Hi Erica

Hi Erica,

We just got your blog information and wanted to say hello and we hope all is going well. We are fine and still waiting for our baby. No new news to announce. We love reading about all that you and your team are doing. Keep up the great work and you and everyone are in our prayers.

Love you and God Bless you all,

Rc, Butch and Selbe

Off to Sinazongwe

We're headed to Sinazongwe in about 20 minutes. The team is excited, we're hoping to get Heather and Graig's clothes before we go. We will be worshiping in the village in the morning. We had a wonderful dinner with Grephan and Lutangu and his family.

Blessings to you all
Jim for all of us.

Mother Theresa's, IJM, World Vision Zambia

Blog post Friday: 6/29/07

Today was our first full day in Lusaka, Zambia, and it was an amazing experience. Even though our team was tired and jet lagged we were able to learn a ton from our World Vision leader Patricia and our meetings with the World Vision Zambia office, International Justice Mission office, and the Mother Theresa Home. We also had a great time eating the traditional Zambian lunch: pizza. Attie, Heather and I also learned that a CD in Zambia is only 2 dollars! It has been a real treat to learn so much about the Zambian culture and people.

Our first meeting was at the World Vision Zambia National office. We met Mapanza H. Nkwilimba, the director of Quality Ministry. He and Patricia gave us an overview of World Vision’s history and progress in Zambia. Such as the RAPIDS program (Reaching HIV AIDS infected people with integrated development support), which Laura Bush was dealing with yesterday in Lusaka. It was great to meet more World Vision staff and to hear about all the amazing and generous things that World Vision is doing.

The next task of the morning was to exchange US dollars for Kwatcha, disappointing those of us who brought 20s instead of 50s because of the worse exchange rate. The bills are beautiful, but we completely wiped out the exchange place of all their money and had to go later in the afternoon to the bank to finish our business.

One of the highlights of our trip so far was the hours we spent in the Mother Theresa Hospice for terminally ill HIV/AIDS patients. A seemingly daunting and emotional experience, some of the team had a bit of trepidation and our pre-meeting was filled with many questions about how to behave and what to say. Yet, I can honestly say it was one of the most joy filled occasions I have ever witnessed. Yes, it was heartbreakingly painful to hear the coughs of young Rosemary who had been there 5 months, and see the incredibly thin arms of a woman who couldn’t speak English. But the Lord’s presence was so evident and reassuring. We prayed with the people and saw how truly fortunate they are to have a beautiful and comfortable home at Mother Theresa’s with access to the medication they need. And oh the dancing and the singing!! The women and men that were healthy enough to be up out of bed (and there were so many more than the last time some of our team had visited!) serenaded us with energetic harmonies that had us all clapping along. The women even enticed Kinton to give a taste of his crazy dance moves! Their voices were simply heavenly; Sister Ignacius had to drag us away from listening to their celebration. It was also exciting to visit the school on the land of the home, where teachers provide students who can’t afford government schools the very basics of an education. Every classroom welcomed us “vist-as” (visitors) with songs of happiness and God’s blessings on us. We laughed a lot as one mischevious boy purposefully clapped off rhythm to mess us up.
The children all brought huge smiles to our faces. The time we spent in the nursery made all of our hearts tender as the fathers and mothers. It was a very humbling experience.

We finished off the day with a great dinner with Luntangu and Foster and their delightful children. Well we are all very tired and stay tuned to hear more about our coming days.

Heather and Erica for the team.

Busy Day in Lusaka

We had a busy day today, the internet is spotty right now. Thank you for your prayers, Kinton danced, Graig arrived safely, all are well. More in the morning when the connection is fixed.

Jim (by way of text message)

Pastor Graig Arrives Safely

We have learned through Beth Olen (World Vision) that Pastor Graig has arrived safely to Lusaka and has joined the Go-Team. We are thankful for this news and glad to know that they will all travel together on Saturday to Sinazongwe, which is approximately 5 hours driving distance from Lusaka into the bush country.

Praise the Lord!

Sheri Brown on behalf of the Send-Team

"Flat Stanley" Goes to Zambia

Have you ever read the children's book "Flat Stanley"? It is about a fictitious character that gets flattened by a falling book case. He has many travels and adventures. Well, the Zambia Team has taken "Flat Stanley" with them to Zambia. They will document his adventures with pictures and stories to bring back to the children of Lake Grove Presbyterian Church. Be watching, you may hear more about "Flat Stanley" in the near future.

