So this is really the end, I arrived at Brisbane airport yesterday (Tuesday) morning - it had taken 1 short and 2 long flights to get me here. It was wonderful to see Jon in the flesh - I suppose having seen him regularly on Skype until I went to Zambia I didn't notice much change. It was then a drive north up to Buderim where Emma was waiting to greet me - I crashed for a couple of hours then went to collect Katy and Jared from school, I was a big surprise as they weren't expecting me until Wednesday. Today we went to the local church which also has a cafe, gym and swimming pool - we had a lovely swim although the water was amazingly warm, then after sampling their latte we walked home. Later when Jon and Emma got back from work we went down to the local beach where I was instructed in the finer points of body boarding - I managed to exfoliate my feet, legs and especially by knees but didn't win any prizes!!
Anyway, back to Zambia - as I'm writing this I'm listening to Ephraim (not sure about the spelling). After we came back from Livingstone we had less than a week to clear up and sort everything out to leave ready for next year and off course organise our end of campaign bash. Geoff, James and Emily worked like Trojans - they were joined by Chika and Emmanuel and Neil and Eirlys on Monday which all helped, the windows were given their final coats of paint, walls painted inside and out and thankfully all left ready for occupation on Friday morning. Friday dawned bright and clear, thank goodness Babrah Benson, Eunice, Evelyn and Jane were on hand to help with the food. They were very polite about having to prepare muzungu food (strange white folks). It was a wonderful afternoon, the food was good - grateful thanks to the guys that helped with the barbecue as I was getting very hot and bothered doing the cooking. It was really good to see all of our partners and the folk from Chamba Valley getting getting along so well. It was also sad when I realised that it would be the last time I would be seeing the guys, especially those amazing guys from the Fountain of Hope. Emmanuel did a sterling job getting photo's so I will paste a few in here so that you can see the new building and some of the folk.
We also had news that the video taken by Steve was posted onto Facebook, its excellent if you would like to view it go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FQMDW6mp1Y
So on Saturday morning it was off to the airport to say goodbye to Geoff and James who were flying to the UK, and to Emily who was going to work with the MacDonalds for two weeks. It was strange saying goodbye as we had been living and working together for 4 months. On the way home Cosmas and Emmanuel joined me for breakfast at Arcades where we were able to watch Steve's video - very emotional for us especially as Cosmas had just downloaded onto my computer the final photo's of all the vulnerable children and orphans that he is trying to get sponsorship for. I will be trying to sort out the photo's etc so that they are in some semblance of order ready for when I go back to Zambia next year. In the meantime I've got to produce a shorter version for Geoff to take to the de-brief day on Saturday.
So the rest of Saturday was spent with Emmanuel, his mum Babrah and Chika who came back later - they gave me a lovely lunch we then went back to the cottages to pack up and sort out all the things that needed to be left for next year. Later in the evening Babrah and Benson came back and prayed for me, such a wonderful, kind couple. In the morning I went to the early service where the congregation prayed for me, and then it was time to go - Cosmas and Emmanuel took me to the airport - the hardest goodbyes to say. I thank God for all the blessings I have received. God has been so good to me, I came hoping to be a blessing but, for the little I was able to do I have received unlimited blessings. Being taken into peoples hearts I now have a new extended family - who are as close to me as my family.
Over the last few days, especially, whilst I was awake on the plane (when all around seemed to be sleeping) I pondered on how God's word has been so alive - I guess having daily devotions in our groups has greatly helped but somehow I think it was being with so many people that not only lived by the Word they were able to talk so openly and honestly about how much they were blessed. This time for me has been a time of exploring what God is saying to me and one recurring passage is Jer 29:11 - I marked this passage in my bible when I was at Loyola on retreat in 2007. It is wonderful to know that God still has plans for me, that there is still work for me to do and that he wants to bless me. So I pray that I will continue to accept the challenges that he will certainly place before me.
I thank everyone who has taken the time to read my blog, and for all the prayers that have really helped me when the going has been hard. Please continue to pray that I will be able to raise sufficient finance to go back and help Cosmas with the orphans and vulnerable children, help Babrah set up her Home Care Givers project and go and help Vasco and Vincent.
Sorry I couldn't get the photo's to upload so I will try and put them onto Facebook
With many thanks to you for reading my blog and praying for me.
Shalom
Carol
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Last visit to Livingstone
So this is the end, team five are in Livingstone and my time in Zambia is fast coming to an end. My mind is full of images, dreams, hopes and prayers for the many wonderful people I've met over the time Ive been here. Its strange to think that I came out here knowing so little and will be going home having built some wonderful relationships but still knowing little. Its humbling to work alongside the Zambians that we have partnered with. Their faith is inspirational and their lives are lived serving their fellow Zambians.
The lady in red is one f the home care givers - they were all sporting the same uniform which they thought was great.
I'm afraid all of my photos show me squinting into the sun, this is Beauty the home care giver that came out with me and Steve, the lady in the brown is Barbrah, Emmanuel's mum. We have become great friends, she is wanting to set up a scheme of Home Care Givers in Chambia Valley, she has been out with us helping to interpret etc.I've just had a really interesting conversation with one of the guys who works at Limbo Lodge (where we stay when we are in Livingstone). We were talking about the impact of the teams on the lives of Zambians - I really think in the short term its only sticking plaster stuff but its when they go home and talk to their churches, friend and colleagues that hearts will be stirred to offer real long term help and support. He was telling me about a dutch man who brought a farm which included a lake which had a lot of fish in it. The local people fished the lake and were able to sell what they didn't need. Now the place has been turned into a rose farm, the water in the lake is now poisoned and used to irrigate the roses. The people work on the farm in bare feet and without gloves so they have lots of bleeding scratches on their hands and feet from the thorns. It made me wonder if we always buy fairly traded roses! We then got on to talking about the mono-culture on french beans and mange tout peas for the UK market - is this ethical? Don't start me on that one as I guess I've already bored you in the past with my views.
We had the most amazing baptism on Tuesday afternoon, Pastor Benson baptised one of our team in the swimming pool at Chamba Valley - it was so special and a real privledge for us to witness.
Please will you pray for Benson as he has malaria which has affected his liver, he has only just gone to the doc after a lot of nagging!
So I must close now - we will be going out for supper soon, so until I have a chance to update I ask that you continue to hold us all in your prayers.
With every blessing
Love Carol
Saturday, 3 October 2009
I thought you would all like to see me in my new outfit, trad Zambian, it was a bit sunny so I'm squinting a bit but I'm sure you can see the full effect!!
Well here I am in the middle of the last team, the Zambian Campaign ends on 16th October when we have our handing over event, two classrooms will have been completed for the new Kiine School, years six and seven will be moving in when they start their new school year in January. All the teams have worked really hard, in very hot weather and so far each team has finished its allocated tasks so, well done to James who has been leading the build. Its been no easy task as things are done very differently then on a UK build, for instance both the ground floor and roof slab concrete was mixed by hand - very strange to us when a concrete mixer would have done it so much quicker but the blessing here was that it provided employment for the extra builders which not only helped them, it meant their families were housed and fed and of course that helped traders who they purchased from.
It's so easy for us to bring our UK expectations, but we have to be guided by local people.
So this is a sad time, we are having to say goodbye to everyone, I'm finding it so emotional as I've made such brilliant friends. I now know that I will have to come back as there feels so much unfinished business.
This is me with mu friend Stan, he's living at the Fountain of Hope, but next week he's moving with 20 others to their next stage place where they hope to reintegrate them with their extended families. Stan is 17 and came from Chisamba in Central Province, at the moment he is in grade 7 at school - I don't know his full story - how long he lived on the streets before coming to FOH but as you can see he is holding my bag and calls me mother Carol. In fact they all call me mama Carol which is a huge compliment - Stan wants to be a pilot but whether he is ever able to complete his education i don't know. There is huge costs involved. But I want to keep in touch if I can.
These are some of the younger boys, Stan took this photo, they all love hugs and we have lots of them, I hopeless with languages and they mostly speak Bemba (not sure if that's how its spelt) but hugs speak wonders. Its amazing to think that they have only been at FOH for between 3-6 months. They don't always tell us their stories, so we don't know for how long they may have lived on the street.
On Monday we are taking a load of them to Adventure City the water park, we took half with the last team so this time we take the rest plus any new arrivals. So that will be a very sad day, I've already cried all over Stan so am likely to do the same on Monday - I'm becoming a real cry baby. its now two weeks since Isaac died, they are so upset. Isaac was going to sort out some boarding school places for the older guys who only have one or more years schooling to complete. There is one lad Jackson, who should be in grade 11, he is desperate to go back to school so that he can go to college - now he doesn't know what will happen, please will you pray for him - every time I see him he thanks me for my prayers.
Here I am talking about FOH in a very nice Internet cafe in Arcades, the most upmarket shopping mall - it feels like a million miles away from FOH and city market where the boys who live on the street stay. I've just been and had my hair done and had a whole load of photo's developed so that I can give them out to the guys on Monday. Stan had my camera and took loads of shots of the guys eating dinner, Nshima everywhere! Very tasty too. I'm going to miss going there for dinner with the teams. This time I also took Stan a pair of shoes and Lemi a bible so I bless all the folk that gave me money to bring out. Its all gone now as is all of mine - I've just changed my last £ so it will be hole in the wall from now on. I was also able to give Vasco some money to by some meat for dinner as most of the time they only have beans - these lads eat like horses and Vasco has been hard pushed to get food for them. Amazingly we are receiving the most generous donations from past teams, God is so good.
Another project that I'm helping with is documenting all the children that need sponsorship to go to Kiine School. So far Benson and Barbrah have identified 120+ vulnerable children and orphans who need help. I'm hoping that when I get back we can encourage some folk to help send them to school. I'm also going to be rising money to provide books for Dorothy's school - I visited them this week with Sarah one of the team members - we had a fab morning and taught them some songs, she did the singing and played the accordion and I did the actions. Great fun and mostly I managed to keep up with the actions. The children do laugh to see this white haired, white lady jumping around. its very hard trying to explain Our God is a Great Big God without!! I can hear you laughing. I'm afraid my voice hasn't improved but folk here are so gracious - Benson our Pastor told me that I'm a Soprano!!
I'd better finish now as I must be running out of Internet Time...
Love to you all and I pray that you will be blessed for all the support you give me.
Shalom
Carol
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Team 4
We are now half way through Team 4, this is our smallest team, just 6 people so the dynamics are certainly very different. Its also now becoming much hotter so I'm starting to find it much more difficult to be out in the sunshine, luckily there is now painting of window frames to do, so I'm able to do that indoors which is a real blessing for me. The building work has gone on steadily, the first floor slab is nearly completed over the two classrooms which we are aiming to finish. Next week the outside of the school will start to be plastered, ready for team 5 to paint.
I checked my emails just before lunch time today and was thrilled to hear from Max (he took over as a steward from me) at church, that they will be having a retiring collection next Sunday to go towards the cost of the school building. I really praise God that they will be doing this for us.
I think it must be at least a fortnight since I last updated my blog, and of course I writing this not quite knowing when I will be able to post what I'm writing now onto blog spot.
