Weekend in Lusaka

This has been an amazing first weekend in Zambia! We have eaten Zambian cuisine, been to an up-scale mall and went to the market. The market was a really awesome but a slightly overwhelming experience. The venders would call you over to their shop and stack numerous items in your hands in hopes that you would purchase at least one of them. And let me tell you, it worked. When the team got back on the bus we all had so many bags full of our new African possessions. 

 The market

 Zambian money - Kwacha. This 150 kwacha is equivalent to about 25 dollars.

One of my favorite buys! Made out of a Zambian coin.

Sunday morning we attended church at Munali Pilgrim Wesleyan Church. This is the church that our school is affiliated with here in Zambia. I cannot even begin to tell you how full this body of Christ was with the Holy Spirit. The worship team had about ten members who were all so musically blessed. They sang, clapped danced and shouted praises to the King. It is so amazing that these people across the globe worship the same God that I do in the States. The Pastor spoke about how God brings showers of blessings out of storms of adversity. He spoke about Paul, Job, Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego to show examples of blessings from storms. The pastor spoke with such passion and love. During the message I was struggling with the fact that these people living Zambia are praising God for their storms that are most likely much more difficult and serious than mine. If they have the faith and trust in God to overcome their storms then shouldn’t I be able to praise Him through mine? After all, adversity is the making of miracles.

Today (Monday) we got the awesome opportunity to tour Beit Cure Hosptial. It is a pediatric hospital that is completely free of charge for the patients. It is such an amazing place full of loving nurses and other staff members. There are many different units including the children's inpatient ward, a children’s clinic, physiotherapy, and X-ray lab, ENT and audiology. My heart broke so many times as I looked at the beautiful of the sick and hurting children, but I guess a lot of that is still to come as our clinicals begin. 

Children's In-Patient Ward

 The Cure Family Tree - Shows different locations of Biet Cure Hospitals around the world. Such an awesome organization!

I thought this mirror in the hospital was so sweet.

One of the precious little girls in the hospital - Don't worry, there aren't any HIPPA laws in Zambia! 

 These are correction device shoes made for children after club foot surgery.

  And here is the man who makes them all.

So to end I thought that I would show you some photos of where we are staying here in Lusaka. We will be here until Thursday and then we are off to Choma!

The compound

 Our meal area and homework spot

 My view every morning. Learning to like mosquito nets!

Until next time!!

Joy