Time in Zambia is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before. I would compare it to some time spent in Mexico, but even slower. I’m sure there are many cultures that live such a slower life, but we hadn’t seen anything like it until moving here. In getting our room ready at the Phiri home, we needed to install a shower into a bathtub. In the U.S. this process would have taken about 30 minutes to an hour because our house was about 20 minutes from the hardware store. In Zambia, it took 2 days. You begin by going to the “hardware store” and purchasing the shower head, pipe, and water mixer unit. While there, I picked up some thread tape. I’ve never claimed to be a plumber, but I married a plumber’s daughter, so I know a thing or two about installing the basics. There were no instructions with the kit, just some Chinese writing. 4 trips back to town for extension pieces because the pipes coming in the wall weren’t “standard”, and it was still leaking. One trip to town shouldn’t count because the shop closed from 12-2 for lunch, therefore not my fault, right? By the end of the second day, I gave up and hired an actual plumber. Joe had it fixed in less than an hour and he used 2 whole rolls of thread tape. He said call him next time before I try to fix it. Next, I fixed the toilet. No, I didn’t have to call Joe. I just had to go to town 3 times on 3 different days to get the right toilet float. Oh, and there are no returns in Zambia. So, if you need a toilet float for a front handle toilet, not the button on top kind, I’m your man.
We were generously donated money to purchase a vehicle and we’ve been searching high and low. We finally found a great deal, but it was in Kitwe, Zambia. That is about 837 km (520 mi) from Livingstone. It was too good of a deal for a 13-hour drive to deter us, so after having a man check it out for us, we made the trip to pick it up. We flew from Livingstone to Ndola, drove on to Kitwe, made the purchase, and began our drive back. The road from Kitwe to Lusaka is a toll road. That should make it a great road to drive on, right? No. Kitwe is in the Copperbelt, so the road is covered in 18-wheeler trucks carrying heavy loads of copper. I lost track after passing the 50th truck. We knew the vehicle we had purchased had a water leak, but we were told it was a small drip and we would need to check it in Lusaka. I noticed the truck was getting very warm inside and decided to stop on the side of the road to check it out. What was supposed to be a small leak was now coolant pouring out of the engine. We were now stranded on the side of a very busy highway an hour and a half away from the capitol. Thankfully Josh knew people and we were able to be picked up and taken back to Lusaka to figure out what to do. Our 13-hour trip turned into 3 days with our mechanic from Livingstone driving our car to us in Lusaka and trading with us so he could fix it. That was 6 days ago. Our mechanic has now had to virtually rebuild the engine in a small village, and he should be driving it home sometime today. Regardless of the stress, drama, expense, and time; this vehicle is still exactly what we have been looking for. By the time he’s done, it will be like new and still under budget.
While we were dealing with the vehicle, the ladies had stayed in Livingstone. During their time alone, they ran out of internet and almost ran out of electricity. The blackouts started causing the generator to kick in and out which blew the motor up on our fan from our bedroom. Then the water shutoffs started. Water is so scarce that at different times of the day, the city will shut off water to neighborhoods or turn down the pressure to a trickle. With a garden, this can make things difficult. The soil here in Zambia requires gardens to be watered daily and sometimes even twice a day. When the water is down like this, water must be hauled to the garden by buckets to keep the veggies alive. Thankfully, it was just for a few days and the vegetables are doing okay.
This week, Sharon and I started our language classes. We found a teacher who lives in the same neighborhood as we do, so we pick her up and take her to and from class. Her family started a school on the other side of town called Bicrof Hope Academy. This school is in a very poor neighborhood and without it these kids wouldn’t be able to attend school at all. Since the school is allowing us to have our classes there, the Quillmans have adopted the school. The other day, we took the teachers all new chalk and brought suckers for the kids. We are also planning to purchase some paint to repaint their “chalk boards” this weekend. There are a lot of other projects we will be doing in the future, so stay tuned.
Our teacher, Carllene, runs Open Hearts Foundation. You may have caught our post about the little children who were left alone and needed to get transportation to a village here from Lusaka. If not, look back at our Pastor Quill Facebook page to catch up. These are the types of situations Carllene helps with. Her family has a home and school in Makunka village (which just happens to be close to the villages we are working in) as well as a farm. She opened her home to this family until the village can build them their own hut, as well as gave them free tuition to the school. The little family is now thriving in Makunka village with her help. We know that God brought us together for more than just Nyanja lessons.
This post was meant to give you a glimpse into what life is like here in Zambia. A lot of challenging things have taken place, and that’s okay. Missionaries don’t live pristine, perfect lives, and we are hoping to give you a true picture of some of the things we experience. This isn’t always the way things are or the way things are going to be, but it is a picture of what our first month has been. I’ve fully expected Sharon to be sad or cry, as everyone has warned me about. So far, so good. She is taking things in stride and rolling with the punches better than anticipated. I know it could still happen, so I’m not letting my guard down yet. I think having video calls with the family has definitely made the transition easier. There are still sad moments and times that we wish we could be there for the grandkids (and kids of course). Tomorrow is Grandparents’ Day for our oldest in Kindergarten, and we can’t be there. We are thankful for family who is stepping in and filling our shoes. This time it’s Sharon’s parents, Matt and Sue, and I’m sure in the future it will be others. Thank you.
God is blessing us in many ways. His hand is evident in the choice of teacher, the vehicle purchase (yes even with the issues), and even in a mechanic who was willing to drive 7 hours to bring us another vehicle and fix the other for a week. We’ve watched a temporary building be built in Delevu by Rudolf and other men from the church. We’ve began discussions with two gentleman who want to begin their studies to be pastors. We’ve made friendships with many here in Livingstone who are interested in what we are doing and want to help. We know that God is in control, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.
Things to pray for:
Our house in Arkansas to sell
Our vehicle to be repaired soon
That we find a site for the pastor training to take place
Our language classes and our old brains
The Quillmans 