Beautiful Zambia

The rains have finally decided to stop here, and the temperatures are cooling quickly. It's our favorite time of year, the cool dry season. Especially right now, because there is still a lot of green plants and vibrant flowers blooming but without the threat of muddy feet and bike tires from peddling through the rains.

We have officially passed the half way mark in our service. It's hard to believe at times, but then again not really...Days crawl and weeks fly by. Since our last post we have seen more of Zambia and have been awe struck by the beauty and majesty of this place. We were fortunate to have a friend from home visit (thanks Bean!) We took the opportunity to visit Victoria Falls which was even more amazing than we had anticipated, and we had high hopes. We were told (understandably so) that the view of the falls in May is not the 'best', at least you aren't able to take in the full grandeur of the falls because there is so much water in the air from the rains. Regardless, the steep, rocky valley carved from the sheer power of all the water was rich in a green blanket of moss and lichens. Beautiful!! We also saw a double circular rainbow; it’s hard to put into words the exquisite beauty of it all. We wished it were possible to share this part of the world with all of our friends and family, but will try to get some pictures posted asap.

We are thrilled to soon be part of our village beekeeping group’s first harvest as a business. During the month of June, our beekeepers will be harvesting, processing, and selling their honey in individual, labeled jars. This is a big step for them, and a very exciting period of growth to witness. Not only because they will be making over five times the profit they had selling their honey unprocessed, but also seeing how empowering it is for them to turn a dream into a reality. There are so many setbacks in the village; farming is hard everywhere in the world and especially in developing countries facing threats ranging from HIV & AIDS to desertification, among many others. So, all in all, even though this is the beginning of a long road of hard work and unforeseen obstacles, we are taking the opportunity to enjoy where the group is now and the potential their future holds.