This week has been a time of very mixed emotions, we have one lady who also came to Zambia last year. I was really blessed to be able to go with her to visit Elizabeth who has just returned from Johannesburg where she has been hospitalised for kidney failure. I first met Elizabeth when Geoff and I went to EFZ to make the arrangements for the teams to work in different compounds going out with Home Care Givers. Elizabeth was one of the project leaders that we met, at that time I was so struck my her graciousness. I will always remember her saying 'that we have to forgive everyone who has been naughty (meaning that they are now HIV+) because they live under such a load of guilt that its really difficult for them to feel that they can be forgiven my our Father. This guilt is somehow even harder for the ladies to deal with as not only have they infected their partner they have probably also infected some of their children. Elizabeth is now staying with her parents as she can't yet manage to look after herself, she has lost so much weight and could barely stand. She now has to go to the main hospital in Lusaka for kidney dialysis three times a week, this is an incredible burden for her family as the weekly bill is just over K1million a week, about £140-£150. it looks as though she and husband will have to sell their house to pay the bills. Her husband doesn't have a job and although her children are grown up I got the impression that they don't have well paid jobs themselves. Yet, despite being so ill, Elizabeth was continuing praising God the whole time that we were there. We were taken there by Hope and Annie, the visit was such a joyful occasion, lots of tears when she first saw Gaynor, they have been in regular communication since Gaynor was here last year. But in the depth of such despair there was such hope and peace.
Yesterday we visited the compound with Annie's homecare givers operate, we again met such wonderful people, we met two Granny's who are now looking after all the grandchildren, both the ladies we met had disabled children, a little boy of 12 who looked as though he might have CP, he looked about 6 yrs old, wasn't able to walk, talk or fed himself and the other granny had a little girl of 7 who looked about 3yrs old, she also couldn't walk or talk. She was also learning disabled. To see these grey haired ladies carrying these children was so hard, the little boy does have a wheelchair but its broken so not much use. We then went to visit a lady who had a little baby, she lives with her two grown up sisters and a number of children in one room. It was a real privilege to be able to pray with these ladies. They have such joy in their hearts, the first lady we visited gave Penny and I a verse Jer 1:4,5 – we came to bless them and instead we came away blessed – I'm kinda getting used to this but this was the first time for the rest of the team.
I didn't manage to finish this – life certainly speeded up since I wrote the first part of this blog. We started Saturday with Chris and I painting window frames in the morning then we both had a quiet afternoon as the rest of the team went shopping at the local market then onto Manda Hill where the big supermarkets are. Its quite a contrast for the team seeing the other side of life in Zambia.
Then on Sunday we went back to the Fountain of Life church, amazing worship – we were thrilled to see that the roof is now on the new church, they hope to build up the walls a little more, so at least when we go next time we will worship in their new church.
Its now Wednesday, so I really ought to get a move on and get this posted, but I can't do that until I tell you about just how amazing God is and how he is really blessing our team out here.
On Monday morning we visited the area behind the market where the street children and youths live, I suppose some of them could be 9 or 10 but a some are older. Visiting in the morning is so different to the afternoon visits that we have previously made, the youngsters are not as high on sticker and you can hold coherent conversations with them. This time we had the opportunity to really pray with them individually – it was amazing that they were so open to hearing that God loved them and that he thought they were really special. We came away really uplifted by the responses that we had as they promised to come to the Fountain of Hope (FOH) in the morning. We then went of to Adventure City a big water park where we spent a lovely afternoon with ½ the kids from FOH (we will take the rest with team 5). So last night we had a call from Vasco who helps to run the centre to tell us that 13 young people turned up on Tuesday morning. They have never had such a response before. So do please pray for these youngsters – it will be really hard for them to go cold turkey to come of sticker which they sniff. This team also brought a number of bibles which they gave out to the boys at FOH, they need 6 more bibles then everyone there will have their own copy. Every time we go they ask for a bible, they really want to read God's word which is no easy task for most of them as they are really behind with their schooling. They have a talking circle and when we visit they always have to introduce themselves, say how old they are and in which grade at school. I always feel so sorry for the great big lads who are in Grade 7 with 12-13 yr olds.
One of the lads Lemi, he had only just come of the street when we first visited is an artist, he is recording a CD he writes his own lyrics and sings rap – I've really taken to him, he's about 17 and in grade 7 and sometimes looks so sad – he calls me mama and always comes for a big hug when we visit. He walks with a real swagger, trousers hanging down half mast, and always with a big shirt, I've given him my wooden pocket cross that Lee gave me, he really wants to know the Lord so do prayer for him as he finds life very restrictive after being on the street for so long, able to come and go as he pleases.
So I'd better finish here, will try and write again before too long.
I checked my emails just before lunch time today and was thrilled to hear from Max (he took over as a steward from me) at church, that they will be having a retiring collection next Sunday to go towards the cost of the school building. I really praise God that they will be doing this for us.
I think it must be at least a fortnight since I last updated my blog, and of course I writing this not quite knowing when I will be able to post what I'm writing now onto blog spot.
This week has been a time of very mixed emotions, we have one lady who also came to Zambia last year. I was really blessed to be able to go with her to visit Elizabeth who has just returned from Johannesburg where she has been hospitalised for kidney failure. I first met Elizabeth when Geoff and I went to EFZ to make the arrangements for the teams to work in different compounds going out with Home Care Givers. Elizabeth was one of the project leaders that we met, at that time I was so struck my her graciousness. I will always remember her saying 'that we have to forgive everyone who has been naughty (meaning that they are now HIV+) because they live under such a load of guilt that its really difficult for them to feel that they can be forgiven my our Father. This guilt is somehow even harder for the ladies to deal with as not only have they infected their partner they have probably also infected some of their children. Elizabeth is now staying with her parents as she can't yet manage to look after herself, she has lost so much weight and could barely stand. She now has to go to the main hospital in Lusaka for kidney dialysis three times a week, this is an incredible burden for her family as the weekly bill is just over K1million a week, about £140-£150. it looks as though she and husband will have to sell their house to pay the bills. Her husband doesn't have a job and although her children are grown up I got the impression that they don't have well paid jobs themselves. Yet, despite being so ill, Elizabeth was continuing praising God the whole time that we were there. We were taken there by Hope and Annie, the visit was such a joyful occasion, lots of tears when she first saw Gaynor, they have been in regular communication since Gaynor was here last year. But in the depth of such despair there was such hope and peace.
Yesterday we visited the compound with Annie's homecare givers operate, we again met such wonderful people, we met two Granny's who are now looking after all the grandchildren, both the ladies we met had disabled children, a little boy of 12 who looked as though he might have CP, he looked about 6 yrs old, wasn't able to walk, talk or fed himself and the other granny had a little girl of 7 who looked about 3yrs old, she also couldn't walk or talk. She was also learning disabled. To see these grey haired ladies carrying these children was so hard, the little boy does have a wheelchair but its broken so not much use. We then went to visit a lady who had a little baby, she lives with her two grown up sisters and a number of children in one room. It was a real privilege to be able to pray with these ladies. They have such joy in their hearts, the first lady we visited gave Penny and I a verse Jer 1:4,5 – we came to bless them and instead we came away blessed – I'm kinda getting used to this but this was the first time for the rest of the team.
I didn't manage to finish this – life certainly speeded up since I wrote the first part of this blog. We started Saturday with Chris and I painting window frames in the morning then we both had a quiet afternoon as the rest of the team went shopping at the local market then onto Manda Hill where the big supermarkets are. Its quite a contrast for the team seeing the other side of life in Zambia.
Then on Sunday we went back to the Fountain of Life church, amazing worship – we were thrilled to see that the roof is now on the new church, they hope to build up the walls a little more, so at least when we go next time we will worship in their new church.
Its now Wednesday, so I really ought to get a move on and get this posted, but I can't do that until I tell you about just how amazing God is and how he is really blessing our team out here.
On Monday morning we visited the area behind the market where the street children and youths live, I suppose some of them could be 9 or 10 but a some are older. Visiting in the morning is so different to the afternoon visits that we have previously made, the youngsters are not as high on sticker and you can hold coherent conversations with them. This time we had the opportunity to really pray with them individually – it was amazing that they were so open to hearing that God loved them and that he thought they were really special. We came away really uplifted by the responses that we had as they promised to come to the Fountain of Hope (FOH) in the morning. We then went of to Adventure City a big water park where we spent a lovely afternoon with ½ the kids from FOH (we will take the rest with team 5). So last night we had a call from Vasco who helps to run the centre to tell us that 13 young people turned up on Tuesday morning. They have never had such a response before. So do please pray for these youngsters – it will be really hard for them to go cold turkey to come of sticker which they sniff. This team also brought a number of bibles which they gave out to the boys at FOH, they need 6 more bibles then everyone there will have their own copy. Every time we go they ask for a bible, they really want to read God's word which is no easy task for most of them as they are really behind with their schooling. They have a talking circle and when we visit they always have to introduce themselves, say how old they are and in which grade at school. I always feel so sorry for the great big lads who are in Grade 7 with 12-13 yr olds.
One of the lads Lemi, he had only just come of the street when we first visited is an artist, he is recording a CD he writes his own lyrics and sings rap – I've really taken to him, he's about 17 and in grade 7 and sometimes looks so sad – he calls me mama and always comes for a big hug when we visit. He walks with a real swagger, trousers hanging down half mast, and always with a big shirt, I've given him my wooden pocket cross that Lee gave me, he really wants to know the Lord so do prayer for him as he finds life very restrictive after being on the street for so long, able to come and go as he pleases.
So I'd better finish here, will try and write again before too long.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
After the 3rd team
Its now a week since team 3 finished working at Chamba Valley - its been a hard two weeks. Beside the building site work we have also been running in parallel a holiday club in the local church on 3 mornings and painting at Kumbayah School. The team were amazingly hard working and achieved a lot - they worked so hard that it was challenging to keep up with them. This was besides all of our usual visits to our partners.
Interestingly we had two Anglican clergy, husband and wife Bob and Sue I'm sure they wont mind me mentioning their names. Bob is profoundly deaf and communicates mainly by BSL sign language. He worked as a teacher in the early 70's in Zambia so for him it was a return visit, we were able to organise some visits to meet folk from the deaf community hear and a visit to the school he used to teach at. The highlight for me was that they gave us communion on the last morning before they flew home. Bob celebrated using sign language with Sue translating. It was such a special service, outside in the grounds of Limbo lodge where we were staying down in Livingstone.
So this week its been busy relaxing and catching up before the next team arrive on Sunday. This will be our smallest team just 6 people, I'm sure it will be a case of quality not quantity.
I will catch up with some more of this another day as I need to close now.
I just wanted you all to know that Zambia is where its happening!
Love to you all
Carol
Interestingly we had two Anglican clergy, husband and wife Bob and Sue I'm sure they wont mind me mentioning their names. Bob is profoundly deaf and communicates mainly by BSL sign language. He worked as a teacher in the early 70's in Zambia so for him it was a return visit, we were able to organise some visits to meet folk from the deaf community hear and a visit to the school he used to teach at. The highlight for me was that they gave us communion on the last morning before they flew home. Bob celebrated using sign language with Sue translating. It was such a special service, outside in the grounds of Limbo lodge where we were staying down in Livingstone.
