Tuesday, 10 May 2016
Zambian Ways!
May 9, 2016
We've had a great few days. Yesterday was Sunday and we got to experience church in the village. We attended Living Hope Church which was a very small but vibrant collection of individuals in a small concrete hut on a back dirt road in the bush. The church service was a little over two hours long and you stood for the majority of the service. When you did get the chance to sit it was on a small wooden rickety bench. The singing was amazing and the people at church were excited to be there. Approx. 35-40 people attended and the total in the collection plate was 23 kwachas (equivalent to $2.30).
After church Wayne Costley, the Head Master of The Esther School took us on a back road (very bumpy) tour of some of the homes the children at the school live in. The roads are so bad that they almost shouldn't be considered roads. The sanitation conditions of the homes we saw were hard to see. Families of 6 (sometimes more) children are living in straw huts with virtually nothing. Families are struggling to feed their children and many have suffered the loss of a child to malaria(from unclean water).
Most of the children that attend the school are walking between 2-8 km one way to attend the school each day. We're having a difficult time with knowing that these children walk themselves to school and home each day. One family has a child in JK and Grade one and they walk by themselves to and from school each day - 8km/one way! At home I find it difficult to get our kids on the bus each day at 7:45 am. Most of the kids that attend the school are at school between 7-7:30 a.m. and they have already walked many miles before they arrived. What's even more stunning is that they all arrive happy!!!
Today was the first day of school and during breakfast the children were already peeking through our windows to see the new 'white people'. Joe is busy laying tile in a new building that is being completed to house work teams that come. I helped in some classrooms and our children got to attend some classes. We got to eat with the children at lunch time and try sheema. Sheema is a filler food, it looks like potatoes but tastes rather bland and tasteless. It's milled corn and you roll it in your hands (which are always dirty) and eat it without a fork. It may take us a bit to get use to it. Our Sam thought it was great and he can't wait to have more tomorrow. The teachers work hard. They don't have a photocopier so every paper they want to give the kids they have to write out. Today I got to help write out 25 science tests that were each 2 pages long. That's 50 pages of writing just to administer one science quiz. This evening we had dinner with the teachers and got to connect with them a bit more.
Looking forward to tomorrow!
We've had a great few days. Yesterday was Sunday and we got to experience church in the village. We attended Living Hope Church which was a very small but vibrant collection of individuals in a small concrete hut on a back dirt road in the bush. The church service was a little over two hours long and you stood for the majority of the service. When you did get the chance to sit it was on a small wooden rickety bench. The singing was amazing and the people at church were excited to be there. Approx. 35-40 people attended and the total in the collection plate was 23 kwachas (equivalent to $2.30).
After church Wayne Costley, the Head Master of The Esther School took us on a back road (very bumpy) tour of some of the homes the children at the school live in. The roads are so bad that they almost shouldn't be considered roads. The sanitation conditions of the homes we saw were hard to see. Families of 6 (sometimes more) children are living in straw huts with virtually nothing. Families are struggling to feed their children and many have suffered the loss of a child to malaria(from unclean water).
Most of the children that attend the school are walking between 2-8 km one way to attend the school each day. We're having a difficult time with knowing that these children walk themselves to school and home each day. One family has a child in JK and Grade one and they walk by themselves to and from school each day - 8km/one way! At home I find it difficult to get our kids on the bus each day at 7:45 am. Most of the kids that attend the school are at school between 7-7:30 a.m. and they have already walked many miles before they arrived. What's even more stunning is that they all arrive happy!!!
