What's Good?

"What's good, Austin?"  It was just a casual throwaway greeting, but it struck a chord when I heard it earlier this week.  What a game-changer that question was!  I don't know what it did for Austin (one of our bus drivers), but I started thinking of all the things that were good in our life right now.  I thought of  the opportunity of a lifetime we all were experiencing on this trip.  I thought of the lives that are being changed--Thunderbird as well as Livingstone people.  I thought of the lessons being learned about God, about culture, about friendship.  I thought about the beauty we have been surrounded with, day and night.  I thought of how each team member is being stretched beyond their comfort point, a little more each day.  I thought of the way God has led, both in our coming to Zambia, and in our experiencing it, hour by hour.

What's good?  Such an excellent question!  I wondered what Austin would have said if he had answered the question literally instead of casually.  Would he have said that the TAA Mission Team was something good in his life?  Would he have seen and understood what it meant for us to be there in his country, his town?

I think it behooves us as Christians to consider the good in our lives consistently.  I think our lives would be much better, much happier if we were focused on the good rather than what's not.  So...what's good this day (Thursday)?  The Chobe National Park safari, that's what.  God, that's Who.  Put the two together and you have a pretty amazing day.

It began early, with a trip to the border of Zambia and Botswana via bus and boat.  We crossed the Zambezi/Chobe Rivers at a point where they meet, bringing four countries together (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia)--the only place in the world like that.  From there, we went by open jeep-like vehicles to a beautiful resort where we boarded a river boat and moved slowly down the river, getting up-close views of elephants, hippos, and a wide variety of shore birds.

We made our way back to the resort for a delicious lunch and then took the safari jeeps out through the park to observe the land animals and various birds.  We saw dozens of elephants (there are 80-120,000 in the park), impala, kudus, a leopard, a giraffe, and more.  It was an amazing day.  I posted before that there was an incident with an elephant.  Here is the story in the words of Ward Pearson, one of the passengers in the jeep:

"What an awesome day we had today!  We saw the splendor of our God and what neat things He's made.  Seeing it all was a new reminder of what He's created for us to enjoy but also as a reminder that man maybe shouldn't get too close.

"At the very end of our safari, we were almost out of the park.  We encountered a bull elephant that was not pleased to see us.  Another elephant passed across the road and he turned and huffed at another jeep that was coming the other direction and then crossed in front of us into the bush.  Our guide took us a little bit closer to him and then he kind of came back at us so we backed off a little, but in the next 10-15 seconds it became very clear that he was not happy and he started coming through the brush at us.  We all heard it.  His ears came out and he trumpeted and snorted at us.  

At that point I knew this was not the place to be then.  Just as was getting serious, our land cruiser wouldn't start.  We were on an incline and our jeep wouldn't start so we coasted back a bit and the elephant kept coming on steady at us.  It was at that point, at least for me, we knew it was not a good situation.  We were in a vehicle that would not cooperate.  With an elephant that did not want us near him.  When the jeep finally started, it was flooded and blowing back smoke.  Everyone on the elephant sie took off their seat belts, getting ready to run out the other side.  It was about 30 feet from us.  At that point, we were frightened.  There were a lot of prayers going up.  I believe with all my heart that there were angels there keeping that elephant where it was.  If he had charged us, he could have flipped our land rover just like that.  As he was becoming more and more aggressive, he snapped a tree like it was a tooth pick.

Our angels were protecting us and kept a scary situation from being a tragic situation.  We have no idea, but one day, we will be able to ask our guardian angel in heaven to tell us all about it.  So I am here to praise God today.  We had a wonderful day.  We were in a park, but a wild park.  That was their domain, not ours.  We were helpless.  We couldn't go back, and when we finally did, it wasn't very fast.  We finally got back about a quarter of a mile and he finally quit pursuing us.  We were going to try to sneak by him and go forward.  And he came towards us, so we had to keep backing up until we came to a "Y" in the road and took a side road to get way from him, and then that elephant came over the rise and saw us and came running after us.  had he come running at us like that when we were closer, we would have been in serious trouble.  I firmly believe the angels were holding him there and giving us a story to tell and giving us a new respect for creatures in nature.

Nightly Bible Reading--Isaiah 6

Also--read Psalm 91 from The Message Bible.  You will see a direct correlation between that chapter and our experience today . . .