A Special Invitation to All

Friends:

The Zambia Send-Team would like to invite you to a special gathering at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church (4040 Sunset Drive, Lake Oswego, OR) on Thursday, July 5th, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, in the HUB Room. We plan to view the 5-Year Celebration DVD of the Zambia Partnership (approx. 50 min.) and conclude with a short time of prayer for our 2007 Zambia Go-Team and our Partners at World Vision Zambia/Sinazongwe. Light refreshments will be served.

Our Zambia Go-Team will be showing the same DVD to the Village of Siabaswi that same day (Lord willing). We thought it would be a great time to gather and view the same footage that they will be experiencing and to hold them before the Lord in prayer.

Please join us and invite others who would be interested!

Thank You,
Sheri Brown for the Send-Team

The 2nd Wave Has Safely Arrived

Hi Friends,

LuAnn, Heather, Attie, and Jill are with us now in Lusaka. We just finished a bit of a van ride around the city and we are going to have devotions all together and some dinner.

We look forward to a full day tomorrow. We are all pretty tired but happy to be all together again.

First Wave Landed Safely

Hi Everyone back in the USA!!!,

All those that flew straight from London have arrived safely and we are enjoying a great breakfast and a sunshiny morning here in Lusaka. This might be the best Holiday Inn on earth. The Lord is so good and He brought us through safely. We lost one bag but we hope to get it Saturday. They actually had a print out saying that they hadn't put it on the plane. We are in great spirits and are awaiting Heather, Jill, Attie and LuAnn's arrival from Johannesburg in about 3hrs. Thank you for all who are praying for us. Kevin actually made the flight from London to Lusaka in 1st class through a twist of fate and he was sitting in front of Alex Trabeck (the jeopardy host) who is also here through World Vision. We have met several mission teams from all over the world headed to all over the world. This is such an awesome experience to see how God is at work in so many lives in so many countries. More later we are getting checked-in to the rooms now.

Jim for the team

We're in Lusaka

Hi Everyone back in the USA!!!,

All those that flew straight from London have arrived safely and we
are enjoying a great breakfast and a sunshiny morning here in
Lusaka. This might be the best Holiday Inn on earth. The Lord is so
good and He brought us through safely. We lost one bag but we hope
to get it Saturday. They actually had a print out saying that they
hadn't put it on the plane. We are in great spirits and are awaiting
Heather, Jill, Attie and Luanne's arrival from Johannesburg in about
3hrs. Thank you for all who are praying for us. Kevin actually made
the flight from London to Lusaka in 1st class through a twist of fate
and he was sitting in front of Alex Trabeck (the jeopardy host) who
is also here through World Vision. We have met several mission teams
from all over the world headed to all over the world. This is such
an awesome experience to see how God is at work in so many lives in
so many countries. More later we are getting checked in to the rooms
now.

Jim for the team

Answered Prayer!

After a day of miracles, Pastor Graig is in flight to London/Johannesburg/Lusaka. He will arrive approximately 1 day behind our Go-Team. He received a new passport within 1 1/2 hours of his appointment with the emergency passport agency in Seattle this morning. British Airways held his luggage in Seattle and said they knew it had to make it (with Graig) to Lusaka as he was carrying gifts for the village. They also walked him through the stand-by process and provided a stand-by ticket at no extra charge (plus upgraded his ticket).

Thank you for upholding Pastor Graig in your prayers! Everyone is very relieved tonight and thankful to God for His extraordinary care in this situation.

Continue to pray for our Go-Team as they are still enroute and should be arriving soon.

We're in the Plane to Lusaka

I'm actually blogging from the plane. We're on and safe. Praise the Lord, keep praying for us friends.

We Arrived Safely in London

Hello blog readers. We have arrived safely in London and are awaiting our flight to Lusaka. Please be in prayer for our team as we travel. We have every confidence the Lord will see us all safely to Zambia. But there are always challenges in travel and we are thankful for your prayerful support. We are at the front end of our 7 hour layover, more later friends.
Blessings,
Jim for the Team

Another "Gumby" Moment

While still at the Portland Airport, Pastor Graig lost his passport. The team continued on in the able care of LuAnn Yocky traveling to Seattle and then on to London/Zambia, leaving Pastor Graig in Portland.

Pastor Graig has an appointment Wednesday morning (June 27) at 10 AM in Seattle at the emergency passport office to replace the lost passport.

Pray that his luggage is located, that another flight to Zambia is secured, and that he will meet up with the team in a relatively short amount of time.

