We’re Here
Greeting from sunny Lusaka. We are here and alive and well. So much has happened in our first week - we've moved in, recieved our stuff from the U.S., unpacked, purchased a car (almost), been shopping multiple times, dealt with a myriad of details and started work for me. It has been mostly wonderful with a few tough moments thrown in for good measure.
The kids have embraced everything and are doing wonderfully well. Clara, our biggest "feeler" had her first bout of homesickness this morning, but Mackenzie jumped in with her and helped her through it.
Follow are some excerpts from a couple e-mails we've sent out that hopefully give you some snapshots into this week and our new life here. We miss you and are more grateful for your prayers than you could know. (Sorry for formatting - tough to read)
------------------------------------------------------------
well family...(From Molly)
i am beaming as i write...somehow we have found ourselves on the other side
of the world-- safe and sound and happy as can be.the travel was amazingly
easy. never a single fuss from the kids. new york wasgood (HOT!)-- great
time with the sequeira's and fun to see the big apple. i think we put to
rest mackenzie's dream of living there-- to crowded and busy
for her!
the 17 hr. flight to johannesburg went really well. way better than we
were expecting. it helped to leave at dinner time b/c the kids had a chance to dive into
their (stuffed with toys) backpacks and watch a movie and then they darken the cabin and
they all slept. we had an open seat next to us which is very unusual so we were
able to spread out a bit. all went very well. biggest bonus was that we were able
to check our 16 pieces of luggage through to lusaka so when we got off the plane
last nite (last nite???!!!!) in johannesburg we just took our carry-ons through
customs and went straight to our hotel. the kids have been AMAZING travelers. lots of
lines, waiting, sitting, etc.
And then we landed in lusaka...
we were all very excited-- we made it! it is "winter" here so it was
only about 75 and sunny which we'll take. it is SO AFRICA. dry grasses
and different trees and bushes... beautiful. we were greeted by the first of
MANY fabulous collegues of jeff's. so warm and welcoming, Davison got a pass
to come andmeet us at the plane and walk us through passport control. the kids loved
him immediately and Bennett quickly switched into goofy mode once he
realized he had an audience!
all 16 pieces of luggage arrived! we went out to the curbside where
another of jeff's collegues was. she and davison drove us to the holiday inn. i was
in the car with Agness and the girls. oh, how i wish you could've seen their
faces and heard their comments: "i love it here!" "this is AFRICA!"
"it's so beautiful!" "Look at all the people walking along the
roadside!" "It's beautiful"
the kids' response has been incredible. way beyond what we could've hoped
for... it is so OTHER here, hard to think of anything that is similar to
their world at home, but it's like they have just spread their arms and are embracing
it all, with so much joy....
-------------------------------------------------------------
Greetings (Jeff here). Well, I'm not quite sure where to start other
than to say, wow. This is an amazing place, This is one of the most
challenging things we have ever done, The kids are doing great. Molly and I have been
on an emotional roller coaster.
The kids have embraced everything wonderfully - the transition for them is
going to be much easier than for Molly and I...A few snapshots that have been
beautiful. Bennett in his pirate outfit walking the perimeter of our yard with the
security guard chatting away about lizards and what not...And then talking him in to
checking out his play Teepee in the yard and having him help him fix something.
Mackenzie on her own without knowing I was watching going out and offering the
gardner a glass of water, Clara, trying to buy a puppy from a guy selling them at a
stoplight intersection. The kids, on their new bikes, being greeted with complete friendliness
by a group of young kids who are probably orphans or soon will be...(One of them was
named Bennett which you know who thought was pretty cool.) When we got back home, our
Bennett announced that he wanted to have those guys over for his birthday party and
we probably will.
Molly and I are united and feel very close in this all. We see ourselves
growing
daily.
------------------------------------------------------------------
From Molly
i am lying in our bed-- you know the one from minnesota-- in our house in
zambia. besides the fact that it feels good to be in it again after three
months on the futon mattress, it is so WEIRD!
there have been so many "moments" / thoughts these first few days... i will
share some in hopes that a picture can begun to be painted of our time
here...
- George and Dorothy (Our gardenr and Maid) are amazing. They are fabulous
people who have embraced our family and made our transition so much easier
than it would have been. They both worked at this house with the family
that lived here before us. Being able to communicate easily (English is the
main language here) has been HUGE! They have played such a critical role in our kids'
adjustment. they love on them.... i had to convince George today as he
was working that he didn't have to let Bennett lasso him. Mackenzie was
hanging out in the laundry room with Dorothy-- she said to me tonite,
"Dorothy taught me how to fold dresses. And she's going to make nishma for
us sometime with chicken. And you know that fish they were eating..."
