We're Home!

By now we are either all home, or are where we will be for most of the rest of the summer (Keane we hope you enjoy more time in Zambia). Our time in Zambia was at the same time long and full, and much too quick. We missed the people we loved, but enjoyed the time spent learning new things and meeting new people. Travel to a far away place can be disorienting when you return. Where we were has been separated from where we are by two days in airports and airplanes with little sleep and weird sun schedules – and now Zambia feels distant - it’s beginning to feel like somewhere we were (not somewhere we are). Now that I’ve been home for 15 hours I could almost convince myself it was a dream – except for the laundry to do, the clothes that all smell like Zambia, a computer full of pictures, and a sense of a change in my perspective on the world.

At the airport in Livingstone, preparing to fly away home. Sarah, Annie, Caleb and Jackie.

 We return to things here that are almost exactly the same as we left them (my cats immediately climbed on my lab when I sat down to write this) but we feel different. It can be hard to keep the sense of excitement and adventure once we have returned safe and sound with the spoils of our travel spilling out of our bags. But we were in Zambia, and we were changed by what we saw there. The challenge in Zambia was to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone to experience new things, and now that we are home the challenge will be to keep ourselves from returning to our comfort zone- to be mindful of what we have, what we say, and what we do. Our world has grown and now includes a little Zambian village, the people (and especially the kids) who live there, and the challenges they face.

Returning to Messiah after the trip. Messiah felt too normal!

 It will be important as we return to talk about our time there, but it may take us a long time to process all that we saw. We will be making connections with what we experience now and what we saw there for years to come and in many different situations. The goal is to be permanently changed by experiencing more of the world.  Our minds and our hearts have grown to hold Macha village during our trip, and we will continue to hold it in our hearts and prayers with hope for the future. 

Our time is Zambia is done, but the things we have learned will remain with us forever.

 

A little over 1/2 way home!

We just got to Heathrow airport in London- and found that when no one else is awake at the terminal- there is free internet :)

All is well on the trip so far, we've only lost a couple bottles of lotion and toothpaste, so it's all good. Most of us slept for the trip over Africa, and the rest watched a new set of movies on the plane. We will all be happy to be done traveling for a while when we get home today- it's going to feel weird- we get on the plane at 10 London time (11 Macha time) and land in DC at ~ 1 pm - after an 7 or 8 hour flight!

We're looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Also- we've had some trouble counting ourselves after Stephne taking a different flight, and Keane and Dr. Thuma staying in Africa - our group isn't the same without them.

Safari, and the last day

Our hearts are full from all of the good, fun, challenging and amazing things we have seen in Zambia. After our two-day overnight safari in Botswana, we are starting today on our journey home (except for Keane and Dr. Thuma who get to stay!).

It was amazing and fun and exciting and fantastic to get the chance to safari in Botswana. Our day started early with a drive to the Zambezi river and the boarder crossing (we have extra stamps in our passports!). Once in Botswana, we started seeing warthogs IN the city before heading to the park. After tea (we’ll miss tea!) we had a boat tour of Chobe National Park from the Zambezi river. Here we saw our first elephants, kudu, water buffalo, monitor lizards and more. The animals are used to the tour boats coming through the park, and know that they are not going to be dangerous, and so they hardly move when we get close to them (birds included!). This made for some close encounters and great pictures.

Crossing the Zambezi river to Botswana!

Customs in Botswana - Dr. Thuma, Stephne, Emily, Evan, Jackie, and Dan.

Amanda walking to our touring boat.

Water Buffalo- the African widow maker!

After lunch we went out in the Jeeps for a driving tour of the park. Here we saw more elephants, warthogs, sable antelope, impala, puku, kudu, giraffes, kori bustard, buffalo, hippos, (and I know I’m missing some). In short- we saw LOTS of animals- up close, and then headed back to camp for dinner. We camped- but it was really posh: A) they had set up all the tents and had our beds made (with really nice beds) before we got there, B) they had chairs set up around an already burning fire, and were already making dinner for us when we got there, C) there were flush toilets! D) we were camping under the African stars, E) there was a lit watering hole where we could watch the animals coming for dinner. It was a fantastic night, and we slept to the sound of animals in the distance: hyenas, elephants, and who knows what else!

Zak is SO happy to see giraffes!

Emily and Stephne with an Elephant!

Our tour guides were not afraid to drive really close to the animals.

