A Trip to Macha

Going to Macha was one of the trips we were hoping to take while Ken is here. We were trying to figure out the best time, and we were considering today (Tuesday). Well, Monday morning, Dad woke up with a great idea that we took him up on. Esther Spurrier was here in Choma and was heading back to Macha Monday morning. To save Dad a trip on that bumpy road to Macha, he suggested that Matt, Ken and I go back with her, visit Macha during the day, stay overnight at Spurriers and try to find a way back home on Tuesday. So that is what we did! We quickly packed up and left after our yummy baked oatmeal breakfast. Esther had a flat that morning before we left, so she had to stop in Choma to get it fixed, which took 2 hours, so we left around 10:00 for the 2 hour trip. We gave Esther her P.H.D. award - for being a GREAT Pot Hole Dodger! We have great respect for her, knowing how many times she has to make that long and windy and bumpy drive, often by herself! Upon arriving, we were greeted with a note from Elaine Thuma, inviting us all to come to their home for lunch! Elaine is the wife of Dr. Phil Thuma, who heads MIAM, Malaria Institute at Macha. How kind of her to have us for a delicious lunch of broccoli quiche, pumpkin bread and fruit salad with papaya, bananas, strawberries and granadilla. Dr. John Spurrier then gave us a tour of the hospital and surrounding areas. He is currently treating many patients with HIV/AIDS, and is seeing 85% recovery from those who take the prescirbed medicine on a regular basis. The challenge is getting the people to take it regularly.

I was surprised to see the good progress made on some of the new buildings since I was there 2 months ago. Esther showed us the rest of the area, including the Macha BIC Church and a dam that was built in the 1960's by Bread for Life, as part of a program to provide year-round water. She also showed us an airstrip that was recently put in, to fly doctors in to Macha from Johns Hopkins Hospital (via Lusaka or Livingstone). We so appreciated the Spurrier's gracious hospitality, considering that they were out of electricity for the 2 days prior to our arrival, and often do not have hot water. The sacrifices they make are great, and their ministry is so appreciated by the folks in Macha who love them dearly. It is obvious that their service to the Lord in Macha is making a difference. On a side note, being with them in their home was one of those "blasts from the past" for Ken and me...Esther's parents, Eber and Ruth Dourte, did our pre-marital counseling 30 years ago!

If you have been reading the blog, you will remember my new friend Heather, a nutritionist from the states. She is now serving at Macha, so she joined us for supper, which was wonderful! Every time Heather and I see each other, it's like old friends who haven't seen each other for a long time....big hugs and cheerful greetings! Now Ken has met her, and understands why I love her so much! To make a long story short, Heather needed to come to Choma to go to immigration, so we came back with her. When I get home, ask me about an interesting story that happened with Heather and me today :) On the way home, we enjoyed seeing some baboons cross the street, and we stopped at one point to take a picture of a "Jacaranda", a beautiful purple tree, that is beginning to adorn some of the fields.

Heather joined us for lunch, and then later this afternoon, after some good fellowship, a nice "Nahumba Walk" and a game of Rummikube, Heather and I said our tearful good-byes, but we really hope to connect in the states. We will certainly keep in touch via email! I thank the Lord for bringing our paths together and for bringing such a sweet friend into my life, while here in Zambia.

The last few nights Ken and I have enjoyed walking outside to enjoy the moonless sky that is studded with stars - beautiful!

We were also delighted to receive some books today that Ken had sent a month ago, to hand out to pastors and other Christians here. I was so glad they arrived before we left, because I was eager to hand them out! It would have been wonderful if they had arrived before General Conference, but we will do our best to have most of them distributed before we leave. People here are so appreciative when given books, and it reminds me of how rich we are to have so many great books at our fingertips. It's times like this that I realize how often I take things for granted. They have so little here. I would just love to pack boxes and boxes of worship casette tapes and Christian books that I have at home, not being used anymore. They would love them here. Again I find myself thinking....so many questions with too few answers.