Totally developing a sweet relationship. I struggled so much with the
thought of having the help at the house before we came. It was embarrasing
to me. I have quickly learned some things... first of all, i NEED the
help. i can't imagine if on top of everything it is taking to get our life
set up here i had to think about laundry, etc.... i have been humbled by
how much they are helping us... also, there are SO many people out and
about without jobs.... this is SUCH a dignified, wonderful job. it is a
gift to be able to provide them employment. and probably the biggest thing
for me is realizing how there is such intense work and ministry right
inside our gate...we are IN AFRICA. AFRICA is in our house!
-Another famous line of mine before we got here was, "I just don't want it
to be too easy or to be in an exclusive white world there, that just isn't
the reality of the country." Jeff would laugh and say, "o.k..." well...it
is so far from easy i can't tell you and i have only seen about 10 white
people in the last 3 days...today i didn't see any! we are SO TOTALLY in
AFRICA. it is so great that way, and so hard that way. Our kids are
jumping into it with such joy and expectancy, dusty feet, smiles on their
faces, greeting kids their age they walk by who are wandering down the
street... if we left tomorrow they would be impacted- sights, smells,
sounds...And they all love it. Even Mackenzie, who is our neat and tidy
one. She hasn't skipped a beat.
-Everything takes so much time. Everything we've done--arrange for our
container to come, buy appliances, have an electrician come to install
appliances, have all sorts of minor and major (water pump broke this
weekend) house repairs worked on with the landlord, getting my car-- is
full of multiple steps...elecricity-- how to plug things in-- british,
south african, zambian and us cords-- adaptors, transformers, converters,
etc., etc., etc. Meanwhile, everyone is driving on the wrong side of the
road, the map isn't complete, the signs have km, the directions on the rice
are in celsius and metric, the time is military, etc......
-We walked to the corner store for pizza this weekend (very good, we had it
three times before we had our kitchen set up!) Such an incredible
experience...met a gardner across the street who knew we were coming
because he is friends with a WONDERFUL gal named Debbie who Jeff met when
he was here in April. He and his family just moved into the gardners'
house at the house kiddie corner from us and they have a daughter
Mackenzie's age and a son Bennett's age. I saw him again today, he is so
friendly and welcoming...walked up the dirt alleyway down our street that
is a cut through to the shopping area near our house. Our kids flying
through the dirt on their mountain bikes, Bennett falling over every 25
feet or so in the ruts... Having pizza, being greeted afterward by 4 kids
who are likely orphans (one named Bennett!) who shook hands with all our
kids and we shared some kwachas ($) and they proceeded to calll us mom and
dad ("Thank you mommy and daddy you are so generous!) We had given them
$2.
--I am amazed at our kids right now...they are so in this thing. They are
not questioning it a bit. They love it.. It is amazing to me. I would
think that they would be totally overwhelmed...that is such a gift. An
answered prayer.
-Such a gift to be greeted each morning by endless sunshine. the nites can
be hard, although they are getting easier. it is dark by 6 and when we
left minnesota it was still light at 9:30. evening is really 4:30-7, have
to switch gears. and then at nite it is easy to get caught up in
fears/anxieties as i fall asleep or if i wake up in the nite-- my biggest
ones are the malaria threat-- we are arriving at the best possible time,
the threat is almost nonexsisten which gives us time to get our bearings
and get used to closing the hosue up, putting on long sleeves/pants at
4:30...and our kids health in general.
--Jeff and I have ridden a rollercoaster of emotions. the setting up of
our lives here is mentally and emotionally so over the top, like nothing i
have ever done. this transition is driving me so far beyond myself... that
is what we prayed for, right?!!? i have had only fleeting thoughts,
seconds of, "I quit..." the overriding feelings are a sense of dependence,
clinging, to God; gratitude for all that we have-- the poverty is at our
doorstep and i have never ever been so aware of all that we have (esp. with
food and access to healthcare); being proud of our kids; wanting to be able
to communicate with the outside world from home; feeling so connected to
jeff, we are being driven together in a very powerful way...
we are eagerly anticipating the arrival of our friend, Katie Mooty, in 2
weeks. Katie graduated from Westmont this spring and is going to graduate
school a year from now. She is coming to live with us and dive into life
here for Aug, Sept., Oct. Can't wait to have her to walk with us...the
kids are very excited about that...
we MISS YOU so much. our life in MN feels almost surreal right now - and
yet we were there just 10 days ago!!!
we are doing well and feeling more adjusted everyday. we covet your
prayers...
--------------------------------------------------------------
So, there you have it - Our first week. Our communication will be sketchy
the next couple weeks as we get things worked out with internet/phone etc.
