This was a recent update from Zambia as they prepare for our upcoming visit (edited):
Got our rooms reserved at the Baptist Mission for the team. Also have reservations in Kasama. Mike and Linda Jones below. Mike is the Director for Africa Missions for WOR. Mike and Linda have lived in Zambia for nearly 14 years.
We made it from Lusaka to Kasama in 9 hours (this will be the first leg of our upcoming trip). But we were going very fast and only stopped for fuel. I think we should figure on 10 hours. If we depart Lusaka at 9 hours we should arrive in Kasama just after dark. Driving at night is more hazardous, driving slower, and even more boring than the daytime. Having said that, we can stop anywhere along the way for pictures, etc. We drive through a good place for rock climbing, if you can do it in a few minutes. When we reach Mpika (4.5 hours after the last filling station) the vehicle will be running on empty. The station now stays open 24 hours and our rooms are reserved, so we can drive as late as the group can take it.
The Toyota 15 passenger van is not like an American model. It is smaller, the seating is tighter and no high backs or head rests. The luggage will be stacked (some seats removed), so pack breakables carefully. You will be able to see outside very well through the large windows, except where the luggage is stacked. The road to Kasama has an abundance of trees, shrubs, and elephant grass. We should have toilet paper available for anyone receiving the call of nature. We have not found any good toilet facilities along the way.
The exchange rate continues to work against us. I had previously figured the exchange rate between 3700-3800 to 1. Every k100 change is about 3%. Not a large amount. Hopefully, it will not continue to effect us negatively.
I decided to see the District Council Secretary (DC) in Kasama before leaving. Linda and the crew were not happy about the delay, but I really thought I should. The DC saw us right away. He is an active duty colonel in the Zambian Army. He didn't know us, and the provincial offices had not told him about us or our project in Silembe. Seeing him was the right thing to do. He has set up a needs assessment group to go out and talk to the people this Friday. I've just learned of a problem with an orphanage somewhere in or near Northern Province, which seems to have affected the DC and the chief. When the needs assessment is done I'm sure the people will respond the same as before, wanting first an orphanage. A new chief has been installed which I had never met. So we took the time to see him. It was a work of God for him to be free to see us right away. He was a Marxist for 20 years. He didn't know who we were or why we hadn't done anything on the land. Government officials and chief are always looking for an angle to show their authority. In the end the chief showed that he wanted us working in his area, and starting with an orphanage would be OK, as long as the people want it. I'll keep you informed. The Chief asked how much land we had been given. When told, he said, "We must increase the size to a round number." Pray for this meeting Friday. Some people try to ignore the suffering children. This problem makes them look bad. Anything can happen, but I think this was "a God thing" and all will be even better than before. The 2nd time I saw the late Chief Mwamba, as usual, I prayed for him. When we arrived in Lusaka I bought a newspaper and saw the chief's picture. He was all of a sudden being considered to be the next Paramount Chief. He was installed as the Paramount Chief and invited me to see him in his new "palace". After meeting the new Chief Mwamba Monday, and praying for him, we departed for Lusaka. I bought a newspaper in Lusaka Tuesday and was surprised to see an article by Chief Mwamba, bringing him publicity and probably government money into his area. God is working something out, something beyond us, something perfect.
God Bless, Mike
Hey Scott, -these are a few pictures of Chishimba Falls. If we could work in 2.5-3 hours the team could see them when we are in Kasama (our Journey of Faith Mission Team will be spending several days in Kasama in early March - Kasama is in the Northern Province). Rain continues to fall, heavy last night and again this morning. I wanted to go to the site in Silembe and deliver some rebar for the 2nd house and tin for the pit toilet, but we decided to try again tomorrow. The rains have been normal in Northern Province. We drove the 15 kilometers (9 miles) of dirt road to our land without problems. We also drove to the falls, part of the way on dirt roads, without problems.
Got our rooms reserved at the Baptist Mission for the team. Also have reservations in Kasama. Mike and Linda Jones below. Mike is the Director for Africa Missions for WOR. Mike and Linda have lived in Zambia for nearly 14 years.
We made it from Lusaka to Kasama in 9 hours (this will be the first leg of our upcoming trip). But we were going very fast and only stopped for fuel. I think we should figure on 10 hours. If we depart Lusaka at 9 hours we should arrive in Kasama just after dark. Driving at night is more hazardous, driving slower, and even more boring than the daytime. Having said that, we can stop anywhere along the way for pictures, etc. We drive through a good place for rock climbing, if you can do it in a few minutes. When we reach Mpika (4.5 hours after the last filling station) the vehicle will be running on empty. The station now stays open 24 hours and our rooms are reserved, so we can drive as late as the group can take it.
The Toyota 15 passenger van is not like an American model. It is smaller, the seating is tighter and no high backs or head rests. The luggage will be stacked (some seats removed), so pack breakables carefully. You will be able to see outside very well through the large windows, except where the luggage is stacked. The road to Kasama has an abundance of trees, shrubs, and elephant grass. We should have toilet paper available for anyone receiving the call of nature. We have not found any good toilet facilities along the way.
The exchange rate continues to work against us. I had previously figured the exchange rate between 3700-3800 to 1. Every k100 change is about 3%. Not a large amount. Hopefully, it will not continue to effect us negatively.
I decided to see the District Council Secretary (DC) in Kasama before leaving. Linda and the crew were not happy about the delay, but I really thought I should. The DC saw us right away. He is an active duty colonel in the Zambian Army. He didn't know us, and the provincial offices had not told him about us or our project in Silembe. Seeing him was the right thing to do. He has set up a needs assessment group to go out and talk to the people this Friday. I've just learned of a problem with an orphanage somewhere in or near Northern Province, which seems to have affected the DC and the chief. When the needs assessment is done I'm sure the people will respond the same as before, wanting first an orphanage. A new chief has been installed which I had never met. So we took the time to see him. It was a work of God for him to be free to see us right away. He was a Marxist for 20 years. He didn't know who we were or why we hadn't done anything on the land. Government officials and chief are always looking for an angle to show their authority. In the end the chief showed that he wanted us working in his area, and starting with an orphanage would be OK, as long as the people want it. I'll keep you informed. The Chief asked how much land we had been given. When told, he said, "We must increase the size to a round number." Pray for this meeting Friday. Some people try to ignore the suffering children. This problem makes them look bad. Anything can happen, but I think this was "a God thing" and all will be even better than before. The 2nd time I saw the late Chief Mwamba, as usual, I prayed for him. When we arrived in Lusaka I bought a newspaper and saw the chief's picture. He was all of a sudden being considered to be the next Paramount Chief. He was installed as the Paramount Chief and invited me to see him in his new "palace". After meeting the new Chief Mwamba Monday, and praying for him, we departed for Lusaka. I bought a newspaper in Lusaka Tuesday and was surprised to see an article by Chief Mwamba, bringing him publicity and probably government money into his area. God is working something out, something beyond us, something perfect.
God Bless, Mike
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During our upcoming trip we will spend four days in Silembe, and then some time up North as we see about a new Orphanage site. We look forward to our visit, and spending time with the wonderful people of Zambia.
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