Fire roasted red peppers with mozarella cheese and a drizzled with garlic/basil oil
Rosemary roasted roast pork
Eggplant ragout
Green beans
Oven roasted and seasoned potato wedges
Maple cinammon apple slices
Macaroni and Cheddar Cheese
Sliced tomatoes with feta cheese
Coleslaw
Lemon Bars a la Bev
Chocolate cake with Chocolate icing a la Mariel
Wednesday
Sunday, April 24, 2011 EASTER....IN ZAMBIA, AFRICA
We had a light but great breakfast of homemade from scratch cinammon rolls. Our team led Church with about 35 people attending. Benita's beautiful voice accompanying her talented guitar was moving and Kate gave Thanks to God with a perfect sermon. Lunch was egg salad sandwiches to hold everyone over until Easter Dinner a la Jan.
We had dinner about 4:30 and everything was cooked to perfection ! JD kept asking me when dinner was going to be ready! I set the tables to be one long banquet table. Someone covered them with chitanges for table cloths and another brought candles.
JD stood at the far end holding up his empty plate before going for seconds. Everyone said they felt so blessed by my cooking and my team members were blown away. They said they were dispensible but that I could not be replaced ! Quite the compliments, and they made me feel sooooo special. After a long and exciting day, I took a shower and listened to music again. What a great group of people at Overland. What a Blessed Easter!
We had dinner about 4:30 and everything was cooked to perfection ! JD kept asking me when dinner was going to be ready! I set the tables to be one long banquet table. Someone covered them with chitanges for table cloths and another brought candles.
JD stood at the far end holding up his empty plate before going for seconds. Everyone said they felt so blessed by my cooking and my team members were blown away. They said they were dispensible but that I could not be replaced ! Quite the compliments, and they made me feel sooooo special. After a long and exciting day, I took a shower and listened to music again. What a great group of people at Overland. What a Blessed Easter!
Saturday April 23, 2011
Benita and I woke up at 1 AM and had trouble going back to sleep but we finally did. After breakfast we had a Team meeting then we went to clean and organize trailers of school supplies and clothes. I was in charge of the clothes so I could sit. As I found baby hat, I placed one on a team members head, starting with Paul and Wezi and then took pictures. We all had a good laugh. The before and after pictures of the trailers are lik night and day. Beverly was sooo appreciative of our help.
Then I prepped food for Easter Dinner. I roasted the peppers on the flames of the gas stove and then marinated them in a garlic and basil infused oil. I made coleslaw, eggplant ragout with my Greek recipe which is the same way the Zambians cook their eggplant. COINCIDENCE ?! Green beans are cleaned ala Julie and I created maple cinammon glazed apple slices.
After lunch, Mariel teaches us how to wear our Chitangea(sarongs). Then she tells us to get into the car and we go to Songwe Village to meet Tabisa and her fellow villagers. Tabisa is the baby I bought clothes for. She was born two months premature and is now three months old and looks absolutely beautiful! Her Mom died of HIV two weeks before our arrival. Tabisa will be raised by her Great Aunt Anne who is sixty years old. It is very unusual for a family member to offer to take on this type of responsibility in Zambia. Anne is a beautiful person !! One of the outfits I boiught for Tabisa says "I love my Aunt". Great news arrived .....Tabisa tested negative for HIV !! As we drove up to the Village the kids of Songwe were playing games and and when they saw us, great big smiles appeared on their faces. There were about 15 kids aged 2 to 8 or 9 years of age. We sat with some Moms and the infants and talked with them. The children were laughing and having fun. Benita and I decided to go play with the kids. We taught them Ring around the Rosie, duck, Duck, Goose, London Bridges falling down. There was a boy standing in the road so I went over and asked if he would like to play. He replied "I do not speak English" in perfect English I might add. I told him that was ok, took his hand and he joined in. Another little guy was watching too. He was about 2 and his pants, torn and dirty seemed to keep falling down and he would trip on them when he walked. So, I went over to help him and bring him into the circle games. But, when I pulled up his pants, I realized they were not falling down, his one leg was about 5 inches shorter than his other. We all had a great time laughing and playing the circle games and the Moms laughed too. When we were ready to leave, the kids formed a circle around me and Benita and hugged us as one big group. Their smiles melted my heart. i was pooped from playing games for 6 year olds but would not have traded places for anything. What a great experience and memory of Songwe. At 8:30 PM I have to dry my hair, relax and go to bed. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. I relaxed listening to Elaine Elias on my IPOD and fell asleep.
