The Bus Trip from Lusaka to Zimba

“For he shall command his angels concerning  you to guard you in all your ways.  “ Psalm 91:11

It is probably best that a team leader describe this day in our Zambian adventures. We were up at our usual early time for breakfast in Lusaka.  We then had to find a place for twenty passengers, twenty-two 50-pound suitcases and another 18 carryon bags on the bus!  No way!   The bus driver (thinking ahead) had hired several welders to come and construct a trailer hitch that would fit on the back of the bus.  He located a small closed trailer and between the trailer and several seats in the back of the bus, we were all scrunched in for what they said would be the five hour drive to Zimba.   For the first two hours Mrs. Bence taught her Leadership class on the bus, with students working in small teams and giving reports while we jounced along.

About two and a half hours out of Lusaka, we entered the hill country.  The bus was struggling to pull all the passengers and trailer up the grades and finally the engine over-heated.  We pulled off the side of the road and waited about 60 minutes while the engine cooled. Fortunately, the driver had plenty of water to re-fill the radiator.  The students were great---playing group games, singing and improvising a “restroom” of sorts with those wonderful long dresses (chitenges).

Back on the bus and down the road.  We had a nice rest-stop and ordered lunch at a “fast food” restaurant.  One of the students (Samantha) ordered “fish and chips” and sure enough, she was handed a complete deep-fried fish---fins, tails, eyes and all along with her French fries!

The trip seemed to be going on forever, since the bus had to drive rather slowly to avoid overheating.  About a half hour out of Zimba, we heard a loud “bang” and pulled off the highway. The driver assumed we had experienced a blow-out, but all the tires looked fine.  While we were waiting a car slowed down and stopped to see if we needed help.  A Zambesian and  American walked back. The Zambesian recognized one of the students (Hannah) who had grown up in Zambia as a missionary kid.  The American turned out to be a former student of Dr. Bee’s a  Rob Murphy who is now a missionary in a nearby orphanage!   Small world!

Back in the bus and down the road.  Only now the bus was really straining and the engine was smelling a bit hot.  Finally, the bus conked out altogether just on the edge of the town of Zimba.  Ahead of where we stopped –about 50 yards—was the gate to the mission house.  It turns out that the loud bang was the radiator hose exploding into smithereens.  Nearest replacement part?  50 miles away in Livingstone.  But we were able to walk the few steps to the mission house, the hosts there used their Land Rover to bring the trailer to the front door and the adventure comes to a wonderful end.

Parents, your daughters were troopers! The “five hour” trip took over 9 hours!  What a great team of women to have on this trip.

So do I believe in Divine protection?  You bet!  Your prayers and God’s lovingkindness have brought us safely to our new home for the coming week.  We thank him for his goodness tonight.

Dr. Bee (Bud Bence)