The last time I paid for internet access in an airport, I was in London and charged in Euros. This evening, I am writing from the Johannesburg airport and the currency is Rand. (This month's credit card statement might look a little strange.) Anyways, I only purchased 30 minutes of internet time, so this post will be brief!
With mixed emotions we said goodbye to our friends at the House of Moses this morning and headed to the Lusaka airport. We are all very excited to be reunited with friends and family-- but we also feel like we are leaving family behind in Zambia. It is strange to feel such intense joy and sorrow at the same time, but that has been somewhat indicative of our trip. I'm not entirely sure what to make of that except that it seems to be a necessary part of doing this type of work-- and doing it well. I have a friend who does difficult social work in Milwaukee-- sometimes deciding that it is not healthy for children to remain with their natural parents. One time I asked him how he worked every day in that type of environment, and he replied tongue in cheek, "Emotional distance-- the key to able to work with people is emotional distance."
Our team is not good at emotional distance, and I am abundantly thankful for that.
Please pray for our safe travels-- from here to Frankfurt to Detroit to Chicago to home.
Peace,
Matt
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
July 8, 2008 Children's Game Day
Not everyone gets to celebrate their Birthday in Zambia...but Nancy P-J did! She didn't have a birthday party, but we did have a BIG PICNIC....which was a party with all the children in the House of Martha and the Bill and Betty Bryant Crisis Center. We held it at a house that was on loan to us by missionaries. Our first major accomplishment was getting everyone there. Twenty-eight children and their caregivers (in one van) came from the House of Martha, and twenty toddlers and their caregivers (in another van) came from the Bill and Betty Bryant Crisis Center. Plastic chairs and a grill were tied on top of the van that transported us, our supplies, and some of the House of Moses staff. That van had to make 2 trips....and we were still sitting on top of each other. As soon as we arrived the fun began! An in ground trampoline was the biggest hit! The children had fun with the bubble wands, sidewalk chalk, jump ropes, coloring books, playing with all different kinds of balls, parachute, and swinging. Uncle G brought his guitar so there was also lots of singing and dancing. Every picnic has to have food ! Head-Cook Christen, grilled sausages, and we had macroni and cheese, chips, apples, watermelon, and cookies. Even the weather was wonderful. We don't know who had the most fun...us or the children. ALL OF YOU were a part of this wonderful day ! THANKS !
-Sandy and Emily Veit
-Sandy and Emily Veit
Monday, July 7, 2008
Top Five of this trip - so far!
Challenging as it all can be bringing together eleven different attitudes, and personalities, we've all become very close on this trip, learning new things about each other every single day. We've had some great conversations and experiences that we've all agreed on the top five quotes from the trip that we'd like to share with you. Let's hear your responses and let us know if you think they were half as great as we did. :)
Thank you and God bless,
Christen Bloomfield
Thank you and God bless,
Christen Bloomfield
1. "If I were to wake up and we landed not knowing where we're going, I'd definitely say this is Africa...or...South Dakota..."
-Christen Bloomfield landing in Johannesburg, South Africa
2. S: "Most babies are born after the cold season."
M: "They have sex to keep warm?"
S: "Yes."
M: "Maybe we should of donated some more sweaters..."
-Sandra Levinson, director of House of Moses, and Matt Morin
3. "Well the news said he had a satisfactory night in Paris - what does that mean? He went to a couple of cafes, and went dancing?"
-Victoria Millar in reference to the Zambian president later contradicted reports of his death in French hospital.
4."C'mon Mosquito! Why don't you show yourself and fight like a man?!?"
-Matt Morin
5. "Well you took my key four times, so I thought I'd let you know, I'm the KEY person in this team..."
-Sandy Veit
Sunday, July 6, 2008
All I ever had: Redemption Songs
Before we left for this trip, I got in contact with a man who I hold in phenomenally high esteem to get some various "pointers" about ministering in African culture. He is the son of African missionaries and has spent the majority of his life (so far) laboring to bring shalom to this continent. His advice to me was thus: "When you are ministering in foreign cultures, you listen first, learn second, and serve third." It was an extremely useful bit of advice, as my list had previously begun with "serve," and from there devolved into less noble goals (ie- try to impress Zambians with my wikipedia-sized nuggets of knowledge about their country's history.) As you may have surmised from Pastor Victoria's post yesterday, our team has been listening and learning quite a bit. I will allow the individual members of the team to communicate their own lessons to you-- the majority of which I'm sure will come through quiet reflection after we return home. One lesson however, I can't wait to share...
