What happened on your Sunday?

One of our greatest fears of living in Zambia has happened.  As we were on our way to Lusaka yesterday, we hit a man on a bicycle.  Many Zambians ride their bikes on the road and do not always get off the road as you pass by.  This man, Kennedy, was riding his bike on the left side of the road (we drive British style on the left side of the road).  We honked at him to let him know that we were there and began to move over into the right lane to pass him.  Instead of getting off the left side of the road or staying put, he veered into the right lane.  We slammed on our breaks and skidded about 20 feet but were not able to dodge him and we hit him as we were going off the road.  He was thrown up on our hood and fell off as we stopped.  Jeff immediately got out of the vehicle to check on him.  I immediately grabbed our cell phone but we had no service.  Some people began to gather around us and told us to go back about 10 minutes to the police station in Nkeyema.  I was able to borrow a youth's phone to call our Logistics Coordinator but as soon as I said, "Dwayne, we have hit a guy on the side of the road" and he said, "Oh no."  The phone ran out of minutes.  After about 10 more minutes, we loaded the man in our truck with a very kind lady, Charity.  She showed us where to go to the police station.  There were no police at the station so we had to wait almost 2 hours for the police to arrive.  In the meantime, I was asking everyone that went past us if they had a phone.  Nobody did.  I gave some money to a man to buy some talk time (minutes to be placed on a cell phone) but nobody had a phone.  Finally, we found a man with a phone but we had to walk a little ways to the main road to find a place where there was service.  I had the girls with me and Jeff had Levi.  We finally found service and I was able to get in contact with our LC, after many desperate prayers.  It was a very bad connection and he could not fully understand me or what had happened.  They thought that we might have been in an accident where we were injured, the vehicle overturned or something else.  I think all he understood was that we were okay and the vehicle was okay but he misunderstood that we had gotten everything taken care of and we were on our way to Lusaka.  That was not the case.  The accident happened at 9:30 am in Kaoma District and it was already maybe 2 hours later.  We took the man to a Rural Health Center and a letter was written for him to be taken to the hospital in Kaoma, which was about 30 minutes back the way we came.  By this time, the police and the man's family had arrived.  An uncle got in the car with us, the injured man, Charity and a police officer.  As we got the hospital in Kaoma, our team members, the Smith's,  that live there had already arrived.  Thank you, Jesus!  Amy's language helper was able to help us with the language. Very long story short, Jeff was cleared by the police to leave and the man is still in the hospital.  The accident happened at 9:30am and Jeff got back to the Smith's house at about 6:30pm.  We were able to spend the night at Amy and Mike's and get up to make a new start on Monday morning.

My conversation with our LC put everybody into a panic.  They didn't know if we had tumbled the truck or what kind of accident that we had been in.  The accident happened about 2.5 hours from Mongu which is still 3.5 hours from Lusaka.  Our mission family started driving from Mongu and Lusaka looking for us.  One of the worst aspects of this ordeal is that we had no cell phone coverage and therefore, were not able to communicate with anyone.  There were a hundred different things that could have gone wrong - the man could have been killed (it happens more than you think), the people gathered around our truck could have been angry, I could have not gotten in touch with anyone, the police could have been corrupt and many other ways but through all of this the Lord truly protected us.

We are okay but please pray for Kennedy that he will heal well and be restored to full health.  Pray for his family during this very difficult time for them.  We have gotten an update that he has a couple of broken bones in his hand.  We pray that we will be able to help him recover and also show him the love of Jesus through all of this.  We love you and continue to ask that you would pray for traveling mercies.

Right in front of us!

These majestic animals passed right in front of us on our way to Lusaka yesterday.

All About Zoe

We had Zoe's birthday supper early on Friday, Oct. 16.  We always allow the kids to pick their birthday supper.  Zoe chose chicken nuggets and french fries.  Below is the picture of her birthday presents - a basket, scarf and sitenge.

Then she got a few more presents from grandparents and her mission aunts.

Blowing her candles out.  Levi was helping.

Her cake - she chose chocolate cake with pink icing and her name in green.

Ne Lu Mateha Maabani!

Yesterday, we got the privilege to go to a local Baptist pastor's village to help mud his house.  It was great fun and hard work.  The girls got jumped right into the mud and worked hard for almost 2 hours!

Here, the house is almost done.  Jeff is taking a short break while the ladies continued to work.  I can't say anything bad about that because I was also taking a break while shooting some pictures. :)

Levi had to stay on the mat all day and by the Lord's grace, he didn't seem to mind too much.  Here we are, waiting to eat lunch and all the kids gathered around us.  If you can't tell, Levi is saying "CHEEEEESE".

This sweet girl, great with child, was cooking our buhobe which is the staple of the Lozi people.  It is almost like grits.  The Lozi have this for every meal and then have some relish or fish or something else to go along with it.

Lights Out!!

