss it more... but I love you all, and drop me lines on facebook I can see them so easily.
My husband
He is my constant some times too much where I should be leaning more on God... but even so vinjelu is there, and I am fine when he is there (I can see I need to lean more into Jesus, but thats where I am now). I love him so much, he’s worked his butt off since we got here, and gone on my little wims here and there. Thank you to all my family for accepting him into our family as yours, he is more amazing then I could have eve congured up some amazing guy. I love him.
Two new appliances in our house.
Coffee maker, and Fan. Need I say more... it is getting VERY hot, so the fan comes around the house where ever we are. We looking at air conditioners, they go from $400- $1000! Cant really bring our selves to spend that kind of money.
Opportunities to give
There are obviously millions of opportunities to give, and we take as many as we can when we are hearing, we try to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying of corse. But we meet some people just in the right time. Let me encourage you, give and don’t look back, God blessing is in our hearts being moved to compassion and love for other. Don’t hold onto your stuff, give freely. It’s actually REALLY fun!
Sandy Creation
I mentioned this place already, but its absolutly beautiful, maybe try to google it for some pictures,I am sure they have a web site. It’s in lusaka.
Ok onto the story about the Doctor who I almost slapped...
So we were going to just some random clinic because vinj just needed a quick physical for his Zambian drivers. So we stopped at this place and in the mean time I said I should check for malaria since my joints were hurting so much the night before (I just thought it was from being tired) So it ends up I did have malaria, which meant I had to see a doctor and all that. So we go in together since Vinj needed to the examination.
In short the doctor got both Vinj and I to take HIV tests for what reason I don’t know, and kept talking about STI’s and so on, when Vinj is just getting a physical, and me getting a prescription for the malaria.
Two days later I was in to get another injection, and I took taliah in with me, I though her symptoms were just teething, but I wanted to be sure she didn’t have malaria. So we had to see that doctor again, in that place he was just being so smirky and giving me thiese looks. I went in and sat down and he said who is tyhe father to that child, and right away I was annoyed because we had told him we ARE MARRIED! Since he was treating both of us like some loose hussies. So I said “YOU MET MY HUSBAND”, he said “no thats not your husbands baby, shes white, that baby isn’t mixed.” of corse I was a bit shocked at first then I said “excuse me?” he said again just incase I didn’t get it “she is white, that baby is white” , I said “you have met my husband, this is his daughter, and our son is HIS son... you are very close to offending me very deeply. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY!?” Then he just sat there smirking at me, and I said “KUMBA!” meaning speak. And he said it again, shes white. So I said am I done here, so he gave perscription for her runny nose, and chest... of which I have not gien her anything since I knew she was getting better. I left and as I was leaving he said “your not really upset are you?” and I said “Yes I am” he kept saying “no come back come back” so I turned around and said He could appologize tomorrow when I come again. I could see he wanted to just brush it off. I confess now I probably didn’t respond in love or humility... I can see that. I haven’t seen him since and today is my last injection, and I will not be going back there again as long as I can help it.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Stories from kathryn
What Graval does to vinjelu....
Vinjelu was feeling a bit sick to his stomach one morning when we were going to Sandys creation in lusaka East, a absolutely beautiful peaceful HUGE garden center/lodge, we go to the garden center side where there is a HUGE jumping castle and a very large play ground for kids. So we just sit enjoying the surroundings and watch our kids play and play for hours. Anyway, so vinjelu was complaning about his stomach (I have been sick alot and so have to really pry compassion out of my self for a small discomfort like that... heehee) so I gave him one graval, I contemplated giving him two and see the end of the nausia, but I thought of his body weight and thought better of it. So... I gave him one, he said he had to go the the bathroom, after 20 minutes I was thinking wow he really had to go, then it went to 30 minutes and after, then out he walks I was like wow what happened to you, “I fell asleep!” -- oh my gosh so FUNNY! He was like drunk I am telling you on one graval! It was hot so we went to sit under a big grass hut thing to cool off for a while there he fell asleep in his chair again, I just let him be (except for the time seth bit his toe, he woke up for a few seconds to yell at him) me and the kids left for the park again once a big cloud covered the intense sun for a while. 45 minutes later Vinj found that he was alone in the hut, he came walking up and I had a coffee waiting for him. It was pretty funny, and he felt better, and I am just thankful I didn’t give him two, we may have had to stay there all night : )
Some of the things I am thankful for this week ...
Herbal essence
My grandma J and cousin left Herbal essence behind for us to finish! And the smell just reminds me of something familiar, home, etc. I use to use it all the time since I was a young teenager. I love the smell, I have been grabbing the bottle and just smelling it.
My new phone
My phone goes onto facebook very easily and cheaply, and I can go on all day and see updates from all my friends, I just wish there was a chat function on it, but I am so thankful for this awesome gift! I miss home so much, sometimes so much contact with home makes me miss it more... but I love you all, and drop me lines on facebook I can see them so easily.
My husband
He is my constant some times too much where I should be leaning more on God... but even so vinjelu is there, and I am fine when he is there (I can see I need to lean more into Jesus, but thats where I am now). I love him so much, he’s worked his butt off since we got here, and gone on my little wims here and there. Thank you to all my family for accepting him into our family as yours, he is more amazing then I could have eve congured up some amazing guy. I love him.
Two new appliances in our house.
Coffee maker, and Fan. Need I say more... it is getting VERY hot, so the fan comes around the house where ever we are. We looking at air conditioners, they go from $400- $1000! Cant really bring our selves to spend that kind of money.
Opportunities to give
There are obviously millions of opportunities to give, and we take as many as we can when we are hearing, we try to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying of corse. But we meet some people just in the right time. Let me encourage you, give and don’t look back, God blessing is in our hearts being moved to compassion and love for other. Don’t hold onto your stuff, give freely. It’s actually REALLY fun!
Sandy Creation
I mentioned this place already, but its absolutly beautiful, maybe try to google it for some pictures,I am sure they have a web site. It’s in lusaka.
Ok onto the story about the Doctor who I almost slapped...
So we were going to just some random clinic because vinj just needed a quick physical for his Zambian drivers. So we stopped at this place and in the mean time I said I should check for malaria since my joints were hurting so much the night before (I just thought it was from being tired) So it ends up I did have malaria, which meant I had to see a doctor and all that. So we go in together since Vinj needed to the examination.
In short the doctor got both Vinj and I to take HIV tests for what reason I don’t know, and kept talking about STI’s and so on, when Vinj is just getting a physical, and me getting a prescription for the malaria.
Two days later I was in to get another injection, and I took taliah in with me, I though her symptoms were just teething, but I wanted to be sure she didn’t have malaria. So we had to see that doctor again, in that place he was just being so smirky and giving me thiese looks. I went in and sat down and he said who is tyhe father to that child, and right away I was annoyed because we had told him we ARE MARRIED! Since he was treating both of us like some loose hussies. So I said “YOU MET MY HUSBAND”, he said “no thats not your husbands baby, shes white, that baby isn’t mixed.” of corse I was a bit shocked at first then I said “excuse me?” he said again just incase I didn’t get it “she is white, that baby is white” , I said “you have met my husband, this is his daughter, and our son is HIS son... you are very close to offending me very deeply. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY!?” Then he just sat there smirking at me, and I said “KUMBA!” meaning speak. And he said it again, shes white. So I said am I done here, so he gave perscription for her runny nose, and chest... of which I have not gien her anything since I knew she was getting better. I left and as I was leaving he said “your not really upset are you?” and I said “Yes I am” he kept saying “no come back come back” so I turned around and said He could appologize tomorrow when I come again. I could see he wanted to just brush it off. I confess now I probably didn’t respond in love or humility... I can see that. I haven’t seen him since and today is my last injection, and I will not be going back there again as long as I can help it.
Vinjelu was feeling a bit sick to his stomach one morning when we were going to Sandys creation in lusaka East, a absolutely beautiful peaceful HUGE garden center/lodge, we go to the garden center side where there is a HUGE jumping castle and a very large play ground for kids. So we just sit enjoying the surroundings and watch our kids play and play for hours. Anyway, so vinjelu was complaning about his stomach (I have been sick alot and so have to really pry compassion out of my self for a small discomfort like that... heehee) so I gave him one graval, I contemplated giving him two and see the end of the nausia, but I thought of his body weight and thought better of it. So... I gave him one, he said he had to go the the bathroom, after 20 minutes I was thinking wow he really had to go, then it went to 30 minutes and after, then out he walks I was like wow what happened to you, “I fell asleep!” -- oh my gosh so FUNNY! He was like drunk I am telling you on one graval! It was hot so we went to sit under a big grass hut thing to cool off for a while there he fell asleep in his chair again, I just let him be (except for the time seth bit his toe, he woke up for a few seconds to yell at him) me and the kids left for the park again once a big cloud covered the intense sun for a while. 45 minutes later Vinj found that he was alone in the hut, he came walking up and I had a coffee waiting for him. It was pretty funny, and he felt better, and I am just thankful I didn’t give him two, we may have had to stay there all night : )
Some of the things I am thankful for this week ...
Herbal essence
My grandma J and cousin left Herbal essence behind for us to finish! And the smell just reminds me of something familiar, home, etc. I use to use it all the time since I was a young teenager. I love the smell, I have been grabbing the bottle and just smelling it.
My new phone
My phone goes onto facebook very easily and cheaply, and I can go on all day and see updates from all my friends, I just wish there was a chat function on it, but I am so thankful for this awesome gift! I miss home so much, sometimes so much contact with home makes me miss it more... but I love you all, and drop me lines on facebook I can see them so easily.
My husband
He is my constant some times too much where I should be leaning more on God... but even so vinjelu is there, and I am fine when he is there (I can see I need to lean more into Jesus, but thats where I am now). I love him so much, he’s worked his butt off since we got here, and gone on my little wims here and there. Thank you to all my family for accepting him into our family as yours, he is more amazing then I could have eve congured up some amazing guy. I love him.
Two new appliances in our house.
Coffee maker, and Fan. Need I say more... it is getting VERY hot, so the fan comes around the house where ever we are. We looking at air conditioners, they go from $400- $1000! Cant really bring our selves to spend that kind of money.
Opportunities to give
There are obviously millions of opportunities to give, and we take as many as we can when we are hearing, we try to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying of corse. But we meet some people just in the right time. Let me encourage you, give and don’t look back, God blessing is in our hearts being moved to compassion and love for other. Don’t hold onto your stuff, give freely. It’s actually REALLY fun!
Sandy Creation
I mentioned this place already, but its absolutly beautiful, maybe try to google it for some pictures,I am sure they have a web site. It’s in lusaka.
Ok onto the story about the Doctor who I almost slapped...
So we were going to just some random clinic because vinj just needed a quick physical for his Zambian drivers. So we stopped at this place and in the mean time I said I should check for malaria since my joints were hurting so much the night before (I just thought it was from being tired) So it ends up I did have malaria, which meant I had to see a doctor and all that. So we go in together since Vinj needed to the examination.
In short the doctor got both Vinj and I to take HIV tests for what reason I don’t know, and kept talking about STI’s and so on, when Vinj is just getting a physical, and me getting a prescription for the malaria.
