To Livingstone!

Today our team said goodbye to Choma and the wonderful Zambians who we have spent the last two weeks with. Our work is done and everything is now in the hands of those who remain in Choma. We certainly intend to return though, there are many good opportunities for the MED group to get involved.

The papermaking and tie-dye co-op seems very excited about their new business opportunity. They have received training in both the artistic and business aspects of the project. It appears like they have really taken ownership of the project, and two of the leaders were part of Thursday's meeting with the Choma Museum. They were all very excited that Choma Museum has agreed to market their products. We think this market outlet could prove to be very profitable, because at least 10,000 people visit the museum annually. The museum also sells products through their website, http://openentry.com/cmcc/EN/100001.html. The chairman of the co-op, Derek, gave a farewell speech to our group on Friday morning, in which he asked for our continued prayers and support.

We traveled to Livingstone this morning (along with Ron and Erma Herr) where we are staying through Monday morning. Our team spent the whole afternoon at Victoria Falls - it was absolutely beautiful! We were of course amazed by the height of the waterfall, but even more so by its width. I'm still not sure exactly how wide it is, but it was longer than we could see. Of course, we didn't have a clear view because the air was constantly full of mist. I was the only one who didn't bring or rent a rainjacket, and I got thoroughly soaked!

Our team walked to the long bridge that spans the Zambezi river, connecting Zambia and Zimbabwe. After walking over to the Zimbabwe side, and a couple of us walked well into Zimbabwe (until we neared the immigration checkpoint). We met this awesome Zimbabwean named King George who is an actor and musician, who told us many of his neat life stories. We also watched people bungee jumping off the bridge, which was pretty sweet!

On the way back to our lodging, Chris and I were let off in town to look into bus tickets to Botswana (that's going to be tomorrow's little adventure). As we walked back to our lodge, we stopped at a row of craft stalls. By the time we left 1 to 1.5 hours later, we had pulled off the most impressive and fun business deal of our lives. In a nutshell, I traded the very shoes off my feet plus 1,000 K (about 30 cents) for a drum, two wood carvings of traditional Zambian masks, and a Zebra wall hanging! Chris and I worked together to negotiate the deal, and one Zambian craft dealer went home very happy to have a pair of nike tennis shoes from America. The whole bartering process was fun for all of us as we went back and forth trying to work a fair deal. The process was so entertaining that other crafts dealers gathered around to watch! I realized how tender my feet are when I had to walk back from town barefoot...

A week in Choma and Simaubi

So it has been an eventful few days. Starting with Monday, which was the first day of the week for tie dyeing. The whole business team had the opportunity to be there as well. Derick was chosen as the leader of the group, Watson as the secretary, and Eness as the treasurer. After the paper making workshop, the group headed into town to do some shopping. The Spar was the main destination to pick up some food, as well as the internet café and the local market, which was a very cultural experience. So many vendors were present selling fruit, clothing, and other little items. Monday night we got to meet up with some people from Messiah at the Herr’s and had dinner together which was great. Andrea, one person in the group, ended up riding to Macha with the business team on their way to Simaubi.

On Tuesday, the car to Macha was packed, but we viewed it as team bonding. Anyways, once the business team got to Simaubi, there was a workshop for basic business and marketing led by Chris and Shannon. About 55 people attended and it seemed to be received well. The team members (Ron, Shannon, Matt, and Chris) stayed in various community members homes and then held another workshop the next day. This workshop focused on record keeping and was lead by Matt. About 65 people attended. After a meal of enshima, cabbage, chicken, and guinea fowl, and the goodbyes the team was headed back the bumpy road to Choma.

Back in Choma, Tuesday and Wednesday were quite eventful for the art team and J-Lynn. Tuesday was paper making and Wednesday was tie dye. On Tuesday there was a brush fire near the house which drove out a python about 3 feet long. A few local people killed it.

The business team got back Wednesday night and the whole group had antelope stew over at the Herr’s. It was good to be back as a whole group again. Today holds training in business for the leaders of the paper making group as well as another trip to town. The meeting with the Choma Museum today was very successful and all positive things happened.

Paper Making and Enshima

It's been a week since we updated the blog and so much has happened. Internet here is a scarce commodity otherwise we would have updated the blog every day.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday the business students and J-Lynn traveled out to Simaubi, a collection of tribal villages that are located two hours into the bush. There we met with community leaders, shared enshima, and lived in mud huts with the locals. Our purpose in being there was to get to know the people and learn from the business experience and knowledge they have. Most of the people are subsistence farmers who, with a bad rainy season, are struggling to get by. However, this hasn't appeared to affect their generosity and hospitality.
We met with 50 people from the community to learn from them what they want and need to learn about business in order to improve their well being. They were all extremely interested in everything we had to say.
We spent the weekend preparing lesson plans in anticipation for our return to the village tomorrow. Shannon and I will be teaching the people about basic business and marketing skills, while Matt will be introducing them to record keeping and accounting skills. We think that one of the concepts that will be most beneficial for them is the idea of profits.

The art department has also had a fantastic week working on the hand made paper project. They are working with 10 people who are "living positively with HIV and AIDS" on a small business that will help the people support themselves. The group has come together quite nicely and is diligently learning the skills of paper making and tie-dying in hopes of selling their products to tourists through the country. They just finished the first products which look great!

Our week has been busy but God has been showing himself faithful by giving us plenty of energy and encouragement. The people here are kind and sweet and have made our work thoroughly enjoyable.

Chris