The very rare and hard to find Preston/Keane Buffalo

The watering hole, Emily, Stephne, Zak, Preston, Jackie, Caleb and Sarah

Day two we awoke before the sun, having breakfast under the stars (like our dinner) and then we bundled up in blankets (it’s COLD in Africa in the winter!) and drove back to the park to see the animals at the river in the morning. We were told that the cats and dogs especially are active in the morning. It was cool (literally) to see the park in the morning, to see the animals waking up or (for the nocturnal animals) going back to bed (the hippos, it turns out, seem very lazy). We saw lots of cool animals (a jackal) but no cats… after brunch back at the camp we headed out for our last chance drive through the park. We saw hyenas who had been gnawing on an elephant carcass (hyenas are WAY bigger than I had thought), AND LIONS sleeping in the cool afternoon shade. The lions were amazing, and when we drove up they woke up and lifted their heads (yes, there were two, Simba and Nala!). While we were there, elephants started moving up the hill towards the lions and chased the lions away! It was an elephant/cat fight! (ok, so not really a fight, but definitely a chase!). Our guide said that elephants proactively seek out the lions and chase them away to protect their young (the only elephants small enough for the lions to kill). It was amazing! And so ended our safari!

The morning drive was dark and cold - but we didn't complain! Mike, Evan, Zak, Emily, Stephne, and Steve.

Mike and the enormous baobab tree!

The striped Zebra crossing- and Caleb hanging out the window.

An elephant was lion hunting!

The Lioness was HUGE and look at the muscles on her legs!

Then last evening we had our final night all together in Zambia. We talked about what we miss from home, and what we will miss from Zambia. And we talked about how we will see things differently (if you’re from Messiah – how we will see things anew) after this trip. It was really fun to hear what the students have enjoyed the most and missed the most- not surprisingly, for most of the students both were people and relationships: people from home that we miss, and people from here that we enjoyed getting to know. It was also fun to hear how the students view of the world, relationships, health, healthcare, and need have changed during the time here. I am again encouraged that the cross cultural experience is world expanding – you cannot help but see the world in a different light after living in a Zambian village for a weekend, after hearing Dr. Thuma talk about his work here, and after spending so much time with the kids, or each other on the trip. We leave this morning full – of new things, pictures, experiences, stories, and love.

Our Safari Jeep group: me, Mutaa (the guide), Steve, Zak, Sarah, Brandi, Mike, Stephne, Emily, Evan

See you all soon.

SAFARI!!!! (also we're all back alive and well!)

We made it back safe and sound from Safari! I'll update with a real post after I have a minute to do so- just FYI, you WILL be seeing a LOT of photos of animals from Africa! It was so fun, and none of us were eaten!

Victoria Falls!

After a slightly delayed start to our morning (flat tire for the bus before it came to pick us up, so we waited in comfort instead of on the side of the road!), we waved a last goodbye to our friends in Macha, leaving behind much of our clothing, and taking with us a LOT of freshly roasted peanuts. Over the time we spent at Macha I asked the students to choose and share a bible verse that they would plan to think about and try to memorize during our time there. As we were pulling out of Macha, the last few students shared their verses. It has been really fun for me to hear what different students have chosen to focus on. Some of the verses focused on offering a ‘cup of cold water in God’s name,’ the Beatitudes, God’s protection, trying new things, caring for the least of these, loving our neighbors, and being One in Christ. I hope that the students continue to think on these things, and that in the future when they hear their verse they will remember their time here in Zambia.

Dan and Sarah in front of the falls- Dan's clearly excited!

We made it to Livingstone for a late lunch (most of the students found cheese or cheeseburgers and/or fries and ice cream. Then we drove out to Victoria Falls, did you know that Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Wonders of the World? It is! There is something like 1 mile of serious waterfalls pounding down into the basin below. Stunning, AND like the genius that I am, today is the one day I forgot my camera in my other bag! It is also quite wet, as the water crashes against the rocks at the bottom of the gorge, water spray come shooting back up (and then down again) making for a very interesting photo op. I think you might be able to see it better from the air where the water droplets aren’t splashing in your face, but then you can’t hear the crashing of the falls.

The group in front of the falls.

Mitchell in the Boiling Pot

Paula, Randy, Linda (joined the trip on Friday) and I crossing the bridge.

