Sunset on the Zambezi

Here is the finished mural in the new laboratory building... I was tickled to be able to finish this before Ashley and her team move in the first of next week.

This is the patient waiting room, and my hope is that this blesses them and their families while they visit the facility.   The other patient area in this building is the Phlebotomy Room, and I am proud that Ashley has been appointed in charge of this department.  So she chose the message for this room, and helped stencil the design.  I am so incredibly proud of her, I can't even speak of it, lest I tear up with emotion... she is such a blessing, and so incredibly mature in her walk with the Lord.

This afternoon, we are taking a break, and on our way to spend the rest of our day in Livingstone, where we'll do some shopping, a nice dinner, and we'll see Victoria Falls- I'm very excited for this... Don't worry, I will post photos ad nauseum of this!
And tomorrow, I will be living out one of my Christmas presents from David- a day safari in Botswana!!!  Again, be on the lookout for an obnoxious amount of photos!

So for now, everyone have a great Friday, and we'll see you soon!

For His glory,
Rose-Marie

Not much to show today...

Hi everyone-
Today was a gorgeous day here in Zimba... It was still hot, but the humidity was very tolerable, and the skies were beautiful & sunny all day.  I daresay that walking home from working at the hospital tonight, it felt like it might have even dipped down around 70... sorry to be rubbing it in, PA & MD...
Here in Zambia, it is rainy season, with January typically being the wettest month of the year.  However, it's really only rained a few times since I've been here, and has been an atypical season for here.  Unfortunately, that is really bad news for locals. Many in this area are corn farmers, and depend on the rain.  Without it, their crops fail.
I find that there is a lot of sign-painting that needs to be done... There are many handmade signs all over that I've been asked to replace with more permanent "signs"... I did a lot of that over the past few days in the new radiology building, and some in the new laboratory.
Here's the typical sign in that area-

So I've been trying to paint something more professional and pleasant...

The building is very new, only a year or so, and it deserves the polished look of, well, NOT a homemade sign on the back of a piece of cardboard.

The workers are laboring hard to complete a beautiful brand new laboratory building.  Ashley and her coworkers are really getting excited about moving in with the next few days...

So I've painted some signs and door labels in that building, but tonight started the mural that will greet the patients in the waiting room.  It's going to be an African Sunset, but you'll only be getting a sneak preview tonight... Back in the morning to finish it!

Ashley even got into it, stencilling a design in her new Phlebotomy Room... We'll finish that tomorrow too and post a photo.

Early start in the morning, so I'll say goodnight.

For His glory,
Rose-Marie

Out of my comfort zone...

I suppose that's where God wants me anyway- out of my comfort zone- but that's definitely where I've been.
I imagined myself painting landscapes, floral designs, maybe even a giraffe or 2 if I got really crazy.   But I'm not very strong with drawing/painting people or portraits.   So I squirmed considerably when Pastor Chibula asked me to paint Jesus on the chapel wall.
I suggested several nice comfortable alternatives, but he had his heart set on having Jesus on one of the chapel walls.
This chapel is on the hospital campus, and I've enjoyed the morning services each day, where patients and staff take a few moments to be encouraged and spiritually fed.  The hymns are sung in acapella Tonga, which is beautiful to hear, & the message is given in both English & Tonga. Pastor Chibula thought that it was important to see Jesus's face when they entered, and be reminded of his comforting presence.
And I suppose that its not about what I want on the wall of his chapel, is it?
So I presented a compromise design suggestion that, although still out of my normal skillset, is less of a portrait, and more of a subtle reminder of His presence that is always with us... he liked it.
And so, after agonizing over it, here it is... Pastor Chibula was so pleased and gave me some of the most beautiful encouragement I've ever received... It was a great day to serve our God here in Zimba.

For His glory,
Rose-Marie

Market Day

I had a chance to take a break and quickly peruse the village market today with Ashley.  It was a very vibrant place full of activity, and everyone seemed to be in a festive mood.  It seemed to be the place where everyone goes to meet their friends.
Below are a few photos-  please use this experience as a reason to truly appreciate Wal-Mart the next time.

Here at home in Zambia

Here is Ashley's home, where I am staying...

Just kidding... Here it is-

We are very safe & comfortable, and Ashley is a perfect host.

We made it!