So this week its been busy relaxing and catching up before the next team arrive on Sunday. This will be our smallest team just 6 people, I'm sure it will be a case of quality not quantity.
I will catch up with some more of this another day as I need to close now.
I just wanted you all to know that Zambia is where its happening!
Love to you all
Carol
Saturday, 15 August 2009
2nd Team
Its been really wonderful to hear that so many folk have been reading my blog, and that Team 2 found it helpful before they arrived. They have now been out here for a week – one of the guys said to me this morning that it feels as though he has been in Zambia forever and would love to stay. In fact so many people do want to come back, I've just heard from Ella who was with the 1st team that she tried to book for team 3 but unfortunately we are full to busting so its just not possible. We still have places available on the 4th and 5th teams but of course that's out of school holiday time so not possible for so many people.
So life in Lusaka continues – I had a wonderful birthday and the biggest cake – it even had candles and I was thrilled that Anna managed to phone me, I just hope it didn't cost her too much as I don't expect she used the cheap number. Last week it was so cold we had to get extra blankets for everyone, but this week its been warmer and today really hot – I had to get out my sun hat.
Today we've been really busy – we started at the House of Moses feeding the babies and toddlers (37 in total) and then went to Kaunda Square where the local church was holding a clinic, they provide this free service once a month in different locations. Doctors from the university teaching hospital volunteer their time and the local home based care workers work as voluntary staff. We arrived at about 11.30am, they had already seen about 50 people when we arrived – usually they see between 180-200 patients. They start by weighing and measuring height and taking patient details, then they have their blood pressure taken, are tested for diabetics, given an eye test and have the chance to talk to a doctor. The church provides medicine, so its a really amazing service, Faith in Action. This morning in my devotion group we studied James 2 where he talks about Faith and Deeds, here we see how a group of folk have set up a church in a really poor neighbourhood, their main outreach is too the poor, sick and marginalised – in this place they have followed this teaching in a way that is so inspirational.
So many people we met, have very little materially but their faith is as high as mountains, they truly believe that they have been saved, they proclaim the kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ at every opportunity. They are not shy about sharing their blessings and welcome us into their homes. I have been so blessed to receive this welcome, this sense of kinship in the love of Jesus. Knowing that we are all brothers and sisters, that in Christ there is no black or white, disability or ability – we are all equal in His sight if we love and follow him.
On the subject of blessings and answered prayer, our coach window was mended, the insurance came through to pay for it. We are now praying that our next trip down to Livingston will be uneventful and that more of the new road will be opened up for us to use.
We are now down in Livingstone, another hard journey – on the way we saw 2 overturned lorries, neither of them were small – the trailers were on their backs looking very sorry for themselves with the load spread all around. One only just landing on the railway line so I guess that will cause all sorts of problems. It was extremely hot as we motored towards Livingstone and once we hit the dirt road we had to shut off all fans and windows as the dust was really bad. I just kept praying the we would be surrounded by God's angels who would surround the coach with their protective presence as so many other vehicles were going really fast and could easily have sent another stone winging its way towards us.
This afternoon we took the team down to the Zambezi for a sunset cruise. The colours were amazing God is amazing to have created such a beautiful place. As the sun sunk below the horizon the river was coloured the most amazing pinky red, if anyone tried to paint a river with these colours we wouldn't have believed that they could be real.
So hear I am back from Livingstone, Dorne who is working for 3 months at MacDonald's Farm came to stay on Monday for 2 nights. She was such a blessing, we talked an prayed together she was such wonderful company, on Tuesday night we went to the internet café at Arcades and had a very companionable time catching up with emails and Facebook friends. I didn't get time to copy this into blogspot so it will have to wait until next time I can go on line.
I would really appreciate your prayer for a family that I went to visit on Tuesday afternoon. I went with Eunice and Evelyn who look after the guest houses, the mother was Eunice's sister in law, she had died on Friday ('whilst I was in Livingstone) leaving 8 children aged 3 – 22yrs and 2 grandchildren. Her husband had left her for another lady who he is now married to. He will have nothing to do with the children, the close family do not have the means or room to take the family on so the mother's sisters feel it would be better for the 4 younger children to go back to the mothers village and live with their grandmother which would leave the 4 older girls to fend for themselves financially, but they could keep an eye on them. The two younger girls should be in school but neither can afford to go, at the moment these older girls plait hair which just about pays the rent and buys a little food. They live in two rooms with a very smelly outside privy which is shared by several other families, they don't have any furniture, we sat on bamboo mats on the floor. But before anything can happen they need about £50 for the fare to get the small children to the grandmothers village. I'm feeling that God is saying to me that I should give them this money, I've already given them about £18 to pay for some food to keep them going so do please pray that I am making the right decision. This won't of course help the older girls who need to return to school but I can't take on that kind of commitment. After I wrote this I ha an email offering me £50, so I've given them the money
I feel so privileged to be here, how many folk in the UK would welcome you into their home and then ask you to pray for them, my prayers seem so inadequate but I know that God honours our prayers; so I pray for his continued love for this family and to give me wisdom in using my resources wisely.
I've also been really sad to hear that my brother in law, Jim is in hospital – he is very ill and all the family are extremely worried about him. Please do hold him, Sue is wife in your prayers. Jim is out of hospital now, praise the Lord he is home from hospital although still feeling really rough.
I think that's all for now, except you will be pleased to know that I now have a work permit which means I can stay here until 2011! No more visiting the immigration dept to get my passport stamped.
So I pray that God goes with you.
Love Carol
ps I've just spoken to Jon, Katy and Jared on Skype - wonderful to see and hear them
So life in Lusaka continues – I had a wonderful birthday and the biggest cake – it even had candles and I was thrilled that Anna managed to phone me, I just hope it didn't cost her too much as I don't expect she used the cheap number. Last week it was so cold we had to get extra blankets for everyone, but this week its been warmer and today really hot – I had to get out my sun hat.
Today we've been really busy – we started at the House of Moses feeding the babies and toddlers (37 in total) and then went to Kaunda Square where the local church was holding a clinic, they provide this free service once a month in different locations. Doctors from the university teaching hospital volunteer their time and the local home based care workers work as voluntary staff. We arrived at about 11.30am, they had already seen about 50 people when we arrived – usually they see between 180-200 patients. They start by weighing and measuring height and taking patient details, then they have their blood pressure taken, are tested for diabetics, given an eye test and have the chance to talk to a doctor. The church provides medicine, so its a really amazing service, Faith in Action. This morning in my devotion group we studied James 2 where he talks about Faith and Deeds, here we see how a group of folk have set up a church in a really poor neighbourhood, their main outreach is too the poor, sick and marginalised – in this place they have followed this teaching in a way that is so inspirational.
So many people we met, have very little materially but their faith is as high as mountains, they truly believe that they have been saved, they proclaim the kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ at every opportunity. They are not shy about sharing their blessings and welcome us into their homes. I have been so blessed to receive this welcome, this sense of kinship in the love of Jesus. Knowing that we are all brothers and sisters, that in Christ there is no black or white, disability or ability – we are all equal in His sight if we love and follow him.
On the subject of blessings and answered prayer, our coach window was mended, the insurance came through to pay for it. We are now praying that our next trip down to Livingston will be uneventful and that more of the new road will be opened up for us to use.
We are now down in Livingstone, another hard journey – on the way we saw 2 overturned lorries, neither of them were small – the trailers were on their backs looking very sorry for themselves with the load spread all around. One only just landing on the railway line so I guess that will cause all sorts of problems. It was extremely hot as we motored towards Livingstone and once we hit the dirt road we had to shut off all fans and windows as the dust was really bad. I just kept praying the we would be surrounded by God's angels who would surround the coach with their protective presence as so many other vehicles were going really fast and could easily have sent another stone winging its way towards us.
This afternoon we took the team down to the Zambezi for a sunset cruise. The colours were amazing God is amazing to have created such a beautiful place. As the sun sunk below the horizon the river was coloured the most amazing pinky red, if anyone tried to paint a river with these colours we wouldn't have believed that they could be real.
So hear I am back from Livingstone, Dorne who is working for 3 months at MacDonald's Farm came to stay on Monday for 2 nights. She was such a blessing, we talked an prayed together she was such wonderful company, on Tuesday night we went to the internet café at Arcades and had a very companionable time catching up with emails and Facebook friends. I didn't get time to copy this into blogspot so it will have to wait until next time I can go on line.
I would really appreciate your prayer for a family that I went to visit on Tuesday afternoon. I went with Eunice and Evelyn who look after the guest houses, the mother was Eunice's sister in law, she had died on Friday ('whilst I was in Livingstone) leaving 8 children aged 3 – 22yrs and 2 grandchildren. Her husband had left her for another lady who he is now married to. He will have nothing to do with the children, the close family do not have the means or room to take the family on so the mother's sisters feel it would be better for the 4 younger children to go back to the mothers village and live with their grandmother which would leave the 4 older girls to fend for themselves financially, but they could keep an eye on them. The two younger girls should be in school but neither can afford to go, at the moment these older girls plait hair which just about pays the rent and buys a little food. They live in two rooms with a very smelly outside privy which is shared by several other families, they don't have any furniture, we sat on bamboo mats on the floor. But before anything can happen they need about £50 for the fare to get the small children to the grandmothers village. I'm feeling that God is saying to me that I should give them this money, I've already given them about £18 to pay for some food to keep them going so do please pray that I am making the right decision. This won't of course help the older girls who need to return to school but I can't take on that kind of commitment. After I wrote this I ha an email offering me £50, so I've given them the money
I feel so privileged to be here, how many folk in the UK would welcome you into their home and then ask you to pray for them, my prayers seem so inadequate but I know that God honours our prayers; so I pray for his continued love for this family and to give me wisdom in using my resources wisely.
I've also been really sad to hear that my brother in law, Jim is in hospital – he is very ill and all the family are extremely worried about him. Please do hold him, Sue is wife in your prayers. Jim is out of hospital now, praise the Lord he is home from hospital although still feeling really rough.
I think that's all for now, except you will be pleased to know that I now have a work permit which means I can stay here until 2011! No more visiting the immigration dept to get my passport stamped.
So I pray that God goes with you.
Love Carol
ps I've just spoken to Jon, Katy and Jared on Skype - wonderful to see and hear them
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Next blog
I see that I started my last blog on a Friday, so here I am again – catching up and preparing before the next team arrive.
Our first team left from Livingston airport on Sunday, we stayed the night in Livingstone and drove home on Monday. A long drive, we left at about 11.15 am arrived home at 8pm, we only had two stops but it was so slow, a stretch of the road is unmade up and there are a lot of potholes on the older sections. Chika our driver is the most amazing man. He's with us everyday when the team is here. I've never seen him rattled and he is the safest driver I've ever driven with – I've never once had to put my foot on the brake or look away which is my usual coping strategy when the going gets hairy. Actually, it did get hairy on the way down as a speeding lorry through up a stone which broke a side window. Thank God no one was hurt, but of course its left the coach owners in a difficult position as it seems insurance take any thing up to a year to come through – so when they bring the coach back tomorrow we will be interested to see how they've mended it. I'm guessing not with glass as I can't imagine they will find any the right size in Lusaka. Did I tell you that the coach came originally from Hastings, there is an address of a coach company painted on the side. I can't imagine how old it is – well actually I can, really, really, really old. Oh, and sometimes the doors don't work, we had to exit via the emergency exit which entailed taking a chair as some of us stiff ones couldn't get in and out. At the moment its working – well it was when they took it back for its weeks holiday.
