Zambia is trying to build a middle-class economy.
The Kariba Dam is a hydroelectric dam in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi river basin bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe. At 128-meter high and 579-meter long, it is one of the largest dams in the world and controls 40 percent of the total runoff of the Zambezi River. (Source: Xinhua)
It was built by the Italians in the early 1950s.
On the road from Lusaka to the Kariba Dam, there are some Zambian attempts at a fledgling motel system. We stopped for a bite to eat at one of them, and I asked to see some rooms. The rooms went for something like $25 a night and were rough attempts to mimic a western-style Motel 6 grade of accommodation. A bedroom area, with a couple of beds, maybe a mirror, a bit of a light of some kind. A bathroom with a shower, a sink, and a toilet.
As the manager showed me the rooms, I noted the features and suggested that he might want to consider adding toilet seats to the toilets. He appeared to make note of this.
The point is, they're trying. But they still fall short of what a westerner expects, and they probably charge too much for a typical African to pay, so who's going to stay there? Maybe they had toilet seats when they first opened and they were opportunistically stolen by the first guests; I don't know. The whole place has a half-finished feel to it, and I was told that this is typical; they plan, they start, and their plan is to finish things off with the money that will start rolling in.
Except, very often it doesn't.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Time and Money
I realize the dangers of generalization, but it seems to me that, culturally, Africans have a different sense of both time and money. When you've got them, you spend them, and then you run out.
Let me explain. Rev. Mufika had an important essay that had to be typed and emailed on the Monday we arrived in Kolwezi. As he put it, he would be in trouble if he didn't get it in that day. Instead of going directly to the guest house from the airport so I could type the essay (and have lots of time to do so), we swung by Pastor Jean Louis' house for a meal. We waited 3 1/2 hours while the meal was prepared -- it was about 1:15pm before we finally ate, and this was our first meal of the day!
Meanwhile, the evening classes were starting at 5pm, and I had an essay to type! We arrived at the guest house and I literally sat in the chair at the desk and typed until the essay was finished.
It seems to the African mind, there is "now", and there is "then (or, perhaps, "later"). Rev. Mufika didn't seem to appreciate the fact that I needed several hours to type his essay; there was a meal pending, this was "now", and the essay would be "then", or later.
The same seems to go for money. When you've got it, you spend it, and then it's gone. There seems to be little planning for the future, or rationing to make something last. A good example is "talk time". Instead of having a monthly account, which wouldn't work because Africans typically would run up a bill in the month that they would have no ability to pay, Africans buy "talk time" which they load into their cell phone accounts. I recall one time there were at least four Africans and me and I was the only one who had "talk time" on his cell phone. Everyone else was talked out.
The solution to poverty is not money. Let me say that again in case you missed it. The solution to poverty is not money. It is attitude change, or attitude development. It is acquiring the western ideas of planning for the future and its corrollary, deferred gratitude in the present.
Let me explain. Rev. Mufika had an important essay that had to be typed and emailed on the Monday we arrived in Kolwezi. As he put it, he would be in trouble if he didn't get it in that day. Instead of going directly to the guest house from the airport so I could type the essay (and have lots of time to do so), we swung by Pastor Jean Louis' house for a meal. We waited 3 1/2 hours while the meal was prepared -- it was about 1:15pm before we finally ate, and this was our first meal of the day!
Meanwhile, the evening classes were starting at 5pm, and I had an essay to type! We arrived at the guest house and I literally sat in the chair at the desk and typed until the essay was finished.
It seems to the African mind, there is "now", and there is "then (or, perhaps, "later"). Rev. Mufika didn't seem to appreciate the fact that I needed several hours to type his essay; there was a meal pending, this was "now", and the essay would be "then", or later.
The same seems to go for money. When you've got it, you spend it, and then it's gone. There seems to be little planning for the future, or rationing to make something last. A good example is "talk time". Instead of having a monthly account, which wouldn't work because Africans typically would run up a bill in the month that they would have no ability to pay, Africans buy "talk time" which they load into their cell phone accounts. I recall one time there were at least four Africans and me and I was the only one who had "talk time" on his cell phone. Everyone else was talked out.
The solution to poverty is not money. Let me say that again in case you missed it. The solution to poverty is not money. It is attitude change, or attitude development. It is acquiring the western ideas of planning for the future and its corrollary, deferred gratitude in the present.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
My luggage felt like it weighed a ton...
A flashback to the day of my departure from Toronto to Africa:
I arrived at the Air Canada checkin at around 7 am., having packed my two cheap duffel bags the night before. I hoisted the two bags onto the Air Canada conveyor belt. The first bag weighed in at the limit -- 70 lbs; the second, 76 lbs.
I had just lifted 146 lbs. Let's round down for the sake of convenience -- 140 lbs.
Air Canada wasn't set-up to accept the British Airways re-booking caused by the pending BA cabin crew strike. An AC supervisor looked over my flight details, grimaced, and informed me, very officially, that I would have to remove my bags from the conveyor until they sorted the problem out. Problem was, the conveyer doesn't work in reverse, so there I was scrambling up the conveyor to fetch my bags and drag them off the conveyor belt.
That's 280 lbs; plus I had helped the limo driver put them into the limo and take them out at the airport, another 140 lbs (at half-weight), so I was up to 420 lbs.
Air Canada worked out the glitch and invited me to put my bags on the conveyor. I complied.
That's 560 lbs.
I arrived at Heathrow Terminal 3, but my flight the next evening was going out of Terminal 4. You have to take a train to get to Terminal 4 from Terminal 3, and you cannot take the luggage cart to the train platform area. You have to ditch the cart, and hand-carry your bags to the train. So I do.
That's 700 lbs.
Only problem was, there are two types of trains that stop at Terminal 3, the kind that actually goes to Terminal 4, and the kind that doesn't. The kind that is a "Heathrow Express" -- into London. Unfortunately for me, I found myself on the train into London.
The conductor scribbled a note to allow me to return back to Heathrow from London Picadilly at no cost. But, I would have to leave the train and board the train across the platform.
I arrive at Picadilly Station, and lug my bags out of the train and fetch a luggage cart to wheel them across the platform to the train opposite.
That's 840 lbs.