Song of Africa

[Good Morning!  We are back in Arizona, safe and sound . . . and completely different people from the ones who left here 2 weeks ago yesterday.  I've not been able to post much in the past few days, but I promise I will catch you up over this week, so keep checking back.  I wrote this piece on Sabbath evening but the internet would not let me post it.  Out of habit, I am posting first thing after breakfast, but will have to update with pictures later this evening.]

“If I know a song of Africa, of the giraffe and the African new moon lying on her back, of the plows in the fields and the sweaty faces of the coffee pickers, does Africa know a song of me? Will the air over the plain quiver with a color that I have had on, or the children invent a game in which my name is, or the full moon throw a shadow over the gravel of the drive that was like me, or will the eagles of the Ngong Hills look out for me?”

I love this quote from Isak Dinesen’s Out of Africa.  I read the book years ago and fell in love with Africa from this description.  I wanted to know a song of Africa, of the giraffe and the African moon.  Of the plows in the fields and the sweaty faces.  I wanted the air over the plain to quiver with a color that I had on and for the children to invent a game with my name in it.  I wanted to see the full moon throw a shadow over the path that was like me, and for the eagles to look out for me.  I wanted to make a difference in such a way that even the land would know me and what I believed . . . or more to the point, in Whom I believed.

Tonight, I can say I know a song of Africa.  I have seen the giraffe and the plows in the fields and the sweaty faces of the brick layers and corn pickers and path sweepers.  I have seen and felt the effects of the air blowing over the plain and the Falls and heard the children’s inventive games with someone’s name in them, if not mine.  The full moon has thrown a shadow over the dirt path that was like me, and I hope the eagles of Zambia and Botswana are looking out for me.  I know a song of Africa.

But if I know a song of Africa, of the elephants and the zebras, of the children singing about Jesus, of the villages and churches, of the taxi drivers and bus drivers, does Africa know a song of me?  That is the real question.  What have I done to make Africa remember me the way I will remember Africa?  Who did I talk with, listen to, share with in such a way that they will miss me when I’m gone?  And who will know more about Jesus because our paths crossed one week in March 2013 under the hot African sun?

After church this afternoon, a woman came up to me and said she had not seen me at the church before.  “I’ve missed you,” she said.  I told her my role on this trip, to step back and observe, to listen to what others are saying and doing and to write their stories so others will know what we did here this week.  She said she would look for me at the afternoon meeting and I said I’d do the same.  As chance would have it (or maybe not), we did see each other again, after the last meeting.  She came and found me on the bus.  I told her I loved her music (she had sung in one of the choirs that performed in the afternoon) and she said “I will miss you.”  We said we would pray for each other and would see each other in heaven some day.

“I will miss you.”  That’s a concept I am unfamiliar with coming from a stranger, and yet one that has touched my heart here.  This woman, a stranger to me until today, told me that she had missed seeing me earlier.  At first I puzzled over what she meant, but after considering it a few moments, I realized that it was true.  We had missed an opportunity to get to know each other.  And yet I know I won’t forget her.  I have missed her.  But we will see each other again, most likely not on this earth but in a better place where there will be no missing each other.  I know a song of Africa.  Does Africa know a song of me?

Full Day at the Falls

Good Morning and Happy Sabbath!

Yesterday was such a full day I had no chance to blog.  Sorry!  Truth is, there will be very little time from here on out.  I will catch up once we return to Arizona, so you won't miss out on any part of the trip, but it may take awhile as we have Alumni Weekend next weekend.  Our media team will be busy assembling some presentations to share over the weekend, so be sure to come for that--probably during church in the TAA gym.

Anyway, yesterday was rather amazing.  We spent the day at Victoria Falls--doing everything from bungee jumping to shopping.  We all had a great time with the beautiful views, the adrenalin rushes, the serious dousing of Falls water and spray, and the bartering with the local merchants.  I will post more pictures later, but here are a few to whet your appetite.
[Photos c/o Eric McArthur]

Amazing Day in Botswana

Yesterday was an amazing day.  It had lots of animals, some stress and a bit of drama.  The park has anywhere from 80,000-120,000 elephants in it at any given time.  Next are the impala, then a variety of other animals. Not everyone saw all of the animals, but between all 4 of our groups, we saw most of them. We did not see any zebra, but have two of our own here at the Lodge.  We were there in the heat of the day, so didn't expect to see any cats.  One group saw a leopard.  We saw many different kinds of birds.  I had a birder on my jeep, so I think we saw more birds than others.  

