It's a national holiday today - Independence Day and today is our last day in Zambia. A silent sadness prevails. It has been so wonderful to be with the people, in particular with Kambani and Shirley Banda whom we admire and respect. They have sacrificed personal opportunity for working with the 300 people that God has given them to manage. And, they do a terrific job both in the spiritual and physical spheres. They have managed at least four church regions and have done an outstanding through LifeNets in effectively raising the standard of living of people living in the fourth poorest country in the world according to the United Nations.
 
At breakfast we talked about a person in Zimbabwe whose well had become dysfunctional because of a faulty seal. Because of this an entire community has not been able to use her well. Her garden has also gone dry. We are trying to find a solution to this problem...short of getting a new electric pump. Kambani and I drew a picture of the seal. The company that manufactured the pump in South Africa is no longer in business. More problems to work through!  
I was going to give Kambani B. a few memory cards for his camera so that he could take lots of pictures and just send me the SD disk. But, the camera had disappeared. Someone had stolen it. Such is life continually here! I am giving him my little Canon Sure Shot so he can take pictures. I always love photos from this area.
 
Off to the airport. Back to Johannesburg and on to Durban where the van Belkum's live. The flight to Joburg and connection to Durban were uneventful. It was great to see Andre and Elize. Elize had dinner and we talked and talked. Andre and Elize have been phenomenal friends over the years going back to Ambassador College in Bricket Wood when we were both in the same class and graduated in 1969. Almost 40 years ago and we don't feel a day older.