(and meals) in a hotel, a visit to St Paul’s Cathedral including a 700+ steps climb to the viewing platform at the top of the dome, we arrived via South Africa where we realized we were in Africa! Although we were in a very brief transit, we had to queue to have our passports stamped by someone who wasn’t interested in our photos or what we looked like, only that he got a stamp on a page somewhere! Then we waited for our seat allocation for the next flight and it was certainly different from previous experiences. We were met by YWAMmers in Lusaka and stayed the night at the Frontier Missions Base and met up with an Aussie DTS team that had arrived the same day. The next morning we caught the 8.30 bus (which left at 9.40) to Solwezi where we to meet
Rebecca. The bus station was an experience with prospective clients being pushed and pulled by “salesmen” for the different companies. One fight broke out which brought baton wielding security men running and they dragged someone off kicking. We had arrived early and got the best seats, right above the driver at the front window. It was a nice bus! Although the view was great, it had its downside. I am sure the floor under Chris’s braking foot had changed shape by the time we got there! 
Unnecessary though, because once we were on the road the preaching started. Someone stood up and in loud voice shared his testimony of the goodness of God and His protection in his life, and then prayed a very passionate prayer for our safe travel. This man understood spiritual warfare. It was awesome! Before we left, and everytime we stopped in the various cities, the local salesmen came aboard. Watches, food, drinks, fruit, crafts, phonecards, anything anyone might buy were hawked through the bus. And as the bus left the station, there was a mad scramble of these to leave while those that had got off for the restroom or something else tried to get on. It seemed to sort itself out each time before the driver got up too much speed! Waiting clearly was not going to get people moving. Of course these were not the only stops. We had to stop for Police checks every 20 or 30 minutes.
I never quite worked out what they were for, as they just seemed to be waving people down, and once they stopped, waved them on again. Maybe just to ensure drivers recognized the power of the Police. But I think our driver did get a speeding ticket at one stop. He was fast, and his favorite move was using speed bumps in the towns we passed through as the opportunity to pass slower vehicles! These checks were only outnumbered by the concrete pedestals on the side of the road indicating another Kingdom Hall of the JWs. Sad but true. But maybe God can use them too! 10 hours after take off, and having negotiated some interesting roads,
and passing through many villages with market places, we reached Solwezi where we were delighted to meet Rebecca who picked us up in a borrowed vehicle and took us to our abode for the night, the “Aaso Executive Lodge” (excuse the pronunciation!). But it wasn’t that bad. After an immigration visit and some shopping we set off the next morning for the two day journey to Kalene. We could have done it in one, but two was more comfortable. 
We stayed overnight at the Nyangombe Bible College and we will be going back there next week for a couple of weeks while Rebecca is in London doing a tropical diseases course. Hopefully we will have a quiet spell as we have been busy since our arrival! But they have asked me to teach.
We arrived at Kalene the next afternoon via the main road to Angola (see pics!) and we were both surprised at the size of the operation here. Pictures do not do it justice! It’s amazing. So remote, and yet so essential to the 50,000 villagers who live within (African) walking distance. And there seems to be daily dramas with accidents, emergency caesareans and other operations etc. It has a great reputation as the best hospital for a long way.
So people come from out of their service area as well. The Mission staff here are wonderful and are so dedicated. It’s a real privilege to be able to be here and get a feel for what Becs is involved in. 
And the whole operation employs scores of local workers which is great. Becs has a lovely little home and most of the ants stay outside in their hills! 
The latest employment involves the staffing of an “Linknet” Cybercafe in a shipping container which arrived just before we did. A few of the local villages have power, courtesy of the Hydro station built to serve the hospital, and some huts have satellite TV as a result! 
But internet? Gotta be kidding! Next closest cybercafe would be a 6hr drive away! So it is quite a hit, at least for the free three hours kick start people are getting. Fee will be 3c/min. Many have never touched a keyboard. Chris has been able to revive her Computer Class skills. All participants need to know English of course as there is no internet in Lunda! What a joy it is to hear Rebecca chatting to people in their heart language. And you can tell they love it! She does so well.
Chris has also been spending time in the hospital reading books to the kids and giving them colouring in to do. We’ve helped sort a container load of goods that arrived a day after us into their right spots. I have been looking at and fixing vehicles and helping concrete the workshop floor so that we have a pit to work out of. Buying parts is a challenge here. 
I may have to do a two day trip to get them next week. I want to teach a local as much as I can while I am here as preventative maintenance is not the best at the moment.
We visited a Game Farm which we want to go back to some time,
and went to see the Hydro plant last night and had a picnic by the Zambezi river. Quite a torrent and only about 20kms from its very beginning! 
After the picnic we went to the evening meeting at the Annual Church Conference. By the time we were getting close it was dark. The road to the camp was a narrow track between 2m+ high grass and grass in the middle as well. Until we hit the graphite rock slab! Then we lost our way completely. No tracks to follow! After circling we spotted a local on foot who gave us directions, which we followed. But then lost it and went in circles again. The guy on foot caught up to us and told us again where the path was. And again the same thing happened, and again we were rescued by the same guy. What a hoot. But we eventually arrived and what an experience. 200+ locals were there with a small portable generator providing spasmodic light as the power surged, singing their hearts out around the camp fire, then hanging on every word of the preacher who had no amplification. Check the video! I know we are in for some great times here, but we may not have a lot to report in the next few weeks, although I am sure I’ll update again before we leave Zambia. Go the All Whites!!
