tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233706752011-11-15T07:46:47.644-06:00Stories, learnings and experiences from our time living in Zambia, AfricaThe Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.comBlogger461100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-19250559631236139972008-05-12T07:31:00.003-05:002008-05-12T00:33:34.217-05:00

A great ending in Zambia -- More Pics Here "It helps now and then to step back and take the long view. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No program accomplishes the church's mission. No set of goals and directives include everything. This is what we are about. We plant the seed that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. e lay foundations that

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-55635734086344328622008-03-24T06:14:00.004-05:002008-03-24T06:36:18.193-05:00

Last week I visited one of our project areas a couple hours from Lusaka. I was struck by the beauty of the rolling hills and fertile fields, the warmth of the Tonga people who live there, and the grace and dignity of the chieftainess (one of just four women chiefs in Zambia) who rules the area. I asked our staff member, Dream, if I could bring my family back to camp for Easter weekend and he

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-35797977795642765692008-03-10T01:48:00.004-05:002008-03-10T02:08:21.422-05:00

The sun is breaking through a LONG rainy season and we find ourselves amazed that we are on our final stretch of our time in Africa. More on the emotions involved in our inevitable departure in a bit, but first…There are a couple of reasons why we haven’t written in a while… First, the rains got us pretty muddy (literally and figuratively.) Late December and early January was, I’d say, our

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-43303860956777428812007-12-29T03:50:00.000-06:002007-12-30T11:23:55.567-06:00

Christmas Day, Lake Malawi - Mackenzie (11) Clara (9) Bennett (6)I'm sitting on our back patio looking out on the tropical forest that is our yard - 3 or 4 straight weeks of daily rain can make it seem like you are literally watching things grow before your eyes. The sun just popped out and you can feel the humidity starting to climb. I guess you could say it is opposite of a Minnesota day in

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-73629683520781967832007-11-27T14:37:00.000-06:002007-11-27T22:01:48.859-06:00

A Zambian Delicacy...Mwaka bwanji (Good Morning!) Mackenzie here. I decided that we needed a new blog so I am going to write it. Here it goes. Right now all of our family is really missing home on a lot of different fronts. First is the fact that we have not seen most of you for over a year now. Secondly is just the sense of home. Saturday runs to Brugers, bike riding around lake Harriet, you

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-91285018915634863432007-10-31T03:28:00.000-05:002007-10-31T04:26:09.974-05:00

Testing (o.k., playing on) a World Bicycle Relief Bike All is well here in Zambia for our family. We have had lots of fun guests this month and continue to enjoy getting to introduce old and new friends to the wonderful people and places of Zambia.Earlier this month we had a reporter here from NBC doing several stories on World Vision and some of our partners.The following story was written by

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-64760940908104109682007-09-27T09:46:00.000-05:002007-09-27T13:03:23.464-05:00

It is hot. Really hot, and the calendar tells me it should be cooling down by my North American standards. Instead the heat will continue to build. The hot weather takes me back to almost a year ago when Bennett’s health started to decline culminating in our unexpected trip home. There are certainly some days here when one or all of us would succumb to the knife for a trip to the States… Is that

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-89190079041004841362007-08-27T23:46:00.000-05:002007-08-27T15:37:18.081-05:00

A World Vision Caregiver provides a bed net to a familyThe seasons are turning here. We have left the dry, cool days of Zambian "winter" and are moving into warmer days that will culminate with the rains in November. Growing up in Colorado I remember how the heat would build throughout a summer day and then explode in a storm in the afternoon. That is essentially the next three months here - each

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-53032077270310639302007-08-06T00:55:00.000-05:002007-08-06T01:37:37.183-05:00

Watching the coverage of the bridge collapse – a place so familiar – from overseas has been a strange experience. Like most people, we have been shocked that something so taken for granted could just disappear. Yet another reminder that there are very few things, apart from God, that we can truly count on. Our hearts go out to those who are suffering and we are grateful and amazed at the low

