"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)

Friday, Sept. 7- Sunday, Sept. 9: Travel and arrival at New Day Orphanage

*The first of day-by-day recap blog posts about PPIHN's Fall 2018 trip to Zambia. Each trip I do these day-by-day posts to give an in depth look at what PPIHN is all about--to see what amazing things God is doing through this ministry, to describe what we as team members cannot in just a conversation with you and to be accountable to those who donate to make these trips happen. 

Each trip has its own special things that happen, which I'm so excited to share with you in these posts. This trip we saw 38 prosthetic patients, 8 orthotic patients and 18 people for eyeglasses---all in just 12 working days. Our prayer is that all the people we were able to help saw the love of Christ through our work, our words and our actions. 

Friday, September 7th, Team Prosthetic Promises left out from DFW airport for another trip to provide prosthetic services in the Mapanza, Zambia area. The team consisted of me, Katie Brinkley (prosthetist/orthotist), Suzanne O'Connor (prosthetist/orthotist) and Louise Mahnich (volunteer assisting the team). 


L to R: Katie, Louise and Suzanne

Our flight path was from DFW to London to Johannesburg to Livingstone arriving on Sunday, Sept. 9th where we were picked up by our Zambian team member, Protashow, and then had a 3 hour bus ride to New Day Orphanage in Mapanza, Zambia where we stay for our trips and where the Prosthetic Promises clinic is located. We had 13 checked bags for our flights and thankfully they all made it to Livingstone. Check-in at DFW was actually a breeze and was the fastest check-in we've had yet with all our extra bags. 

Arriving at New Day, we were greeted by the kids and staff with a welcome song, hugs and handshakes! 
Suzanne getting a hug!

Louise greeting and hugging!

Me excited to see familiar faces and be back at New Day!

Some of the New Day staff joined us for dinner at the Ark (guesthouse at New Day) including Wes and Laurie, Stacie, Lane (who is a short term volunteer also staying in the Ark), Teacher Carolyn, Gaye and Sam. After dinner we had our orientation with Laurie and Gaye to give us an overview of staying at New Day and things to expect while in Zambia. Being my 6th trip, I'm familiar with the orientation, but it's nice to get a refresher and very cool that we have new people coming with us on PPIHN trips who are experiencing Zambia and New Day for the first time! 

We got settled into our bunk room at the Ark and turned in early for some restful sleep after our 2 day travel before starting work right away on Monday morning. 

*Next post: Monday, Sept. 10th: Macha area patients