And God said let there be..... And it was so!

Warning - this is a long one!!
My goodness seeing Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park is amazing. And the Bible says that God just spoke and it happened.We have just come back from our LONG trip to Lusaka, Livingstone, Lusaka and home again.

We are on our way to Lusaka. It is Monday. We have just come to the Samfya Bridge which is the longest bridge in Zambia. There are police stops on both sides. As we approach we see a figure go running into the police office. We get to the stop and a hand waves us on. We crack up laughing as the figure we saw was the police officer having his bath on the side of the road. At least when he waved us on he had a towel around him!

On our way to Lusaka we stopped at Maple Hurst Farm which is just out of a city called Kabwe. Maple Hurst is run by New Zealanders working for Bright Hope Ministries. They weren’t there so we thought we would go and have a coffee at the cafe next door. Well who should we bump into but Kevin and Helen Henarae (oops I am sorry but I don’t know how to spell their name!). We stayed for a little bit then had to carry on to Lusaka as there is still quite a way to go.

We found this amazing place to stay in Lusaka (Mark and Carmen had recommended it to us). It is so lovely and it is around the same price as the little motels/lodges we have stayed in previously. This place just seemed so flash. The staffs were very helpful. Donald says that he will be bringing future teams to stay here. They also have amazing food of which breakfast was included in the price of the room. They will also pick up from the bus station and drop people off at the airport with no extra charge. Well let’s get on with the story. We spent the first night in Livingstone in a tent which was really flash (especially for a tent) with our own toilet and a shower which was actually outside!

Donald had not told us that we were staying in the tent and showed us where Fawlty Towers was and said he would show us around a bit. After we had booked into the Maramba River Lodge we went for a drive and saw some of the amazing really flash hotels. Outside one were some Zebras. The guards outside let us in to take photos. I really wanted to pat them but thought better of it as I didn’t want to get kicked. We carried on our way and saw elephants grazing on the side of the road! They are wild elephants that just roam. They can be a really big pest as they get into farmers gardens and eat their crop.

This blog is going to be long so go and get your cup of tea/coffee and a biscuit and relax and read.
LIVINGSTONE:
We picked the Atkinson’s up from the airport at noon and headed out to Fawlty Towers – yep that is what it is called. From the outside it doesn’t look like much, but it is a backpacker’s lodge and has a pool – much to the delight of Katie and Lily! We checked in and Donald took us for a drive to see what we could see. We went on a cruise on the Zambezi and they also served dinner. We saw hippos, crocodiles, water monitors and lots of birds then we went back to Fawlty Towers and went to bed.

We have to be up early. We are being picked up at 7:30am to go across the border to Botswana to Chobe National Park. Oh it is so worth getting up early! We head off to cross borders again. We have crossed so many borders now it is getting a bit painful but this time it was easy as we were part of a tour. Ok through the Zambian border and we head off again. This time we will catch an aluminium boat. It was fast and in no time we were in Botswana. Now to go through customs again. Ok done that and our tour guides are waiting for us. We head to a really flash hotel – even the toilets were flash with African Birds painted in the sinks! We get into another boat – a slow one – and we are now looking for animals. There were so many – crocodiles, elephants, wart hogs, hippos, different types of antelope, baboons, vervet monkeys and lots of bird life. We even got to watch elephants holding each other’s tails as they walked in a line to cross the river. Ohhhh photos and TV just don’t show how amazing these animals are.

We spent about 3 hours on the boat but it only seemed like 5 minutes! We were dropped back at the hotel and they had a smorgasbord lunch for us. Ohhhh the food was so good and we even got to taste Kudu pie! The meat was so tender. They even had dessert which for us was a real treat.

Finished lunch and now we head outside and there waiting for us was a safari vehicle – just like you see on TV! Katie and I hoped that we would get to see some lions but unfortunately they hid from us! We did see lots of lion paw prints so I guess we can say that Chobe National Park does have lions. We did see lots more animals including the giraffe and one even bent down in front of us and had a drink! The tour guide did his best to try and find us a lion! We were on there for about another 3 hours.