The students enjoyed watching the bungee jumpers off the bridge and face first into the spray- terrifying, and also quite the rush – AND disallowed by Messiah, so parents, don’t worry, you kids are all still alive. After spending a good amount of time at the falls, we walked just a bit upstream to the curio shopping area where people from one of the local villages sell crafts etc. Unlike most of our shopping in Macha, bartering is encouraged at these shops (and is welcomed by the shop keepers – everyone says “here’s my price, but I can give a good discount to you, my dear friend. What do you want to pay for this beautiful, handcrafted (by my grandpa), one of a kind (but you can find 10 like it next door), authentic (this is true), African craft?” (ok, so maybe not EXACTLY those words, but close). As you know bartering is NOT a skill we develop in the US, so the students enjoyed the back and forth of the purchasing process at the market.

Linda (Larry's wife) bartering at the curio market

 We ended the night with Pizza, yes, Pizza with a capital P and CHEESE! (freshly baked in a stone oven – it was REALLY good!). I am sure we will all have crazy dreams tonight since we leave early in the morning for Safari, and just had cheese for the first time in two weeks (well, there was that one day with Mac and Cheese, but other than that…). So- early tomorrow we leave for Safari and don’t return until evening the following day- so don’t expect anything new here then.

The last day in Macha

Today involved a last test (for some the last test of their senior year!), the last time in the hospital, one last trip to the fires with balloons, the last time at the market, a last climb of the water tower, a visit to friends to say good bye, the gift of a chicken (I’m not kidding!), and one last blog post from Macha: the last day in our new home. -And then the packing. I’ve already found friends with emptier suitcases to take ½ of my purchases back for me. Then tomorrow will be full of travel and waterfalls, the next day full of wild animals, and two days later… lots of long hours on the plane…

Larry was gifted with a chicken (live of course) from Gideon... we did not eat her for dinner, she went home with Marjorie.

I said good bye to our host Conceptor, her son Twizzy (pictured here) and her brother Confidence (in the back).

 On the final exam today there was a question about what the students found to be the most impactful from their time here, and how it will affect their lives. For a lot of the students, our privilege in the US, to be educated, to have easy access to health care, to have running water, etc. none of those things are taken for granted here. Students were also impacted by the people they met- children at the hospital, people at the market or homestays. The freely given hospitality of a smile, a chair, a cup of cold water – the Zambian people have impressed us. Many of the students also talked about how they will reconsider the path ahead of them after this trip. They have been motivated not only to have more of an interest in public heath, but also in to serve people with the greatest need. We can’t see now what impact this trip will have on students, but I believe it has planted a seed (or two) in each of them that will bear fruits in many different ways in the years to come.

Emily, Stephne, Sarah, Caitlin, Jess and Mike ready for the exam! (and they all passed!)

Preston, Jackie, Caleb, KK, and Brandi ready to be done with tests for the summer!

Mitch, Annie, Dan and Zak ready for the exam.

Amanda, Andrea, Phil, Steve, Evan and Keane

A note to families waiting for the students to come home about what to expect to hear from us in the next couple of days. Tomorrow (Tuesday) morning we leave Macha early for Livingstone and Victoria Falls. We won’t have any internet access during that time, and will have only limited access on Tuesday night in Livingstone. Wednesday morning VERY early we leave for Safari! (WHOO HOOO!) We will be staying overnight in the park so you won’t hear anything from us until Thursday night (and then again it will be quite limited). Friday morning we fly out of Livingstone for Johannesburg, then Johannesburg to London, then London to Washington Dulles. I don’t think we’ll have any internet during that time. Our plane arrives at Dulles around 1 pm, then we have to go through customs, get luggage, find the bus etc. I don’t expect we’ll be back to Messiah until around 5 pm (or so). So the moral of the story is: we’re on our way home, and during this last week you probably won’t hear much from us.  

The students will miss the kids, they have been SO MUCH FUN! Emily is passing out stickers to the girls.

Jakie was with those passing out balloons- today it's windy so it was mostly chase the balloon and hope you catch it before it pops!

Making Smiles

This week a couple of the students took the long balloons and pumps into the children's ward at the hospital to make some smiles. I thought you would all enjoy the pictures!

Evan made a (puppy?) animal for one of the kids in the ward. The person holding the baby is most likely his mother, not a nurse.

Ballooners Unite Or Balloons to the Rescue! (from the Left: Keane, Evan, Preston, Mike)

Annie also joined the ballooning fun.