Greetings from Zambia from Matt

So, I have been in Zambia for a grand total of three days, and have loved every minute of it. The people are wonderful and just about everything is an adventure. The first school we went to had examinations and could not let the students meet with us, but we found a replacement and have been teaching at two schools every day. The first school is called Mutomba Basic, where I teach 22 students. They are incredibly intelligent, more polite than any student I have ever met in the states, and hungry for knowledge. However, there is a language barrier that has me simplifying what I say to the point that I no longer use complete sentences when I talk. Jami has been making fun of me for it, but if I don't, the kids will not understand. At the second school, Greyson Basic, there are far fewer students and I have been teaching a single student named Sydney. He is in sixth grade, shy, and will have a personal tutor, HIV educator, Life skills coach, for the whole week. I don't blame the students because they wait an hour each day for us to come after school lets out and they do not pack lunches, 12 hrs without any food is not something that the candy we give them can satisfy. Either way, I have taken all of their names down and will be praying for each and every one of the students while I'm here and will continue when I get home. I can see God working in their lives and I would like to see how they make out in the coming year.

I have been working with two translators, Martin and Sydney, who are amazing men of God. They have a joy and a passion within them that is easy to see and comes out while they speak with the students. Its great to allow the students to express themselves in Bemba (their native language), because otherwise I would be struggling to get anything meaningful out of the students. I was a little worried about our progress with the students on the first day, but as time has passed I can see that they are opening up to us. Today, we did an awesome demonstration using Coke Zero and Mentos to illustrate what pornography does to your sexual appetite. With each day, I believe that our team will help to change these kids lives for the better.

Now for the fun part. I was initially sad because I missed a trip to 6 flags the weekend I left, but when I rode in Dr. Thinus' van from Ndola to Mufulira, I knew that I wasn't missing out on any of the excitement. The van is a petrol powered roller coater on these roads. Never let me complain about the roads in Boston again, there are potholes here that could swallow a school bus! We are staying with 19 people in the house right now, so the basics like privacy, modesty, and showers are in short supply. Fortunately, deodorant is not and we all are getting along great. I love shopping here, but because we are white, they charge us close to double for everything. If you keep that in mind, you get a really good idea for how much you should be paying. As for the food, I don't eat this well at home. We have had beef curry, stew, chicken carbonara and enshima with fresh chicken. When I say fresh, I mean I carried out the boiling water this morning to where they were being plucked. Pointing this fact out tends to turn some people into temporary vegetarians, but it doesn't work on me, it was all delicious.

I'm glad that I could write a blog for this evening, and I thank you all for your prayers. Please continue and I hope to write more in the coming week as the first half of our team departs. I love you all and hope that all is well.

Respectfully,
Matt Porter