05:45 – Wake up and get ready for the day. The moon and Saturn. I wish I had a better Camera. So beautiful!

06:45 – The kitchen finally feels like it is being used. It is very nice to have the Jory family here.

Not typical fare for me but oh so amazing. Just heat up every morning and eat with fruit. Banana Pancakes.

I also do cereal and eggs here. Fun Fact eggs come straight from the chicken here and therefore do not need to be refrigerated and last a long time.

07:30 – A typical school day starts with about 50% of the school lining up infront of their classes and singing the National Anthem: “Stand and Sing of Zambian Proud and Free.”

Then the Grade 7 class leads us to Chapel

Where one of the staff, (Maybe yours truly) will lead a lesson and singing.

I ran a bit of a roucous chapel demonstrating the importance of good neighbors.

The kids tried individualy to lift me but then they all tried together. Sarah K. was there to protect my head. The kids lifted me WAY higher than I thought they would!

Morning announcements are also held at this time.

Then we march to the classrooms

08:15 – Period 1

Period 2

RECESS!! (This picture needs like 10X more chaos to be realistic, Where’s George Lucas to show the real picture?)

Period 4

Period 5

Period 6

Cecilia is paying close attention.

13:00 – LUNCH! The school provides some pretty amazing buns to eat.

Computers, Gym and Activity room are next taking up the last 3 periods

15:00 – Home Time. School is a lot of memorization and sitting still so the next part is essential for these kids.

15:05 The teachers might purchase something from a saleman they invited to the school. Plucked Chickens slaughtered this morning on sale here. One of the few reliable sources of protein in the bush.

15:10 – Making Friends while waiting for the boaring kids to finish getting ready for post school activities.

It is a rare feline with whom I feel kinship.

This one is a possible exception.

The Joy of completed spelling homework.

16:00 – Trek to Push The Rock about 2 km from the school via some footpaths.

open sky

It’s getting hot

Cecil thinks I need to toughen up.

Halfway there and I’m thinking; “This is a perfectly good soccer pitch why can’t we use this one?”

Yet on we go. Mr. Wisdom (Center) guides his troops Justina and Young.

The path takes us through the local market.

It is about what I expected; completely outside my expectations.

Piles of used clothing for sale in no particular order.

Fires in these stalls are used for separating metals from anything containing metal.

The acrid smoke gives reason to hurry past.

I couldn’t say what is happening here.

But a lot of it is happening.

This may have something to do with the nearby hospital visiting hours.

Arriving at PTR

The leaders are obviously great role models dedicated to the kids.

Making teams

GAME ON!

The competition as always, was a little more intese than the same thing back home would be.

PTR is a really powerful force for good in this community.

There is so little to do outside of school or farm work,

that having a place to just be kids was not really a community priority,

so they did their own thing and would inevitably get into trouble.

PTR lets kids of all ages and genders play

In any way they can think of.

It’s a caring and fun environment that isn’t really present anywhere else in Macha

I’m really impressed with the efforts of Corrie and Eric Thuma who run it.

No one ever really wants to leave.

17:30 – But the time to go back home has come.

I SAID WE HAVE TO GO!!!

they have finally acquiesced to my order, Though reluctanlty

Awaiting the transpo home.

Games and dancing ensue

I found flora to capture.

Everything that grows here.

Ostern is in grade 5. Quiet but bubbling up with enthusiasm for most anything

17:45 – We pile into the school bus. That’s Shimpmade in black and Mupeo in red.

The roads are very rough.

You have to watch your head

~18:00 – It’s been like this pretty much every night.

I am in awe of it all the time.

18:30 – Sheema/seema/nshema the staple food in Zambia has many names but it is cornmeal as the sponge for whatever relish is available.

Dinner with the boarding students is a very nice way to make sure you can talk with everyone about their day.

It’s messy but eaten with a certain dignity.

It’s a close group of kids.

19:00 – Time for individual reading before devotionals.

This is a lot like the gryffindor common room

20:07 – Daily encounter with strange fauna

I righted this beetle about 3 times before I realized he wanted to get eaten while lying upside down and I should just let him.

Fox-bat moth Caterpillar

usually at least a centimeter accross and between 6 and 10 cm long. These are everywhere and their spines cause itchyness

but they turn into these 5 cm wingspan beauties so I can’t hate them.

20:00 – Another day ends at MICS. I’m usually in bed at or around this time.