Wrapping up

This trip to Zambia was incredible. A special thanks to all of the people that sponsored me to go. It would not have been possible without you. I hope that this blog has been a bit more of an insight into some of the thoughts and feelings that I have had on the trip. I have a love for Africa after going on this trip and will possibly be pursuing missions and development work in Africa sometime in my future.
I called this blog A Plumbline View, an engineer’s keyboard for a reason I have not yet described. A plumbline is a tool used by engineers to measure how straight something is. Engineers look for things to be straight and in order. I am no exception as I plan on being one after completing my schooling. I knew going into this that I would try to make things fit our North American view and the “proper” way. An excellent example was the squat toilets for Kafubu. I was looking for the North American way to do things. In that way I called my blog Eye of the Plumbline, because I knew that even though I would try to figure things out my way they would be different. I hope you have enjoyed seeing Africa from my perspective and if you would like to hear more about it I am always willing to share.
The Lord has shown so much of Himself on this trip. I have learned a lot about myself, creation, Zambian culture and the love of God that transcends all generations and cultures.
Blessings as you go out to serve Him in all that you do.
Soli Deo Gloria
To God Alone be the Glory!
Nathan Couperus

Home Friday May 28, 2010

Home. What is home? Home is a place where one resides. A place where one rests after coming home from work. Home is somewhere that one feels loved and cherished by a family around them. Today we go home. Home to our families that love and cherish us. Home to summer jobs and friends. Home to rest and recover from this trip where we experienced so much.
At the same time, we leave a home. Africa has blessed us so richly. We have met people that showed us kindness, hospitality and love. We leave behind a culture rich with traditions and full of opportunities. Today I have left a piece of myself in Africa. I am leaving a home for another home. Is not that the truth though? We leave brothers and sisters in Christ to be united with churches and brothers and sisters in Christ who have been praying for our safety and well being. Home is a word that is possibly associated with a house. I am associating it with the people that you meet when you are living in a home. It is the people that make the home. With that being said I can conclude that today we leave our home in Africa to arrive in our homes in North America. In all of this we must remember though, our homes here on earth are only temporary and we must wait patiently for our heavenly Father to call us to our real Home, where we will be reunited with our brothers and sisters in Christ. So with that yes, we are going home. Although, the work is not finished yet. There is still a kingdom waiting to be built and only when that is finished will we hear a voice saying “Welcome Home” and we will know that yes, this is truly home.

Orphanage Thursday May 27, 2010

This morning we were able to go to an orphanage that raises babies and toddlers. When the kids are old enough they will move on to another house and continue in care there. What struck me the most about the toddlers here is how they want attention. Many of them were crying when we came in and just wanted to be held. I was holding two of them and a third started crying. Since I only have two hands and have not learned how to carry three babies at one time I could only hold his hand which was enough to halt the tears for a small while. We stayed at the orphanage for two hours spending time with the children. I was surprised at how much the children wanted to be touched and held and to be shown love. It showed me how important spending time with infants and toddlers really is and why it is important to have one-on-one time between parents and children instead of putting the kids in daycare and having other adults raising several of them for most of the day. Another thing it reminded me of is how our heavenly father always has time for us when we are in need. He is there if we call on Him for whatever troubles we may have and his love transcends through all generations.
Soli Deo Gloria
Ps. We were not allowed to take pictures at the orphanage so I’m sorry for that, they were cute kids though and definitely tugged at some heart strings. Adoption is definitely something to consider if you haven’t yet. These kids are looking for Christian homes!!

