Muli Bwanji (How are you?)

In the U.S. whey you pass by someone and ask this question, you typically get a canned response “Fine, and you?” Well in Zambia, you get the same response. Bwino Bwangi. If you asked us this after our first 7 days in country, you would probably get a whole different response. One along the lines of “We are struggling, but God is good.”

We’ve been here for 7 days now & I can’t say that it has been what we expected. The flight from the States was somewhat better than expected. We were expecting Maddie to have the whole airplane awaiting our execution by firing squad with anticipation, but, instead, she did pretty well. There was only one 2-hour stretch of time where she was tired and crying, but other than that things went pretty well.

When we arrived in Lusaka, our team was there waiting to pick us up from the airport. It was good to finally meet some of the people whom we had only communicated with via skype and e-mail. After getting all of our bags together, we then headed to one of our teammates homes for breakfast. Kerri and I were both tired, but it was good getting to unwind from the trip by spending time with the team. Shortly after breakfast is when the fun began.

This is when we went to the Farm to unpack for our 10-day stay. Shortly after we arrived, the power went out. It turns out that the entire country of Zambia is operating on 50% power. So, that means we are getting about 4-8 hours of electricity per day (which occurs mostly in the middle of the night)—not very helpful when you need to do things like cook dinner, or bath kids without lights. We’ve begun to learn how to cook on a braiser (niyanja for charcoal grill). If someone would have told me to plan on an extended camping trip, I would have been more prepared, but I think my initial expectations were a bit high. Sound fun? Want to come for a visit?

After getting settled in, we’ve had to continue to learn to be flexible. The other day, we were riding with one of our team members when her car broke down in downtown Lusaka. In the U.S. this probably wouldn’t be a big deal, but in Zambia, it’s a little tricky. We basically had to enlist the help of our whole team (the Singleton’s to transport Kerri and the kids), Luke and Glenn to assist in towing the car to a local mechanic, and me to sit there and keep Meagan company as the whole thing unfolded. Everything eventually worked itself out, and we got the car to the shop, but not without costs. It turns out that in order to get a new radiator, it has to be shipped in from South Africa. The part alone costs nearly $1200 and will take a few weeks to arrive—not to mention what the labor will cost. So, please pray for Meagan. Pray that the mechanic will be honest in his dealings with her and that the work will be done properly and at a decent price.

Another issue we have faced has to do with our youngest daughter Maddie’s health. Since we have arrived, Maddie has been running a fever. When we left from the States, she had an ear infection. By the time we first had her checked by a physician here, the infection had moved to the other ear and she was showing signs of a respiratory infection. After a few days of monitoring her, the fever remained and her breathing kept getting worse. Finally, last night, we had to act. We chose to admit her to a local hospital and ended up staying overnight. Kerri slept in the bed with her while I slept in some rather uncomfortable non-cushioned Zambian made chairs. In the morning we finally got a diagnosis. It turns out that she has viral pneumonia and will probably have to let it run its course (approx 2-weeks). It also looks like she is cutting her first tooth, which doesn’t help. That coupled with Caleb having bouts with upset stomachs and throwing up has made this week rather challenging.

Even though at times this transition has been a struggle, we have also learned a lot during the process. We have learned the importance of the body of Christ at work. Our team here really has helped us during this transition. When we’ve needed to be somewhere, they have gone out of the way to make sure we get there. They have helped us with the practical things (i.e. shopping, housing, etc…) as well as the unexpected (doctor’s visit in the middle of the night). They have gone out of their way to make us feel like a part of the team, which has been a real blessing.

You have also blessed us. We have felt the prayers of the Saints surround us as we have gone through some of these early battles. We have been encouraged by your emails and phone calls. Thank you for holding us up before the Lord in prayer.

Though our expectations might have been a bit too high when we arrived, we are learning to adjust to life in Zambia. Would you please continue to pray for us. Pray for our children’s health. Pray for our upcoming move into our permanent residence. Pray that we will be a good fit with the team God has assembled here. Pray for our ability to learn the culture. Pray for our ability to effectively minister the gospel of Christ to a people without hope. Thank you for continually standing behind us as we pursue God’s calling in Zambia. We love you and appreciate your sacrifice.