Talking about people, well me talking, I know you will be saying what's new hey!! But I'm now finding folk I know in the local supermarket. Bumped into Ann from EFZ and Pastor John today when out shopping. Its getting just like walking around Waitrose in Horley when you can always be sure of finding someone you know. And I've booked to have my hair cut tomorrow, my fringe is so long I thought I'd better brave the local hairdressers and see what they can do for me. It seems busy -but quite relaxed one lady was eating chicken and chips whilst she was waiting.
So what about Livingstone, well Victoria Falls were amazing. We started by taking a sunset cruise down the Zambezi. How wonderful was that – amazing – I thought I would take one photo each time I go.
The next morning we went to Victoria Falls, you can only see a small part of it at any time, this was my first picture. The pictures with the rainbows were taken from the top of the falls. Two rainbows how amazing. Lunch time was spent at Livingstone Golf club which has been splendidly restored (the building and the first nine holes) .In the afternoon we went on a game drive.
This is where we stopped for a drink half way around the game drive. Elephants walk /swim over the Zambezi, we saw a whole heard by the side of the road on the way to the game drive.
I'm not actually sure whether these photo's will come out when I copy this onto the blog system. Do hope so. I've loads more but these will do for now. Sorry didn't happen!!
I've just realised what the time is so I'd better close now. Please do pray that our coach will get sorted and for our next team coming out on Sunday.
The building project is on schedule, and all the other visits have been arranged.
This has taken days for me to get back on line. All is well and the second team are doing great. We really need more multivitiams and meal supplements so if anyone can send some to Mission Direct the next team could bring them out.
Please pray for the staff team as we juggle the demands of always being available with getting some space for ourselves
With love and blessings
Carol
I see that I started my last blog on a Friday, so here I am again – catching up and preparing before the next team arrive.
Our first team left from Livingston airport on Sunday, we stayed the night in Livingstone and drove home on Monday. A long drive, we left at about 11.15 am arrived home at 8pm, we only had two stops but it was so slow, a stretch of the road is unmade up and there are a lot of potholes on the older sections. Chika our driver is the most amazing man. He's with us everyday when the team is here. I've never seen him rattled and he is the safest driver I've ever driven with – I've never once had to put my foot on the brake or look away which is my usual coping strategy when the going gets hairy. Actually, it did get hairy on the way down as a speeding lorry through up a stone which broke a side window. Thank God no one was hurt, but of course its left the coach owners in a difficult position as it seems insurance take any thing up to a year to come through – so when they bring the coach back tomorrow we will be interested to see how they've mended it. I'm guessing not with glass as I can't imagine they will find any the right size in Lusaka. Did I tell you that the coach came originally from Hastings, there is an address of a coach company painted on the side. I can't imagine how old it is – well actually I can, really, really, really old. Oh, and sometimes the doors don't work, we had to exit via the emergency exit which entailed taking a chair as some of us stiff ones couldn't get in and out. At the moment its working – well it was when they took it back for its weeks holiday.
Talking about people, well me talking, I know you will be saying what's new hey!! But I'm now finding folk I know in the local supermarket. Bumped into Ann from EFZ and Pastor John today when out shopping. Its getting just like walking around Waitrose in Horley when you can always be sure of finding someone you know. And I've booked to have my hair cut tomorrow, my fringe is so long I thought I'd better brave the local hairdressers and see what they can do for me. It seems busy -but quite relaxed one lady was eating chicken and chips whilst she was waiting.
So what about Livingstone, well Victoria Falls were amazing. We started by taking a sunset cruise down the Zambezi. How wonderful was that – amazing – I thought I would take one photo each time I go.
The next morning we went to Victoria Falls, you can only see a small part of it at any time, this was my first picture. The pictures with the rainbows were taken from the top of the falls. Two rainbows how amazing. Lunch time was spent at Livingstone Golf club which has been splendidly restored (the building and the first nine holes) .In the afternoon we went on a game drive.
This is where we stopped for a drink half way around the game drive. Elephants walk /swim over the Zambezi, we saw a whole heard by the side of the road on the way to the game drive.
I'm not actually sure whether these photo's will come out when I copy this onto the blog system. Do hope so. I've loads more but these will do for now. Sorry didn't happen!!
I've just realised what the time is so I'd better close now. Please do pray that our coach will get sorted and for our next team coming out on Sunday.
The building project is on schedule, and all the other visits have been arranged.
This has taken days for me to get back on line. All is well and the second team are doing great. We really need more multivitiams and meal supplements so if anyone can send some to Mission Direct the next team could bring them out.
Please pray for the staff team as we juggle the demands of always being available with getting some space for ourselves
With love and blessings
Carol
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Its Friday night and joy of joys we have electricity which means we also have water. We were without electricity nearly all day yesterday – they (ECZ) did put the generator on for a few times so we could get water but by the evening we were all feeling fairly miserable as we couldn't have baths before we went to bed. So tonight I've already had my bath in case we get a late power cut!
We are now all geared up for the teams which are coming out on Sunday, they will be leaving the UK tomorrow and arriving in Lusaka Sunday lunch time.
So I've been wondering how the guys coming out will find life in Zambia. It feels as though I've been here forever, I'm starting to know my way around the city – and the shops! Today I had my first experience of bartering – we wanted to buy some blankets to take out with us when we visit families, many are really suffering because of the cold. Its going down to about 4 degrees C at night so this is a real need, so we had the idea that we could take a blanket out as a small gift, of course once we got to the shops the shopkeepers were very resistant to bringing the price down even after we explained what it was for! We walked out of the first shop and found somewhere else a bit cheaper, but not a lot. We ended up buying 20 blankets at about £5 each, this should see us through our first visit. We will also be giving each family a bag of mealy meal (their staple food) oil, beans etc which should fed a family for about 3 weeks. We are praying that everyone's fund raising has been successful!
Its a real place of contrasts, but as I guess you would expect its the people who really stick out. Today we met a couple who have been working with street kids since 1991 – they now run a drop in centre where the youngsters can wash themselves and their clothes, have some food, get counselling etc and just outside of the town they have a centre with two dorms for boys and girls where they stay until they can be re-united with their family, or if not will be sent to boarding school. The centre has no funding, the six helpers haven't been paid for three months and everyday they don't know if they will have enough food for the following day. Its run totally on faith. That is really challenging for me. Can I - Will I believe that God will supply all my needs by faith? Is my faith strong enough ? What a challenge, its so easy for me to believe in God from the comfort of my home, even here in Zambia I'm in a safe place, protected and looked after by the people on the ECZ compound.
Yesterday we went to the Fountain of Life project in the town centre, again a project working with street children – we were taken to a local market where the children hang out, most of the ones we met were high, glue sniffing. It was something out of an Hogarth painting, young people reeling around, high as kites, it seems they collect polystyrene packing and melt it down with petrol, sounded incredible dangerous. Back at the centre we joined the youngsters who have left the streets in their weekly bible study which the local Baptist Church hold at the centre. The were studying Abraham and were talking about Sodom and Gomorrah - I could quite see that they could relate to the story as it was just like where they have been living. Is that why we find it so hard to believe because we have moved so far away form the reality of life?
Sunday, and the first team has just arrived – all in good spirits despite 5 of the team having lost their suitcases. Soon after they arrived the power went of so they quickly learnt the reality of life in Zambia. The hard work will start tomorrow – so for now its time for some R&R before supper.
I've really been thinking about home, today in Horley a number of friends were formally taking on membership at HMC – a special service that I missed being at. Then my post arrived via Mission Direct – some cards for later in the month but included was the HMC history book, I will enjoy browsing through it later tonight. Ian and Pete put such a lot of work into it, a splendid memorial of the last 100 yrs at HMC.
We've had a fantastic first week with the team – its been very full on, incredibly busy but its amazing to see how God is changing the folk on the team. We've been building the school, the foundations are now 6 blocks high so this week will be spent shuttering around the steel - rebars and back filling with cement. I've not actually managed to get to the building site as there has been so much to do with organising the ladies who cook for us etc. But we've all been out on some amazing visits. We fed 500 children (expected 350) at Kymbaya School. We were entertained to African dancing before lunch – then washed children's hands and served them lunch! We've also been to the McDonalds farm and learnt about Farming Gods Way and met 29 street kids they have taken into their home, been on Home Care Visits and I've even taught in a school, they were quite small (the children not the class) so it wasn't too hard. The text book they were using was published in 1963 so I was fine showing them how to add up the way I was taught. They are so short of books especially ones that are culturally relevant. It really doesn't make sense to send over our old books they would be much better to buy books locally (they are only about £2 each). We also went to the maid training centre, we showed the ladies how to knit and found out that they would like to aprons to wear so we went home via the market and brought a load of material. So on Saturday we went back and showed them how to cut out tabbards and sew hems, and the younger girls that came with us demonstrated how to make chocolate cake. It looked really yummy so no doubt they enjoyed it lunch time.
Today we've been to the Fountain of Life Church the service lasted for 4 hours which was followed by lunch so we didn't get back until nearly 3.30pm. They are in the process of building themselves a church, the walls are about 2 metres high but there is no roof yet, their services are held in a pole barn with tarpaulin walls today we didn't have any chickens in during the service as there have been on other occasions when we've visited. I think we may have eaten them as I had a nice piece of chicken on my plate. They had organised a visiting choir from a sister church who were amazing. The whole service was so spirit filled even if you couldn't understand the songs you could join in. Otherwise the service was in English and they translated for their people which was amazingly gracious of them. They had some amazing testimonies, some from our people and we even stood up and sang a couple of songs to them. You will be pleased to know that I stood well to the back!!
So know its a free afternoon, the swimming pool is freezing cold but the youngsters are all in it! So I think that's about all for now. I've really appreciated hearing from friends, do keep emailing. Please continue to pray for me and the team, your prayers are valued and much needed as I said its a really busy schedule and its important that we (the team) stay on the ball.
Lots of love to you all
Carol
We are now all geared up for the teams which are coming out on Sunday, they will be leaving the UK tomorrow and arriving in Lusaka Sunday lunch time.
So I've been wondering how the guys coming out will find life in Zambia. It feels as though I've been here forever, I'm starting to know my way around the city – and the shops! Today I had my first experience of bartering – we wanted to buy some blankets to take out with us when we visit families, many are really suffering because of the cold. Its going down to about 4 degrees C at night so this is a real need, so we had the idea that we could take a blanket out as a small gift, of course once we got to the shops the shopkeepers were very resistant to bringing the price down even after we explained what it was for! We walked out of the first shop and found somewhere else a bit cheaper, but not a lot. We ended up buying 20 blankets at about £5 each, this should see us through our first visit. We will also be giving each family a bag of mealy meal (their staple food) oil, beans etc which should fed a family for about 3 weeks. We are praying that everyone's fund raising has been successful!
