Project Day

Today was a project day. Matt, Doug, Dar, Mindy and Brent, supervised by Dad, all worked on scraping and painting an overhang at Choma Primary School. They worked hard, morning and afternoon, scraping, priming, and finishing with 2 coats of paint, and it sure looks great. The school was so pleased with the finished project, and all the workers, although a bit tired, enjoyed the full satisfaction of a job well worth the work! The primary school has many shifts of students, numerous times throughout the day. Children in grades 1-4, for instance will go to school for 3 hours; 3 classes lasting 30 minutes each, take a small break, then return for 3 more classes of 30 minutes each. In grade 5 they begin 45 minute classes and have longer school days. Some of the shifts begin at 6:30, even for the first graders, and many of these children walk 30 minutes to an hour to get to school. By the way, in case you were wondering what Mother and I did, we did some washing, baking and chatting!

Tonight we had an enjoyable evening in the home of the Headmaster of the School, who also happens to be very close friends with my parents. Guyden and Maudy Mikani have 8 children; 6 of them were there tonight as Maudy served us a delicious meal and extended sweet hospitality to us. We like totake a few gifts to give to the people, so tonight Dar gave a little canvas bag to Maudy, and a scribble tablet with crayons to the children. Mother gave some gifts as well, and I gave some clothes, and a little book to Ira, their 7 year old son (thanks, Tina!) and a stuffed bear to Choolwe, their 5 year old daughter (thanks, Harpers!). I so enjoyed sitting with Choolwe on my lap, and Ira right beside me as we read the book together... I read it and they repeated after me. They are learning English, so it's fun to hear them read. Again, what a lovely evening experiencing Zambian hospitality. This family has gone through many difficulties recently. Within a 6 month period, Guyden's Father and Mother passed away, his young sister from Nigeria died suddenly, and their oldest son Ken, had disappeared. They testify of God's goodness in helping them through, but please say a prayer on their behalf, as they continue to walk through some of the effects of these losses.

Friday will be spent in Sikalonga, and Matt has been invited back for a few days, so since we are returning to Sikalonga on Sunday morning for Doug to speak at the Secondary School there, Matt will stay and we will pick him up on Sunday. One of these days I hope to get him to post a little about his experiences!

Thanks for the comments, but please don't feel you have to! It's enjoyable to hear from home when we are so far away! I am grateful that Sarah has taken time to set up this blog for me; it will be a good addition to my hand written journals when I return! And I am glad that it gives all of you readers a taste of our "Life in Nahumba." And for us here, well.....it has given the Miller family here in Zambia some good laughs as we try to explain what a blog is to Mother!!

Beth