Saturday, May 28, 2011

The next trip

Its Saturday evening. I think we finally got the packing done for the trip. We leave tomorrow at noon from First Wes. There will be ten of us on this trip to Zimba, Zambia. Four of us a males who will be doing so construction, some water quality testing and development, some teaching, and whatever else we're called on to do. I'm the only one of the four who has been to Zambia previously.

There will also be six females, including one ob/gyn, a nurse anesthetist, two nurses, a dental assistant, and a former military EMT and future nurse. That group will be doing medical care of one sort or another. We are taking a much in the way of medical supplies as we can fit in the suitcases we're allowed to take -- including an extra bag we have to pay for for nearly all ten of us. The supplies include a colposcope and a LEEP machine. The are used for screening and treating some cervical cancer. Dr. Kari will be training the local medical staff to do the screenings and treatments. They don't have this equipment currently and their options for treatment are dated and less effective.

We're also taking training materials on money management developed by Crown Ministries but adapted for third world countries. They were field tested in a different part of Zambia. We'll work with the local pastors so they can use the materials with their congregations.

We fly out of Chicago to London. We have a 12 hour layover there and plan to do a little sight-seeing during the wait. Then we fly from London to Johannesburg, South African, then, after a 2 and a half hour layover, on to Livingstone, Zambia, about 40 miles from Zimba. We'll be met there and taken by car to the mission compound in Zimba. We should arrive Tuesday afternoon.

Some of our team have never left Michigan before and this trip will take them in a matter of hours to the opposite side of the planet. Please pray that the trip goes well, the flight connections work out properly, that all of stay healthy and our luggage and medical supplies arrive with us. Please also pray that we accomplish useful things for the people in Zimba and that they and we are enriched by the experience.

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