A Long-Awaited Reunion
Yesterday I got up very early (well, 5:15) so I could take and shower and get my overnight bag packed before time to leave. We drove in to Chengelo School with Danny and the kids in our borrowed vehicle. (I must apologize I’ve been spelling Danny’s name wrong through sheer ignorance.)
Every morning Danny commutes to the school, a drive of at least an hour. Her kids attend the school as day students and she works there as an architect. Except that yesterday, she was very late getting started on her work because she took us on a tour of the campus.
It is a beautiful campus, so inviting and nicely landscaped. We toured the primary school, the secondary school, and some other buildings like the assembly hall. Everybody we met was so friendly and welcoming. It was time well spent.
We reached a point where Danny really had to go to a meeting for work, so we headed out for Mkushi on our own. We had some help in that one of the school staff needed a lift, so he was able to direct us to the town, where we dropped him off.
Then we pulled into a grocery store parking lot, and I texted my sister Kukeŋa to let her know we were in town but needed help finding her place. Her husband Martin brought her on his motorbike and she joined us in the car to guide us through the labyrinth to her house.
What a joy to see her again after 25 years! Hopefully you have had a chance to watch the video which details how we became sisters.
Shortly after our arrival, we were treated to a wonderful lunch featuring beef from Kukeŋa and Martin’s own cows. So good. Afterward I got a tour of the yard. They have a vegetable garden and also avocado, orange, pawpaw, mango, and moringa trees.
Walter spent the afternoon “helping” Martin work on his car.
Kukeŋa and I spent the afternoon talking and talking and talking! We had a lot of catching up to do. After hearing about some of the struggles I’ve encountered in recent years, she insisted on praying for me and I appreciated it so much.
Martin worked on the car until after dark, because he’s very determined to get it going in time for them to drive it to Sakeji for the reunion next week. Eventually he and Walter came in for supper and then we visited for a while longer. We had no power for quite a while during the evening, but you don’t need a lot of light to talk!
Their house is quite large, though still under construction. We had a nice guest room with a mosquito net. I went to bed so happy to be in Zambia and in my sister’s house!
Parting Shot:
A poinsettia tree in bloom on the school campus.