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-10933712001012484862007-07-24T05:52:00.000-05:002007-07-24T10:30:18.470-05:00

What a week this has been. First, thanks to many of you for the kind notes regarding Namushi's death - can't tell you how much those have meant...Thanks too for the many prayers that no doubt have sustained us and encouraged us to take the steps that we have.After talking with Namushis' family members on Friday regarding the plans for the kids, it became clear that there were not many options for

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-72402235630320915562007-07-20T02:41:00.001-05:002007-07-20T03:57:16.024-05:00

Sometimes the brokeness of this world seems like too much. We came home Tuesday night from a short holiday with Brad and Carrie to perhaps one of the worst tragedies I've ever been close too.Let me back up. When we moved here a year ago (exactly a year ago yesterday) one of the first people we met was a wonderful man named Namushi. He was the gardner at the house next door. I remember well the

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-21099516404571287312007-07-05T06:58:00.000-05:002007-07-05T08:50:09.862-05:00

It is the 4th of July, only not quite. First, I am at the office working. Second, it is cold - Not Minnesota in January cold, but sweater-wool socks-and-my-hands-are-freezing-as-I-type-cold. It is the southern hemisphere winter and because Lusaka is close to 5,000 ft above sea level it gets cold despite our proximity to the equator. The conditions mentioned above, e.g. working, wool socks and

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-82581820036941517112007-06-10T08:46:00.000-05:002007-06-10T23:20:27.039-05:00

Consider the following a long overdue one-way catch up session...I can almost promise this will not be linear.Our lack of communication has been largely due to a perfect storm of a) a stolen computer b) a second computer that broke (which was later stolen somewhere in the UPS system and c) internet issues. Two out of three of these issues have been resolved and we are hoping for a perfect three

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-20895143127037394812007-04-15T08:28:00.000-05:002007-04-15T10:19:14.032-05:00

Missing the Point Caregiver (rt) and family New WellMost sane people would not consider a 6 day road trip with their wife, three kids and in-laws under the best of circumstances, e.g. paved roads, AAA, restaurants along the road side etc. Fewer still would try to pull this off without the aforementioned amenities. I’m proud to count myself amongst this latter group.Actually, It is Molly’s parents

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-5548118095100536502007-03-20T19:30:00.000-05:002007-03-20T13:38:12.597-05:00

On so many days it is easy to feel to weight of living in Africa - the poverty, the lack of things we are used to, missing people and the places we know etc. Other times, we feel the absolute gift of this time. The last two days we experienced the joy of this season, some of which is directly related to being here, other parts come from the window our family is in right now, a window that we

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-64847455637436277172007-03-14T07:30:00.000-05:002007-03-14T01:05:18.356-05:00

Hello from Lusaka. We have not written in awhile - I think for several reasons. First, we just finished a fun visit with my Mom and step Dad. It was great getting to show them our life in Zambia and to see some things through their eyes that we have become used to, e.g. being a minority where ever you go. Second, the longer we are here, the more things feel like "day to day life" and that is

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1170613456705969112007-02-05T10:10:00.000-06:002007-02-05T06:18:54.750-06:00

We are living in a tropical RAINFOREST! The rainy season means...RAIN. It is so lush and green here it's unfathomable to think that this same place will be so dry and dusty that your throat hurts in 7 months. I didn't imagine that we'd have seasons here like we do. It's a different drama than -12 F like a Minnesota winter, but it feels like the same kind of swing-- so different. It really is

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1168193374515210972007-01-07T10:54:00.000-06:002007-01-08T05:56:03.363-06:00

Hello Friends. We are a world away from our last posting on Dec. 14th...Our first 10 days back in Zambia have been rich, full and, at times, trying - It feels like we've been back much longer. Our unexpected time in the U.S. was a gift - It was wonderful to see and be with many of you.The trip back was as smooth as any 17 hour non-stop flight with 3 kids can be (Plus two other 2-3 hour flights)..