Its a real place of contrasts, but as I guess you would expect its the people who really stick out. Today we met a couple who have been working with street kids since 1991 – they now run a drop in centre where the youngsters can wash themselves and their clothes, have some food, get counselling etc and just outside of the town they have a centre with two dorms for boys and girls where they stay until they can be re-united with their family, or if not will be sent to boarding school. The centre has no funding, the six helpers haven't been paid for three months and everyday they don't know if they will have enough food for the following day. Its run totally on faith. That is really challenging for me. Can I - Will I believe that God will supply all my needs by faith? Is my faith strong enough ? What a challenge, its so easy for me to believe in God from the comfort of my home, even here in Zambia I'm in a safe place, protected and looked after by the people on the ECZ compound.
Yesterday we went to the Fountain of Life project in the town centre, again a project working with street children – we were taken to a local market where the children hang out, most of the ones we met were high, glue sniffing. It was something out of an Hogarth painting, young people reeling around, high as kites, it seems they collect polystyrene packing and melt it down with petrol, sounded incredible dangerous. Back at the centre we joined the youngsters who have left the streets in their weekly bible study which the local Baptist Church hold at the centre. The were studying Abraham and were talking about Sodom and Gomorrah - I could quite see that they could relate to the story as it was just like where they have been living. Is that why we find it so hard to believe because we have moved so far away form the reality of life?
Sunday, and the first team has just arrived – all in good spirits despite 5 of the team having lost their suitcases. Soon after they arrived the power went of so they quickly learnt the reality of life in Zambia. The hard work will start tomorrow – so for now its time for some R&R before supper.
I've really been thinking about home, today in Horley a number of friends were formally taking on membership at HMC – a special service that I missed being at. Then my post arrived via Mission Direct – some cards for later in the month but included was the HMC history book, I will enjoy browsing through it later tonight. Ian and Pete put such a lot of work into it, a splendid memorial of the last 100 yrs at HMC.
We've had a fantastic first week with the team – its been very full on, incredibly busy but its amazing to see how God is changing the folk on the team. We've been building the school, the foundations are now 6 blocks high so this week will be spent shuttering around the steel - rebars and back filling with cement. I've not actually managed to get to the building site as there has been so much to do with organising the ladies who cook for us etc. But we've all been out on some amazing visits. We fed 500 children (expected 350) at Kymbaya School. We were entertained to African dancing before lunch – then washed children's hands and served them lunch! We've also been to the McDonalds farm and learnt about Farming Gods Way and met 29 street kids they have taken into their home, been on Home Care Visits and I've even taught in a school, they were quite small (the children not the class) so it wasn't too hard. The text book they were using was published in 1963 so I was fine showing them how to add up the way I was taught. They are so short of books especially ones that are culturally relevant. It really doesn't make sense to send over our old books they would be much better to buy books locally (they are only about £2 each). We also went to the maid training centre, we showed the ladies how to knit and found out that they would like to aprons to wear so we went home via the market and brought a load of material. So on Saturday we went back and showed them how to cut out tabbards and sew hems, and the younger girls that came with us demonstrated how to make chocolate cake. It looked really yummy so no doubt they enjoyed it lunch time.
Today we've been to the Fountain of Life Church the service lasted for 4 hours which was followed by lunch so we didn't get back until nearly 3.30pm. They are in the process of building themselves a church, the walls are about 2 metres high but there is no roof yet, their services are held in a pole barn with tarpaulin walls today we didn't have any chickens in during the service as there have been on other occasions when we've visited. I think we may have eaten them as I had a nice piece of chicken on my plate. They had organised a visiting choir from a sister church who were amazing. The whole service was so spirit filled even if you couldn't understand the songs you could join in. Otherwise the service was in English and they translated for their people which was amazingly gracious of them. They had some amazing testimonies, some from our people and we even stood up and sang a couple of songs to them. You will be pleased to know that I stood well to the back!!
So know its a free afternoon, the swimming pool is freezing cold but the youngsters are all in it! So I think that's about all for now. I've really appreciated hearing from friends, do keep emailing. Please continue to pray for me and the team, your prayers are valued and much needed as I said its a really busy schedule and its important that we (the team) stay on the ball.
Lots of love to you all
Carol
Monday, 29 June 2009
Before the first team arrives
I realise its now over a week since I updated my blog, as we get busier it will become more infrequent especially when the teams are out.
The Sunday before last we (Geoff and I) went to the local church which is based next to the the school on the compound where we live. We arrived on time for the 8 am English service only to be told that this week it would be combined with the 10am vernacular service and start at 9am. So just time to come back and have a coffee. Even so we were the nearly the first to arrive, they had Emmanuel 18 yrs (who will be working with us) on the drums and a couple of guys on guitars so we sat quietly and listened, eventually somebody came up to the front and opened the service and started the singing. It was all sitting down which felt kinda odd but ok. By 11am I think most people had arrived but they were still some drifting in up to finishing time which was about 12.30pm. All newcomers to the church were asked to introduce themselves, as there were about 10 of us that took some time. At the end we were asked to go out first of all and form a receiving line, everybody in the church shakes everyone else's hand, even the tiniest children. Then we were invited to a room at the back of the church for a drink of water which turned out to be bottles of coke, fanta and lemonade. A truly wonderful welcome to the church. This seems to be a common practise in the local churches.
Geoff and I spent the rest of the weekend and Monday catching up with book work.
On Tuesday Emily and James arrived from the UK so now our team is complete. James has just finished an MA in Landscape Architecture (he's just learnt that he missed getting a first by 2 points), he's been studying at Leeds where Emily also comes from. Emily has just finished her A Levels and is on a gap year. She is with us until October then she is off to Old McDonalds Farm for a couple of months.
So the rest of the week was spent taking them around to the projects that we support like the House of Moses where I'd already been and then onto Bill and Bettes (my first visit) where the children who aren't adopted when they are at the House of Moses go onto. Its a much less inviting place, they have a bungalow set in tiny grounds so no outdoor play equipment. The have boys & girls dorms, each filled with bunk beds where they mostly sleep two to a bed. They have one room which doubles as classroom and playroom. They had no larger toys to play with, mostly a few old soft toys. They climbed all over us, desperate for attention. They had one child with learning disabilities and another who wasn't growing properly, otherwise, they all looked healthy. Just two ladies are on duty at a time, doing all the laundry, cleaning and preparing food. As you can image they don't have too much time to play.
From there we went on to EFZ to meet the home care ladies for our training, then on Friday afternoon we went to visit Dorothy as the area where she works will be our first visit when the team arrives. It seemed a strange set up as the school was in her back garden, 4 classrooms with at least 20 in each class – she explained that they operate the usual shift system with the grown up paying a fee which helps to pay the teachers. They usually feed the children at lunch time but their source had dried up so they weren't able to do that at the moment. It turns out that all the children are all classed as vulnerable, they are often the primary care giver in the family, so as well as school they do piece work and care for family. Some were the head of the household as both parents were dead. There families were visited by Dorothy's team of ladies The school was divided up with wooden partitions which come down on Sundays when the school becomes a church. Later in the afternoon Dorothy introduced us to her husband and it turns out that its their church which they pastor. So from Dorothy's we went to the local clinic, this is where folk go to get their antivirals for Aids/HIV and TB along with any other problems they have. They also have a small labour ward with 8 beds. We met the senior registrar who explained how everything works. This compound houses over 40 thousand people and seems to have been built on a very adhoc basis like so much of the housing around. One side of the road had electricity, sewage disposal was only by way of pit latrines and water comes from a small heavily polluted stream which runs though the compound. So illnesses were common. From there we visited the local hospice, a bit like our old cottage hospitals where folk go for short term care. They also operate a clinic for folk needing regular medication. We then visited an elderly couple who live with their 5 children (all are HIV +) and grandchildren. They were a lovely couple, really committed Christians and so thankful for the gift of mealy meal that we took for them. They often don't eat for days on end as none of their children are well enough to work. They hold a cell group meeting in their home every week, where they discuss the last weeks sermon. This seems to be a very common practise and appreciated by everyone, especially those who are unable to get to church on a Sunday.
We then had another drive to visit another house, we meet the lady Esther who invited us in and before we knew it we were sitting down to Nshima and relish (rape leaves) which she had cooked for us. She and her husband are both HIV+, they have three children and one grandchild living with them. They were more stable as the husband was able to do some piece work and they had a garden where they grew veg and had a couple of ducks. Again the biggest problem is access to clean water, they have a well but have to buy in drinking water – its very common to see ladies and girls walking along with great big containers of water on their heads. Esther is a volunteer home care giver and regularly visits everyone in her compound (much smaller then some of the others). She also holds a cell group meeting in her home every week.
It seems that one of the biggest problems is the feelings of guilt folk with HIV/AIDS have, they are so thankful that in Jesus they can receive forgiveness and they really want to tell other people about this wonderful gift they have received. So a hugely challenging afternoon, when we finished Dorothy took us back to her house where the ladies from the church were bringing in food for the Pastors Supper, they seemed to be expecting a lot of folk. Dorothy and her husband are doing an incredible job ministering to the needs of their local community at all levels, spiritual and physical.
It will be very interesting to see what our volunteers make of it all.
Yesterday was another fabulous day, we started at the Fountain of Life Church, they met in a pole barn covered in tarpaulins whilst they raise money for their new church, they have the sides half way up but don't have a roof yet. The service started at 10 and finished at about 1.15pm, they certainly know how to sing. We had to all go up to the front to introduce ourselves we were then led to seats, I sat next to two lovely ladies who translated the songs for me, the talk/preaching was all in English. The sermon was on the credit crunch, the pastor exhorted his folk not to borrow money and to live within their means. He told them to shop around and not just to go to 'Shop Rite' - we enjoyed some wonderful singing, had the opportunity to go up for healing before the hand shaking routine. From there is was a rush over to McDonalds farm for lunch, they are a Scottish couple, she is a doctor and he used to me CEO of Zambian airways, he got out several years ago and now as a shop like B&Q in the shopping centre. They have two children of their own and have adopted 3 or 4 street children as well as taking in another 26 street kids. They are all boys, they've split their house in two with dorms for the boys one side and their accommodation the other. They privately educate about ¾ of the boys and the rest are home schooled until they reach a standard to go to school. They offer short term placements where folk come and stay with them for periods of a month to a year. These guys help with the home schooling and homework as well as getting stuck into the domestic arrangements. A lovely calm place, they have about 5 ac, 3 are used for Farming Gods Way. They have pigs, chickens, goats, ducks, geese and rabbits and grow all sorts of crops, they have 3 enormous poly tunnels and are fairly self sufficient for fruit, veg and meat. They have a guy who helps with the farming who spends about 5 weeks at a time with them. They even grow their own coffee, delicious.
Well I need to get on, so will finish for now. Please do continue to pray for me and the team when they arrive.