Ok now we are back at customs, on the boat and through customs on the Zambian side. Again this was a breeze. Man we are so tired and now we have to find somewhere for dinner. Ummmm Funky Monkey sounds like a good place. It was actually a pizza place, and was good. Then it was to bed.

Friday Donald went to the Livingstone Central CMML (Christian Missions in Many Lands –Christian Brethren) church. He was there all day, encouraging the elders. At first we all went then we were allowed to leave to go and do washing etc. The girls were happy and got to have a swim in the pool. After that we went to the Livingstone market just to look so we knew what was there. We picked Donald up later and then went out for dinner.

Saturday morning and Donald and I are off to a village called Kazungula. It turns out to be the border town we had been at to go across to Botswana. We were there all day. Frank’s daughter Katie came with us. She lives in Livingstone and had not even seen the border or Botswana before. One of the elders worked at the crossing so we all hitched a ride to Botswana and back again on the truck barge. Katie was so amazed at the busyness there and was so excited at what she got to do. I couldn’t believe that they hadn’t been there before it was only about 20 minutes up the road in the car. Katie Stevenson and the Atkinsons’ stayed at Fawlty Towers and also went for a walk. When we got back they had been to the supermarket and cooked us dinner which was really nice.

By now Lily’s ingrown toenail is causing her lots of pain. We were able to talk to Cathie Ellis and get advice on what to do and guess what – our doctor had given us the right cream for her! Isn’t God great? We were able to contact Cathie and we had the right cream!

Sunday was another big ministry day for Donald. We all went to church in the morning which was in a suburb of Livingstone called Dambwe. We were there for 5 hours! Frank (a Samfya Bible School Student) and his wife were with us. We got back to Fawlty Towers and raced across the road to shoprite to buy some lunch and then it was back to Frank’s church for another 3 hours. Oh Donald I don’t really want to go again can’t I stay back at Fawlty Towers I moaned! Boy oh boy what a bad attitude I had. The people there were so thankful for the ministry. They were even thankful that I went even though I just sat there (trying to stay awake!). They said we were good examples of a husband and wife in ministry together – boy did I feel bad for the attitude I had was not of serving the people but to just look after myself and my poor sore bottom!!! Both Donald and I were humbled by their thankfulness. We really take for granted all that we have in our church with the teachers that we have. These people were so hungry they could have sat there for another 5 hours!

Monday we were up bright and early again. Today we are going to Victoria Falls both the Zambia side and Zimbabwe side. Zimbabwe was first so, yes, it back through customs again, so we park the car and look at all the baboons on the side of the road. They are going through the rubbish that people leave –they are huge! They are quite scary too. There is even one on the top of a truck and one on the roof of the customs building! This time we walk along a bridge and there is the bungee jump that Donald did in 2006. Oh dear I can’t even look over the side of the bridge let alone jump it! There are a few men asking us if we want to jump – don’t they know that it is taking everything in me to just get over the bridge!!!
Well now we are over the bridge and still have a bit of walking to do. Everything is so dry and dusty. It is rather amazing that the women here (in Zambia and Zimbabwe) are able to get white clothes so white!

Now we are here at the falls. I can’t wait as we have been hearing it on and off while walking. Here is a man trying to sell us some light raincoats and Donald says it would be a good thing to buy. They cost us $1.00 US. Ok all set lets go... please!

Wow this is so amazing. The Zambezi River is very full. The speed at which the water travels is quite frightening. It is so fast. Wow this is amazing (I don’t know how else to say it) Incredible. The photos or movies just don’t do the falls any justice! I have heard so many people say that before but oh man incredible. We keep walking and seeing more and more of the falls. The falls just seem to go on forever! The falls are huge not just in how wide it is but how far it drops. The drop is 98m and we still get a sprinkling of the water that has gone over the edge! Ok more walking ewwwwww yuck there are striped mongooses on our path. Now if you know me you will know that I don’t like rodents. Thankfully I didn’t yell anything except Donald please get a photo! We have a picnic morning tea at the end of the walk overlooking the bungee bridge. It is so beautiful!

