We arrived at Kachele Farm around mid-afternoon on a Sunday.
Named after the large Kachele tree on the property, the beautiful agricultural plot
serves as a base for Hands at Work staff and volunteers of the Zambia regional
support team (RST) who serve villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo,
Zambia, and Malawi.
George Snyman, founder of Hands, introduced us to Liz and
Weston, who made us feel at home right away with a tour of the main farm house
where we would be staying. Seeing that we were still a little hazy from jet
lag, our gracious hosts let us retreat to our cosy room to unpack and get our
bearings. We unpacked, caught up with Hands at Work’s 40 days of prayer – we were at Day 18 of the series then – and gave thanks for our safe arrival in Zambia. Abe then
succumbed to a late afternoon nap as the day waned, with the standing fan
blowing into his face. We had released the mosquito net hanging over our bed,
so the thin fabric brushed against his face with each gust of wind, causing his
nose to twitch as he slumbered. Intermittent thunder rumbled in the distance.
It started to drizzle when we were called out to dinner at
Levi and Pragcidens’ house across the courtyard. The tasty aroma of Liz’s
cooking welcomed us into the home. In the next two hours, we savored roast
chicken, mashed sweet potatoes, and an assortment of local veggies while
receiving an enriching crash course in all things Hands from George, Levi (lead
of Zambia RST), and his wife Prags. What a privilege it was to sit down and
break bread with this humble group of people who have committed their lives to
caring for widows and orphans.
We ran through the warm falling rain again and returned to
our net-shrouded bed. The combination of mild claustrophobia and a sense of
security from the blood-thirsty creatures made for a snug night’s rest in our
new environment.