So space camp finally came to an end. Our sleep over was last night. We had to scold the adults more than we had to scold the children. I tell you what its like the squirrels come out in the teachers after dark. There was no way on earth we were going to get those guys to cooperate. But for supper we served them all hot dogs…they didn’t know how to eat them. A lot of them had never seen a hot dog before. And some of the male teachers refused to eat them. So they went inside and ate some nshema instead. But I usually don’t like hot dogs but it was just so nice to eat something familiar, it tasted like one of the greatest things I had eaten all month. Maybe I was just hungry lol.

In other news CBN is coming this sunday. We laugh because they have been making all these requests that obviously we wont be able to provide so we just laugh and say well we will do our best.

I was feeling a little homesick the other day but it passed pretty quickly. The messiah team will be going home next week. They were talking about all the stuff they will be doing when they get home and I was starting to feel a bit homesick. But it luckily it passed, I really like here and even though it is starting to feel like I have been here for a while, it doesn’t really bother me that much. I understand why people fall in love with Africa.

So today was my day for fantastic Fridays. I was the organizer for this one and it was exciting. It went really well every one took over a station and then I organized all the stuff. At the end of the day all the kids got to take home a stuffed animal. This was a crazy week for me. I taught 2 full day classes, organized puppet club, taught a full day of art clases to the whole school and then did Noahs ark day. And tonight we have pizza night for some people in the area.

But after it all I feel refreshed and not tired. During the week I was feeling it but Rhonda kept telling us to remember Rebecca. When she first agreed to water all those camels she probably did not realize how much work it was actually going to be. And half way threw she was feeling pretty tired. But by the end God blessed her in a way she couldn’t imagine. I feel like God has really blessed me. And now that all my metaphoric camels have been fed I feel refreshed. 

Sorry I have been rather behind in my blogging.

I get so caught up in stuff it gets hard to sit down and write something. 

Prayer requests are for me to have patience as I go out into the government schools.  They are really poor Quality. Pray that when the 700 club comes that they will see the need here and really want to help out. Also for Double and Divide(yes those are their name, and yes they are twins) they are starting school here and if they do not show improvement they will be asked to leave. They are very poor, and they are 12 years old and cannot read, write, or count. 

Also pray for the spiritual war that is going on here. I have seen God Provide in ways that no one can even believe and I know that no matter what he will come through for us even if it is not how we planned it. But the people here need prayer they are keeping their feet in both worlds. They have one foot in Gods world and one foot in their witchcraft(just to be sure). So prayer for them is needed.

Well got to go 

Sarah

But tonight is a traditional meal night. I am really excited I like the food here. And the women who is cooking (Beverly) is a good friend of mine that is a teacher at MICS. She had a restaurant that was in the building that burned down. She is getting a new restaurant built down the road and this is sort of her coming back dinner she is putting on for us. Friday nights always have the best food because Ronda and Gil invite people over and it is a big deal in the neighborhood.

 

Today we also had circus day. I was a clown, I face painted , and then during our “circus” performance I ran around and tossed candy. We me and another girl were being really silly and we bumped into eachother. After we pretended to stumble some kid came out behind me and took me out at the knees. Next thing I know I am on the ground, being attacked by 50 little kids trying to get my candy bag. I became a living piñata. It took 3 volunteers and 4 teachers to get them all off me. I have to admit that has to be oe of the more scary things that has happened since I have been here.

 

And now it is time for my weekly bug update. We found a bug that was about the size of a serving spoon. It looked like something that could be used in a sci fi movie. When we asked one of the kids if it was poisonous he said in a thick African accent “ kind of, if it bites you your skin will look as if its been touched by fire.”  I said wow how poetic. So yet another bug to avoid. We also have a rule about spider it goes, if they are flat, leave them… but if they are not, make them. So that is my fun bug fact for today. 

So for the first time since I have been here my food has eyes. We have 3 housekeepers that keep everything in order as school goes on. And they also cook a few snacks for the students and are now providing the meals for the boarding students and visitors. So tonight we are having a traditional Zambian meal.  Which consists of little tiny fish that are cooked whole with some veggies and ntshima (ground corn, kind of like really fine grits). So it will be interesting to see if I like it. I am starting this blog entry at the beginning of supper and finishing it at the end of supper.