(neither of which we currently have at home…) Also, we are unable to post
pictures from here - stay tuned for a link to photos.
God Bless you wherever you are.
Peace.
The kids have embraced everything and are doing wonderfully well. Clara, our biggest "feeler" had her first bout of homesickness this morning, but Mackenzie jumped in with her and helped her through it.
Follow are some excerpts from a couple e-mails we've sent out that hopefully give you some snapshots into this week and our new life here. We miss you and are more grateful for your prayers than you could know. (Sorry for formatting - tough to read)
------------------------------------------------------------
well family...(From Molly)
i am beaming as i write...somehow we have found ourselves on the other side
of the world-- safe and sound and happy as can be.the travel was amazingly
easy. never a single fuss from the kids. new york wasgood (HOT!)-- great
time with the sequeira's and fun to see the big apple. i think we put to
rest mackenzie's dream of living there-- to crowded and busy
for her!
the 17 hr. flight to johannesburg went really well. way better than we
were expecting. it helped to leave at dinner time b/c the kids had a chance to dive into
their (stuffed with toys) backpacks and watch a movie and then they darken the cabin and
they all slept. we had an open seat next to us which is very unusual so we were
able to spread out a bit. all went very well. biggest bonus was that we were able
to check our 16 pieces of luggage through to lusaka so when we got off the plane
last nite (last nite???!!!!) in johannesburg we just took our carry-ons through
customs and went straight to our hotel. the kids have been AMAZING travelers. lots of
lines, waiting, sitting, etc.
And then we landed in lusaka...
we were all very excited-- we made it! it is "winter" here so it was
only about 75 and sunny which we'll take. it is SO AFRICA. dry grasses
and different trees and bushes... beautiful. we were greeted by the first of
MANY fabulous collegues of jeff's. so warm and welcoming, Davison got a pass
to come andmeet us at the plane and walk us through passport control. the kids loved
him immediately and Bennett quickly switched into goofy mode once he
realized he had an audience!
all 16 pieces of luggage arrived! we went out to the curbside where
another of jeff's collegues was. she and davison drove us to the holiday inn. i was
in the car with Agness and the girls. oh, how i wish you could've seen their
faces and heard their comments: "i love it here!" "this is AFRICA!"
"it's so beautiful!" "Look at all the people walking along the
roadside!" "It's beautiful"
the kids' response has been incredible. way beyond what we could've hoped
for... it is so OTHER here, hard to think of anything that is similar to
their world at home, but it's like they have just spread their arms and are embracing
it all, with so much joy....
-------------------------------------------------------------
Greetings (Jeff here). Well, I'm not quite sure where to start other
than to say, wow. This is an amazing place, This is one of the most
challenging things we have ever done, The kids are doing great. Molly and I have been
on an emotional roller coaster.
The kids have embraced everything wonderfully - the transition for them is
going to be much easier than for Molly and I...A few snapshots that have been
beautiful. Bennett in his pirate outfit walking the perimeter of our yard with the
security guard chatting away about lizards and what not...And then talking him in to
checking out his play Teepee in the yard and having him help him fix something.
Mackenzie on her own without knowing I was watching going out and offering the
gardner a glass of water, Clara, trying to buy a puppy from a guy selling them at a
stoplight intersection. The kids, on their new bikes, being greeted with complete friendliness
by a group of young kids who are probably orphans or soon will be...(One of them was
named Bennett which you know who thought was pretty cool.) When we got back home, our
Bennett announced that he wanted to have those guys over for his birthday party and
we probably will.
Molly and I are united and feel very close in this all. We see ourselves
growing
daily.
------------------------------------------------------------------
From Molly
i am lying in our bed-- you know the one from minnesota-- in our house in
zambia. besides the fact that it feels good to be in it again after three
months on the futon mattress, it is so WEIRD!
there have been so many "moments" / thoughts these first few days... i will
share some in hopes that a picture can begun to be painted of our time
here...
- George and Dorothy (Our gardenr and Maid) are amazing. They are fabulous
people who have embraced our family and made our transition so much easier
than it would have been. They both worked at this house with the family
that lived here before us. Being able to communicate easily (English is the
main language here) has been HUGE! They have played such a critical role in our kids'
adjustment. they love on them.... i had to convince George today as he
was working that he didn't have to let Bennett lasso him. Mackenzie was
hanging out in the laundry room with Dorothy-- she said to me tonite,
"Dorothy taught me how to fold dresses. And she's going to make nishma for
us sometime with chicken. And you know that fish they were eating..."
