The Moeller family (Cynthia, Jonathan and their boys Jason, Jarrod and Justin) live in the back half of the MCC guesthouse (where team members stay when they come into town). They have been in Lusaka for 3 years and just extended for two more years. Kathy and Eric Fast are the team reps and live in a smaller house on the same property. There are currently four SALTers. SALT is a MCC program where young adults from North America serve one year overseas. Allison works here in Lusaka. Miriam, Chris and Matt are all working in the southern province near Choma. Miriam is in Macha.We also briefly met Ron and Irma Herr and Elsie and Peter Rempel. The Herrs' are finishing up nine years working with the Zambian Brethren in Christ (BIC) church in the area of HIV/AIDS. They are going home to be near their grandkids. Elsie was just here on a sabbatical doing teacher mentor workshops for three months filling in a gap between a previous worker and Natasha and Ingo. Peter came to travel home with Elsie who is on crutches after a broken leg.
We have had a lovely weekend eating, playing and worshiping together (with a little work thrown in). We had an outdoor Stations of the Cross on Friday, a footwashing and communion service on Saturday evening and two services on Sunday. At sunrise we had a service with a reenactment of Mary at the tomb. Then later after brunch we had a full worship service with lots of hymn singing.
It really has been a nice way to get my feet on the ground. I have had time to recover from jet lag (almost there) and get to know my fellow team members. Today and the next few days will be official in country orientation. Then on Thursday the Ulbricht's and I will travel with Eric and Kathy to Macha and settle in. It should be a full and exciting week.