Two days later I was in to get another injection, and I took taliah in with me, I though her symptoms were just teething, but I wanted to be sure she didn’t have malaria. So we had to see that doctor again, in that place he was just being so smirky and giving me thiese looks. I went in and sat down and he said who is tyhe father to that child, and right away I was annoyed because we had told him we ARE MARRIED! Since he was treating both of us like some loose hussies. So I said “YOU MET MY HUSBAND”, he said “no thats not your husbands baby, shes white, that baby isn’t mixed.” of corse I was a bit shocked at first then I said “excuse me?” he said again just incase I didn’t get it “she is white, that baby is white” , I said “you have met my husband, this is his daughter, and our son is HIS son... you are very close to offending me very deeply. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY!?” Then he just sat there smirking at me, and I said “KUMBA!” meaning speak. And he said it again, shes white. So I said am I done here, so he gave perscription for her runny nose, and chest... of which I have not gien her anything since I knew she was getting better. I left and as I was leaving he said “your not really upset are you?” and I said “Yes I am” he kept saying “no come back come back” so I turned around and said He could appologize tomorrow when I come again. I could see he wanted to just brush it off. I confess now I probably didn’t respond in love or humility... I can see that. I haven’t seen him since and today is my last injection, and I will not be going back there again as long as I can help it.
Friday, September 10, 2010
half a post
Blog September 10th
This might be a bit random, I will start with a tip from Africa, as suggested by Lana.
Tip from Africa # 1: When showering in hot water always put a bucket under you because it might not happen again, not only that, but, the water might go all together, so conserve the water from the shower that went into the bucket. After all your kids need a bath too!
Seths new favorite movie: Madagascar! he tries to say Madagascar, but it comes out more like “mada-gs-crr” if I don’t know what he is saying he asks for Zebra. He LOVES zebras, I don’t know why thats the animal he loves, I want to get a painting or a toy for him of a zebra. We have a Zebra print blanket which he loves.
Seths Zambian accent: Seth says his words like this “they-rr” for there. “Way-rr” for where, “they-rr” for there... and so on. “Watta” for water. Very cute.
Taliah is the joker of the family so far, she bugs seth as much as possible, if they are in their seats in the car she flops her leg on him over and over until Seth is finally crying because “taliah buggin me mom!” Or she walks up to him and slaps his face... and then she laughs and seth cries. haha... we are working on the slapping part, not so good. But it’s her character, she laughs often, smiles as soon as she wakes up. She has been going to bed fine and sleeping really well since we got them in their own room again. She is still sleeping in our play pen, she will stay there until we get our baby.
There are days seth leaves for Joannas house and doesn’t come back for 6 hours (we live on the same ywam property)! I have to go over there to see if hes peed his pants, feed him, and so on... they play non stop those two, and taliah joins them some times, but thats when I am with them.
`TODAY they are waiting madagascar at our house because we have a RED ANT infestation up by the main area on the base, so we are hiding in our house this morning.
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Malawi
Almost four weeks without internet! Wow! That hasnt happened for some time!
Will start with the end of our trip. Yesterday morning (wednesday) I noticed Seths eye was puffy a little bit, and it looked like he had bite all on one side of his face. We were driving from Petauke, Zambia to Lusaka, 400 km. Seth feel asleep in the car and I though his eye was getting more and more swollen, but wasnt sure because his eye was closed. When he woke up close to Lusaka his eyes was SO SWOLLEN, all on one side of his face, his nose even is swollen, and all the things I thought were bug bites on his fore head are hive kind of things. So we went to drop off rebecca (our friend who helped with our kids at the conference) and Taliah at our friends place, and went straight to the hospital with Seth, (and I had been feeling sick for a few weeks as well and was getting worse everyday). So we both got checked out.
Unfortunately for Seth he had to have the dreaded Malaria test, Seth came out POSITIVE for Malaria : ( The doctor said the swelling/hives could be from many things, one of them being Malaria, or worms, a reaction to something.... so he is on Malaria treatment, and getting dewormed by medication for the next three days. We found the malaria really early with Seth, and he doesnt even seemed bothered by the swelling, he is just acting normal! Thank God. Really praise Jesus he got the swelling other wise we wouldn’t have gone to the doctor.
As for me I have an infection (urinary) I cant see why I would have all the symptoms I do have with this, but we will see after finishing my medications if I feel better.
So we are home!
Now back to what we have been doing in Malawi.
Our conference was AMAZING! It was a BLT : ) Base Leaders Training for YWAM.
LYNN GREEN was our speaker, a HUGE honor for us (mostly because he had to pay his way to come and speak at our conference and he went away with a bag of coffee : ) Other places would pay for his flight accomidation, and a large monitary gift : ) haha, not where we are. You can google him I am sure he is part of the Team Three in YWAM, the directors of the whole YWAM. Anyway, he is a humble man who love Jesus, and calls us to live by faith. It was really inspiring. One of the main things we came out with was his challenge not to us as YWAM in Africa not to make excuses for being poor, that living by faith doesnt work here and so on, which alot of people believe here, that we are different here because of the poverty. But He challenged us to remember we live in the kingdom of God no matter if we are in an afluent country or poor, Jesus said he would take care of us, and it’s no exception here in Africa. Staff are starting to want to do jobs here and there, or even start funds to be paid to be in YWAM, but one of the basic values in YWAM is to live by Faith and on relational support. Anyway Vinjelu will be writing more on this later.
The food at the conference.... so we had the SAME food everyday, prepared exactly the same!
Breakfast: sausage, fries, and hard boiled egg.
Lunch: Chicken or fish, rice, boiled spinach
Supper: Chicken or fish, rice, boiled spinach
Not a bad diet, only that it was the same, by the third day we were really wondering.... and there was no soya sauce or something, just ketchup! (Rob you wouldn’t have survived!) And it gets to you, but you know what’s funny by the last day we were starting to like the predictability of it, you get used to it and start to like it : ) haha.
We met people from our YWAM region from, Mozambique, Anglola, Malawi, Zambia. It was SO GOOD to meet up with some people we already know and to meet some new people who we grew to love in just one week. Some people had just amazing testimonies of the power of Jesus in their lives going out into their communities! It was really exciting!
After the confrence we were leaving to go to Vinjelus grandmas village. We left a bit late because we were giving two YWAMers a lift close to their base. The seed limits are SO BAD n malawi, you have to drive 50 kmh for 100 km at a time... you know how long that takes!!!!! It took us 6 hours to drive 300 kilometers!
So we got instruction to go to mzimba/boma to the bus depot and ask for vinjelu cousin... and we someone would know her and take us to her house. So we thought the town must be REALLY small. But when we got there we found hundreds of people milling around, the sun was down already, so we couldnt see much, vinjelu we nt and asked abotu his cousin but no one seemed to know her. So we went all the way to the YWAM another 100 kilometers, thankfully though it was mostly an 80 to 100 speed limit. So we got to see another YWAM base, and they had hot water in their showers! WOOHOO! It was SO NICE to shower in a shower! Not a bucket bath. Anyway thats a side note. So we left in the morning to go find vinjelus cousin again, we found out her house was only another 100 meters from where we were parked the night before! haha! Thats life. So we picked up the cousin from town and she came with us to show us where the village was.
We got there and were greeted by vinjelus grandma and relatives. No time to write anymore... later.
here are some photos.
Will start with the end of our trip. Yesterday morning (wednesday) I noticed Seths eye was puffy a little bit, and it looked like he had bite all on one side of his face. We were driving from Petauke, Zambia to Lusaka, 400 km. Seth feel asleep in the car and I though his eye was getting more and more swollen, but wasnt sure because his eye was closed. When he woke up close to Lusaka his eyes was SO SWOLLEN, all on one side of his face, his nose even is swollen, and all the things I thought were bug bites on his fore head are hive kind of things. So we went to drop off rebecca (our friend who helped with our kids at the conference) and Taliah at our friends place, and went straight to the hospital with Seth, (and I had been feeling sick for a few weeks as well and was getting worse everyday). So we both got checked out.
Unfortunately for Seth he had to have the dreaded Malaria test, Seth came out POSITIVE for Malaria : ( The doctor said the swelling/hives could be from many things, one of them being Malaria, or worms, a reaction to something.... so he is on Malaria treatment, and getting dewormed by medication for the next three days. We found the malaria really early with Seth, and he doesnt even seemed bothered by the swelling, he is just acting normal! Thank God. Really praise Jesus he got the swelling other wise we wouldn’t have gone to the doctor.
As for me I have an infection (urinary) I cant see why I would have all the symptoms I do have with this, but we will see after finishing my medications if I feel better.
So we are home!
Now back to what we have been doing in Malawi.
Our conference was AMAZING! It was a BLT : ) Base Leaders Training for YWAM.
LYNN GREEN was our speaker, a HUGE honor for us (mostly because he had to pay his way to come and speak at our conference and he went away with a bag of coffee : ) Other places would pay for his flight accomidation, and a large monitary gift : ) haha, not where we are. You can google him I am sure he is part of the Team Three in YWAM, the directors of the whole YWAM. Anyway, he is a humble man who love Jesus, and calls us to live by faith. It was really inspiring. One of the main things we came out with was his challenge not to us as YWAM in Africa not to make excuses for being poor, that living by faith doesnt work here and so on, which alot of people believe here, that we are different here because of the poverty. But He challenged us to remember we live in the kingdom of God no matter if we are in an afluent country or poor, Jesus said he would take care of us, and it’s no exception here in Africa. Staff are starting to want to do jobs here and there, or even start funds to be paid to be in YWAM, but one of the basic values in YWAM is to live by Faith and on relational support. Anyway Vinjelu will be writing more on this later.
The food at the conference.... so we had the SAME food everyday, prepared exactly the same!
Breakfast: sausage, fries, and hard boiled egg.
Lunch: Chicken or fish, rice, boiled spinach
Supper: Chicken or fish, rice, boiled spinach
Not a bad diet, only that it was the same, by the third day we were really wondering.... and there was no soya sauce or something, just ketchup! (Rob you wouldn’t have survived!) And it gets to you, but you know what’s funny by the last day we were starting to like the predictability of it, you get used to it and start to like it : ) haha.
We met people from our YWAM region from, Mozambique, Anglola, Malawi, Zambia. It was SO GOOD to meet up with some people we already know and to meet some new people who we grew to love in just one week. Some people had just amazing testimonies of the power of Jesus in their lives going out into their communities! It was really exciting!
After the confrence we were leaving to go to Vinjelus grandmas village. We left a bit late because we were giving two YWAMers a lift close to their base. The seed limits are SO BAD n malawi, you have to drive 50 kmh for 100 km at a time... you know how long that takes!!!!! It took us 6 hours to drive 300 kilometers!
So we got instruction to go to mzimba/boma to the bus depot and ask for vinjelu cousin... and we someone would know her and take us to her house. So we thought the town must be REALLY small. But when we got there we found hundreds of people milling around, the sun was down already, so we couldnt see much, vinjelu we nt and asked abotu his cousin but no one seemed to know her. So we went all the way to the YWAM another 100 kilometers, thankfully though it was mostly an 80 to 100 speed limit. So we got to see another YWAM base, and they had hot water in their showers! WOOHOO! It was SO NICE to shower in a shower! Not a bucket bath. Anyway thats a side note. So we left in the morning to go find vinjelus cousin again, we found out her house was only another 100 meters from where we were parked the night before! haha! Thats life. So we picked up the cousin from town and she came with us to show us where the village was.
We got there and were greeted by vinjelus grandma and relatives. No time to write anymore... later.
here are some photos.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Adoption
September 7th we are going in for an interview with our social worker to begin the adoption process. After the interview we will be on a waiting list for a new born baby! Very exciting news, we feel like we are pregnant! haha
August 22nd we are leaving for Malawi and long drive, 10 hours if it goes well! We will be at a YWAM conference until the 28th, then off to visit vinjelus grandma which I mentioned earlier.