The train is virtually empty. I wait for about 5 minutes for the train doors to open. They don't open, and at some point the train just saunters away from the terminal. I cart my bags back to the other train where a young homeless man helps me load my bags on the train. He also knows enough to press a button to open the door to the train. Typical British way of doing things! You could stand forever outside the train and its doors wouldn't open -- and there was, of course, no sign near the doors saying "Press button to open door". You're just supposed to know these things. (Someone should do a book on "the things you're just supposed to know".)
I take the train I had been on back to Heathrow T4. I lug my bags off the train.
That's 980 lbs.
A staff person sees my dilemma and calls for a cart. I lug the bags onto the cart.
That's 1120 lbs.
I head for "Left Luggage" where I plan to store my two heavy bags for the night and lug them up onto their conveyor.
That's 1260 lbs.
The guy looks at the scanned image and asks me what food I have in the bags. I tell him -- cereals, trail-mix, dried-fruit; I'm heading for Africa. He informs me that the company does not permit food items in luggage left at Left Luggage.
I lug the bags off his conveyer and onto the cart.
That's 1400 lbs.
I go off to think. I decide to buy a smaller bag from Left Luggage, put all the food items into it, and lug them into London on the Underground.
I go back to Left Luggage to buy the bag and sort through the luggage for food items. He informs me that he is closing in two minutes. I look at him, stunned.
This is London.
This is Heathrow.
And they're closing?
Yup.
Heathrow basically shuts down by 11pm.
After mulling it over some more, I decide to take a London Cab. I help the taxi driver load the luggage.
That's 1470 lbs, at half-weight.
We have a black taxi ride into town. I get to see Picadilly. I get to see Harrod's. I get to pay 65 GBP for the trip (about $130 dollars -- as much as my hotel room).
We arrive at the hotel. I help the cab driver/porter lug my bags off the taxi and onto the luggage cart.
In Britain they have little elevators with little doors. So, of course, I had to lug the luggage off the cart into the elevator, then off the elevator and back onto the cart, and then, off the cart and into the room. At the half-weight rate, I figure that's another 140 lbs (1610 lbs).
And that's why my luggage felt like it weighed a ton.
And why it was a very tired and deflated Ball that bounced up into bed that night.
I arrived at the Air Canada checkin at around 7 am., having packed my two cheap duffel bags the night before. I hoisted the two bags onto the Air Canada conveyor belt. The first bag weighed in at the limit -- 70 lbs; the second, 76 lbs.
I had just lifted 146 lbs. Let's round down for the sake of convenience -- 140 lbs.
Air Canada wasn't set-up to accept the British Airways re-booking caused by the pending BA cabin crew strike. An AC supervisor looked over my flight details, grimaced, and informed me, very officially, that I would have to remove my bags from the conveyor until they sorted the problem out. Problem was, the conveyer doesn't work in reverse, so there I was scrambling up the conveyor to fetch my bags and drag them off the conveyor belt.
That's 280 lbs; plus I had helped the limo driver put them into the limo and take them out at the airport, another 140 lbs (at half-weight), so I was up to 420 lbs.
Air Canada worked out the glitch and invited me to put my bags on the conveyor. I complied.
That's 560 lbs.
I arrived at Heathrow Terminal 3, but my flight the next evening was going out of Terminal 4. You have to take a train to get to Terminal 4 from Terminal 3, and you cannot take the luggage cart to the train platform area. You have to ditch the cart, and hand-carry your bags to the train. So I do.
That's 700 lbs.
Only problem was, there are two types of trains that stop at Terminal 3, the kind that actually goes to Terminal 4, and the kind that doesn't. The kind that is a "Heathrow Express" -- into London. Unfortunately for me, I found myself on the train into London.
The conductor scribbled a note to allow me to return back to Heathrow from London Picadilly at no cost. But, I would have to leave the train and board the train across the platform.
I arrive at Picadilly Station, and lug my bags out of the train and fetch a luggage cart to wheel them across the platform to the train opposite.
That's 840 lbs.
The train is virtually empty. I wait for about 5 minutes for the train doors to open. They don't open, and at some point the train just saunters away from the terminal. I cart my bags back to the other train where a young homeless man helps me load my bags on the train. He also knows enough to press a button to open the door to the train. Typical British way of doing things! You could stand forever outside the train and its doors wouldn't open -- and there was, of course, no sign near the doors saying "Press button to open door". You're just supposed to know these things. (Someone should do a book on "the things you're just supposed to know".)
I take the train I had been on back to Heathrow T4. I lug my bags off the train.
That's 980 lbs.
A staff person sees my dilemma and calls for a cart. I lug the bags onto the cart.
That's 1120 lbs.
I head for "Left Luggage" where I plan to store my two heavy bags for the night and lug them up onto their conveyor.
That's 1260 lbs.
The guy looks at the scanned image and asks me what food I have in the bags. I tell him -- cereals, trail-mix, dried-fruit; I'm heading for Africa. He informs me that the company does not permit food items in luggage left at Left Luggage.
I lug the bags off his conveyer and onto the cart.
That's 1400 lbs.
I go off to think. I decide to buy a smaller bag from Left Luggage, put all the food items into it, and lug them into London on the Underground.
I go back to Left Luggage to buy the bag and sort through the luggage for food items. He informs me that he is closing in two minutes. I look at him, stunned.
This is London.
This is Heathrow.
And they're closing?
Yup.
Heathrow basically shuts down by 11pm.
After mulling it over some more, I decide to take a London Cab. I help the taxi driver load the luggage.
That's 1470 lbs, at half-weight.
We have a black taxi ride into town. I get to see Picadilly. I get to see Harrod's. I get to pay 65 GBP for the trip (about $130 dollars -- as much as my hotel room).
We arrive at the hotel. I help the cab driver/porter lug my bags off the taxi and onto the luggage cart.
In Britain they have little elevators with little doors. So, of course, I had to lug the luggage off the cart into the elevator, then off the elevator and back onto the cart, and then, off the cart and into the room. At the half-weight rate, I figure that's another 140 lbs (1610 lbs).
And that's why my luggage felt like it weighed a ton.
And why it was a very tired and deflated Ball that bounced up into bed that night.
Monday, March 05, 2007
At the Manda Hill Mall
I'm at the Manda Hill Mall in Lusaka, Zambia. It's Thursday afternoon, and I'm here until my Saturday am. flight on British Airways out of Africa and into London.
