made me smile

I did my usual jaunt around the blogosphere checking out my favorite blogs. Got to this one, and it just made me happy. I don't know why.
Maybe it's because I see them working so well within their culture and the limitations and relevant expectations?

Darbi & Blu were missionaries with the International Mission Board (think Southern Baptists) in this area of Zambia a handful of years back now (Mapanza is west and south of Lusaka). They were there for two years, one of which they spent living in the bush in this area.
They went back to the States for Blu to finish seminary but had a heart for Zambia. Apparently others saw it too and they were greatly encouraged and gifted (financially) to start an orphanage back in the area they had served. This is the website for the orphanage.

We missed them by just a few months and they are now back in Zambia building the site. They are making their own bricks on site, they cut down their own trees and are putting up their own power lines, they have manual boreholes on site, they are working and building and finishing buildings... It just excites me to see the step by step process for them and how they are making it work. (Kind of how I got excited watching Zack's updates in Serenji-hey check out that fence!)

They got their tax exempt number in just a few short months. The biggest snafoo I have seen was a problem with their shipping container that arrived in 3 months-they had to unload it right away and couldn't keep the container. :( Even through that, God is clearing working through and blessing this family and ministry as they work in this new area.

New area, but yet not new-using the relevant building processes and working through government channels and business connections and accomplishing much. Way to go guys!