Last week Wednesday, after our day at the Helen DeVos school, we made a stop at one of ACE's buildings called the "House of Martha." This is the home for children age 4-14. After children graduate from the nursery at "House of Moses" they go to "House of Martha." When we arrived, we were greeted by 28 singing and dancing young Zambians. (By the way, capacity at the house is 15 children.) The songs of the children and staff reverberated throughout the 1000 square foot building as I took myself on a solo tour of the house's three bedrooms, one closet-sized bathroom, and kitchenette. After about 15 minutes of singing, I began to wonder when it would stop. (Not that I wanted it to stop... it just seemed like, you know, time to stop.) But it didn't. Those kids kept right on singing and dancing the entire time we were there. Not once did they stop to introduce themselves or to allow us to introduce ourselves. At one point they formed a circle and called people into the middle to dance while the rest of the group sang. (It was here that Dean Larsen earned the nickname "Dancefloor Dean.") After about 30 minutes, it became clear that the singing was not going to stop-- and we had to hit the road before the local workday ended. Rush hour takes on a much more ominous form when the pothole-filled dirt roads are packed with walkers, bicyclers, and hundreds of other motorists all headed in separate directions.
As we filed out the door, the children (still singing of course) formed a single-file line and followed us out of the house, danced past the sliding barbed-wire gate, and stood next to our van. People from the neighborhood peeked out to see what the singing was about-- and to get a look at the "muzungus" (white-faces) that had come to their neighborhood. As we pulled away, the singing began to fade, and the last words we heard were about "God's great blessings."
The House of Martha is located in a neighborhood called Kanayama Compound. (The word "compound" is used to describe a densely-populated neighborhood.) About 200 yards from the house is a huge field of garbage-- which doubles as a source of food and resources for some "scavengers" (local term.) Inside the House of Martha, there are a number of young adolescent girls. According to one of the ACE directors here, it is difficult to find homes for children after age 9-10, so most of those girls will probably never be adopted. And they know it. YET THEY SING AND DANCE. For all of the real reasons that the children have to sit in despair, they sing praises to God. They proclaim the name of Jesus as utterly good and, despite the seeming ridiculousness of it-- they sing.
You have heard from us-- and from other sources-- that the situation in Zambia is bad. That is certainly true, and by the Spirit's power, it should move us to radically different patterns of living. But it is not the whole truth. There is, even here, real physical and spiritual healing at work. There are, even here, strong redemptive forces at work. And though these forces are much stronger than any of us could fully comprehend, we are blessed to be included in their projects. The God whose creative power brought Zambia into existence, is still creating-- making things new-- here by the power of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Forbid that we misunderstand the "bigness" of God's redemptive work as a release from our earthly responsibilities. Rather, may it help us to understand our comparative smallness-- for this is the starting point for humility, obedience, and beautifully ridiculous living.
In the name of Jesus, through whom all people have a living hope,
Matt
Last week Wednesday, after our day at the Helen DeVos school, we made a stop at one of ACE's buildings called the "House of Martha." This is the home for children age 4-14. After children graduate from the nursery at "House of Moses" they go to "House of Martha." When we arrived, we were greeted by 28 singing and dancing young Zambians. (By the way, capacity at the house is 15 children.) The songs of the children and staff reverberated throughout the 1000 square foot building as I took myself on a solo tour of the house's three bedrooms, one closet-sized bathroom, and kitchenette. After about 15 minutes of singing, I began to wonder when it would stop. (Not that I wanted it to stop... it just seemed like, you know, time to stop.) But it didn't. Those kids kept right on singing and dancing the entire time we were there. Not once did they stop to introduce themselves or to allow us to introduce ourselves. At one point they formed a circle and called people into the middle to dance while the rest of the group sang. (It was here that Dean Larsen earned the nickname "Dancefloor Dean.") After about 30 minutes, it became clear that the singing was not going to stop-- and we had to hit the road before the local workday ended. Rush hour takes on a much more ominous form when the pothole-filled dirt roads are packed with walkers, bicyclers, and hundreds of other motorists all headed in separate directions.
