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After some final goodbyes, Gayle and my Mom dropped me off at YVR to leave Monday morning. The night before, we found out a negative covid test was required when flying into the states, even if that flight is just a transfer, so the day started with a covid test! Thankfully, the result was negative and I was on my way. I had a short layover in Seattle, and then boarded the 14-hour flight to Doha in Qatar. I was seated next to an older couple, who kindly asked the flight attendant if she would ask me to move . . . I had no objections, and the move proved beneficial as my rowmate left about halfway through the flight (still have no idea where he was) and returned as we began the descent to land. This allowed me to sprawl out across the three seats and catch a few hours of sleep on the long flight. I then spent 9 hours in the Doha airport and caught my last flight to Lusaka.
When I got off the plane in Lusaka, I was immediately struck by how long their skies were and the smell of the country. Back home, of course, we’re basically surrounded by mountains on all fronts, bringing our horizons to a sudden end as they hit the mountain ranges. Here, however, much like in the Canadian prairies, there’s nothing to stop the horizon so it just continues until your poor human eyes can’t process any further distance. It makes for a very beautiful sky, and even more beautiful sunsets. The smell was also something that struck me right away, a smell of dust, earth and metal with a slight char. I really don’t think that makes much sense, so I’ll just say you gotta come over here and smell it for yourself!
In Lusaka (the capital of Zambia) I was picked up by a lovely couple that usually works at the school, but are living in Lusaka for the year. They provided me with a place to shower and sleep and an overall welcoming environment. I had told them I was going to lie down for half an hour to an hour, but accidentally slept for four hours! I guess the time change had caught up to me more than I had thought! While I was with them, we actually lost running water (thankfully for me this was post-shower), but the contentment of these two Christians blew me away as there was no complaining or grumbling, they simply laughed at the situation and carried on showing me great hospitality. I spent the night with them and was dropped off at a bus the next morning where I met up with David who is a Zambian teacher at the school. He’s a very kind and friendly person, and we’re housemates for the time I’m here at Sakeji. We took the 8-hour bus together from Lusaka to a city in what is known as the copper belt near the border with Congo, called Kitwe. In Kitwe we were picked up by Mark and drove another half hour or so to another city in the copper belt called Chingola, where we spent the night.
At this point, I feel like I need to talk about driving in Zambia. Not only do they drive on the left side of the road, which has startled me a few times simply due to the unfamiliarity. The number of people on the roads has also shocked me! Basically wherever we have driven so far, whether in downtown Lusaka or on the rural highways there are people along the sides of the road. Walking, crossing, or selling various items, there are people everywhere. It's been so fascinating watching all the people maneuvering in and out between the cars and just living their daily lives, in a way that is just so different from what I’m used to in the west where roads are for cars, and only cars (well maybe some bikes too, but they’re more of a nuisance if we’re all being honest aren’t they?).
From Chingola we headed to Sakeji school, on a drive that would take us around 12 hours on some pretty gnarly roads. To those of you back home who are familiar with the FSR that takes us out to Chilliwack lake camp, the roads here make that road look like child’s play, even when it’s in really bad condition (but the stars here also make the stars at Chilliwack Lake look like child’s play so the bumpy roads are definitely made up for). The journey was long and bumpy, but I have to say I really enjoyed the experience of travelling through the country, observing their landscape and culture, I basically spend the entire time just looking out the window! This country is truly beautiful, and the pictures really don’t do it justice, I do mean it when I say you’ll have to come out and see it all for yourself!
The last bit of the drive was on a dirt road that was much easier to drive than the broken-up tarmac. So we ripped down it pretty quick and got to Sakeji a little bit after dark. I slept like a log that night.
I’m now at Sakeji school, and it is absolutely beautiful. I’m not going to include any photos from the school this week, as I want to focus on the time spent travelling, and I figure I’ll also need something to write about next week! The kids arrive next Friday for the start of the term and that’s when I’m told life will get very busy. Please continue to pray.
Lessons from the week:
Relax, and let the road move you. Don’t try and fight it.
Don’t bike with your mouth open, there are lots of bugs in Africa.
There’s a lot more to being a missionary than preaching. It’s about showing forth Christ in all that you do, every single day. - Mark Ronald
To God be the glory, now and forever.
Isaac
Love you so much, man, and honoured to be brought along for the journey. Could not be more thrilled for you. Keep going; keep getting low. Praying for you Isaac!