As you know, from our escapade with Levi's leg, the lights have been going off quite a bit lately.  These pictures were taken in almost complete darkness.  All the kids wanted to use the head lamp which is a VERY useful tool.

First up is Zoe.

Hadassah's turn with Levi in his "cheeeessse" pose.

Levi's turn as he says "cheeeeeese".

Our Trip to Lukulu

We did finally make it to Lukulu about 2 weeks ago.  It was a good trip.  We just wanted to see the town.  It was what we expected.  It sits just on the east bank of the Zambezi River.  It's a generator town which means the electricity that is supplied there is from a generator.  We hope to go back in a few months to begin looking for a house.  Above is the sign that greets you as you come into town.  Below is a great view of the Mighty Zambezi River with 2 dugout canoes.

First Look at Our Crates!

Here are a few of the toys that we got out of the crate.  This popper was sent to us in Guatemala by my mom and we still have it!  A worthy investment.  You can also see Levi's new cast.  He always wants to close his eyes and say 'cheese'.  I can barely get him to open his eyes in a picture now.

Zoe wanted to show you Levi's wooden train set that he got for Christmas last year.  He'll finally get to open it! 

Update on the Lowes

Went to the orthopedic specialist today.  All is well.  She re-casted Levi's left tibia with a fiberglass wrap.  We didn't get to choose a color but I was very glad that they had fiberglass wrap.  He is fine.  It is a spiral, non-displaced fracture, not a green stick.  

Prognosis is still the same - 6 weeks in a cast.  

Our crates have arrived!!  We were able to open them and pick out just a few things.  Most things were really well packed and we were not going to unload the whole crate just to find something that may not be able to be found.  I was able to get some spices out, some drink mixes, Christmas plates, a few games for the kids, my cast iron dutch oven (!), some silverware, a few tools, Levi's wooden train set and just a few more things.  So glad for what we got. 

We still have quite a few errands to run tomorrow then we will be back home to 

Mongu on Wednesday.

It continues...

On Friday night, Levi still seemed to be having problems with his leg so we made the decision to get up Saturday morning to drive 6 hours to Lusaka to get him seen by a doctor here.  The x-rays that were taken did not even show a fracture but the doctor said he thought that Levi was fine.  We really were not comforted by that because their xrays didn't even show the original fracture.  Right now, here has a plaster of paris cast which seems to be quickly deteriorating. Since we made the trip to Lusaka, we may see if we can see orthopedic specialist.  Please pray that we will make the right decision and that we can get an appointment, if needed.

What been happening?

Levi has broken his shin bone.  Actually, it is a green stick fracture which happens when the bone is abruptly twisted.  He ran into me last night when the lights went out (he couldn't see) and knocked himself down flat.  Evidently he twisted his leg and it fractured.  It wasn't swollen so I gave him advil and put him to bed.  It was still hurting him this morning.  He would not stand or try to walk but cried when put down.  So, we took him to the hospital here in Mongu to get an X-ray.  He now has his cast and is doing fine.  He will have to keep it on for 6 weeks.  Please do pray for us as Levi will not be able to be up and about these next few days.  That should make for some interesting days!

  Below, he is exhausted from the hospital ordeal.

Here he is upset because he cannot get down and didn't want his picture taken.

In other news, we got stuck in the sand on Sunday as we were going to church.  We were very grateful to have Melissa and Gerri with us.  Melissa pulled us out in reverse and we went on to church!  Just another day in our lives.

Back from the market

This is the group of kids that we picked up on our visit to the Imwiko Market.  This is in front of our gate.

A Few Glimpses into Our Lives

These are some of the children that come to play in our yard.  They wanted to take Hadassah and Zoe to the Imwiko market.  Imwiko is the community or 'neighborhood' that we live in.  So off we all went to see the Imwiko market.  We were quite a site and picked up more children along the way.  By the time that we got there, we probably had 30 children tagging along with us.  Can you pick out Hadassah and Zoe?

The ladies here wear chitenges that are wrapped around their skirts.  They come in a myriad different colors and patterns.  All the kids like to get mine and play with them.  Hadassah even got one as a birthday gift.  Here are Levi and Zoe as they were playing one day.  These same chitenges are used by the Zambian women to carry their babies so my chitenges can usually be found wrapped around the kids or carrying their baby dolls on their backs.  

Titus Lowe

Here is the first picture of our new Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy whom we named Titus.  

Today at the Playground

Our New Puppy

We are going to get a new puppy tomorrow.  For my children, that is cause to celebrate but I am a bit skeptical.  This is not it's actual picture but it is the kind that we are getting - Rhodesian Ridgeback.  They were bred to hunt lions and are out of South Africa.  We had some kids to jump over our fence so we figured that we needed to go ahead and get a dog for security.  So, we'll keep you up to date with the saga of the new puppy.  I'm sure that there will be much to tell, starting with a 6+ hour trip tomorrow back to Mongu!