Today was the first day of school and during breakfast the children were already peeking through our windows to see the new 'white people'. Joe is busy laying tile in a new building that is being completed to house work teams that come. I helped in some classrooms and our children got to attend some classes. We got to eat with the children at lunch time and try sheema. Sheema is a filler food, it looks like potatoes but tastes rather bland and tasteless. It's milled corn and you roll it in your hands (which are always dirty) and eat it without a fork. It may take us a bit to get use to it. Our Sam thought it was great and he can't wait to have more tomorrow. The teachers work hard. They don't have a photocopier so every paper they want to give the kids they have to write out. Today I got to help write out 25 science tests that were each 2 pages long. That's 50 pages of writing just to administer one science quiz. This evening we had dinner with the teachers and got to connect with them a bit more.
Looking forward to tomorrow!
Saturday, 7 May 2016
Welcome to Zambia
Saturday May 7, 2016
We've arrived in Zambia yesterday afternoon. Airport security and the process to get into Zambia turned out to be very simple. The security guards didn't bother
checking our bags because we had too many and the process seemed overwhelming to them so they just let us through.
Once we arrived at the school we were greeted by a multitude of children that were as excited as we were to arrive. The children all wanted to know our names, hold our hands and hug us. They were excited to give us a tour of their classrooms and where they get to go to school. It couldn't have been a better welcoming committee.
Today, it's quiet at the school. We've walked to the local market (5-6 stores in huts), saw the school grounds and areas of future expansion at the school. Two families are currently living here and have been great at making us feel welcome. Last night they prepared an amazing welcoming dinner for us. Between the two families they have 6 children and the kids are all getting along really well.
After organizing ourselves a bit today we feel very settled in our one room living accommodations. We're excited to attend church tomorrow in the village and begin classes with the school on Monday. Joe will spend the majority of this week working on tiling floors and doing general maintenance tasks in one of the buildings that their building now.
Internet access is limited.
We've arrived in Zambia yesterday afternoon. Airport security and the process to get into Zambia turned out to be very simple. The security guards didn't bother
checking our bags because we had too many and the process seemed overwhelming to them so they just let us through.
Once we arrived at the school we were greeted by a multitude of children that were as excited as we were to arrive. The children all wanted to know our names, hold our hands and hug us. They were excited to give us a tour of their classrooms and where they get to go to school. It couldn't have been a better welcoming committee.
Today, it's quiet at the school. We've walked to the local market (5-6 stores in huts), saw the school grounds and areas of future expansion at the school. Two families are currently living here and have been great at making us feel welcome. Last night they prepared an amazing welcoming dinner for us. Between the two families they have 6 children and the kids are all getting along really well.
After organizing ourselves a bit today we feel very settled in our one room living accommodations. We're excited to attend church tomorrow in the village and begin classes with the school on Monday. Joe will spend the majority of this week working on tiling floors and doing general maintenance tasks in one of the buildings that their building now.
Internet access is limited.
Thursday, 5 May 2016
We're Off Again!
We've had a great time in Amsterdam. We've been busy sight seeing and trying to explore the country that my dad and Joe's parents immigrated from. We've come across many other groups that have also come to Amsterdam to get use to the time change and adapt before heading to Africa. It's neat to hear other travellers stories.
Yesterday we got to tour a bit of the country side and see some smaller villages. Definitely a different experience from the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam. Sometimes we felt like we were in an old game of Frogger when trying to cross a city street. We've learned a very important piece of information from here......when you here a bell, run!
Today, we're packing up and we're on our way again. Today we're just packing up our belongings, taking a walk in the local park, and saying good bye to Hoopje, our resident bunny before we go. We're all very excited to finally reach our destination, The Esther School.
Here we go!
Monday, 2 May 2016
Amsterdam's Unexpected Surprise
We had a great first day in Amsterdam. It was quite the adventure yesterday getting the four kids and fourteen suitcases to the house were staying at. The house were staying in left instructions for us on how to take care of their pets (didn't know we were doing that but the kids are loving it). Sam and Gabe are in love with the new temporary family pet, Hoppje the bunny!
Today we spent the day at Kukenhof. An absolutely huge tulip festival. The flowers were stunning and to see tulip fields was a great experience. We were introduced to rainbow tulips, playgrounds amongst tulips and small Dutch pancakes.
