Copper Belt - YWAM

Hello everyone,

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

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

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

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

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

So thats whats up for now.

Gotta go.

Kathryn

Wightson and Linda

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

Vinjelu and Grandmother

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

She is really full of life. A beautiful women.

Answering Questions

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

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

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

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

I think those were the main questions...

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

Ok I gotta go will write more later..

kathryn

July 16? I think...

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

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

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

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

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

WE LIVE!

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

Vinjelu and Kathryn Muyaba

The house

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

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

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

YWAM Zambia

YWAM Zambia

Here is the sign for YWAM Lusaka!

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

Life happenings...

Hello!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Later, next time there will be photo's !

Getting Settled

Hey everyone,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love you all!

Arriving in Zambia..... what a story

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

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

Goodbye Trish - Toronto!!!

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

Lundy's Lane, Niagara Fall

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

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

Niagara Falls at night- June 18

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

Rain Forest Cafe

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

Rain Forest Cafe

Flowers Flowers Flowers

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

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

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

Anyway, Go Oilers Go!