Jan 26, by Blair

Mongu, Zambia

Jan 26

 

Good day today.  Water tower stand near completion, and stood up today.  Les, Gerrit and Joseph (Zambian welder) have put in the hours for sure!

 

Good progress on the perimeter wall around the youth center property.  A mix of Canadians and Zambians working on mortar and block laying. 

 

Great food for the workers from Julie and Helen!  Thanks so much!

 

 

 

The morning routine is interesting.  It is culturally very important to greet one another every morning, with Good morning, How are you?  Are you well?  How did you sleep?  How is your family?  Are they well? along with a vigorous handshake.  It seems that high value is placed on getting to know you first, before we go and lay concrete blocks.  I wonder if western society could learn something about that.  Sure, we might say hello and ask if you watched the game last night? , but this is just surface. 

 

And then it all repeats after lunch, and then well wishes at the end of the day. 

 

Tomorrow is Sunday.  We are going to church with Rich and Laurie.  We are preparing for 3 hours + on a bench.  As before, this is the culture.  I might try to find out what's going on in Jr. Church with the kids! Ha!  After church, in the afternoon, we have been invited to play volleyball.  A community event should be fun and a diversion from the worksite.

 

Zambia as a nation, seems very patriotic.  They have a sense of humble pride in their country.  It is evident on the football pitch - The African Nations Cup is going on now, and everyone is following the team.  It is evident in how people speak about their country. 



Blair