As we filed out the door, the children (still singing of course) formed a single-file line and followed us out of the house, danced past the sliding barbed-wire gate, and stood next to our van. People from the neighborhood peeked out to see what the singing was about-- and to get a look at the "muzungus" (white-faces) that had come to their neighborhood. As we pulled away, the singing began to fade, and the last words we heard were about "God's great blessings."
The House of Martha is located in a neighborhood called Kanayama Compound. (The word "compound" is used to describe a densely-populated neighborhood.) About 200 yards from the house is a huge field of garbage-- which doubles as a source of food and resources for some "scavengers" (local term.) Inside the House of Martha, there are a number of young adolescent girls. According to one of the ACE directors here, it is difficult to find homes for children after age 9-10, so most of those girls will probably never be adopted. And they know it. YET THEY SING AND DANCE. For all of the real reasons that the children have to sit in despair, they sing praises to God. They proclaim the name of Jesus as utterly good and, despite the seeming ridiculousness of it-- they sing.
You have heard from us-- and from other sources-- that the situation in Zambia is bad. That is certainly true, and by the Spirit's power, it should move us to radically different patterns of living. But it is not the whole truth. There is, even here, real physical and spiritual healing at work. There are, even here, strong redemptive forces at work. And though these forces are much stronger than any of us could fully comprehend, we are blessed to be included in their projects. The God whose creative power brought Zambia into existence, is still creating-- making things new-- here by the power of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Forbid that we misunderstand the "bigness" of God's redemptive work as a release from our earthly responsibilities. Rather, may it help us to understand our comparative smallness-- for this is the starting point for humility, obedience, and beautifully ridiculous living.
In the name of Jesus, through whom all people have a living hope,
Matt
Saturday, July 5, 2008
From Lukasa, Zambia (Day 7)
Today we returned from Victoria Falls, our one day getaway. The Falls are glorious and we were blessed to be able to go and also glad to be back in our Lusaka house with our hosts and all the babies.
These are my musings from the ride on the minibus.
9 Team Resolutions (actually mine, but I trust the team will subscribe)
1. Seeing the daily pile of laundry generated by 18 infants and 18 toddlers, we will not see laundry at home as a chore any more.
2. Seeing a village woman with a bag of vegetables on her head, a baby on her back and a jug of oil in her hand (yet she waved to us with her free hand), we will not take grocery stores, carts, grocery money and car trunks for granted. (There are many, many such women.)
3. Since we worshiped in a vibrant church with lawn chairs and (that morning) no electricity, we will see our sanctuary with greater gratitude.
4. Since 11 of us sign up to use 1 shower, scheduled to avoid hot water needed for baby baths, a shower at home will feel like the luxury that it is.
5. Since we paid $8.90 per gallon for gasoline, we will feel less dismayed by $4/gallon at home.
6. Seeing railroad tracks that have barely been maintained since the British left(1964), we will marvel at our own train system.
7. Seeing a flat bed truck loaded with lumber then packed with many families on top of the lumber (a makeshift bus because the normal buses do not go off the main road to the villages), we will appreciate U.S. public transportation.
8. Since we returned to a city partially dark and without some traffic lights because regular "load sharing" is a means of taking electricity from some areas of the city when demand is too high, we will appreciate how our utilities at home are wonderful.
9. Since we worked on rebuilding a group home and the full-time Zambian construction workers asked if we might leave our gloves, we will be dazzled by all that is available at Home Depot to make our projects easy.
We came to serve and support a Christian charity that does fantastic work. These resolutions are simply a secondary benefit from stepping outside our homes and our comfort zones and seeing how the developing world lives.
We think the primary benefit is our help.
But instead it may be the respect and admiration for Zambians who scrape by with so little without losing hope for a better future.
With amazement and blessing,
Pastor Victoria
These are my musings from the ride on the minibus.