Then I prepped food for Easter Dinner. I roasted the peppers on the flames of the gas stove and then marinated them in a garlic and basil infused oil. I made coleslaw, eggplant ragout with my Greek recipe which is the same way the Zambians cook their eggplant. COINCIDENCE ?! Green beans are cleaned ala Julie and I created maple cinammon glazed apple slices.
After lunch, Mariel teaches us how to wear our Chitangea(sarongs). Then she tells us to get into the car and we go to Songwe Village to meet Tabisa and her fellow villagers. Tabisa is the baby I bought clothes for. She was born two months premature and is now three months old and looks absolutely beautiful! Her Mom died of HIV two weeks before our arrival. Tabisa will be raised by her Great Aunt Anne who is sixty years old. It is very unusual for a family member to offer to take on this type of responsibility in Zambia. Anne is a beautiful person !! One of the outfits I boiught for Tabisa says "I love my Aunt". Great news arrived .....Tabisa tested negative for HIV !! As we drove up to the Village the kids of Songwe were playing games and and when they saw us, great big smiles appeared on their faces. There were about 15 kids aged 2 to 8 or 9 years of age. We sat with some Moms and the infants and talked with them. The children were laughing and having fun. Benita and I decided to go play with the kids. We taught them Ring around the Rosie, duck, Duck, Goose, London Bridges falling down. There was a boy standing in the road so I went over and asked if he would like to play. He replied "I do not speak English" in perfect English I might add. I told him that was ok, took his hand and he joined in. Another little guy was watching too. He was about 2 and his pants, torn and dirty seemed to keep falling down and he would trip on them when he walked. So, I went over to help him and bring him into the circle games. But, when I pulled up his pants, I realized they were not falling down, his one leg was about 5 inches shorter than his other. We all had a great time laughing and playing the circle games and the Moms laughed too. When we were ready to leave, the kids formed a circle around me and Benita and hugged us as one big group. Their smiles melted my heart. i was pooped from playing games for 6 year olds but would not have traded places for anything. What a great experience and memory of Songwe. At 8:30 PM I have to dry my hair, relax and go to bed. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. I relaxed listening to Elaine Elias on my IPOD and fell asleep.
Tuesday
Friday April 22, 2011 GOOD FRIDAY
We wake up with the sun this morning. After having what will become our daily breakfast, oatmeal and fresh fruit, we have a tour of the base. We see the rapids of the Zambezi River, the gorge carved by God, and across the gorge is Zimbabwe. Prayer point is so beautiful but my special place will be off the back of the main building on the third step overlooking the river.
We head out to the strorage trailers to organize school supplies and clothing. Wezi and Paul help us. I was able to sit and do the clothes so each time I found a baby hat, someone on the team had to wear it. We took so pictures of them as well as the trailers, before and after our hands at work. Bev has us prepare school supplies. First we laminate animal pictures. Then glue them on the outside of cereal boxes and cut them out. That way, no advertisement is seen on the finished pieces. Each set is a matching game for preschoolers.
Mariel asks me to help her cook dinner so I can adjust to the kitchen for cooking Easter dinner. My thank you to people at the base, and Mariel and Bev, is to give them a day off from kitchen duty. I will cook Easter Dinner for all. The kitchen is a great big working kitchen, but the only electric appliances are a toaster and a hand mixer. Lunch was grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches and fresh watermelon. So our dinner tonight is mashed potatoes made by hand with the biggest masher I have ever seen. Also green beans, BBQ chicken, salad, and scratch cheddar cheese/scallion biscuits. YUM!
Kevi, the gardener at the base has a great garden. He will pick beautiful eggplant for me to use for Easter. Many plants and bushes new to me grow there as well. I will prep food tomorrow after we pack the vitamins for distribution to the villagers on Monday. Tuesday we head out further into the bush for three days. The Village there is called Sitchalobe.
We have separated to have two per tent which is really nice. Benita is my bunkmate. SHe and her husband Howard are pastors in Philipi West Virginia. They have two girls, 11 and 13.