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1166131517670420812006-12-14T15:17:00.000-06:002006-12-16T21:36:00.096-06:00

Consider this our unorthodox Christmas Card. Admittedly, an electronic "card" does not reach out and touch you in the same way as paper, ink and a picture but hey, we are living in Zambia (but not really because at the moment we are currently living in our old house with our not so old in-laws/parents) which seems like enough of an excuse to not be doing a traditional Christmas card.Anyway,

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1164211880332194502006-11-22T09:58:00.000-06:002006-11-22T10:24:00.440-06:00

Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday -- A day set aside for gratitude.In 1863, 2 years into the Civil War, American President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving set aside each November to give thanks to a worthy God from whom all real blessings flow...Following is his proclomation. (Thanks Ward)May God grant you and your family a full and rich day of thanks.The year that is drawing

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1163786679534771412006-11-17T11:20:00.000-06:002006-11-17T12:06:38.993-06:00

How old are you Bennett?Greeting from Childrens Hospital in Minneapolis. Bennett's surgery yesterday afternoon went very well. The surgeon said everything played out exactly like he thought and hoped it would.Bennett has a nice "pirate scar" on the left side of his stomach, which will be a good life long reminder for this little 4 week adventure. (An adventure where we've had

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1163364038008457882006-11-12T14:07:00.000-06:002006-11-12T15:06:50.643-06:00

Last Sunday in South Africa..... ...This Sunday in Minnesota What a difference a week makes. Last Sunday I was in South Africa with Bennett and had no idea we were coming home, this Sunday I'm watching NFL football (as I type) at our home in Edina. Needless to say, it is great to be back and despite the craziness that has brought us here, it all feels good. The kids have already adjusted back and

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1162938818044812732006-11-07T16:09:00.000-06:002006-11-07T16:47:19.200-06:00

The man of the hour...Practicing not squeezing too hardGood evening from South Africa. What a strange few weeks. Bennett does need surgery on his Kidney (bad news, but quite fixable) and we are all coming home to have his surgery and recovery done in one place, together. (great news).As we have transitioned to living here in Zambia, there have been many moments for all of us where we

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1162582029939487162006-11-03T13:19:00.000-06:002006-11-03T13:27:09.950-06:00

So much to say…Bennett and I (Jeff) are back in J’burg in the room next door to where we were last week. The road back here, so to speak, has not been pretty. Basically, after returning to Lusaka last Saturday, Bennett was on again, off again sick climaxing on Wednesday when he was vomiting all day and could not keep water down. Almost 3 weeks to the day after this whole deal started, we went

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1161700584264276462006-10-24T09:33:00.000-05:002006-10-24T12:57:57.170-05:00

Well, I’m sitting in a hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa wanting to share about these last few days. As some of you know, we were airlifted out of Lusaka on Sunday night with Bennett who had been experiencing severe stomach cramping/nausea/dehydration for several days. We had been in and out of the clinic/hospital in Lusaka with Bennett since last Tuesday (with no improvement) and unfortunately

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1160580552434692752006-10-11T09:21:00.000-05:002006-10-11T13:58:28.376-05:00

Well, here we are. It’s mid-October and the leaves aren’t turning golden, they’re flowering! It’s spring. It’s so different here, so good but there’s much to miss about home. We straddle the emotions of gratitude and overwhelm at the goodness of what we have here and the sadness of missing life there. Know that you are not forgotten!I am actually home this week with Clara and Bennett having mild

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1159535687797983712006-09-29T08:04:00.000-05:002006-09-29T08:14:47.810-05:00

Greetings friends - A lot of you have been wondering about the kids and their perspective on things...So, here is the first installment of "From the Mouth of Babes" Unedited.What would you most like to say to friends and family back home?Mackenzie: I really miss you guys - I can’t wait to have you visit/see you in MinnesotaClara: Africa is really fun. I think you would like it. And I miss