9 Team Resolutions (actually mine, but I trust the team will subscribe)
1. Seeing the daily pile of laundry generated by 18 infants and 18 toddlers, we will not see laundry at home as a chore any more.
2. Seeing a village woman with a bag of vegetables on her head, a baby on her back and a jug of oil in her hand (yet she waved to us with her free hand), we will not take grocery stores, carts, grocery money and car trunks for granted. (There are many, many such women.)
3. Since we worshiped in a vibrant church with lawn chairs and (that morning) no electricity, we will see our sanctuary with greater gratitude.
4. Since 11 of us sign up to use 1 shower, scheduled to avoid hot water needed for baby baths, a shower at home will feel like the luxury that it is.
5. Since we paid $8.90 per gallon for gasoline, we will feel less dismayed by $4/gallon at home.
6. Seeing railroad tracks that have barely been maintained since the British left(1964), we will marvel at our own train system.
7. Seeing a flat bed truck loaded with lumber then packed with many families on top of the lumber (a makeshift bus because the normal buses do not go off the main road to the villages), we will appreciate U.S. public transportation.
8. Since we returned to a city partially dark and without some traffic lights because regular "load sharing" is a means of taking electricity from some areas of the city when demand is too high, we will appreciate how our utilities at home are wonderful.
9. Since we worked on rebuilding a group home and the full-time Zambian construction workers asked if we might leave our gloves, we will be dazzled by all that is available at Home Depot to make our projects easy.
We came to serve and support a Christian charity that does fantastic work. These resolutions are simply a secondary benefit from stepping outside our homes and our comfort zones and seeing how the developing world lives.
We think the primary benefit is our help.
But instead it may be the respect and admiration for Zambians who scrape by with so little without losing hope for a better future.
With amazement and blessing,
Pastor Victoria
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Two Day Update
Thursday July 3, 2008
We are nearing the end of our first week and already becoming anxious about having to leave. The more time we spend here, the more we grow attached. The people. The culture. The pace. As heartbreaking as it has been to witness poverty in a world that has more than enough for everyone, the sense of community here is incredible.
There was no posting yesterday due to a full day of interaction and fun that ended with fatigue by all. So to make up for it, I, the writer have been nominated to fill in the details as best I can (and in the shortest amount of time) so you all know what has been occurring.
On Tuesday the teacher’s – Sandy, Barb, Nancy, Carolyn, Emily – went to Helen De Vos School to teach while the rest of the group – Dean, Matt, Jeney, Christen, Kat and Victoria – went to the new House of Martha being built. While the teacher’s used their skills to share new games and lessons with students and Zambian teachers, we workers used our strength and talent to help progress the building of the new facility. This included mixing, shoveling and pouring concrete, cleaning up debris, making sawhorses, filling trenches and getting some sun.
But not as much sun as we would get the following day. Wednesday proved to be one of our favorites yet. Especially mine since now I can brag to my brother that I have refereed two International soccer matches before him! In all seriousness though, my description will not do it the least bit justice but fortunately we have plenty of video and photos to share with you.
The entire team arrived at the Helen De Vos School late morning. The teachers who were teaching again that day found their places in the classrooms and the rest of the group toured the school while the Headmaster and Campus Crusade guests figured out a misunderstanding regarding the timing of the girls soccer tournament. (T.I.A – This Is Africa). After distributing new shorts and jerseys that had been donated by Brandi Smith that sent the girls in a frenzy of excitement before even putting them on (and the boys eyeing in jealousy), I was given the privilege of being named honorary coach for the Helen De Vos girl’s soccer team (their first year of existence). What an incredible opportunity for me to share my love for soccer with these young women and what an incredible opportunity for them to have a female to lead them.
To make a long story short, I was taken by the hands of the girls and led out of the campus, down the road and onto the field surrounded by singing and clapping. I felt like I was going to coach the World Cup final. After warming the girls up, the coaches of the other schools asked if I would like to referee the games instead of coach. That way I would be right in the middle of the action and the girls would have a chance to have a female on the field with him. Naturally I accepted. Two hours, two games and two very brown ankles later, the final game concluded.
