OLP

So far we (Safari) have seen amazing things here in Livingstone. Victoria Falls (Mosi oa Tunya - The Smoke Which Thunders), baboons, elephants, crocodiles, hippos, giraffes, and more. We have been without Internet since we arrived in Livingstone, so we could not update you each day. Here is a taste of what we have been doing. We literally have thousands of photographs to share. There has been bungee jumping, gorge swinging and flying like superman. Getting drenched by the Falls, more bargaining in the market and trying to find the Subway Sandwhich Shop that used to be in Livingstone. Having a house to ourselves, meeting the trekkers from New Zealand, Scotland, Australia, England and California. Doritos on the boat (never tasted so good), having a soda by the lion's watering hole and seeing Sister Nama. See ... read more

As most of you know, The OLP Zambia 2012 Group spent almost 18 months (1 year 6 months as they would say here) fundraising for our trip to Zambia and trying to collect or purchase the things we thought would be the most beneficial to donate while we are here. We are near the end of that supply. And yesterday at Twikatane Vocational Training Centre it happened again. The training center is what would be understood as a vocational training school in the US. Students learn woodworking and dress-making so they have practical, marketable skills. We knew the training center needed power tools and hand tools. We also knew that they are starting a library and specific books like textiles and dress-making were needed. They also wanted business textbooks. So, we delivered the power tools, hand ... read more

Today we returned to Hidden Voice School. Because of the energy we brougt yesterday, they wanted us to come back for PE and more physical exercise with the children today. So, balloons were again popular; a game similar to duck, duck goose with the whole group; some races and some arts and crafts. You should see your children and your friends with these kids. They are having a ball, being creative and making these kids feel special. I hope the pictures begin to give you an idea. We had our own fun sheduled for today - a visit to the crocodile farm. These crocodiles are monstrous! A waist high cement wall and a little chain link fence are all that separate you from a killing machine that looks fierce, powerful and like it somehow is still ... read more

The last two days have been very challenging for Zambia Trip 2012. We have been at Bauleni Street Kids Project. It is a school and residential home for children with special needs and normally developing kids that are getting an education. The school is not funded fully. The government helps some, but not nearly enough, so the school is working toward self-sufficiency. They grow their own food for feeding the students and for selling at the market. They have a bakery that makes bread for the students and to sell. The door to the bakery faces the main road that runs right in front of the school so people can come in and buy the bread. They also make bricks to build their buildings and to sell. All of these ventures help the school pay for ... read more

We made it. We are in Africa! Our trip out of Dubai went smoothly. It was hot and humid in Dubai this morning, just like last night, but we went through security and got on the plane with no glitches. It was almost 7 hours to Lusaka and the most unbelievable thing is that all 20 of our bags were waiting for us. Frontier had told us in Denver that they could only get the bags to Dubai and we would have to re-check them there. When we were at LAX and checking in with Emirates, they told us they had booked the bags on through to Lusaka. And sure enough, there they were - all 20 of them. Its nice when the system works! The move through customs was quick and painless, much easier than ... read more