Half of the Zambia Lusaka Mission is in the country of Malawi.
All the other couples in the mission travel back and forth to Malawi, as do the young leadership missionaries. The previous mission president often took the office couple with them when they visited but it never worked out for us to make the trip. Whenever it was brought up the mission president agreed that it would be beneficial to see Malawi and what actually everyone else in the mission was talking about, but when dates were suggested it wasn't a good time.
Finally, the public affairs couple felt a little sorry for us and invited us to go with them for a weekend to see the Lyles in action with a Helping Babies Breathe project.
We headed east and we got to see what was beyond the airport while heading towards Malawi.
Zambia looked pretty much the same to me. Once you are out of the big city there are cattle carts.
We started to see more hills and interesting rocks.
This time of year is harvest season and the bags are starting to pile up along the highway.
The yellow sign says they are buying maize, soybeans and sunflowers. The sign on the building is for the Patriotic Front or PF party. It promises "lower taxes, more jobs and more money in your pocket."
I was noticing more bicycles and more people repairing them.
Finally we reached Nyimba, a town just above the Luangwa River, that is known for all the baskets displayed and for sale. It is a good spot to get out and stretch your legs.
Lots and lots of baskets and grass woven items in many shops. We seemed to be the only travelers at the time. There were a few trucks but no buses.
Their handicraft was beautiful, but business seemed a little slow.
So slow some sellers took a break.
Or just day dreamed about ?
There is a police check there and a wedding car was coming from the opposite direction.
Tom Humpherys was very patient while the policeman carefully took his time to read his license.
Dried fish were plentiful.
A carload of Zambians stopped for a snack.
Kristi and Shauna Humpherys checked out some of the fruit called masawu.
It is sort of like a tiny apple.
I am still fascinated with these dried ? (fish?)
To me caterpillars and kapenta or dried minnows look good compared to these.
The sun is good for the fish but not for the ladies.
I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere and the townsfolk just watched the world flow by.
She is waiting for a bus and I wonder where she is headed or how far.
Just east of town is the Luangwa River with a nice bridge. Just a few miles off to our right is the country of Mozambique. It won't be long now until I am in Malawi.
