Evans Family In Zambia: March Madness

A lot has happened in the last week or so. Our house is coming along, the bats are gone, some minor carpentry is being finished up, and we are now working on minimizing the insect population inside our doors. Ants are the big issue with wasps, a few roaches, lizards, and spiders make up the rest. Weather is hot and we sweat a lot but the nights cool down. We really are getting used to Africa though and realize these are minor things here that are just lived with. There was a boomslang spotted by the house we were previously staying in last week but we have not come across any snakes personally. We must admit we are cautious though each time we walk down some grassy edged pathways near the river- thoughts of mambas and crocs are always there and we have learned it is a legitimate thing to be mindful of!

Everyone is doing very well. The kids are growing up so much and learning so much about the world and others in it. Alicia’s God-given spirit of gentleness and satisfaction in every situation are blooming here and I know I am so blessed to be walking this road with her. She just returned from the market this morning with 3 tomatoes, a small package of some local fruit, 2 bananas, a pair of sandals, and some bread. All of them bought from as many people in the village that she stops to talk to and meet and love. We will use the things but she buys them with the people in mind first. She wears a dress or “shitanga” most of the time here for the culture, so pretty! She has made amazing pizza and pancakes from local scratch and impressed people with her cookies. She has duct taped, caulked, wood puttied, mothballed, and otherwise sealed this house a little more each day and this morning things are better than ever insect wise! I did a couple cans of spray foam I bought in Livingstone- best stuff ever. (Just FYI- we have had a tense moment or few with each other, reading this I realize it may have sounded ridiculously perfect.)

Rachel is super popular still around town- her and I went to the market one day and everywhere people shouted “Rrrrrachel, Rrrrrrachelll!”, rolling their r’s in that African English sound. She plays up to it, and people love her. I think sometimes it gets tiring for her- she says everyone knows her and she doesn’t know them. Tough being the only little white girl, but don’t feel sorry for her. She tried to cut her finger off in a fan at our house last week- 2 major slices and a bit worrisome for Alicia and I, but all healed now and she is proud of her scars. Thank you neosporin.

Isaac is quietly reflecting on everything. He has had a day or so where he misses his friends. Rachel broke his iPod (kind of big deal here) and when we opened a surprise hammock for him it turned out to be just a cover, no hammock in the bag! Big error to correct from here. In spite of these let downs he is a content kid and has gone with me to check on the cows, milk this morning, plays with the neighboring kids and just generally has a mind blowing good attitude. He went to a young mens Bible study with me last night and had a good time interacting with the guys. His favorite chore is burning the trash in our 6 foot deep trash hole in the back yard- you can get quite a blaze going sometimes!

Ethan is doing great too. He has taken to carpentry and has spent 2 full days now helping the young man working on our house. He has done real work too and I am impressed with our 7 year old. He says he wants to be a carpenter veterinarian who owns a bakery. He has such a love for the kids and I have seen a courage in him growing- when Rachel cut her finger he was the first one to shut off the fan and help her get the bleeding under control. Nothing seems to bother him except when we say no more sweets. I am proud of them all.

I have spayed and neutered a couple dogs on our table on the porch- Alicia assisted! All went well and I expect more patients soon. I have treated a few cows on the farm and some wormy puppies but mostly am getting organized for the AI project starting in about a week. I have travelled to all the areas and met with local farmers and started relationships there. The needs are endless but I am just trying to stay focused on this one project for now. After that I think some education in management and rabies clinics will be in the future. I have met with a Zambian government vet here. He is hopeful to learn some surgery skills from me- they do not do this in school here and I think we will work together well. He does not have a vehicle or many supplies and I think we can benefit each other well.

We just got a water filter put in our house the other day. I bought it in Livingstone and installed it here once I had the time. Prior to this I was spending 2-3 hours a day either going to get filtered water or Alicia boiling small amounts at a time on the stove. It is hard to get much done in a day for progress when your first concern is water. It made us see how difficult it is for people here to get ahead. Once our filter was in we felt we had 2 more hours a day to put into other things. This was a good lesson to learn- people may not have time to come to your excellent seminar on boiling milk if they have to walk far and have so much else to do just to survive. Something to think on…

Shopping in Livingstone last week they played American music in the store. Phil Collins came on, “Just another day in paradise…” That was surreal listening to that song with my American background now living in Zambia. I will never hear it the same again. In the states we really do live in a physical paradise. It makes me think we should not be afraid to love the way Jesus calls us to. I have so much. I don’t need to feel bad about that but neither do I need to cling to it like I do. We are blessed as Christians to be a blessing to others.

We have heard and seen a lot in a couple weeks. Issues here of significant alcoholism, witchcraft and witch doctors, girls abused as they walk to school, 25% HIV rate in the orphans at the OVC, political strife in neighboring countries bringing refugees to be friends with our kids. All the things we read and hear about as issues in Africa are here at our door. There is so much need here spiritually and physically and yet we see God meeting our spiritual and physical needs here in ways we did not recognize in the states. The country is beautiful, the people are warm and gentle, the work is good. I see our life here and think we should not be happy, but we are and I can only suppose that is God’s gift to us…

Will I ruin the deep moment if I say, “Go Cats!” I just lost half of you, I know. Thank God for light fun things like March Madness. And thank you for the emails, prayers, support and encouragement. We love and miss you all- especially you Memaw!

Ephesians 2:10

-paul