After showering with water that is wood fire heated, we head back to our tents to journal. I feel teary eyed tonight. Similar to how I felt when I saw the Acropolis in Greece for the first time. Benita and I both wake up at 12:30 AM for a restroom call. Then she has trouble falling back to sleep. It was warm in the ten but we wake up at 7 ish to a nice cool breeze. Gary, thanks for encouraging me to buy a silk sleeping bag liner.. I slept inside it, on top of my sleeping bag most nights until it cooled off enough to pull my sleeping bag over me and zip up. The liner was the most used item I brought, next to my head lamp.
We head out to the strorage trailers to organize school supplies and clothing. Wezi and Paul help us. I was able to sit and do the clothes so each time I found a baby hat, someone on the team had to wear it. We took so pictures of them as well as the trailers, before and after our hands at work. Bev has us prepare school supplies. First we laminate animal pictures. Then glue them on the outside of cereal boxes and cut them out. That way, no advertisement is seen on the finished pieces. Each set is a matching game for preschoolers.
Mariel asks me to help her cook dinner so I can adjust to the kitchen for cooking Easter dinner. My thank you to people at the base, and Mariel and Bev, is to give them a day off from kitchen duty. I will cook Easter Dinner for all. The kitchen is a great big working kitchen, but the only electric appliances are a toaster and a hand mixer. Lunch was grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches and fresh watermelon. So our dinner tonight is mashed potatoes made by hand with the biggest masher I have ever seen. Also green beans, BBQ chicken, salad, and scratch cheddar cheese/scallion biscuits. YUM!
Kevi, the gardener at the base has a great garden. He will pick beautiful eggplant for me to use for Easter. Many plants and bushes new to me grow there as well. I will prep food tomorrow after we pack the vitamins for distribution to the villagers on Monday. Tuesday we head out further into the bush for three days. The Village there is called Sitchalobe.
We have separated to have two per tent which is really nice. Benita is my bunkmate. SHe and her husband Howard are pastors in Philipi West Virginia. They have two girls, 11 and 13.
After showering with water that is wood fire heated, we head back to our tents to journal. I feel teary eyed tonight. Similar to how I felt when I saw the Acropolis in Greece for the first time. Benita and I both wake up at 12:30 AM for a restroom call. Then she has trouble falling back to sleep. It was warm in the ten but we wake up at 7 ish to a nice cool breeze. Gary, thanks for encouraging me to buy a silk sleeping bag liner.. I slept inside it, on top of my sleeping bag most nights until it cooled off enough to pull my sleeping bag over me and zip up. The liner was the most used item I brought, next to my head lamp.
Monday
Thursday, April 21, 2011
We arrived at Livingstone airport and were greeted by Mariel and Bev. We went for lunch. I had a Greek salad and fried calamari and grilled shrimp. Wait, I am supposed to be in Africa....calamari?? We went to the grocery store and funny enough, it is a Shop Rite. We have to change our US $ into Kwacha. Food is very expensive. A small can of mushrooms is $3.USD. After buying a few supplies we are off to our homebase at Overland Missions Rapid 14.
It is a rough dirt road and takes about 30 minutes to get there. We arrive at the main building where everything happens. It has cement walls with front and back tent flaps open. The roof is thatched and beautifully beamed inside. It is beautiful to walk inside and to be able to see the gorge right out the back with the mist of Victoria Falls visible. If you walk to the steps, you see the Zambezi River....AMAZING VIEW !
We are going to have a great Lasagne dinner with garlic bread and salad prepared by Mariel. SO, I guess I will not be losing much weight here if this menu continues.
We are taken to our tent where we unpack and freshen up. Then to the main building to meet our new friends and have dinner. Everything is made from scratch on the base including mayonnaise, cakes and icing, rolls, BBQ sauce, taco shells and chips, biscuits salad dressings etc. due to the high cost of food. Zambia imports everything and it's only export is copper.
We are all tired from the trip so we head to bed at around 10. Tomorrow we wake up in AFRICA !