When you go on a missions trip, your goal is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and make a positive impact in the lives of those you meet.
Here's some of the things I was able to accomplish:
1. Brought two 32 kg (70 lb) bags full of supplies and books. My bag for the trip home is around 20 kg, for a next contribution of 44 kg (around 100 lbs)!.
2. Taught a one-week intensive Apologetics course to the senior students of TTC (Trans-Africa Theological College - John and Ruth Kerr PAOC - you can look them up online!).
3. Hired and paid Gary Bufuku to function as a teaching assistant (TA). The money was a help to him, since he is currently without work.
4. Travelled to Lubumbashi, Congo and taught another one-week Apologetics class. My stomach was not happy, and it let me know in no uncertain terms. But I soldiered on, and the Lord blessed me with his presence and his anointing. We stayed at the Restawhile Guest House, run by the Brethren.
5. Flew to Kolwezi, Congo, where I continued my weight-loss regime and taught a one-week Christian Doctrine class, once again translated into French.
The Congo Christians deal with a lot of false doctrine, including those of the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Seventh Day Adventists, local African heresies (including one church which believes its leader is the Holy Spirit!) and "Branhamites" -- those who follow the teachings of American preacher William Branham, who denied the trinity (they believe the modalistic heresy that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are merely three "masks" or modes that God successively wears, a bit like how you could alternately act as a father, a brother, or a husband -- three roles, but only one you.
6. Typed two essays for the Rev. Mathieu Mufika.
7. Marked approx. 40 exam papers from the students of Lubumbashi. What made this interesting was they were written in French! I had Rev. Mufika translate a bunch of them until I caught on, and then did the rest myself.
8. Preached for about an hour at the Sunday 10 am. service at Rev. Mufika's Kolwezi Church. The fact that it is translated helps a bit -- you have time to think between sound bites. I preached on the importance of a) baptism, b) the Lord's Supper, and c) the anointing with oil for those who are sick -- three tangible aids to faith (and means of grace) that God has given us.
9. Sunday night I gave a quasi-impromptu 30-minute radio talk encouraging Kolwezi Christian married couples to keep their marriages strong.
10. Returned to Zambia in time to help the Kerrs purchase a (badly-needed) new washing machine. Their washing machine had totally conked out and was over 20 years old. As just one evidence of the way God watches over us, the new one they wanted went on sale today, down in Lusaka, where we are now, and we saved ONE MILLION KWATCHA (!!!) on the purchase price when we bought it this morning. When was the last time you saved one million anything?!
John Kerr has now headed back to Kitwe (about a 4 hour drive north); I'm relaxing and waiting until Saturday. I'm staying at the Baptist Guest House tonight; I've got the entire Lion guest house to myself; it's a one-bedroom cottage with a kitchen, dining/living area, and porch. All to myself. For $15 USD a night. The keepers of the BGH are from South Carolina.
Thank you for your prayers. I have prayed that they would rebound in providential care and blessing upon you.
Now, back to my coffee.
More later...
When you go on a missions trip, your goal is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and make a positive impact in the lives of those you meet.
Here's some of the things I was able to accomplish:
1. Brought two 32 kg (70 lb) bags full of supplies and books. My bag for the trip home is around 20 kg, for a next contribution of 44 kg (around 100 lbs)!.
2. Taught a one-week intensive Apologetics course to the senior students of TTC (Trans-Africa Theological College - John and Ruth Kerr PAOC - you can look them up online!).
3. Hired and paid Gary Bufuku to function as a teaching assistant (TA). The money was a help to him, since he is currently without work.
4. Travelled to Lubumbashi, Congo and taught another one-week Apologetics class. My stomach was not happy, and it let me know in no uncertain terms. But I soldiered on, and the Lord blessed me with his presence and his anointing. We stayed at the Restawhile Guest House, run by the Brethren.
5. Flew to Kolwezi, Congo, where I continued my weight-loss regime and taught a one-week Christian Doctrine class, once again translated into French.
The Congo Christians deal with a lot of false doctrine, including those of the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Seventh Day Adventists, local African heresies (including one church which believes its leader is the Holy Spirit!) and "Branhamites" -- those who follow the teachings of American preacher William Branham, who denied the trinity (they believe the modalistic heresy that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are merely three "masks" or modes that God successively wears, a bit like how you could alternately act as a father, a brother, or a husband -- three roles, but only one you.
6. Typed two essays for the Rev. Mathieu Mufika.
7. Marked approx. 40 exam papers from the students of Lubumbashi. What made this interesting was they were written in French! I had Rev. Mufika translate a bunch of them until I caught on, and then did the rest myself.
8. Preached for about an hour at the Sunday 10 am. service at Rev. Mufika's Kolwezi Church. The fact that it is translated helps a bit -- you have time to think between sound bites. I preached on the importance of a) baptism, b) the Lord's Supper, and c) the anointing with oil for those who are sick -- three tangible aids to faith (and means of grace) that God has given us.
9. Sunday night I gave a quasi-impromptu 30-minute radio talk encouraging Kolwezi Christian married couples to keep their marriages strong.
10. Returned to Zambia in time to help the Kerrs purchase a (badly-needed) new washing machine. Their washing machine had totally conked out and was over 20 years old. As just one evidence of the way God watches over us, the new one they wanted went on sale today, down in Lusaka, where we are now, and we saved ONE MILLION KWATCHA (!!!) on the purchase price when we bought it this morning. When was the last time you saved one million anything?!
John Kerr has now headed back to Kitwe (about a 4 hour drive north); I'm relaxing and waiting until Saturday. I'm staying at the Baptist Guest House tonight; I've got the entire Lion guest house to myself; it's a one-bedroom cottage with a kitchen, dining/living area, and porch. All to myself. For $15 USD a night. The keepers of the BGH are from South Carolina.
Thank you for your prayers. I have prayed that they would rebound in providential care and blessing upon you.
Now, back to my coffee.
More later...
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Hello from Zambia!
I arrived in Lusaka, Zambia eight days ago. Celia Anand (a fellow missions person from Canada on a five month mission) and I were met by John and Ruth Kerr, our hosts. We stayed at a Baptist Guest House run by some Americans from South Carolina the first night. Sunday we went to a church on the outskirts of Lusaka, and then headed north to the Copperbelt.
