Christmas

Angel appearing to the shephards

We celebrated Christmas at the Jembo Church.

Start time wasn't announced but a teacher told us probably 9 or 9:30.

Cory was the 2nd to arrive at 9:25 and music started at 10. Service started about 10:30.

There was a skit of the Christmas Story and for the sermon time the church was divided into 3 groups with the assignment to study 20 minutes either how Chrismas relates to love or judgement or righteousness. And then to have one appointed from the group present to the church. 

 Service went until about 2:30, when lunch was served with a choice of chicken or pork, broth, cooked cabbage and the staple Zambian food "nshima", which is plain, thick corn mush.

December is a very busy month in Zambia, mainly because most people farm and are busy preparing fields, planting and weeding.

On good soil, weeds can double size every few days, it seems like every day in our garden!

But young leaves of amaranth (pigweed) is good cooked like spinach when it is growing fast.

We finished planting corn Friday, there were 15 oxen teams working that day, some just plowing to control weeds.

Photo of a field that will extend the fruit grove, being planted to soybean.

Next we can plant mangos, avocado and maybe some other fruit trees.

Soybeans  and regular beans are also going between the older fruit trees.

Some planted no-till and some areas need ridges to help keep rainwater in the field.

With rains being less than normal this year for most of southern Africa, we should probably be planting a lot more dry beans, which mature early and get a good market price.

Termites in our living room!