Love to you all
Carol
The Sunday before last we (Geoff and I) went to the local church which is based next to the the school on the compound where we live. We arrived on time for the 8 am English service only to be told that this week it would be combined with the 10am vernacular service and start at 9am. So just time to come back and have a coffee. Even so we were the nearly the first to arrive, they had Emmanuel 18 yrs (who will be working with us) on the drums and a couple of guys on guitars so we sat quietly and listened, eventually somebody came up to the front and opened the service and started the singing. It was all sitting down which felt kinda odd but ok. By 11am I think most people had arrived but they were still some drifting in up to finishing time which was about 12.30pm. All newcomers to the church were asked to introduce themselves, as there were about 10 of us that took some time. At the end we were asked to go out first of all and form a receiving line, everybody in the church shakes everyone else's hand, even the tiniest children. Then we were invited to a room at the back of the church for a drink of water which turned out to be bottles of coke, fanta and lemonade. A truly wonderful welcome to the church. This seems to be a common practise in the local churches.
Geoff and I spent the rest of the weekend and Monday catching up with book work.
On Tuesday Emily and James arrived from the UK so now our team is complete. James has just finished an MA in Landscape Architecture (he's just learnt that he missed getting a first by 2 points), he's been studying at Leeds where Emily also comes from. Emily has just finished her A Levels and is on a gap year. She is with us until October then she is off to Old McDonalds Farm for a couple of months.
So the rest of the week was spent taking them around to the projects that we support like the House of Moses where I'd already been and then onto Bill and Bettes (my first visit) where the children who aren't adopted when they are at the House of Moses go onto. Its a much less inviting place, they have a bungalow set in tiny grounds so no outdoor play equipment. The have boys & girls dorms, each filled with bunk beds where they mostly sleep two to a bed. They have one room which doubles as classroom and playroom. They had no larger toys to play with, mostly a few old soft toys. They climbed all over us, desperate for attention. They had one child with learning disabilities and another who wasn't growing properly, otherwise, they all looked healthy. Just two ladies are on duty at a time, doing all the laundry, cleaning and preparing food. As you can image they don't have too much time to play.
From there we went on to EFZ to meet the home care ladies for our training, then on Friday afternoon we went to visit Dorothy as the area where she works will be our first visit when the team arrives. It seemed a strange set up as the school was in her back garden, 4 classrooms with at least 20 in each class – she explained that they operate the usual shift system with the grown up paying a fee which helps to pay the teachers. They usually feed the children at lunch time but their source had dried up so they weren't able to do that at the moment. It turns out that all the children are all classed as vulnerable, they are often the primary care giver in the family, so as well as school they do piece work and care for family. Some were the head of the household as both parents were dead. There families were visited by Dorothy's team of ladies The school was divided up with wooden partitions which come down on Sundays when the school becomes a church. Later in the afternoon Dorothy introduced us to her husband and it turns out that its their church which they pastor. So from Dorothy's we went to the local clinic, this is where folk go to get their antivirals for Aids/HIV and TB along with any other problems they have. They also have a small labour ward with 8 beds. We met the senior registrar who explained how everything works. This compound houses over 40 thousand people and seems to have been built on a very adhoc basis like so much of the housing around. One side of the road had electricity, sewage disposal was only by way of pit latrines and water comes from a small heavily polluted stream which runs though the compound. So illnesses were common. From there we visited the local hospice, a bit like our old cottage hospitals where folk go for short term care. They also operate a clinic for folk needing regular medication. We then visited an elderly couple who live with their 5 children (all are HIV +) and grandchildren. They were a lovely couple, really committed Christians and so thankful for the gift of mealy meal that we took for them. They often don't eat for days on end as none of their children are well enough to work. They hold a cell group meeting in their home every week, where they discuss the last weeks sermon. This seems to be a very common practise and appreciated by everyone, especially those who are unable to get to church on a Sunday.
We then had another drive to visit another house, we meet the lady Esther who invited us in and before we knew it we were sitting down to Nshima and relish (rape leaves) which she had cooked for us. She and her husband are both HIV+, they have three children and one grandchild living with them. They were more stable as the husband was able to do some piece work and they had a garden where they grew veg and had a couple of ducks. Again the biggest problem is access to clean water, they have a well but have to buy in drinking water – its very common to see ladies and girls walking along with great big containers of water on their heads. Esther is a volunteer home care giver and regularly visits everyone in her compound (much smaller then some of the others). She also holds a cell group meeting in her home every week.
It seems that one of the biggest problems is the feelings of guilt folk with HIV/AIDS have, they are so thankful that in Jesus they can receive forgiveness and they really want to tell other people about this wonderful gift they have received. So a hugely challenging afternoon, when we finished Dorothy took us back to her house where the ladies from the church were bringing in food for the Pastors Supper, they seemed to be expecting a lot of folk. Dorothy and her husband are doing an incredible job ministering to the needs of their local community at all levels, spiritual and physical.
It will be very interesting to see what our volunteers make of it all.
Yesterday was another fabulous day, we started at the Fountain of Life Church, they met in a pole barn covered in tarpaulins whilst they raise money for their new church, they have the sides half way up but don't have a roof yet. The service started at 10 and finished at about 1.15pm, they certainly know how to sing. We had to all go up to the front to introduce ourselves we were then led to seats, I sat next to two lovely ladies who translated the songs for me, the talk/preaching was all in English. The sermon was on the credit crunch, the pastor exhorted his folk not to borrow money and to live within their means. He told them to shop around and not just to go to 'Shop Rite' - we enjoyed some wonderful singing, had the opportunity to go up for healing before the hand shaking routine. From there is was a rush over to McDonalds farm for lunch, they are a Scottish couple, she is a doctor and he used to me CEO of Zambian airways, he got out several years ago and now as a shop like B&Q in the shopping centre. They have two children of their own and have adopted 3 or 4 street children as well as taking in another 26 street kids. They are all boys, they've split their house in two with dorms for the boys one side and their accommodation the other. They privately educate about ¾ of the boys and the rest are home schooled until they reach a standard to go to school. They offer short term placements where folk come and stay with them for periods of a month to a year. These guys help with the home schooling and homework as well as getting stuck into the domestic arrangements. A lovely calm place, they have about 5 ac, 3 are used for Farming Gods Way. They have pigs, chickens, goats, ducks, geese and rabbits and grow all sorts of crops, they have 3 enormous poly tunnels and are fairly self sufficient for fruit, veg and meat. They have a guy who helps with the farming who spends about 5 weeks at a time with them. They even grow their own coffee, delicious.
Well I need to get on, so will finish for now. Please do continue to pray for me and the team when they arrive.
Love to you all
Carol
Saturday, 20 June 2009
Week 1 in Zambia
I cut and pasted into my blog so I can't remember where I got to with this blog so my apologies if I repeat myself. I don't like to be on line for long so its a quick in and out with the dongle. I think its quite expensive to use so I won't do it more than once a week, plus you will all be fed up with me twittering on. I know Shaun will say 'what's new'!!
Well back to yesterday, Friday, my first full day in Zambia – started with me over sleeping – Geoff had invited me to join him for breakfast at eight, I made it my nine so today he said nine so of course I was awake at 7am.
Anyway back to yesterday, we first of all visited Kiine School, Obed the headmaster took us around to all the classrooms, where I was asked to introduce myself to all the children. We started with the older children (year 7) who are in the new classrooms that the 2008 MD team built. The children were all sat at their smart new desks which had also been donated by folk from the UK. They still need blackboards. I suggested that we could paint blackboard paint on the wall to make a temporary B/board. They could also do with somewhere to put the children's work as they have no notice boards – we will have to wait and see what they want. Then into the old original school building, we visited four classes from 4 years upwards. Most of the children were wearing sports gear as it was the day when they do sports. The boys play football and the girls netball. The younger ones seemed to just run around. The boys didn't have football boots so were playing barefooted with a ball made up of old plastic bags – it was remarkably effective, the goals were made out of their shoes. Football seems to be quite big here as after school they play football in the compound just over the back from us.
From the school we walked around to the new building site, the builders have dug (by hand) the footings and all the steelwork was being carefully lined up ready for the concrete which was being mixed by hand by about 14 guys. There were four wheelbarrow loads of concrete waiting to be tipped when we arrived. We went back at about four and they were still working like mad, it wasn't going to be finished in one day because of the late start – they were hoping to finish today but I think that may have been a bit hopeful as it was a lot of concrete to mix. When the first team arrive they will be laying blocks, back filling with all the soil taken out of the holes, tamping it down ready for the first floor slab to be laid. Its going to be really heavy work as the blocks are very heavy, then of course we will be mixing the mortar ourselves and fixing the wires in. We will all certainly be a lot fitter by the end of the first teams visit.
We then went through a little door in the wall over a rickety bridge (2 planks) over a ditch to go and see the bus and police stations which are in Kaunda Square. To get there we had to pass through a very poor area, lots of little stalls by the side of the road, some with just a few oranges, a few with tiny fish or Kapenta even smaller (bit like whitebait). Lots of people and children about, very few go to school as its too expensive. It was very different from the Dominican Republic, the houses here were built of blocks, there weren't all the motorbikes, nor the loud music. There was some but it was very quiet after DR.
After lunch we made a start on updating the briefing document – the dreaded paper work. Later back to the building site where the men were still working, the men don't have boots they tie plastic bags over their shoes, some also used the plastic bags as gloves to protect their hands. On the way home we met Cosmas who runs ECZ, a lovely man who is desperate to raise enough money to finish the school, they have a vision of having 900 pupils which is a reality as the buildings will be built (Dutch and Swizz folk have provided funding for another 3 blocks of 3 classrooms, ours will also have 3 classrooms but is being built so that it can be extended to the first floor. This will give them 15 new classrooms. They will then use the present building for admin and a nursery school will go into the building that MD volunteers built last year. Its very exciting, but the build is only part of the project – they will have to find teachers which isn't easy as they get paid less than office staff in the Government so they lose a lot of trained teachers. They will also need books and all the other equipment needed. It was pitiful to see the small box of books in the classes. What they did have tended to be old Ladybird type books which aren't culturally relevant to the children. It seems to me that rather than sending out books it would be better to buy them locally which would help local industry and provide a teaching facility more in tune to the needs of the children. We have a lot of teachers coming out working on the teams so it will be interesting to hear their views.
We have also been shopping to the local shopping mall where Geoff and I brought food for a few days. We are cooking for ourselves until James and Emily arrive, we will then be sampling the food that the teams will be having when they are out here. We treated ourselves to a local paper, all about Mr Brown so I guess no changes yet.
Tomorrow we start on visits to some of the projects that I will be involved with. We will be going everyday so that I can get a feel for each place alongside starting t do risk assessments.
I forgot to say that its going to be terribly expensive to extend my temporary visa once my 30 day one expires, Cosmos (ECZ Direct of Admin...) has suggested that I go for a work permit, it means that I can come back again...........as it last for three years. Do please pray that my application will be accepted as it will save about £300. Thank you Pat for finding and scanning my EFM certificate – the paper work has now gone to Cosmos who will take it to the “Ministry of …....? “
Since I last wrote I'm been out and about visiting all sorts of people and projects.
