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.

To market, to market...

Today we took the kids to downtown Kitwe so they could experience a small taste of the market. We didn’t visit the actual open air market because it is so crowded and somewhat scary for them. I will eventually take each of them one at a time. We did spend time driving through the outskirts. They thoroughly enjoyed it from the car. Hearing their constant dialogue was a hoot!

“Hey Mom! See those underwear and bras? Are those used?!?! You did bring some new extras right??”

“Whoa! Check out how many crates that guy is carrying on his shoulders! Why do ladies here carry things on their heads, but men carry them on their shoulders?”

“Awwwww, look! Another cute baby in a chitenge! Zambian babies are so adorable!”

“Wait! Are those live chickens sitting in that bowl? That’s weird. Talk about fresh meat!”

The pictures I am sharing were taken by them from the windows. We went to a grocery store somewhat similar to stores in the states. I had my phone out the whole time with the calculator whirring. Trying to figure the monetary exchange rate as well as the weight equivalents gave me a headache. The kids are sharing some of their thoughts after their excursion…

Savannah: I loved seeing all the fresh produce; including the live chickens that were sitting in bowls in the marketplace. When Mom left her window down, people would yell “muzungu” (white person) at us when we would drive by.

You have to look close on this one to see the chickens in the bowl.

Jonas: Dad’s driving in Zambia is a little different than it is in the States. Actually, it’s pretty fun. Claire thinks it’s a tiny bit scary.

quick side note: here is our new vehicle. It was shipped over from Japan. Everytime we start it up an electronic Japanese woman's voice welcomes us (at least we think that's what she is saying)

When we are driving in rural areas, as a special treat we allow the kids to open the sunroof and stand on the seats. They create quite a scene when we go past the creekside bathing sites!

 Claire: When we came out of the store, there were ladies lining the sidewalk selling fresh produce. Dad bought some bananas. A boy about my age came up to the car looking for kwacha, so we gave him a banana. That was probably the only food he will eat today. When we were trying to leave, he walked alongside our car asking for more bananas. “Please, sir. You help me.”

Larissa: When we went to the market, the lady at the door took my baby doll from me and put a sticker with an x on it on her foot. She gave her back to me. Mom said it was because they wanted to make sure that I wasn’t stealing a baby from the store. The store was pretty crowded so I held on to Mom’s purse strap the whole time.

When you arrive at the market, street boys came running up to your vehicle. They try to help you find a place to park in the crowded streets. For about 15 kwacha (a little less than $3 US) they will guard your car and wash it while you shop. When you come out of the store or are carrying packages from the market you are thronged by willing helpers. “Madame, I help! Madame, here! I help you!” This is a new experience for us having grown up in small town America. We are praying and working through what we will give to the needy young people. It is good to plan ahead and bring a bag of apples or a bunch of bananas.

Home and Farm

Currently we are living in a house owned by missionaries on furlough in the States. It is very spacious (they have 11 children) and we are quickly growing to love living here. When we have electricity and water, the place is pretty much perfect! We usually are without water about 2x/day. We have only been without power twice since we arrived. I have heard we will lose power more often in the rainy season.

This is an exterior view of our current home.

Kitchen

Larissa and Claire's bedroom

This is the room Jonas and Savannah are sleeping in.

This is our living room/school room.

This is Erik and I's bedroom

On Tuesday, we received our official welcome to the farm. All of us were able to meet the farm ladies. They took a short break from harvesting to give us a Zambian welcome.

Harvest is in full swing. Production is up. We are thankful.

Kids in the strawberry patch watching the ladies harvest.

This is the Zambian way to do irrigation. Just put your tank up on a hill and let gravity do it for you.

The farm ladies cook their lunch on the farm each day. Today's special: chicken and rice

After our farm visit, we headed into the compound market. The compound is home to an estimated 5-7000 people. Conditions here are different than the standards we are used to. No running water or electricity. Crowded. Unsanitary. Unsafe after dark. But, the energy of the place is somewhat contagious. The people are friendly, eager to meet you and shake your hand. 

Checking out the dried fish.

My very favorite moment of the short visit was seeing this little guy captured by our teammate Sheila. World over…some things never change…

My nephew in IL in his superhero costume

a young man in Garneton, Zambia in his superhero costume (made from a bathrobe)

A new place

We have arrived in Zambia and are settling in to the place we will call home for the next 5-6 months. We are so thankful for the prayers of many of you across the States for traveling safety. It was a whirlwind trip, but full of new and interesting experiences. The kids slept relatively well piled like puppy dogs in their airplane seats. I was slightly appalled that they all cashed out on the tile floors in Heathrow Airport. Why can’t they make airports slightly more comfortable?

When we first arrived at Heathrow Airport, we left the airport and took the Tube (London’s subway system) into London. I don’t know if the kids remember anything because they were so exhausted, but we have the pictures to prove it. On the way back to the airport, one of the kids sat on my lap and we both fell asleep. I woke up to find drool dripping off my arm. The child who did it claimed it was merely tears from dealing with the emotions of leaving family. It’s debatable.

Finally, packed up for the trip to the airport!

Hanging out at O'Hare waiting to board our plane waiting outside the window!

The Thames River with the Eye of London in the background.

Big Ben! Thank goodness we watch educational movies like Cars 2 so our kids recognize this famous landmark.

Buckingham Palace. But no view of the Royal Baby.

The kids were all enamored with the loooong escalators at the tube station.

Just two short weeks ago, we finished packing up our house in Woodburn. Pulling out of the drive with my children hanging their heads out of the windows screaming goodbye to our empty house caused my eyes to well up with tears. Trying to explain what the moment felt like is difficult for me. As I drove to the end of the Delagrange Drive, my mind was flooded with memories; bringing 2 of our children home from the hospital after their births, parties, cookouts and camping in the backyard,  reading to the kids under the giant shade trees in the front yard, obstacle courses in the house, fires in the fireplace on those cold wintry days…But I testify to the fact that even though I felt slightly bereft…I was filled with peace. The verse that says “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." was filling my spirit.

That house was our haven. Now as we settle in Zambia, our hearts yearn for the comfort we felt in that place. As we begin to grapple with a culture we don’t yet understand, we feel a little unshaken and unsure. But oh how I love the fact that these feelings turn to longing for our heavenly home. There we will rest and delight in His presence. But for now, He gives us much grace and wisdom as we work together as a family to create new history, new relationships, new work, new joy and a new place of haven.  Here. Right now. In this place.