Our Flight to Seattle Got Cancelled

Hi Everyone,

We are learning to be flexible. Right out of the gate our seattle
flight got cancelled and we are splitting up to make it to seattle in
time for our London Flight. Spirits are hi and we are unfazed by
this minor hick-up.

Jim for all of us
Gumby Moment #1 .... A time to be flexible

Zambia GoTeam Ready to Travel

Thank you, Lake Grove, for the beautiful commissioning this past Sunday in worship.

This Zambia GoTeam, our largest to date, will be enroute for over 30 hours before landing Thursday, exhausted, in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, over 10,000 miles away (as the birds fly). They may be the best prepared group we have sent, having spent over 12 hours of corporate prep time together in 6 meetings as well as many hours individually.

Lutangu Lubasi, the Sinazongwe manager who visited LGPC in March, has organized a wonderful program for the team, and they are as ready as we could make them!

• They are ready to engage and encourage World Vision staff in Lusaka and in Sinazongwe.
• They will visit AIDS patients in a Catholic AIDS home in Lusaka, and in villagers' homes in Sinazongwe.
• They will touch base with the staff of International Justice Mission in Lusaka (including Pamela Mumbi, who visited LGPC in April) and with the traditional judge in Sinazongwe, Chief Sinazongwe himself.
• They'll hold and hug children, listen to the stories of men and women, and visit about 3 dozen sponsor children.
• They'll inspect progress on development projects, and try to understand the burgeoning micro-loan system that is strengthening the economy in Sinazongwe.
• They'll see borehole wells many of you helped fund, and the sites of some wells yet to be funded.
• They'll visit the Makonkoto School, which Lake Grove had a major part in funding, and encourage students and teachers there.
• Finally, they will participate in the celebration of our 5-year partnership with Siabaswi Village, which comes to a close at the end of the summer. They will sing, they may dance, and they will represent you as they proclaim the love of Jesus Christ in word and deed.
• Again they will participate in an interdenominational worship service, where the sermon will be shared by American and Zambian pastors.
• Along the way they will see everything from geckos and monkeys to crocodiles and elephants and other wild animals. At the end of the trip they will drift on the Zambezi River and marvel at Victoria Falls.

We carry you with us in our hearts, and you are a part of the trip, by way of your prayer and financial support. Please watch this blog for updates. And watch for a report in church when we return... first in worship, on July 15, and then a comprehensive report in September.

Reaching out  in Jesus' name, on behalf of the Lake Grove family,

Pastor Graig.

 

 

 

 

flight stuff online

A recent word from Pam Fogg:

(Regarding British Air, there's a convenient link right on this screen!)

Fellow Travelers:

I thought I would let you know that you can go on the British Airways web site and enter your frequent flyer numbers, passport information etc.  This might save some time at the airport and you should be able to check in online 23 hours before departure and get a seat assignment then.  If you go to the website the reference number is not the highlighted number on your ticket, it is the 6 letter code on the last page under AMADEUS RLOC.  Good luck.  

 Alaska will not let you pull up the reservation at this time.  I am getting excited, how about you?

 Pamela Fogg, CPA   --   Dowsett Fogg & Doler, P.C. - Certified Public Accountants - 8333 SE Stark Street - Portland, OR 97216 - voice 503.972.6350 - fax 503.261.0115

 

 

 

PEPFAR, The Son of God is Dancing, REAL.LIFE.

• "PEPFAR" - We can be thanking God for some of the initiatives President Bush articulated this past week, and pray for the meeting of the "G8" in Germany, since a good portion of their agenda has to do with strategies regarding the "developing world" in general and Africa in particular. PEPFAR, the "president's emergency plan for AIDS relief", is a US commitment to AIDS relief and prevention that pledged $15billion over 5 years (2003-2008), of which over $13billion has been applied. Its original goals were to provide antiretroviral treatment (ART) to 2 million HIV-infected people in resource-limited settings, to prevent 7 million new infections, and to support care for 10 million people (the "2-7-10 goals"). Some of the first funds allocated from that initiative were to World Vision Zambia. We will see some of the results of PEPFAR when we are in Zambia, in the RAPIDS program. (I'll let our WV hosts explain what that is all about.)

Last week Bush proposed an extension for the next 5 years, doubling the original amount to $30billion, which will result in close to 45 billion dollars having been invested by our nation in nations who can do little on their own. This is something to thank God for!

• "The Son of God is Dancing" - we have not taken time to discuss this book. Have you had a chance to read any of it? Any responses? Shoot 'em in here!
• REAL.LIFE. I invite one of the team members to make a brief report about our visit to the Medical Teams International exhibit last week.

 

Graig.