The first project was the Chilanje Maid Training project. Irene the leader, works on this project on a voluntary basis with just a little help from some of the members of her church. They open Mon-Sat 9-1 when Irene gives them lunch. The course runs for a month, she trains them in cooking (when she has the money to buy ingredients), home management, nutrient, first aid, hygiene and the word of God. They met in a small room about 12x10 ft. there were 12 ladies and 1 man, they may be widows or single. The one month course aims to equipment them to get a job locally – the problem seems to be that the jobs are very poorly paid and they don't even give them any meals although they are working all day. In the room is a large table, chairs, fridge, cooker, filing cabinet and a stand which holds a small dustbin shaped container which has a tap with a small basis underneath. So no hot water. She has 2 saucepans, 1 frying pan and 2 sandwich tins. She has no cutlery, scales etc. The women all looked very thin and sad, one lady had bad scaring around her neck. We will be taking small groups of ladies to this project we might take ingredients so that we can show them how to cook a meal, they also want to know how to crochet and knit.
The next day was a contrast, we went to EFZ where Hope told us about the project where a group of ladies visits folk in their own homes. They help to administer drugs – particularly for TB and HIV/AIDS which although free have to be taken on a regular basis, they also help with cleaning, will buy food and cook if there are no primary care givers. We will be having an afternoons training by the ladies then going out with a volunteers leader the next afternoon. They work in three different compounds. The staff team will be trained next Thursday/Friday so do prayer for us as it will be very challenging for the team.
Then onto Kumbayah Ministries, this is a school converted from a tavern. We couldn't get the car up the track to the school, so we went on foot pass some very poor housing and came to an open square full of children. As soon as they saw us they all streamed towards us, I can only describe it as being like a big wave that catches you out at the seaside. Geoff and I were completely surrounded by children all vying for our attention. It felt like we would be knocked over by the number of bodies and hands. They were so excited to see us, they had been waiting to meet us for ages. Ketty (committee member) then came and rescued me and took me my the hand shooing all the children in front of her, we then all stood in a circle (power has just gone off, it happen most evening usually a bit later – this means we have no water as its pumped by electricity. Luckily Geoff is cooking tonight – he has gas) then we had a display of African dancing. There were about 350 children, the whole school. They usually come in shifts through the day – eventually it was time to go into the school all the children were put into lines and loads entered the building – finally half were told to stand outside and we were ushered inside. There we found two small rooms with about 4 small bodies at each desk and loads more standing around. We are going to bring the teams here, we will be sending along beef, mealy meal, oil, onions and tomatoes which will be cooked for lunch. We will then come and serve them. All their guardians are also invited but won't be fed as there is no way they could cook for that number on charcoal fires. They are expecting about 1,000 people so its going to be a great party. Before we left we walked around the compound to the site they have found to build a proper school. Its tiny, not really big enough as they think about 500 children don't attend school. Off course they have no money and rely on faith and gift offerings.
I'd better switch off as power won't come back on tonight – I look very fetching with my torch light on a band around my head!! But it works, I can even read and of course I have my shuffle. Thank God I've just had a cup of tea!
On Thursday we had another interesting morning, we started at the House of Moses, this is a facility for babies 0 – 2yrs. They have two nursery's, upstairs are the babies, including 3 new born who were fast asleep the whole time we were there and down stairs 6 months +. They had two girls from the states who were there for two weeks helping with the babies.. The staff are really stretched, when we arrived at 9am they were feeding the tiniest, but still bathing and dressing the older ones. When they are bathed they weigh them to make sure that they are growing. Most of them had a cot to themselves, just a couple of the little babies were sharing. Alice who took us around told us that most of the babies were from the hospital where either the mums had died who they had been abandoned. They try and find adoptive or foster parents for them, otherwise they go onto Bill and Betty's house until they are 5 and from there they go to the House of Martha. I will be going to the other two houses next week when Emily and James are around. The toddlers all put up their little arms wanting a cuddle when they saw us, they have very limited toys, just a few knitted balls. When I think of the toys my grandchildren had at that age it really makes my heart ache, they don't even have a soft toy they can call their own. The ladies looking after them were wonderful, really caring and playing with them. We have a lady coming out in August who is going to stay for a month.
The folk from the states who run these homes have set up an organisation over here and are involved with several schools. So Alice then took us on a guided tour of some schools which are all in need of extending as they could be a possible project for MD volunteers next year. The first school we visited had been converted out of a church, they had divided it up with wooden partitions – one of the rooms was empty as they had no desks, the local desks cost about £50 each they are old fashioned benches with a desk attached made out of tubular steel and wood. This school has some land which could be used to build a block of three classrooms. They next school was in a church, they had built 2 classrooms again out of wooden partitions at the back of the church. Rev Jane showed us around, Another charity has just built a block of classrooms which is nearly finished so she just needs 3 or 4 more which will allow them to have 7 grades being taught at the same time. Most of the village schools operate a shift system, they start teaching at 7am and go through the day in 4 hour blocks. Late afternoon and evening its usually adults that come! They seem to have about 50 in a class, very formal desks all facing forward but they get results. The last school we visited was next to St Stephens an Anglican church, all the teachers are volunteers! They have 100% pass rates to go to secondary school which is really amazing as most only manage a 50% pass rate. All of these schools only take vulnerable children from very poor backgrounds. Some are able to offer feeding programmes but usually not every day. So how MD will choose who to support next year will know doubt depend on how much money they can raise back in the UK.
Then yesterday, we went back to see Hope and her team at EFZ. We started to walk to save having to pay for a car, but got a lift most of the way, but we walked back. These ladies (all volunteers) are inspirational, they all work in different compounds and look after teams of ladies who visit sick people. TB and HIV/AIDS is a terrible problem, The love and compassion of these ladies is wonderful, they always share scripture and pray with the folk they visit as well as providing practical help. What really struck me was that they are totally non-judgemental, they take the view that mistakes have been made but that shouldn't stop these poor folk from receiving help and being blessed by their visits. I think its going to be really challenging for us and the teams coming out from the UK – we won't be going into homes where TB is still at the infectious stage but even so its going to be really hard to see such illness. We will be proving food & clothes for the cares to give out and we will be taking hygiene packs and blankets where needed. They have a major need for multi vitamins and food supplements so I'm hoping that some of the teams will be able to bring some out with them.
So this is the end of my first week in Zambia, its a place of incredible contrasts, the compound where we are staying has lots of trees, shade and space whilst outside in the poor compounds the houses are squashed together – there are just dusty tracks, rubbish everywhere and no trees. Its the same as you drive around Lusaka, wide shady roads with big houses than down a dirt track into another compound. The markets are noisy and dirty then you are in a shopping mall able to buy anything. Its autumn here, we are coming up to the shortest day of the year, when I open my door in the morning there is a real smell of autumn in the air, and again late afternoon as the sun fades it chills down quite fast. The trees are loosing their leaves ,but there is still some beautiful blossom about. Some of the gardens get watered otherwise its just dust.
So as I say goodbye I thank you so much for supporting and praying for me. I really value your love and concern it makes a huge difference being here knowing that you are all behind me. If I can do anything to make a difference it will be by your prayers. Please can you particularly pray that we can find a tent to use as a dining room.- we've spent hours searching, we just need a basis gazebo type with walls to keep out the dust.
Love Carol
ps better start supper as the power might go off as soon as it gets dark – that's they usual. Driving through the town centre without traffic lights is certainly challenging.
Well back to yesterday, Friday, my first full day in Zambia – started with me over sleeping – Geoff had invited me to join him for breakfast at eight, I made it my nine so today he said nine so of course I was awake at 7am.
Anyway back to yesterday, we first of all visited Kiine School, Obed the headmaster took us around to all the classrooms, where I was asked to introduce myself to all the children. We started with the older children (year 7) who are in the new classrooms that the 2008 MD team built. The children were all sat at their smart new desks which had also been donated by folk from the UK. They still need blackboards. I suggested that we could paint blackboard paint on the wall to make a temporary B/board. They could also do with somewhere to put the children's work as they have no notice boards – we will have to wait and see what they want. Then into the old original school building, we visited four classes from 4 years upwards. Most of the children were wearing sports gear as it was the day when they do sports. The boys play football and the girls netball. The younger ones seemed to just run around. The boys didn't have football boots so were playing barefooted with a ball made up of old plastic bags – it was remarkably effective, the goals were made out of their shoes. Football seems to be quite big here as after school they play football in the compound just over the back from us.
From the school we walked around to the new building site, the builders have dug (by hand) the footings and all the steelwork was being carefully lined up ready for the concrete which was being mixed by hand by about 14 guys. There were four wheelbarrow loads of concrete waiting to be tipped when we arrived. We went back at about four and they were still working like mad, it wasn't going to be finished in one day because of the late start – they were hoping to finish today but I think that may have been a bit hopeful as it was a lot of concrete to mix. When the first team arrive they will be laying blocks, back filling with all the soil taken out of the holes, tamping it down ready for the first floor slab to be laid. Its going to be really heavy work as the blocks are very heavy, then of course we will be mixing the mortar ourselves and fixing the wires in. We will all certainly be a lot fitter by the end of the first teams visit.
We then went through a little door in the wall over a rickety bridge (2 planks) over a ditch to go and see the bus and police stations which are in Kaunda Square. To get there we had to pass through a very poor area, lots of little stalls by the side of the road, some with just a few oranges, a few with tiny fish or Kapenta even smaller (bit like whitebait). Lots of people and children about, very few go to school as its too expensive. It was very different from the Dominican Republic, the houses here were built of blocks, there weren't all the motorbikes, nor the loud music. There was some but it was very quiet after DR.
After lunch we made a start on updating the briefing document – the dreaded paper work. Later back to the building site where the men were still working, the men don't have boots they tie plastic bags over their shoes, some also used the plastic bags as gloves to protect their hands. On the way home we met Cosmas who runs ECZ, a lovely man who is desperate to raise enough money to finish the school, they have a vision of having 900 pupils which is a reality as the buildings will be built (Dutch and Swizz folk have provided funding for another 3 blocks of 3 classrooms, ours will also have 3 classrooms but is being built so that it can be extended to the first floor. This will give them 15 new classrooms. They will then use the present building for admin and a nursery school will go into the building that MD volunteers built last year. Its very exciting, but the build is only part of the project – they will have to find teachers which isn't easy as they get paid less than office staff in the Government so they lose a lot of trained teachers. They will also need books and all the other equipment needed. It was pitiful to see the small box of books in the classes. What they did have tended to be old Ladybird type books which aren't culturally relevant to the children. It seems to me that rather than sending out books it would be better to buy them locally which would help local industry and provide a teaching facility more in tune to the needs of the children. We have a lot of teachers coming out working on the teams so it will be interesting to hear their views.
We have also been shopping to the local shopping mall where Geoff and I brought food for a few days. We are cooking for ourselves until James and Emily arrive, we will then be sampling the food that the teams will be having when they are out here. We treated ourselves to a local paper, all about Mr Brown so I guess no changes yet.
Tomorrow we start on visits to some of the projects that I will be involved with. We will be going everyday so that I can get a feel for each place alongside starting t do risk assessments.
I forgot to say that its going to be terribly expensive to extend my temporary visa once my 30 day one expires, Cosmos (ECZ Direct of Admin...) has suggested that I go for a work permit, it means that I can come back again...........as it last for three years. Do please pray that my application will be accepted as it will save about £300. Thank you Pat for finding and scanning my EFM certificate – the paper work has now gone to Cosmos who will take it to the “Ministry of …....? “
Since I last wrote I'm been out and about visiting all sorts of people and projects.
