Constructing Joy in Zambia

The construction site--a multi-purpose building
for school and church

Pastor Jay continued his thoughts on Philippians for Tuesday morning's worship.  We started by singing an old "retro" song --Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.  "That's a command," Pastor Jay said.  “It was written in the imperative in the Greek:  Rejoice!  You will rejoice!"  He went on to say “Rejoicing is something that is a challenge for me.  I lean towards being a pessimist and have struggled with depression most of my life.  So when I read this, I say to myself "I don't feel like rejoicing!"

Jessica gets things into perspective

"Philippians has about 25-30 references to joy and joyful and having the joy of the Lord.  I want to look at Philippians 1:3, 4 today.  ^3 ‘I thank my God every time I remember you, ⁴ always praying with joy for all of you.’

Working with the rebar

“Why was Paul so joyful about these people?  He wasn't about the Corinthians (shall I bring a stick and beat you with it)!  But there is in this book.  What made him so joyful about this city?  Because of the thoughts he had about the people that were there.

Lunch break!

“All my family lives in Texas.  I hate Texas.  Everything in Texas will either bite you, sting you, scratch you, or give you are rash.  And yet, when I think about Texas, I think about my family--4 brothers, 2 sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles...and it makes me feel good about Texas.

“So when Paul thought about the Philippians, who did he think about?  Lydia, the little slave girl, and many others.  Paul and Silas were in jail there.  You probably remember how they were singing, staying in jail even when the doors opened during the earthquake.  Because of their witness to the jailer, he asked to be baptized that night.

Johann gave his personal Bible to this man.

“When Paul wrote Philippians, he was in Rome, in jail, shackled to two soldiers.  In a few months, he would be let out and put on the executioner's block.  So there he is, thinking about Philippians.  I hope that when you get back to TAA and you look back on Zambia, you will look back with joy, think about the people you have met and pray for them.  They are joyful in doing the work despite the horrible conditions.  Be their joyful memory of your time here.”

[Photos for this entry are c/o Mr. Maloon]

A treat for lunch today:  soda!

Jacob climbs the scaffold for
a time-lapse series of photos

This man shared his shaman beans
with Mr. Maloon

Into the Bush--Part II

Part of the village we visited on Tuesday

After lunch on Tuesday I went back into the bush with Mr. Maloon, Jacob, Eric, Adrian, and Mario to take a few Bibles to some villagers Mr. Maloon had met on Sabbath.  The village was near the church we worshipped in and very near one of the clinics the medical team has worked at.  Before going to the village, we stopped at a store to buy some toy cars, a soccer ball, and some lollipops to take to the children.

Mario pumps water for the villagers

Again, we drove down a dirt road through the bush that opened to reveal a small village that spread down a slope.  We left the car at the top and walked down towards the village, stopping at the well where a number of people were lined up to fill buckets and other containers with water for the evening. Mario and Adrian stepped in and helped them pump the water while Eric and Mr. Maloon told stories and led the children in some songs.  Jacob filmed the excursion and I took pictures.

Eric gives the soccer ball to one of the moms

Handing out anything is always an adventure here.  You have to set parameters, lines even, that the children cannot cross.  It takes awhile, but they are usually pretty good about holding the line for the most part.  They were excited to get the cars and candy.  We gave the soccer ball to a mom and asked her to make sure the children share.  She played with it by herself for awhile, then tossed it out to the kids who played awhile with Jacob before we had to leave.

The village well

The Bibles went to two women, a man, and a young girl.  They were so grateful to get them.  They promised to read it to their family and other villagers.

We left this village wondering what impact, in the long run, we had.  The candy was soon gone, the cars will lose their wheels, and the children will probably not remember that we ever made a visit to their small village on a hot day in March.  The Bibles, though, have the power to make not only a lasting impression, but an eternal one.  That is what we prayed for this afternoon.

Jacob shows his GoPro camera to the children

Mr. Maloon talks with some of the children
about Jesus and His love for them

Mario hands out toy cars to eager children

Mr. Maloon films Jacob playing soccer with the kids

Adrian gives Bibles to two women

Into the Bush--Part I

I went out into the field today for the first time this week.  Actually, it was the bush, and I went not once, but twice.  Since the internet only works well when the students are not here taking up all the bandwidth on their phones, I have stayed at the Lodge during the day to post about the previous day.  As a result, I've not had the opportunity to see for myself the things I've been reporting on.

That all changed when I went out with the medical team this morning to a village buried in the heart of the bush country outside of Livingstone.  The road to get there kept narrowing and narrowing until it was literally two well-worn dirt tracks in the midst of the bush.  Every now and again huts would crop up alongside of the road until we came to an wider spot where there was an open air market on one side and a three-sided shelter on the other:  the clinic.

