Here we are again. Blogging about what's happening here on this side of the world. If it wasn't for my parents gentle (sometimes not so gentle) reminders...there would probably be no blog. I tend to shy away from any type of social media. Just recently I read an article declaring that the new word of the year for 2013 is "selfie." I'm climbing up on a soapbox so bear with me a moment. Selfies bother me. A lot. As the author explained, every image shared seeks an audience to share what they think about us. To tell us how we are doing, to let us know if we measure up, to let us know if we have any value. I totally fall in to this trap. All the time.
I hesitate to blog because in the next few days after posting I find myself frantically checking it to see if anybody reads it, or to see if anybody comments. Does anybody think I wrote well? Does anyone think what I shared has any spiritual insight? Or maybe someone might think I am a really cool mom!
Aren't I pathetic? I don't know why I am writing this. Maybe to share with you the fact that I am really not a special person. I am really not doing anything more amazing than you are. Trying to focus on what He thinks of me is way more important than what the rest of the world thinks about me! Our Father is just as active in your life as He is in mine. He is just as present in America as He is in Zambia. So please when you read this, know that the only reason we are able to do what we do is because people like you are praying for us and supporting us. And honestly, I think all of you are pretty amazing.{stepping down from soapbox}
We have moved for the third time since stepping foot onto Zambian soil. Since our last post about the bridge, we have begun to feel solid ground beneath our foot. The home we are in is a huge blessing to us. Pray we can use it willingly and selflessly to bless others and to share the love of our Father. The children are all doing well and are continuing their ever constant pursuit of new and amazing creatures to catch. The coveted pet is currently a mongoose. We have seen several but only from a distance. All they can think of is Rudyard Kipling's portrayal of Rikki-Tiki-Tavi. I have no idea what I will say/do if we actually manage to acquire one. The children also continue to be as active and as curious as ever. This week someone got curious about razors and managed to shave off their eyebrows. Imagine the shrieking upon looking in the mirror to discover that razors do indeed work. Shouldn't we be past this sort of experimentation? Apparently not.
Strawberry production is just beginning. A nursery in South Africa shipped 100,000 plants. We were able to hire about 42 ladies to get them in to the ground. The ladies worked from dawn till dusk. After several long days they were finished. Our hearts filled with joy to see them skipping and hollering like little children away from the farm with their pay in hand. :) These ladies are often widows or the sole bread winners in their families, some of them supporting up to 9 or 10 people on only $38 a week. Pray with us that as the farm continues to prosper we can help more people to rise above poverty level. We truly desire to come alongside these women and their families to help them more fully understand their value in the eyes of our Father.
New and exciting things are happening here as well. Our teammate Sheila has done an amazing job getting our production building up to code for food processing. The team is working on developing a line of jams. Erik had the opportunity to visit the Congo with some of our Zambian teammates. Lubumbashi is just across the border. It is a large city and the marketing opportunities are numerous.
Well Dad and Mom, I did it. This one was for you to show you I intend to pick it up again to let people know what's going on. Even if you are the only ones who read it;) And if anyone would like to pray for my parents...they depart for Zambia TOMORROW!! We are quite ecstatic and can't wait till they get here.