We're trying to figure out the cities Tram system, how to grocery shop in a Dutch supermarket and do laundry with an odd looking washing machine that only has Dutch instructions. Where are our parents when we need them!!!
We finished the day at a small restaurant. While eating dinner we overheard the table next to us tell their waitress that they were from Canada. After the waitress left we inquired where they were from. It ended up that they were from Port Hope and we're doing a three day layover(the same as us) before heading to South Africa. Once we explained to them what we were doing in Africa they took up a small collection for the Esther School in the restaurant. They were so interested in this organization that was encouraging girls from North America to help girls abroad.
Even though we saw such beautiful things such as tulip fields throughout the day I think our God Sighting was in that small restaurant on a little back street in Amsterdam!
*were having troubles loading pictures up but we're working on it. Sorry!
Today we spent the day at Kukenhof. An absolutely huge tulip festival. The flowers were stunning and to see tulip fields was a great experience. We were introduced to rainbow tulips, playgrounds amongst tulips and small Dutch pancakes.
We're trying to figure out the cities Tram system, how to grocery shop in a Dutch supermarket and do laundry with an odd looking washing machine that only has Dutch instructions. Where are our parents when we need them!!!
We finished the day at a small restaurant. While eating dinner we overheard the table next to us tell their waitress that they were from Canada. After the waitress left we inquired where they were from. It ended up that they were from Port Hope and we're doing a three day layover(the same as us) before heading to South Africa. Once we explained to them what we were doing in Africa they took up a small collection for the Esther School in the restaurant. They were so interested in this organization that was encouraging girls from North America to help girls abroad.
Even though we saw such beautiful things such as tulip fields throughout the day I think our God Sighting was in that small restaurant on a little back street in Amsterdam!
*were having troubles loading pictures up but we're working on it. Sorry!
Sunday, 1 May 2016
Let the Travels Begin!!!
Well, we're done the first flight. Sitting in the Paris airport and we just finished a breakfast of champions......croissants! We just had to do it. We hit a lot of traffic in Toronto but made our flight (barely). We're all looking really tired (it's 4 am our time) but were so excited :0)
Friday, 29 April 2016
Day Before Departure
It's April 29th and our home is buzzing with excitement. It's been an experience going through the process just to depart. We're thrilled that our campaign raised just under $22,000 for The Esther School in Zambia. We've met so many new people, the kids got to experience public speaking for a cause, we've got to visit new churches etc. It's been a very busy but positive experience. We've had many appointments for different needles ( that wasn't always fun), we've been making crafts and attended many craft shows to help pay for our travels and Joes done lots of side jobs. The kids have really embraced the whole experience and felt a part of this calling.
Now that we're just a day away there does seem to be some nervousness. Grace isn't feeling great and she had a good cry over leaving her EA, her friends and our dog this morning. Gabe seems a bit quiter than normal, Cecilia's asking lots of questions and Sam seems extra busy, he just wants to know if he can go outside and play. Joe and I are relatively calm and feel some what organized. Our living room is lined with 12 suitcases (one even has a water heater for the school in it) and we're trying to figure out how to fit them in our van with our four children.
Thank you again to everyone for your support. We feel overwhelmed with the positive words of encouragement we have received, the financial support The Esther School has received and the prayer support.
Now that we're just a day away there does seem to be some nervousness. Grace isn't feeling great and she had a good cry over leaving her EA, her friends and our dog this morning. Gabe seems a bit quiter than normal, Cecilia's asking lots of questions and Sam seems extra busy, he just wants to know if he can go outside and play. Joe and I are relatively calm and feel some what organized. Our living room is lined with 12 suitcases (one even has a water heater for the school in it) and we're trying to figure out how to fit them in our van with our four children.
Thank you again to everyone for your support. We feel overwhelmed with the positive words of encouragement we have received, the financial support The Esther School has received and the prayer support.
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