The End Is Near

This Wednesday morning is the last morning I will wake up in Zambia before returning to Canada. I leave for Nairobi, Kenya that day to visit another project similar to the Lazarus Project. I will be there until March 6, when I will fly to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to visit Claudia. I have the opportunity to spend two weeks relaxing before I fly back to Nairobi on March 20 and then on to London and then Toronto. I will be back on Canadian soil March 21 in the evening. I must say I am looking forward to seeing everyone again and catching up with how you are doing.

My time here has been great, an adventure I won't soon forget. I still remember when I got off the plane the first time I arrived here. The airport is one of the smallest international airports I have ever seen.

I would like to take some time to remember some of the highlights from my experience here. The same week arrived, I had the chance to meet the first lady of Germany with UNICEF. Since then I've been stranded with the truck for three and a half hours with two drums of diesel in the middle of a fuel crisis, I've played countless games of football, Claudia came and we say Victoria Falls, we went to South Africa, I've fixed a tractor, I've plowed a field, I've planted a field (and it's still alive!), I've joined a choir (as the sound technician), I've had two attempted robberies, and I helped put in an electric fence.

If you had asked me at the beginning what I wanted to accomplish here, the list would have been much longer. Although there was much more I wanted to do, I can only imagine all of the 'unwritten' things I have done. For five and half months, I have been a co-worker and a friend for Paul and Nchimunya. During this time, I have become an uncle and brother to so many boys that just need to be loved. If that is all I accomplish here, then it is enough. I am so glad Claudia was here to witness my most memorable moment at the project. We had come back from Livingstone and just got back to the project when little Lazarus saw me and came running. He yelled out "Uncle Dan!!" and gave me a big hug.

In that moment, what was previously unseen became seen, heaven came to earth to remind us what it feels like to be loved...and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

In the words of Five Iron Frenzy...

"Only You can make every new day seem so new."

So long and farewell from Zambia.

The End Is Here

The Beginning of The End

Tomorrow marks the beginning of my last full week in Zambia (that's if you start the week with Sunday, if you start it with Monday then you're behind!) In case you were wondering, I leave for Nairobi, Kenya on March 1 to visit another project similar to the Lazarus Project. I will be there until March 6, when I will fly to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to visit Claudia. I have the opportunity to spend two weeks relaxing before I fly back to Nairobi on March 20 and then on to London and then Toronto. I will be back on Canadian soil March 21 in the evening. I must say I am looking forward to seeing everyone again and catching up with how you are doing.

Over the past week, we finally received the contents of the container of donations sent over by Crossroads. It had arrived in Dar es Salaam in early January but was waiting for clearance for some of the items that were shipped. Needless to say, I am happy that it has arrived. In it, Dave (my supervisor in Canada) sent a fridge and a few other small appliances for me/other Canadians who come to the project. There is also a washing machine for the project but I don't think it will be set up before I leave. Looks like I will have to wait until I leave here to do launry with a machine.

This week, we also got our truck back from the garage. Not having the truck has probably been the biggest hinderance to getting things done on the farm. It is very difficult to buy supplies and sell vegetables without transportation. But now it's here, and it's working!

Next week, Mike, an intern from Canada working with Crossroads in Kenya, is coming to visit. He will be here on Wednesday and we'll spend the week in Lusaka. Then I'm off to see where he works.

I suppose there's not a whole lot of other exciting news, just that I have enough work to last me about two months and I have to fit it into a week. I guess that's what God is for!!

Anyway, I hope everyone is enjoying the 'wonderful' weather in Canada. I hear it's been really cold and snowy! I am looking forward to catching at least the end of winter (or maybe just spring). Have a wonderful week!!

What’s Going On Here Anyway!?!

Some of you may be wondering how things are going at the Lazarus Project. Maybe you want to know how the maize and soybeans are doing, or maybe how the vegetables are doing. And some of you may want to know how the boys are doing. Well today’s your lucky day!

I have been back in Zambia for just over a month now and this past month has been busy. Things just never stop growing, which is actually really good. The maize and soybeans are still doing well. Some of the maize has started to grow ears and the soybeans are getting big (or the plants are I mean). The garden is also growing. We have been selling a lot of onions, tomatoes, Chinese cabbage and rape. (On a side note, I found out that rape is actually canola, or at least a form of canola, it has just been bread for it’s leaves rather than seeds.) And the sunn hemp is really growing. See if you can see anyone in this picture…

On Thursday this week, a friend of mine and her friend came to visit the project. Jess is also working in Lusaka with Care International (she’s the one you sponsored Mom) and her friend Eli is working with Engineers Without Borders in Kolomo (close to Livingstone). Showing them around was great and I think it helped me realize just how blessed I am to be living at the project. We toured the farm and garden and then saw all the classrooms where the boys go to school. Here are a few pictures.


Grade 7 taught by Mr. Mulenga.









Grade 5/6 taught by Mr. Phiri.









Grade 3/4 taught by Mr. Jeres.









Grade 1/2 taught by Mrs. Simwanza.









I heard something not too long ago about what lasts on earth. The only thing that God is doing on earth that will last forever is building relationships. Vegetables come and go (usually eaten by the boys), tractors and equipment will break down, but the time I spend with the boys, getting to know them, being their friend is something I’ll remember forever. I hope when I return to Canada I can share some of the stories of the friends I have made here in Zambia. But for now, I’ll put up some more pictures.

Robert and Tembo

Lamech


Mundia


Lazarus


Smata


Emmasdale (Fred)


Kasonda


Matteo


Peter and I

Peter graduated from grade 7 and left for school yesterday. I will not see him anymore but I have some good memories. He is a bright kid and I know he will do well.

Unfortunately not everything ends well at the project. On Thursday morning, Smata, Mundia and Emmasdale (his actual name is Fred but don’t ask me why people don’t call him that) ran away from the project. It is one of the difficult realities we face here. I don’t know why they ran away and it doesn’t make sense to me. But it is part of life here and all we can do is pray that they will be alright and God will meet them wherever they are. Yesterday, Smata and Mundia came back but I don't know about Fred. I don't understand it but that's ok. I don't have to, that's why there's God and I'm not him.

P.S. I forgot yesterday that I wanted to post a picture for my mom. It only took me six days to finish but it's done. I'm not sure what I'll do with it but probably just end up taking it apart and putting it in the box.