Tuesday Update from Zambia

It's Tuesday evening and I am back in Lusaka. Since my last entry, I got about 2 hours of sleep Sunday night before catching a bus to Mongu in the Western Province. The 6 hour bus ride took 8 hours--both ways...I am now referring to this a Standard African Time [SAT, because that's what we did for a loooong time. :-)] Riding an overcrowded bus across Zambia was a memorable experience. In fact, it was another great reminder to me about how much we take for granted...even the comfort of basic transportation. However, before we left Lusaka, the bus coordinator informed us there would be no smoking or drinking, and we had a "bus prayer" before departing...The ACLU back home would have popped a cork!

The trip was very good. The World Relief staff were able to meet the Pilgrim Wesleyan Church leaders and local pastors, we also met with the leaders of the area pastor's conference, and learned more about World Relief's planned work. This looks to be a great partnership in the making. The Western Province is isolated from the rest of Zambia by a huge nature reserve; and it experiences poverty, unemployment, and disease levels well above those found throughout the rest of the country. This province is also the only one ruled by a "king," and the central government has much less influence. Just before leaving, we visited the home of the senior most Pilgrim Wesleyan Pastor in Mongu. He and his wife along with their 5 children live in a home about the size of a Memphis garage...I was humbled to have yet another opportunity to pray over a servant of the Kingdom who pours out everything in spite of having nothing. I received another crash course in thankfulness.

The travel took us through the nature reserve where I saw wild monkeys, warthogs, water buffalo, and some variety of gazelle.

Alfred and I will leave early tomorrow morning to start our two days of travel south. I was able to get a full night of sleep Monday night, and my health is doing fine. Thanks for your continued prayers! mlw