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.