a new normal

As we settle in, we begin to recognize our new normal. Things still seem very foreign and unusual at times, but we are beginning to notice some patterns. Because pictures are worth a thousand words, we will begin with these.

The kids have coined a new acronym. EHO. They are constantly yelling out when Erik or I are driving. Whenever someone yells “EHO!” they grab the nearest handle. If you haven’t guessed yet, EHO stands for Everybody Hang On!

We have discovered you never know what might be lurking in your kitchen sink. The kids found a special surprise last week. I heard someone yelling from the yard. “Sweet! There is a Tropical Gecko in our sink!” Apparently, they found a field guide to African lizards the night before and had been reading up on what they might catch in the yard.

This child absolutely cracks me up. I kept trying to explain the jar was distorting her face but she didn't understand.

Here in Zambia, all the phones are pay as you go. When you are out of minutes, you stop by a little hut by the roadside, tell the person manning the booth who your phone provider is and buy a little slip of paper with a code on it to add more time to your phone.

It is the dry season here. It is extremely dusty. Our kids have never been afraid of dirt and at the end of the day they look it. I have seen all of them form a new interest in cleaning out their ears with Q-tips. It is a great thrill to see who has the most red dust for the day.

A freshly mopped floor...er maybe not...

We enjoy seeing all the animals roaming around the bush and speculating who they belong to.

When we went to check out the new hectareage  addition to Lifesong Farm, we saw this shepherd.

The house we are living in came with a trampoline in the backyard. Recently all the workers rehung the trampoline because a lot of the springs had ripped through. The kids jump on it incessantly. Last night they came dashing in at dusk screaming. “Mom,” one of them said, “I don’t think I can get used to seeing rats run right past me when I am in my backyard!”

Coming inside at dusk is another thing we are adjusting too. We try to be inside by about 18:30 because of mosquitos. They are not too bad yet, but when rainy season arrives, we will be thankful we have formed the habit. The above sentence shows another thing we are working on. When the kids ask me how soon will dad be home for lunch and I reply 13 hours…they think I am being mean and sarcastic. They don’t realize I simply mean 1:00 p.m.

When we drive down the road, we see scantily clad people bathing in the creeks along the road. And when I say scantily clad…I’m being generous. Another thing, public urination is acceptable here. (much to the delight of some of our children!)

Another new norm, doing stuff by candlelight, hopefully with a charge on my laptop so the kids can listen to Odyssey or Lamplighter Publishing stories.

Of all the things pictured here (and this is only a few), I hope we never quite get used to the poverty we witness. We pray we do not become calloused to the plight of those living just outside our walls. I think of the ladies we pass on our way to the farm digging in the ditches beside the road. They dig all day hoping to find stones that can be used in people’s landscapes. The hopes of a few kwacha for their family fuels their labor. I think of the constant steam of people stopping by Lifesong Farm asking for “piece work” meaning a “piece of work”, work that has no strings or attachments for the long term. Just something to do for a few kwacha to meet their immediate needs. We trust the Lord for wisdom and discernment as we begin to form new relationships and interact more with the Zambian people.