"Packed like Sardines"

“Packed like sardines” has formed a whole new meaning in our minds after today’s exploration.  Late this morning Melanie, Mollie and I scooted onto the first available minibus headed towards the city center.  (Mollie is the niece of one of the missionaries here in Lusaka and is only a couple of years older than Melanie and me.) Entering the day as a novice of riding the minibuses, the experience was not as horrible as we built it up to be.  Picture a twelve-passenger van with up to seventeen people squished to the maximum.  The smell of sweat and body odor filled the bus but for only 5 kwacha (less than one dollar), the price was right.  We definitely stuck out as Africa amateurs when we knocked on the ceiling to exit the bus and everyone on the bus started chuckling - apparently that’s not the way the system works!

Safe and sound we arrived at Northmead, a large open-air market with many interesting sights to see.  As we strolled the market we saw everything from hair-weaving shops, to food stands, to handmade artwork and souvenirs.  Mollie, Melanie and I enjoyed bartering for a few keepsakes but equally enjoyed just perusing the stands.  One of the more interesting sights was a bowl of giant, dried caterpillars at a food stand.  Mollie was very intrigued and almost purchased one to eat!

After leaving the market we walked around the neighborhood and found an old amusement park.  Although there was someone taking an entrance fee at the gate, it seemed as though the park was not actually in operation.  The only people inside the park were in a swimming pool right by the entrance.  After seeing a rickety, old Ferris wheel and a trampoline that was half collapsed to the ground we were happy to see no one actually riding on the rides. 

To finish up our in-town excursion, we ended up back at Manda Hill, Lusaka’s first official shopping mall.  We sat down at a coffee shop called Mugg and Bean and enjoyed fruit smoothies and coffee.  After spending some time browsing through the stores, Mollie, Melanie and I decided it was time to start heading home.  Maybe being out in the sun too long really messed with our logical thinking skills, or we hadn’t realized how far away the mall was from where we lived but we decided we were going to walk home (too much minibus excitement for one day!)  The sun was shining when we left the shopping mall but after about 30 minutes of walking, and a warning from a local pedestrian, we realized maybe walking wasn’t the best idea.  We were caught in the rain and seemingly were the only goofs to keep walking while everyone else took cover under trees and overpasses.  Thankfully, a familiar looking vehicle drove towards us as we realized it was Pastor Sargent and his wife Lisa.  They were on their way from picking up a visitor from the airport and said we “weren’t hard to spot”.  After jumping in the vehicle sopping wet and riding for about 10-15 minutes we realized that it would have taken us HOURS to get home had we continued on. 

God was definitely watching out for us today!  Melanie and I are definitely looking forward to the coming week as we will begin our regular schedule.  Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers!  Have a wonderful rest of your Saturday!

With Love,

Kelsi and Melanie