We started the day with a water cruise up the Chobe River where we saw our first elephants and impala and many of the shore birds.  We also saw a pod of hippos--including baby ones--resting in a shallow area of the river.  Once done with that, we had a delicious buffet lunch at a beautiful resort (would have loved to stay there, but at $345 a night that wasn't going to happen!).  Then it was on to the bush part of the safari.  That was where we met many elephants and a host of other creatures.  I'll let the pictures suffice for them as words fail...

The last of our four jeeps had a rather scary encounter with a bull elephant in "musk."  That story will come later in the Thursday Reflections entry.  I'll just say this:  God was watching over them.  He sent his guardian angels to protect them, without a doubt.

We are off early again for some adventures at Victoria Falls.  I hope to have time this afternoon to post more about all the events that are now piling up on us.  We have an early group going out to walk with the lions and ride the elephants.  The rest of us will be bungee jumping, zip lining, rope swinging, helicopter riding, and other such activities.  It will be another great day in Zambia!

[I will caption these later so you'll know what you're seeing.  Some animals will, of course, be obvious :) ]

Adults Only

Full Moon over Kaazmein Lodge last night

[I am posting this morning without too many pictures because there is no time.  I will add to this when we return from our safari (!!!)]

There are other adults who have been part of the team as well.  Ralph Robertson, pastor of the Peoria/Sun City Church, has led our construction team.  Mrs. Larissa Pearson, alongside her daughters, has led the high-energy VBS program in the evening and helped at the medical or construction sites during the day.  Mr. Ward Pearson has done construction by day and VBS by night.  

Dr. Morada did the health nugget each evening at the evangelistic meetings and served at the medical sites during the day.  His wife, Emily, was a cheerful hostess at the medical sites.  Dr. Irene Daluyen and Mr. Renato Daluyen have served on the medical team as doctor and nurse, respectively.  

Dr. Gary Muncy has worked the medical sites tirelessly.  Pastor Jay Warren was the safety officer at the construction site (where he also worked) and he coordinated the spiritual nurturing for each day.  Mrs. DeeDee Warren organized the medical supplies, worked the medical sites, helped with the cooking and shopping, and was a cheerful energizer bunny when it came to helping others.  Mr. Peter Bujor (father to Jessica) worked the construction site and was an inspiriting conversationalist for listeners of all ages.

Mr. and Mrs. Maloon kept track of everyone, making sure we didn't leave anyone behind.  Mr. Maloon worked both the medical and constructions sites as well.  He was also responsible for raising much of the money for the trip.  Mrs. Apryl Maloon spent most of her day time hours with the medical staff.  In the evening she coordinated the music/worship team for evangelism. All the women did a turn or two in the kitchen as Christi's adult helpers.  

Mrs. Arlene Morada joined her brother and sister at the medical sites every day, serving as the lab technician.  Mr. Oliver Morada laid bricks by day and coordinated the evangelism meetings by night.  He also preached.

I could write pages and pages about the amazing Mrs. Sheryl Muncy.  She has been Chaplain Rob's right hand woman for months, serving as the major force behind all the communication with parents and students; organizing the transportation, medications and vaccinations, and so much more.  It is impossible to recount all she has done.  I imagine she will find her post-Zambia days quite boring and empty!!! (probably not)

Then there's Chaplain Rob Parrish.  Again the wordsmith can't find the words.  Hour upon hour, phone call upon phone call, meeting after meeting, time after time.  It's taken all that and more out of an already busy chaplain/recruiter to make this trip happen.  He has worked tirelessly to bring everything together. The trip has had its moments of frustration, but those were all circumstances beyond any of our control. Things have gone very well.  The team members have had a great experience, and have made a difference in the lives of everyone they have met and worked with.

There have been many partners at home who have helped get this trip off the ground, literally.  The TAA staff has been wonderfully supportive, working with the students so they could leave a few days early and come bak a day late from spring break.  Several also covered classes for the teaching staff on the trip.  We are so grateful for their cheerful partnership.  Parents, family, and church members have contributed money and supplies and prayers.  Mrs. Anjali Tierney raised thousands of dollars for the project from TAA's Development office.  

