Fun & Games - Day 4

It's currently 11:45pm local time (5:45 pm EST) on Saturday, July 12th. Our previous posts have all been posted the day after primarily because (for the first few days) by the time we got back to the guest house at the end of the day we were all so tired we pretty much went straight to bed. My body must finally be adjusting to the timezone because I'm back to my "night owl" routine and can't seem to go to sleep early. So I figured I would take this time to post our "day 4" blog and catch us up.

So here goes:

I was able to sleep in today (waking up at 7am instead of the ususal 6-6:30am) which was nice since I stayed up late last night but also very sad because we didn't have group devotionals this morning (which is the reason we were able to sleep in). As disappointed as I was, I also realized that I need to learn how to continue this spiritual discipline when I get back home and I'm on my own again!

At 8:00 am we went to Linda Petty's for breakfast. The meal was delicious - french toast with cinamon & lemon butter. Without a doubt the best french toast I've ever had! We stayed until just after 9am and then went back to the cottage to go through the "game-plan" for our time with the kids.

At 10am we went up to the gazebo to pick-up the children...



And for the next 2 hours we had a fabulous time playing all sorts of games:

• Melissa & Todd kicked things off with some outdoor games of "Horse Horse How Did You Get There" and "Red Light/Green Light"
• Then we brought the kids inside where I had planned a coloring activity
• After that the kids were brought together in a circle where Michael led them in one of their favorite activities - singing - but this time he had a surprise. He recorded them singing and replayed it back to them. You should have seen there faces!
• Next Susan & Sarah led the kids in several other games such as "Bear Hunt" and "The Wheels On The Bus"
• Then boys & girls separated - Todd & Michael took the boys to the sand-box to play with the trucks while Susan, Melissa, Sarah, & myself kept the girls and we played tea-party but first we painted their nails (which they absolutely got a kick out of)

At 12:15 pm (on the dot) we had lunch. We sat with David & Kennedy (the cooks) and enjoyed a meal of tomato soup (which was really just rice in some sort of a tomato sauce), peanut butter sandwhich, and popcorn. I know a strange combination!!

Some other strange food facts that I've encountered thus far include:

• Eggs are left on the counter (and do not have to be refrigerated)
• The milk doesn't have to go in the refrigerator either (until it's been opened)
• They don't eat jelly with peanut butter sandwiches (they've even tried it with the kids...but they just don't like it)

After lunch we helped paint two walls in the dining hall and for all our hard work we were pleasantly rewarded with a delicious "fritter" snack I can't remember the name for it but it was so yummy!

At 3:30pm we took our first excursion outside the walls of the Rafiki Village (since we arrived on Tuesday night). First we walked down to the church where the Mama's and children attend.

From left to Right: Todd, Sarah, Michael, Melissa, & Susan

There we met some local woman (one of them being "Mama Florence" from the Rafiki village) who greeted us warmly and even treated us to a few songs - one was in a local language so we didn't understand but it was beautiful and the other was in English.

Then we started walking the other way where David had said that we would find a local village about a mile and a half down the road. On the way we encountered several locals who were all friendly and the children would call out & wave as we passed. In particular there were two girls - who were probably sisters but they did not speak much English so I was only able to understand there ages (9 & 7) and that one of their names was Miriam - who actually followed us for quite some time. Walking along I saw the "real" conditions Zambians face and it just re-inforced how much of an impact a Rafiki village could have (not only for the orphans they care for) but the surrounding community when it's fully staffed and functional (e.g., the village here does not yet have a doctor or nurse ROS to host medical clinics, etc). So my prayer is that God would continue to provide resources (funds & people) for all Rafiki villages so they may grow & multiply.

We made it back to the guest house around 5;45 pm, just in time to relax for a bit before we headed over to join the other ROS at the Koch's house for dinner & a movie. It was a great evening of fellowship after such a long day.

God bless you all and thank you for your continued prayers. We definitely need them. I know we are each facing different struggles. I myself have felt that "evil dog" (as we have learned from our Romans Study) start "barking" several times since I have been year. Please pray that Satan would not steal our joy in serving and that we would continue to have open hearts & embrace each & every moment here in Zambia. It really has been such a blessing. The kids are absolutely adorable. You can't help but love them!

Stay tuned for more updates....

Susan, Melissa, Michael, & myself are headed into Lusaka tomorrow to attend church with the ROS and check-out the local markets while Todd is going to stay and attend the local church with the Mama's & children (who knows...he could even end up giving the sermon...or so we've been told).