Monday through Friday I taught an intensive one-week Christian Apologetics class. The Rev. Gary Bufiku is assisting me this year with all the marking of papers and exams. The students are Spirit-filled men of God; when they pray, the heavens shake!
Today I preached at the Rev. Mathieu Mufika's church in rural Kitwe. I preached on the kingdom of God: a) distant, b) imminent, and c) within you. "The kingdom of God is at hand -- within our reach -- reach up and grab it!" We ate lunch at Rev. Mufika's.
Tomorrow, Monday Feb. 10th, we head up by car to the DR Congo border, then by taxi to Lubumbashi. I will be teaching another round of apologetics courses at the college there. It is French-speaking, so I will be translated. Rev. Mufika and I will be staying at a Guest House. Classes start at 5pm and run until about 9pm.
On Monday Feb. 17th, we'll be flying up to Kolwezi, where I will be teaching Christian Doctrine.
On Monday Feb 24th, we'll fly down to Lubumbashi and reverse our trip back to Kitwe.
Upon my return to Kitwe, I plan to finish up, and then hope to do some kind of R&R before my return to Canada via London the following Saturday.
Sorry I haven't posted sooner. The internet hasn't been working well.
Having said that, I look forward to reporting on my exploits upon my return from DR Congo, and seek your continued prayers on my behalf and on behalf of the mission.
May God bless you, and all who worship the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth.
Monday through Friday I taught an intensive one-week Christian Apologetics class. The Rev. Gary Bufiku is assisting me this year with all the marking of papers and exams. The students are Spirit-filled men of God; when they pray, the heavens shake!
Today I preached at the Rev. Mathieu Mufika's church in rural Kitwe. I preached on the kingdom of God: a) distant, b) imminent, and c) within you. "The kingdom of God is at hand -- within our reach -- reach up and grab it!" We ate lunch at Rev. Mufika's.
Tomorrow, Monday Feb. 10th, we head up by car to the DR Congo border, then by taxi to Lubumbashi. I will be teaching another round of apologetics courses at the college there. It is French-speaking, so I will be translated. Rev. Mufika and I will be staying at a Guest House. Classes start at 5pm and run until about 9pm.
On Monday Feb. 17th, we'll be flying up to Kolwezi, where I will be teaching Christian Doctrine.
On Monday Feb 24th, we'll fly down to Lubumbashi and reverse our trip back to Kitwe.
Upon my return to Kitwe, I plan to finish up, and then hope to do some kind of R&R before my return to Canada via London the following Saturday.
Sorry I haven't posted sooner. The internet hasn't been working well.
Having said that, I look forward to reporting on my exploits upon my return from DR Congo, and seek your continued prayers on my behalf and on behalf of the mission.
May God bless you, and all who worship the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Poolside - InterContinental Hotel, Lusaka, Zambia
If the theme of the last post was "Endure hardships as a good soldier of Jesus Christ", the theme of this one could be "I know both how to be abased and to abound". With the emphasis on the abounding part. Both quotes from the pen of the apostle Paul.
I finished marking the TTC Apologetics class papers around 3 pm. today and headed poolside at the luxurious InterContinental Hotel in Lusaka, where I, along with the British Airways crew who call this place home when in Lusaka, will be heading for the airport at 6 am. tomorrow.
Ten-hour flight up to London; overnight at the Thistle Kensington Gardens (booked using www.londontown.com); then down to Toronto Friday afternoon, arriving around 7 pm.
For lunch today I trotted over to the LA Fast Food court, a place trying to be western, and ordered a burger. On the way I had bought a fire-cooked corn on the cob that tasted approximately like popcorn, from a Zambian local lady, for the grand sum of 1,000 Kwatcha (about 35 cents).
The LA Fast Foods place is "strictly Hallal" or whatever it is; Muslim. The burger didn't taste good to me; too fatty or something. Maybe not completely cooked. Maybe it's laced with grain. Just didn't taste right. So what do you do? I had only eaten a couple of bites, so, on the way back to the hotel, I called out "hello" to the Zambian lady and offered it to her. You should have seen her face light up. She squirelled it away in her bag. Her family will eat meat tonight! I don't think she understood a word of English, but I could be wrong. She certainly didn't say a word in any language to me. But I made her day.
What about the fact that I had taken a couple of bites, wasn't there a health issue there?
This is Africa, my friend, and having food to eat, and meat at that, takes precedence.
It's time to go home.
I finished marking the TTC Apologetics class papers around 3 pm. today and headed poolside at the luxurious InterContinental Hotel in Lusaka, where I, along with the British Airways crew who call this place home when in Lusaka, will be heading for the airport at 6 am. tomorrow.
Ten-hour flight up to London; overnight at the Thistle Kensington Gardens (booked using www.londontown.com); then down to Toronto Friday afternoon, arriving around 7 pm.
For lunch today I trotted over to the LA Fast Food court, a place trying to be western, and ordered a burger. On the way I had bought a fire-cooked corn on the cob that tasted approximately like popcorn, from a Zambian local lady, for the grand sum of 1,000 Kwatcha (about 35 cents).
The LA Fast Foods place is "strictly Hallal" or whatever it is; Muslim. The burger didn't taste good to me; too fatty or something. Maybe not completely cooked. Maybe it's laced with grain. Just didn't taste right. So what do you do? I had only eaten a couple of bites, so, on the way back to the hotel, I called out "hello" to the Zambian lady and offered it to her. You should have seen her face light up. She squirelled it away in her bag. Her family will eat meat tonight! I don't think she understood a word of English, but I could be wrong. She certainly didn't say a word in any language to me. But I made her day.
What about the fact that I had taken a couple of bites, wasn't there a health issue there?
This is Africa, my friend, and having food to eat, and meat at that, takes precedence.
It's time to go home.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Congo Mission - it's good to be back!
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
I’ve just returned to Zambia from a nine-day mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Zambia is poor; crossing the border into the Congo, you realize that the Congo is poorer still. A barely functioning banking system. A postal service that is simply not used because you cannot count on your letter or package arriving. A country strongly rich in natural resources -- hydro-electric power, copper, minerals, but poor in management skills and rich in corrupt officials who siphon off the wealth and leave the people dirt-poor.