Beginning the Journey back Home Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Today we packed up in Livingstone and headed back to Lusaka. We started out the day by seeking out the market in the early morning hours. On our way over we found the streets filthy with garbage everywhere. There were people hanging around without much to do and just biding time waiting for the day to start. We were able to buy some fresh fruit and baked goods for our trip to Lusaka and headed back to the hostel. When we left for the bus stop an hour later the streets were clean. It was an incredible sight as everyone that had been standing around had cleaned up the streets and disappeared. It was interesting because this was the clean look that Livingstone was trying to give to tourists. If there was no tourism Livingstone would be covered in garbage and look like a more run-down state. I was impressed by the cleanliness but felt as if this was just an act to attract more tourist dollars.
The bus ride to Lusaka was hair-rising to be sure. The driver was passing vehicles going uphill and around corners on this two lane highway. At one point we VERY nearly hit a semi truck. I definitely felt the prayers of people back home and was glad to arrive in Lusaka in one piece. Thank you so much to everyone who was praying for us because there were several occasions that we could have been in serious accidents. Thanks to the Lord for safety in our travels!

Safari Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Today we visited Chobe National Park. The park is one of the best for seeing wildlife including giraffe, elephant, antelope, warthog, hippos, crocodiles, and many others! We first went on a tour by boat. We enjoyed coffee and cookies as we traversed Chobe river in search of crocodiles, hippos, and other animals coming down for a drink. We were delighted by the sight of elephants. To hear them drink and shift their weight around was a great experience. We later had lunch at the resort and continued by land crusier. We saw many more animals and were delighted to experience another corner of God’s creation.
Our group was fascinated by the animals, but missed the people of Northrise today. Being tourists was fun, but we yearned to be a part of the community of learning that we experienced in Ndola. Snapping pictures and being tourists did not seem right and a few members of our group expressed how this no longer felt like Africa. Yes, these animals are African, but the people are not the same at these touristy places. Everyone just wants the dollars. There is no respect, community, or love similar to what we experienced in Ndola with Northrise. Our group enjoyed the safari experience but wished that we could have spent more time at the university with our new friends.
On the way back from Botswana our van almost ran over a cobra on the road. The cobra raised its head ready to strike at us as we came by it. The driver of the van was willing to turn the van around to get a closer look, but made sure we closed all of the windows beforehand. Our professor told us that the conversation at the front got very wary when we neared the snake. There is a high level of spirituality in Zambia and we think that the snake was not just an animal to the driver but had evil spirits connected with it. It was another reminder that even though we meet people who serve our God there are people out there still waiting to hear the Good News.

Victoria Falls, McCooney Village, and a reuniting Monday, May 24, 2010

Today we visited Victoria Falls, one of the seven wonders of the world. These waterfalls are comparable to Niagra falls, except 50x bigger. We visited during the end of the fall season, so the water was higher than usual. It made for an interesting experience! There was a huge cloud of vapour coming from the falls and when you walked over a bridge near the falls it was as if you were in a thunderstorm. The downpour of rain was something that I have never experienced on a sunny day. The bridge we walked across had 3-4 inches of running water on it. Everything on my person got soaked, including my watch and passport, which were in plastic bags...apparently not as air tight as I thought. It was a beautiful sight and another wonderful example of the creation that the Lord has surrounded us with. One of the highlights was seeing a circular rainbow. Looking over the edge of the bridge into the mist one could see the rainbow go all the way around. It was a fantastic sight and one that reminds me of the Lord’s faithfulness to us.
We also went to the McCooney village today. This is where explorer David Livingstone came across the chief that ran the 10,000 square kilometres around Victoria Falls. The village is a tourist site now, where leaders will take you around the village and later persuade you to buy gifts from their market. I was not impressed by the village as they pretended to be poor but had tv’s and radios and electricity which is a lot more than other villages we had seen. So, McCooneys felt a little untrustworthy.
That evening a few of us walked to a restaraunt for dinner and met Overland Missions there. Overland is a non-profit organization that is doing work all over Africa and has a base in Lusaka. One of our team members spent a few weeks with them and was able to reconnect with them. It was very cool to run into them and hear more examples of people furthering the kingdom by providing aid and spreading the gospel.
Soli Deo Gloria

