We arrived back at the Franciscan Center in Ndola from which we had departed on Thursday morning for Ibenga (see previous entry). We woke Friday morning and after Anna and Sarah had nicely milked Father Angelo's cows (we think they are cow girls at heart) we toured the Ibenga hospital and left some of the medical supplies we brought. We also had the great pleasure of seeing Violet, an adorable, lovable orphan girl of about 4 years age who we all fell in love with at the Leprosorium the previous day. After that we were on the bus again heading for [View Full Entry]

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Ibenga Mission, Copperbelt region The group arrived at Ibenga Mission after a long day of service work at Walale Nutrition Center (feeding over 800 orphans ages 2 yrs to 12 yrs) visiting with the children and old people at Chibote Leprosarium and having lunch hosted by the Missionary Sisters of St Francis of Assisi. Sr Sabina (who has visited the parish in Conifer) gave tours and made sure all were well. After playing and having a party with the girls at Ibenga School for the disabled all went to bed. But in the early morning, Anna requested a lesson on milking [View Full Entry]

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Just have about a minute to update. Things have been going really well with the group. We are now stationed in the Copperbelt for the next few days with plenty of work ahead. I'll try and update when I can. Love and miss you all!! [View Full Entry]

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Monday -- Left Bonaventure College in Lusaka with the van and Sandy's Red Beast loaded with people/boxes/books/meds/supplies, heading 320km north toward Ndola. Driving north out of Lusaka into the African bush, as it appeared before deforestation removed the grasses and mukwa and mopani trees, through termite mounds, women carrying baskets of guava, charcoal, colorful vegetable stand stops (Stephen will add the story of Anna's first encounter with a Turkish toilet later -- let's just say that it began with a shriek and ended in a change of clothes . . . ). Arrived at Kapiri in time for a wond [View Full Entry]

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Hello Everyone, This should be the second blog of the day. If you have not read the summary of the first, please do so for the facts and figures of the trip over the last 2 days. Tomorrow we get into the "meat" of the missionary part of the trip. Though we have helped with some destruction/construction of a building in Lusaka, and visited the school, and compounds (slums) of Chawama, those were mostly observational trips. We did get a lot of time to meet and interact with hundreds of people, and the kids have had a great time with the [View Full Entry]

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Blessing for the Journey Today the community blessed the young people and adults who are leaving from OLP to journey to Zambia. All the preparations are done (and if they are not - OH WELL!), Sandy and Meghan are preparing the way in Zambia and tomorrow morning the group will board the plane and start their trip. Look out Zambia, here they come (and remember, they come with our blessing)! [View Full Entry]

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Today's my last day in Ndola for about a week or so, which means the last day with pretty decent internet. This afternoon Sandy and I are headed to Garneton for a little visit. The past few days have been kind of a whirlwind. Our second day here (possibly the last day I wrote) I went with the guys, as well as Ishmael (sp?) who's from Austria and Lydia, from Zambia to the Ndola market. The place was huge and had everything from small trinkets, to vegetables, to tons and tons of fish. I've heard some remarks about the bad smell [View Full Entry]

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Since yesterday, I have gone with Sandy to meet up with some people that may be helping us out over the next few weeks with the group I'm helping facilitate. It was nice to finally meet the legendary Sr. Josephine, who I have heard about since I was there last year. I have to say, I now know why she is so loved. She's a great woman who has done many wonderful things to help out the people of Zambia as well as her fellow sisters. I hope to see her again while I'm here. After dinner Sandy and I had [View Full Entry]

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An older man sits next to me on the bus. He is eating a large oblong cream filled donut and repeatedly insists I try. "I can't handle the cream." Somewhat true. After an hour or so driving we stop. He gets out for the five minute break and comes back with half a fried chicken and the greasiest french fries I've ever seen. "You don't eat chicken?!" He is astonished when I refuse to share the fried chicken. I finally accept a french fry. Thus we bond over the first five hours of my bus ride north. Eventually he gets around [View Full Entry]

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Spent 3 months here, Staying with Steve and Muriel Was great timer did heaps of different things, Also Stayed at Amano school and helped teach there and also help out in the dorm! [View Full Entry]

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