Friday, November 30, 2012

phoney


 My siblings and I used to fight over answering the phone. As a child I loved talking on the phone, I guess because it was such a grown-up thing to do. When we were young, I think my older siblings envisioned me as a teenie bopper racking up a major bill on my parents’ land line each month in order to stay connected with friends (of course, this was pre-cell phone world).

My life has developed differently than my siblings predicted. Fast forward 20 years and you find me half way around the world acquiring a new cell phone as part of my job in Africa.

About five years ago, I chose to get a personal cell phone. I assure you my phone bill has never come close to exceeding the plan’s limits. In fact, sometimes an entire week would pass and no one would have called me. Not a single soul. Sometimes Dad phoned me from the kitchen to give me a personal invitation from my bedroom for Sunday dinner—just so I could receive a phone call.

Somewhere along the way as the years passed, my childhood phone infatuation died. I think it had something to do with answering a billion business calls at home throughout the busy summer months on the farm. I devised my own rubric for determining “real” phone calls. For example, a campaign call or telemarketer spiel would not be defined as a “real” phone call. However, a call from Betsy on her lunch break would definitely be a legitimate phone call. Gone were the days of rushing to the land line phone just to greet a telemarketer before my older siblings could. However, calls from my parents and siblings ranked as prized incoming connections (“real” calls) on my cell phone.

At my office in Michigan, I answered the phone a handful of times in my nearly two years of service, and I definitely didn't mind letting my boss handle the common phone inquiries. But my job in Zambia is different. The office phone travels everywhere with me. I can’t just close my office door and leave it on the desk for the weekend.

Shortly after arriving in Zambia, I felt like I was coming down with an illness, one that was masked in a little red package and could bother me at any moment. “You have to take it!” Heather would tease me, even for short trips to town.




So “it” comes along—to Macha for Thanksgiving, to town for errands, to Bible study on Wednesdays (well, sometimes I conveniently leave it home then), to my bed for the night…

It’s not that I dislike cell phones. I love having ways to keep in touch with the world. I recently realized the problem with my new phone: a phone in Zambia is of no use in helping me stay in touch with my family back home in Michigan. Betsy can never call me when she’s on break at work, and I can’t give Mom a buzz just to chat after dinner in the evening. I can’t dial Amy from the grocery store to see if there’s anything she wants me to pick up on my way home from work, and Dad can’t call to see if I’m home on Saturday afternoon so he can come work on my house.

The little red box of buttons and cell tower connections felt pretty useless, and like a nuisance. My first many times to hit “Answer” went like this: “Hello, [coming from the caller] is Wingert there?” No one knew who I was or why I had Mr. Wingert’s phone anyway.

I’ve resigned myself to the fact that my phone’s purpose in Zambia is not the same as my phone’s purpose in the States. It’s ok.



Though… I was just thinking, maybe if I named my phone it would be more fun to haul with me everywhere… any suggestions?

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Michigan Cookie Cooking Zambian


There are several main ingredients used for cooking here in Zambia. Cooking oil (never referred to as "oil," always "cooking oil"), salt, onions, and tomatoes are a few of the basics used in preparing "soup" (sauce) to eat with the staple food, nshima (ground maize cooked with water). Cabbage is a popular addition to the tomato sauce base.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

just because


Everyone needs a good laugh now and then!

First...

...muffins I baked in Zambia

the chocolate chips sprinkled on top are an extra special treat here


I'm sure you've been waiting for me to post African recipes. Well, if you’re in Africa, just use local bananas and this will be an African recipe. Haha.

I brought my favorite banana muffin recipe from home and was super excited to bake a batch recently between power outages. These muffins are easy to make, plus the recipe is versatile and forgiving (add extra ingredients, skimp on others, make substitutions—the result is always delicious!). I hesitate to add that the sugar and fat content in this recipe is lower than most banana muffin recipes, because I don’t want you to label these as taste-less health food before you even bake some to try for yourself.

Yummo Banano Muffos
(uh, yep, I coined the name…)

1 ¼ cup mashed dead bananas (3 or 4)
¼ cup oil
¼ cup sugar (brown or white, I've also used honey or maple syrup for part of the sweetener)
1 egg
1 t. vanilla

1 ½ cup flour (can use half whole wheat, or add some flax seeds or bran as well)
1 t. baking powder
1 t. soda
½ t. salt

Optional for extra yummo:
½ cup chopped nuts
Chocolate chips :)

Wisk the wet ingredients and sugar. In a separate bowl combine the dry ingredients. Gently mix batter until combined. Carefully add nuts and chocolate if desired.

Scoop batter in to 10 or 12 greased muffin tins. Bake at 350F (or 177C) about 15 to 20 minutes or until done.

This also makes lots of wonderful mini muffins (reduce baking time).

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Cutest Teamie

Heather at Vic Falls



May all the peoples praise you...


 O God; may all the peoples praise you. 
May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly 
and guide the nations of the earth.    Selah
Psalm 67:3-4

Friday, November 23, 2012

ZamBikes


Before moving to Zambia, Heather and I decided to purchase ZamBikes as an alternative transport mode for errands close to home (we have vehicles we can drive, but travel is expensive). A couple hours after stepping off the plane in Lusaka, Gene and Darlene took us to ZamBike to pick up our bulky treasures.


The following week Gene helped us prep our bikes for our first ride... stuff like adjusting the brake so it actually clamped the tyre [yep- that's the proper spelling here]. Zambian manufacturing is, well, original.


