Back in the African Bush

Im writing from the bush in Zambia.

Forgive me for keeping it quiet but with some delicacies in how i left last time, I wanted to take extra care in getting into the country.
The flight was good, via Kenya and DR Congo.  Getting through customs was smooth and eventless and my good friend Cherie Chapman was waiting for me the other side.
I'm here on a little holiday with John and Carol Prosser, dear friends and significant people in my life, who have supported me both times I lived here and who I can finally show around the villages I love.

There have been many whoops and hollers, traditional greetings, much hand clapping and bowing and even a few tears as i met dear friends who, when i left last time, didn't get to say goodbye. 
The smell of the red dust in the air and the noise of crickets and incredibly coloured birds is comforting and familiar and Im happy.

We've visited with Mrs Chomba, who I'm pretty sure has no idea she is a bit of a superstar, loved by many who have never met her.

I feel so blessed to have her as a trusted friend, a woman of much influence and whose 'Village Mother/chief' status has changed the lives of many, many hundreds of people, embracing medical clinics and access to education.
A cheeky, playful and sometimes, downright 'norty', 72 year old woman who speaks limited english, she came to the village 30+ years ago and opened a small shack type shop selling anything she could get that people needed. Her husband went to work in town as the shop wasn't extremely profitable. In her mud built home with no electricity, no running water and a long drop toilet, she has housed many, many 'daughters and grand-daughter', girls who literally have nowhere to go but down if someone didn't reach out to them.  Every year she pushes for, "just one more" child to be put into the orphans programme, "just one more" sponsorship for school, "just one more" family helped.
She is one amazing forward thinking woman and I'm really honoured to call her a friend.

So today I'm asking you to raise a glass to Mrs Alice Chomba, a world changer, lover of Jesus, hero and all round beautiful woman.