Our faith is being tested

Yesterday (Thursday) we went to visit the house that we rented at Justo Mwale Theological University College and see what we would need to buy. In short, we have to buy pretty much everything. From a stove and fridge to plates, mugs, forks and knives.
So this afternoon we spent "shopping" for a lot of this stuff at the Game store in Manda Hill shopping mall. We ended up buying a stove, a fridge and a washing machine as well as some chinaware, pots and pans, and cleaning materials. We negotiated on the price of the appliances and even though all were already on sale (and relatively cheap), they gave us free delivery to the house (about $35). In the store we talked to the dispatcher and he would make sure that they would deliver the appliances this afternoon. After we paid we left the receipt with them (they said they always do that - what do we know) to get the appliances from the warehouse and onto the truck later in the afternoon. Well they never showed up this afternoon so now we have to wait and see when and whether they will deliver the appliances another time. Our trust and faith in our fellow Zambians is being tested as we write. We are sure that things will work out in the end but it is a bit unsettling to have paid for appliances and not having a receipt to prove it. Tomorrow we'll try to find out what happened and how the delivery is going to take place.

Tomorrow we plan on shopping again, this time for some Zambian cell phones. Once we have those we are able to connect more easily with our local colleagues as well as for stores to have our number in case they need to call us. It is amazing to see how also here in Zambia the need for connectivity is growing. In the afternoon we hope to visit the Esther School and the two families there who have been there now for just over 6 months. we look forward to connecting with them again and see how the Esther School has impacted the local community. It will be for Gert the first time in about 10 years that he has to drive on the left side of the road again with right-hand steering. As long as there is traffic on the road it will be OK but when it gets quiet on the road it might be more tricky.

We thank the Lord for all His blessings that we already have seen these last few days here in Zambia. But we also have to learn and accept that life in Zambia is different from what we are used to. It is not better or worse, just different. One obvious point it that things take more time because people take more time getting to know the other person or the situation that they are in. We normally don't want to get involved with personal issues of others but here the focus is always first on the other person and then on the matter at hand.

We still have a lot to learn! But God is with us that He will lead us and guide us.