Newsletter August 2018

As we drove back into Zambia after about 8000km, I said: Welcome to the land of Dust and Honey! O, how bitter sweet to return home. Sweet to be back in our own little corner of the world, but very bitter because of the damage the mice and rats did. The Joys!

We had a lovely break in June- saw friends and family, spend time next to the sea, walking, driving, watching. It was good. Good to look at something different, and come to rest. It was an amazing time with lots of special people, good conversations. It was like a breath of fresh air, and now back to work. (I have placed some pictures on the blog, so that you can see only if you want to).

We came back to a slower season. It is winter here, so plants grow slower. Carl is still working on his plan to install some tunnels, so he can better control the temperature. Winter is Carl’s time to try catch up with all his maintenance. Always a frustrating time because it is not easy to get the parts he need to maintain, so he is stuck with lots of puzzles- fixing doors, cages, cars  and and and

We have been working on our little zoo, though. Some more good friends left, and we bought over their collection of turkeys. We are in the process of also buying their incubator, and all the possibilities that unlocks. In the whole of Zambia there is a shortage of small chicks, so we are hoping to get our own eggs hatching. Carl’s brought in some roosters to bring some potential. We have 250 new chicks for meat. We’ve had a litter of rabbits born, though this business is dwindling to mere fun- people are not so keen on eating our cute bunnies. Our bee hives are finally filling up. And all other creatures are of the unwelcome rodent family, and with them come the predators- the owls and snakes. Truly, soon we will be able to ask entrance fees.

 I am in the middle of introducing you to some of our colleagues. Mary is one of my favourites. She is a close neighbour. Many years ago her husband decided to take a second wife, a much younger woman. The husband and second wife decided it would be nice to become rich quickly, so they got themselves some bones and other charms. Mary decided she had enough, and walked out on them. It means that she has no real form of provision. So, she lives in a little hut close to us, with lots of little children always flocking around her hut. When another neighbour left her abusive husband, and decided to get even by leaving his children behind, Mary took them in. For just over a year now, Mary has been helping in the gardens. She started off just watering, but I discovered that she truly has green fingers, so now I allow her to play in the garden. What I love, is that she has taken ownership of the garden. She comes to show me (because we communicated solely by hand gestures) some new seed she had found somewhere, and we plant it to see what new treasure we can discover. She sees for herself what is necessary, and acts. This is a seldom found trait, believe you me. A real treasure.

We just dropped my Mom at the airport this morning, after she spent the last 7 weeks in Zambia, though only the last few days with us. She has been doing leadership conferences with Hope Builders Ministries, in both the Eastern Province and follow-up conferences in the Southern Province, where we are. I did 1 last year with her, and was tired, they did 14. They saw amazing things happen. If you would like to read more of her stories: www.hbmin.org  is the place.

And me and the kids: we keep ourselves occupied. Schooling in the mornings, with all the joys and tears, and then anything we can get involved in, in the afternoons. I will try find a few photos for you. 

 Rashelle in the vegetable garden

 Simon taking a break

 Rashelle at a cookie decorating competition

Till next month, blessings:

God has awakened in me this need for His Rest, a safe place where He is my all. This has been my mission of late, to walk in His Rest, and not to strive to always appear busy. May this safe place envelop you too.