Here are some photos of the house in the last week or so.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
A Long post from vinj and Kath
From Vinj- I want to go finish making our cupboards right now, and drill holes for the pantry shelves, but I am resisting.... because kath wants to spend time. I find that I am so one track minded, there are so many things I would like to do, like blog for you guys, but I am just thinking about the house all the time. Building the house has given me alot of confidence and it feels good to be able to use my hands and actually be able to make something look good. Ok, I am off now to finish the kitchen cupbords. Sorry more later. Vinj
Everyone is in the livingroom watching Narnia on the “big screen” computer right now, Taliah just went to bed and Seth is snuggled up with great grandma. Everyone meaning, Logan my cousin from Canada and his girl friend Brittany, and my moms mom, my grandma Dorothy. I feel like I havent written in a long time and have thought of lots of stories to write about, and will try and remember some of them. Although Lana told me I could write any old thing and she would love it, so here I go... : )
Not a night goes by that I am not totaly awed by the night sky, it is SO CLEAR, I have always taken some pride in our beautiful clear air around New Norway area with so little polution after being exposed to Torontos discusting air, and Bankoks even worse air in Thailand. BUT- Zambia has skys I have never seen. They are so crystal clear, every single night, and it just lays out there with those brilliant stars, just beautiful, since there are only about 12 million people in a big mass of land, with little infurstructure I guess there is little polution, thats my theory anyway.
I cant really discribe the feelings that roll around in my heart and mind lately, the word I want to use is weird... BUT when ever I use that word I remeber my dad told me along time ago that weird actually means something far worse then what I was using it for, like back in my valley girl days of “What- everrrrr!” (shelby would remember those days, so would suzanne! haha : ) Anyway, I used to say weird alot and my dad told me the real meaning, which I forget, something about witch craft or something, and so since then whenever I say it I have this voice in my head (my dad) telling my not to use that word and to try and think of a better word. So right now a thesaurous would be wonderful, then I could maybe find a word. ANYWAY........... I walk through our house and it doesnt really feel like our hosue yet, but it kind of does... then it feels so much like home in Zambia sometimes it feels like I must be in Canada still only 30 minutes from my family, but I’m not. Hense the really “weird” feelings I am having lately. I am used to Zambia... I think because I have been here 4 times before none of the “Zambia” culture has really fazed me, it just is what it is, and I like it mostly. There is just a feelin that everything isnt whole, or right with my family so far, it feels like they should be very close. I know it doesnt make sense so I will move on.
I got to be in the room with my friend linda while she was in labour with their new baby girl Nchiwemi (chee-wem-ee... thats for Jessica who asked how to say it) Anyway, I was met with a totally different experience then the comfortable Canada labour experience. In Canada the nurses are all about the safety of the baby and the comfort of the mom in labour. With Linda the nurses gave no option of pain relief (which linda didnt ask about either!) When she was saying the contractions where really painful the nurse just said “Good, let them come even harder so your baby can come!” now if you ahve had a baby in Canada you know by then they would be asking if you want morphone, or epidural, laughing gas.. etc, right?! HARD CORE. Anyway, when linda was in the worst peak of labour the nurses were even laughing telling linda to be tough and stop complaining or screaming! I am so appauled! Totally! She was being tough as far as I was consurned NOT having anything for the worst pain in the world. Anyway, in the ned me and lindas mom got kicked out of the room for the pushing and I didnt get to SEE her born which I would have loved. But Linda was a champion, the active labour was only about 3.5 hours (doing it natural really pays off in labour time!) In the end I was scared to have a baby here just because they expect you to be more then super women! AHHH! Nchiwemi was adorable with her squooshy face and dark lips. I havent seen her for a few days and will be paying her a visit today. I still want to see a baby really born, maybe I will have to be a mid wife to really see a miracle like that happen, I guess we will see.
Seth has potty trained himself! He is still having half acidents in his pants then runs and pees in the toilet once he realises. We were only going to train him once we were in the house but he start for the past week and a half, of which I am thankful. Although he is not so good when we are out in town, and there are SO FEW public toilets in town so it is hard.
Taliah is walking confidently now all the time, with a little unsteadieness once and a while, but she catches herself. She is also sayin words like “yes” “dis (this)” “daddy” “mama” and the infatic NO she communicates with the shaking of her head. She find dirt where ever she can and plays in it. I came in from getting diapers to hang in the house tonight and found seth and taliah had got into the last bag of cement in the house while grandma was cleaning up dishes, after I had bathed BOTH of them, taliahs left side was covered in cement! The hair that I had just wshed so nicely was grey... boohoo. Tonight I cut all seths long curls off... reason being ---- it is a HUGE fight to wash his hair even once a week, he cries like I am beating him, when I haven’t even got the shampoo in his hair. SO... today when bathing he said no wash hair mommy! No wash hair! So I said fine then I am cutting it off Seth, and he agreed. If you know Seth you know anything having to do with his hair he HATES, don’t touch his hair, wash it, and above all NEVER try and comb it out. So I cut it, and he cried as if I was beating him... but at least thats it for a month or so. he looks so different I loved his little afro, but it’s gone again.... and will return at a later time.
I’ve been getting used to the little friends we have everywhere here, such as spiders that live behind the toilet, salamanders that live in the vents in the wall, or just live on your wall, and beatles that just show up on the inside of our windows... and I have also gained courage to KILL the ones I dont like, like the grasshopper/spider I saw the other day with bright red in it, that was a instant take-shoe-off-and-kill moment, and those happen alot, especially with little cockroaches and little black spiders hate those things. Anyway, I don’t call vinj anymore and hide on the bed, I just “get er done” my self these days.
I watched the older version of PRIDE AND PREDJUDICE on wednesday all day, it is a 6 hour movie, and I totally LOVE IT! If you liked the new movie and haven’t seen the older one, the older one is WAY BETTER! Believe me --- and watch it as soon as possible ok. I was sucked into that world for a day, having to take breaks to help in the house or with the kids of corse, but I loved it, was a beautiful day with elizabeth bennet and her family. Can you believe Logan and Brittany don’t even know Jane austin, or pride and predjudice! AHHHH! What is the school system coming to! haha... anyway. I want to watch it again with Vinjelu, since he hasnt seen it since high school, and he loved it then too.
If anyone wants to I would love a copy of the book... mine is in a container, and don’t know when it will be here. I am reading another english classic called “Tess of Durbavilles” I am only reading it because 9this is lame guys get ready for it) Vinjelu read the book in high school and fell in love with this character Tess that Thomas Hardy made up, and always hoped he would find a wife with the name Tess... and so I was like WELL THEN, I want to see who this girl is... (lame right) anyway, so I am reading it and have nearly cried twice at the horible things that happen to her, I am like asking vinj what is it you liked about this story! If you havent read it, Tess goes to a rich estate to work like a servant, there the bosses son kind of falls in love with tess in a sick way I would say because she is young, he eventually rapes her, she leaves and finds she is pregnant at like 14 or something, then is discrased in her coomunity, she has the baby,k but then the baby dies and that the part I am at... so really depressing, anf I really feel Tess has nothing on me in terms of character and all that, so I am no longer jelous of Tess, I love her like Vinj did... and I cant wait to read the rest of the story. And I have just tonight realised that Kate my english neighbour here on the YWAM base has the movie that was made from the book! So I will be watching that soon. All to say, WHY DONT they give these books to kids anymore! Thats why they are called classics!
Anyway... I think I’ve been rambling. IN two weeks we are suppose to be going out to Vinjelus dads moms village, so that makes her his grandma also known as GOGO, you say it just like that “go go”. She lives in a village outside lilongwe malawi. So we will see how that visit goes. She is excited to meet me and the kids, and has welcomed us to visit her there.
Will write more another time and will be posting some updated pictures of the progress of the house.
From my bed in lusaka west...
Everyone is in the livingroom watching Narnia on the “big screen” computer right now, Taliah just went to bed and Seth is snuggled up with great grandma. Everyone meaning, Logan my cousin from Canada and his girl friend Brittany, and my moms mom, my grandma Dorothy. I feel like I havent written in a long time and have thought of lots of stories to write about, and will try and remember some of them. Although Lana told me I could write any old thing and she would love it, so here I go... : )
Not a night goes by that I am not totaly awed by the night sky, it is SO CLEAR, I have always taken some pride in our beautiful clear air around New Norway area with so little polution after being exposed to Torontos discusting air, and Bankoks even worse air in Thailand. BUT- Zambia has skys I have never seen. They are so crystal clear, every single night, and it just lays out there with those brilliant stars, just beautiful, since there are only about 12 million people in a big mass of land, with little infurstructure I guess there is little polution, thats my theory anyway.
I cant really discribe the feelings that roll around in my heart and mind lately, the word I want to use is weird... BUT when ever I use that word I remeber my dad told me along time ago that weird actually means something far worse then what I was using it for, like back in my valley girl days of “What- everrrrr!” (shelby would remember those days, so would suzanne! haha : ) Anyway, I used to say weird alot and my dad told me the real meaning, which I forget, something about witch craft or something, and so since then whenever I say it I have this voice in my head (my dad) telling my not to use that word and to try and think of a better word. So right now a thesaurous would be wonderful, then I could maybe find a word. ANYWAY........... I walk through our house and it doesnt really feel like our hosue yet, but it kind of does... then it feels so much like home in Zambia sometimes it feels like I must be in Canada still only 30 minutes from my family, but I’m not. Hense the really “weird” feelings I am having lately. I am used to Zambia... I think because I have been here 4 times before none of the “Zambia” culture has really fazed me, it just is what it is, and I like it mostly. There is just a feelin that everything isnt whole, or right with my family so far, it feels like they should be very close. I know it doesnt make sense so I will move on.
I got to be in the room with my friend linda while she was in labour with their new baby girl Nchiwemi (chee-wem-ee... thats for Jessica who asked how to say it) Anyway, I was met with a totally different experience then the comfortable Canada labour experience. In Canada the nurses are all about the safety of the baby and the comfort of the mom in labour. With Linda the nurses gave no option of pain relief (which linda didnt ask about either!) When she was saying the contractions where really painful the nurse just said “Good, let them come even harder so your baby can come!” now if you ahve had a baby in Canada you know by then they would be asking if you want morphone, or epidural, laughing gas.. etc, right?! HARD CORE. Anyway, when linda was in the worst peak of labour the nurses were even laughing telling linda to be tough and stop complaining or screaming! I am so appauled! Totally! She was being tough as far as I was consurned NOT having anything for the worst pain in the world. Anyway, in the ned me and lindas mom got kicked out of the room for the pushing and I didnt get to SEE her born which I would have loved. But Linda was a champion, the active labour was only about 3.5 hours (doing it natural really pays off in labour time!) In the end I was scared to have a baby here just because they expect you to be more then super women! AHHH! Nchiwemi was adorable with her squooshy face and dark lips. I havent seen her for a few days and will be paying her a visit today. I still want to see a baby really born, maybe I will have to be a mid wife to really see a miracle like that happen, I guess we will see.
Seth has potty trained himself! He is still having half acidents in his pants then runs and pees in the toilet once he realises. We were only going to train him once we were in the house but he start for the past week and a half, of which I am thankful. Although he is not so good when we are out in town, and there are SO FEW public toilets in town so it is hard.
