The only other couple in Lusaka besides us and the Ericksons are Elder and Sister Bodily. They are from Tempe, Arizona and are serving as Welfare Missionaries. They were kind enough to allow us to be involved several of their projects. One was a day to teach people in the community how to make maturation kits for women. Many did not know how to sew, and this gave them the chance to learn.
However, because of poor communication (not by the Bodilys) most people who had signed up to come did not show up. Modifications were made and the project continued Missionaries in the Lusaka Zone were given permission to help that day. This is Sister Natsala and Sister Falco. They were cutting out shields to be sewed at a later day.
Elder Cahill was cutting out pads to be sewed later. He said his hands were a little tired from holding the scissors and cutting the terry cloth, but he endured to the end!
This was Elder Scatena's first day in the mission field, having arrived just the day before. He was actually really sick when he first got here, but was feeling much better this day.
Sister G. sewing snaps on 25 shields! I was supposed to be teaching how to do this and not doing it myself, but, when no one showed, it had to be done. I actually got pretty fast at it by the end of the day.
Sister Quaye. She was quite ill that day, but just kept working away.
Sister Quaye, and Elders Ford and Barrett. They really like the hand cranked sewing machine and actually did a pretty job of putting pockets in the shields.
Elder G. also had a hand at using the non-electric sewing machine. He thinks maybe we should get one for our own emergency preparedness!
During the lunch break, the Elders heard this ice cream man coming down the street ringing his bell. They hurried out and got some for us and it was actually very good. Elder Scatena, Elder Cahill and Elder Owor.
The lunch was catered by one of the members and consisted of beef and chicken and nshima and relish. The nshima is a maize-based paste that is very thick. They squeeze it in their hands until it is quite flat and wrap it around relish and eat it with their fingers. It's great to not have to worry about buying forks and spoons!
Sister G trying it for the first time. This relish (the green stringy stuff) is called rape and seemed to be a combination of spinach and onion greens. It was seasoned very well and was very tasty. It's a little hard to eat it and is a bit messy, but that's how they do it, so that's how we'll do it too!
There were supposed to be non-members who attended this class, but most of those who actually attended were members.
The Bodilys had it all so organized with stations and assignments for each station. However, because of poor attendance, adjustments had to be made. There was still quite a bit of work that was done in this one day.
We also went with the Bodilys to a care center for abandoned women. There were women in there from 14 to 88, with one small boy child as well. We were so happy that there was this type of facility to take care of them. We met the ladies who were there including Maureen, Agnes, Esther, Grace, Catherine, Veronica and the child, Edward. We talked to them and then prayed and sang songs with them.
We asked them to sing one of their African spirituals. And it was a special treat to hear them harmonize together. The song was about their one desire was to know the Lord. They have a deep love for Jesus and we could feel it through their singing. Most of them could not speak English very well and understood less, but the language of love and compassion are the same no matter where we are and we all can speak that language.
Sister Bodily and Maureen.
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