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1158702017888649072006-09-19T15:16:00.000-05:002006-09-19T16:58:36.923-05:00

Visit our photo page and select "Clara's Big Adventure" for pictures for this entry - CLICK HERELast week I wrote an e-mail to some friends and family relating the homesickness that the girls were both feeling one night at bed time. Someone wisely wrote back that we cannot expect the good without the bad. The heights and depths often come hand in hand. How true this is - We so often want dessert

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1157966043174977432006-09-11T02:10:00.000-05:002006-09-11T04:14:09.290-05:00

Backyard on Saturday Morning - 8 kids 3 ContinentsThis picture is another snapshot of our current reality. The kids pictured in our backyard are all neighbors, our kids, two little girls from England and three Zambian children who are the kids of the gardner of the English family. On the one hand, kids playing in our backyard feels just like home. On the other hand, the kids pictured are from 3

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1157879711219834292006-09-10T02:59:00.000-05:002006-09-10T07:17:20.796-05:00

Greetings friends. It is a beautiful Sunday morning here is Lusaka. A great day of rest and reflection. We are having church, "Upper Room Lusaka", here in little while. Sundays have been our most challenging day of the week - I think it is when we are most aware of the fact that we are a long way from home. It is slowly changing, but know that on this day, more than most, we are loving and

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1156824324082865572006-08-28T22:57:00.000-05:002006-08-29T04:39:15.723-05:00

Bennett & Bennett (Bennett 2 lost his parents & lives with 5 siblings) Hello friends. We now have internet at home - there was a big celebration last night here at the Dykstra House...We can now publish photos, which we all know communicate as much or more than words. We'll write an update soon, but for now enjoy these pics. (These more or less go along with our Aug. 8 post "Way off the

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1155810464047406452006-08-17T05:19:00.000-05:002006-08-17T07:31:21.466-05:00

well...another 10 days have passed since we wrote. there are so many ways in which it feels like 2 months! each day here feels so rich and full. it is so much more unknown what is going to happen each day than when we were in minnesota. there was a predictability (that we can miss) to waking up, seeing Liz's car in her driveway, saying hi to Janet, talking to my mom at 8 a.m., bopping around town

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1155034096731180402006-08-08T01:48:00.000-05:002006-08-08T09:50:23.350-05:00

Bennett, his "gift chicken", and several new friendsWell, we journeyed out from our safe, comfortable home here in lusaka. jeff wanted us to see the "real Africa" (i guess Lusaka isn't Africa enough for him! any of you who visit will beg to differ...:))what a weekend we had. we took off early on friday morning with jeff's truck loaded down (had i told you that he has a truck, kinda funny, but

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1154620084078034242006-08-03T09:37:00.000-05:002006-08-03T10:48:04.120-05:00

We have now been here 2+weeks and are settling in. We find ourselves going back and forth between it feeling "normal" and then "crazy" that we are living here. All in all it is really good. The kids continue to embrace all that they are experiencing. I think that is what is giving us the most joy - watching our kids become comfortable, even confident, in such a different setting. I was

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1153925679124431802006-07-26T09:41:00.000-05:002006-07-26T10:28:51.106-05:00

Greeting from sunny Lusaka. We are here and alive and well. So much has happened in our first week - we've moved in, recieved our stuff from the U.S., unpacked, purchased a car (almost), been shopping multiple times, dealt with a myriad of details and started work for me. It has been mostly wonderful with a few tough moments thrown in for good measure.The kids have embraced everything and are

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1153165290060259282006-07-17T14:22:00.000-05:002006-07-17T15:02:32.940-05:00

JFK Airport with our 16 pieces of luggageGreetings from JFK in New York. We have spent a fun 24 hours here with our friends the Sequeiras - Went into Manhattan this morning for Breakfast, see the Statue of Liberty etc. A great last day in the country. We board our flight to South Africa in about 2 hours and all of us feel great. A bit like jumping of a cliff into water, we've started the free

