Countdown to Home!

Our time here in Zambia is quickly coming to a close. We have 12 days left! Looking back over the last few months I have to wonder where the time went. It seems like just yesterday we were filling out passport applications for the children. Now here we are with home on our minds. One thing that we’ve discovered is that 3 months is a long time to be away from family. How do people spend 2 years away at a time? We’ve come to the believe that missionaries are just prepared mentally and emotionally that they will be gone for 2 years and do it. We are ready to come back, not because we don’t like Africa, quite the opposite in fact, but because we were prepared to be here only 3 months. So yes, we are excited to be coming home and our oldest is counting down the days. She wants to “See Grandma and Papaw. Play with the dog. Go to story hour.” Her list is quite long and she’s excited.

The Bookstore has been booming the past two weeks. A new school term just started. Notebooks, pens and pencils have been flying off the shelves. Rubbers too! I had to restock the Bookstore by myself a few days ago and couldn’t figure what a rubber was. In Zambia a rubber is an eraser. Duh! Bible’s also have been rapidly selling. I opened a new case of Lunda Bibles and was so thankful that we had more to set out. As the Bible’s sell, the number of tote bags also dwindles. I have continued to cut out and sew more Bible totes. Unfortunately, I’ve lost count but I think the number of finished bags is around 40. I cut out 12 more yesterday, and hopefully between the power outages I can get them finished before we leave.

We have been taking advantage of the power outage in the late afternoons and have been enjoying walks. It’s great therapy and works as a mini date for us. We put the children in the stroller with little containers of snacks to keep them happy and quiet; off we go.

Walking at sunset

Yesterday we went way farther than we intended to go, but the country is so beautiful we couldn’t stop. The Lunda people too, are a treasure. They always smile and greet us with a warm “Hello!” or “Mwani”and pat their chest in the cultural custom. We also get a lot of chuckles and laughs. I don’t know if it’s because there is a cute, chubby white baby in the stroller or if it’s because Brad is pushing the stroller. From what we’ve observed its the women who take care of the children, toting them around on their backs ect. Baby wearing is wildly accepted here! In my case though, I’m wearing him less and less. He is getting to be a huge burden on my shoulders, I’m starting to get anxious for him to walk.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15