Last November when I first saw this type of rat (Cane Rat) I freaked out and told Tim it was the size of a cat.  He didn’t believe me.  I told him it was as big as Tristan…again, he thought I was exagerating.  At the time Tristan was two months old.  Well…here’s the proof!

Being that I don’t go anywhere without Tristan (still breast-feeding), I took along the Ergo and Tim as my guide to the R.T.S.A. labyrinth.  I got in line for room 1.  Waited for 30min while scooting along the wooden benches that lined the walls.  If you allow any space between you and the person sitting to your right…someone will scoot on in and you fall back one place in line.  Once in the examiners’ room he was so delighted to see Tim carrying Tristan in the Ergo that he didn’t quiz me!  Yay! Tristan’s charm got me out of the test.  The examiner instead wanted to talk about children…he has 12.

After room 1, I was sent to line 24, waited in que.  Then was sent to room 16.  Waited for another 30 odd minutes.  To look at this line, you wouldn’t think it would take 30 min to get through BUT that doesn’t account for all the “Bwanas” that like to cut to the front of the line.  Tim finally physically blocked the line so that no one could pass…this caused a verbal altercation.  My favorite line of Tim’s was, “Everyone’s case is special – except mine.  You owe me one!” as he finally let the security guard pass.

From room 16 (this RTSA agent had 2 children and isn’t planning on having any more), we were sent back to line 24.  At line 24 they said that the update which was supposed to happen in room 16 “didn’t take”.  So…back to room 16.  Then back to line 24.  Then I was sent to room 3 to get my picture taken.  From room 3 I was sent to room 17.  Again in line for room 17 we waited more than half an hour.  A very large man stepped in line in front of us.  I told him we were in que which he acknowledged but maintained his spot.  Later, He and Tim got into a verbal back and forth about who was there first etc.  Again…it did no good!  After room 17 we were sent to line 26.  After waited for about 15 min in line we were finally able to pay.  “Come back in 4 weeks to pick up your renewed license.”

Pheww!!  OK…now here’s the 10 rules…from memory!

1. Know the highway code by heart and put it into practice.

2. Concentrate all the time on your driving and you will avoid accidents.

3. Think before you act.

4. Exercise patience and hang back when necessary.

5. Drive with care and overtake quickly.

6. Drive fast only in the right places.

7. Develop your car sense and avoid wear and tear.

8. Use your horn considerately and give proper signals.

9. Be sure your car is road worthy and know its limitations.

10. Perfect your road craft and acknowledge courtesies shown to you by other road users.

When Tim and I arrived it was heartening to see the property so active.  Frederick Bwalya from our board was there conducting a week-long Veritas College training, Steve Allen and visiting pastor, Pete Williamson, were leading a day retreat for the pastors in the ACTION Pastor’s College program and some young men from the surrounding community were playing football (soccer) on the football pitch.

Immediately we arrived, Ireen’s friends beckoned her to play.  Katherine Sakala and Gift Phiri are both around her age and both have brothers a little older than Tristan.  Once Ireen noticed that they were carrying their brothers, she wanted to watch Tristan for me.  The three “little mamas” were so adorable…as were the three little brothers…and Abigail Sakala:)

Today the gardener came.  He has helped us set traps for pests before (like rats as big as cats).  He readily does this and then usually takes whatever he finds home for the soup pot.  I never imagined he would want to eat a turtle!!  But, sure enough he trapped the turtle and told the kids how he was going to take it home for supper.  They were delighted.  I was not.

When Tim got home I asked him to talk to the gardener about leaving the turtle here for us as a pet.  Tim’s response was to let him have the turtle…after all when someone is short on food this is a delicacy.  I just couldn’t bring myself to offer this poor little turtle up on a platter to our gardener.  So…Tim allowed me to keep the turtle.  He laughed at me and said that my reason for keeping the thing is that it reminds me of Tristan.  Now, if you were this turtle’s mama, wouldn’t you be happy someone saved it from the dinner plate?

Before leaving for South Africa, my team-mates gave me a “baby shower”; my states-side friends gave me an “online shower”, the church in South Africa threw a “stork party” and now my baby has been properly welcomed by my Zambian friends.  In Zambia it is customary to bring gifts for the baby only after he or she is born.  Afterall, there’s a high infant mortality rate, most women don’t know the sex of their baby, they don’t reveal the due date for fear of their baby being bewitched and most of all, Zambians don’t generally presume upon what the future will hold.  So…in true Zambian fashion, the women from our home fellowship group showed up unannounced about a week after we returned.

There were many formalities…I had to sit and let everyone serve me and they got a kick out of calling me “Mrs. Hilty” because now I have three children.  We all chatted and Tristan was passed around – everyone commenting on his size, that he looks like his brother, etc. etc.   Then the oldest woman, Mrs. Njapau exhorted me to give thanks for this joyful experience and that God had answered so many prayers for a safe and healthy delivery and baby.  She opened it up for the other women to give advice.  They discussed everything from hygiene to my relationship with Tim and the kids to not allowing anyone to practice traditional medicine on my baby.

I felt VERY loved and accepted by these women.  It’s amazing how everytime we leave for a bit and then return, we’re received more and more warmly by the Zambians we have built relationships with.  Instances like this make life here seem more “normal”.

Well, the tables were turned just a couple weeks ago and it was Tim’s turn to defend our educational choices for Ireen.  One of the many issues raised was that of extra-curricular activities.  In response to the skeptisism, my creative and ever-resourceful husband came up with a solution, ‘We’ll hire a swim coach for our children”.  Brilliant!  We happen to live over the wallfence from “Andrew’s Motel” which has a beautiful arrow shaped pool, replete with 2 rock waterfalls and nicely maintained grounds.  We also happen to be friends with a family whose son swam for the Zambia National Swim team and coaches a variety of sports at the outrageously priced yet prestigious American School.

Three days a week my kids are now taking swim lessons.  Generally, it’s the highlight of their day and Ian is amused that his Coach is also named, Ian.  “Two Ians, Mama!”.  Enjoy the following pics of their lesson today:

Later I went into the kitchen to chat with Grace about the incident.  I wanted to know how she interpreted the appearance of such a bird.  Grace is a believer and doesn’t believe that such omens are more powerful than God’s protection.  Never-the-less, she had prayed over the bird while it was on our porch.  I suggested we pray again together and remind ourselves that nothing happens outside the will of God in our lives.

The next day when Grace “pitched up” for work, she had bad news…she got a call that night that her Auntie had died.  Honestly, I didn’t even think about the bird until later that day.  I asked her if she thought the bird had anything to do with the death of her Auntie.  She did.  I encouraged her to stay strong through this test of her faith believing that God is who he says he is in the bible.

The cultural pressure believers come under is incredible.  The tendency is to believe God only as long as that “works”.  When it doesn’t people will fall back on what they know…in this situation, a traditional annimistic belief system.  But, isn’t it the same no matter where we are?  Americans have their trappings as well.  Money is reliable, retirement is what we invest in, physical security trumps all, and how we are viewed in the eyes of others is what drives us.  If we’re putting our ulimate hope in these things, we’re not really trusting in God, are we?