The village open-air market

There were about a dozen people sitting in the shade of the roof when we got there but word soon spread via the village grapevine, bringing more and more patients, two by two, in small groups, or solo.  The three doctors, along with the lab, set up inside the shelter.  The dental "clinic" set up at the end of the shelter, triage took place under the tree in front of the shelter, and the bus became the pharmacy.

The triage line (nurse in white at the end).

I spent a couple of hours observing the professionalism of all our medical/dental staff--from the the doctors, nurses, technicians, and interpreters down to the students.  Patience certainly was needed as the crowds could easily have gotten out of control.  Truth to tell, they did on occasion--especially with the children.  But calm was restored after a bit, and everyone

went on with the real business at hand:  healing.  It was inspiring to watch them all at work, each with a specific and vital job to fill.

By the time I left, the dozen had swelled to many more.  This was just supposed to be a half-day visit, though, so they finally had to shut down triage and send everyone away except the ones already in process of being cared for.

I left this village humbled and awed at what I had seen.  We take much for granted.

Triage under the tree with Mrs. Morada
(Oliver Morada's mother) and Rebeca

Medical and Construction equipment to do
dental work :)

The lady is an English teacher in town.
She brought her father, who lives in the
village, to our clinic.

Mrs. Maloon prays with some patients.

Rebeca takes temperatures in the
triage line.

Arlyn checks a patient's eyesight.

Dr. Muncy counsels with a patient alongside an
interpreter (right).

Mrs. Morada's brother dispenses medicine
from the bus

Eric checks a patient's weight

Mrs. Muncy and Haley hand out toothbrushes

Narce and Abigail demonstrate proper tooth care.

Haley uses a dinosaur to teach
tooth care.

Children are the same everywhere
when there is a camera!  "Copy me!" 

Fiercely Intentional Missionaries

The Adventist Church where we are
holding Evangelistic meetings.  VBS is here
as well (across the lot in a tiny school room.

For worship Monday night, Chaplain Rob told about when he was growing up in the mid-1990s and the Chicago Bulls were the team to follow.  They did the three-peat and then did it again.  He loved Michael Jordan--had all kinds of memorabilia related to him.  In a book, there's a picture of Jordan practicing with the quote,  "Often for me the games were easier than the practice."  

Ward Pearson tells the children to line up.
Daniel assists him with crowd control

People used to ask Jordan, “Why do you play so hard every single night?” He would answer, "Because every night there might be a father and son who got to come to this game and who might never see me again.  I play my best for them."  He was fiercely intentional about playing basketball.  Early in his career they said he was a terrible defender, so he became the best defender.  He was fiercely intentional about proving everyone wrong who said he couldn't do something.

Dr. Morada (Oliver Morada's father) gives a health
nugget each night.  Monday night it was about
hypertension.

Chaplain Rob has been reading a book called Beautiful Outlaw that gives an interesting view about Jesus.  He's playful.  He's very human with his emotions.  "Fierce was intentionality.  Everything that Jesus did was pointedly done for someone specific.  In the temple he doesn't just flip over the tables, he takes time to make a whip.  He had time to think about it when he was twisting those chords.  He stops and releases the doves.  It's not just a fit of rage, he's very purposeful about everything he does

Some of the TAA boys play soccer with the
children each night after their VBS activities are finished.

There’s a story in Matthew 8:1-3 about Jesus and a leper:  “When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. ² A man with leprosy^[a] came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean. ³ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.”

The leper says to Jesus "if you want, make me clean.”  Jesus says “I am willing.  Be cleansed.”  Jesus put out His hand and touched him and immediately his leprosy was gone.

Dr. Morada consults with a patient in a
half-shelter clinic on Tuesday.

Jesus didn't have to touch him.  He could have just said "Be clean."  But instead, he touched him and made him clean.  That's intentional.  Everything that He did, He was focused.  He's very forceful with some people and how he calls them out.  But then he's very tender with Mary Magdalene...after he had written all the sins in the sand.

Chaplain Rob challenged the group saying, “Here, away from everything that's part of your ordinary life, why not be intentional.  Invest in someone.  That, for me, is out of my comfort zone.  But being intentional with people is actually kind of simple.  Shake people's hand, smile, ask how they are doing.  Then stick around for the answer.

Curious youngsters line up for a picture at the
Linda Township Health Clinic.

“Jesus was intentional about everything that He did.  Try to be intentional about everything you do tomorrow.  Jesus’ ministry was built on intentionality.  He was focused.  He purposefully went to parts of the country where no one else would go and was intentional there.  Reflect Jesus to those you meet tomorrow.

Cool encounters

Johann—I got to share my Bible with a guy at the work site

Daniel—I got mobbed during VBS.

Mrs. Maloon prays with patients who are
waiting to see one of the doctors.

