No Distribution Fairies

When we first set out to acquire a Distribution Store for Zambia, I guess I expected that a Distribution Fairy would deliver all of the products which would automatically be cataloged into inventory, which would all be set up on shelves in an orderly fashion, which we would then sell using a modern cash register with a price scanner. (Just like I thought there would be an Internet fairy that would keep our Internet connected so we could run the "high-priority" mission office! LOL!) The realities of this mission are always so stark! First of all, the Physical Facilities employee who should have arranged for the physical details of the shelving, the metal security doors, the desk, the display case (which we're still fighting to have completed), the Internet connection, and the painting of the room--well, he was fired! So, it was completely our baby--no Distribution Fairies in sight. It took months. Finally, on November 7, we opened for business. Rose Simbeya is pictured selling to our first customers, Brother and Sister Chishala. Rose has been called as a Church Service Missionary to manage the Zambia Satellite Distribution Store. She is a dream-come-true. . . almost as good as a Distribution Fairy! For many many hours she has been right by my side receiving, sorting, counting, inventorying, stacking and labeling. We have sat shoulder to shoulder for days trying to learn the computer system and working though the many quirks it has been fraught with. The worst of the quirks is the ancient laptop that the Area Offices dug up to bless us with. After it caused us much undo frustration, it was determined that we do deserve, and we will receive, a new computer! The store, which is housed in two small, adjoining church classrooms, still has kind of sparse pickins' , but within a few more months we should be properly stocked and functioning! We are witness to yet another modern-day miracle!