Safely home

God said "I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign
of the covenant between me and the earth"

Apart from Team Leader, Jean, we are now safely home. Jean came with us on the minibus from the hotel and we dropped her off in town where she was picking up the coach to Lusaka. Please pray that her travels will be safe and she will be able to complete all the tasks that she has lined up.

Our Zambian cereal packet said - "have a bowl of Bokomo Corn Flakes to give you a good foundation for a busy day and the attitude to give life all you've got" but we believe it is God who fulfils that promise !

Here are a few glimpses of the team in action and more photos will be on the Flickr site - http://www.flickr.com/photos/21623589@N04/

Goodbye Yann

We are sad that Yann had to return home before us but pleased to learn that he has arrived home safely. Here he is in action at the Wukwashi camp.

No news is good news !

Sorry that we haven't been able to update the blog but we have been too busy !! Photo above shows the team choir practice. Strangely, it made the camp dogs howl which really made us laugh !

Things have gone really well and God has been with us. The team worked really hard at Misaka with around 200 children joining in games and crafts. Here is Rod working on the bottle tops for the tambourines.

We led the Sunday Service and Yann gave a wonderful sermon and we were all able to take part with testimonies, readings, singing etc.

The crafts and games went well and we finished with a rousing final service with tambourines and instruments !

We have now moved on to Livingstone after a long and bumpy ride. We spent the previous night with Ralph (Westmacott) at Lechwe Lodge and were privileged to have a tour of the Fish Farm which he manages, visit the piggeries and had two game park rides where we spotted zebras, giraffes and lots of Impalas, Kudu etc. etc.

Evening worship & lunch at Itimpi

A few photos - if it works!

Parachute games were a hit as ever!

Misaka Arrival

We're now at the Kaniki Bible colege, having arrived safely yesterday. All but 4 of us are staying at the College (in 3 dorms); Peter, Sue, Rod and Jane enjoying the experience of genuine rondavels at the Misaka Village. Misaka is a wonderful Christian community about 5 miles away, where we will be spending 3 days with up to 300 children!!! The journey between the sites is interesting - in the back of an open truck along a dusty road full of pot-holes. Looking forward to leading the service at Misaka church tomorrow morning. Please pray that we might be a great encouragement. Danny had a bit of a fever, but continues to recover, after a good night. Please pray for him.

All going well

Thank you for your comments. Yann arrived safely but unfortunately without his suitcase ! It arrived the following day and we have just collected it from the airport for him.

Our Sunday Service went well - three hours long - with Rod introducing the team, and Jane P, Val and Peter giving testimonies and speaking.

The Camp for disabled children started yesterday. Crafts included salt dough decorated fishes, musical instruments and games with balls and parachutes. The children have varying disabilities and it is quite difficult to understand which children are able to participate in which craft or game but the team feel they are more confident about today's activities.

Stuart has gone to a local farm to do electrical work. There is no electricity in the building at the moment and Stuart is putting in conduit, wiring, sockets etc. etc. A local young electrical apprentice is helping him.

Danny, Nicole and Nigel have been a wonderful help with the children's games and have had a chance to talk and play with lots of youngsters. We think that the church congregation were very impressed with their rendition of Jesus is the Rock on Sunday !

We are all coping well with the sporadic supply of gas, water and electicity !! We were very happy last night when we all had the first hot shower for several days !! It is quite difficult as one night we had no electricity and therefore no lights and we have not been able to buy candles as the shop shelves are empty. There is also a diesel fuel shortage!

We are all grateful that God is keeping us safe and well. Thank you for your prayers.

We have been amused to see a local sign advertising 'Line Dancing for Jesus' but have not gone along to join in ! Sorry that the internet connection is so slow that we have not been able to put up photos for you. We all have such wonderful pictures but you will have to wait for them we're afraid !

Boulton family arrive today

This morning we are in Kitwe, with a little time to look at the local Craft Market and to stock up with more milk, fruit and bread. Peter has driven off to Ndola to collect the Boulton family from the airport and also the football kit from Customs. We are seeing the sights and sounds of Kitwe and will return either on a local bus or taxi.

Sorry that system seems to be too slow to upload photos. We will have a go at putting some on our Flickr site.

When we get back today we shall prepare for the Sunday Service tomorrow, where we shall be giving testimonies, Words of Encouragement and singing !

We've arrived !

We are now safely installed in our rooms in the New Life Centre just outside Kitwe. Our flights were excellent and the only thing that upset us was that Lisa had her roll of sellotape confiscated at Johannesburg Airport because it was a dangerous item and she could have gagged and bound the pilot !! True story !

This morning we have met Joyce and Henry and all the volunteers who are assisting at the Wukwashi Camp next week. We have all been assigned our tasks and look forward to preparing the crafts and games.

We are still awaiting our bags of football kit. It has arrived at Ndola but we seem to have a problem with Customs. Please pray that we will be able to collect it without too much trouble and too much expense.

We look forward to seeing Stuart and Julie, Nicole when they arrive tomorrow and Yann on Sunday. We hope Yann enjoys his first ride on a Zambian bus !

Z-Team Commissioning

Nearly there !

Here is our team diary - we hope that all will go according to plan !

Wednesday 30 July Depart Heathrow 19.00 (Jean, Jane and Rod E, Jane P, Sue and Peter, Val and Nigel, Lisa)

Thursday 31 July Arrive Wukwashi wa Nzambi Camp at Itimpi Mission, Kitwe

Friday 1 August Orientation day - meet with Joyce and Henry who are the leaders at the Camp

Saturday 2 August Stuart, Julie, Nicole and Danny arrive - Meet with Camp volunteers, prepare and set up craft activities

Sunday 3 August Yann arrives – Church Services – final preparation for Camp

Monday 4 August Games and activities for children with disabilities

Tuesday 5 August Games and activities for children with disabilities

Wednesday 6 August Games and activities for children with disabilities

Thursday 7 August Games and activities for children with disabilities

Friday 8 August Travel by coach to Misaka, Nr Ndola

Saturday 9 August Orientation – preparation for Church Service

Sunday 10 August Lead worship at the Well of Living Waters Community Church – prepare for games and activities

Monday 11 August Crafts and games for local children

Tuesday 12 August Crafts and games for local children

Wednesday 13 August Crafts and games for local children – please pray for the organisation and arrangements for the showing of the Jesus Film in the evening

Thursday 14 August Follow up on Jesus Film – visiting and sharing the Gospel with local people

Friday 15 August Yann leaves for UK – Boulton family leave for Livingstone – rest of team travel to Kafue Fish Farm – stay with Ralph Westmacott

Saturday 16 August Travel by coach to Livingstone

Sunday 17 August Stay in Livingstone – see Victoria Falls etc

Monday 18 August Livingstone – possible visit to Cheshire Home - relaxation and sightseeing

Tuesday 19 August Livingstone – possible meeting with Cornelius Mwanza - relaxation and sightseeing

Wednesday 20 August Depart Livingstone 13.40

Thursday 21 August Arrive LHR 6.25 am

One week to go !

Last team meeting will be this Wednesday. Games and activities for the children have just about been sorted and timetables set up. It seems that our first Friday (1 August) will be very busy - getting our suitcases unpacked and making sure we have brought everything we need, meeting the volunteers who are coming to help at Wukwashi Camp, and getting things ready generally. The photo shows some of the team. We look forward to showing you pictures of the whole team when we get to Zambia! Please pray that the families and children will enjoy the games and crafts we have prepared and that we will all be a blessing to each other.