Update from "Bush Camp"

Hello! It's been a while since we have updated our blog. We are in Katima, Namibia today shopping for supplies. We have just a few minutes to try to update you. We have been setting up our "bush camp" at Mutemwa Lodge. Here is a small excerpt from a recent update Sean sent out:

Mutemwa is 30 minutes drive from our land (only about 8 miles). The Johnsons have allowed us the use of an inactive tent-camping site about a mile from the lodge. The greatest advantage of this site is the bush-toilet facility. There is a water storage tank on a tower filled from the river by a pump, a real flush toilet, a vanity sink and deep sink for washing dishes, a shower, and a wood-fired water heater (for hot showers!). All of this is a welcome break from hauling water in buckets up our hill from the river, digging our own toilet every 4 days, and sponge baths from a bucket. This makes staying in the bush for weeks at a time much more tolerable for everyone.

In addition to these comforts, Mutemwa camp provides some unique enjoyment of nature. A long, narrow island in the Zambezi, just 40 yards from camp, offers incredible bird-watching opportunities. At night, the hippos are so close that you can hear them blowing bubbles when they come up for air or splashing as they walk along the island grazing. (We've also had monkeys in camp several mornings. Today one took off with one of our citronella candles!)

Please pray for the construction efforts. It's so much more than a building, but a tool that enables us to preach the Gospel more effectively in our area. All the Lozi men who are helping us must begin working in their fields soon. Farming will keep them busy for the next 2 months as the rainy season begins. Pray God would bless the guys each day they work and lots would be accomplished.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support of this ministry to reach the Lozi of Western Zambia with the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ!


This is the back area of the bathroom. The tarp gives us some shade. Underneath is the washing machine, coolers and a deepfreeze run on a large propane bottle.

Just a picture of putting up the shade netting around the shower, toilet and sink area.









Shower.










Morgan said one day, "we should take the table out of the kitchen, bring it up here and have dinner at the table! With candles and mosquito coils in the center!". So, we did just that. Our first candle light dinner in the bush! It was so fun we did it two nights in a row!



A picture of our tent.









This is the front view of the bathroom, shower and toilet. To the side is where we store the generator, deep freeze etc.






The girls doing school.








Nathan sitting in his hammock by the Zambezi, working on school!










Some friends gave us a screen room just before moving to Alabama. We are using it as the kitchen.









Just outside the kitchen we have two water tanks. This water is for cooking and drinking. Once a week the guys drive to a well about 15 minutes down the road and pump water into the tanks.







This is how we heat water for dishes, showers and handwashing. It is called a donkey. Each day on of the boys builds a fire it in and keeps it going. It is just behind the shower area.






For Shannon's birthday we hung a Happy Birthday sign on the front of the tent. Then hung it on Joyce's tent on her b-day.








Morgan and Emily sitting in the back of the truck with their headlamps!