Taliah is walking confidently now all the time, with a little unsteadieness once and a while, but she catches herself. She is also sayin words like “yes” “dis (this)” “daddy” “mama” and the infatic NO she communicates with the shaking of her head. She find dirt where ever she can and plays in it. I came in from getting diapers to hang in the house tonight and found seth and taliah had got into the last bag of cement in the house while grandma was cleaning up dishes, after I had bathed BOTH of them, taliahs left side was covered in cement! The hair that I had just wshed so nicely was grey... boohoo. Tonight I cut all seths long curls off... reason being ---- it is a HUGE fight to wash his hair even once a week, he cries like I am beating him, when I haven’t even got the shampoo in his hair. SO... today when bathing he said no wash hair mommy! No wash hair! So I said fine then I am cutting it off Seth, and he agreed. If you know Seth you know anything having to do with his hair he HATES, don’t touch his hair, wash it, and above all NEVER try and comb it out. So I cut it, and he cried as if I was beating him... but at least thats it for a month or so. he looks so different I loved his little afro, but it’s gone again.... and will return at a later time.
I’ve been getting used to the little friends we have everywhere here, such as spiders that live behind the toilet, salamanders that live in the vents in the wall, or just live on your wall, and beatles that just show up on the inside of our windows... and I have also gained courage to KILL the ones I dont like, like the grasshopper/spider I saw the other day with bright red in it, that was a instant take-shoe-off-and-kill moment, and those happen alot, especially with little cockroaches and little black spiders hate those things. Anyway, I don’t call vinj anymore and hide on the bed, I just “get er done” my self these days.
I watched the older version of PRIDE AND PREDJUDICE on wednesday all day, it is a 6 hour movie, and I totally LOVE IT! If you liked the new movie and haven’t seen the older one, the older one is WAY BETTER! Believe me --- and watch it as soon as possible ok. I was sucked into that world for a day, having to take breaks to help in the house or with the kids of corse, but I loved it, was a beautiful day with elizabeth bennet and her family. Can you believe Logan and Brittany don’t even know Jane austin, or pride and predjudice! AHHHH! What is the school system coming to! haha... anyway. I want to watch it again with Vinjelu, since he hasnt seen it since high school, and he loved it then too.
If anyone wants to I would love a copy of the book... mine is in a container, and don’t know when it will be here. I am reading another english classic called “Tess of Durbavilles” I am only reading it because 9this is lame guys get ready for it) Vinjelu read the book in high school and fell in love with this character Tess that Thomas Hardy made up, and always hoped he would find a wife with the name Tess... and so I was like WELL THEN, I want to see who this girl is... (lame right) anyway, so I am reading it and have nearly cried twice at the horible things that happen to her, I am like asking vinj what is it you liked about this story! If you havent read it, Tess goes to a rich estate to work like a servant, there the bosses son kind of falls in love with tess in a sick way I would say because she is young, he eventually rapes her, she leaves and finds she is pregnant at like 14 or something, then is discrased in her coomunity, she has the baby,k but then the baby dies and that the part I am at... so really depressing, anf I really feel Tess has nothing on me in terms of character and all that, so I am no longer jelous of Tess, I love her like Vinj did... and I cant wait to read the rest of the story. And I have just tonight realised that Kate my english neighbour here on the YWAM base has the movie that was made from the book! So I will be watching that soon. All to say, WHY DONT they give these books to kids anymore! Thats why they are called classics!
Anyway... I think I’ve been rambling. IN two weeks we are suppose to be going out to Vinjelus dads moms village, so that makes her his grandma also known as GOGO, you say it just like that “go go”. She lives in a village outside lilongwe malawi. So we will see how that visit goes. She is excited to meet me and the kids, and has welcomed us to visit her there.
Will write more another time and will be posting some updated pictures of the progress of the house.
From my bed in lusaka west...
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
An un-complete post, but it's something right!
Update from Muyaba Monkeys in Zambia!
We have been in Zambia for a month and a half now, in ways it seems longer I guess, going through two bouts of malaria, building a house, hosting an outreach team, road trip to Livingstone, in and out of town getting supplies, and lots of laughter around the hot coals at the days end!
Over the weekend we heard there was a new grocery store opened and it’s prices were sometimes half the price of all the other stores in Zambia, as a promotion they were having these sales. So on Monday I dragged vinj out of bed on the national holiday in Zambia for who knows what... we went to see Pik N Pay. And it was a mass of people and carts, soon we found out the line out the door lead to the back of the store to the milly meal (corn meal) at the back, costing about $3.50 less at Pik N Pay then anywhere else. Some people came only to buy a bag of this, with a limit of 2 per customer. I could see some people where having their kids get a cart and put some in! : ) Smart parents! We fortunately didnt have the kids with us, so right away we saw we should get in line before we had got groceries even, so vinj went in line and I gathered stuff went back to him when my hand where full and dummped it into the cart. It was a good strategy with people rubbing sholders down the aisles trying to find this or that. it was fun I thought, although we found some very frustrated people who left half filled carts for the parking lot in frustration. Anyway we were able to find deals there and we were thankful, since we had to buy cleaning supplies for our house, buckets for laundry, spices, sugar, tea, coffee... all that stuff that can break the budget when bought at the same time! The base is letting us borrow some things like a table, pots, cups... untill the container comes with some of our stuff, or untill the base needs it again.
We have been in Zambia for a month and a half now, in ways it seems longer I guess, going through two bouts of malaria, building a house, hosting an outreach team, road trip to Livingstone, in and out of town getting supplies, and lots of laughter around the hot coals at the days end!
Over the weekend we heard there was a new grocery store opened and it’s prices were sometimes half the price of all the other stores in Zambia, as a promotion they were having these sales. So on Monday I dragged vinj out of bed on the national holiday in Zambia for who knows what... we went to see Pik N Pay. And it was a mass of people and carts, soon we found out the line out the door lead to the back of the store to the milly meal (corn meal) at the back, costing about $3.50 less at Pik N Pay then anywhere else. Some people came only to buy a bag of this, with a limit of 2 per customer. I could see some people where having their kids get a cart and put some in! : ) Smart parents! We fortunately didnt have the kids with us, so right away we saw we should get in line before we had got groceries even, so vinj went in line and I gathered stuff went back to him when my hand where full and dummped it into the cart. It was a good strategy with people rubbing sholders down the aisles trying to find this or that. it was fun I thought, although we found some very frustrated people who left half filled carts for the parking lot in frustration. Anyway we were able to find deals there and we were thankful, since we had to buy cleaning supplies for our house, buckets for laundry, spices, sugar, tea, coffee... all that stuff that can break the budget when bought at the same time! The base is letting us borrow some things like a table, pots, cups... untill the container comes with some of our stuff, or untill the base needs it again.
Friday, July 30, 2010
12 school children squooshed in the back, baby am-in-als as seth would say....
so many stories to write when I am away from this lovely mac laptop.... so will try and pry them all out of my memory, or corse the freshest is today... But I wont start at the end, I will try the beginning of our week.
The week started with projects, we had an amazing calgary team at our base, they prepared the land for the clinic project we are heading up, they worked like slaves, serisouly clearing the land with machetes and rakes and shovels. There are alot of teams that come through YWAM bases mostly focused on evangelism, this team was very different and willing to be so relational in base, and with the community closest to us. Some girls school fees where paid for, they got the sewing ladies to make all their gifts to bring home because of that also gave each women projects and income! They also helped out alot at our house, which seems like a never ending project, but really is so close ot being livable. And lastly, the team had some money left, and had prayed and asked God where they should put the money, they left it for the DTS, and you know what!? It covered ALL the fees due for these zambian students! CAN YOU IMAGINE the gift this was to those students! Just amazing! So blessed by them!
We left Lusaka for Livingstone on Saturday, from thursday to friday our car was being fixed and tuned up for the long trip, so we were confident our trip would be safe and good. . . BUT only an hour or so down the road our left weel was cluncking so much we just had to stop. And what we found was....... NO BOLTS ON THE BREAK PADS! Of which we had just replaced and paid for them to be put in! So THANK JESUS we stopped by a BIG truck who was also broke down, one of the guys ran across the highway to who knows where and found two bolts that fit our car! WOOHOO, so we were off to linvinstone again. But all the things delaying us really took a long time, and about 3 hours away from livingstone the kids really started to FREAK OUT, and I am talking about FREAK OUT, I have never seen my kids like that. But.... I can understand they were so tired of being in the car. 500 KM took us 12 hours in the end! It was maddness.
The next day was Safari day, vinj stayed back with Taliah and Seth and I went with the team, I was really excited to see Lions... but, guess what Livingstone doesnt have lions! ALL of us were disapointed. But we saw an elephant family, Giraffe, Impala, wart Hog, and Zebras, Seths all time favorite, "ZEEBA! MOMMY ZEEBA! BABY ZEEBA MOMMY!" He LOVES them, no question there! When we saw the elephants we would tell him "shhhhhhh, ok seth shhhhhhh" and by the end of the trip he was SHHHSHing everyone. it was so cute. He was Such a good boy though!
We took the team to the falls but didnt go in, they wouldnt let me and the kids in for the zambian price, which I have always been able to get being married to vinjelu, but the lady just would not budge! So I was partly offended, but also noticed everyone coming out soaked, and any time we have come to the falls in the season we come out dry... so... we were not prepared for it with the kids especially. So we sat at a beautiful hotel resort place right at the falls, we had drinks and lunch there. AND guess what. the place owns 8 Zebras! Just walking around, so seth was SO happy to see Zeebas again!
That evening we went on a boat ride down the zambezi, and I was praying we would see hippos! And we did, a whle lot of them on the land, and they were amazing, I actually shed a tear cuz it was just beautiful, I dont know why, maybe because they are a wondering and it's so few people who do get to see them. I LOVED it.
That night we went out for dinner with Andreas I was feeling a bit off, but we still went out and I had a steak, the restraunt was beautiful designed! We had a great chat with Andreas and said goodbye to him that night : ( boohoo
At 2:30am that night I got really sick, I mean I felt so horibble, worse then I have ever felt I think, so I jumped to the comclusion I had ecoli from the beef! (I've seen Food inc, recently... so that can scare anyone) And it was the only sickness I could see having with the symptoms. I was in the bathroom almost constantly that night. We went into the clinic that morning and found I had malaria, stage 2, stage four is ceribal malaria, which is REALLY BAD. So it was that strain of malaria. I was ok with it though, I got my first injection of the medication since I was throwing up I needed to get an injection. They also gave me something to sop vomitting, and then hooked me up to the good old IV, an old friend of mine ! : )
Let me tell you right now. If my baby girl can live through malaria, ANYONE can! Ok, so don't freak out if you get it while visiting. I am feeling so much better it's only the 4th day of treatment. So please still visit, don't let these stories scare you away!
On Thursday we came home in a much better time, I think it took us from 5:30am to 12:00pm to get home! Much better right, so I laid down bathed and relaxed. then vinj came into to say we were going. I was skeptical for sure because I was not feeling well at all. BUt I went, and it took about 1 hour to get to this beautiful lodge we are in right now. Just gorgeous here. We are sitting under a thatch roof looking out at some big animal that looks something like a deer, but much bigger. It's a beautiful afternoon on our Anniversary. Vinj is playing soccer, for those who know him, know what I am talking about : )
This morning we had to go find a clinic where I could get my last injection, we drove down the road praying out gas would last, because we were miss lead how far this lodge really was, it was much further, so we were literally running on fumes, way past E! But we found a place in time filled up, then headed back towards the lodge. We were told there was a clinic down the road, so we drove into a farm, and there was so much there even a clinic! A very nice doctor gave me my injection and chatted a bit with us. We also found out there would be a cattle auction on September 3rd, which we may be interested in! So it was a good stop all in all.