While I was in the middle of the soccer field watching in amazement young girls in skirts, rolled up jeans, socks and barefoot chase a soccer ball up and down a dirt “field” littered with rocks, stones, trash, potholes and an occasional patch of long dried out grass, the rest of the group was busy being surrounded by school children (and local children from the compound not in school) begging for attention.
A goal is scored and the entire crowd rushes the field screaming and hugging in excitement. Groups of boys dance around drums chanting. Coaches run up, down and around the entire field yelling direction to their players. An incredible day. Incredibly exhausting.
Tomorrow we leave for Victoria Falls…
Blessings,
Jeney
We are nearing the end of our first week and already becoming anxious about having to leave. The more time we spend here, the more we grow attached. The people. The culture. The pace. As heartbreaking as it has been to witness poverty in a world that has more than enough for everyone, the sense of community here is incredible.
There was no posting yesterday due to a full day of interaction and fun that ended with fatigue by all. So to make up for it, I, the writer have been nominated to fill in the details as best I can (and in the shortest amount of time) so you all know what has been occurring.
On Tuesday the teacher’s – Sandy, Barb, Nancy, Carolyn, Emily – went to Helen De Vos School to teach while the rest of the group – Dean, Matt, Jeney, Christen, Kat and Victoria – went to the new House of Martha being built. While the teacher’s used their skills to share new games and lessons with students and Zambian teachers, we workers used our strength and talent to help progress the building of the new facility. This included mixing, shoveling and pouring concrete, cleaning up debris, making sawhorses, filling trenches and getting some sun.
But not as much sun as we would get the following day. Wednesday proved to be one of our favorites yet. Especially mine since now I can brag to my brother that I have refereed two International soccer matches before him! In all seriousness though, my description will not do it the least bit justice but fortunately we have plenty of video and photos to share with you.
The entire team arrived at the Helen De Vos School late morning. The teachers who were teaching again that day found their places in the classrooms and the rest of the group toured the school while the Headmaster and Campus Crusade guests figured out a misunderstanding regarding the timing of the girls soccer tournament. (T.I.A – This Is Africa). After distributing new shorts and jerseys that had been donated by Brandi Smith that sent the girls in a frenzy of excitement before even putting them on (and the boys eyeing in jealousy), I was given the privilege of being named honorary coach for the Helen De Vos girl’s soccer team (their first year of existence). What an incredible opportunity for me to share my love for soccer with these young women and what an incredible opportunity for them to have a female to lead them.
To make a long story short, I was taken by the hands of the girls and led out of the campus, down the road and onto the field surrounded by singing and clapping. I felt like I was going to coach the World Cup final. After warming the girls up, the coaches of the other schools asked if I would like to referee the games instead of coach. That way I would be right in the middle of the action and the girls would have a chance to have a female on the field with him. Naturally I accepted. Two hours, two games and two very brown ankles later, the final game concluded.
While I was in the middle of the soccer field watching in amazement young girls in skirts, rolled up jeans, socks and barefoot chase a soccer ball up and down a dirt “field” littered with rocks, stones, trash, potholes and an occasional patch of long dried out grass, the rest of the group was busy being surrounded by school children (and local children from the compound not in school) begging for attention.
A goal is scored and the entire crowd rushes the field screaming and hugging in excitement. Groups of boys dance around drums chanting. Coaches run up, down and around the entire field yelling direction to their players. An incredible day. Incredibly exhausting.
Tomorrow we leave for Victoria Falls…
Blessings,
Jeney
Monday, June 30, 2008
Lost Luggage & "Facilitation Payments" (wink, wink)
Hello Friends,
We have had a number of interesting developments in the past couple of days-- and to inform you all of them, I am going to hand things over to Christen Bloomfield.
"Twenty or more hours of flying. Too many airplane meals. One person sick. Luggage Missing. THANK GOD we’re finally here!
Carolyn had her luggage misplaced somewhere between London and Johannesburg, Africa. Yesterday after lunch and trying to strategically trying to figure out the flying schedule at Lusaka International, Carolyn and I with our faithful escort, Uncle G, headed to the airport to see if her luggage had miraculously shown up.
Right outside the airport, we approached a security hut (seriously, it was a hut with guards carrying guns from like the first world war…). We were motioned to pull over and told that the sticker on the vehicle had expired. Although they allowed us to continue to the airport, Uncle G was forced to give up his driver’s license.
