UK, Zambia, & South Africa

[evanovitch]

Re: UK, Zambia, & South Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChurchDude</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> And this wasn't a vacation, it was a mission trip</div></div>
</div></div>
Except if you read carefully, I didn't say we flew first class because we didn't. I simply observed that BA's first class was exceptional and &quot;one day, one day&quot; I intend to experience it. </div></div>

nuff said... but still beware the lust of the eyes

[Diplomat]

Re: UK, Zambia, &amp; South Africa

After a quick stop at St. Paul's, next was passing by the London Eye.

[Diplomat]

Re: UK, Zambia, &amp; South Africa





Our whirlwind tour had come to an end. It was a blast! A quick dash across some of London's famous spots while being entertained by one of the city's finest tour guides. Yeah, we disagreed on a number of things but Tariq was a good man. Back at the hotel, it was time to chill.


View from the hotel room...

We rested a bit and then it was time to head out to catch the shuttle back to the airport. Our flight to Lusaka was scheduled to leave at 7:10 p.m. but with the extra security we wanted to give ourselves enough time to check-in and clear security. The shuttle was late but we got checked in and cleared security without incident. We hadn't slept but figured we would fall asleep for sure once our flight took off. Right now we just settled in while waiting to board.


One of the stores inside Heathrow...

Next stop, Lusaka.

[Peasie]

Re: UK, Zambia, &amp; South Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChurchDude</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I told him I thought it was about control and less to do with sin; that God made women beautiful not for her to hide that beauty but for men to appreciate it while exercising control over their thoughts and behaviors. </div></div>

<span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">Hey Dude

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Click to reveal.. <input type="button" class="form-button" value="Show me!" onclick="toggle_spoiler(this, 'Yikes, my eyes!', 'Show me!')" /></div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div style="display: none;"> </div></div></div>
control yuhself an hurry up with the Lusaka photos </span></span>

[Diplomat]

Re: UK, Zambia, &amp; South Africa

BOAL, <span style="font-weight: bold">Peasie</span>, you so need help

I cannot post pics from work but will upload some later from home. In the days you can only get my reflections

[Diplomat]

Re: UK, Zambia, &amp; South Africa

The BA flight to Lusaka was full and the aircraft didn't seem as spacious. And there were a couple of crying kids; one could only hope. Seated beside me was a delightful English woman who was on her third mission trip to Zambia and who shared some of her experiences with me. She was a stay-at-home mom and her husband was an architect who had given up his business to become a volunteer director of the charity that ran the mission which operated in multiple countries on the African continent. As a couple, they had invested in real estate which now provided them with an income and allowed them to do what they were passionate about. Her husband was now using his skills to design homes for the poor and his experience had opened doors for him to meet with Presidents across the continent with a view to providing housing for those in need. Ours was a wonderful chat and it was a pleasure meeting and chatting with her.

After meals were served and the cabin lights dimmed, it was as if the majority of people drifted off to sleep. The flight attendants, extremely efficient on this flight as their peers on my earlier flight, were like shadowy figures going about their business. It occured to me that being a flight attendant involved quite a bit of work, especially on these long flights! I had no idea why I hadn't noticed before but the crying kids were now all silent. Ah, there was a God for sure..

Good flight, good food, and a snooze here and there. On Monday at 6:20 a.m. we landed on African soil. We would be in Zambia for two weeks.

Immigration was interesting. While waiting in line we were approached by a gentleman who asked for a team member by first name. After exchanging introductions, he told us he was sent by a name we knew, asked for our passports and told us to follow him. Next thing we knew we were in the area for diplomats and VIPs. After paying the $50 fee, USD of course, for our entry visas, we were shuffled through customs into waiting vehicles with our luggages and stuff packed by some other men. About twenty mintues later, we were where we needed to be. Oh, the gentleman who met us turned out to be a member of the national security services. I cannot say anymore about that but it was interesting seeing the other travelers watching all this unfold. I'm sure they were wondering who we were.

First order of business - a shower and a bed. There was a +6 hour time difference between Toronto and Lusaka and it was taking its toll. About mid-day we crashed and slept for what seemed like forever.

Forever turned out to be about 6 hours. We needed to get SIM cards, local currency, etc... and two other team members were scheduled to arrive that same evening. The real work began tomorrow (Tuesday) and our schedule was very tight. Training sessions from 12:00-3:00 p.m and 5:00-8:00 p.m. every day, including Saturday. Visting local places would have to take place in the early mornings, before the first session. We had to make it work.