So far, life has been so busy our bikes have mostly lived in the dining room (safe keeping). But soon, I'm hoping to spend a lot more time keeping my yellow machine company and learning the dirt paths around Nahumba and the back way in to town.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Sikalongo

Gene and Darlene in front of the mission bell erected in honor of Myron Taylor. 

Gene and Darlene and Heather and I  spent a couple days at Sikalongo recently. I learned some interesting history from Gene as his grandfather, Myron Taylor, was the founder of the Sikalongo Mission (1920). 



Sikalongo Brethren In Christ Church

View from Sikalongo


I love the message engraved on the stone.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Victoria Falls


Since Gene and Darlene’s flight home departed out of Livingstone, we took the opportunity to visit Victoria Falls last weekend.

Apparently, the Falls is nicknamed Victoria Walls at this time of year because of the lack of water before the rains come. I didn't know what to expect since I’d never been to the Falls before, but others were surprised at how much water was still flowing at this time of the year.




Even though the drive was only 2.5 hours, I was exhausted by the time we arrived in Livingstone (I was the navigator). My first glimpse of the Falls was enough to make the drive worthwhile. I wish I could package the Falls in my suitcase to take home, or shoot some pictures that would actually display the grandeur and power at Victoria Falls, but... you'll just have to come visit if you really want to experience this Natural Wonder of the World!





I'm hangin', I'm hangin'

Looking toward Zimbabwe

When Gene came to the Falls as a boy, this foot bridge wasn't built yet. Gene remembers his mom being quite concerned when his dad climbed across the rocks to shoot pictures!

The Zambezi





I decided to be a full-fledged tourist and shoot lots of pictures :)


Heather and David Livingstone (he's holding a Bible)

Out on the rocks of the Zambezi (the Falls is to our left; during the rainy season, this area is covered in water).





Monday, November 19, 2012

goofy


so that's what we look like at breakfast...

Stick-y Adventures

My Zambian vehicle control station (for all my American readers: no, this photo was not taken in a mirror).


My stick-y adventure began in Michigan with “The Chev,” Aaron's 70’s one-ton douly, gas-guzzling farm truck used for short runs around the farm (primarily to carry water to the animals out back). Brian and I lurched down the lane and up and down the back forty, revving and rumbling from gear to gear. I learned the clutch should not be held down after shifting into the next gear… lest the engine die…

Learning to drive a manual transmission vehicle had been on my list of “learn someday” for a couple years. Earlier this year, I decided this was the year. This would be the summer of the stick. Choosing to move to Zambia necessitated my stick-y goal.

Dad, Brian, and Logan kindly provided me some great errands to practice my driving. They even took time to explain the mechanics behind manual transmissions, because I thought I might be able to drive better if I understood how the engine and transmission work in stick-shift vehicles. They were patient with me as I practiced, even when I made mistakes, like stalling —twice—at a green light at one of Midland's busiest intersections!

The Isuzu at the Macha airstrip.

My number-filled driving adventure continues here in Zambia, where we’re lefties on the road. Thankfully, Gene is a patient instructor and he talks me through tips and recommendations he’s picked up after driving here for the past couple years. Gene has been giving Heather and me ample opportunities to polish our skills navigating the Isuzu pickup for speed humps, cows and goats, bicycles, pedestrians, disabled vehicles, and all other interesting items on the roads here.

I wanted to post a fun post pre-Zambia about my stick adventures, but never took any pictures of the trucks in Michigan. So, finally, out at the Macha airstrip I shot a picture to use with this post.

ps- David B. I have pictures of the Macha airstrip for you.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Your Glory


When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Travel


One of Zambia's divided highways on the way to Sikalongo.

Friday, November 16, 2012

"Mukuwa," Obviously.

Mukuwa = White Person
Heather and I spent the weekend in the village, practicing our Tonga. My vocabulary has grown exponentially since arriving in Zambia two weeks ago, even though it is limited to greetings and basic words.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Saturday, 4:50AM



The roosters were already well on their way to waking everyone in the village when Mrs. Chindolo knocked at my door. At five o’clock we headed out—Mr. and Mrs. Chindolo and I. 

Dawn was breaking as we began the brisk ten minute walk to Mboole Brethren In Christ Church building. As we approached, we heard the pastor inside praying.

Five months ago, the pastor challenged his congregation to meet for prayer at 5am every day. The Chindolos and the pastor and wife are the only ones who have taken up this challenge.

How sweet to start the day in worship with my brothers and sister as we sang and prayed and read the Word. Beyond our skin colors, nationalities, languages, and cultures, we experienced the unity of our Lord.

I wish you could have been there too.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

London layover

British Museum

My friend Angelina and I had been scheming for months about how to rendezvous in London on my way to Zambia. God orchestrated a marvelous visit beyond what we were able to plan in advance. (We had scheduled a meeting for a couple hours on my original nine hour layover.)

While in London this trip, I visited the British Museum, the British Library, and Westfield Mall (built for the 2012 Olympics). Plus, we enjoyed a yummy homemade Indian meal and a fun sleepover—complete with three friends and two aunts stuffed into one small bedroom, plus late-night conversation after lights out. 


Heather and I with the 2012 Olympic mascot

Westfield Mall

British Museum-- replica of city gates

British Library


Thanks, Angelina for such a fun visit!