I stayed in Kolwezi at a guest house run by Brethren, along with my Congo host the Rev. Mathieu Mufika, and a couple of World Vision types. Guest houses are the African version of an inn, and are often run by Christian churches or missions. Conditions were basic. A toilet that worked, but a water supply that did not. Water was brought in each morning by local women. We heated water in a pail to add to the cold water for bathing. The conditions were much closer to those that you would actually find in the Bible, and it was into this world, and not our world of luxurious convenience, that our Lord Jesus came. It is humbling.
I taught Introduction to the New Testament, and an Introduction to Systematic Theology, over the course of seven days. There were about twenty students, most pastors of local churches, and the most resources any of them probably had was Bible. I was teaching, and my African colleague Rev. Mufika, translated into French. From English, into French, mediated through an African mind. I think the students got most of what I said. Classes were in the afternoon-evening, as everyone had jobs or duties during the day. We generally ran from 4:30 pm. to 7:30 pm.
Most mornings we had a simple breakfast consisting of either cereal (Harvest Crunch brought from Canada) or bread along with peanut butter and honey which I brought in from Zambia. Both the cereal and the peanut butter and honey delighted the Rev. Mufika, who was, I think, suprised that I would share what I had with him.
Most evenings we ate a generous meal at a pastor or elder’s home. Prior to a meal, a basin of warm water is provided, and the hostess pours this water over your hands as you wash them with soap and then rinse. After that, you eat. The women never ate with us; I suppose they ate afterwards, or perhaps, before.
A typical meal consists of some combination of chicken, beef, and small smoked fish. I avoided the fish, but Africa still caught up with me. Along with the meat and fish was a green vegetable dish, spaghetti (!), and the world’s best french fries, at least that’s the way they seemed to me, taken with mayonaise. (French fries were invented by the Belgians, and this is, after all, the former Belgian Congo.)
And, we also ate Nshima at every meal.
Nshima is to the Africans what rice is to the Japanese. It’s made of corn meal and water, and is like American grits or sticky porridge. If an African has eaten a buffalo, but no Nshima, and you ask them, they will say they haven’t eaten. The homiletical point is that Jesus is the nshima of life.
I tried to dress up my guest house room a bit. I went out and bought a power adapter so this western guy could be charging his computer, his iPod, and his rechargeable batteries while running the fan he brought with him from Zambia. At least I think I had as many as three on the go at any one time. I also bought some plastic hangers to replace the tired metal ones sadly hanging in the closet. I put a calendar I had bought up on the wall. I used this as an example to my Congo friend, Rev. Mufika, about how a Christian should try to be a blessing, and leave a “challenged” place like the Brethren guest house, in better condition than he found it. He was, I think, rather amazed at this. But he entered into the spirit of things and went out and bought an inexpensive plastic table cloth to cover the sadly tattered one on the dining room table.
The teaching was done in a classroom rented from the Catholics. There was a blackboard, but no electricity. Once I forgot to charge my laptop, and the Africans volunteered to connect it to two wires coming down a wall. I declined. Another time, the heavens opened, the power failed, and the students scurried around to rearrange themselves to avoid getting wet. I kept right on teaching/preaching over the din of the rain on the metal roof.
I visited the mayor, the burghmaster (which I gather is like the mayor but of a burgh (as in “Pittsburgh”) rather than a city, the security official, the magistrate’s court, a public school Rev. Mufika started, the local copper mines, and the power generation plant (that sells power to Zambia and South Africa, as well as other countries.) Everywhere I went, I was expected to say something, and to pray, which I did.
We also visited Rev. Mufika’s former home, bombed during inter-tribal warfare about 20 years ago. Rev. Mufika had preached against corruption and spent a month in jail. He said his home was one of the first to be destroyed. He still owns it, and hopes to restore it someday.
A major problem, along with official corruption and HIV/AIDS, is child labour. The western countries are fine; it’s the Indians, Pakistanis, and Asians, I was told. Of course it is illegal, but the underpaid police are easily bribed. So children are out “mining”, instead of being is school. They get a taste for money, get status and girls with the money, and before long, many of them have gotten HIV/AIDs.
While in Lubumbashi prior to Kowezi, I did a radio interview and preached a message; the potential radio audience was 400,000. While in Kolwezi, in addition to teaching, and going around everywhere, I preached a 50-minute sermon at a local church (founded by the Rev. Mufika) and also did a radio show on Sunday evening. I was told that the congregation said I preached like an African! High praise indeed!
My departure. We were supposed to be at the airport at 9 am. for a 10 am. flight. At 9 am we were in a prayer session at the Brethren guest house. We left for the airport around twenty after nine. Got to the airport around twenty to ten. And were among the first passagers to arrive. The plane left around ten forty-five for Lubumbashi; from Lubumbashi we took a 75-minute taxi ride to the squalid border town we had entered nine long days prior. We first processed our way out of the Congo, and then processed our way back into Zambia. This took about an hour, but only because Rev. Mufika was there to keep things moving.
Rev. Mufika returned with me to ensure my safety and to spare me the harrassment and delays associated with a border crossing. His plan was to return to Kolwezi after seeing me across the border. But, this time, by an arduous overnight train, rather than the luxury of a no-frills 45-minute plane.
God’s presence, power, and providence was evident during this trip. The people insisted I must return to help them further. This I shall seek to do.
I’ve just returned to Zambia from a nine-day mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Zambia is poor; crossing the border into the Congo, you realize that the Congo is poorer still. A barely functioning banking system. A postal service that is simply not used because you cannot count on your letter or package arriving. A country strongly rich in natural resources -- hydro-electric power, copper, minerals, but poor in management skills and rich in corrupt officials who siphon off the wealth and leave the people dirt-poor.
I stayed in Kolwezi at a guest house run by Brethren, along with my Congo host the Rev. Mathieu Mufika, and a couple of World Vision types. Guest houses are the African version of an inn, and are often run by Christian churches or missions. Conditions were basic. A toilet that worked, but a water supply that did not. Water was brought in each morning by local women. We heated water in a pail to add to the cold water for bathing. The conditions were much closer to those that you would actually find in the Bible, and it was into this world, and not our world of luxurious convenience, that our Lord Jesus came. It is humbling.
I taught Introduction to the New Testament, and an Introduction to Systematic Theology, over the course of seven days. There were about twenty students, most pastors of local churches, and the most resources any of them probably had was Bible. I was teaching, and my African colleague Rev. Mufika, translated into French. From English, into French, mediated through an African mind. I think the students got most of what I said. Classes were in the afternoon-evening, as everyone had jobs or duties during the day. We generally ran from 4:30 pm. to 7:30 pm.