[Diplomat]

Re: UK, Zambia, &amp; South Africa

First day out was Wednesday a.m. Quick trip to a local mall to get Zambian currency. Interestingly, the folks at the exchange would not take anything less than $100 bills in US currency, but would take anything in GBP. Since I had both currencies it wasn't a problem for me but I guess they were concerned about USD small bills counterfeits. Rate of exchange at the time: US$1 = K5,000 (Kwachas); GB£1 = K7,000 (Kwachas). I thought it funny that my £80 netted me K560,000.00 with the largest bill being K50,000! It didn't take much to be a millionaire here which wasn't really saying anything given the price of things. For example, I saw one ordinary men's shirt with a K300,000 price tag!








Entrance to the movie theatre.

[Diplomat]

Re: UK, Zambia, &amp; South Africa

[Diplomat]

Re: UK, Zambia, &amp; South Africa

Next morning we left out early to go check out a farm owned by one of the elders, about an hour's drive away. To own land (and cows) in Zambia was a sign of wealth, relatively speaking, because there was hardly land anywhere for sale. In Lusaka, one acre was sold for about US$3,000 (K15M) and most of it was purchased by foreigners for investment purposes, so farm land was usually well out in the country.




Public transportation is available in Lusaka but most Zambians walk to just about everywhere.
And yes, they share the road with vehicular traffic.


One of the public transportation buses; the service is privately owned but regulated.


The ones in the red tops are members of the United Church of Zambia.

[Diplomat]

Re: UK, Zambia, &amp; South Africa


Generally, the main roads were in very good condition.


Off the main road was a different matter. And yes, that's a security guy up front on the left. More on that later.


An ant hill; very valuable to Zambians in the rural areas. More on that later too.


A young plant protected from animals.

[Diplomat]

Re: UK, Zambia, &amp; South Africa

A quick stop to say &quot;hello&quot; to this lady hoeing away...




Her house...

Further up the road, another stop....


Rabbits are kept here.


Either a house or storage area under construction. The piles of stuff on the right makes the roof.

[Diplomat]

Re: UK, Zambia, &amp; South Africa


A closer look. Remember the ant hill? Well, the dirt from those hills are what is used to makes the cylindrical bricks.
It is said to be as hard as concrete when dried.


The mould for the bricks are empty paint cans with the bottoms cut out.


The ant hill used for this project...


All that was left from a house that burnt down. The family was away at the time.

Interestingly, this family affected are members of a house church that is affiliated with the church we were working with. As the family couldn't afford to rebuild, the church had undertaken to do so. The cost? K500,000 or US$100. I thought, &quot;Goodness, we spend more than that on a pair of shoes and here that could build someone a house!&quot; For whatever reason, I found that humbling.

[Diplomat]

Re: UK, Zambia, &amp; South Africa

Another stop...


This lady's husband took care of the farm and the animals here so the entire family lived on the farm.

One could see they were poor, but her dignity and hospitality was incredible. As is Zambian custom, she curtsied and offered seats - more like little wooden stools - to the ladies. Her husband was a jovial man who and went off to fetch the cows (remember, a sign of wealth) that he was taking care of.


One mean looking son-of-a-gun. I was watching him, he was watching me.


Of course, these farm animals are sold to butchers for meat supply.

Because they are reared naturally, supposedly the meat tastes better. At this point I couldn't vouch for the goat meat but having tasted their chicken, it was distinctly different from that in NA.

We had to scoot; we still had to get to the elder's farm and time was going.

[Peasie]

Re: UK, Zambia, &amp; South Africa

This is a very good photo Are the cows tagged on their ears with that red thingy? Who tags them? Are these the farmer's cattle or does he take care of these for a large farm?

[Diplomat]

Re: UK, Zambia, &amp; South Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Peasie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Are the cows tagged on their ears with that red thingy? Who tags them? Are these the farmer's cattle or does he take care of these for a large farm?
</div></div>
Thanks for tagging &lt;no pun intended&gt; along Yes, the cows are tagged on their ears and the farmer takes care of the cows which could belong to different owners (especially if the farm is co-owned as this particular one was). The color of the tag indicates the owner. The farmers are usually too poor to afford cows/livestock of their own. A cow in Zambia costs over one million kwachas (appx. US$200) which is a very significant amount for someone in the rural areas.