Feb 25 - Mwase School visit and MORE BRICKS!!!

Our morning devotional today centered on keeping wise friends (proverbs 13.20), and despite the joking remarks this might bring on, I think we are each blessed by the company we have kept on this trip, within the team and the communities we serve.

Our first stop was Mwase Day School, a much longer and scenic than normal road trip, where we had the pleasure of meeting the deputy head and touring the classrooms. Seeing the boys' and girls' dorms, as well as the newly planted orchard showed us that with a good foundation, progress comes naturally. We shared an intimate moment of worship by singing "Great is Thy Faithfulness" in the front foyer and were delighted to present gifts of soccer balls and a chessboard, which were received with joy.

Girl's dorms

Boys dorms

Lunch was delicious, featuring rice, chicken, and a traditional Zambian "soup", and we were soon on our way again. Before we headed back to Chimoza school, we made an impromptu visit to the famed "Lundazi Castle," a remarkable replica of a Norman-style castle, complete with turrets, spiral staircases, and even a dungeon. Built by Errol Button, the district commissioner in the area during the 1940s, the castle was originally intended as a guesthouse for visiting government officials. Instead of a conventional guesthouse, Button envisioned and constructed this unique and whimsical castle, leaving a lasting architectural legacy in Lundazi. Exploring the castle was like stepping back in time, and it served as a delightful and unexpected highlight of our journey.

Afterward, we headed to Chimoza to continue our work on the schoolhouse. We focused on finishing the remaining walls and we again worked closely with the local construction crew. It was a hot, sunny, and humid day, but our spirits remained high as we bonded with the workers. By the time we returned home, we were weary but satisfied with the progress we had made.

A few of the team members made the journey back to the villages we had previously visited to bring gifts of orange trees so their community could develop their own orchard. The gift was received with a lot of "Tawonga Chomeni" (thank you very much in Tombuka) and un expectedly receiving more pumpkins from their fields in thanks.

Back at the CCAP compound, some of our team members ventured to the market to pick up a few essentials and gifts for family and friends. Those who stayed behind enjoyed the company of local children, playing soccer with the kids and visiting the local market, deepening our connections with the community.

The day concluded with a wonderful dinner and heartfelt devotions. We praised God for the strength and perseverance He provided us, enabling us to serve this community with love and dedication. It is through His grace that we are able to make a difference, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be His hands and feet in this beautiful part of the world.

We are incredibly thankful to God for the safety and productivity He has granted where we are working, thankful for your support in prayer, and thankful for every relationship we have formed here so far. We look forward to completing our time here with joy and some bittersweetness, but always, always, plenty of thanks.