 

Today was our first club day. We had puppet shows and then all the kids were allowed to play with the puppets. It got a little interesting at a few points when we were not sure if there were enough puppets, and then once they had puppets how do you keep them busy with them for an hour. And when everything starts to look even a little unorganized everyone looks at the organizers and rolls their eyes. (because rolling you eyes has been proven to be the best solution to a situation) But it all worked itself out. (I was the organizer and after a certain amount of stress put on by a few of my teammates I was happy to put this activity behind me). Every Tuesday we will be having puppet clubs. Next Tuesday they will be making puppets. A much easier to understand task, so it shouldn’t prove to challenging.

 

I now have 2 new roommates. Some thing that anyone who has ever lived with me would know, is I do sit ups every night. And these little girls found that to be the funniest thing they have ever seen. The next thing I knew all 3 of us were doing sit ups on the floor. After that we decided to dance to some music that I have on my laptop. I attempted to dance for them. They really really liked my dancing. I am not sure if its because I was good or if its because they found it to be hilarious

 

I ate supper and I ended up being the only American (or Canadian) at the table that liked it. The fish were chewy but after you got over the fact that you were eting whole fish it wasn’t too bad. And the ntshima was really good. I want to learn how to make it myself. (:.

 

Oh and one last thing. Someone tell Andy and Natalie that Savor day is actually being turned into a school holiday at Macha school. So Savor Day is going international!!!!

Mwa Booka (good morning)

I went to church the church in the macha village this week, and that was an adventure. You can listen to music that is played and sung in African churches but that will in no way prepare you for what it actually sounds like. It is incredible. There is no way to describe it. The church service is 2 hours long and it is in English and Tonga. The songs are almost all in Tonga and the message is translated into English.

 

On Monday we have 2 little girls who will be moving in with us. I would really appreciate prayer with this. I am fine with sharing my living area I just hope that I will be able to act as a good den mother for these girls. And I have been warned to watch over my things. The one girl is very very poor. I just am praying that I don’t

“lose” anything, and that I will be a good influence on them.

I have been assigned as the Activity room director. Which means I can teach as much art as my little heart desires. This week end I will be writing up some plans and getting together so supplies. Every Monday and Wednesday we will be riding bike to the community schools around the area. I don’t know what I will be doing there yet, but I am excited to find out. I don really know what to write. We stay pretty busy and when I do sit down to write on the blog I have to work really fast others wise my computer will run out of battery or the people I am with are getting bored of me typing. So we will see how well I keep this up as the summer progresses. My internet connection is a 3 k bike ride. Which is easy for me however everyone else who I would have to travel with will complain about it till they are blue in the face. So that makes it interesting when trying to find a biking buddy. One thing that I don miss about America is the news. I don really like listening to it and here in the bush the biggest news is wedding announcements, and hospital check ins. However, the news that Michael Jackson died, did find its way out here. Shocked? I know, so was I!

 

Every one is very friendly and kind here. We do turn some heads though, especially when all 11 of us white kids go riding by on our bright yellow bikes. But they just say hello and we just pass by.  The biking is made a little challenging by the sand pits that we have to cross. And finding our way around is tricky as well. They have no street signs so to find my way to the MIAM dorms my directions are, Turn left out the drive way turn right at the straw hut, follow the slight left past the fenced in soccer pit like thing, and then if you go past the fires you have gone to far. But everything looks the same.

 

I mentioned “The Fires”.. The fires are these areas where the family of people in the hospital can stay while their loved ones are sick. They are fires that are always going, surrounded by brick buildings. The fires are safe but they are the most intimidating place to walk threw because almost everyone one that stays there speaks Tonga and very little English. Those people are usually very poor and so they will ask for things as you walk by. But if you tell them no, then they will just want to talk to you.

 

Oh and one more thing. We cannot get mail so I can’t give an address because there isn’t one.