It’s been quite a while since my last blog post and it’s high time for an update!
So last week the boys took me fishing on Mbala Lake. Joel and Grant used to go almost weekly and caught decent sized fish every time. Some Mbala locals actually make their living fishing but unfortunately they use nets and the lake has now been over-fished. Catching a decent edible sized fish is rare. We trawled in their little boat, dragging a couple of rods behind us at low speed. I was the only one to make a catch. I was STOKED because It was my first chance to catch, gut and cook my own fish! Later that evening another missionary family the Swartz’s came over for their speciality rib braai so I cooked my fish in foil over the coals with garlic and onions sliced inside – SO DELICIOUS!!
A real farm kitchen. There’s literally always something cooking on the stove or in the oven – scones for breakfast, bread, home made dog food (rice and stinky little fish called capenta), something for the days main meal at lunch (fish curry, pressure cooked chicken, macaroni cheese…), jars being boiled for jam or pickled beetroot, spiced chai tea… Everything is home-grown and reared with no pesticides or hormones.
It rained for the first time in my two months here, a wild wind and rain storm lasting about 10 minutes. The rainy season isn’t until late Oct-Nov and this was just a short shower before the seriously hot weeks to come just before the rains. The children and I all rushed outside to experience it! Little Luke was so thrilled be used a cub to catch and poor rain water onto himself!
It was Lynne’s idea for children to make and paint a wooded cross for the road leading to the farm. I helped put up it up just off the dust track. It was a fun project and will hopefully be a great symbol of Christ for visitors.
Hope and I also painted Grand and Lynne’s bathroom with the same earthy red paint as the guest bathroom.
I went to my last church service yesterday morning, another two and a half hour service (even though we arrived late and left early). Even though It was difficult to stay awake and keep following what the pastor said, it was my favourite message of all the services I attended.
He spoke on Joshua 14:1-15, how Caleb inherited the land of Hebron.Caleb faithfully waited a total of forty-five years until he could inherit the land he was promised. Pastor Amos pointed out God never lies or goes back on His oath; when He makes a promise He keeps it.
God is not a man, that He should lie. Number 23:19
Caleb waited faithfully and with peace in his heart, totally relying on the promise from the Lord. Because he trusted God with faith, God could accomplish His promise perfectly in Caleb's life. Pastor Amos encouraged us to think about what promises we’ve been given by God and to hold on to them!
On Thursday this week Grant and I will catch a bus to Lusaka and on to Livingstone where I’ll be able to visit Victoria Falls for a day. According to all reports a bus trip in Zambia, especially a long one, is quite an experience!