Most mornings we had a simple breakfast consisting of either cereal (Harvest Crunch brought from Canada) or bread along with peanut butter and honey which I brought in from Zambia. Both the cereal and the peanut butter and honey delighted the Rev. Mufika, who was, I think, suprised that I would share what I had with him.
Most evenings we ate a generous meal at a pastor or elder’s home. Prior to a meal, a basin of warm water is provided, and the hostess pours this water over your hands as you wash them with soap and then rinse. After that, you eat. The women never ate with us; I suppose they ate afterwards, or perhaps, before.
A typical meal consists of some combination of chicken, beef, and small smoked fish. I avoided the fish, but Africa still caught up with me. Along with the meat and fish was a green vegetable dish, spaghetti (!), and the world’s best french fries, at least that’s the way they seemed to me, taken with mayonaise. (French fries were invented by the Belgians, and this is, after all, the former Belgian Congo.)
And, we also ate Nshima at every meal.
Nshima is to the Africans what rice is to the Japanese. It’s made of corn meal and water, and is like American grits or sticky porridge. If an African has eaten a buffalo, but no Nshima, and you ask them, they will say they haven’t eaten. The homiletical point is that Jesus is the nshima of life.
I tried to dress up my guest house room a bit. I went out and bought a power adapter so this western guy could be charging his computer, his iPod, and his rechargeable batteries while running the fan he brought with him from Zambia. At least I think I had as many as three on the go at any one time. I also bought some plastic hangers to replace the tired metal ones sadly hanging in the closet. I put a calendar I had bought up on the wall. I used this as an example to my Congo friend, Rev. Mufika, about how a Christian should try to be a blessing, and leave a “challenged” place like the Brethren guest house, in better condition than he found it. He was, I think, rather amazed at this. But he entered into the spirit of things and went out and bought an inexpensive plastic table cloth to cover the sadly tattered one on the dining room table.
The teaching was done in a classroom rented from the Catholics. There was a blackboard, but no electricity. Once I forgot to charge my laptop, and the Africans volunteered to connect it to two wires coming down a wall. I declined. Another time, the heavens opened, the power failed, and the students scurried around to rearrange themselves to avoid getting wet. I kept right on teaching/preaching over the din of the rain on the metal roof.
I visited the mayor, the burghmaster (which I gather is like the mayor but of a burgh (as in “Pittsburgh”) rather than a city, the security official, the magistrate’s court, a public school Rev. Mufika started, the local copper mines, and the power generation plant (that sells power to Zambia and South Africa, as well as other countries.) Everywhere I went, I was expected to say something, and to pray, which I did.
We also visited Rev. Mufika’s former home, bombed during inter-tribal warfare about 20 years ago. Rev. Mufika had preached against corruption and spent a month in jail. He said his home was one of the first to be destroyed. He still owns it, and hopes to restore it someday.
A major problem, along with official corruption and HIV/AIDS, is child labour. The western countries are fine; it’s the Indians, Pakistanis, and Asians, I was told. Of course it is illegal, but the underpaid police are easily bribed. So children are out “mining”, instead of being is school. They get a taste for money, get status and girls with the money, and before long, many of them have gotten HIV/AIDs.
While in Lubumbashi prior to Kowezi, I did a radio interview and preached a message; the potential radio audience was 400,000. While in Kolwezi, in addition to teaching, and going around everywhere, I preached a 50-minute sermon at a local church (founded by the Rev. Mufika) and also did a radio show on Sunday evening. I was told that the congregation said I preached like an African! High praise indeed!
My departure. We were supposed to be at the airport at 9 am. for a 10 am. flight. At 9 am we were in a prayer session at the Brethren guest house. We left for the airport around twenty after nine. Got to the airport around twenty to ten. And were among the first passagers to arrive. The plane left around ten forty-five for Lubumbashi; from Lubumbashi we took a 75-minute taxi ride to the squalid border town we had entered nine long days prior. We first processed our way out of the Congo, and then processed our way back into Zambia. This took about an hour, but only because Rev. Mufika was there to keep things moving.
Rev. Mufika returned with me to ensure my safety and to spare me the harrassment and delays associated with a border crossing. His plan was to return to Kolwezi after seeing me across the border. But, this time, by an arduous overnight train, rather than the luxury of a no-frills 45-minute plane.
God’s presence, power, and providence was evident during this trip. The people insisted I must return to help them further. This I shall seek to do.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Updated Plans for the DR Congo
Rev. Mufika called Thurday evening to indicate that our Friday flight to Kolwezi had been re-scheduled from 3pm to 9am. This meant we had to leave the next morning for the Congo border at 6am. We started to prepare on this basis, but then I realized the numbers didn't add up. Leave at 6am. 90 minutes to the border. An hour by cab into Lubumbashi. Another 20 minutes out to the airport. This wasn't going to work. We tried to contact Rev. Mufika to clarify, but could not reach him (a common Zambian occurrence.)
John Kerr, my host, called "Joseph" in the Congo who had bought the tickets. We didn't even know the name of the airline. We managed to determine the airline -- ITAB Air. But no flight number. Tried to look up flight on internet -- unsuccessful.
Joseph called back -- his information was that the flight was leaving not at 9:00am but at 8:30am, with us supposed to be at the airport at 7:30am and the border opening at 8:00am. We decided not to try to make the Friday flight.
(The scuttlebutt on Friday was that a government official had commandeered the plane to go electioneering, and this was the cause for the sudden and drastic schedule change.)
Our current plans are to leave by car for Lubumbashi on Saturday. We'll stay in Lubumbashi over the weekend, and be in the Congo for the Monday flight to Kolwezi. We'll probably stay seven days, and return on Monday February 27th.
Lubumbashi is the former Elizabethville; apparently it has retained some of its European flavour and charm, albeit in a run-down kind of way. There's a theological college there, so I may have a chance to visit it and perhaps even do a guest lecture or something-or-other.
Then on to Kolwezi on Monday. I've stocked up on peanut butter and crackers, Harvest Crunch (brought from Canada), dark chocolate bars, and some honey, so I should be OK. I'm going to try to take a fan with me to help with the nightime heat and humidity.
