"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. 27- Sunday, Sept. 29: A day in Livingstone and heading home...

On Friday, we left New Day about 7am to head to Livingstone. Protashow took us to Livingstone to do a few sight seeing things before our flight on Saturday. 


Group photo before we left New Day! L to R: Amanda, Andy, Fostina, Protashow, Carol, Graham, Katie, Traci


We went to Victoria Falls, which is incredibly dry during this drought. There is a little water falling on the Zimbabwe side but only a few trickles on the Zambia side. 


I took a photo of the group looking out at the rock formations where the Falls generally are.

  I kind of like the dry season view of the Falls since you can see all the rock formations and not covered by all the mist that is present when we've gone in April. But it is cool to see the contrast. Traci and Amanda both came in April (2017 for Traci and 2018 for Amanda), so they got to see the contrast of after rainy season vs during the dry season this trip.

Graham

Andy and Graham. And you can see the water falling on the Zimbabwe side behind them.


Protashow also arranged for a game drive truck to take us through Mosi Oa Tunya park to see safari animals. (We all paid our own way on these touristy things) :)

Zebras!

Giraffes...my favorite!

And we were taken by guards to see the White Rhinos they have at the park. Guards are constantly protecting these rhinos, as they are endangered.

One of guards obliged us with taking a group photo in front of the rhinos.

We had dinner Friday night and stayed at a hotel in Livingstone. Then went by the market downtown on Saturday morning before Protashow dropped us off at the airport. We were grateful for a little time to see the sights and experience a little tourism before heading home. 

And that's a wrap on another Prosthetic Promises trip to Zambia!

When reflecting on trips after we return, I often find that people asked "What was a highlight?" or just "How did the trip go?". And often times it's difficult for me to answer (perhaps others on the trips have an easier time). It's difficult to describe how awesome it is to be used by God on these trips, feeling that this is a specific purpose I was called to do using the skills He gave me. You kind of just have to experience it to really know! But I hope that reading through these day-by-day blog posts help show you a little about these trips and help you know why we keep feeling led to continue providing prosthetic, orthotic, ocular prosthetic and physical therapy care at the PPIHN clinic. 

This trip we saw 57 patients total for prosthetics, orthotics and physical therapy, and we fabricated 26 new prostheses during the trip. And all of this happened in just 9 working days! It was an empowering experience, and I think I can speak for all of the team members this trip that we were all grateful for the opportunity to serve In His Name in Zambia. 

Already looking forward to April 2020 for our next trip if funding allows. We are assembling the team at this time and have a new team member interested in joining, and also looking at fundraising to make the trip possible. Please join us in continued prayer for all the patients who we provide care for, Protashow as he takes care of the clinic and patients between our trips, and more largely, the people and country of Zambia as they continue to face difficulties in the historic drought they are experiencing right now. 


No comments:

Post a Comment