It's been a good few days here at New Day, but it's definitely not without its physical struggles! The first 2 days, electricity was out from 4am to 2pm. That wasn't so bad...a little hard to sleep in the heat from 4am on, but not too bad! But on Sunday, the schedule changed, and power is now out from 12pm to midnight...it's miserable!!!! I have been spending the mornings at home, getting things done (I am still keeping up with office things/finances for our business while here), and then after lunch when power goes out we go and visit with everyone. Evenings are the worst - last night we ran out of water at 5:30pm and finally had to go to Wes and Laurie's for some drinking water! We ended up outside at the fire pit (with a tiny fire for light, not heat, since it's in the upper 90s here!) stargazing and singing praise songs! When the power clicks back on at midnight (along with our fans), we all breathe a sigh of relief!
It has been great to get to see all of our old friends and to see all that is happening at New Day. They are very busy with the hunger relief program and it's incredible to watch! Here's a look at some of what we've been up to!
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| Caedmon and Blu went out to a village with Wes on Saturday morning for a feeding program. They took tons of bags of mealie meal and people either are given it for free (elderly or those unable to work), or they pay for it, or they trade things for it. |
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| They came home with 38 chickens, 10 goats, random animal carvings, handmade baskets, etc! Caedmon had chicken duty and was in charge of cutting the ties off of their legs! |
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| Meanwhile, I've been hanging around here doing all the visiting I can! Silly faces with Steven! |
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| Luke, one of the new boys, is SUCH a cutie! |
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| Luke and Blesten |
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| This lion was carved and traded for mealie meal! |
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| So many of the buildings around New Day have been painted and are so colorful! Here's the school where my classroom was! |
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| Another classroom block (the original one). |
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| Papa Tembo and Chris (Elizabeth's husband) are in charge of the feeding program at New Day. Every day, different groups of people come for food. It's amazing to see - Blu is making a video to show everyone how it's working! |
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| A classroom turned into mealie meal storage! |
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| It's like no time has passed at all between these two! I think Cambree has only slept here for 3 of the 6 nights we've been here! |
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| I'm back to my Zambian lunch...a green apple with Yum Yum peanut butter! |
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| And afternoon naps! |
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| Lots of soccer playing! Thankfully I walked by right when my boys were chosen to be on the "Skins" team, and I hurried to find some sunscreen!! |
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| Blu has a couple of projects he's been up to - one was putting together 2 basketball goals for the kids! |
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| Cambree went to the river for a picnic with Aunt Chipo and Sydney (9 month volunteer here right now). |
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| Breakfast with Banene (Margaret). She has been around since Caedmon was born! |
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| Hanging out with the older girls in their room - Machila taught me some Chinese that she's learning! |
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| Cambree with all her babies! |
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| There's been lots of Gaga Ball in the new shelter! |
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| Cambree's cat, Sheftu, is still around!! |
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| Luyando is still a character! |
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| Did I mention it's hot?? |
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| On Friday, we got to attend the off-campus staff Christmas party! Blu led a game of Simon Says! |
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| Kalenga, Blu, Richard, and Fence |
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| Me and Joyce - one of the first ladies I met on the property back in 2010...she just keeps having babies and had newborn Melody with her at the party! ;) |
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| Me with Kalenga..we go WAY back! |
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| Cambree with BaSikulu (Grandfather) |
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| The boys taking a break from the heat! |
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| Cam and Laurie |
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| Cambree has eaten around 25 mangos, and tons of watermelon and other fruit! She's in fruit heaven! |
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| Lots of games of basketball and Knockout! |
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| I kept trying to get a picture of Blu playing soccer at Kids Club, but every time I went over there he was leaned over with his hands-on his knees...he says he's too old!! |
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| Cason has done an amazing job - he's our loner/introvert but he has done great making himself get out and spend time with people! |
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| Me with Royd's daughter, Little Darbi! |
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| Kids Club was massive..I've never seen so many kids on New Day property! |
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| I think I mentioned that it's hot... |
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| Saturday was the Kids Club Christmas handout - there were 485 bags and 510 kids!! They were dividing bags, finding things in the New Day kitchen to give out, etc.! It was insane! |
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| Cason walked around with a stick pointing to the back of the line when kids tried to cut in line! |
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| 510 dishes to wash and dry... |
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| Blu checking his cereal for critters...after a cockroach crawled out of it our first morning here! #thingsidon'tmiss |
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| Church Sunday hadn't changed at all (in format) but there were tons of people there - 190 total! Blu taught the Sunday School lesson (with 45 seconds notice). Thankfully, he had something prepared! |
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| We finally got to meet Liz and Chris' baby, Chris Caedmon Jr., (C.J.) at church on Sunday! |
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| His namesake! |
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| That long walk to church... |
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| Church on a very sunny day! |
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| Teacher Carolyn beating the heat with some adult coloring pages! |
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| Heading down to jump on the trampoline! (Who would have thought Joseph would be the tallest of the middle boys?!) |
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| More basketball! |
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| Sunday afternoon visiting and unbraiding Mama Yolantah's hair! |
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| Machila & Cynthia stole my phone :) |
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| Cason with Mama Zelly and a giraffe that was traded for mealie meal! |
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| Blu and Mulenga retelling the "blowing up the rabbit in the outhouse" story... |
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| Mama Liz and 2 1/2 month old CJ |
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| Cambree & Laurie again! |
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| Caedmon on the phone with Teacher Hildah. You may have noticed her absence in pictures...she is in school in Monze until December 30th. We will get 2 days together..we are both pretty devastated about it. I had no idea until I got here - she said she wanted to call and tell me but she couldn't stop crying. :( |
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| Caedmon and Misheck |
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| Another project was to put together a swing set. Now that the kids are older, they are a HUGE help all around New Day! |
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| The girls telling stories - look at that blue sky! |
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| Teamwork! What an awesome swing set! |
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| Cason helped Sydney sort Christmas gifts after he spent the day in town with Papa Wes! |
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| A little dirt won't hurt..Having no water to wash it off did kinda hurt..!! |
That should catch you up on what we've been up to! Tonight (Christmas Eve) is our American get-together, and tomorrow (Christmas Day) will be the big New Day party in the morning, plus the monthly birthday party in the afternoon!
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