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1152652648286679032006-07-11T16:14:00.000-05:002006-07-12T12:57:31.676-05:00

We are finally leaving, this Sunday. It has been a fun, full, month -- we've celebrated Brad's marriage to Carrie, had lots of good times with friends and family, and just spent 10 days up north at Molly's parent's cabin. We have also dealt with a broken foot (Mackenzie), Strep (All the kids) A root canal (Jeff) and the myriad of details that go into moving your life and family to the other

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1150075641743562642006-06-11T20:01:00.000-05:002006-06-12T08:29:05.086-05:00

Cabin Time - We will miss this big time...We have begun the process of saying good-bye --Last day at Highlands elementary, Last time at our church (at least when it meets indoors). My last day at work before my successor starts, etc. We are still around for another month or so, but are beginning to really face the fact that we are leaving this place, and more importantly, the people that we love.

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1147624901997475262006-05-23T17:07:00.000-05:002006-05-23T17:47:17.016-05:00

Kids' having fun with their Beds ---- Our living room (Indoor trike riding = big hit...not pictured - Bean-bags) It’s amazing the freedom that comes with living more simply…as we roll into week number three with our household in a 20’ box sailing across the Atlantic we continue to enjoy the joy of our home truly being just our little family and not all our stuff!As Jeff began to get us settled

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1145720425891925312006-04-22T10:16:00.000-05:002006-04-22T11:13:30.470-05:00

Community Volunteers Trained to Care for Orphans and Homebound HIV/AIDS PatientsGreetings from Beautiful Lusaka.The fact that I have been here two weeks and have not written speaks to how quickly my month here is passing and to the reality of starting a new job on a new continent. A steep learning curve on all fronts.The summary of these first couple weeks is….wonderful. The people I am working

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1144036706750550012006-04-02T22:52:00.000-05:002006-04-02T23:07:33.770-05:00

Dykstra kids with cousin Amelia, April 2It is Sunday afternoon and I am sitting in a surreal moment. For the last several days we have been on vacation with Molly's family at a wonderful resort in Tucson. As I have been playing with the kids in the pool, laying in the sun drinking an endless selection of beverages, eating great food etc., I have been struck by the strange reality that on Friday I

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1141790238829108032006-03-13T21:44:00.000-06:002006-03-14T15:17:31.853-06:00

There are many answers to this question. As strange as it may sound, it feels like the logical thing to do given the path our lives have taken these last 5 years. While there is a significant sense of loss for what we will leave behind, there is an equal sense of "calling" towards this -- not that Africa needs us, but rather, we need Africa. We are going to learn, we are going to witness, we are

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1141444280196648062006-03-09T21:36:00.000-06:002006-03-13T11:03:08.466-06:00

Kenya, Africa 2005While there is unprecented suffering across much of the African continent, there are large deposits of hope and potential. You can see it in a new business, a sunrise and the smiling eyes of a child.

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1141575844333316852006-03-05T10:17:00.000-06:002006-03-07T07:05:15.430-06:00

The Following Article from today's NYTimes reflects my own experiences with people across Africa. It is a wonderful paradox.Why So Starry-Eyed? Misery Loves Optimism in AfricaBy LYDIA POLGREENPublished: March 5, 2006Nowhere to Look but Up A Gallup poll found Africans to be the most optimistic people in the world despite the dire conditions in countries like Chad.AMOUNA MUHAMMAD sat quietly in the

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1141428465891873402006-03-03T17:24:00.000-06:002006-03-08T13:00:24.926-06:00

Zambia is located in central, southern Africa and is bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Angola.The friendliness of the people and the beauty of the country are well documented -- Unfortuneately, so is the ugly impact of HIV/AIDS. More than 1 million people live with the disease, and the average life span has dropped to 39 years.46

The Dykstra Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243694319081203370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23370675.post-1141415239112365202006-03-03T13:46:00.000-06:002006-03-08T10:18:45.916-06:00

" You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen."- Paulo Coelho

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