Totally developing a sweet relationship. I struggled so much with the
thought of having the help at the house before we came. It was embarrasing
to me. I have quickly learned some things... first of all, i NEED the
help. i can't imagine if on top of everything it is taking to get our life
set up here i had to think about laundry, etc.... i have been humbled by
how much they are helping us... also, there are SO many people out and
about without jobs.... this is SUCH a dignified, wonderful job. it is a
gift to be able to provide them employment. and probably the biggest thing
for me is realizing how there is such intense work and ministry right
inside our gate...we are IN AFRICA. AFRICA is in our house!
-Another famous line of mine before we got here was, "I just don't want it
to be too easy or to be in an exclusive white world there, that just isn't
the reality of the country." Jeff would laugh and say, "o.k..." well...it
is so far from easy i can't tell you and i have only seen about 10 white
people in the last 3 days...today i didn't see any! we are SO TOTALLY in
AFRICA. it is so great that way, and so hard that way. Our kids are
jumping into it with such joy and expectancy, dusty feet, smiles on their
faces, greeting kids their age they walk by who are wandering down the
street... if we left tomorrow they would be impacted- sights, smells,
sounds...And they all love it. Even Mackenzie, who is our neat and tidy
one. She hasn't skipped a beat.
-Everything takes so much time. Everything we've done--arrange for our
container to come, buy appliances, have an electrician come to install
appliances, have all sorts of minor and major (water pump broke this
weekend) house repairs worked on with the landlord, getting my car-- is
full of multiple steps...elecricity-- how to plug things in-- british,
south african, zambian and us cords-- adaptors, transformers, converters,
etc., etc., etc. Meanwhile, everyone is driving on the wrong side of the
road, the map isn't complete, the signs have km, the directions on the rice
are in celsius and metric, the time is military, etc......
-We walked to the corner store for pizza this weekend (very good, we had it
three times before we had our kitchen set up!) Such an incredible
experience...met a gardner across the street who knew we were coming
because he is friends with a WONDERFUL gal named Debbie who Jeff met when
he was here in April. He and his family just moved into the gardners'
house at the house kiddie corner from us and they have a daughter
Mackenzie's age and a son Bennett's age. I saw him again today, he is so
friendly and welcoming...walked up the dirt alleyway down our street that
is a cut through to the shopping area near our house. Our kids flying
through the dirt on their mountain bikes, Bennett falling over every 25
feet or so in the ruts... Having pizza, being greeted afterward by 4 kids
who are likely orphans (one named Bennett!) who shook hands with all our
kids and we shared some kwachas ($) and they proceeded to calll us mom and
dad ("Thank you mommy and daddy you are so generous!) We had given them
$2.
--I am amazed at our kids right now...they are so in this thing. They are
not questioning it a bit. They love it.. It is amazing to me. I would
think that they would be totally overwhelmed...that is such a gift. An
answered prayer.
-Such a gift to be greeted each morning by endless sunshine. the nites can
be hard, although they are getting easier. it is dark by 6 and when we
left minnesota it was still light at 9:30. evening is really 4:30-7, have
to switch gears. and then at nite it is easy to get caught up in
fears/anxieties as i fall asleep or if i wake up in the nite-- my biggest
ones are the malaria threat-- we are arriving at the best possible time,
the threat is almost nonexsisten which gives us time to get our bearings
and get used to closing the hosue up, putting on long sleeves/pants at
4:30...and our kids health in general.
--Jeff and I have ridden a rollercoaster of emotions. the setting up of
our lives here is mentally and emotionally so over the top, like nothing i
have ever done. this transition is driving me so far beyond myself... that
is what we prayed for, right?!!? i have had only fleeting thoughts,
seconds of, "I quit..." the overriding feelings are a sense of dependence,
clinging, to God; gratitude for all that we have-- the poverty is at our
doorstep and i have never ever been so aware of all that we have (esp. with
food and access to healthcare); being proud of our kids; wanting to be able
to communicate with the outside world from home; feeling so connected to
jeff, we are being driven together in a very powerful way...
we are eagerly anticipating the arrival of our friend, Katie Mooty, in 2
weeks. Katie graduated from Westmont this spring and is going to graduate
school a year from now. She is coming to live with us and dive into life
here for Aug, Sept., Oct. Can't wait to have her to walk with us...the
kids are very excited about that...
we MISS YOU so much. our life in MN feels almost surreal right now - and
yet we were there just 10 days ago!!!
we are doing well and feeling more adjusted everyday. we covet your
prayers...
--------------------------------------------------------------
So, there you have it - Our first week. Our communication will be sketchy
the next couple weeks as we get things worked out with internet/phone etc.
(neither of which we currently have at home…) Also, we are unable to post
pictures from here - stay tuned for a link to photos.
God Bless you wherever you are.
Peace.
posted by The Dykstra Family at 9:41 AM
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