Sunday mass today at a huge church in Chawama, given by our very own father Clifford. The choir sounded like angels sent from God, and filled the entire room, packed with people who all gave us such a warm welcome with friendly smiles and hanshakes. We got the chance to meet and talk with many people, youth, adults, and children after mass. We then took the rest of the morning to walk through the Chawama compound, which was quite an experience for all of us. In the compounds, the people live very close together, the poorest of the poor, selling tomatoes [View Full Entry]

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Hello, A quick note since it is late, and everyone is pooped. After the last 2 days of exhausting activities, we got up today, celebrated mass (which I am finding very nice to start the day with-too bad work gets in the way of doing this at home!) which a few of the youngsters were unable to roll out of bed for, had a leisurely breakfast, and loaded Father Patrick's truck with the last of the medical supplies and the books and school supplies to be taken North to Ndola, and the Copper District. Sandy swears it was a long bed [View Full Entry]

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18 June As the group began to recover from jet lag, we visited Hidden Valley School - for special needs students - in one of the local compounds (ghetto). We were there to deliver books and school supplies as well as to interact with the youth. Upon meeting with Sister Maura, we quickly began work on the buiding. We filled cracks in walls, tore down walls, removed a bathtub from a concrete block, took out a door frame, painted inside and out, and built stairs and wheelchair ramps, all with only one shovel, two pieces of piping, an old broken wooden [View Full Entry]

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So there are more blogs coming, I just happen to have the best internet access. Here is the groups respite from the morning's work at Hidden Voice. They will post and tell you their super stories when they have internet access. So enjoy these pictures of their little break. Sr Josephine and her Franciscan community provided the feast and some of the entertainment! It was a nice reunion from the night at the airport. [View Full Entry]

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Well, after the longest "night" of our lives (too many hours in an airplane seat, with 6 meals served on airline plastic, and several attempts at a couple of hours of sleep wrapped in South African Air blankets and pillows, with a couple of the cutest screaming babies you have ever seen), we finally arrived in Lusaka. We were fortunate to have Sister Josephine meet us at the airport to spirit away our 40 boxes and bags of supplies without so much as a second look by the authorities. Without her help we would likely still be there in customs opening [View Full Entry]

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The Zambia 14 survived their first night in Lusaka. Their first morning began with their first mass at the beautiful chapel at Rivortorto Friary. Fr John Lesa was the celebrant and officially welcomed the group to their first full day. A bit overwhelming looking at the boxes that filled a bus the night before but by the time lunch was over, they got working on separating and unpacking and resorting all the gifts and donations they brought with them. Tomorrow they have their first full day of working on a much needed school for Special Needs, Hidden Voice. Enjoy these few [View Full Entry]

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The First of Many Hurdles: The Zambia 13 boarded the plane in Denver this morning! The group arrived 3 hours early and with the help of a friend who works for United Airlines, all of the boxes and bags were loaded on the plane. United waived their extra baggage fee, but the group had to pay the South African Airways fees. It was quite a scene; bringing in all the boxes, marking them, loading them, getting tickets... . The pictures will give you some idea, but everyone was nervous about just how many boxes and bags United would accept. But 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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In the last 24 hours we have been scrambling to get all the cure kits, books, shoes, and clothes in our groups vehicles to bring on the plane tomorrow (June 15, 09). Also, our group got a blessing from our church today, and we are so grateful to have such a supportive church and community. Our whole group is so excited... and a little nervous for our trip tomorrow, but we are confident to get through customs and to help the Zambians as much as we can. Goodbye until later, we will keep you posted. -Evan One of the biggest last [View Full Entry]

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Great job with the assignment!! Fr Patrick will be printing them out and handing them to your hosts/hostesses in Zambia so they all know a bit about you. I've been to the airport and made initial contact about clearing the medical supplies and will spend Monday pre-clearance...so bring the medical supplies on! They are so needed. Any more packing slips need to be to me by Sunday night your time. We are waiting for you and I have even managed to get some recreation time for you despite Sandy's protest! How does a crocodile farm sound to you after a few [View Full Entry]

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