Vinj turned off the highway to the road leading to the lodge and let me drive the rest of the way (yeah!) haha an old man asked for a ride down the road to his village, so we said sure! He said it was only 3 km, but we went way further then that and still werent there, and we are trying to watch our fuel since we only had enough money for a quarter of a tank! So after about 10 kms, we left him off ( I know we are suck jerks right!) But before you agree, our left wheel is also giving us trouble again the the road was turning more and more into a foot path... so... needless to say we turned around for the lodge again. We started off and two school kids asked for a ride, so we said sure. The down the road another three asked and we said yes but then another 6 came as well, with a total of 12 grade fives in our 5 seats in the back! haha! It was great. Vinj was giving them a hard time because they are suppose to know english, but he would ask, "how was school?" and one would say "grade five" no "how was school?" " at the gate?" they just didnt know what he was aksing. They were cute and I loved it. We took a photo of it as well so you will see.
The week started with projects, we had an amazing calgary team at our base, they prepared the land for the clinic project we are heading up, they worked like slaves, serisouly clearing the land with machetes and rakes and shovels. There are alot of teams that come through YWAM bases mostly focused on evangelism, this team was very different and willing to be so relational in base, and with the community closest to us. Some girls school fees where paid for, they got the sewing ladies to make all their gifts to bring home because of that also gave each women projects and income! They also helped out alot at our house, which seems like a never ending project, but really is so close ot being livable. And lastly, the team had some money left, and had prayed and asked God where they should put the money, they left it for the DTS, and you know what!? It covered ALL the fees due for these zambian students! CAN YOU IMAGINE the gift this was to those students! Just amazing! So blessed by them!
We left Lusaka for Livingstone on Saturday, from thursday to friday our car was being fixed and tuned up for the long trip, so we were confident our trip would be safe and good. . . BUT only an hour or so down the road our left weel was cluncking so much we just had to stop. And what we found was....... NO BOLTS ON THE BREAK PADS! Of which we had just replaced and paid for them to be put in! So THANK JESUS we stopped by a BIG truck who was also broke down, one of the guys ran across the highway to who knows where and found two bolts that fit our car! WOOHOO, so we were off to linvinstone again. But all the things delaying us really took a long time, and about 3 hours away from livingstone the kids really started to FREAK OUT, and I am talking about FREAK OUT, I have never seen my kids like that. But.... I can understand they were so tired of being in the car. 500 KM took us 12 hours in the end! It was maddness.
The next day was Safari day, vinj stayed back with Taliah and Seth and I went with the team, I was really excited to see Lions... but, guess what Livingstone doesnt have lions! ALL of us were disapointed. But we saw an elephant family, Giraffe, Impala, wart Hog, and Zebras, Seths all time favorite, "ZEEBA! MOMMY ZEEBA! BABY ZEEBA MOMMY!" He LOVES them, no question there! When we saw the elephants we would tell him "shhhhhhh, ok seth shhhhhhh" and by the end of the trip he was SHHHSHing everyone. it was so cute. He was Such a good boy though!
We took the team to the falls but didnt go in, they wouldnt let me and the kids in for the zambian price, which I have always been able to get being married to vinjelu, but the lady just would not budge! So I was partly offended, but also noticed everyone coming out soaked, and any time we have come to the falls in the season we come out dry... so... we were not prepared for it with the kids especially. So we sat at a beautiful hotel resort place right at the falls, we had drinks and lunch there. AND guess what. the place owns 8 Zebras! Just walking around, so seth was SO happy to see Zeebas again!
That evening we went on a boat ride down the zambezi, and I was praying we would see hippos! And we did, a whle lot of them on the land, and they were amazing, I actually shed a tear cuz it was just beautiful, I dont know why, maybe because they are a wondering and it's so few people who do get to see them. I LOVED it.
That night we went out for dinner with Andreas I was feeling a bit off, but we still went out and I had a steak, the restraunt was beautiful designed! We had a great chat with Andreas and said goodbye to him that night : ( boohoo
At 2:30am that night I got really sick, I mean I felt so horibble, worse then I have ever felt I think, so I jumped to the comclusion I had ecoli from the beef! (I've seen Food inc, recently... so that can scare anyone) And it was the only sickness I could see having with the symptoms. I was in the bathroom almost constantly that night. We went into the clinic that morning and found I had malaria, stage 2, stage four is ceribal malaria, which is REALLY BAD. So it was that strain of malaria. I was ok with it though, I got my first injection of the medication since I was throwing up I needed to get an injection. They also gave me something to sop vomitting, and then hooked me up to the good old IV, an old friend of mine ! : )
Let me tell you right now. If my baby girl can live through malaria, ANYONE can! Ok, so don't freak out if you get it while visiting. I am feeling so much better it's only the 4th day of treatment. So please still visit, don't let these stories scare you away!
On Thursday we came home in a much better time, I think it took us from 5:30am to 12:00pm to get home! Much better right, so I laid down bathed and relaxed. then vinj came into to say we were going. I was skeptical for sure because I was not feeling well at all. BUt I went, and it took about 1 hour to get to this beautiful lodge we are in right now. Just gorgeous here. We are sitting under a thatch roof looking out at some big animal that looks something like a deer, but much bigger. It's a beautiful afternoon on our Anniversary. Vinj is playing soccer, for those who know him, know what I am talking about : )
This morning we had to go find a clinic where I could get my last injection, we drove down the road praying out gas would last, because we were miss lead how far this lodge really was, it was much further, so we were literally running on fumes, way past E! But we found a place in time filled up, then headed back towards the lodge. We were told there was a clinic down the road, so we drove into a farm, and there was so much there even a clinic! A very nice doctor gave me my injection and chatted a bit with us. We also found out there would be a cattle auction on September 3rd, which we may be interested in! So it was a good stop all in all.
Vinj turned off the highway to the road leading to the lodge and let me drive the rest of the way (yeah!) haha an old man asked for a ride down the road to his village, so we said sure! He said it was only 3 km, but we went way further then that and still werent there, and we are trying to watch our fuel since we only had enough money for a quarter of a tank! So after about 10 kms, we left him off ( I know we are suck jerks right!) But before you agree, our left wheel is also giving us trouble again the the road was turning more and more into a foot path... so... needless to say we turned around for the lodge again. We started off and two school kids asked for a ride, so we said sure. The down the road another three asked and we said yes but then another 6 came as well, with a total of 12 grade fives in our 5 seats in the back! haha! It was great. Vinj was giving them a hard time because they are suppose to know english, but he would ask, "how was school?" and one would say "grade five" no "how was school?" " at the gate?" they just didnt know what he was aksing. They were cute and I loved it. We took a photo of it as well so you will see.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Early morning
6:30am in Zambia Sunday - 10:30pm Saturday
I woke up hearing taliahs rattle she got yesterday, but then really woke up because no one was a awake to play with it. And because I am semi afraid and HATE mice and rats, I can’t sleep anymore, and it just urcks me they get into the room and eat taliahs toys. So I am awake earlier then usual.
There are a few things to write about, some great, funny, scarey, and Hard things happened this week. I will start with the great.
GREAT: Taliah started walking on July 11th! She still crawls too, but is taking more and more steps, her most steps taken at once has been 5 now! Right now her favorite place to walk is between seths bed our bed, about four steps.
FUNNY: We still haven’t started potty training Seth, because of so much change in his life, we wanted to start when our house is a home. So he comes to me with a poopy diaper and asked for me to change him, and we are now 100% cloth diapers, which sux sometimes... and we are OUT OF LINERS! SOME ONE PLEASE SEND SOME WITH MY GRANDMA! SO needless to say, the diaper was very yucky or “sick, discusting” as Seth would say. I had to use a clothe to clean him because we have also been out of baby wipes for three weeks. So I go to the bathroom to get the cloth wet, and sternley tell seth “DO NOT MOVE, OK SETH!” “o-tay mom” As I am turning on the tap and hoping poop doesn’t get all over the bed the water pressure triples and I was like hmmmm, what is this, suddenly the tap flies off and water is spraying everywhere! And alot of it! I knew vinj was kind of around the area of our room, so I yelled as loud as I could for him, then reminded seth DO NOT MOVE SETH! While trying to keep the water mostly going into the sink, I was soaked by the way. Vinj came in and grabbed a bucket to place over the tap, then got someone who knew where it was to turn off the water. and so I got Seths daiper changed finally, and the tap was fixed, but I am a little scared to turn it on now : )
Scarey: Yesterday, vinj and I and two guys from the calgary team were walking down the road to go try and ind our plumber, because we didnt have his number. while walking on the road I was thinking “as a pedestrian you are so exposed to the drivers, anyone coudl just vear off and kill you just like that. only seconds later a Rav4 came speeding down the road and turned to aim right at us walking, I was so scared I jumped into the ditch! The guys vered away just before hitting us. I was so scared! I was shacking for a while after. We found him on our way back and vinj gave him a tune out, he was obviously drunk or high.
Hard: Starting on the day Taliah walked she had a fever, but Seth just had a fever for three days last week and he got batter each day, so I wasnt very worried about it, I just gave her tylenol and watched her, but on her third morning she had a bad fever and was not eating, it was definatley getting worse. So we took her in that morning to a clinic and found out she has malaria. Now the clinic experience was terrible! You go to the front desk say you want to be seen, then you go to the cashier and pay the fee, hen you go sit and wait for the doctor, and then see the doctor, then you go sit and wait for the lab, then the lab will tell you they dont take blood from babys so go to room 3, then you will go to room three and be met by an arrogant rough nurse who makes your kids cry before she even touches them. It took her three tries to get blood from Seth and he just looked at me like why arent you doing anything about this mommy. Then it was Taliahs turn and on her third try into her arm and moving to needly around I told her to take it out and forget about taking her blood... I was pretty upset at her roughness and lack of care for the kids in there. so she sent us back to the lab to get just her thumb pocked for the malaria test. Seth wouldnt com down so I put him on my back and walked around until he settled down, but him arm was brused and cut a little by the needle! oh right I forgot, we had to go to the cashier two time in between all this and pay for the tests. Then you sit and wait, the doctor saw us and told us she had malaria, which I was shocked, I jut didnt think it was... and I tried not to freak out. So, then we go to the pharmacy they tell us what we need give us a bill then we had to go pay for it, then go back and get the meds. And then we could leave. And in order to get the parking spot we did we had to give the parking attendant 5000kw for a drink : ) Different way of paying for parking.
The next few days were hard to see her in pain, and were also exausting. She stopped having a fever on Friday morning, then she was really badley constipated and almost cried straight for 15 hours, we got a stool softener and finally friday night she pood! Sorry lots of information! Now she seems to be getting alot better.
I woke up hearing taliahs rattle she got yesterday, but then really woke up because no one was a awake to play with it. And because I am semi afraid and HATE mice and rats, I can’t sleep anymore, and it just urcks me they get into the room and eat taliahs toys. So I am awake earlier then usual.
There are a few things to write about, some great, funny, scarey, and Hard things happened this week. I will start with the great.
GREAT: Taliah started walking on July 11th! She still crawls too, but is taking more and more steps, her most steps taken at once has been 5 now! Right now her favorite place to walk is between seths bed our bed, about four steps.
