Michelle and Heather by chicken coop (get it?)

Kelli and Katie by the farm manager's house and bananas

Sunset by the new dormitory (but the dorm is not in this picture)

More pics

Joe and Katrina and bananas...they'll be digging holes for more plants tomorrow at the farm.

(Katie and Kelli) DUUUUUUDDEEEEEEEE!!! Today was our first "glimpse" into all the different ministries and outreaches such as the two schools (where we will be helping), the Childrens Hospital, and the farm land. First we went to Mapolo school and the welcoming reception was craziness! Once the kids saw us drive by they started chasing after the car, and then at one point when Katie and I turned around (we were sitting in the back) we saw 7 or 8 kids trying to push the car while it was motion! After the visit to the Mapolo school we went to the Mackenzie school, where we will be working with the kids! We were blown away at the poverty surrounding Ndola. Not only that, but we were humbled by the sadness that was present at the Children's hospital. However, to end our day on a good note, we visited the future Northrise Unviersity's construction site where they will be building many more dorms and facilities for future students. What a heart Moffat and Doreen have for the people of Ndola. Kelli and I are truly humbled and blessed to be a part of such a God-driven vision! More pictures will be uploaded soon from our day's adventures. Also, game of the trip....BANANA-GRAMS! Kelli hates it because she can never win and Katie puts up with it because it is Kari's FAVORITE game! Kari, it's all you girl!

Seeing Ndola

Kari here...

We visited the schools at Mapalo and MacKinzie this morning. Beautiful faces!

Tanya, Ian and I had the opportunity to join Moffat and others for a meeting with the mayor of Ndola this morning. It is clear that the officials see Northrise University as a significant part of the city's development. The deputy mayor attended NU's last graduation ceremony and spoke glowingly of his experience. We are off to the children's hospital and the land this afternoon. So so so good. We are grateful to be here.

Hello OC

Hi All,
Jen, Tanya, and Heather here in Ndola in the Northrise University computer lab!! We are so impressed with the technology here!! Our church service this morning was awesome. Moffat spoke about communion and our need to focus on unity of the body, selflessness, and reverance. It was a great message. The Northrise University Choir also sang...they were AMAZING!! They sang with such passion...we LOVED it!!
Funny story...today during our meeting about VBS...Tanya announced the kids' groups names...the zebras, the monkeys, and the giraffes...Kari leaned over to Tanya and mentioned that "monkeys" have been known to be a derogatory term in certain courtries...and perhaps we should check it out. After talking with a few of the university students, Kari was right and so, Tanya renamed the monkey group to the lions instead...and of course...she couldn't stop laughing. A year of planning right down the drain!!
Blog-Out-Bloggers,
JTH (...you figure it out)

What a welcome!

Joe here -- Trina and I had the most awesome welcome that we could have hoped for!



Kari and Moffat giving us a first rate Ndola welcome!

Today we split up into our respective groups for a bit of an overview of our time here. Katrina and I are going to be doing any of a number of tasks this week, from pouring concrete and laying the foundations of a chicken farm, to digging holes for banana trees, to general landscaping around the school. Fortunately, the team leader has been really great about working with us, and recognizing that Trina won't be able to do really heavy work. We'll be able to see what the team is going to be doing in the morning, and, if needed, we'll hop over to the vacation bible school team and help with the kids. We'll see what the week has in store!

We made it

(From Michelle and Ryan) Greetings from Ndola! After a 10 hour flight to London, a 4 hour layover, a 10 hour flight to Lusaka and a 4 hour bus ride to Ndola, we arrived safely at our hotel. Thank you all for your prayers:) Today is Sunday and we're getting ready to go to church here at Northrise. After church, we'll spend today working to get ready for the week (unpacking crates, organizing supplies, etc.) More later...love you all!

Greetings from London

(6/27 - Kari and Katie here) Our flight from LA to London was uneventful (and on time). Very little drooling and snooring on the red-eye. Our merry band is having a great time. Just had breakfast/lunch/dinner/dessert -- as we have no idea what time it is. Off to Lusaka, Zambia in an hour!

Almost there!

Joe here -- After a five hour flight to London, a 12 hour layover, and then a 12 hour flight to Johannesburg, South Africa.....we're almost there! On our flight from London to J-Berg, Trina and I sat next to an American college student who was part of a short term missions trip herself. She was part of a group of about 20 people from Louisiana, and they were on their way to Malawi.


Trina picking up luggage after FINALLY landing in Johannesburg .


Hands up and looking forward to a LONG nap at the hotel. Go Red Sox!


What hotel is complete without a scale replica of Michelangelo's David?

The adventures of the container...

(6/25) Just in from Dr. Zimba, "Finally, the container is in Ndola, by tomorrow we should have it here at our premises.  Travel well friends.  God is good...All the time!  Shalom, Moffat"

(Kari here 6/24)  Most of you know that the container we sent last December (with the supplies for our trip) has not yet arrived in Ndola.  It's been waylaid in Tanzania since March.  But we got word this morning that the truck crossed the border and is headed in the right direction!

 

Let's do THIS!

Kelli here, saying how I excited I am about going to Zambia! Hold onto your hats and glasses because this here is the wildest ride in the wilderness! As we sing with the kids in Kid's Ministry, "On We Go!" Can you tell my excitement? Hehehe...

As we are two days away from our departure, I sit and imagine what the Lord has in store for us. Whatever lies ahead, I know the Lord has already gone before and prepared the way. Nothing will be of coincidence or mistake, but purposefully planned out for the teaching of His servants and for the glory of His Kingdom. How blessed I am to be apart of something the Lord is doing as well as serve alongside my fellow awesome servants of the Lord! Team Zambia rocks! Jesus claimed, "I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark." Amen! Zambia here we come!

"To see God in EVERYTHING is the GREATEST there is!"

About Zambia...

Check it out!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zambia

Level Of Completed Education

Sorry about the above! I should have read over the blog and I would have caught the typo. Does this disqulaify me from leading VBS?

Getting Close

(from Chad) Well, just over two weeks to go and I've finally signed on the blog. Everything seems to be falling in place and I just can't wait to go. What an awesome opportunity to go to Ndola and work with Northrise. CVounting off the days!