The pastors in Kolwezi need solid teaching, and I hope to be able to bring a refreshing drink of water to them in the name of Him who is the water of life.
I picked up a Zambian bottle opener for St. George's Anglican Church in Montague, PEI. You have to see it. It's a block of wood carved into an elephant, with two screws acting as the opener. I'll look forward to sharing it with the saints of Montague upon my safe return.
I appreciate you remembering me, and the people of Zambia and the DR Congo, in your prayers.
John Kerr, my host, called "Joseph" in the Congo who had bought the tickets. We didn't even know the name of the airline. We managed to determine the airline -- ITAB Air. But no flight number. Tried to look up flight on internet -- unsuccessful.
Joseph called back -- his information was that the flight was leaving not at 9:00am but at 8:30am, with us supposed to be at the airport at 7:30am and the border opening at 8:00am. We decided not to try to make the Friday flight.
(The scuttlebutt on Friday was that a government official had commandeered the plane to go electioneering, and this was the cause for the sudden and drastic schedule change.)
Our current plans are to leave by car for Lubumbashi on Saturday. We'll stay in Lubumbashi over the weekend, and be in the Congo for the Monday flight to Kolwezi. We'll probably stay seven days, and return on Monday February 27th.
Lubumbashi is the former Elizabethville; apparently it has retained some of its European flavour and charm, albeit in a run-down kind of way. There's a theological college there, so I may have a chance to visit it and perhaps even do a guest lecture or something-or-other.
Then on to Kolwezi on Monday. I've stocked up on peanut butter and crackers, Harvest Crunch (brought from Canada), dark chocolate bars, and some honey, so I should be OK. I'm going to try to take a fan with me to help with the nightime heat and humidity.
The pastors in Kolwezi need solid teaching, and I hope to be able to bring a refreshing drink of water to them in the name of Him who is the water of life.
I picked up a Zambian bottle opener for St. George's Anglican Church in Montague, PEI. You have to see it. It's a block of wood carved into an elephant, with two screws acting as the opener. I'll look forward to sharing it with the saints of Montague upon my safe return.
I appreciate you remembering me, and the people of Zambia and the DR Congo, in your prayers.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Plans for the Democratic Republic of the Congo
This week, I will be teaching on Monday, overseeing an exam on Wednesday, and marking the exams on Thursday.
Friday, I leave for a seven-day mission to the DR Congo (formerly Zaire). I will be teaching pastors Introduction to the New Testament and also Systematic Theology. My teaching will be translated into French for the French-speaking audience.
Here's the plan:
We will drive next Friday, Feb. 17th to the Zambian border.
Then, Rev. Mufika and I will cross the border into Congo. (Only someone who has crossed a border in Africa knows what this means!)
From the border, we take a taxi to the nearest town, Kasumbalesa. A local pastor friend will drive us to the airport. We will take a short 45 min. flight to town Kolwezi, which is where we will be holding our college.
Friday Feb. 17th is prayers. Saturday is teaching all day. Sunday I will be preaching in the am. and teaching in the pm. (I am planning, God willing, on preaching on being a new creation in Christ -- all things new; old things passed away.)
From Mon. through Thurs. the students will be working in the copper mines from 8-4pm, and then I
will be teaching them from 4pm - 8pm.
The following Friday, Rev. Mufika and I will fly back together to Kasumbalesa. Cab ride back to border. My host, John Kerr, or someone else, will be there on the Zambian side to pick me up. Then, Rev. Mufika flies right back to Kolwezi, where he
will continue the college!
So, Rev. Mufika is escorting me "door to door", so to speak. (Rev. Mufika is a "bishop" within the African church; he has been thrown in prison at least twice for his fearless presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is a very worthy man, and I consider it an honour to be under his authority for this trip.)
I'll be taking in Harvest Crunch and Peanut Butter into the Congo for additional nourishment.
Needless to say, I would appreciate your prayers for me and for the success of this mission.
Friday, I leave for a seven-day mission to the DR Congo (formerly Zaire). I will be teaching pastors Introduction to the New Testament and also Systematic Theology. My teaching will be translated into French for the French-speaking audience.
Here's the plan:
We will drive next Friday, Feb. 17th to the Zambian border.
Then, Rev. Mufika and I will cross the border into Congo. (Only someone who has crossed a border in Africa knows what this means!)
From the border, we take a taxi to the nearest town, Kasumbalesa. A local pastor friend will drive us to the airport. We will take a short 45 min. flight to town Kolwezi, which is where we will be holding our college.
Friday Feb. 17th is prayers. Saturday is teaching all day. Sunday I will be preaching in the am. and teaching in the pm. (I am planning, God willing, on preaching on being a new creation in Christ -- all things new; old things passed away.)
From Mon. through Thurs. the students will be working in the copper mines from 8-4pm, and then I
will be teaching them from 4pm - 8pm.
The following Friday, Rev. Mufika and I will fly back together to Kasumbalesa. Cab ride back to border. My host, John Kerr, or someone else, will be there on the Zambian side to pick me up. Then, Rev. Mufika flies right back to Kolwezi, where he
will continue the college!
So, Rev. Mufika is escorting me "door to door", so to speak. (Rev. Mufika is a "bishop" within the African church; he has been thrown in prison at least twice for his fearless presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is a very worthy man, and I consider it an honour to be under his authority for this trip.)
I'll be taking in Harvest Crunch and Peanut Butter into the Congo for additional nourishment.
Needless to say, I would appreciate your prayers for me and for the success of this mission.
Teaching at Trans-Africa Theological College, Kitwe Zambia
On Monday Feb. 6th I started teaching my Christian Apologetics class to 18 4th-year students at Trans-Africa Theological College, Kitwe Zambia. The week has now ended.
I brought with me 18 copies of Lee Strobel's book, The Case for Christ, six copies of The Case for Faith, and 6 copies of The Case for a Creator.
Some of the students wanted me to sing in chapel, so I sang two songs -- "Let
me tell you all a story", and "Your Love Lifted Me".
For evening entertainment, we are watching the Canada Cup '76 on DVD - I think Daryl Sittler
scores a big goal to win the series, but we'll see!
The phone/internet is "out" where I am staying, at the Kerrs'. The electricity has also been off this week-end. To top things off, there was a major thunderstorm during the week that flooded the 3rd bedroom. Fortunately, I was in bedroom number 2!
