Day 234 - 236 The Musonda Family

On Tuesday I headed back to Lusaka so spend a couple days with Navice’s daughter Mirriam, her husband Jonathon, and their two children Emmanuela and Theo. Navice's youngest daughter Merit is also living with the Musonda's to attend school in Lusaka. Mirriam is a social worker for the government and Jonathon is a Pastor at a Baptist Church in Lusaka and an accountant. His father was the Bishop of the Baptist Church in Zambia for many years, so the two families have known each other for a long time. They have been instrumental in starting the Hope Children's Center by giving a lot of their time to serve on committees and to help Navice. The Musonda's are a very busy family that was gracious enough to spend some time with me as I was the first white person to stay in their home. It was wondeful to get to know them better and again just experience life with a family in Africa! Jonathon and I were also able to spend time creating the vision for the accounting system they want to implement at the center, which I will be working on in the next two weeks.

Day 230 - 233 Livingstone and Victoria Falls

On Friday I headed to Lusaka with the group from Cornerstone. They were heading back to the states and I made my way to Livingstone (on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe) to visit the famous Victoria Falls. Livingstone was named after David Livingstone, a British missionary who in the 1800’s was the first white person to discover Victoria Falls. He named it after Queen Victoria of England.

On Sunday I went to visit the falls which was absolutely spectacular. The falls stretch across both Zambia and Zimbabwe, so you can never see the whole thing unless you pay to go on a helicopter ride. The falls are still very powerful after the rainy season, so when I walked across the bridge near the falls I rented a raincoat, because otherwise I would have been soaked! There are also many animals around this area (lots of safaris). It was fun to drive along and see elephants and impalas right next the road leading to falls.

There are many thrill seeking adventures around the gorge area of the falls. I had seen some of the events on the Amazing Race, so on Monday I went repelling, on a zip line and jumped 160 feet on a gorge swing. It was a huge adrenaline rush and I loved every minute of it!!

Day 229 – Inauguration of HCC

Today was the official inauguration of HCC, which included guest speakers, (including the District Commissioner who is like a Governor of this area, in Zambian terms), the children singing, ribbon and cake cutting ceremonies, and a public tour of all the buildings. Most of the officials from the Serenje district attended the event, so I guess it was a huge success! People once again were so impressed by the building and the positive effect that the center has had on the community. I’m glad I was around for this special event! The children were also excited to be a part of the event and were sporting their new sweaters and sweatpants that the group from America brought. There were also blue fleeces for the pastors, because it is winter here.

Day 227 - 228

There are currently eight men from Cornerstone at Hope Children's Center who have been here since the beginning of the month doing evangelism work with the local pastors out in the bush. They have also put up football posts at three of the local schools and have helped finish some of the projects around the Center. This week the center is hosting another pastor training so there are many people around, which is always fun. My plan for the next couple weeks will be to help finish up some painting, set up an accounting system and train Navice and the HCC manager on accounting skills, as well as spend time with the children.

(I had to include this picture of a little neighbor boy who was sporting an F.F.C.C. shirt which is the old logo for the local community college at home. Amazing where clothing items go when you hand them down!)

Day 226 - Coffee Farm

This morning I got out to the Children's Center to see all the progress that has taken place over the past seven weeks and it really looks good! Most of the small projects that needed to be completed when we left in May are now finished, but they are still working on a few things.
I spent the rest of the day at a coffee farm owned by Steve (former Peace Corps volunteer) who is the only permanent American in Serenje. He owns a guesthouse and also owns this coffee plantation with 4 other former Peace Corp volunteers. They had all been in Zambia about 10 years ago and are now back to start a scholarship program for some local students.

It is harvest season for coffee, so Steve wanted to show us the farm and the harvesting process. It is such a tedious job to be hand picking all the beans and separating the beans, so there were lots of people around. Farming in Africa always intrigues me because of the innovative processes and tools that are used! The farm itself was on the bank of a river, just down from a waterfall, so we enjoyed walking around the premises as well.

Day 223 - 225 - Leaving Tanzania, Back to Zambia

I am leaving Tanzania after seven wonderful weeks of volunteering and sightseeing. I can't say enough about everything I have experienced here and the incredible people that I have met along the way. I know that these are lasting relationships that I will cherish forever. I am so thankful that God led me to this country. However, I am looking forward to getting back to Serenje to see the progress that has been made on the orphanage and see everyone, especially the children!

I arrived safely to Serenje on Sunday afternoon, after a 19 hour bus ride to Mbeya, Tanzania, on Friday and an overnight train ride Saturday. I picked up this bunch of bananas for the orphans off of a Mama at one of the train stops for $2...

Day 222 - Update on Fundraising

Thanks again to everyone back in the states - I have raised over $2,000 in the last week to support the projects in the school and was able to extend the help to the Arusha community. The tables and benches look awesome and the school is so thrilled to start using them! I was also able to give the Plaster House (the recovery home for children who had orthopedic surgery I mentioned in a previous blog) money to buy a couple 100 kg bags of food!

I am going to take the remaining balance to the Hope Children's Center in Serenje to help put towards building a chicken coop to help them become a self sustaining farm, so if anyone still wants to give a donation I will be working on that project when I get back to Zambia! Thanks for all the support!!