Spring Cleaning

Overland American staff are starting to come in so there is lots to do to get the base ready, washing walls, killing cocroaches and spiders, everything gets so dusty in africa, so lots of dusting too.  Here Manka is washing the chairs and then it will sit out until the hot sun dries it.

Printing on another level

Late last year we were able to acquire a grant to get new printing machines that we purchased in South Africa.  With curriculum and trainings the LIFE Project prints about 5000 every month.
There was no space in the main office so they moved upstairs, we have no stairs to get up yet, so a ladder it is!

Waiting for Paul to come hold the ladder so I could get down

There are great rewards to shoveling elephant dung

The SAM Project uses elephant dung as a manure for the gardens at our base.  Today Sherrill was able to make contact with a place that has elephants and a huge amount of dung, so we were able to get a truck load.  While we were there we got to see some white lion cubs that were 3 months old!

Sherrill with a huge smile, she loves to play in elephant dung

Standing in elephant dung, I had to do my part

They were beautiful, just playing around

These cheetahs are about 7 months old, they were in a cage and
not getting as much attention

He is looking for food

Chibalani LIFE Preschool

Janet and I with the children at the Chibalani LIFE Pre-School

The children were doing the creative activity for the day,
dipping chalk in water and then drawing a picture with it.

Welcomed with a beautiful smile

Twin brothers going home because they were scared of me.

Today I visited the Chibalani LIFE Pre-School, the children were busy drawing pictures when we entered.  Most of them were all smiles and happy to see us.  There were a set of twin boys that were probably 5 years old and they were new so they had not seen me before.  One started to cry real loud and then the other followed, before I knew what was happening the both of them left the classroom followed by their 3 year old sister.  They were scared of me so they went home!

The teacher could not make them stay they were pretty upset, but before they left they did go to the corner of the classroom were everyone keeps their snack for the day and they took their sugar cane which was what they brought for a snack. At least they had their priorities in order :0)
I had to ask the teacher to please go to the home and explain to the parents what had happened.

Jafuta LIFE Pre-School

The road to Jafuta is just drying up, I got to a part where I
could not see what was next, so Janet and Wezi went to
check it out

Teacher Lovemore was attacked by a crocodile in January,
his injuries had healed really well 

Storage is one of the hardest things in the school, here Lovemore and Mary
have done a pretty good job by using cardboard boxes.

Drying Maize

While driving through the villages in the last few days I saw a method of drying maize that I have not seen before since being in Zambia.  Normally I see people picking their maize and laying it on mats to dry out in the sun, here they have tied it to sticks to dry upright, pretty impressive.

When these cobs of maize are dry the women will grind them and them make porridge or nshima with them.  They crops that are ready now will provide food for the rest of the year for them.  Those that have bigger fields will sell some of the maize and then they have money to buy other things.

Visited the Machenje, Ngandua and Sichilobe LIFE Pre-Schools today

A restaurant and hair salon at Maramba Market

Erin and Watson's Wedding

The bridal party does alot of dancing in an african wedding, here the guys came down first, then the girls came down and were met half way all in dancing order

Erin's dad walking her down the aisle

Overlanders all dressed up for the wedding

Erin and Watson having their first dance

Matching game for the LIFE Pre-Schools

We try to laminate all teaching aids for the pre-schools in the village because it lasts longer.  Here I am sticking the laminated pictures onto cereal boxes and we will then cut them out which makes them even more durable.

I feel surrounded!!