Their Little Ones

Grandma Cindy is always attracted to the children.  That should not be a great surprise.  They are everywhere when we stop and get out of the truck.  Here are pictures of the some of her friends.

 Most of these pictures are of children we have met as we have visited the boreholes that were previously constrcted.  These little guys live at an orphanage where a borehole was contructed with a solar pump to water their almost one acre garden.  The garden grows food for the orphanage and some of the neighboring homes.  They sell some of the crops to make it possible to buy seed for the next years crop.  Self-reliance principles at work.

 

 

Same orphanage but girls taking water to their neighboring homes.

 

Never too small to learn to balance a water bucket on your head.  It strengthens your neck.

 

 

For later days when you do this.

 

 

These boys were along the highway coming back from the Copperbelt region.  We stopped to take a picture of a flame tree and Grandma found hereself occupied with the local football (soccer) team.  And that is a good ball for boys this age. 

 

 

These are the grandkids of one of the members in Luanshya.  He is an independent contractor working on borehole projects for the church in the Copperbelt.  Do you think that Grandma Cindy misses her grandkids?

 

 

This is how a lot of the small ones travel.  The baby is usually in the back but for the picture the mom put her on the side.  Carrying the sack of maze meal on your head keeps your hands free for other needs.  This picture was taken out in the farming area so she has been walking for some time.

 

 

Or it may be someone elses baby that you carry.  Joy was carrying one of the twins at Chruch.  The cloth that holds the baby is a chitenge.

 

 

Finally, the boys will be boys.  They were supposed to be helping their grandfather with the farming but when he left to find us they thought it was better to sit in the Mango tree and eat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grandma Cindy's Animals

Africa is know for its animals.  In America we go to the Zoo to see these animals.  While here in Zambia and Malawi Grandma Cindy notices animals and likes to take their pictures.  Here are some of her favorite pictures so far.

On the way to Malawi we learned something about the rainy season here in Africa, it rains pigs instead of cats and dogs,  These little guys (unimproved version) were everywhere.  These were found taking a stroll down the highway base coarse while we were driving on a wet dirt road.

This bunch belong to the improved group.

They've got a little more sense to be along the side of the road to forage for food.

There are lots of goats in Malawi.  While out on a trip to look at some wells that are 18 months old we found this industrious bunch.  They had taken over this investment busines, only because it was raining.

 



 

Grandma really likes the little ones.  I think they remind her of her grand "kids".  These two were trying to play "hide and go seek".

 

 

Ox are used for transportation and hauling goods. Often they occupy the same tarmac (paved road in Africa) as bicycles, cars trucks, semi-trucks and buses

 

 

We saw these teen drivers passing by one of our Church buildings in Lilongwe, Malawi.

 

 

And some of these.

 

 

Finally Papa got to take a picture.  This is a Malawian stealth bomber attached to the rear tire of out truck.  Notice the bombs dropped on the ground waiting to explode.

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas with the Missionaries

We spent the day after Christmas celebrating with all of the missionaries in the Zambia portion of the mission.  We had fried chicken, pizza, potatoe salad, jello salad, pasta salad, sheet cake and ice cream for dinner.

 

 

After dinner we exchanged "White Elephant" gifts.

 

 

And then we watched a newer version of "A Christmas Carole".  It had an excellent meaning for the young missionaries as they seek to serve others and forget about themselves and also the real meaning of Christmas.  The evening ended on a great spiritual note.

 

Merry Christmas to all.