The Universal Church Sunday, May 23, 2010

Additional hours were clocked on the bus today as our group extended our bus riding experience by 7 hours. This was a long ride but again through the countryside and we saw many rural villages which were interesting to drive through. I was blessed by the music the driver had on. We were listening to hymns for a few hours as the ride started. It was very refreshing on a Sunday morning and it posed a good moment to reflect on scripture and recommit this trip to the Lord.
We arrived in Lusaka in the afternoon and found our backpacker’s hostel that we stayed in. The CRWRC missionary couple gave us a number to contact for a Filipino pastor in Lusaka. We ended up going to their Baptist church that evening. The couple there gave us this wonderful meal that felt more like an American Thanksgiving dinner. We were very blessed as a group because we knew that it took a lot of time and money to prepare that kind of feast for us. We were also blessed by another example of the universal church. It was wonderful to worship with people that serve the same Lord we do!
This evening I spoke with a couple of African American ladies who were with a group travelling from Malone University in Ohio. We had an excellent discussion about racism and being black vs. White. We started off talking about being white in Africa and the conversation turned to being black in America. I heard things that were very discouraging about how our culture views many of their own people. The ladies have to teach their kids not to look suspicious and to leave the store as quickly as possible with no looking around and hands always in their pockets. Additionally, they talked about black protocol. When a cop pulls someone over for “being black” as some call it (because there is no other reason that one should have been pulled over) one needs to keep hands on the steering wheel and be very polite and do everything the officer says. I was surprised that African Americans had to struggle with this and be so aware of who they are and what they look like in their own country. I was having a difficult time getting stares and looks in Africa but to struggle with that every day would be a battle tougher than I can imagine. It makes me yearn for a new heaven and a new earth where one will not be judged by their skin colour but only on the fact that they serve the one and living God.
Soli Deo Gloria

Lusaka Saturday, May 22, 2010

The group woke wearily this morning and took the bus at 4:45 to Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. We were tired during the bus ride but enjoyed seeing rural Zambia. We passed many ladies sitting by the side of the road selling fruit. There were large stacks of watermelons and tomatoes all along the road. I wondered how so many watermelons could be sold in such proximity but the ladies seem to return to the spot so they must get some business. It makes you wonder how many people might buy them cheap from the countryside and bring them to the city to mark up the price and make a profit. It seems a bit unjust but people have to make a living somehow.
We stopped at the Arcade Mall when we reached Lusaka. A couple of guys from the dormitory at Northrise mentioned that this was a must-see. We arrived at an ordinary strip mall with a grocery store along with several food outlets and retail shops. This mall was nothing compared to what we have in North America and it struck us how there is not much consumer drive in Africa compared to the States. Therefore there is smaller demand for these shopping malls and everyone buys local instead. For some reason I liked this idea of buying local instead of from a huge grocery store. Zambia might be doing something right here.
We also saw more Caucasians at this mall. It actually was kind of weird to see “white” people besides ourselves. The group also discussed the change that overcome our mindset as well. After spending so much time with the guys in the dorms we stopped seeing a colour barrier. They were just people, and you never noticed the skin colour. The group was very encouraged by this as we had all taken on this view.
In the afternoon the group met up with a missionary couple from the CRWRC in Lusaka. We spent the night there and had many conversations about development in Africa. These topics varied from the need of agriculture and engineering, to diseases, to future development, and also to religion in Zambia. We learned a lot from this couple and were encouraged by them to enter the missions field. They stressed that the Lord will use you if you are willing to go as they had little to no missions experience before they moved from the Philippines. We enjoyed the conversation and the food was scrumptious. We were grateful for the roof over our heads and another example of how the Body of Christ works together for all things.
Soli Deo Gloria