Carolyn and I went into the airport alone while Uncle G parked the vehicle. We first asked an African man working for the airport where we would go and he pointed to one of the many hallways against a far wall. When we found the office, there was another man closing a door to a room chalk FULL of luggage to the ceiling. I’m not sure if he didn’t understand us or if he just didn’t want to help us, but he pointed to left and said “Go out der, to de office….” We walked outside to a scary, creepy alley way of the airport. Walking down the alley, passing door after door, we finally saw this tiny sign that said “South African Airlines.” We walked into yet another office full of luggage and crammed with people. Still unsure if this was the right place, we waited five minutes in a muggy, smelly office until we spotted a lady in a side office and decided to ask her. She told us to follow he and off we went on quite the adventure through the behind the scenes of the airport, we ended in a side room with literally three semi-trailer trucks full of luggage. There were two African men asking to see our luggage claims. I’m fairly certain that they didn’t even look at the tags, because ever since we entered the airport we kept asking if someone – ANYBODY- could just scan the bar code to find the luggage. We were only allowed to stand behind and look into the trailer to see if we could see the bags and wait for the “big boss”. We were looking for ONE black piece of luggage in a sea of black bags and box .We were told not to touch or go near the bags darn near impossible, I tell you. As we waited, the guard continually told us hello as if flirting. We were ready to give up w hen we were told to go through another door into the main part of the airport. Magically, Carolyn’s luggage was lying alongside a random wall with a handful of other pieces of lonely luggage waiting to be claimed. It was a total miracle that it was ever found at all.
As we left the airport, we needed to report back to the guard to pick up Uncle G’s driver’s license. We learned the way things worked in Zambia, as we paid off the guard with 50,000 kwacha (about $17) and drove off. We were really pumped – we bribed our first police officer!
With a scary, but highly exciting, adventure behind us, we headed to the marketplace where we continued to master our bargaining skills. We will continue to retell (and probably embellish) this story. It was well worth having the lost luggage!
Miss and love you all,
Christen Bloomfield"
We have had a number of interesting developments in the past couple of days-- and to inform you all of them, I am going to hand things over to Christen Bloomfield.
"Twenty or more hours of flying. Too many airplane meals. One person sick. Luggage Missing. THANK GOD we’re finally here!
Carolyn had her luggage misplaced somewhere between London and Johannesburg, Africa. Yesterday after lunch and trying to strategically trying to figure out the flying schedule at Lusaka International, Carolyn and I with our faithful escort, Uncle G, headed to the airport to see if her luggage had miraculously shown up.
Right outside the airport, we approached a security hut (seriously, it was a hut with guards carrying guns from like the first world war…). We were motioned to pull over and told that the sticker on the vehicle had expired. Although they allowed us to continue to the airport, Uncle G was forced to give up his driver’s license.
Carolyn and I went into the airport alone while Uncle G parked the vehicle. We first asked an African man working for the airport where we would go and he pointed to one of the many hallways against a far wall. When we found the office, there was another man closing a door to a room chalk FULL of luggage to the ceiling. I’m not sure if he didn’t understand us or if he just didn’t want to help us, but he pointed to left and said “Go out der, to de office….” We walked outside to a scary, creepy alley way of the airport. Walking down the alley, passing door after door, we finally saw this tiny sign that said “South African Airlines.” We walked into yet another office full of luggage and crammed with people. Still unsure if this was the right place, we waited five minutes in a muggy, smelly office until we spotted a lady in a side office and decided to ask her. She told us to follow he and off we went on quite the adventure through the behind the scenes of the airport, we ended in a side room with literally three semi-trailer trucks full of luggage. There were two African men asking to see our luggage claims. I’m fairly certain that they didn’t even look at the tags, because ever since we entered the airport we kept asking if someone – ANYBODY- could just scan the bar code to find the luggage. We were only allowed to stand behind and look into the trailer to see if we could see the bags and wait for the “big boss”. We were looking for ONE black piece of luggage in a sea of black bags and box .We were told not to touch or go near the bags darn near impossible, I tell you. As we waited, the guard continually told us hello as if flirting. We were ready to give up w hen we were told to go through another door into the main part of the airport. Magically, Carolyn’s luggage was lying alongside a random wall with a handful of other pieces of lonely luggage waiting to be claimed. It was a total miracle that it was ever found at all.
