Esron Village

It's Thursday, February 28, 2008, 13:00. The eggplant, nshima, kapentas and beans are in the pots. Slowly but surely our traditional Zambian lunch is coming togeter. Sitting round the brazier, comparing the way food is prepared in different countries, and, even though Reynard is still "bang vir die vissies!" we're wondering whether those in the neighbouring huts will have anything more than a piece of corn/ maize to eat today.

 

The sun is blazing down like possible only in Africa - maybe why one of the first Bemba phrases we learned were: "Naku Kaba" (It's hot!)!

Since we arrived in Esron village yesterday morning we've been overwhelmed by the generosity of our hosts - Maaines and Evelyn. The men showed themselves handy by preparing the collapsed shower with reeds gathered at the nearby stream. In the evening the kids gatehered for Bible study and they were just fascinated that we come from families with as few as 2 children, and especially the fact that we're older than 20 and not yet married!

This morning we started early with intercession and afterwards the team had a new experience in dishwashing in the river before starting our walk around the village. Our newly learned Bemba words came in handy as the friendly people passing by always stop to make some small talk.

Our team is getting to know each other still beter every day and we're losing ourselves in the peace and quiet of the bush, Maaines' village cake (!!) and the incomprehensible kindness and friendliness of these wonderful people - like the village headman, Michael, who just send us a bunch of pumpkins from his very own land - they have so little, yet give so much!