Hi everyone-
Sorry for the delay in posting, but we've had a tough time getting internet access.  But all is well now.
We got into Zambia on Saturday afternoon (our time), and all was good.  We had a minor issue at customs, but got through without much problem.   And ALL of the contents of our suitcases were intact- praise God!
So on Saturday, while in Livingstone, we stocked up on groceries then headed to Zimba, about 45 minutes drive.   We got settled into Ashley's, enjoyed dinner at Dr. Dan & Dr. Joan's house, then slept like we hadn't slept in days- oh yeah, I guess we really hadn't!  But it felt great to catch up.

Sunday morning we walked to church and had a great time of worship...Everyone was excited to see Ashley again, and were very welcoming to me.  Ashley introduced me as her Aunt Rose... Somehow that turned into my new Zambian name- Auntie Rosie (pronounced "On-tee" in that delicious Zambian accent).  Everyone has been really nice and happy to see us.
Later we toured the hospital, which is a short walk down the road.

Today was Ashley's first day back to work at the lab, and my first day at painting.  I started in the chapel, but also got a start on the new lab building and radiology.   Going to hit it hard tomorrow...I am going to do a little more tonight, and then call it a day.

Currently we are on a scheduled power outage from 2:00-10:00 pm, so it makes daily life difficult.  The hospital has a generator, but not here at the house.  Yesterday's power outage was scheduled overnight, so it wasn't as noticeable.   Oh, what we take for granted in the USA...

Having fun, but working hard... my prayer is that all that I do think and say is for His glory, so I will close with

For His Glory,
Rose-Marie

Talk to you tomorrow!

I am franticly trying to fit everything in that I need into 2 suitcases... no make that 3 suitcases.  There is no way that everything is going into 2, so I'm going to bite the bullet and pay for an extra bag.   I hope I don't forget anything!

Look Ma,  no fainting!

I had my Yellow Fever and Typhoid vaccinations yesterday, and did not, I repeat, did not pass out!

I'm so proud of myself.  The only problem was that Carson was with me, and he thought it would be fun to see me pass out... he was a little disappointed.

It's like I woke up this morning, and thought "Oh my word!  I'm going to Zambia next week"... I mean, I knew I was going... I had hoped to go... I hoped that I could be a blessing to the people of Zimba and those that serve them faithfully.   But how did it get to be January 15th already????

I was asked to come and do some painting and mural work at the hospital in Zimba, and add some verses throughout the facility in Tonga, the regional language, to inspire and encourage the patients and workers there.

So I had been researching a lot of things, like; what does Zambia look like?   I mean, I can't really paint murals with Canadian mountains and pine trees... they'll think I'm from another planet... so I checked out such things as Zambian sunsets, Serengeti-esque landscapes, beautiful vegetation like the vibrant Flamboyant Tree, the Jacaranda trees lush with gorgeous purple flowers, and the Baobab Trees that are mysterious, awe-inspiring, and legendary.  I'm already seriously in love with Zambia, just from the pictures!

I also researched where the closest Michael's or ACMoore was anywhere near Zimba... turns out- there aren't any!   So I will have to bring whatever I use, and hope to plan well enough to not run out of paint before I run out of time.   But that gets a little complicated too... TSA has to make sure that we are all safe (Thankfully!) so they make sure to check out items in luggage that look like they could be flammable or dangerous... like paint.    So I have to select products for which I can clearly prove are non-flammable with an MSDS safety data sheet, and pack them with the paint so that there will be no question as to the safety of my suitcase.    Before this adventure, I had never even heard of an MSDS sheet... now I can quickly scan one and find a product's flash point.  Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
But all of that planning, research and effort will not guarantee that the TSA employee who examines my suitcase won't be in a rotten mood that morning, and throw all of my paints away... please pray that won't happen... because if I get to Zambia with no paint, they'll probably make me learn to draw blood or something, and that's just not going to work well for me.

So tonight, I am frantically packing what paint I have already purchased, making room for the Amazon paint shipments arriving Monday, making lists, etc.    Hoping that I don't forget anything... because remember, no quick trips to ACMoore or Michaels once I get there!

And oh yeah, I have an appointment Monday for my yellow fever and typhoid vaccines... I'm so stoked for that.

So I hope that I can use this blog to keep everyone updated on my adventure... especially once I get there and start soaking up that incredible Creation that God has made.   
So stay tuned, and thanks for joining me on my Adventure to Zambia!