2 weeks down, 24 more in store!!...so let's explore...so don't ignore. What's the score? Is this a bore, or a chore? Ok, no more.

I am so used to a somewhat instantaneous, resourceful lifestyle. If I want to learn about a subject all I have to do is jump on the internet, go to the library or even a bookstore, then print off the website or copy the pages and I can take them home with me. I am pretty used to having the resources to find the information I want at my fingertips, so it is a hard task for me to teach others without having a bounty of resources and technological devices to gather and produce information. Rox and I just completed our first full week of teaching after observing the classrooms last week. It went rather well, although I am utterly exhausted and didn’t realize all the work that would come of teaching. From our observations of the first week we realized how much time the students spent copying down passages and homework exercises from one textbook, because there weren’t enough textbooks for everyone; even if there were enough textbooks students are not allowed to take them home in fear of them not returning. As our first task of teaching we decided to make booklets of exercises for the students to take home so they wouldn’t have to spend time writing them down and could therefore focus more on solving the problem rather than having the problem written and in their possession. I believe in this solution, yet it takes a lot of energy to make several handouts for each student everyday, nonetheless create a lesson plan, homework exercises, and in-class exercises for the students to work on. It has been a challenge for me not to be selfish this week when I come home from a long day because I want nothing more than to rest, but I know that I need to make worksheets for the students for the next day. On top of this work we are faced with the challenge of teaching concepts to students whose first language is not English. The students have been able to understand our teachings for the most part, yet there isn’t a lot of feedback in English from them, but speaking another language is definitely more challenging than listening to it and understanding it. The students also range in academic levels and it’s been a challenge for us to know how to help each student. My way of living has been challenged as now I can only address one issue at a time, with the limited resources that there are. Instead of having the now luxury of a computer and printer, or a copy machine, I simply have to kick my selfish desires and work towards the goal I fully believe in: to give these students the opportunity to learn and advance so they can improve their quality of life and face the difficulties in Zambia. Please continue to pray for our strength and humility as we fight our selfish desires in order to put the needs of the students above our own. God’s Blessings, Amanda.

As Amanda and I experienced much of the same work these past two weeks, I can echo that I’m exhausted at the end of this week. Neither of us is trained in teaching whatsoever, we are in a different culture where the structure of learning is different from what we experienced in the United States, and there is a language barrier that challenges us to break down material and explain it in a much more creative way than we would with people who speak English as a first language. So we can’t just step in here and do what we know. Every detail of everyday has something new and different that we’ve never experienced before. That being said, I’m re-learning how to rely on God through all of this. At home I can get used to new things pretty quickly and eventually think I can do it pretty much on my own. But here, each day is new. There is no other way but to take each day as it comes, and all I can do is ask God to give me the patience, openness, and care to make that day count.

Just a few of the differences I have seen between school back in the States and school here:

1. In the first two weeks, I’ve witnessed two classes that have talked extensively about HIV/AIDS. In addition, we went to the HIV/AIDS Club last week. It’s an afterschool program that teaches the students about HIV/AIDS and how to encourage their peers to avoid it. I have heard of many different school clubs in the U.S. from art to French, but never is there such a concern over HIV/AIDS.
2. The first day, Teacher Juliet noticed a boy in her class who was burning up with a fever in the midst of nearly 50 other children in the classroom. She forced him to go home. Never have I witnessed a teacher in the U.S. have a classroom of 50 children and discover just one that was sick, and never have I witnessed a child so sick who didn’t say anything to the teacher until he was discovered sick.
3. An entire unit for science was focused on contaminated water and its effects for the 7^th graders. Another unit for 5^th graders is focused on specific types of malnutrition that can be visibly seen everyday. While students in the U.S. study the distant solar system and the physics of a rollercoaster, students here study these everyday concerns prevalent in their society.
4. The headmaster of the school, Teacher Ngoma, was talking to Amanda and I the other day about our class. He said one of the girls, Jane, was privileged because she’s at the orphanage and they have books there to enhance her learning over the other children in the class. Most of them don’t have books at home. I’ve never heard of a child in the U.S. who has lost both parents and must live in an orphanage be described as “privileged” over other children who live at home with parents. That’s just a sign of the concerns in Zambia but also the great work being done through Hope Fellowship with the orphanage and school.

This is just a taste of what’s been happening here. For these reasons, I believe in this school and the work it is doing. I am inspired by the teachers who do this day in and day out, and I’m exhausted after only a week. Through it all, I’m learning about the perseverance and joy of the people here. What we see as limited resources, they see as a blessing and are grateful for what they have. They have a spirit that I hope to continue learning from and adopt myself. Thanks for all the continued support! Rox

Hey all, it's Tom here...Aaron ran outside, probably after the ice cream man or something, so I guess you'll just hear from one of the guys on the team. Just in case any of you were wondering, I came up with the sweet title for the blog, so give credit where credit is due...or blame, depending on how you look at life. :)
Aaron and I have been working on making bricks in order to build the new school. First we dig the dry clay out of the anthill, then we put water on it and let it sit over night. Then we scoop it into a mold, pack it, and pop out a brick. I think we're nearing 1500 in the past 2 weeks, and it's been fun, but tough work. The guys we work with are really fun, and we laugh a lot on the worksite. Perhaps I would have appreciated elementary school a little more if I had to make the bricks to build it... Aaron and I were talking the other day, and we're pretty sure that every seminary should have some sort of physical labor as part of the curriculum. It's pretty humbling. And rewarding. But mostly humbling. But that's a good thing.
We've been drinking at least 150 oz. of water pretty much every day, so we're staying well hydrated. We're resting when we get a chance, but we're really enjoying our time with our Zambian friends. Thanks for your continued support, prayers and encouragement. We couldn't do this without our friends, family, and local churches...you guys rock! And don't worry, I'll make sure that Aaron has all of his proper clothing needs met...no matter what that might be. :) I think of many of you often, and you're in all of our prayers...talk to ya later!!! peace, Tommy D.