Theresa went out to Kantolomba in the morning before coming to the lodge to pick up Sreedevi for the airport. The team insisted on another goodbye photo.
The team and children who were present. Farewell, Sreedevi!
As we met with Theresa to transfer last photos and such, we remarked that no matter when the departure day, it always feels too soon. It is a great privilege to be here and practice in this way, participating with the team in Kantolomba!
We delivered Sreedevi to the airport and, since Jen was well, but wanting to take one more day just to be sure, went back to the lodge for a meeting then called it a day.
With little to report today, this is a perfect opportunity to catch up on dozens of fabulous shots that have not made it into the blogs as yet. Enjoy!
Going through the trip photos, we realize we have a great collection of shots of the two famous cuties currently: Bruce and Myles. We’ll start there.
Myles has not yet figured out what it means to “smile” on demand. This was her attempt!
We featured this photo in a previous blog but neglected to point out the characteristic, “Over here! Here I am!”
Myles heading home with her lunch leftovers.
Another fellow packing up his leftovers. Those beautiful eyes!
Waiting patiently to wash hands. It’s such a simple practice but so important for the children to have that daily reinforcement that washing hands is critical to staying well. They are bombarded by all kinds of germs and ensuring their hands are clean for lunch is one hurdle towards keeping the children healthy.
This is a typical scene in the lunchroom. There are about 100 children in here right now—about 1/8 of the students who eat here every day!
Packing up leftovers.
This is one of the children Theresa pointed out eating very quickly at the start of her meal—indicating that she likely eats only here at Living Compassion.
Some of the older girls pitch in to assist with dishes. Boys do too. Yea!
Avocado trees are prolific in Zambia. Somehow it seems our trips always fall outside avocado season. But not this time!!! There are ripe avocados the size of nerf footballs dripping from every tree. What a treat!!
We were remarking to Beatrice the other day that, in addition to the family resemblance, you can always spot one of her children because they are so tidy and smartly dressed. This is Delight, her youngest, in the black trousers.
It is moving how easily Susan, a member of Charles’ class who uses a wheelchair to get around, is able to participate in the community. Whoever is closest by assists her to get in and out of her chair or will even carry her on their back to take her where needed. Here she sits with Violet watching the girls perform.
Concentration in the library.
Marion brings Baby Eunice to her mom for a feeding.
And now some beautiful portraits.
We’re not sure how we missed featuring this on the day we took it?! This is Joyce, one of the Stay in School team who took the nation-wide standardized grade 7 exams last year and made it to grade 8. Yea, Joyce!! We have a number of girls who will be sitting for those same exams at the end of this year. We shall be sending them big encouragement all year!
Mom and son: Prestigious and Beatrice.
Mom and daughter: Josephine and Cheri.
Keeping in the family: Marion.
And a solo of Cheri.
Georgina’s daughter, Testimony. She was a tiny baby when we took the first 100 children video photos, lo those many years ago. Theresa cracked up when we called this now popular hairstyle the antenna hairdo.
And ending with these wonderful portraits Sreedevi got of several of the cooperative members on Wednesday, yellow uniform day.
Martha
Regina
Pauline
Foster
Brenda
Angela
Monica, Sophiya’s daughter.