Will you pray?

Hello, readers.  We are definitely feeling the weight of the cultural differences and how that affects both expectations and efficiency.  We are asking you to pray for us, as we settle here, and adjust to the different timeliness of things.  Here are a few examples, and it will lead us to a request. The first:  We compared prices and service, and amount of bandwidth for the two main internet providers in Lusaka.  One company could sell us the service, but didn’t currently have any modems, and they didn’t have as much daytime usage allowed, so we went with the second, called IConnect.  We were able to pay for a year’s service, and in so doing, got two month’s payments free.  We set up the installation for this past Monday, the week we were due to move in to our new home.  On Monday, when they hadn’t called, as promised, to confirm the installation, Beth called them, and was assured a call right back.  No call.  Ate breakfast.  Eric called them to confirm the installation, and was told they would not be coming, because they don’t have any modems in the country at this time!  A sales manager would call him right back with more details.  No call.  Got dressed, packed snacks for long day, and got in the car.  Eric and Beth dropped Holly and kids off at the new house, and went to figure out what is wrong at IConnect.  Not only do they not have modems, but they are DUE to arrive in the country on Friday, then they will have to process through customs, and then they can start working through the waiting list (which heretofore had not been mentioned when deciding to purchase said internet service).  The way to do business in this country is not on the phone, and not on the internet, but in PERSON.  The second:  We called to check on our Toyota truck today, and we heard that we might be able to find out something tomorrow, but probably we wouldn’t hear anything until next THURSDAY.  So, in America, you pay for something, and then you take it home.  You don’t pay for something, and then six weeks later, due to tax rules, still not have it.  We are trying to adjust with good attitudes, but it is difficult.  Another tricky difference is that one day stores will have certain items (for example, ant traps), and then they won’t have them again for 4 or 5 weeks.  So, whatever you want, you have to buy WHEN you see them.  No budgeting, trying to spread out the spending.  It is really different.  In the US, you just expect that Hellman’s Mayonnaise (for example) will always be at the grocery store.  Here, it might be here every 2 or 3 months.  In the US, almost all our business could be done either over the phone or on the internet.  Here, you must do ALL pertinent business with personal visits, and with repeated personal visits.  Currently, as we wait for our Toyota to ever make it through the convoluted customs system, we are renting a ministry vehicle from a group of missionaries for only $100/week.  But, we are now into week #2.  It feels frustratingly wasteful when we are trying to keep all our costs down, to be paying to rent a vehicle when we’ve already purchased one that we don’t have yet!  Some non-profits have told us it has taken between 3-6 months to get their vehicle through customs. (!!!!!)  Can you hear my efficient, American, impatient self screaming all the way across the ocean?

We have seen many expatriates leaving the country, selling smaller vehicles (ones that wouldn’t have been enough for us long-term, but would definitely work in the short term, and would be a gas-saving smaller vehicle in the long-term).  We would definitely be able to use two vehicles here, as we go separate ways to train, work, and serve.  Our intention from the start was to try to work with one for as long as possible, but with our “one” not coming for an unidentified period of time, we are asking you to pray!  For either our Toyota to come through miraculously, or for one or more donors to give approximately $8,500-12,000 in a miraculously short period of time for us to buy a good, used Toyota or Nissan vehicle right away (they are regularly listed, and old enough that we wouldn’t have to pay the 16% VAT (tax), which is significant.  Thank you for caring, and for praying for us, as we adjust, and learn to do business in person, with patience, and endurance.