Today we had the rare luxury of sleeping in until 9 o'clock.  No one missed out on the opportunity- Zambia is as tiring as it is amazing.  After breakfast we packed up and headed to Kalisowe, a neighboring village a few kilometers from Macha.  Although the villagers there were less familiar with white people (and even less so with the goofy ones we brought along in our group), they were as accepting and welcoming as anyone we've encountered.  First on the agenda was a vibrant church ceremony; filled with lively drumming and a choir of local singers, remarkable testimonies by Greg and Danny, and a unifying message from the local preacher.  A few of us even got up to dance and sing with the choir, a spectacle that had many of the villagers laughing and jeering.  After church we divided up the children to play games. The women cooked Nshima, Zambia's staple food, and goat- which, according to some group members, tastes like chicken (although I wasn't convinced). After a fabulous lunch and we headed to the local damn for the water filter demonstration.  Similar to Thursday, the people were amazed to see such dirty water become clean; and Ben did a great job connecting it to the way God sent Jesus to wash us of our own impurities.  Once the filters were passed out, we prepared for the soccer game.  We played a team of men from the village, and graciously won 8-2, earning cheers and laughs from spectating women and children throughout the entire ordeal.  It was amazing to see the guys laughing and competing, and both teams were beaming with smiles as the final whistle blew.  The ride back to Macha was short, and the group is half asleep in Eric's living room as I sit here and write this entry.  It was a good, good Zambian day, like every other one we've had here so far.

Oh, and Happy 22nd Birthday to Ben Wise, a huge part of this group.  A Zambian birthday is certainly one to remember.

Ryan Lago