Our
It is a rough dirt road and takes about 30 minutes to get there. We arrive at the main building where everything happens. It has cement walls with front and back tent flaps open. The roof is thatched and beautifully beamed inside. It is beautiful to walk inside and to be able to see the gorge right out the back with the mist of Victoria Falls visible. If you walk to the steps, you see the Zambezi River....AMAZING VIEW !
We are going to have a great Lasagne dinner with garlic bread and salad prepared by Mariel. SO, I guess I will not be losing much weight here if this menu continues.
We are taken to our tent where we unpack and freshen up. Then to the main building to meet our new friends and have dinner. Everything is made from scratch on the base including mayonnaise, cakes and icing, rolls, BBQ sauce, taco shells and chips, biscuits salad dressings etc. due to the high cost of food. Zambia imports everything and it's only export is copper.
We are all tired from the trip so we head to bed at around 10. Tomorrow we wake up in AFRICA !
Our
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
So the big day finally arrives, and very early as well. We get up at 3 AM and leave at 4 as Fran will be driving Me, Lori and Kate to the airport for a 6:15 AM flight to JFK. Meeting at Target was a great plan. We all get into Fran's car and we are off to Zambia !! When we arrive at JFK we meet Benita for the first time. We get breakfast and before we know it, time to board for our 15 hour flight to Johannesburg South Africa followed by a 2 hour flight to Livingstone, Zambia. All our flights were great and I even managed to get some sleep! Unusual for me when flying.
The meals in flight were very good and I have a new great snack - popcorners
The meals in flight were very good and I have a new great snack - popcorners
January 2011
Fran and I went to Church this morning and in the main hall was a table set up with a sign "Zambia, Mission Trip". I have always wanted to go on a mission trip but something always prevented me. Either the work entailed physical work beyond my ability or I could not get the time off from work.
So, I spoke with the woman at the table and she explained that the trip was to dispense vitamins and food supplements to the local Zambians and that we would be weighing and measuring the growth of children at an "under five Clinic". WOW this was perfect for me ! My 43 years of nursing could be put to God's use! Like the movie "Pay it Forward".
I looked at Fran and said "I am going!". He replied, "don't you want to pray about it?. No, I know God has called me to do this!
And so my journey to Zambia begins. Over the next few months I have to gather supporters to help finance my way. Our departure date is April 20, 2011 for two weeks. . Most people's first Mission trip is to Mexico, Costa Rica, even the USA. But not mine, I am going to Zambia, Africa for my first ever Mission Trip !!
SO, I start talking to friends and I got mixed feedback. Mostly, people said "Are you scared?"
Scared of what I replied. I have nothing to be afraid of. I am going to do God's work and his Angels will guide my way and keep me safe.
As time gets closer, my support arrives daily in the mail. Very slowly but surely I receive money to finance my trip. However, I never quite reach my goal. No biggee, I am going anyway!! I get my immunizations, buy a sleeping bag with mosquito hood, Deet, antimalarial medications, camping pants with zip off legs, and a safari type hat (I borrowed Fran's). I practice packing probably 5 times before the final pack on April 19.
So, I spoke with the woman at the table and she explained that the trip was to dispense vitamins and food supplements to the local Zambians and that we would be weighing and measuring the growth of children at an "under five Clinic". WOW this was perfect for me ! My 43 years of nursing could be put to God's use! Like the movie "Pay it Forward".
I looked at Fran and said "I am going!". He replied, "don't you want to pray about it?. No, I know God has called me to do this!
And so my journey to Zambia begins. Over the next few months I have to gather supporters to help finance my way. Our departure date is April 20, 2011 for two weeks. . Most people's first Mission trip is to Mexico, Costa Rica, even the USA. But not mine, I am going to Zambia, Africa for my first ever Mission Trip !!
SO, I start talking to friends and I got mixed feedback. Mostly, people said "Are you scared?"
Scared of what I replied. I have nothing to be afraid of. I am going to do God's work and his Angels will guide my way and keep me safe.
As time gets closer, my support arrives daily in the mail. Very slowly but surely I receive money to finance my trip. However, I never quite reach my goal. No biggee, I am going anyway!! I get my immunizations, buy a sleeping bag with mosquito hood, Deet, antimalarial medications, camping pants with zip off legs, and a safari type hat (I borrowed Fran's). I practice packing probably 5 times before the final pack on April 19.
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