First Rain

We always laugh because our friends here remember the beginning of rain season as corresponding with Independence Day, which was yesterday, and they hold religiously to that prediction. When Wednesday looked like rain and I asked Tommy about it, he shook his head and said “mailo” (mah–ee-lo which means tomorrow but, conveniently, also yesterday), because the next day was Independence. I rolled my eyes at him but, sure enough, we awoke early Thursday morning to the sound of rain on the metal roof – which sounds something like someone shaking a tin can full of BBs in your ear!

We had a very relaxing and much needed family day playing games, reading, and even watching a movie. The rain ruined our plans for a pool day with some friends in town, but the boys enjoyed playing in the mud for awhile:

Later in the day, the skies cleared and we joined the village community for a traditional celebration of music, dancing and soccer. We are always welcomed warmly at these events, and sometimes given a bit too much attention, but no longer stick out like we used to and are actually able to “blend in” and enjoy some time celebrating, relaxing and enjoying our students and families outside of school. We will try to post some more pictures later, but have had some challenges maneuvering them from camera to iPad!

Growth

So much has been happening here that by the time I would have a chance to write an update, something new happens! Obviously, the loss of Drew’s dad has impacted all of us significantly and taken much of our attention lately. We continue to grieve with the Roelofs family, especially as they laid Steve to rest yesterday and gathered with friends and family to celebrate his life. We have also been profoundly touched by all of the support, sympathy and prayer that has been conveyed by our friendsAaron among the village and the Esther School family. I wish I could share Some of the heartwarming words that have been offered.

If you haven’t had a chance to read it, Arika wrote a beautiful piece on their blog yesterday: Roelofsinzambia . I was planning to write something about the growing banana trees also (who knew a few bananas could bring so much excitement?!) but I can’t top what she has already said, so I’ll just add a few of my own pictures. It’s amazing to see how they have developed over the past year and very exciting for those of us involved in planting and caring for these trees, although Arika was probably a little generous about how much Clayton and I have done. I suppose we all just appreciate the satisfaction of seeing fruit from our labor when we all give so much to a project that will take years, even generations to yield its full potential. These pictures were taken successively over the past 2 weeks:

And so life continues here at the Esther School, despite the heat. The temperature is about 92 degrees F right now – and that’s INSIDE the house. Outside has been well over 100 with little relief at night. We are all waiting for the rains which are expected to come any time, with predictions as bountiful as the drops that will soon fall!

In the meantime, students continue to be taught, meals continue to be served, buildings continue to be built, chickens continue to hatch and we are all making our way through the days. This Thursday we will celebrate Zambia’s 49th year of Independence and will enjoy an extra long weekend. While others are enjoying much needed trips away, we plan to hold down the fort.

If you haven’t heard, or were waiting to find out here, our long-time neighbor and babysitter from the US, Caitlyn Heyboer, has arrived safely after some time in Malawi and will be spending a few months with us. We are very grateful for her arrival and for the contributions she will make to helping us and sharing her gifts directly at the Esther School. In fact: yesterday, about 18 hours after arriving in the country, she helped with her first art project in Grade 1 and has been busy at it ever since!

Pictures of life here never seem to do justice to the sights and sounds and smells we get to enjoy firsthand every day, but more than anything else, we always receive requests for more pictures. Here are a few from the past few days:

The kids hanging out

Construction on the new Married Housing Duplex is coming along nicely

Laundry day

Deep Conversation. I actually stole this picture after overhearing Will and Hudson discussing that Grandpa Roelofs was sick and Will would be returning to the States. The kids have such a way of making sense of and dealing with these things.

Cool chicks

Neighbor girls

PE class

Harry, one of our parents, and his sons delivering some poles at sunrise this morning to begin building the Kindergarten insaka

Grieving a Loss

We’ve often said that both death and life are close at hand living in Africa, but this week death hit very close to the Esther School family as our dear friends and partners in ministry lost their father and grandfather, Steve Roelofs. Steve was very dear to our own family as well and we mourn his loss while we grieve deeply with the entire Roelofs family. Please see the attached information from the Roelofs’ family blog and please join us in holding them up in prayer.

Roelofs in Zambia blog