The Home Stretch

Greetings,

It is only eleven days until I make the long return journey home.  The previous six weeks have been a blessing from above and not just a life-changing or life-altering experience but a life-GIVING experience.  Experiencing a new culture has only been part of it.  Culture can only do so much.  It can only make so much of an impact.  People however can change everything.  Looking at the ways that they view life.  Their lens through which they look at the world.  My lens had been far to near-sighted and narrow.  Seeing the people here and the way they live has opened my eyes in a way that before I could not even understand let alone experience.  I expect nothing less from the rest of the time that I have here.

The welcome party that I mentioned in my last post was nothing like what I expected.  The number of people that we prepared for was around 100 and so we made almost that many bologna sandwiches, two huge buckets of popcorn,  bowls of groundnuts (peanuts) mixed with raisins, and even some of the real mazoe.  Based on the number that told us they would be going, this seemed like we might not even have enough to feed everyone.  In the end they were begging me to eat more sandwiches.  Only 30-40 students were there and many of them were either staff or returning members of the Navs.  I was originally disappointed in the lack of numbers but as the party went on my perspective changed.  The great thing about having not as many students (besides more food for me) was we were able to be very personal with the students that were able to attend.  If 100 had showed up there would have been people that would have been missed in the shuffle.  This way each returning student and staff member was able to spend the meal discussing things with one student.  The personal touch was a great addition to the atmosphere and the fellowship that we were able to attain.

Another highlight of the party was the gospel presentation by Dan.  The gospel is called the good news for a reason but sometimes the true depth of it is lost on me.  It is a personal and life-giving gift from God that we can never get enough of.  Grace and who it comes from is the reason that we are here and it is the reason that we have hope.  Dan was able to get that message across in the short span of ten minutes to these incoming students in a personal way that moved me and those around me.  Talking with a student afterwards, he told me that he had heard the same thing before, even some of the same passages but there was something about that message that left him asking questions about his own faith.  Whether or not he really understood the concept of grace.  When Dan shared, it was not him up preaching from the front.  He was not talking at people.  He spoke directly to the hearts of those in attendance from his heart.  Everyone has different talents but Dan has a great ability to share the gospel.


This last week, our team as well as Gershom, Ngambo, and Kayi went to go see the new Spiderman in theaters.  The area of town is literally known as Arcades and the theater was top notch.  The tickets were similar prices to the US but the popcorn was around three dollars for what would cost seven.  It was really an experience to go to a theater in Africa.  My preconceived notions about the whole of Africa were blown out of the water long ago on the trip but this sealed the deal.  In another area of town just a little farther away known as Manda Hill even has a 3D theater.  Never would have guessed that before I got here.

This Sunday was another great experience in Zambia.  Since Nathan was leaving us that night, we needed to spend the day going around and taking pictures of the different areas that we spent time.  Manda Hill was a major photo stop and then we headed over to Arcades for the Sunday market.  The crafts that are put on display every Sunday are really a testament to the people here.  Everything that you can imagine or desire that would remind you of your stay in Africa (besides an actual animal)  is available from not just one but multiple vendors.  Clothes, jewelry, paintings, and carvings line both sides of the street and the atmosphere is amazing.  Each and every vendor will participate in a bartering battle (pardon the alliteration) in which the price starts at a ridiculously high price and slowly can be worked down.  Some vendors are more honest than others but in general they all try to do anything they can to get the best sale they can.  I had a vendor tell me the price for an item was 450,000 kwacha or $90 and within thirty seconds it was down to 200,000.  I ended up getting that exact same item from another vendor for 100,000 ($20).  In the end I felt like I won but Nathan made a great point.  That item might have very well been worth 60,000 and we would have no idea.  I did love the whole experience and I was thrilled when Gershom said he heard two store owners say that I bartered like a true African.  At least I am African in one regard!

Our team here has been trying to learn how to cook the dishes here especially nshima.  That is definitely the most physically demanding food that I have ever made.  The stirring that is required leaves us holding our forearms afterwards and even then we have help from our housemates.  The mixture is so thick and trying to use a wooden spoon to stir it up is tough and even the motion takes a skill that I have no hopes of mastering.  Gershom says that he is only that good because he has been making it for close to fifteen years.  I unfortunately have only eleven more days.  The rest of the food is very simple to make and I have been making the gravy for every meal for some time.  I started making it with little to no idea what I was doing but now I understand the actual process and what to look for.  My last batch was good and I am even trying different things with it in order to find the kind that I like best.  To me, the gravy here is one food that I do not plan on giving up when I head back to the states.  It is even delicious when added onto spaghetti or other pasta or even rice.  In short, it makes everything else taste good.

I really look forward to the opportunity that I have to follow up with many of the students that I was able to meet through either the orientation or the welcome party.  Some guys from the basketball team have also showed an interest and already a base knowledge from which to build.  The prospect of Bryce and Jon coming back on the 23rd is great and having several days with them here before we leave will be the best possible way to end a great trip.

Keep us all in your prayers as we continue to follow up with students and travel.

Over and out,

Aaron