Ok time to go and finish our look around the falls area. No matter how much I look it still seems beautiful. Out of the falls now and it is time for lunch so we head into Victoria Falls town. The policewoman is asking Katie where she is going but Katie doesn’t hear her and I tell her that our guys are just up there on the hill in front of us and we are following them to get something to eat. She suggests a few places and lets us go. The place Donald thought of wasn’t there anymore so we go to a different place and now we have a policeman with us. Ummm I wonder what is happening so me being me I asked. He said they were tourist police. Ummmm I thought that maybe the tourists were being a problem but it was the street vendors. The street vendors were hassling tourists so much and even fighting each other and also the tourists. Ok I said. At the time I thought wow that’s a bit over the top as I felt quite safe. Finally he takes us to a nice place to eat and he was right. At this complex the street vendors aren’t allowed in. To get to the restaurant we have to pass a crocodile park sort of. They were behind fences but were huge. We were able to touch one through the fence as he was just lying there with his big mouth and teeth facing the other side! We were taking in the view outside the restaurant and there was our policeman. He waited for us and then took us to the market.

The market is another side to Zimbabwe. Now they are all calling us into their little booths. Donald tells females to go into this big shed so we did. There they sold all sorts of fabrics, tablecloths, runners etc and also some tops which they had crocheted. They were really nice but not my taste. I did see a table cloth that I kinda liked and showed Donald. He said to wait as there may have been other things I might want instead. The lady heard me and later on when I was standing outside came and showed it to me again. I couldn’t believe it! Janet found some things she liked and when she went back all of a sudden there was a sea of people trying to sell her the same piece of fabric – just amazing! Donald was right I found other things that I liked better than a table cloth. At one point there were a whole lot of men all talking loudly at me to buy something from their shop that I started to feel a little uneasy so I found our personal policeman and stood beside him. It was incredible they stopped straight away! Now where is that daughter of mine? She and Lily were having so much fun. They were just close to Donald so they were fine! One man showed be a wooden statue of the big five and asked me what I was prepared to pay for it. I told him I didn’t want it and he asked me why. I told him that I didn’t like it so I didn’t want to buy it and he told me that I did like it and what was the best price that I could pay him!

Our son and daughter in law for our three birthdays had given us some good drink bottles which we had with us. When they spotted it they wanted us to trade it for something in their shop. We had to KEEP on telling them that they were special gifts and we didn’t want to trade with it! But would they give up –NO! They even ended up asking Lily for the socks she was wearing! It is all just a ploy to get you into their shop and then they will tell you that you have to pay money on top of the trade!

Now when we were going to get our lunch there were some shops in the complex and Paul and Janet found a painting of elephants that they really liked so they bought it. They were going to package it up well and we would pick it up later. Well while we were there picking it up one of the street vendors was waiting for Paul outside and said that Paul had promised to look at one of his carvings. Paul went on his own to have a look. The guy had already packaged it up and was asking for a lot more than what they had agreed on. Our personal policeman realised that Paul was taking too long and went to look for him. Paul all of a sudden was standing in the middle of a circle of men all starting to get annoyed as Paul didn’t want to pay what they were saying. Paul ended up just pushing them out of the way and left, banging his head on the piece of wood in the shed! We don’t know what happened to the police officer but we didn’t see him anymore. We actually did look a little bit for him to say thanks but we had to get across the border again. Oh I didn’t tell you – I really wanted a wooden giraffe to take home a big one that can stand on the floor. Donald decides to go and get one and came back with two because you know you can’t just have one he was told!