My back has been bothering me quite a bit, so I am making use of a cane. Got some bites from bugs. That's about it.
Saturday, we had an excellent BBQ out at "the Boat Club".
Today, Sunday, we worshipped at a small church being held in a school room out at a "compound". Rev. Mathieu Mufika is the pastor, and his daughters did a wonderful job singing with joyful hearts to the Lord.
Such exquisite worship offered in such a lowly setting!
Next post, I'll tell you about my planned trip to the Congo.
I would appreciate prayers from all who read this.
I brought with me 18 copies of Lee Strobel's book, The Case for Christ, six copies of The Case for Faith, and 6 copies of The Case for a Creator.
Some of the students wanted me to sing in chapel, so I sang two songs -- "Let
me tell you all a story", and "Your Love Lifted Me".
For evening entertainment, we are watching the Canada Cup '76 on DVD - I think Daryl Sittler
scores a big goal to win the series, but we'll see!
The phone/internet is "out" where I am staying, at the Kerrs'. The electricity has also been off this week-end. To top things off, there was a major thunderstorm during the week that flooded the 3rd bedroom. Fortunately, I was in bedroom number 2!
My back has been bothering me quite a bit, so I am making use of a cane. Got some bites from bugs. That's about it.
Saturday, we had an excellent BBQ out at "the Boat Club".
Today, Sunday, we worshipped at a small church being held in a school room out at a "compound". Rev. Mathieu Mufika is the pastor, and his daughters did a wonderful job singing with joyful hearts to the Lord.
Such exquisite worship offered in such a lowly setting!
Next post, I'll tell you about my planned trip to the Congo.
I would appreciate prayers from all who read this.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Good news!
I've arrived in Toronto after a two-day drive from PEI, through the States.
The good news is, my passport with the Congo visa has arrived! I'm so relieved to be reunited with my passport, and thankful to have the visa for the Congo all ready to go.
Now, for final packing -- textbooks, gift items for the students -- it all has to fit within the British Airway guidelines. I must fetch our Costco scales and get busy re-packing everything for the trip -- I leave tomorrow.
The good news is, my passport with the Congo visa has arrived! I'm so relieved to be reunited with my passport, and thankful to have the visa for the Congo all ready to go.
Now, for final packing -- textbooks, gift items for the students -- it all has to fit within the British Airway guidelines. I must fetch our Costco scales and get busy re-packing everything for the trip -- I leave tomorrow.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Where's my courier envelope?
I sent my passport, along with about 10 pages of application material, to the DR Congo Embassy in Ottawa. Mailed it Wednesday, January 18, 2006. It arrived Friday, Jan. 20, 2006. No sign of the return courier envelope, so I phoned today. It would be signed and sent today, Thursday Jan. 26th.
No record of it in the Canada Post website. Tracking no.: LT099851200CA.
Here's what I think happened. I sent them a Canada Post Xpresspost envelope. So, I guess no courier comes; you have to drop it in a mailbox (or off at a Post Office), and then and only then does it get "expressed".
I'm sending it on to Toronto. If it leaves tomorrow (Friday), it should be there Monday or Tuesday. My flight leaves Wednesday.
Cutting it close.
Watch closely, but don't panic, yet.
No record of it in the Canada Post website. Tracking no.: LT099851200CA.
Here's what I think happened. I sent them a Canada Post Xpresspost envelope. So, I guess no courier comes; you have to drop it in a mailbox (or off at a Post Office), and then and only then does it get "expressed".
I'm sending it on to Toronto. If it leaves tomorrow (Friday), it should be there Monday or Tuesday. My flight leaves Wednesday.
Cutting it close.
Watch closely, but don't panic, yet.
International Driver's License and Cipro
The countdown began today.
I went and got my International Driving Permit at the CAA.
Located my old Cipro tablets (anti-diahrhea).
I went and got my International Driving Permit at the CAA.
Located my old Cipro tablets (anti-diahrhea).
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
I got the Visa? (And the meds)
Well, I applied for it. Sent my passport, 3 photos ($30), money-order ($115), letter of reference, banking information, travel itinerary, application form, notarized letter from my sponsor in the Congo, and return courier envelope ($10) to the Democratic Republic of Congo Embassy in Ottawa. Should have it all in a week.
Also, picked up my malaria medication at Shoppers'. I forget the name; it's the kind you take two-days before you arrive, and 7 days after you return (and once daily while you are there!). This cost about ($185).
I didn't intend to get into costs -- but there they are!
Speaking of money, if anybody reads this, and wants to make a small donation, I will take it for you and personally put it in the hands of a needy, deserving person, where it will have about 100X the impact it would have if you spent it on yourself!
Only do it if you want to feel good!
I'll even post on the blog what I did with your money!
And take a digital photo to commemorate the moment! (If only I knew how to put pictures on the blog!)
Also, picked up my malaria medication at Shoppers'. I forget the name; it's the kind you take two-days before you arrive, and 7 days after you return (and once daily while you are there!). This cost about ($185).
I didn't intend to get into costs -- but there they are!
Speaking of money, if anybody reads this, and wants to make a small donation, I will take it for you and personally put it in the hands of a needy, deserving person, where it will have about 100X the impact it would have if you spent it on yourself!
Only do it if you want to feel good!
I'll even post on the blog what I did with your money!
And take a digital photo to commemorate the moment! (If only I knew how to put pictures on the blog!)
Sunday, January 15, 2006
I got the fever!
I visited the Charlottetown Travel Clinic last week. My hep-B must be OK. I got a $100 yellow fever shot -- good for 10 years. Also, a malaria prescription that I need to get filled.
What's this blog all about?
Two years ago I was invited by the Rev. John Kerr to visit Trans-Africa Theological College in Kitwe, Zambia, Africa, to teach Christian Apologetics. (Apologetics is the "defense of the gospel".)
I had to look up Zambia on the map, to find out where it is.
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/za.html
I will be returning to Zambia on February 1st, 2006, for my third visit.
We also plan on visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo, north of Zambia.
This blog will chronicle the journey.
I had to look up Zambia on the map, to find out where it is.
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/za.html
I will be returning to Zambia on February 1st, 2006, for my third visit.
We also plan on visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo, north of Zambia.
This blog will chronicle the journey.
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