Homestay

We had the awesome privilege of staying with a Zambian family for 3 days in the village. It was the highlight of my 40/40 experience, hands down.

This is Amber and I walking to our home in the village. I'm so thankful to the Chapanga family for opening up their home and hearts to us.

This was our hut for the weekend... we brought mattresses to sleep on and mosquito nets to create our "happy place" at night (according to Kevin our program director). Bambo Henry built this hut... the floors were made of some sort of concrete and the roof was made from branches found in the bush.

Below is my happy place... playing with children. News spread that some mzungu (white people) were staying in the village so it wasn't long before kids came to see us. Here you can see that Sandra and I are the entertainment as I'm trying to cut and eat a mango. I had fun teaching them games such as paper, rock, scissors and trying to learn Nyanja. I made the phrase "nipasekoni nshawa" into a song which they loved... it means pass the ground nuts... and sang it with them while we shelled ground nuts.

The Chapanga family treated us as honored guests... but they also allowed us to work. We shelled ground nuts, helped cook nshima, washed dishes, planted maize in the fields, shelled maize, and drew water. I learned that living in the village is not an easy life. Can I just say that I have a new appreciated love for Joburg?

We also had the opportunity to go to the maize mill. Maize is a type of corn that they use to make nshima (which is called mealie pap here in South Africa). We had to walk about 30 minutes to the mill where Daisy worked hard to grind the maize. What I found interesting is that they use every part... they use the leaves to feed the cattle, the cob is used for burning in order to cook and the kernels make animal food and lastly the nshima which they eat everyday for multiple meals. I am so impressed with how smart and resourceful these people are and have to be in order to live.

This is Amai Daisy and Bambo Henry who are now are Zambian parents along with many children who live in the village. This was our hang out spot... on a grass mat under a mango tree in the middle of the bush. Loved it!