D
That’s about all I would give us for this past group of American teams. We didn’t fail, but we were definitely below average. We just couldn’t seem to catch the upside this time around. We started out the week well on Tuesday, but it just didn’t seem to flow this time around. We’re really glad Paul and Lori were here; they took care of their team really well, and Lane did great with the other groups. We just weren’t very well connected with this group. The “false-burdening bearing” of course, is supposedly we don’t have to be. We are NOT the hosts for the summer teams; each group has its own host, plus Davis and Henry are here too. But it seems each group still looks to us for questions, for help on projects, for updates, for fellowship, and lots of misc. For the most part we don’t mind. But… we are just finishing 10 weeks of American and Zambian Pastor teams. It is really tough to get and stay motivated sometimes. We have one more group of American teams and then one more group of Zambian preachers before the winter (summer) is over (another month). Paul and Lori are here now, and that of course will help, but they don’t want to jump in too fast. They want to get settled at least a little bit, and they really don’t know what has been done or not done yet. They are the team leaders for their group this trip, so they really haven’t done anything business/ administration/leadership on the college project yet.
Anyways, we did make some time for these groups as we could before Kevin’s accident. But really, we did a below average job connecting with this group. Sorry guys! I know you still had a great time anyway, but we missed out on getting to know you!

MORE SNAKES…AAH!
Yes, I know the snake updates are going to get a little old, but…John killed another green mamba outside out house this week. Vanessa was walking out to do something and it went right in front of her!! We also had another guy kill a puff adder and have John bring it up to the house. That was a big fat one, not so long. It had some good meat on it so Brian, Shalon, and Greta enjoyed it. It is so weird to have all these snakes. The locals say so too. The students are wondering about it as well. Seems like a little bit of a spiritual scare tactic on the devil’s part. They have said also though, that they know God is protecting this place.

ALMOST DEPORTED!
Last Thursday Shalon had a really bad day. She went in to have her visa renewed. We thought she had a 30 day visa. It turned out, she didn’t. Upon further inspection, she had a 15 day business visa that expired on the day she arrived! She didn’t cry, but I would have! They were talking about a one million kwacha fine (about $200) or leaving the country right away. She tried to explain the mistake, but all she was told was that she should have looked and taken care of it right away. Friday she went back into town with Davis and Henry to go to the other immigration office to see if they could just extend hers without a fine due to the mix up. Long story short, she got it extended, paid no fine and all is well!! Praise God!! Although, we figured if she had to leave right away, we could take a domestic flight to Livingstone, stay over on the Zimbabwe side at Victoria Falls and have a girls night out. Darn!

KEVIN
Kevin was discharged on Monday. He could have been discharged Sunday, but no one got there before the accounts department closed, so they couldn’t discharge him without payment. I asked Henry if he was bored out of his mind, but he said he was busy preaching on Sunday morning and holding bible studies. They had to move him to a different room, I am not sure why; I didn’t understand but it sounded like the room was too small for his bible study group! He decided to stay in the city with his group and do ministry at the schools and orphanages as planned, so he must be feeling okay.Thanks for praying for him! Please continue to pray for him as he adjusts to life without that finger and for relief from the pain. He still plans to stay in Zambia for the full five weeks he was scheduled to be here