What do we see when we leave our gated community!

On the road.

Oh, right, in Zambia we drive on the left side of the road. It will be a while before I will be driving, I guess. 

Ad is getting real good at it.

We live along the main road from Lusaka to the South, Kafue Road.

As we drive north into Lusaka we see this, about 15 min. from our house.

Lusaka has a small business center down town. Zambia's main export product is Copper. There are copper mines in the Northern part of Zambia, called Copperbelt.

This is what we see when we drive about 20 south. Rural, beautiful Africa.

And this. Oh, yeah. another local product is Milk

First day in Lusaka continues

Assarh, the CRWRC accountant and Eric, the driver suggested that we just rest a little. Our trip was through the night. We did sleep a little on the plane.

We thought we were not tired, but both fell asleep.

Later in the afternoon, Eric came back and took us to a grocery store, not far from where we live.

This is like a small shopping centre, called "Castle" with a grocery store at the end.

It takes some time getting used to a new grocery store, although they seem to have a large selection of products, they are different then we were used to. Quite a few local products, such as coffee, peanut butter , honey etc, but also lots of imported goods from South Africa.

The prices and using local currency is another thing to get used to.

Local currency is the "Kwacha" and there are about 4900 in 1 US dollar.

We did not buy much, it felt like we were spending a huge amount of money, and constantly

calculating how much the products are in US dollars.

Sign outside "Shoprite" grocery store.

I wasn't super impressed with either of these two stores, a bit messy inside.

Fruits stand with yummy tropical fruit, next to Castle Shopping center

Our trip and arrival in Lusaka

On the evening of October 3, we left the Netherlands from Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam.
We thought we were flying KLM, but as we checked in we found out that we were actually flying Kenya Airways. Apparently KLM and Kenya Airways work together.
Passing security, a KLM agent took us to the side and said: "your airplane is under construction, there is tape on the arm rests. Don't freak out". Well, I did freak out just a bit.
Indeed it was an older airplane, but thankfully we made it safely to Nairobi, Kenya first and then on to Lusaka.
The flight was very smooth and service on the plane excellent, it included 3 meals and wine for free with our meals. American Airlines could learn from them.

We passed immigration and customs without any problem. Picked up our suitcases and headed out of the airport, hoping for the driver Eric to be there. We did not know who to look for. Nobody seemed to look out for us. As we stood on the curb, Ad got out some paperwork and his phone, hoping to find CRWRC's phone  number for the Lusaka office. It did not take long for a car to drive up with a CRWRC sticker on the door! That helped.
Eric the driver helped load up our suitcases and we were on our way to the office.
Looking left and right to observe the scenery.

Flamboyant Tree in bloom, in Haiti

Thoughts going back from when we first arrived in Haiti in July 1982. As we then drove from the airport over Airport Road we saw many of these trees in bloom. (picture above)
On our way from the airport here, we saw many of these trees in bloom:

Jacaranda Tree in bloom.

As we arrived at the CRWRC office, Assarh, the accoutant and secretary and Eric the driver gave us a tour

of the office. They then took us to the house that they were able to rent for us. It is a furnished house from a missionary family on furlough for three months. It sits on a compound/gated community with 24/7 security.

We are content with the place they found. It is along the main road to the south, just outside of Lusaka.

The house we are staying in.

Internet is slow, I'll continue tomorrow.

                                                                

How did we get to Zambia?

As you all know we resigned with CRWRC taking effect the 1^st of July.

The 3 months that we were back in Haiti, Ad was busy finishing up his responsibilities there and Coby was busy sorting and packing up our house.

Coby left early June, Ad early July. It was with mixed emotions as we took of from the airport in Port-au-Prince, thoughts going back to the time we first arrived. Although not always easy, Haiti had been home for us for 29 years.

Both Ad and Coby traveled first to Colorado Springs to visit Leon and Crystal and there new baby Lydia!! What a wonderful time!

As we have done the last number of years, Coby spent almost 3 month at the Christian Ref. Conference Grounds in MI, volunteering in the kitchen. Ad joined in July and was able to take a long vacation. Our children Hanneke en Mirjam and their families were able to join us. Ardjan did also spent most of the summer at CRCG.

Mid August the director of CRWRC, Andy Ryskamp paid us a visit at the Campground. It not only became an exit interview, but at the same time he asked us if Ad would be interested in an interim management position in Zambia, for three months to begin with. The Field Director and the Program Manager both left Zambia because of medial reasons.

After some consideration and prayer, we excepted the offer.

It was necessary for us to spend a month in the Netherlands first to organize some things.

We officially became citizens in the Netherlands again and Ad has registered as an Independent Consultant. We needed new passports and some vaccinations.

Ad also met with a Career Counselor.

As of October 4 we have arrived in Zambia.