Count It All Joy

“Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trails of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect, lacking in nothing.”
James 1:2-4

We have had to count it all joy this last week.
Zambikes has been waiting on the arrival of a shipment of two containers from China containing bike parts and spares.  They were scheduled to be delivered a few weeks apart, but they arrived at the Zambian border at the same time early last week.  This caused a problem.  Zambia taxes the importing of bike parts at 5% and complete bikes at 25%.  Since the combined contents of the two trailers could be used to assemble some complete bikes, the government insisted that the contents be taxed at 25% instead of 5%.  This increased the tax on the containers by $20,000.  We battled with the officials at the border for several days, but it was no use.  And since the shipping company was ready to start charging Zambikes an extra $500/day that the containers stayed at the border, we finally threw up the white flag and paid the extra amount.  It was a rough day.  And certainly that would seem to have been enough trial to cover the yearly quota, but as they say, “When it rains, it pours.”  So while most of the Zambikes’ directors were busy Saturday night celebrating the marriage of Chiteau, a Zambikes’ employee, some thieves were busy breaking into the Zambikes’ office and stealing computers and bikes.  We discovered this the next morning while we were waiting for the two ($20,000 added tax) containers to finally arrive at the warehouse- containers that it turns out, are missing much of the spares that were ordered.  Oh, and I just found out (as I am writing this) that the company truck broke down.  I could go on, but I think you get the idea.  So... Here we are in the midst of a downpour of trials... Praying, trusting, and fighting to count it all joy and remain steadfast.  And we are.  Because as a friend shared with me, “True joy does not come as a result of good circumstances...  It comes from the expectation that awesome is about to happen.”

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12



On a lighter note... Lauren, Dustin’s girlfriend, has been practicing her Nyanja (the local language), which has proven to be rather challenging for her and entertaining for us.  Most recently, she was attempting to say, “Ti zou nana” which translates, “we will see you later,” but instead found herself saying, “ti zanya,” which apparently translates, “we are pooping.”
...Not your average farewell.