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.

strawberries and swift sand

Hello from Illinois! We are currently living at my Mom and Dad's house. Our time has been spent with family and friends. If you want a quick view how just one of our days has passed, check out my cousin Miranda's photo blog.

Last week, all of Erik's family met in Branson for a spectacular vacation. We had a blast boating on Table Rock Lake. The top pic of Jonas sums up all of our feelings about the trip. Erik discovered he is still able to slalom with the best of them although not without considerable aches and pains after.

Yesterday after church, we had "touchpoint time" with the kids. We have all arrived in a place where brief moments of panic seize us. It is a bit of a deer in the headlights type feeling when the reality of departure hits with full force. We are so excited, but also struggle to deal with the reality of this big change.

Here are some questions the kids have asked me recently (no names are shared, in order to keep the innocent...well...innocent:))
Is it possible to get lost in an airport?
Mom, just how long do you think it will take you to get used to driving on the wrong side of the road?
If I marry a Zambian, would our children be Zamericans? or Zambericans?
Is home a feeling or a place?
Mom, how do you feel about bartering for our food in the market?
Do you think it will be easier or harder for us kids to learn Bemba than you and Dad?
Just how much will you be tightening our boundaries once we arrive? and just when do you expect to loosen them up a little?
Do you think we will be able to hear snakes crawling across the tile in our house at night?
Can you mount a fan for me under my mosquito netting? or will that not work?
Don't you think it would just be a lot easier for the Zambians to enter our culture than for us to enter theirs?

Earlier this month, Erik returned from a quick trip to the San Jose valley area in California.This area is the largest producer of berries in the state of CA. While he was there he had the opportunity to learn many of the details about raising strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. He thinks it would bore us all to tears to go into it all, but he has come away with expanded knowledge and contagious excitement to get on the ground in Zambia.

One little tidbit I picked up was this: an acre of strawberries (around 12,000 plants) has the potential to produce over 40,000 tons of strawberries per season! We are hoping for about 20,000 tons per acre at Lifesong Farms. Knowing the profits from these strawberries goes to help educate orphaned and vulnerable children makes them way sweeter! We are excited to see the Lord of the harvest at work on the farm.

Erik really enjoyed getting to know the great people working at Plant Sciences Incorporated. They have been partners with Lifesong for Orphans since 2007. The following is taken from their website: As an agricultural partner, PSI seeks to amplify Lifesong's effectiveness in serving the world's orphans by targeting and supporting specific agricultural needs such as sustainable development in food production and teaching sustainable skills to provide a future and a hope for the orphans and their communities.

During our family meeting yesterday we discussed how we feel as if we are in a giant hour glass representing departure time with the sand swiftly flowing. We absolutely love the time we are spending. We fill our hands with the "sand," relishing every moment. But...as more time goes by...our hands can't hold it any longer and we can't control how quickly the sand is falling. We rest in the comfort of the fact that the Author of time is holding us in His hands.

Lesson from a seashell

I have this thing with seashells. I am totally enamored with them. Their intricacy astounds me and always brings me to marvel at our Creator.

Did you know that what these crustaceans eat is what causes their coloring? A steady diet causes spiral patterning whereas an inconsistent diet causes spotting on the shell. Did you know that they can either be left or right shelled? (Check out the opening and you will see what I mean)

While we were in Florida, I really wanted to find a certain type of shell. As I walked along the beach, I found myself talking with The Lord. "Father, I know that You are in control of all things....I know it wouldn't be impossible for you to place a banded tulip shell right here on the beach. I really would love to find one." I walked silently, searching the sand and the incoming surf. No more than 2 or 3 minutes past when I met a woman in the surf. When I was parallel to her, she threw a shell up on the beach right in front of me. "Here!" She yelled "that's for you!"

Bet you already know what type of shell it was don't you? Yep, a banded tulip!

I yelled my thanks back over the sound of the waves and continued on my way, back to talking with Father. "Wow God! That was awesome...but I really wanted to find it MYSELF" and then reluctantly I added, "unless You've got something else You're trying to tell me."

I was able to walk in silence longer and wait for an answer. And this is what I heard Him say, "you know Carrie, this is a perfect illustration of your life right now. You can't possibly hope to accomplish this on your own. Quit rebuffing others gifts that they are bringing before you. You have the privilege of seeing the church, my body in action. 

And that, is TRUTH. We have been humbled and amazed as His people have rallied around us. We are totally blown away by the love and generosity that has completely surrounded us. YOU are an incredibly important part of a team who are serving the poor and orphaned in Zambia.

May each of our hearts be enlarged and encouraged as we join our Father to be His hands and feet.

snapshots of departure

We are all doing well. Our checklists are becoming smaller every day as departure day draws nearer. Erik booked tickets this morning. Our official leave date is August 13th. Wow. I can't believe it. 

I wanted to give you all a quick view of what fills our days. Currently I am sitting in the waiting room of our dentist. The kids are all having their final cleanings. When Erik came in for his final cleaning, our dentist took the time to pray with Erik for our family and the work the Lord has allowed us to be a part of in Zambia.  We jam packed our calendar with awesome and amazing people and events for our last few weeks in IN before we move to IL to be with our families. We feel so incredibly blessed as we reminisce together as a family about all that God has done in our lives.

Enough already...pictures tell it better than words...I will try to get them chronologically...

Before we left for MTI, our amazing family came to IN to help us prepare the house to sell. It. was. incredible. They did everything from painting, weed whacking,and drywall patching, to window washing, closet and cupboard emptying. This is how they were greeted when they arrrived. Aren't my children so sweet? Also note that I was unable to get the pic without showing myself. oh wait...that's Erik. hee hee:)

There wasn't much left in the house after our work day, but we packed up the rest in a U-haul and took it to IL. I came outside to discover this.

A couple of other things that have been knocked off the list:

passports:

check.

immunizations:

check.

police clearance for Erik and myself:

check.

While we were at the sheriff's office a kind officer took the time to "swear my kids in". I rather liked how he made my children pledge to obey their parents at all times before he gave them a badge and a flashlight. ;)

The last thing on our list is goodbyes. No check yet...we are discovering this is a process. We sat down as a family one evening with many sheets of paper. Each paper had a category. For example one was titled, Things. We went around the room and shared everything we would miss about each category. Some things that made the "things" list were; refrigerated milk, DeBrands chocolates, our church's Family Camp, McDonalds, our favorite Fort Wayne restaurants, Parkview Field, and the library.

From each category we tried to prioritize the things we wanted to see and do before we depart. So far we have accomplished: canoeing the Maumee river, going to a TinCaps game and buying Rickers' slushies. I know...priorities, priorities :)

Here are  the kids having one last romp in the creek by our house with their self designed "critter catchin' wagon."

All things considered, we are well. The processing of emotions is exhausting but we find ourselves so thankful that we serve such a good God that constantly reminds us of His love and presence. To Him be the glory.