About two weeks ago, I (Jason) was able to travel with the grade 9 students to a community center in Ndola called Mushili. There are a few Liebenzell missionaries who run both an HIV/AIDS testing center and counseling center as well as a plot where conservation farming is taught to local farmers and hundred of children come to play soccer, netball, and volleyball. We first went to the HIV/AIDS center and sat through a mock counseling session and HIV test only to find out afterward that the woman who was being "mock" interviewed was actually just re-enacting what actually happened during her initial visit when she found out she was really HIV positive. She was in good health and the kids were able to ask questions about how her family responded, and she told of her husband dying of AIDS years before and not believing that he really had it when she was told.We then went over to the plot where sports are offered for several hundred local kids, and we were able to play some volleyball and soccer with them there. I was, of course, the only musungu (white man) on the "field" which is shown in the image, but I managed to score the first goal of the match though I was much less skilled than most others on the field. :-)
A week ago, one of the workers managed to kill a snake in the bush and brought it back to the campus, where one of the students with snake experience helped skin it and dissect it for the many children watching. Not a poisonous snake, a python.
We were even able to have our own version of a Thanksgiving meal, though turkeys are not available anywhere in the country this year due to the bird flu epidemic. We made two chickens and had corn and green beans and a small ham and twice-baked potatoes and some wonderful rolls (Kelly's grandma's recipe, she has perfected the art of making them). We had several friends over and enjoyed the meal and a Christmas movie to follow together. It was nice for things to feel a bit like home as we celebrated our American holiday and told others about it who had never celebrated it before.
The day after Thanksgiving, we got our Christmas decorations up in the flat, including stockings on the mantle, so the apartment is looking like it's ready for the holidays to come, and we are ready for them to come too, along with a break from school, teaching, and dorm activities. Term ends in just a week, and we are planning to travel to the southern border with Zimbabwe to Lake Kariba for a short time away and some relaxing. We hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving celebrations and we wish you a wonderful week.