My Wonderful Man

I just wanted to say that I love my husband.  He is such a great man of God who inspires me toward a deeper relationship with the LORD.  I am so blessed to share my life with him.

Updates

If you have not heard from us lately, it is because we have had some computer problems.  We could receive your emails but could not send any out.  I think that we have them figured out but we lost about 15 emails that we had put into the Drafts folder.  So it may take us a little while to get back with you again.

We are here in Lusaka for a Supply Trip.  We have lots of shopping to do and many errands to run.  Yesterday, we met up with our friends, Kenny and Lesley Vines.  We were at ILC with them and they got here about 2 weeks after us.  We have not seen them since June and it has been so nice to catch up with them.  As we drove from Mongu to Lusaka (over 6 hours), I was thinking of how I am already a different person from just 2 months ago when we arrived.  :-)

So, we are off today to do some of our shopping.  Jeff and Kenny are off somewhere and Lesley and I will start off at Game.  I'm actually looking forward to shopping (no surprise to most people) since it has been almost 2 months since I have had this type of shopping opportunity.  I feel a little giddy which is kind of funny considering where I will get to shop today (on my birthday). :-)  I'll be hitting the online shopping later, too.  I'm really looking forward to THAT!

The Evangelist

This is our front gate and these are some of the girls that come to play with Hadassah and Zoe some days.  This day, for some reason, we had asked that they not come in the gate.  I think that it was almost supper time or something.  Hadassah wanted to share with them about Jesus so she took her Bible to sit outside with them as she read them the Living Word.  

We are so proud of her.

UZT in a boat

Just wanted to share a picture of our Upper Zambezi Team.  This was taken at the Scott's house last month.  In the picture are: from left to right, front to back: Amy Smith, Sky Scott, Zoe, Mike Smith, Evie Smith, Hadassah, Levi and Robyn, Jeff, Gerri Helton, Melissa Frady and Tyler.  Daniel Scott took the picture.  

Isn't missionary life great?!?

Tired kids

This picture was taken as we were leaving Hadassah's baptism.  Levi was falling asleep on Jeff's shoulders and Zoe was really tired, too. 

Hadassah's 8th Birthday - July 28

Just wanted to share the first pictures of Hadassah's birthday.  These are a few gifts that she got to open this morning.  She'll get her other one tonight at supper.  She was very excited to get the handmade basket.  I spent hours yesterday making tortillas so that Jeff could fry them to make tortilla chips for her birthday supper.  She wanted nachos and fried okra - so that is what we'll have.  I still have to go home and make a chocolate cake with chocolate icing from scratch.  We'll let you know how it goes. Thank you so much for all your birthday wishes!!  

Firsts!

This was our first view of our house.  The truck at the gate looks just like ours.  Most of the mission vehicles look very much the same.  The house does not face the front gate.  The front porch faces the wall to the left and the kitchen faces to the right.  

We saw these elephants on our way to Mongu from Lusaka in Kafue National Park.  Our first time to see elephants in their own home. 

We are doing great.  We start language study on Monday.  Hopefully, we can get all of Hadassah's  homeschool to us and we'll start 3rd grade on Monday, August 3.  Keep praying for us and emailing us.  We will get back with you eventually!

More Random Pictures

This is the group that came to share in Hadassah's Baptism on Wednesday, July 15, 2009.  It was done in the Zambezi River.

Hadassah being baptized by her daddy in the Zambezi River.

Levi getting ready to go on the boat.  Do you think that the lifejacket will work?

Very dirty and very happy kids!

Pictures!

Look at our pictures from our very first Pizza Night.  I made the crust all by myself and we watched a movie (on the computer, in a chair).  We are having a great time here in Mongu.  No water today but hey, we are doing great!!!

A Day in Mongu

It is a windy, dusy day in Mongu, Zambia.  Above is a real picture of a street in Mongu.  All the shops and streets look very much like this.  My new friend Sky and I have found an internet cafe that actually has wireless here Mongu.  Isn't that wonderful?!?!  You may not realize just how great that is but believe me, we DO!

We are settling in very well here in Mongu.  We really like our house.  I'll have to get some real pictures of it as soon as I can.  We live on a sand road.  Everything here is dirty sand.  There literally is no dirt.  I tell the kids that it is like living at the beach.  They love to play outside in our yard which is, yes, all sand.  I have honestly never seen my kids so dirty.  It just takes one step outside to get their feet filthy then their hands follow and soon everything is dirty.  They love it.  

We will continue to settle in this week.  Then head over to Sky and Daniel's house on  Monday of next week for a few days then hopefully, by July 20th we will begin to search for language tutors (please pray!) and then into a language and homeschool routine...

We love and miss you.  We are doing great.  The kids are doing very well.  Please continue to email us.  We may take a little longer but we will get back to you!