Taxi Please!!! Oh here is one but it is only a car. How on earth can we fit 6 of us and the driver in a little Toyota Corolla!!! The driver said only one in the front! Because the police will give him a ticket otherwise. Ummm ok Paul hops in the front because Donald told him to and he says he will just walk and we can meet him on the other side. Ohhhh I don’t think so. Sooooo all 5 of us are in the back seat. Now did I tell you how hot we were in Zimbabwe? Donald is sitting on my knee bent over. My head is in his armpit and his head is hard against the window. We all have the giggles so much. Paul tries to get a photo but is too close! Even the taxi driver is laughing. What fun experiences we have had in Africa! All the back windows are tinted so the police can’t see in and see how many people are in the vehicle! Well we make it back to the border and then through the border into Zambia again.

Now we are to go to see the falls on the Zambian side. We are all tired and Janet decides that she will just stay in the car and wait for us. So Donald, Katie, Paul and Lily are going to see the falls again. This time we have to cross a walking bridge that is really high and the Zambezi River underneath. Ok I must do this so that I can see the rest of the falls as there is no other way to do it! Donald, Paul and Katie are long gone and Lily is behind me. Half way across I just screamed. It was like we were beside the sea and a wave came and got me wet and put so much water on my sunglasses that I couldn’t see and then the force it hit me took the hood off my head so now my hair is soaked! I was scared! Anyway I just had to keep going. Walking around the Zambian side of the falls you get a lot wetter than the other side. We were so hot and sweaty before and now we have had a shower. My eyes feel as though I have been swimming in the sea from the mixture of salty sweat and the water from the falls. Wow what an experience that was but I am so glad that I can say I have done it. Now where are the markets. Here we go again. There are only a couple of things that I want and everyone wants me to buy from their store! Katie and Lily really do love all the bartering. I wish, they would just have their price and that is the end of it! Oh dear here they go again wanting our shoes and drink bottles. The Zambian side is a lot nicer than the Zimbabwe side I will have to admit as far as the street vendors are concerned. I tried to tell them that I was a local as I live in Samfya and they would tell me that they would give me a local price but I am not so sure about that either. They all seem to think we have an unlimited amount of money to spend!
The end of an amazing day!

It is now Tuesday morning and we head to Lusaka. Thankfully a pretty uneventful day which is nice but it still took 6 hours to get there. We check into Kilimanjaro Lodge and all have showers. Again it is so nice to be there.
We are walking round Lusaka as Donald and Paul and Janet need to change money. Paul and Janet are also wanting to get a sim card for their phone. One of the street vendors kept asking me what I was buying as he could sell it to me. I told him that I wasn’t buying anything. He wouldn’t believe me and kept on pestering me. I had been telling him nicely and then his voice was starting to change and so I told him in a not so nice tone to “go away”. I thought Janet looked at me very shocked but when we were telling the guys later she said no she was just thankful that I did as she was starting to feel uneasy about him as well.
We went back to Arcades Mall for an ice cream – oh what a treat. We also updated emails.

Driving around and Donald gets pulled over by a police officer – not again! He is telling Donald that he was speeding. Donald was trying to tell the officer that it was the car that sped up and passed us but the police officer wouldn’t hear of it and sent us to see the other officers. Donald told them the same story and so they said that they would reduce his fine from K180, 000 to K80, 000. Donald told them he shouldn’t be paying anything as it wasn’t him. Anyway they were filling out the ticket and came to occupation. What is your occupation sir? Pastor Donald replied. They both looked at each other and then asked of what church. Donald replied CMML. They looked at each other and then said to Donald that he was forgiven and could go. Donald wasn’t going to be told twice and we drove away again ticket free!!! I should add here that Donald was telling the truth and that there was a car that had passed us at speed and the officer did just wave him through!

Wednesday now and Anne from Kilimanjaro Lodge had found out where we could buy some cross stitching fabric from. Not quite ada cloth but it will do and then we head off back to Samfya! Now I can teach the women who want to learn, how to cross stitch. Today we have an 8 hour trip back to Samfya.

