July 10, 2011
The end of the trip already. It always feels like we have been here a lifetime and at the same time like we arrived yesterday.
We saw Rebecca off Saturday morning. Jen leaves Monday and the weekend was all about tying up the business end of things.
There is a very sweet local artisan in town that comes to sell beautiful copper bracelets. Rebecca choosing one to buy.
Priska, one of the fabulous Castle Lodge cooks, admires the new pulumsa stove. We are giving one to each staff member of the lodge as a thank you for all they do for us. It is also excellent advertising as they carry them to their homes and spread the word about how well the stoves work!
And Faith (another of our favorite Castle Lodge folks) looks to see how the stove works.
What a team! Rose, Veronica, Theresa and Martha come to meet with Jen on Saturday. We all marveled at how much happened on this trip and the long list of to dos we have in front of us as a result. They insist it is very fun for them when we come because. “It gives us so much to do!”
Veronica walks us through the financial records kept at the property.
Martha goes over the banking reconciles. Veronica is apprenticing with Martha and learning a great deal about accounting. Almost all of it is over our heads.
On Sunday Theresa came for another meeting to finish discussing the various agreements we have made this trip. In case you think it does not get cold (okay, cold for Zambians—about 60 degrees) here is proof.
Godfrey joined us to get Theresa and Muyunda’s netbooks in good working order. We would be lost without Godfrey.
Godfrey—ever cheerful.
This has been another extraordinary trip. We know we always say it was the best trip ever, but we suspect that’s because it always is. Each trip builds on everything that has come before. Each process and content breakthrough is the result of all we have been through together up to this point. We are truly blessed with an amazing team here in Zambia and at home, in all of you.
Two of the pillars of the team here—Martha and Theresa—seeing us off at the airport.
Watch for the new chitenge product to be listed soon on Sangha Market. As always, follow us on Facebook for frequent news from Kantolomba, and read along in the blogs Muyunda sends us weekly. And, of course, jump into the Sangha-wide participation game!! We hope to see you on October 1 in person at the Golden Gate Bridge.
Thanks for following along. Deepest gratitude for all you do.
Until next time,
The Zambia travel team