At the very beginning of June we had a visitor from America come to visit us. He is a friend of the lady who runs our missions guest house in Lusaka. She planned this lovely trip for the two of them and then ended up not being able to come herself. So, he was brave and boarded a bus to come visit us – people he had never met before. Steve picked him up at the bus stop here in Mbala.
We took him on a driving tour of Mbala.
On Tuesday Seth turned 10! On Monday night we had cake. He decided against the chocolate cake with the peanut butter icing, for a coconut cake. I went recipe hunting and we had coconut cake. We had the cake on Monday night because we had a visitor with us.
We had the Schaefer’s over for tea on Tuesday afternoon and finished the cake. Seth wanted candles all over again. So the second time we put a candle in every piece of cake to see if he had enough wind to blow them out. He did!
About a week ago our electric bill came. It indicated that we owed two months worth. Steve got out his receipt to check and yes we did pay that bill. We even have a computer print out!
So, when Steve went to town to run errands he said he will be back in a few hours. I had to ask why, what was going? He said he would be waiting in line to get our bill straighten out. Well, he was back much earlier than expected. Why?
He forgot that there is no such thing as customer service in our Mbala office. They also must not have a copier. He came home to make copies of his receipt. Then it was back to the Zesco office with the copies. They have to fax them to Kasama where there is a customer service to take care of the problem.
We just keep practice the saying “This is Africa and Africa always wins!” When you realize that and accept it you are less likely to get upset at the way things work here.
God bless,
On May 8th Tobias turned 15. On Friday night I (Rita) was surrounded by boys. Tobias had two missionary friends over that live in the area. Lane and Seth wanted a friend too. Heather on the other had thought a sleep over at someone else house would be a good idea.
Breakfast for all the boys.
Testing our muscles!
Playing Legos!
Chair picture at 15 years old.
Chair picture at 10 years old.
This is our team in Northern Zambia. This picture was taken at our annual meeting in Malawi. We are on the left and live in Mbala. The couple in the middle are the Adairs. They have two children. Heather is holding one. They live in Kaputa. The couple on the right are the Kimbroughs. They have four children and live in Isoka.
On Wednesday night of this week, I stayed up waiting for Steve to get back from Kasama. One of the night guards there is in the hospital and has been for most of the month. They still are not sure what he has. Steve went to visit him and meet the new night guard that was hired by the head guard.
I put our children to bed on most nights around 7 PM. When they were little they went right to sleep. Now they are aloud to read until 8 PM, then lights out.
Seth comes to me at 8:30 wanting help in his Language book. He is working on Thursday’s work!?!? I ask him why is he still up. He is to be in bed! He wanted to get ahead start in his school work so that he can eat his favorite meal.
I ask, “What is your favorite meal?” You would think a mother might know what her children’s favorite meals are, but I’m sorry to say that I don't. I know what they like and dislike, but not favorites. He answered, “Chicken.” I said, “I’m not making chicken tomorrow.” He says, “You know, bugs!" with this very cute smile that only Seth can make. He is up trying to get school work done so he can eat nshima and caterpillars at lunch time!!! :( YUK ! !
You have to know that I have a rule that started when Tobias was in 4th or 5th grade. He started procrastinating in his school work. He and I would be up until 10 or 11 PM doing school work. It got to be very frustrating. We didn’t watch TV, they didn’t have video games or game boys. There was nothing to take away from him to encourage him to do better. So I took away food. I figured out what was a decent amount of work to be done in order to eat lunch. They rest of school had to be done in order to eat dinner. It worked! He might have only had breakfast one day, but you can be sure he had all three meals the next. He would relapse and do this every week or so.
I kind of had forgotten this rule, but Lane is now our procrastinator. Tobias has grown out of it, Thank the Lord! I don’t think I could survive two at a time. So I started reminding them of this rule and last week I stared reinforcing it. On Wednesday, Heather, Lane and Seth were behind in school work. On Tuesday, Steve had bought the caterpillars in the market! I personally will never buy them. Since Steve was going to be gone on Wednesday, the plan was to have our house helper make it for lunch on Thursday.
Since Seth only got 1/2 a sandwich for being slow in school on Wed, he was making sure he got to eat lunch on Thursday since it was his favorite!
Thursday’s Lunch Menu, Seth’s favorite: nshima, relish – rape and Chinese cabbage mixed, soup, and caterpillars. All the boys/men in the house love them. The women hate them. Actually, we women refuse to try them, so I guess I can’t say we hate them. I can say they don’t smell good when you cook them! :)