FUNNY: We still haven’t started potty training Seth, because of so much change in his life, we wanted to start when our house is a home. So he comes to me with a poopy diaper and asked for me to change him, and we are now 100% cloth diapers, which sux sometimes... and we are OUT OF LINERS! SOME ONE PLEASE SEND SOME WITH MY GRANDMA! SO needless to say, the diaper was very yucky or “sick, discusting” as Seth would say. I had to use a clothe to clean him because we have also been out of baby wipes for three weeks. So I go to the bathroom to get the cloth wet, and sternley tell seth “DO NOT MOVE, OK SETH!” “o-tay mom” As I am turning on the tap and hoping poop doesn’t get all over the bed the water pressure triples and I was like hmmmm, what is this, suddenly the tap flies off and water is spraying everywhere! And alot of it! I knew vinj was kind of around the area of our room, so I yelled as loud as I could for him, then reminded seth DO NOT MOVE SETH! While trying to keep the water mostly going into the sink, I was soaked by the way. Vinj came in and grabbed a bucket to place over the tap, then got someone who knew where it was to turn off the water. and so I got Seths daiper changed finally, and the tap was fixed, but I am a little scared to turn it on now : )
Scarey: Yesterday, vinj and I and two guys from the calgary team were walking down the road to go try and ind our plumber, because we didnt have his number. while walking on the road I was thinking “as a pedestrian you are so exposed to the drivers, anyone coudl just vear off and kill you just like that. only seconds later a Rav4 came speeding down the road and turned to aim right at us walking, I was so scared I jumped into the ditch! The guys vered away just before hitting us. I was so scared! I was shacking for a while after. We found him on our way back and vinj gave him a tune out, he was obviously drunk or high.
Hard: Starting on the day Taliah walked she had a fever, but Seth just had a fever for three days last week and he got batter each day, so I wasnt very worried about it, I just gave her tylenol and watched her, but on her third morning she had a bad fever and was not eating, it was definatley getting worse. So we took her in that morning to a clinic and found out she has malaria. Now the clinic experience was terrible! You go to the front desk say you want to be seen, then you go to the cashier and pay the fee, hen you go sit and wait for the doctor, and then see the doctor, then you go sit and wait for the lab, then the lab will tell you they dont take blood from babys so go to room 3, then you will go to room three and be met by an arrogant rough nurse who makes your kids cry before she even touches them. It took her three tries to get blood from Seth and he just looked at me like why arent you doing anything about this mommy. Then it was Taliahs turn and on her third try into her arm and moving to needly around I told her to take it out and forget about taking her blood... I was pretty upset at her roughness and lack of care for the kids in there. so she sent us back to the lab to get just her thumb pocked for the malaria test. Seth wouldnt com down so I put him on my back and walked around until he settled down, but him arm was brused and cut a little by the needle! oh right I forgot, we had to go to the cashier two time in between all this and pay for the tests. Then you sit and wait, the doctor saw us and told us she had malaria, which I was shocked, I jut didnt think it was... and I tried not to freak out. So, then we go to the pharmacy they tell us what we need give us a bill then we had to go pay for it, then go back and get the meds. And then we could leave. And in order to get the parking spot we did we had to give the parking attendant 5000kw for a drink : ) Different way of paying for parking.
The next few days were hard to see her in pain, and were also exausting. She stopped having a fever on Friday morning, then she was really badley constipated and almost cried straight for 15 hours, we got a stool softener and finally friday night she pood! Sorry lots of information! Now she seems to be getting alot better.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
a post by kath
I just came from going to the washroom, which although is the same thing you do everywhere- is very different from waltzing into a comfortable and relaxing room to “do your buisness” in. When I push open the door slowly into the guest bathroom I quickly look around for a rat first, and if that is clear, I look for the huge spider (about 2.5 inches from one end to the other) living somewhere in the bathroom, then the lizzard who also lives in the bathroom... once it’s clear I try and wee as fast as possible, as I squat over the toilet (because there is no toilet seat to be comfortable on, probably because there wasn’t the $15 needed for the seat at the time) I remember and am thankful for all the times I could sit with ease in warmth, with a toilet seat and no creatures in sight, because who wants to be watched while in that private place right! Now the bathroom is not dirty, these creatures just stay around here I guess.
Anyway, I have had a very grumpy day today, I guess I have been feeling sick too so that probably contributes, I think it is also because it’s cold and I cant find my hoody without ripping open all our bags again that I nicely put away last night, so I just opted to be cold then mess up the whole room again to find “that thing I cant find anywhere, but swear we packed!”. That happens about three times a day, goes something like this... “VINJ! WHERES THE TYLENOL!?” “I dont know.... look in the black bag”... “ITS NOT THERE!”... “try the grey bag then” , “ITS NOT THRE!”- and so it goes until we have looked in all 7 bags and come out with NO TYLENOL! But I know it’s there somewhere. So all those precious little things I cant find I surely hope they show up when we unpack into our house. Another thing making me grumpy was the holiday happening in Zambia on monday and Tuesday this week... we are in a crunch time to get out of the guest room and into our house, and TWO DAYS OF NO SHOPS OPEN is setting us back ALOT! It’s a city of 2 MILLION PLUS, but everyone STILL SHUTS DOWN! AYSH! Anyway, so... I am getting over that, because tomorrow we are off early in the morning to get some things we are needing for the house, and lets hope they are opening bright and early.
One more thing I will complain about - but no more on the list I promise after this, I was feeling sick like I said and after a fairly unproductive morning in town I came home wanting to crawl into a hole away from everything, so I laid on the bed, and low and behold everyone on the base gathered where we always do, on the stairs in front of the guest room door... and chatted and laughed, really where I could have been enjoying with them, but I wanted to just lay down and escape I guess... so I laid there grumpy and wishing I could escape into comfort. Eventually I fell asleep for a while which was nice. Now as I write this I am ALONE, I didn’t have a kid in my arms, mine or someone else! WOW! I am not sure what Seth is doing now, but he is finally not clinging to me, and I had a moment to come and write, and am listening to some of my favorite songs. The one that is on now is called “Small enough” By Nicole Nordeman, talking about God seeing me, the first line is “oh GREAT God be small enough to hear me now”, and dont we often think of God like this... in some ways I have been feeling like this, another line is “ tonight I do not need a firey pillar in the sky, I just want to know you’re going to hold me when I start to cry, oh Great God be small enough to hear me now”.
And I know He is, and that is the truth. I know He sees me, and I also know HE is more then enough of everything I need. And how amazing it is to live out the gospel here in Zambia, no big fancy story as of yet, but loving people is great isn’t it. I wish I could just instantly speak Nyanja, there are so many women I would LOVE to just sit and have tea with, but I know they don’t understand half of my nyanja because I am probably getting all the grammer wrong in my sentence, and then they only understand %40 of my english... so makes for alot of misunderstanding, or no understanding : ) haha. I am learning new things everyday though, but I cant wait to actually know what people are totally saying and be able to talk back.
I think I am some how looking into some of their eyes looking for my best friend... I so want a close friend like that here, makes being away from all my great friends so much easier. I haven’t found that kindred spirit yet, but I know I will. The funny thing was in Canada I started hanging out with Andrea from wetaskiwin I found such a kindred spirit in her and we left only 2 months later! SO SAD! But I know that can happened anywhere, so I will keep on the lookout for such a friend. I think supper is very soon, so I will need to go now, I think it should be good, most nights it is good... oh there goes the bell. Talk to you all another time.
Kath
Sunday, July 04, 2010
The last Week
Last Saturday we packed up the kids and met Tobi and Chuma to go to baby Vinjs grave sight. It was so sad... not only his grave but hundreds of fresh abby graves spreading over the land. There wasnt much to say, there really is no hope in it, He died and the hope born with his life is gone, and sometimes that is just life. It was so sad thinking of all the dreams we had for him and the moments we couldn’t wait to share with him, are gone forever, which is so hard to except. The hardest part was when Seth put his little toy story book on the grave and I lost it thinking of all the things Seth and baby vinj were going to have share. After putting flowers and having some moments to think and cry we went to the bak of our car and had a picnic. It was a good day, and I was glad we shared it with Tobi.
Sunday we brought Tobi and chuma to arcades were tobi was meeting his new boss and would be off to Samfia a wapping 800 km from lusaka, very far from us. So we spent the morning together, then said goodbye, I was sad for Seth because he had bonded very quickly with uncle tobi and was yet again saying goodbye to an uncle (selfish I know).
Monday to Friday we were in class with the Students doing a school on the YWAm base facilitating the teaching on relationships. It was a good week in that sense. After class everyday we either went into the hardare shops to pick up supplies or were working on the house. I hope to post video and pictures of the development.
Saturday, which was yesterday we worked all day, and almost got one of the doors in, but will probably go in today, the metal door frame was a little bent... Andreas our friend from Switzerland and I started laying the red brick for the counter tops to sit on.
Today is Sunday, and we are actually at church right now, it’s been almost 2 hours and the service is still going, Seth was finding it hard to be still and quiet anymore so I am in the car with him until church is done, writing this! : )
Church here is so hard sometimes, today the pastor is preaching about God giving you what ever you ask for because he loves you, and it just doesnt go with the gospel I have experience and know. I know the Jesus that said LOVE you enemies, BLESS those who persecute you, When you gain your life you loose it, when you LOOSE your life you will find it. That our plans are not Gods plans, and our thoughts are not Gods thoughs... it just doesnt go with what he has been preahcing for 1.5 hours, the people are into it, it’a all a prosparity gospel, like christianity is 1 +1... you become a christian and you get anything you want.... nice car, pregnancy.... so what about people who dont get pregnant or don’t have a BMW! I honestly was glad for the break with Seth, I was tired of hearing Gods word twisted.
Vinj and I are still hoping to find a church home, but so far not really feeling it. Maybe we will plant a church... (anyone interested?)
We will probably be moving into the house by July 12 I would think, this is hoping!
So far it is just still settling on the base and getting the house done. Look on facebook for photos and videos, hoping to get them on there today!
I always try to remember the funny stories from the week, but I always end up forgetting! There is one the other day, vinj and I were at a big hardware store outfront, vinj went inside to buy our doors and try and get some cement, and there were three “loiterers” standing infront looking at me and the kids openly and saying quietly in Nyanja, “is it her husband, or her driver?” “no he’s her driver” ... and so one, I turned and looked at them and said “he’s my husband” also in nyanja and I told them to look at my kids! ... and they were like Oh.... pretty embarrassed, they asked if I speak Nyanja and I said yes (which isn’t really true... but they stopped talking about me and vinj)
This is unfortunately one of the things vinj was not looking forward to people not respecting him because they think he is my worker or something, but it is alot better this time with our obviously mixed kids.
Thats all for now.
Vinj will write here soon, he has been so busy working on the house though! You will hear from him at some point.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Play, eat, sleep, work, laundry... and again
Between 6am and 6:45am we wake up, get the kids dressed in warmer clothes because the morning is chilly, then release them to play for a while. at 7am breakfast is served usually consists of bread, peanut butter and tea and some times oats as well. I love the tea in the morning! The kids dont eat much of that breakfast so I usually get some of our yogurt out and have them eat some of that. After breakfast Seth PLAYS and PLAYS and PLAYS, right now he has his Mcqueen and king cars in the charcoal which was a fire last night. I just take his pants off because he gets VERY DIRTY by 11am he is ready for a bath, but he only gets that after supper. Taliah does her fair share of playing in the dirt, although for the last few days she has been having a nap at about 10am.
There are many young people around here doing outreach and a training school, all of them adore the kids, and they are started to like the young people as well.
Vinj and I are doing two majour things, as a base we are applying for a grant from the Japan embassy for the clinic to be built here. So I have been doing administrative things for this, and vinjelu is getting quotes for everything from three different places, this is not a small job AT ALL!
