PAIN PROGRESS

Aug 2, 2008

We’ve arrived in Zambia…. Finally, after 8-9 months of planning and anticipation, and after a 30+ hour sojourn we are here. We left July 31 from home at 2:30 am (note to self – when it says on your ticket that it is recommended to get to the airport 3 hours before the flight time don’t believe it – 1.5 hours would have been more than adequate). After an emotional fairwell with Marguerite and Mckinley we were off. Vancouver to Chicago to Washington DC (Cameron puked on these 2 flights but other than that it was good) to Dakar, Senegal to Johannesburg to Lusaka. Arrived in Lusaka at 2100 hours Aug 1 to find that (predictably) our luggage had not kept up with us. Fortunately we had planned by packing a toothbrush and extra pair of clothes (will remember a change of underwear next time) in our carry-on.

The South Africa Air flights from Washington onwards were great – multiple meals and individual entertainment (movies, TV shows, games) at your seat. When an announcement was being made by the pilot or flight attendants, the screen in front would freeze and along the bottom was printed “PA IN PROGRESS”. Being, by that point in time somewhat jet lagged and sore and cranky, I thought it said “Pain progress”, which I thought suitable given how I was feeling about our marathon journey. Having said that, it is now a distant memory, we had a great sleep last night, and have had a quiet day on the SIM Zambia 40 acre (walled and barbed wired) compound. Kathy Reimer (Ken and Kathy are missionaries here in Lusaka doing administrative work for SIM) had bought us groceries for our guesthouse room so we are all set.

As we wandered around I got to try out my new telephoto lens. There are a lot of opportunities for great photos here. I think the Zambians that we encountered thought us somewhat odd – a couple of whities walking around in shorts (most are more formal being a Sunday - suit and tie not unusual) with camera gear around our necks (talk about not blending in!).

We hope to get our bags tonight if they arrive, will do some grocery shopping tomorrow and then head off on Tuesday morning for Mukinge.

The vine reading today was in Matthew 25 – (the parable of the giving of the talents) and we were again reminded that God gives us an awesome responsibility to use the gifts he has given to further his kingdom. We were challenged to not think of “the mission” beginning on Wednesday when we arrive in Mukinge or ending when we leave Zambia but rather the mission being an ongoing responsibility for each of us abroad or at home. It is a challenge to think in terms of “what does God have in mind for me right now in this situation, with this person before me, with the resources he has given me?” (Eph 2:10).