Wednesday and Thursday
Wednesday was our guests' last full day with us in Zambia. A big week it has been!
We split into two teams. One team headed straight out to Kantolomba to finish up photo projects and check on other progress, while another team finished in-town business.
Cheri poses with her two sponsorees, Agness and Marion
The sewing team looks at a sample of a bag crocheted out of plastic bags. They loved the idea: make something useful out of the mounds of garbage in the streets. They are going to give it a shot.
Evan fits in a last game of football.
Once we were all out in Kantolomba together, we went to see the potter to pick up the pots people had chosen the day before. The potter had said she would fire them and they would be ready by noon. We went at 1:00 to find several still on the fire and a few just done but way too hot to touch. It was a letting go moment for those who had hoped to tote these beautiful treasures back to the U.S.
Pots being fired.
Cooling, though not fast enough.
Back at the property we did an art project with some of the children. We asked them to draw a picture of themselves doing an activity they like to do. Some pretty good artists! It was the first official use of the large room in the community center since the floor was put in.
Fun with art.
We ate lunch with the staff one last time, and afterward they treated us to fabulous good bye serenades.
When we walked outside after the singing, we were very pleasantly surprised to find that the potter had not given up. She had somehow accelerated the cooling and brought us enough pots for each person to take one. She is clearly a good business person!
Hugs were next followed by hundreds of photos, every combination of people.
Big goodbyes all around.
Jen and several staff
Jan and Beatrice.
Violet and Jen Y. with some of the children.
McKenzie surrounded by staff. Baby Theresa on her mom Pauline's lap.
Bob poses with the men staff.
Martha, Evan, Veronica.
Jen Y. again, this time with staff.
One last song as we pulled away.
Much like bringing retreatants to the Monastery it is a great pleasure to have guests come and see the project in Kantolomba as it allows us to see it anew. Having the team bid our guests farewell was a powerful reminder of the connection we feel to these folks who live so far away from us and yet have become an important part of our lives.
Thursday everyone packed up while Jen and Cheri caught up on some administrative work. We had a big send-off at the airport and even convinced an airport official to allow us to take a photo (they normally do not want you to take pictures for fear of spies!)
Who is that small person in the front row???? Oh, she's crouching!