Simple Entertainment

From our own Choma Town
(photo credit: Emily)

As I mentioned previously, shoppe names here can be quite amusing. I thought you might like to hear some examples. There are many more (such as the Corner Bar, which is a round hut!), but here are a few from the list Heather and Chrissy compiled to-date:

• Come In Shopping Centre
• Hungryman’s Clinic
• Zebra Den
• Tooters (restroom stop between Choma and Lusaka)
• Sweet Time Grocery
• Get Smart Barbershop and Phone Charging
• Last Hope Auto Shop
• Half Moon GenDealer
• Mummy’s Bakery
• One Love Kabana Shopping Centre
• Fidelity Mall
• God’s Favour Butchery
• Stranger’s Choice
• Real Hope Restaurant
• Try Us Restaurant
• Virtue Wholesale
• Just Imagine Centre
• Snow White
• Cheaplines General Dealers
• Blessed Hair Saloon
• Let the People Talk Investments
• Go Disney Nite Club
• Hot or Not Fast Foods

I must say, Last Hope Auto Shop, Cheaplines General Dealers, Hungryman's Clinic, and Tooters are a few of my all-time favorites. I also just recently noticed the Pop Inn Butchery and Ice Point here in Choma. Want to pop in sometime to check it out?

ps- Yes, we have hair saloons here...

To Mom

Happy Mother's Day.
Love, Julie

The One I Stay With...

photo by our little friend Frey

Zambians have a rough time with Heather’s name. Every once in a while, we meet someone who watched a movie staring a Heather or perhaps once met another Heather, and so can  recognize and pronounce her name. More often than not, we’re met with blank stares anytime Heather is introduced.

Sometimes when folks come to the door, in the course of conversation I ask if they know Heather… again, blank stares. They’re not sure if I’m talking about an object, an idea, or perhaps just another English word not yet in their vocabularies. “We stay here together… She works at Central Office and with Compassionate Ministries…” I begin explaining.

I asked Heather’s permission to share with you her list of names she’s collected that people have used when referring to her throughout the past six months. Most common pronunciations sound a bit like “Hee-tha” or “Heatha.” It’s extremely rare to hear a true “R” at the end of her name.

• Heatha
• Heitha
• Heither
• Heatheur
• Heether
• Heza

Heather was quite un-flattered to read our church’s annual council minutes, only to discover her name listed as “Heater.”

Our most recent funny with Heather’s name happened in town one Saturday when Heather purchased some talk-time for her phone and requested a receipt. As the fellow wrote the receipt, he asked her name. “Heather. H-E-A-T-H-E-R” she spelled out each letter as he wrote. Everything went great, until he swapped a “P” for the “T” in the middle of her name!

We managed to make it out the door and up the sidewalk before bursting into laughter at yet another name to add to Heather’s ever-growing list…

Scones

Scones are wildly popular here in Zambia. Periodically, Heather and I enjoy Spar's bakery scones, which cost less than fifty cents each. Heather's favorite are coconut, and I enjoy the raisin ones.

I've only baked scones a handful of times, but I recently decided it was time to bake a batch of scones. It might just be because I used fresh oranges from our tree, but these scones turned out fabulous. They were super easy to make as well... so, I thought you might like the recipe, even though it's not really orange season in the US (at least not in Michigan!).

Orange Yogurt Scones

2 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

combine above dry ingredients

then cut in:

3 Tablespoons butter or margarine

in a separate bowl combine:

3/4 cup plain yogurt (I added a smidge of orange extract to mine)

1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest

combine wet and dry ingredients just until crumbly

turn out and knead (about 10 times) just until dough comes together

pat the dough into a circle and cut into 8 wedges

Bake at 400F (~205C) for about 15 minutes or until golden.

Serve with tea to your best friends :)

*These would also be great drizzled with orange icing for an extra special occasion*

Solo

Amidst full work schedules, hosting a building committee meeting, attending an expat meeting, hosting guests in our home, assisting with logistics of the women's annual conference, attending a wedding, and hosting the wedding line-up for a meal in our dining room... Heather and I packed her life into a duffle a couple weekends ago, and I dropped her off at the Choma bus stop Monday morning. I'm sure she's having a fabulous holiday, and I have enjoyed my days at Nahumba, but I can hardly wait for her soon return!

Pastor

Fun Fact

Both my pastor and wife here at Nahumba and my pastor and wife at 

Bethel in Michigan have five daughters!

brainstorm session

.lists. 

.lists and more lists.