Harvesting, Hospitals, and Hospitality Friday, May 21, 2010

Today I added harvesting bananas to the life experiences list. Harvesting bananas was really cool. If one was to look at a clump of bananas one would think they grow upside down. (compared to what we have in stores etc.) What I thought was interesting was that we had to chop down all of the leaves and then lower the bunch of bananas down with a cord after it too was chopped with a machete. Someone then took a sharp knife and cut away sections of the bananas. These were handed to us and we got to break them into groups of 5-7 bananas (called hands). We would then stack these bananas in a crate. The group harvested a total of 340 kilograms (748 lbs) of bananas. Another piece of the harvest that I did not know is that the tree would die after we cut off all of the leaves and next year’s bananas would come from suckers growing from the base of the current banana trees. I was surprised that a banana tree only produces fruit for one year. Harvesting bananas was a great experience and the team had a wonderful morning learning from Farmer Bob who was a very patient teacher!
In the afternoon the group visited a children’s hospital. This was a difficult experience for all of us because we felt as if we were not wanted—at all. The nurses looked at us with scowls when we came down their halls, and did not seem pleased to be giving us a tour of their wings. Many of the Dordt students felt uncomfortable as we seemed to strut our health and wealth all over the hospital. The hospital was busy and severely understaffed. The director said that they could use 6 doctors, 27 RNs and 52 LPNs. If I remember correctly the hospital had 13 nurses working when we were there. The building seemed to be falling into disrepair with windows missing, paint peeling, and concrete floors wearing away in places. It was difficult seeing all of this and knowing that we just got a new hospital in town and there are many nurses still looking for work around home. Sometimes I wonder why I was so blessed to grow up in North America rather than Zambia or another African country. Why? I did not deserve any of this, yet I was blessed. The question is, Are any of us North Americans willing to share our blessing with those less fortunate than us?
The hospital also had a prosthetic leg center and a psychosocial ward. The prosthetic leg center was one of only two in the country and the guys there were working hard with many orders to fill. It was good to see that so many people could be helped from this branch of the hospital. The psychosocial ward was a place that many of the team members expressed interest in revisiting. There was a playground covered in children (300 to be exact). They were running, jumping, skipping, laughing, and just having fun. The workers there told us that it was a place originally designed for HIV positive children but has since become open to all children. After playing three hours the children are eligible for a snack, which is what they are really after. Along with their cookies and milk they get taught lessons such as English and reading but also including the Lord’s prayer which was encouraging to see. It was good to hear that several of the Northrise students had been visiting and playing with the children on occasion. Leaving the psychosocial ward was difficult and the entire team had a desire to stay and play with the children.
Upon returning to the Northrise campus I had an excellent conversation with a fellow from the dorms. We discussed relationships with women and how to have a relationship that is God honouring. I will not give any more details but I was glad to talk this through with him and share any advice that I could with him.
We had to say goodbye to the dorm guys that afternoon. That was tough. Many of the guys said that they would never forget us. I did not believe we made that much of an impact on them. The parting was sad but also full of hope as we said “see you again, either in this life or the next.” It is comforting knowing that we will see our brothers in Christ when the world is mad new!
Friday night the power went out. As North Americans we are privileged to have power all of the time. (well, besides storms) In Zambia the power company will shut down the parts of the grid for several hours in order to save money. We took this time to reflect as a group over the week we had at the university. There were many stories shared and lessons learned. (Several of the lessons have been shared in earlier posts) One of the group members commented on how hospitable the Zambians have been. The statement was true to all of our experiences in Ndola. The people of Northrise were willing to show us around and take care of all of our needs. We were blessed with very good hosts! The power did come back on eventually but it was nice to reflect and refocus by candlelight. The group spent its first night together since we had left and prepared for the early departure scheduled for 4:45 the next morning.
The day was full of blessings. Speaking with the group that night reminded me how the Lord has been with us every step of the way. Thank you again for all of the people that prayed for us throughout our trip. As a team we witnessed the Lord working in and through us as well as keeping us safe throughout the trip. Praise to the Lord!