Oh internet how I have missed you!

 Sorry it's been soooooo long.  We haven't had internet at home the past wee while (weeks now!) slack Zambian internet people!!  Makes loading another blog rather difficult!

Well I guess a lot has happened since I last wrote. 

Since I last wrote (the week pre holiday)

•  Eric had an infection which meant he was really sore so couldn’t walk anymore, we took him to the Dr and now he’s much better and walking again.
• Sandra, another physio has arrived, she is super skilled as she works with disabled children back in Canada, so there is a huge learning opportunity for me (and also the other Bethesda staff)
• I gave Jono a hair cut, it was an interesting experience, I don’t think it turned out too badly though!  Here Zambian’s just tend to shave the hair off, Jono didn’t want that, and hair dressers aren’t really experienced at cutting Umuzungu hair, so it left no other options!
•  I gave a talk to the Bethesda mothers on Epilepsy, I think they found it quite eye opening in some ways.  They tend to blame this kind of thing on witchcraft.
• We attended a discipleship class on spiritual warfare.  A challenging point for me was to be praying for different countries around the world.
• Jono continues to have his regular teaching spot on science.
• Bethesda school had a field trip to a local farm, plus to play in the backyard of some missionaries

Sunday happy about riding in the car

Bethesda class photo

Looking at the rabbits

Me and Samuel jumping on the tramp, I don't think they've been on one before!

Willie laughing while bouncing on the tramp, seemed to be having a fab time!

Sandra and Connie helping Yande ride a bike

Clement pushing Geofrey in the truck, I love how squeezed in Geofrey is!!

Most importantly Mum and Dad came to visit.

• Jono and I managed to navigate a bus from Kabwe to Lusaka, and then a taxi to the hotel on Saturday.  We surprised Mum and Dad by turning up at the airport that evening. 

Found this in the supermarket, yup that's right, crocodile bread!!!

• Sunday we took a bus from Lusaka to Livingstone, about 6 and a half hour bus trip.  Mum and Dad were surprised to see so much poverty so close to the road side.  I think it was kinda good for them to see more of Zambia. We had dinner in Livingstone at some place that took over an hour to get our food, and in the entire time we were there, we were the only ones that ate there.  However we didn't get food poisoning, so that’s great.  

We were greeted by this sign at Jollyboys camp

• Monday our tour started.  We were collected late, and they didn’t offer a stop on the Zambian side of the falls (strange since part of the tour was meant to be about Vic falls!).  Do not book through Pannells tours.  It is not worth the hassle (More to come on that later).  We were transferred to Ilala lodge in Victoria falls Zambia.  We had lunch, which is where Jono finally was brave and tried some crocodile!  (As did I since I stole some of his, it was quite nice, I’m not sure that I’ve had the chance before!)  We walked to the markets to check out some goods, Mum was surprised about how hassled you get. We also did a delightful sunset cruise on the Zambezi.  It included seeing some wildlife, some hippos, a crocodile (dinner for another night?), buffalo, guinea fowl, warthogs and some birds.

Breakfast with Mum and Dad before we set off

Glimpse of Vic falls from the bridge that connects Zambia and Zimbabwe

Dad and Jono were excited to see that super rugby was in Livingstone :)

Jono, Mum and Dad braving the croc, I had ostrich.

Jono with 'the other' parents outside Ilala lodge

Jono happy to be back (he and Mum/Dad Dixon stayed here 16 years ago!)

The African boys that greeted us as we were about to go on the sunset cruise

Jono and Mum in with the African boys

Jono and I on the cruise

Baby crocodile!!!

Hip hip hip hippopotomus!!

Sun + river = picture

Buffalo!

Mum looking good!

Ok so sun + river = multiple pictures at various stages :)

Mum and Dad obviously!

On a sunset cruise you're meant to take lots of sun pictures right???

No explanation needed aye?

Mum was denying being cold . . .

• Tuesday we went to see Victoria falls (only the Zimbabwe side). Dad was delighted in the morning to find warthogs outside his bedroom window. Then, before the falls, we braved the markets again to make some purchases, which I think we did reasonably well at with bartering. Then to the Falls! We were surprised how epic it was.  It was SOOOOOO much wider than I thought it would be.  SOOOO much.  I’ve never seen anything like it. A 1.7km wide waterfall is HUGE!  We spent about 5 hours there.  Jono (being nerdy) had calculated that the time with the least spray would be about 1-2pm.  When we did our final walk by the falls, the light was just right to give us several rainbows.    We also braved the Lodge's pool (including Dad, which is AMAZING considering how cold the pool was!!!! Less then his normal 25 degrees or whatever).  

Ilala lodge

The pool Dad braved

The smoke that thunders (African name for the falls) from Ilala Lodge

Rainbow 1 at Vic falls

Us at the Livingstone statue

Has anyone seen this Baboon????? He owe's Jono a drink!!!
(Stole the juice from Jono's hand)

Part of the falls

Another part

Nice view - of the waterfall too!

Mum and Dad at the main part of the falls

Through the mist another part of the falls roars

Yet another part 

I think this one better shows the height, it also shows the point we got to where Zimbabwe meets Zambia, I can't believe it extends further!

Imparla

Rainbows

It still amazes me what you can see here is only a part of the falls!

Yay for rainbows :)

Look closely at the INSANE person crossing the river, with DOOM just below!!!

Prayer thanks

• For continued safety while we’ve been travelling
• We’ve continued to feel pretty settled here with minimal culture shock 
•  For the absolutely amazing time we had with my parents when they were here
• For the awesome sights we got to see Vic falls and animals

Prayer requests

• For continued safety while we travel.
• That we would continue to deal with culture shock well.
• That we will connect well with locals and with missionaries
• That God would be our highest priority followed by our marriage
• We still haven’t got that car part, the temporary solution seems to be working well, but it would still be good to get it.
• My physio registration still hasn’t come through and they are being difficult to contact about it.

Bethesda prayer requests

• For unity between the team (there's a bit of tension there at the moment, different styles of working or something)
• There is some land that we’ve applied for to the local council.  We are hoping this will be big enough and approved so that we can build the integrated school.
• For increased financial support
• For healing and progress for the adults and the children Sandra and I have been treating
• For Given’s healing – an update on her, she is too small to be operated on at the moment, so we are aiming to increase her size with the hope of surgery in November
• For Bethesda support group to grow spiritually and in number
• For the new support branch that has started at Makalulu
• For a computer, printer and a car for the ministry

OM prayer requests

• That what was spoken at the Love Africa conference that was held last weekend will be implemented in the attendees lives
• For finances to build domitories
• That those on holiday (most of the students) will have a good and refreshing break