As we left the airport, we needed to report back to the guard to pick up Uncle G’s driver’s license. We learned the way things worked in Zambia, as we paid off the guard with 50,000 kwacha (about $17) and drove off. We were really pumped – we bribed our first police officer!
With a scary, but highly exciting, adventure behind us, we headed to the marketplace where we continued to master our bargaining skills. We will continue to retell (and probably embellish) this story. It was well worth having the lost luggage!
Miss and love you all,
Christen Bloomfield"
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Safe Arrival
I am not sure if "jet lag" is the precisely correct term, but I will use it for the remainder of this blog as a synonym for "really stinking tired." Everybody is jet-lagged. It is coming up on 8:30pm here, and the entire team is already in bed. The physical toll of our travels and the emotional toll of coming face-to-face for the first time with 40 orphaned children is evident. It is clear that this trip will not be easy. But it will be good. It already is good.
More later... Just wanted to let you know that we are here safely.
Peace,
Matt
More later... Just wanted to let you know that we are here safely.
Peace,
Matt
Friday, June 27, 2008
It's A Small World After All...
It is 5:40pm as I write this blog from Heathrow Airport in London. So, if the time zone converter on my watch is correct, that would make it 11:40am in Racine. It is hard to believe that at this time yesterday, the Zambia Team was still in Wisconsin. In the past 24 hours, I have travelled from Milwaukee to Racine to Chicago by car, from Chicago to London by plane, and from Heathrow Airport to Westminster and back by underground train. (Somebody calculate the total mileage and post it as a response please.) I have had personal conversations with people from six different continents since checking in at O'Hare last night. It is indeed a Small World.
After we arrived at the airport last night, a few of us stopped to grab a bite to eat and a drink at one of the restaurants in the terminal. (Hey, why not? We had plenty of extra time thanks to Nancy Neill, Sue Walter, Debbie Morin, Bill Jankovich, and Naison Nyamatutu. Thanks for the ride to Chicago!) While relaxing in the restaurant, we struck up a conversation with a man named Madhukar Puniani. He is originally from New Delhi, India though he now lives in Toronto, Canada and travels to Indianapolis for work on a regular basis. Our discussion meandered, touching every topic from the annual festivals in India to the way that various wheat beers are filtered (this guy was pretty bright.)
Somehow, the topic of storage came up. (Like I said, our discussion meandered...) Madhukar is preparing to buy a house in Indianapolis, and I believe someone on our team advised that he consider the amount of storage space his new home would offer in terms of garages, sheds, and basements. He seemed a bit surprised that storage space would even be an important factor in his decision. (Of course, for us that is an obvious consideration. Storage is an immenent concern in most of our Little Worlds. Click here.) "Of course you need storage space," someone from our team interjected, "How else could you have winter and summer stuff like snowblowers and lawnmowers?"
"Well, how does the rest of the world do it?" he asked. (Or rather, he stated. The inflection of his voice did not seem to indicate any puzzlement on his part.)
My time on this pay-as-you-go airport internet kiosk is about to expire. (Note to Jim Parrish: I will not filling out an expense reimbursement request for this. I have a tough enough time with those without having to convert from pounds to dollars.) But I hope that we will all dwell a bit on Madhukar's question-- and if I may reframe it: What might happen if the reality of our Small World would rush into my Little World? What implications might that have for all the time, energy, and resources I spend managing my Little World-- when those resources are more readily available to the rest of the Small World than ever before?
Peace,
Matt
After we arrived at the airport last night, a few of us stopped to grab a bite to eat and a drink at one of the restaurants in the terminal. (Hey, why not? We had plenty of extra time thanks to Nancy Neill, Sue Walter, Debbie Morin, Bill Jankovich, and Naison Nyamatutu. Thanks for the ride to Chicago!) While relaxing in the restaurant, we struck up a conversation with a man named Madhukar Puniani. He is originally from New Delhi, India though he now lives in Toronto, Canada and travels to Indianapolis for work on a regular basis. Our discussion meandered, touching every topic from the annual festivals in India to the way that various wheat beers are filtered (this guy was pretty bright.)
