Trolleys and Tills

So I am learning new words every day! Today the words were "till" and "trolley." In Zambia, these mean "cash register" and "shopping cart." And yes, I got to go to Lusaka today to shop! It was quite an adventure.

Starting off our journey down our long dirt/rock road, we encountered many goats, pigs, and chickens. (On the way back we saw some oxen as well!) The driver sits on the right side of the car, so I felt as though I should be driving as I sat on the left side of the car! That was interesting to get used to.

We went to several different shopping centers and stores. Some were more Western and some were more Zambian. There is a store here called "Game" which is kind of like Wal-mart, but it does not sell clothes, and everything is way more expensive. We went to two grocery stores, Melisa's and Shop-rite. Shop-rite was a lot like Harris Teeter or Food Lion. I got many good fruits and yogurts and cereal and pasta so I am excited about my new foods. I also got a "flat" of eggs, which is a flat unit with 36 eggs in it. The milk and juices here come in boxes, so that is a fun adventure. The missionaries shop for usually two weeks at a time since the shopping is so far away, unlike in America where there is a grocery store on every corner.

We also went to a "boot sale" which was essentially a yard sale. We got many crayons and stickers and paint for the school at very good prices. It was nice to get out and see what was going on around this country I am now living in.

My heart breaks a little more every day as I find out more about the children and where they come from. It is so hard to look at them as orphans. Here, they have Mommas, Uncles, Aunties, Ami and Papa, and Teachers that love on them. It is hard to see them as any different, as coming from awful situations and living on the streets. Many children are orphaned due to AIDS, as is the common perception. There are also 100,000 people that die every year from Malaria. Many people are dying from very curable and preventable diseases. In many cases, if the mom dies, there is a good chance the father is long gone or has never really been around. We have one little boy in kindergarten (he is five) who used to make gravel for a living before he came here. Make gravel you might ask? Yes. By that I mean, sitting on a rock all day, holding a hammer, pounding on more rocks to make them in to smaller rocks, gravel. I saw people doing this today. To imagine a four-year-old doing this is unthinkable. To think that this is the only way that he would eat is unfathomable.

The smiles on these children's faces would melt your heart, as it does mine every time I get flashed a smile. I am so glad that Rafiki has come to take these children in, provide a home for them, feed them (as many of them used to fight for food or not get many meals) and give them an education and teach them the love of Christ.

Pray for the children of Zambia. They are beyond adorable and they are so loving and so smart. I wish I could take them all with me!