BZimmy

On Wednesday around 3:00 local time our plane from Heathrow arrived in Toronto and our team made it home safe and sound...all but our luggage! Glad it was here that we didn't have our luggage and not in Zambia. I ended up getting my suitcase at 5:00pm on Thursday so it wasn't a huge deal! So to recap our last days in Zambia... On Thursday night we had 2 guests for dinner, the 2 guys from Lifesong came again and it was great spending some more time with them. Friday was our last work day and there was much to do but it would be a short day as another group was going to visit Care and Compassion. Many of us spent our time but a mixture on the lumbar, this mixture was painted on to ... read more

It's been a week now since we left Canada and the adventures continue here in Zambia. We continue to make progress on the washroom and painting in the existing building but it can be quite a slow process. We don't always have all the materials we need so we end up sharing shovels, buckets and one wheel barrow to do the work. We also have to go and get water from the well when we make the concrete mix. There is always a lot to do. I've been working on painting within the building and also tried my skill at shoveling and mixing concrete as well as fetching water from the bins. I can definitely feel the work in my shoulders, back and the blisters on my hands but it is a kind of workout so ... read more

Yesterday was our first full day in Zambia and it was amazing. We got up pretty early (much earlier than I'm used to on summer vacation) but it's exciting to get going into our day. We start with breakfast, do some devotions (1 person each day leads the group in a small discussion of a Bible verse) and a prayer for the days work. Just before 9:00 we head out to the school which is a 15 minute drive to the school where we spend a good portion of the day (we start heading out around 4:00-4:30). We all have different types of jobs we are doing like brick laying, digging trenches for the new washroom or painting in the existing school. This school is much different than our schools. There are no resources or learning ... read more

Well it's the day before my big trip and I've been busy packing and making sure it all fits and hopefully I don't go over the 50lb limit. Fortunately we are allowed to take 2 checked bags but since some of the team that already left lost their bags enroute I'm thinking to just check 1 bag and take the 2 carry ons. I've received many well wishes and prayers from many different people about this trip and so thankful for it! This truly is an amazing opportunity and one I thank God for. I'm excited to keep this blog of my travels and trip and hope that I will be able to update it each day with mostly pictures but I will have to see how the technology works over there. Today I'm using my ... read more

Well, now that school is out for the summer, I can focus on my trip to Zambia. So my countdown begins...29 days until we leave. I've got my vaccinations complete (that was over $300) and prescriptions I will need to fill within that next few weeks for Malaria and Typhoid. On July 19th I will go for my 2nd Twinrex shot. Today I bought a great backpack at MEC along with a brimmed hat (this will be a first...I never wear brimmed hats) but since they are recommended I will take one along. At MEC I got all these great ideas for clothing, now I just need to research what is acceptable in Zambia, from what I hear they are a more conservative country so I have to keep that in mind. I still can't believe ... read more