Videos: On the way to Malek village, Malek village and farewell to Bor

On the way to Malek Village

At Malek Village

Farewell to Bor

Videos: Interviews

Interview with Rev. Peter Thon, Senior Pastor of Jonglei Worship Centre

Interview with Rev. John, pastor of Jonglei Worship Centre

Videos: Jonglei worship centre, Outside the JWC, and new land for the church

Jonglei Worship Centre

Outside Jonglei Worship Centre

New Land for Jonglei Worship Centre

Videos of the trip: Flight to Bor, Arrival at Bor and around Bor town

Flight to Bor

Teams arrival in Bor

Around Bor town

Safely home

The journey home was l-o-n-g! It took 40 hours over 3 legs. The long stopover in Bangkok gave the opportunity to meet up with Russell and Sharon Crank and their children, Jordan and Kiara. They are originally from our church. They are doing well but still waiting for the flood waters to reach their part of Bangkok. Weeks ago everything from the lower floor went upstairs. It is all working its way back down. We drove through water coming up the drains not far from their place. They think it unlikely now that water will get into their home. But piles of sandbags are at the end of the street in case.
Greg has recovered his health. If the malaria treatment worked then I guess he must have had malaria. Last night we slept for 12 hours. We have begun to attack the yard.

Goodbye to Zambia
Our five days in Zambia have been wonderful. Ruth has lost her voice. Too much talking? We spent 2 nights at Livingstone on the Zimbabwe border - 5 hour drive from Lusaka courtesy of Daf.. We have seen the Victoria Falls from 2 countries. It is the low season and the flow is low. We still thought it was an amazing sight. We got drenched from the spray.
Ruth, Daf and Zebina did a sunset cruise on the Zambezi. It was a lovely evening. We saw heaps of hippos in the river, plus crocs and elephants.Greg was in bed.We have met two doctors in Zambia. They both were excellent. The second time Greg was tested for malaria the test was still negative but he started treatment and is responding well.
Greg, Daf and I went on a game tour in the Mosi-o Tunya (Smoke that Thunders) National Park at 6.30am. Our guide was terrific and knew all the back roads so when we spotted animals he would drive around  to the best vantage point. We saw lots of elephants up close. Plus giraffe, zebra, impala, baboon, monkeys etc, etc.
Last night Greg missed dinner at Kaonga's friends home. Clement and Ruth are terrific people. Over the last few years they have supported 15 young people who needed help because of AIDS. They have adopted a niece who is the only remaining child out 5 in that family. Sad stories abound here. They have tremendous faith in God and a resilience that amazes.
We are back in Nairobi airport. It is a few hours before we fly to Bangkok. We have plans to meet up with the Cranks on our 11 hour layover.
Just 36 hours of adventure remains.

From Lusaka

From our first look Lusaka is the most liveable city we have been in on our trip. The major road from the airport has a huge sign stating “Gift of the people of Japan”. Even in the middle class suburbs there has been curbing and no potholes. We are told there are very poor sections of town.

We received a great welcome from Daf and Zebina Kaonga. It is 23 years since we last were together in Brisbane.  A big surprise was meeting up with Kallipochi, Daf’s cousin, who also did post grad work at UQ and attended Taringa Baptist with us. Our first stop was a doctor for Greg who has had low grade diarrhoea for a week. Tested negative for malaria. Some other tests results to come back yet but he has a started an antibiotic. The labs and pharmacy were all in the same complex. It cost a breathtaking 369,000 kwachas! That is actually only A$69.

Zebina and Daf are definitely upper middle class here. Daf has an executive role on the cotton Regulatory Board which has international scope. Zebina is the personnel manager for the US Peace Corp in Zambia (has 230 volunteers with 2 year commitment in the rural areas of Zambia). Kallapochi had been living in Botswana and not finding work. His wife Mercy has a doctorate in vet and works at a Botswana Uni. Kallipochi has returned to Zambia and scored a longish contract as a Zambian representative on the newly formed SADEC – South African Development Economic Community? – made up of 15 African nations mostly south of the Equator. It is like ASEAN.

Daf and Zebina’s home is very humble but comfy. Wages are low. They employ a housegirl, Monde. She also helps care for Sepo, the 3 year old granddaughter they are raising at present. Sepo’s mum, Eva (who was 3 when we knew her) is studying in Canada. Nkumbu, Eva’s brother, is 22 and also at uni in Canada. There is also a gardener/security man, Ba Tambo, who lives behind the house.

L-R: CJ, Ruth (family membrs), Ruth & Sepo, Zebina in front,Dafolin, Kallippochi.

Zebina and Monde cooked a feast for dinner. I loved the cold potato salad. I had forgotten how good Nshema is. It is their staple food made from maize and looks a bit like mashed potato. Several of Daf’s family came by to welcome us. We had a wonderful time together.

We have also slept well. They booked us into a guesthouse which is very comfortable.  Internet hard to come by again.