Also our house, there have been guys here since tuesday laying tiles on our floor, hoping they will finish up tomorrow. Wightson vinjelus best friend will also be finishing up the elctrical by Saturday. Vinjelu and I have been working on the plumbing, digging out a ditch for the pluming pipes to go from the bathroom and the kitchen, also filling in the walls for the septic tank, the DTS did a WHOLE lots of work before we came as well digging out the septic tank etc. After work like that I was in bed by 7pm last night! haha!
So the rest of the week looks like that for us. The kids seem to b good health wise yesterday and today, Taliah is cutting a tooth today though and is not too happy. She has now cut three teeth all together one bottom one and both top ones. I will get a picture if I can.
On top of the clinic and house we have an outreach team coming from Canada we are hosting, and need to get on top of that!
Vinj and I got to lead worship and share the word on Tuesday night at the base community meeting, and it went really well. Only I had to leave when vinj was sharing because both kids cant really make it past 8:30pm without melting down, getting up so early!
Am going to edit some pictures and hope to post some today on facebook.
There are many young people around here doing outreach and a training school, all of them adore the kids, and they are started to like the young people as well.
Vinj and I are doing two majour things, as a base we are applying for a grant from the Japan embassy for the clinic to be built here. So I have been doing administrative things for this, and vinjelu is getting quotes for everything from three different places, this is not a small job AT ALL!
Also our house, there have been guys here since tuesday laying tiles on our floor, hoping they will finish up tomorrow. Wightson vinjelus best friend will also be finishing up the elctrical by Saturday. Vinjelu and I have been working on the plumbing, digging out a ditch for the pluming pipes to go from the bathroom and the kitchen, also filling in the walls for the septic tank, the DTS did a WHOLE lots of work before we came as well digging out the septic tank etc. After work like that I was in bed by 7pm last night! haha!
So the rest of the week looks like that for us. The kids seem to b good health wise yesterday and today, Taliah is cutting a tooth today though and is not too happy. She has now cut three teeth all together one bottom one and both top ones. I will get a picture if I can.
On top of the clinic and house we have an outreach team coming from Canada we are hosting, and need to get on top of that!
Vinj and I got to lead worship and share the word on Tuesday night at the base community meeting, and it went really well. Only I had to leave when vinj was sharing because both kids cant really make it past 8:30pm without melting down, getting up so early!
Am going to edit some pictures and hope to post some today on facebook.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Monday
Vinj and I are in town ordering things for the house. Tiles, and guess what! We got tiles for the price we didnt think would be possible, we prayed and asked God and we got them for about $22 per 2 square meters! WOOHOO! Also got a toilet, basic and sink also basic! : )
Vinjelu and I are going to be laying red brick for our counters, and just lay wood over top for the counter top. So we will be looking for some red Brick for this as well! Should be kinda fun, although I've never done anything like it.
We are doing ok, there are challenges Vinjelu is obviously better then me this is his home, and it's so different for me. Most of all I miss my mom and dad, I wish they could come here half the year and just be with us.... That is next on my list of prayers! So how am I mom...?
Well it depends dont he moment... sometimes I look around and am so overwhelmbed by it all... and others I am happy and excited. I miss my family and am sad every time Seth asks for his mama or papa or aunty and uncles. When the kids were throwing up I was so distressed, I hate that it has to happen, but we met another fmaily the wife is American and they have two kids coloured like ours, both around our kids ages, they said all four of them puked for 2 weeks in the beggining of being in Zambia, they have been here for 4 months now and said they are all very good now. So I look forward to that. And I also look forward to getting to know this couple. Once our house is livable I think things will settle and we will feel much better.
Mom come visit soon...
Vinjelu and I are going to be laying red brick for our counters, and just lay wood over top for the counter top. So we will be looking for some red Brick for this as well! Should be kinda fun, although I've never done anything like it.
We are doing ok, there are challenges Vinjelu is obviously better then me this is his home, and it's so different for me. Most of all I miss my mom and dad, I wish they could come here half the year and just be with us.... That is next on my list of prayers! So how am I mom...?
Well it depends dont he moment... sometimes I look around and am so overwhelmbed by it all... and others I am happy and excited. I miss my family and am sad every time Seth asks for his mama or papa or aunty and uncles. When the kids were throwing up I was so distressed, I hate that it has to happen, but we met another fmaily the wife is American and they have two kids coloured like ours, both around our kids ages, they said all four of them puked for 2 weeks in the beggining of being in Zambia, they have been here for 4 months now and said they are all very good now. So I look forward to that. And I also look forward to getting to know this couple. Once our house is livable I think things will settle and we will feel much better.
Mom come visit soon...
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Settling
We been here in Lusak for three days now. We have been quite tired, but have managed to stay up everyday and go to bed at night, we only had one night the kids woke up at 3am laughing, and seth went to the door asking to go play outside, asking if we would "please open door!"
Friday we went into town to check out flooring and were met with kids throwing up in the car! So we tried to as quickly as possible to go back home but pick up some food in the mean time, but in a city of 2 million plus... it takes some time to get from one place to the other.
We mostly stayed at home on Saturday, it was a beautuful day, the kids played outside all day. Both seemed to be fine, no more throwing up.
It's so different here, I think a flight is to fast (even though it takes 2 days to get here) you fly and come into such a different place... seeing poverty all around, we saw a little boy wondering the streets with no arms, trying to manage holding an orange with the stumps... old women sitting all day on the side of the road chipping away at a huge rock to sell gravel in small bags. There are of corse thousands of these pictures we pass everyday, makes coming here hard, but also meaningful. Seth says hi to everyone we pass bye, he brings joy into their faces, I knew having kids would break the ice and bring a common ground.
Today we got to pick up tobi and drop him at the bus station, he will be going to work until tuesday. We came into town with a DTS student called claire, she is from Virgina, usa. We are here at the market and doing internet. We were going to go to church, but all of us woke up feeling sick and didnt quite know if we would make it through, but I think after eating we are feeling a bit better,
Go to face book for more pictures!
Friday we went into town to check out flooring and were met with kids throwing up in the car! So we tried to as quickly as possible to go back home but pick up some food in the mean time, but in a city of 2 million plus... it takes some time to get from one place to the other.
We mostly stayed at home on Saturday, it was a beautuful day, the kids played outside all day. Both seemed to be fine, no more throwing up.
It's so different here, I think a flight is to fast (even though it takes 2 days to get here) you fly and come into such a different place... seeing poverty all around, we saw a little boy wondering the streets with no arms, trying to manage holding an orange with the stumps... old women sitting all day on the side of the road chipping away at a huge rock to sell gravel in small bags. There are of corse thousands of these pictures we pass everyday, makes coming here hard, but also meaningful. Seth says hi to everyone we pass bye, he brings joy into their faces, I knew having kids would break the ice and bring a common ground.
Today we got to pick up tobi and drop him at the bus station, he will be going to work until tuesday. We came into town with a DTS student called claire, she is from Virgina, usa. We are here at the market and doing internet. We were going to go to church, but all of us woke up feeling sick and didnt quite know if we would make it through, but I think after eating we are feeling a bit better,
Go to face book for more pictures!
First Day in Zambia
After a long flight from London to Zambia including 4 straight hours of crying from your delightful daughter we made it.
We were met with very friendly immigration officers, all of got to go through the Zambian line, the kids were let in the country with no problem and no visa! I had to get a visa though, and only one month... so we have to try and sort out my immigration, but may need to get another visa for a month, since these next two weeks will be devoted to getting our house livable.
On our first day we went straight from the airport to buy car seats for the kids, our first Zambia experience very different from our consumer society in Canada there are only 2 or 3 to choose from quiet low quality but they cost $200! AHHHH! So we didnt buy one, Taliah has been sitting on my lap in the back in my seat belt. We did finally find one for Taliah later in the day, although it’s more Seths size, so we will be going out again today for a second look.
After looking for a car seat we came to the YWAM base, and what a beautiful site! Our house is there although plumbing and electrical is still not done, our septic tank has been dug out by the students here! so it’s all ready for plumbing. Vinjelu and I will be working on getting a floor in, today and tomorrow we are looking into the best and most cost effective option for this.
Seth got to play in the pile of dirt from our septic tank, and loved it. He also got to see chickens get caught, killed, and de-feathered! He was very fasinated and walked after the ladies asking questions. After it was all don he looked up at me and said “mom, chicken hurty?” haha, yes just a little bit.
He had fun though, at the same time Taliah was chilling with her aunty Chuma eating raw sugar Cane on the step. They both bonded with Tobi and Chuma quite fast! We didnt really get to see wightson and linda much yet, vinjelus best friend, but we will today I think.
There are lots of people on the base right now, so am trying to figure out who is visiting, who is a student, and all that.
It’s so alive here, people everywhere ! Lusaka is developing so much shocking! I am so glad we are living out i the country, so quiet and beautiful!
We are up today at 6am, Seth has a cough, it’s quite cold at night but hot in the day, he never does really well with that. We are also going to look for a heater today so we can regulate the room temperature for the kids.
Seth doesnt understand we are in a different country of course, he was asking for his papa to drive instead of daddy, and for his cousin sophia, and of corse wanted know why mama wasnt here with us. Makes for some sad moments. But he is very happy, he just keeps asking to play, and yells out out hello to everyone we drive by, we drive by alot of people slow with some of the roads being very rough. Everybody thinks the kids are wonderful, of corse : ) haha
Anyway, it’s back to bucket baths for now, thankfully we got some hot water this morning, so I am going to go and bath since it’s been 4 days since my last one!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Traveling
A photo of us with mom and dad before leaving for Zambia
Well it feels like it's already been forever since I slept, but I guess we haven't been in a bed since Tuesday 7:30am... really cant wait for it, and probably wont be in a bed until Thursday evening!
Anyway, we are having a good time, currently need some coffee!
Untill next time!
Well it feels like it's already been forever since I slept, but I guess we haven't been in a bed since Tuesday 7:30am... really cant wait for it, and probably wont be in a bed until Thursday evening!
Anyway, we are having a good time, currently need some coffee!
Untill next time!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
family
I knew leaving my family for a longer time would be hard... but the reality is just very painful.
Not much more I can say about it right now.
The nights meet me with many tears, and the days with impossible goodbyes.
I love you Daddy
I love you Mom
I love you Rob
I love you Lana
I love you Emma
I love you Elizabeth
I love you Sophia
I love you Titus
I love you Michael
I love you Victoira
I love you Kaden
I love you Ava
I love you Andrew
I love you Daniel
And I will hold onto the advice dad gave me tonight...
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, and the things of this world grow strangely dim..."
Not much more I can say about it right now.
The nights meet me with many tears, and the days with impossible goodbyes.
I love you Daddy
I love you Mom
I love you Rob
I love you Lana
I love you Emma
I love you Elizabeth
I love you Sophia
I love you Titus
I love you Michael
I love you Victoira
I love you Kaden
I love you Ava
I love you Andrew
I love you Daniel
And I will hold onto the advice dad gave me tonight...
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, and the things of this world grow strangely dim..."
Friday, June 11, 2010
Off to Zambia in 4 days
Back to blogging again!
This will be the place to find our funny, sad, and quirky stories while we're in Zambia!
This week has been a weird one, I know I am tired and a little stressed because I am sick every night and morning, which is apparently how my body responds these days to such things. Visiting lots of people in a short time, saying goodbye, and seeing family as much as possible. Last night I packed two of our bags, I am as so many travelers often are worried about how much overweight we may be paying at the airport! We are thinking of taking the bags that are packed to Grey Hound and weigh them there, and since my very own friends own it in wetaskiwin I don't think that will be hard! So we will see by tonight what our two packed bags weigh.......
