THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES....ZAMBIA AND MALAWI

We arrived in Lusaka, Zambia about noon on Monday, February 13th.  We were so overwhelmed to see all the people who had come out to greet us.  People lined the streets for miles - shouting and waving flags.  We had no idea we would receive such a warm welcome.  

President and Sister Padovich picked us up - we waved at everyone - tears in our eyes - we felt so welcome.  Then alas, our perceptions were shattered when we found out they were waiting for the Zambia soccer team who had just won the National Soccer Championship - the first time since 1993 - when after winning the whole team and all the coaches were all killed in a plane accident on their way home from winning the big game.

I was so touched by the article on the front page of the newspaper the next morning:

The people of Zambia are such a spiritual people.  Almost everyone believes in God and is not afraid to say so.  When people read our badges they always smile and say, "Jesus Christ - I believe in Jesus Christ."

When we arrived at our hotel later that night - we learned the whole team was staying there as well.  They were all such clean, happy and well mannered.  This one even let Taylor wear his gold medal for the picture.

The next morning we started our marathon of zone meetings with all of the missionaries serving here.  what a great and humbling experience we had with these wonderful young men and women.  We had the privilege of meeting with all 66 throughout Zambia and Malawi.  Below is the baptismal font they use.

One of most interesting moments for me was when one of the missionaries "hypnotized" chicken!  I am not kidding.  After several missionaries chased and finally caught a chicken running in the church grounds - he held his feet and his neck - then drew  a straight line on the ground right in front of the chickens face.  He then let go and the chicken stayed in that exact position until he said "Abra-Kadabra" and stomped his foot.  Then and only then did the chicken jump up and run off!!  Try this next time you see a chicken - it was amazing!!

We also had the pleasure of surprising Elder Stephan Harper - 

one of TJ's good friends from home that is serving here!

The women here carry their babies on their backs - we have NEVER seen a baby cry while his mother's back - we dan't decide how it works but I promise you - 

it does!

One night when we in Lilongwi, Malawi our air conditioning in the hotel was not working.  This is really a big deal to us - it is so hot that really look forward to cooling off in our room.  Taylor called the front desk and asked if someone could come check it.  "Paul" was sent right up - as he showed us to turn it on (I know) we started up a conversation with him.  One thing led to another and Taylor ended up asking him ig he would like to go to church with us the next morning.  He got off work at 6 am and lived about 1 hour bus ride from the hotel with his wife and baby.  You know Taylor - he wouldn't take no for an answer and at 6:10 am our phone rang - it was Paul, saying that at about 4:30 that morning -  he  said he had been wrestling with himself all night - his father is a Pentecostal Minister - but he had the distinct feeling that Taylor was a "man of God" and that he should come to church with us.  He took the one hour bus ride home and back again, meeting us in front of the hotel.  Just so you can get the whole picture - there was a little 9 year old boy at the front gate of the hotel who had taken the bus for 2 hours that morning - with a duck under his arm.  He came to try and sell his duck to the hotel (it was a Chinese owned hotel - The Golden Peacock) then if he was successful he would have a little money to take home to his family so they could eat that night.   Paul's family could not afford transport - so only he came.  He stayed for all 3 hours of church - even though we had to leave to go to a baptism.  He loved it!!  He called twice saying how much he loved it and then we got the following email from him:

I am paul,

 And firstly i need to that the Almighty Lord for making it possible that i had to meet you. By the way how was the trip back home? For us down here, the power of the Holy spirit is still taking care of us including my entire family. Your missionery work has inspired me alot, and whereever you go, know that you sowed a seed in Malawi which is me and God can testfy this. I have made it a point that one day you shall witness some fruits from my own making as i am dedicating myself over this. The other thing i want to know is the number of branches which this blessed church of ours do have here in Malaw'i? How established are you in this country? Do you have any future plans to establish a branch in my area? I have asked the above questions because your mission work is so inspiring and very good and i have been telling other people about this ministry so that it should be  able to spread into other areas. I have noted that many people from other far areas are also intrested in this ministry and its my wish that you should make it possible so that they can be reiached. My regards, your son in the name of Jesus Christ-Amen Paul 

Is that not the best!  It was truly an amazing experience - and we thought we just needed the air conditioning fixed!

As we continued our journey we saw so many amazing things from the window of our car - like the little boy with his herd of goats - in the middle of nowhere.

...or the little grass huts tucked in the countryside.

 ..

How about this scaffolding...I don't think it would work in the United States!

Do you think they could fit anything else on this truck?

Can't tell what this is??  It is the police pulling us over in Malawi

(just because we are white) for the 12th time in one day!!!

You can purchase the unexpected....

or catch a ride into town...

On Fridays the women can bring their sick babies to the clinic.  Here they are sitting under a tree waiting to see the doctor.

Notice the top of this hut - the husband died, so the family must leave their home and let their home fall to the ground on its own.  Look below at the top of this hut - this means the husband is alive and well living with his family in the hut.  If the wife dies, they do not abandon the hut - they just move the door so her spirit cannot find her way back into the house.

This is a classroom for 138 students - and one teacher!  They have nothing in the classroom at all - very few desks or benches.  The children each take a brick and using a stone or a stick they write on the brick.

All good things must come to an end - we had a wonderful time, laughed so we wouldn't cry and with a special place in our hearts for these wonderful people that we will not soon forget.  We did have the opportunity to stop in Livingstone to see if Victoria Falls had any water yet....they did...and it was truly breathtaking!

As we walked back to our hotel from dinner one night - we were startled by a huge giraffe standing about 10 feet from us!  I quickly got a picture before we both went our very separate ways!