Yours truly has spent much of her time at the computer writing and uploading pictures to the blog.  I usually start at about 7:30 after the last bus has gone off for the day and finish around 4 when they come back for supper.  The hotel workers have gotten used to me working in their space and have been cheerfully friendly and a little curious at what I am doing.  One offered to help me.  She said "I always see you at work.  You look like you could use some help."  I showed her the blog and she was quite excited to see what I was doing and what the group was doing.  She is the same one who imagined with me what fun 

God must have had when he created the zebras :)

My routine will change after today because of the excursions and then travel.  I will blog in the evening (our time) for the next three days instead of in the morning.  I may not have time to blog after Saturday evening because of travel out of Africa.  Quite possibly it won't be until Monday evening before I can blog after we leave the Lodge early Sunday morning.  I will do my best to keep you posted as much as possible.

All in all, it has been a huge undertaking, one that would not have been possible without the contributions of every single one of you reading this blog.  Most importantly, God has been the overall tour managers.  He took care of us in numerous ways that we know of and many more that we may never know until we have a face-to-face conversation with Him in heaven.  Lives have been changed.  Zambian and American.  Please continue to pray as we wrap up this trip and prepare to come bak home.  Re-entry will be difficult.  This has, for many, been a better life because they have had nothing else to do but witness for Jesus, with very few distractions.  That will not be the case when they return home.  That's when the harder prayers need to begin.  That's when they will need your support more than ever.

What's Cooking?

Cook Christi (right) consults with her kitchen
helpers while they take a snack break

When the original cook Mr. Maloon had found for this mission trip had to bow out, he wasn't sure what we were going to do about that all important team member.  I remember him asking the staff at morning worship to pray, that we needed a cook and quick.  Not too long after that, he got a phone call asking for information about the school.  A woman was interested in Thunderbird for her niece.  One thing lead to another and by the end of the conversation, we had our cook for the mission trip!  Just one of many of the God-ordained events connected with this trip.

Ashley and Catherine make lunch for the day.

Christi Currier has had to put up with a lot, starting with being booked in a different hotel from the group in D.C.  She told me she wondered if God was trying to tell her something when things kept happening to discourage her from making the trip.  She stuck with it, though, and ended up becoming an integral part of everyone's day.

Kaazmein Lodge's kitchen

It's not been easy, though.  Start with the water, and having to boil and/or bleach everything before it could be used in the cooking.  Factor in the fact that every time she tried to use the oven it blew the electricity for the whole camp--more than once when people were in the showers (turning off the pump and leaving soapy people unable to rinse off).  Consider that ingredients that are commonly found and used at home were difficult or impossible to find.  Recipes had to be devised to use what food could be found.  Christi and her team had to go out two, three, and sometimes four times in a day--and to different stores--to find the groceries for the day. Add to all that yesterday when all the food was locked up and the Lodge staff didn't arrive until it was time to serve.  Or today when there was no gas to cook any of the hot food.  Go-with-the-flow Christi has had to make countless adjustments every day to keep this group of hungry workers fed.  It's not been ideal.  It's not what she had planned from the comfort of her home.  But as Pastor Jay said the other day, we have not been hungry.  We have been fed.

Eggs waiting for the bleach wash

Each day, Christi has a different group of helpers that she works with--usually three students and an adult.  The team gets up before anyone else, long before dark (if they are on time) to prepare the 6:30 breakfast and make the sack lunches everyone takes to the job site.  After everyone has gone off, the kitchen crew cleans up breakfast, plans out supper, and makes the grocery list for the day.  Then Christopher (taxi driver) takes Christi and one or two others out for the purchases.

Meanwhile the rest of the crew is working on what they can in the kitchen.  There is an hour or two break, then it's back to work, preparing supper and the post-VBS/Evangelism snack.  It's a long, long day.

Grant volunteers to help with breakfast every morning.  
"I like food, I like cooking, I have the time to help."

During the course of her time working in the hotel kitchen, Christi has had opportunity to witness to the hotel workers there.  They have been curious about all the bleach we use to clean the dishes and the food.  They have never seen anything like it.  After explaining about the need for cleanliness, they have been impressed to start better cleaning practices themselves.  When she was making brownies for one of the treats, they had no idea what she was doing--they had never seen or tasted brownies.  They filmed her making macaroni and cheese, and have asked her for her (vegetarian) recipes.

Dishes, fruit, vegetables, and eggs
are all cleaned with bleach and water.

One of the first meals at Kaazmein
Lodge.

A beautiful salad