Winter Months

The winter months back in Wisconsin... December, January, and February are the rainy months in Zambia. It is when everyone plows and plants. They plant mapopwe (corn), indongwe (peanuts), pumpkins, and sweet potatoes. It does not rain everyday but usually every other, and it rains hard. It will storm for a couple of hours and there will be six inches of water everywhere. That is extreme. Usually the rain is not that extreme. Nobody here complains about the rain; they know it brings life. During the dry season everything dies or is dormant. So it is very brown and dusty. When the rains start the grass, trees, bushes wake up and turn a beautiful green. It does not take too long maybe 1 or 2 rains and everything is green. The grass around grows very tall, and fast... to about 10 feet or so. The contrast is remarkable.
During the dry season, out in bush ones sees all the run off riverbeds that are completely dry, but during the rainy season those fill with water... gouging and reshaping the landscape. A few weeks ago we walked to Church in the rain. It’s three miles. When we crossed one such river it was just a trickle, but upon returning a few hours later we found the river raging. It was knee-deep and running fast. I had to stand in the middle of the river against the current helping the others across. People cross such rivers daily to get to work or home or wherever else they may be going. Within a few hours, after the rain stops, the river is just a trickle again.
Also, rainy season brings mosquitoes and malaria. The hospital is filled with people this time of year who have it. There are many kids that die because of it. I also got it. It is not fun at all. I guess what I can relate it to is a really bad flu. One's body hurts bad, no energy, a nasty headache, and diarrhea. Oh yea, and a fever. If left untreated it will kill. So, I am on medicine and resting. Hopefully, I will kick it soon.

The land during the dry season-





Wet Season -