Ms. Aastrup—I got to imagine God creating the zebras with the girl at front desk.  We concluded that He definitely has a great imagination!

Abby—Today at the medical site--I didn't think I could pray with anyone the way Mr. Morada suggested, but then I saw Mrs. Warren praying with someone and then I saw Mrs. Maloon also praying and it inspired me.

Haley—I enjoyed talking with a guy about the different things we say in America.

Mrs. Morada, Arlyn, and Ashley get the lab set up.

Jaden--After playing soccer with a bunch of kids I was showing American handshake and they were showing their handshakes.  Then I heard a snap and I recognized a kid I had taught the snap catch to yesterday, so we played again.

Mr. Maloon--At the work site we've been sharing lunchtime with some of the guys and they are sharing their shaman beans with us.

Mrs. Maloon--Mrs. Muncy has a dentistry 101 tutorial going on, pulling teeth and helping people out of their pain.  Haley was teaching a big bunch of kids how to brush their teeth and then she prayed with them at the end.

These children are not too sure about
the green bus and cameras.

Alex--I got to meet Monga, the sound system guy at church.  He introduced me to his family--five brothers.  It was nice getting to meet them.  He was teaching me various phrases.

Jaden--JT and I started off the work day laying block.  We were on scaffolding.  We were working on one block and had to keep relaying it.  Mr. Bujor came over and had some inspiring words to say to us.

Ralph--Johann had an interesting experience--he had to straighten up a piece of rebar and it blew up three layers of block, but he didn't lose his cool and he relayed it...handled it well.

Chaplain Rob—I had a major answer to prayer.  I went into town to run a few errands, then got back and went to find his room key, and it was missing.  The hotel does not have extra.  I felt in my pocket and found there is a hole in the pocket.  Christopher took us back to the grocery store and we walked all over everywhere I went and couldn't find it.  Then I stopped at this one place and there it was! 

Mrs. Maloon and Mrs. Maloon confer with
the nurse.  Baby Ennis is on her back.
Look for him in another entry with
Eric.

Mrs. Warren--I got to see some jungle medicine today.  A lady had some sutures that had been taken out a little early, so the nurse at the clinic used what she had and sewed them back with no anesthesia.  It was quite incredible to watch.

Flexibility Award

Jaden--Pastor Jay when he was laying bricks.  His bricks kept fallen apart.  But he kept his cool.

Daniel--JT because we were getting mobbed with the stickers and then he came out with glow sticks and took the attention off us.

Pastor Jay--Eric, who was trying to preach when the mob was screaming outside.

Mr. Maloon--Silver Trowel Award to Daniel who is becoming a master at laying brick

This woman and her baby
waited patiently to see a doctor.

Jaden--our drivers are really phenomenal

Nightly reading:  Galatians 5:22-26 (fruits of the spirit)

If you know the root, He grows the fruit.

Zambian Mornings

In the morning

there is the table at the edge

of the Kaazmein Lodge patio.
In the morning

there is my computer, a pen,

my much-traveled journal,

the bottled water with its

hard-to-open caps.

And always there is

the blue African sky.

There are sometimes companions

(Robbie, Jacob, Christi one day;

Ahilyn, Adrian, Narce,

Alejandra on another).

There are brightly colored squares

on the black table cloths.

Workers are sweeping--

calling good morning to me

while tending to business and

listening to canned music.

There are zebras grazing

peacefully,

wildly.

And always there is

the cool-yet-warm African breeze.

My view looks across

the patio to a footbridge,

and an island.

Mornings, there are

African kingfishers,

African mockingbirds,

African herons.  Or bitterns.

Or some other kind of

long-legged African water bird.

My job on this trip is to write--

a thing I’ve often longed to do

in the quiet of the morning

at a table with a view,

a breeze,

and sometimes a companion

or two.

My job on this trip is to share—

to put into words an experience

that defies words.

My roommate asks how

we will be able to share

all we’ve experienced.

We can’t I say.

We can try, but words

—which I love—

cannot

do justice

to

Zambian Mornings.

~ Rondi Aastrup
   Kaazmein Lodge
   Livingstone, Zambia

VBS Babies and TAA Missionaries

Vacation Bible School has been an interesting experience.  Mrs. Larissa Pearson, from Battle Ground, Washington (Mrs. Muncy's cousin), has been leading out in an energetic and inspiring program for the children.  Each evening she and her TAA helpers brave the throngs of excited children to bring them songs and stories of Jesus who loves them.  Well over 200 youngsters eagerly await our arrival each evening.  Their enthusiasm does not wane.  In fact by the end of the evening's activities, they have more energy, if that's possible!  They love to sing, they love to hear about Jesus, they love their American friends.  

Today's photo essay comes to us c/o of Ahilyn Mora.