Sunday, June 27, 2010

Sunday was my last day to sleep in and I took advantage of it. Nasilele had given us IMPACT handbooks when we arrived on Friday and we read them Sunday. The handbook outlined a daily schedule for the mission trip that began at 4:50am. After a final breakfast in the Muungo home we repacked our suitcases and prepared meals for the long journey to Chilubi Island. We said goodbye to Chimuka and Lungwani and rode to the bus station.

At the bus station, Erin, Lilly, and I attracted a lot of attention from venders. As our things were loaded onto the bus several men tried to sell us watches, food, “talk time” for cell phones, and DVDs. We climbed onto the bus around 3:00pm and found our seats for the long ride. Most of the IMPACT missionaries (about 60 people) were already working in the mission field, Erin and I traveled to the islands with about 10 other young people who were also joining the group late.

As we started to leave the city, a man stood in the front of the bus and preached a short sermon then he collected an offering and climbed off the bus. Talk about freedom of speech! I have never seen that in the USA. It was amazing to watch the scenery change as we drove. The urban construction of Lusaka melted into the soft plains and wetlands of northern Zambia. On the bus, we talked and studied the Bible together until the sun set and then we ate some of the food we brought. When it was dark outside, the bus started playing a movie; it was so loud we had a difficult time sleeping.