Somehow, the topic of storage came up. (Like I said, our discussion meandered...) Madhukar is preparing to buy a house in Indianapolis, and I believe someone on our team advised that he consider the amount of storage space his new home would offer in terms of garages, sheds, and basements. He seemed a bit surprised that storage space would even be an important factor in his decision. (Of course, for us that is an obvious consideration. Storage is an immenent concern in most of our Little Worlds. Click here.) "Of course you need storage space," someone from our team interjected, "How else could you have winter and summer stuff like snowblowers and lawnmowers?"
"Well, how does the rest of the world do it?" he asked. (Or rather, he stated. The inflection of his voice did not seem to indicate any puzzlement on his part.)
My time on this pay-as-you-go airport internet kiosk is about to expire. (Note to Jim Parrish: I will not filling out an expense reimbursement request for this. I have a tough enough time with those without having to convert from pounds to dollars.) But I hope that we will all dwell a bit on Madhukar's question-- and if I may reframe it: What might happen if the reality of our Small World would rush into my Little World? What implications might that have for all the time, energy, and resources I spend managing my Little World-- when those resources are more readily available to the rest of the Small World than ever before?
Peace,
Matt
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Instruction Manual
It has been brought to my attention, through various questions, that some people might not understand exactly how this webpage works. (ex: Why is it called a "blog"? Am I allowed to communicate with you, or is the blog strictly one-way communication? Can I read your "blog" on my typewriter, or do I need one of those newfangled computer contraptions?) Please accept my apologies for not being more explicit.
So now that Step Two is done ("create first blog posting") please allow me to move on to Step One ("teach people how to use blog"). This is a short, user-friendly guide.
Two-Way Communication
So now that Step Two is done ("create first blog posting") please allow me to move on to Step One ("teach people how to use blog"). This is a short, user-friendly guide.
Two-Way Communication
- You are allowed (in fact, encouraged) to leave comments and questions for the Zambia Team on this webpage. As stated in an earlier post, we may not have regular access to the internet while we are in Zambia, but please comment all the same.
- In order to communicate with us, simply click on the link that says "comments" at the end of each post. You may then type your comment in the box that appears. Don't forget to sign your name to your post!
- Next, click on the little circle that says "anonymous." This feature will allow anybody to leave a comment (for better or worse.)
- Finally, click "Publish Your Comment" and it will be sent to the Zambia team. Everybody who visits the blog will also be able to read it.
- If only programming your universal remote was this easy...
-Matt
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Three Weeks Away...
Welcome!
Whether you are a member of Covenant, friend or family of someone on the Zambia Team, or simply a casual observer, we are glad you are checking this out.
The purpose for this blog is simple: To keep the entire church informed and immersed in its mission in Zambia while the team is away from June 26th-July 11th. As the Zambia Team experiences various joys and challenges, we want the rest of the church to experience them at the same time. Again, this is consistent with a culture of "shared mission"-- though 11 people are going, the entire church is being sent.
We have been told that there is internet access at a number of places in Zambia. However, the reliability of that connection is another matter altogether. As much as we hope to keep this page updated on a regular basis during the trip, we can't make any promises. Please check back frequently and remain committed in prayer regardless of what is or is not posted here.
-Matt
(on behalf of the Zambia Team)
Whether you are a member of Covenant, friend or family of someone on the Zambia Team, or simply a casual observer, we are glad you are checking this out.
The purpose for this blog is simple: To keep the entire church informed and immersed in its mission in Zambia while the team is away from June 26th-July 11th. As the Zambia Team experiences various joys and challenges, we want the rest of the church to experience them at the same time. Again, this is consistent with a culture of "shared mission"-- though 11 people are going, the entire church is being sent.
We have been told that there is internet access at a number of places in Zambia. However, the reliability of that connection is another matter altogether. As much as we hope to keep this page updated on a regular basis during the trip, we can't make any promises. Please check back frequently and remain committed in prayer regardless of what is or is not posted here.
-Matt
(on behalf of the Zambia Team)
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