A Horse Is A Blessing

Soon after we moved to Lusaka last year we found a farm outside of town where the girls could ride horses. This farm is owned by white Zambians. The wife, who is the horseback riding instructor, was born and raised on this farm.

They have around 80 horses and 100s of acres of land. Many kids ride there every week. 

Horse farming and horseback riding are very different in this country. 

Because there is so much land the horses and riders have great freedom. 

On the first day, the girls mounted their horses and they rode down a driveway that leads to the family polo field. There are few fences, few walls, no enclosed arenas.

The other big difference is that the children who ride do not tack-up their horses. The farm employs 5 grooms(men) who do everything to take care of the horses day in and day out and 

get them ready for classes.

The girls started in a class that the owner of the farm was teaching. But, by accident, a couple of weeks after we started the lady forgot to tell me that she would be out of town and we would not have classes. So we show up at the normal schedule. The "head groom" informed me of the situation and felt bad that I had come so far. So, William said that he would do our lessons. From that day forward he has been teaching our little group of 7 American kids and they love him.

This is the road to get back to the farm......in DRY season.

This is the same spot on the same road in WET season.

On that road there are 2 zebra that we have seen a couple of times.
We don't know what the story is with them, but they are beautiful.

Here is the area (I guess you could call it a paddock)
 where the children come when they arrive and where they mount their horses
and wait to be released down to the field with their instructor. 

In that paddock are the stalls for all of the schooling horses.
They have another area of the farm for other horses.

They have chickens, ducks, and some dogs on the farm.

This is the expanse of their property. I took this picture in dry season.
(The paddock is just to my right.)

Here is basically the same picture during rainy season.

One of the nice grooms helping Lilly with her stirrups.

Emma totally loving life. She has adjusted well from her western-style riding in the states.

My girls ready to go.

This is William. He is very kind and patient with these kids.

This is some of our group hanging out in the paddock, waiting to get started with their lesson.

And they are off....just like that....
They will ride their horses all the way down to a polo field that is about 1/2 mile down the hill.

You can't really tell, but they are working on jumping.
And they are that far from where I can park the car and sit and watch.

This particular day they weren't quite as far away.

Then after their lesson they head back up the hill to the paddock.

Sweet Lilly and her Teka

These are our IMB friends that live near us. They ride with Lilly and Emma every week.

To these kids......a horse is a blessing.

Much Love,
Tracy

Finally....Our Crate Arrives

(Sorry this is old info, but I am still trying to catch up! 😊)

Back in December 2015, we packed a crate to send to Mozambique before we left the states. Things changed and changed and that delayed the shipping of our crate. But in October, our crate finally found us. 

 Some great friends packed up our homeschool books for the year
  in this barrel. The barrel was then shipped along with our crate.

Lilly says, "Get it open, Dad!"

Yippy for school books!

Emma.....always finding the fun in everything!

Lilly received a note from a friend. Surprise!

One of the most exciting things we packed in our crate was
a nice, used trampoline that we found while in the states.
They were so happy to see it that we just had to put it up....even though it was already dark!

In the backyard of our new house. We weren't even moved in at the time!

Yea for a trampoline strong enough to hold all three girls!

What fun!!!

From Zambia,

Tracy

Grandparents Visit to Lusaka

Back in August/September, Grandma and Granddad came to Lusaka for a visit. 

It is always a huge blessing for family and friends to come all this way to spend time with us. 

We loved showing the grandparents around our new city and just hanging out with them!!

This is Grandma and Lilly looking at the solar eclipse.

A nice meal at our favorite steakhouse.

While they were here, Emma had a birthday!
That's a cool cake that Emma and Lilly made.
Happy 15th precious girl!!
You are loved much!

Birthday flowers from Dad

We enjoyed taking them to the monthly craft market.

Finding lots of goodies

Some of Zambia's beautiful girls selling pineapples outside the gate.

This sums up their relationship

Two peas in a pod!

Thank you so much Mom and Dad for coming to see us! Come back soon.

Love,

Tracy

Moving into our house in Lusaka

The house that we are renting in Lusaka has just recently been renovated. 

It is a lovely home and we are so thankful for this place! 

Everyone is feeling a little bit spoiled here.

The book worm and her dog!

Lilly working on curtains in the bathroom.

Meghan taking stickers off the new fixtures.

Hanging up some curtains.

Goofing off :)

Putting up my curtains (thank you honey) that I made from capulanas (wrap skirts) years ago.
Haven't seen them in a while. I love that sweet memory from Mozambique.

Look at my beautiful kitchen!
It is tiny, but brand-new. I love it!

My two artist got busy with chalk on the back patio.

Trying on her new equestrian attire that we bought a few months ago in South Africa.
And yes.....we have a fire place....and yes....it gets into the 40s here in Lusaka.

During on of our trips over to the house, the dogs stayed back at the guest house in our apartment there.
This is where we found Ode when we returned!

Bringing the animals was such a hassle, but we know that it was wort it for our girls.

We got our first package from the states (thanks Grandma!) and no one at the post office opened it
and it cost us nothing.
Yes....we are getting spoiled!

Look at those beautiful girls! They have come so far and are my heart.

My mini-me!

We splurged and went to Mugg & Bean that week.
A cookie for me and milkshakes and frappes for the girls.
(Notice how we are dressed.....it is cool here!)

We were thrilled to celebrate this guy.
Happy Father's Day!
It is not easy living with this many women. The gray hair proves it!
But, after the first girl was born he was rooting for as many girls as God would give him.
He loves us so deeply!

Yep! We are home!

Thanks for your love and support of our family. We feel so blessed to be where we are. God is so good. Now we are very much ready to serve Him and tell the people of Lusaka about His redemptive plan. Pray that we continue to settle well!

Much love,
Tracy