I still need to finish packing Seth and Taliahs bags, but before I can finish I need to finish the laundry, which seems like a never ending job, (like most moms say I guess), I dont think theirs will be very heavy though.
Count down of four days untill we fly out...
Friday- Today
Early this morning vinjelu woke up to watch the first two games of the world cup at uncle Kens who lives down the road from my parents house. He was disappointed with the commentary guys, who I guess were obviously rooting for Mexico and not South Africa. The match was a draw at SA 1 MX 1. He may be going back for another game, but right now our kids are dissolving in tears, and I don not feel well today. So he may need to for go that one.
So on with the day, weighing the bags, and we were suppose to go see my dad today, but he may be too busy for this. so part of the day is up in the air. But we will finish packing two more bags, and almost be done for leaving, although there are a few things we need to buy, like converters to plug our computers into! So dont want to forget that!
Saturday
Our family is probably coming out for the day to say goodbyes, if we can I would like to make it to my friends baby dedication in wetaskiwin, we will see if thats possible! So it's a family day.
Sunday
Sunday is the day we will probably see my dad for a few hours... so the day is dedicated to this.
Monday
We need to go into Edmonton to pick up Seths new passport! It is coming in the day before we leave! AHHHHH! It better be there. They aid it would be barring Seth having any criminal record... so I am thinking he is going to pass that scrutiny, although I guess you never know since moms never really know what their boys are up to... thats what they say anyway... : ) joking.
We will be packing the vehicle for the airport, and buying last minutes things, like a new battery for our laptop... it only lasts 45 minutes or so and it's suppose to last 4 hours! So we need a new battery.
Tuesday
I am not sure what we're doing the morning, I dont really want to be waiting at home I think though.... we will probably have a nice breakfast hopefully stress free in the morning, and take off for calgary, have a stop in Red Deer (my favorite city besides Camrose) and onto the airport. Our flight leaves at 9:30pm, we want to be there 4 and a half hours early for getting our bags on and our computers on, and want to time to be able to move things around if needed. and since we have to leave 3 hours earlier then that to get to calgary we will be gone around Lunch time!
We leave at 9:30pm from calgary to London, and arrive 8 hours later, at about 1:00pm London time, we have a 6 hour lay over in London, which should be fun actually! I like airports and so does vinj, so it should be fun.
Wednesday
We fly out of London at 7:00pm directly to Lusaka, Zambia.
Thursday
After a 10 hour flight from London we arrive in Zambia at 6:10am! A nice early start to the day, hoping for the kids to sleep through that flight and come ready for the day in Lusaka!
We are not sure who is picking us up, since it is a work day and quite early pick up time, but I am sure it will be someone we love and can't wait to see.
So thats it for now...
May blog again before we leave.
Please pray for good travels, safe travels, health for all of us, transition for our family and extended family, and for our luggae to make it safe with NO COMPLICATIONS!
Thanx all, love to you
muyabas
This will be the place to find our funny, sad, and quirky stories while we're in Zambia!
This week has been a weird one, I know I am tired and a little stressed because I am sick every night and morning, which is apparently how my body responds these days to such things. Visiting lots of people in a short time, saying goodbye, and seeing family as much as possible. Last night I packed two of our bags, I am as so many travelers often are worried about how much overweight we may be paying at the airport! We are thinking of taking the bags that are packed to Grey Hound and weigh them there, and since my very own friends own it in wetaskiwin I don't think that will be hard! So we will see by tonight what our two packed bags weigh.......
I still need to finish packing Seth and Taliahs bags, but before I can finish I need to finish the laundry, which seems like a never ending job, (like most moms say I guess), I dont think theirs will be very heavy though.
Count down of four days untill we fly out...
Friday- Today
Early this morning vinjelu woke up to watch the first two games of the world cup at uncle Kens who lives down the road from my parents house. He was disappointed with the commentary guys, who I guess were obviously rooting for Mexico and not South Africa. The match was a draw at SA 1 MX 1. He may be going back for another game, but right now our kids are dissolving in tears, and I don not feel well today. So he may need to for go that one.
So on with the day, weighing the bags, and we were suppose to go see my dad today, but he may be too busy for this. so part of the day is up in the air. But we will finish packing two more bags, and almost be done for leaving, although there are a few things we need to buy, like converters to plug our computers into! So dont want to forget that!
Saturday
Our family is probably coming out for the day to say goodbyes, if we can I would like to make it to my friends baby dedication in wetaskiwin, we will see if thats possible! So it's a family day.
Sunday
Sunday is the day we will probably see my dad for a few hours... so the day is dedicated to this.
Monday
We need to go into Edmonton to pick up Seths new passport! It is coming in the day before we leave! AHHHHH! It better be there. They aid it would be barring Seth having any criminal record... so I am thinking he is going to pass that scrutiny, although I guess you never know since moms never really know what their boys are up to... thats what they say anyway... : ) joking.
We will be packing the vehicle for the airport, and buying last minutes things, like a new battery for our laptop... it only lasts 45 minutes or so and it's suppose to last 4 hours! So we need a new battery.
Tuesday
I am not sure what we're doing the morning, I dont really want to be waiting at home I think though.... we will probably have a nice breakfast hopefully stress free in the morning, and take off for calgary, have a stop in Red Deer (my favorite city besides Camrose) and onto the airport. Our flight leaves at 9:30pm, we want to be there 4 and a half hours early for getting our bags on and our computers on, and want to time to be able to move things around if needed. and since we have to leave 3 hours earlier then that to get to calgary we will be gone around Lunch time!
We leave at 9:30pm from calgary to London, and arrive 8 hours later, at about 1:00pm London time, we have a 6 hour lay over in London, which should be fun actually! I like airports and so does vinj, so it should be fun.
Wednesday
We fly out of London at 7:00pm directly to Lusaka, Zambia.
Thursday
After a 10 hour flight from London we arrive in Zambia at 6:10am! A nice early start to the day, hoping for the kids to sleep through that flight and come ready for the day in Lusaka!
We are not sure who is picking us up, since it is a work day and quite early pick up time, but I am sure it will be someone we love and can't wait to see.
So thats it for now...
May blog again before we leave.
Please pray for good travels, safe travels, health for all of us, transition for our family and extended family, and for our luggae to make it safe with NO COMPLICATIONS!
Thanx all, love to you
muyabas
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Lately ...
One very exciting development in my life is my new camera and lenses!
I got a Canon 50D, and a 24-70 F/2.8 Sigma lens. And a portrait Canon 50mm F/1.8, I LOVE both of them. I bought these for the EPOH Photography business I am starting up in Zambia.
Here are some photos from the new camera!
I was staying with old friends in BC last week in the beautiful mountains, although I didn't notice he mountains much because there were TOO MANY adorable little babies and kids to adore the whole time! One of the days we went to go see my friends parens new house and buisness, there were five moms all friends there and we had 13 kids under 5 there! Haha, right in the middle of a house under construction! It was awesome : ) I had an amazing time, we just sat a talked and talked and talked, it has always been natural with these friends, you dont run out of things to say, and I don't think I ever will.
I got a Canon 50D, and a 24-70 F/2.8 Sigma lens. And a portrait Canon 50mm F/1.8, I LOVE both of them. I bought these for the EPOH Photography business I am starting up in Zambia.
Here are some photos from the new camera!
I was staying with old friends in BC last week in the beautiful mountains, although I didn't notice he mountains much because there were TOO MANY adorable little babies and kids to adore the whole time! One of the days we went to go see my friends parens new house and buisness, there were five moms all friends there and we had 13 kids under 5 there! Haha, right in the middle of a house under construction! It was awesome : ) I had an amazing time, we just sat a talked and talked and talked, it has always been natural with these friends, you dont run out of things to say, and I don't think I ever will.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Fridays Favorite Five
NuMba One: Music
I love how there is a song for almost every moment, there are times silence is the most beautiful sound of corse. But I love Music, vinjelu put some Hip-hop and ragge albums on our computer last week (from DJing at a local radio station that plays way up in northern Canada) I LOVE this guy called "PAPA SAN", he's from Jamaica!
Anyway, awesome music to get you going while cleaning, waking up, or just a good fun evening.
Also love those relaxing albums like Nora Jones, just soothes the moments, makes cooking supper seem romantic with her music in the back ground.
NuMba Two: Friends
This week we have had someone over every night, just stopping by, we LOVE it! How precious it is to love and be loved! Our kids always love the company and other "aunties and uncles" to play and cuddle with. The company is amazing, and the times will always be remembered.
NuMba ThrEE: My Kids.... this might always be one my list
Seth is 2 years and almost 2 months old. Taliah is 7 months old. They are my daily joy. Seth is gaining so much more independence in everything, he is saying more then 4 new words a day, I can't even keep up with all his new words! Taliah is the most curious baby I've ever known, once she starts crawling I am going to be on majour baby watch, as shes putting absolutely everything in her mouth, and wants to touch everything. Seth was not like this. They both have loads of character, and everyday is a new adventure with them, even if all I get done is a few e-mails written, and laundry done!
NuMba Four: Rice
I am thankful for rice, because it is one of the only things my son will eat everyday. And it takes away some stress I have for my sons eating habits!
NumBa Five: I always feel like number five should be this amazing thing, you know the last one, go out with a bang....
I am exremely thankful for my marriage!
Vinjelu and I have been going back in our memories to our young love back before we even dated and remembered all those sparks flying, it has been so beautiful and precious to go back in our memories and share those moments again, mostly late at night once our kids are fast asleep..
I love this, and brings back those beautiful feelings from the beginning. I am making a little book writing down these memories, because details do seem to fade.
I love how there is a song for almost every moment, there are times silence is the most beautiful sound of corse. But I love Music, vinjelu put some Hip-hop and ragge albums on our computer last week (from DJing at a local radio station that plays way up in northern Canada) I LOVE this guy called "PAPA SAN", he's from Jamaica!
Anyway, awesome music to get you going while cleaning, waking up, or just a good fun evening.
Also love those relaxing albums like Nora Jones, just soothes the moments, makes cooking supper seem romantic with her music in the back ground.
NuMba Two: Friends
This week we have had someone over every night, just stopping by, we LOVE it! How precious it is to love and be loved! Our kids always love the company and other "aunties and uncles" to play and cuddle with. The company is amazing, and the times will always be remembered.
NuMba ThrEE: My Kids.... this might always be one my list
Seth is 2 years and almost 2 months old. Taliah is 7 months old. They are my daily joy. Seth is gaining so much more independence in everything, he is saying more then 4 new words a day, I can't even keep up with all his new words! Taliah is the most curious baby I've ever known, once she starts crawling I am going to be on majour baby watch, as shes putting absolutely everything in her mouth, and wants to touch everything. Seth was not like this. They both have loads of character, and everyday is a new adventure with them, even if all I get done is a few e-mails written, and laundry done!
NuMba Four: Rice
I am thankful for rice, because it is one of the only things my son will eat everyday. And it takes away some stress I have for my sons eating habits!
NumBa Five: I always feel like number five should be this amazing thing, you know the last one, go out with a bang....
I am exremely thankful for my marriage!
Vinjelu and I have been going back in our memories to our young love back before we even dated and remembered all those sparks flying, it has been so beautiful and precious to go back in our memories and share those moments again, mostly late at night once our kids are fast asleep..
I love this, and brings back those beautiful feelings from the beginning. I am making a little book writing down these memories, because details do seem to fade.
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