Wow! I have not posted on this blog since before we left Zambia. When we left Choma on 11/19/22, we went to Livingstone for a couple days and visited Victoria Falls and a Game Park as well as spent some time shopping and eating out in nice restaurants. It was a bittersweet time as we spent the last few days together as a team but also looked forward to seeing family and friends again.
Bud & I got back into Marion the evening of 11/22 and welcomed our children and grandchildren into our home on 11/23 to celebrate. The kids did most of the work of preparing both our home and the food while we were all together. It was wonderful to have everyone together for a few days.
The week after Thanksgiving, we spent time at IWU with the Zambia team members doing our final de-briefing and looking at possibilities for future trips.
Bud saw the orthopedic doctor about his knee injury which seemed to be healing on its own, so he was officially discharged from this doctor on Dec. 21. That same day, I tripped on some steps and sustained a small fracture in my ankle! I have been walking around in a boot cast, and it seems to be healing nicely.
We have been preparing for our January 24 departure for Sierra Leone trying to pull together all the things Bud will need for the electrical work he will be doing and all the supplies and equipment I will need to teach the Advanced Nursing Assistant Class in Kamakwie. We believe we have everything we plan to purchase and are now trying to fit it into luggage without either going over our weight limit or "breaking the bank" taking additional bags! It is turning into quite a challenge.
We have felt fortunate to visit in the homes of both Tiffany and Todd and spend time with their families; Tanya and family spent s couple days with us in our home and we plan to spend some time with Troy and his family this week-end. Even though these trips are great and feel like God is leading us, we miss being able to spend as much time with our children and grandchildren!
We appreciate so much your prayers as we head out into this next "adventure" that God will be able to use us in whatever way He sees fit. Look forward to hearing from lots of you.