On the way we stop at the Fig Tree Cafe (just by Maple Hurst which is run by New Zealander’s) for a coffee and toilet stop. We have our coffee and are heading out when Donald heard the owner telling some of the staff off. Donald was quite upset at the owner’s attitude and said he was even snapping his fingers at one of the staff to hurry up and get his jacket! It was not very nice to hear a Christian man talking to others in that sort of manner.

On the way again and we will be looking for places to buy some fresh fruit and veggies from. It is so hard to choose which person you want to buy from when everyone is selling the same things!

Oh my goodness is this rain on the windscreen. Surely not! Yes it is. In Zambia in the dry season and there is a drizzle of rain on the windscreen. Ohhh it is quite chilly as well. How weird.

We stopped in to visit Charles one of the Bible School Graduates and saw the school where he teaches carpentry, gardening and the girls are also being taught how to sew. They were also making bricks.

Here we are at the bridge again. Donald stops and lets the Atkinsons have a look at the Luapula River. Then we head across the bridge. The police officer waves us on but Donald decides to ask him if he was the one we saw the other day. Well when he realised it was us who saw him he laughed and shook Donald’s hand. All of a sudden we were his best friends.

We are now back in Samfya and driving up our driveway and who is that there happy to see us – Copper! He is so excited that he almost knocks Paul over. It is sooooo windy here. It feels as though the roof is just going to fly away! We are going to Levy and Agnes’ home for dinner and we are all thankful that we don’t have to cook after being on the road for so long! Wow what a meal they have given us – nshima, rice, chicken, fish and spinach! Whew we have very full tummies.
It seems as though I can’t eat nshima. Whenever I do I get bad tummy pains! Donald has said that I am not allowed to have anymore! I actually like nshima but I really don’t like the pain later.

Ohhh bed is so nice tonight!
Thursday morning and we are showing Paul and Janet around the Bible School. On our way there we pass the Fullers house and who do we see Spice. She was so happy to see us. We also saw Lucy as Paul and Janet’s home was the first home that Rogers and Lucy stayed at. Lucy was very pleased to see them.

It is now Friday and I have had the Ladies Study here again. Copper is tied up and doesn’t like it but it makes the Ladies feel safer. As I write this only Katie, Lily and I are at home as Donald, Paul, Janet, Peter and Levy have gone to a village in Chembe for the weekend. They will be going to meet with the CMML church there. Chembe is the Zambian border town buy the Pedicle Road in the DRC. They will be back on Sunday afternoon.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Donald will be meeting with the elders from all the CMML churches here in Samfya. It will be a very interesting time. You will have to read Donald’s blog about all that happens there later in the week.
Today Katie and Lily started their job cataloguing books at SCCP (the orphans project that Mark and Carmen Brubaker run). They went on their own and then afterwards went down to the Bible School and bought us spinach (our silver beet) for dinner. At the moment they are both cross stitching.

Some sad news. On Wednesday it was really windy here in Samfya. A boat towing another boat sunk and with it 15 people drowned! As far as we know no bodies have been recovered yet.

One of the frustrations of living here in Samfya is the power. At times even thought the power is on it is very low which means to boil the jug could take over an hour. The power can also go off without warning. Today is Saturday and I wanted to get my blog updated but the power was off all day. The girls wanted to bake bread but no power. We couldn’t do dishes as there wasn’t any hot water. The girls didn’t even get to have a shower as there wasn’t any hot water. The power did come on at 6pm but only for 15 minutes! Thankfully I had everything ready, just in case and the elements were still hot when it all went off again to keep cooking our dinner. The power came on again just after 8pm! We have no idea on whether it was a routine power cut to work on lines or the weather. It is very windy and cold! Who would have thought this time of the year in Africa we would be cold! Oh well church tomorrow. Katie, Lily and I will go to the English speaking church at the Bible School.

Well I did warn you that this would be a marathon blog and it is. I will end it now.
I hope this has bought you up to date with our 10 days away.

Love to you all
Gwen
PS do you know that it is only 5 weeks until we leaving Samfya!