It's Coming to an End

Well, I am in my last few days here in Zambia and I both sad and excited. I am looking forward to returning to the states and talking to my family and friends and being able to share about my experiences here. On Tuesday afternoons Kathleen runs a women's club - Chiwemwe Ladies - where they gather to make beads and necklaces and sew together handbags made out of plastic bags. This is a time for the women to share with one another, to have an oral Bible lesson, but it also provides these women, who normally have nothing, with income - some with a way to provide for their families, for very few to suppliment their husbands income. It was such an blessing to spend time with these women, to just share that space - I did very little talking, but I was able to just be with them and to observe and learn. They also shared songs with me and some dancing - that was fun. I had to say my first good-byes to them on Tuesday. They prayed for my journey home and they prayed that I would not forget them or their stories.

Tomorrow I say good-bye to the teachers whom I have worked beside for the past 5 weeks, I am sad to do this, but I am excited for what these teachers are doing and their work with the children and what they have taught me and what I was able to share about creative arts in therapy.

Livingstone

This past week I traveled to Livingstone with Erna, a teacher from the Hope school. Erna and her husband, a pastor, are moving to Livingstone and, so they graciously took me with them. Erna was a great travel companion, for 8 hours, as we drove to her new home. She knew so much about the plants and the land and would frequently point out to me the trees and plants and me the names.

In Livingstone, I was able to go to Victoria Falls, though, I was told repeatedly that I would not enjoy them as much as if I were seeing them in June or July as this is now the dry season. The amazing thing about the Falls is that they are shared by both Zambia and Zimbabwe - though in Zimbabwe the falls are going strong and you can see the mist from the Zambian side.

I hiked the gorge to thte Boiling Pot (467 meters down and then back up) in order to sit on the rocks and put my feet in the water. This was great fun, but it was a little intimidating as it was all rocks and straight down and then straight back up - thanks for taking me rock climbing Chantelle - this really helped :)

I also was able to climb a tree - there is this huge tree with a ladder and platform built into it and I climbed it and could see all across the land and the falls, too.

My favorite moment was learning a melody on a xylophone-type instrument and playing with an indigenous man - it was a highlight to say the least.

At night, I took a sunset cruise on the African Queen and saw hippos, crocs, and herds of elephants - this was a very pleasant and relaxing time spent on the Zambezi River.

I am back at the Village and am embarking on my final week here. I must admit that I enter this last week with mixed emotions - an excitement to return home and to see family and friends and share my experiences in person, but also a sadness that I will leave all the people that I have come to love.