simply grateful

A.W.A.  Africa Wins Again.  It’s a common saying among missionaries in Africa when we experience days of frustration of living in a different culture.  Some days, all you can do is shake your head and walk away and hope that tomorrow will be a better day.  Like those days you realize the difference between the words “to fix” and “to kill” in your language is only distinguished by one letter difference, which is a “h” in the middle of the word (don’t want to get that one wrong at the hospital!).  Or the times you get frustrated with the lack of adherence to lines in a store... or on the road.  Or when you get robbed, get food poisoning, have to eat strange foods, go back to turn in paperwork for the 139th time only to find out they you are missing the newest required document, etc...  Africa wins again.  We say it just giving ourselves over to the realization that despite our best efforts we will never completely fit in or understand the cult...

We are trying to update the blog more often and since many of you asked about what life is like in Lundazi, we thought pictures would help give you a good idea.  (click on pics to enlarge)  Ladies carrying things on their head.  We have seen them balancing everything from firewood to a can of coke! David frequents the bakery to buy bread and practice his Tumbuka.  This day we brought the kids in so they could meet the workers.  The workers loved it and wanted pics!   This is a typical scene in the shopping area of Lundazi.  We also have a more traditional market area but this is the area with shops.   Padoko padoko.  Means "slowly, slowly".  We also use these same words to express our our language acquisition is coming along.  We love this little store as they are the only place we have found here that sells butter and yogurt! "How many people can you fit in a car here?"  One more.....

Eliza Dolittle. If you don't know her name, you may not be a big fan of "My Fair Lady".  This is one of my favorite movies!  IF you are not a fan, maybe you have at least seen the scene where the Professor is trying to get Eliza to speak correctly.  It is painful to watch.  The Professor says a phrase correctly, and poor Eliza pushes through, obviously trying her best, but making a mess of it all. Yep, that is pretty much how our language lessons went for me this week.  It was a challenging week with Tumbuka, but our teachers were gracious and MUCH more patient than the Professor in "My Fair Lady"!  Thank you so much for your prayers in this. The weather is turning cooler here.  We even have one tree dropping leaves!  So, one afternoon I took the camera outside while they played in our yard and had fun shooting pictures of some of my favorite things! (click on the pictures to see them larger) This is a Frangipangi tree.   If...

If you live in the Charlotte, NC area and want to come and help us in our ministry here in Zambia we encourage you to take part in this upcoming training. Mark you calendars now.  We will let you know when registration opens! 

We have a couple of friends visiting from our church (Northside Baptist, Rock Hill, SC) and we are having a great time catching up with them.  They also brought a massive care package from the church and we are so grateful for the flavors from home!  

If people know of Jesus, they probably know of Judas.  Judas, the villainous man who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.  The mention of his name is almost always accompanied with a sense of disgust and ill repute.  How could someone so close to Jesus betray him?  He walked with Him.  Judas saw the miracles first hand.    He saw Jesus give sight to the blind, healed the lepers and made the lame walk.  Not only did he see the miracles, he participated in them!  When they were feeding the multitudes with the loaves and fish Judas was right in the midst of the miracle.  Each time I read of his betrayal my head shakes as if to silently say, “Shame on you Judas!  Shame on you!”   Recently I read that story once again.   Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?”  And they paid him thirty pieces of silver....

We have a new address in our village.  Feel free to send us your Christmas Cards! David and Heather Petro PO Box 530206 Lundazi, Zambia