The first project was the Chilanje Maid Training project. Irene the leader, works on this project on a voluntary basis with just a little help from some of the members of her church. They open Mon-Sat 9-1 when Irene gives them lunch. The course runs for a month, she trains them in cooking (when she has the money to buy ingredients), home management, nutrient, first aid, hygiene and the word of God. They met in a small room about 12x10 ft. there were 12 ladies and 1 man, they may be widows or single. The one month course aims to equipment them to get a job locally – the problem seems to be that the jobs are very poorly paid and they don't even give them any meals although they are working all day. In the room is a large table, chairs, fridge, cooker, filing cabinet and a stand which holds a small dustbin shaped container which has a tap with a small basis underneath. So no hot water. She has 2 saucepans, 1 frying pan and 2 sandwich tins. She has no cutlery, scales etc. The women all looked very thin and sad, one lady had bad scaring around her neck. We will be taking small groups of ladies to this project we might take ingredients so that we can show them how to cook a meal, they also want to know how to crochet and knit.
The next day was a contrast, we went to EFZ where Hope told us about the project where a group of ladies visits folk in their own homes. They help to administer drugs – particularly for TB and HIV/AIDS which although free have to be taken on a regular basis, they also help with cleaning, will buy food and cook if there are no primary care givers. We will be having an afternoons training by the ladies then going out with a volunteers leader the next afternoon. They work in three different compounds. The staff team will be trained next Thursday/Friday so do prayer for us as it will be very challenging for the team.
Then onto Kumbayah Ministries, this is a school converted from a tavern. We couldn't get the car up the track to the school, so we went on foot pass some very poor housing and came to an open square full of children. As soon as they saw us they all streamed towards us, I can only describe it as being like a big wave that catches you out at the seaside. Geoff and I were completely surrounded by children all vying for our attention. It felt like we would be knocked over by the number of bodies and hands. They were so excited to see us, they had been waiting to meet us for ages. Ketty (committee member) then came and rescued me and took me my the hand shooing all the children in front of her, we then all stood in a circle (power has just gone off, it happen most evening usually a bit later – this means we have no water as its pumped by electricity. Luckily Geoff is cooking tonight – he has gas) then we had a display of African dancing. There were about 350 children, the whole school. They usually come in shifts through the day – eventually it was time to go into the school all the children were put into lines and loads entered the building – finally half were told to stand outside and we were ushered inside. There we found two small rooms with about 4 small bodies at each desk and loads more standing around. We are going to bring the teams here, we will be sending along beef, mealy meal, oil, onions and tomatoes which will be cooked for lunch. We will then come and serve them. All their guardians are also invited but won't be fed as there is no way they could cook for that number on charcoal fires. They are expecting about 1,000 people so its going to be a great party. Before we left we walked around the compound to the site they have found to build a proper school. Its tiny, not really big enough as they think about 500 children don't attend school. Off course they have no money and rely on faith and gift offerings.
I'd better switch off as power won't come back on tonight – I look very fetching with my torch light on a band around my head!! But it works, I can even read and of course I have my shuffle. Thank God I've just had a cup of tea!
On Thursday we had another interesting morning, we started at the House of Moses, this is a facility for babies 0 – 2yrs. They have two nursery's, upstairs are the babies, including 3 new born who were fast asleep the whole time we were there and down stairs 6 months +. They had two girls from the states who were there for two weeks helping with the babies.. The staff are really stretched, when we arrived at 9am they were feeding the tiniest, but still bathing and dressing the older ones. When they are bathed they weigh them to make sure that they are growing. Most of them had a cot to themselves, just a couple of the little babies were sharing. Alice who took us around told us that most of the babies were from the hospital where either the mums had died who they had been abandoned. They try and find adoptive or foster parents for them, otherwise they go onto Bill and Betty's house until they are 5 and from there they go to the House of Martha. I will be going to the other two houses next week when Emily and James are around. The toddlers all put up their little arms wanting a cuddle when they saw us, they have very limited toys, just a few knitted balls. When I think of the toys my grandchildren had at that age it really makes my heart ache, they don't even have a soft toy they can call their own. The ladies looking after them were wonderful, really caring and playing with them. We have a lady coming out in August who is going to stay for a month.
The folk from the states who run these homes have set up an organisation over here and are involved with several schools. So Alice then took us on a guided tour of some schools which are all in need of extending as they could be a possible project for MD volunteers next year. The first school we visited had been converted out of a church, they had divided it up with wooden partitions – one of the rooms was empty as they had no desks, the local desks cost about £50 each they are old fashioned benches with a desk attached made out of tubular steel and wood. This school has some land which could be used to build a block of three classrooms. They next school was in a church, they had built 2 classrooms again out of wooden partitions at the back of the church. Rev Jane showed us around, Another charity has just built a block of classrooms which is nearly finished so she just needs 3 or 4 more which will allow them to have 7 grades being taught at the same time. Most of the village schools operate a shift system, they start teaching at 7am and go through the day in 4 hour blocks. Late afternoon and evening its usually adults that come! They seem to have about 50 in a class, very formal desks all facing forward but they get results. The last school we visited was next to St Stephens an Anglican church, all the teachers are volunteers! They have 100% pass rates to go to secondary school which is really amazing as most only manage a 50% pass rate. All of these schools only take vulnerable children from very poor backgrounds. Some are able to offer feeding programmes but usually not every day. So how MD will choose who to support next year will know doubt depend on how much money they can raise back in the UK.
Then yesterday, we went back to see Hope and her team at EFZ. We started to walk to save having to pay for a car, but got a lift most of the way, but we walked back. These ladies (all volunteers) are inspirational, they all work in different compounds and look after teams of ladies who visit sick people. TB and HIV/AIDS is a terrible problem, The love and compassion of these ladies is wonderful, they always share scripture and pray with the folk they visit as well as providing practical help. What really struck me was that they are totally non-judgemental, they take the view that mistakes have been made but that shouldn't stop these poor folk from receiving help and being blessed by their visits. I think its going to be really challenging for us and the teams coming out from the UK – we won't be going into homes where TB is still at the infectious stage but even so its going to be really hard to see such illness. We will be proving food & clothes for the cares to give out and we will be taking hygiene packs and blankets where needed. They have a major need for multi vitamins and food supplements so I'm hoping that some of the teams will be able to bring some out with them.
So this is the end of my first week in Zambia, its a place of incredible contrasts, the compound where we are staying has lots of trees, shade and space whilst outside in the poor compounds the houses are squashed together – there are just dusty tracks, rubbish everywhere and no trees. Its the same as you drive around Lusaka, wide shady roads with big houses than down a dirt track into another compound. The markets are noisy and dirty then you are in a shopping mall able to buy anything. Its autumn here, we are coming up to the shortest day of the year, when I open my door in the morning there is a real smell of autumn in the air, and again late afternoon as the sun fades it chills down quite fast. The trees are loosing their leaves ,but there is still some beautiful blossom about. Some of the gardens get watered otherwise its just dust.
So as I say goodbye I thank you so much for supporting and praying for me. I really value your love and concern it makes a huge difference being here knowing that you are all behind me. If I can do anything to make a difference it will be by your prayers. Please can you particularly pray that we can find a tent to use as a dining room.- we've spent hours searching, we just need a basis gazebo type with walls to keep out the dust.
Love Carol
ps better start supper as the power might go off as soon as it gets dark – that's they usual. Driving through the town centre without traffic lights is certainly challenging.
Friday, 12 June 2009
Arrived
Its been a long 24 hours, I left Horley at just gone five on Wednesday, now its 7.30am Thursday. at Johannesburg Airport. Thank God I'm sat on a very comfy sofa in a coffee shop, I've just had a latte and fruit salad so I'm feeling happy. Both the flights were fine Abu Dhabi had a lovely airport and free access to the internet. Haven't found that sort of facility at Jo'burg airport, there is wi fi but you have to pay for it so I've not bothered, so I'm writing my blog ready to transfer when I can next go on line.
I had one slight hiccup in that I didn't check that my case was booked through to Lusaka, a very nice lady from Etihad (who I flew with) sorted it out so hopefully it will be there when I arrive.
I'd hoped to see something of Africa when we were coming down in the plane, unfortunately it was still dark when we landed, so I've not seen further than out of the windows at the airport. Its a cloudy wet day, I knew it would be cold but hoped to see some of the famous African sun – hopefully Lusaka will have some.
Its really weird – here I am in Africa but like all international airports once you walk away from the gift shops you would have a job to know where in the world you are. So here I am in the Southern World yet still to see what its really like. My flight to Lusaka arrives at about 12.30pm, it will be good to met up with Geoff again. He's been here since the spring getting everything ready for the campaign, so now it will be all the last minute bits and pieces that we have to sort out before the first team arrives in July.
No free access to the internet at Johannesburg airport, so this is waiting till I get on line with the dongle.
So here I am in Zambia. After the pouring rain in Johannesburg it was cloudy as we flew north, then just before we landed the cloud cleared and I could see Zambia for the first time. Lusaka was much bigger than I expected – I guess its very spread out. At the airport I was met by Geoff and Chilka (who works as our driver when we need to go anywhere). So a 30 minute drive took us to Chamba Valley and into the ECZ Compound. Its autumn here coming into their winter, leafs are falling off the trees and its very dry and dusty underfoot.
I'm sharing a two room bungalow with Emily who arrives with James on the 20th, we have a little kitchen and sitting room which is lovely. All very basic but all that we need. I slept like a log last night, got up to find Geoff coming over for me – he had breakfast ready in his bungalow – I forgot to change the time on my mobile which I'm using as my alarm clock. So it was a quick breakfast before walking over to Kiine School which has 150 pupils from 3-12 yrs, they teach primary up to grade 7.
I will tell you more about the school and the compound when I get a chance.
Geoff has supper waiting and I want to copy this into my blog when we finish eating.
Thank you so much for reading this and supporting me.
Love Carol
I had one slight hiccup in that I didn't check that my case was booked through to Lusaka, a very nice lady from Etihad (who I flew with) sorted it out so hopefully it will be there when I arrive.
I'd hoped to see something of Africa when we were coming down in the plane, unfortunately it was still dark when we landed, so I've not seen further than out of the windows at the airport. Its a cloudy wet day, I knew it would be cold but hoped to see some of the famous African sun – hopefully Lusaka will have some.
Its really weird – here I am in Africa but like all international airports once you walk away from the gift shops you would have a job to know where in the world you are. So here I am in the Southern World yet still to see what its really like. My flight to Lusaka arrives at about 12.30pm, it will be good to met up with Geoff again. He's been here since the spring getting everything ready for the campaign, so now it will be all the last minute bits and pieces that we have to sort out before the first team arrives in July.
No free access to the internet at Johannesburg airport, so this is waiting till I get on line with the dongle.
So here I am in Zambia. After the pouring rain in Johannesburg it was cloudy as we flew north, then just before we landed the cloud cleared and I could see Zambia for the first time. Lusaka was much bigger than I expected – I guess its very spread out. At the airport I was met by Geoff and Chilka (who works as our driver when we need to go anywhere). So a 30 minute drive took us to Chamba Valley and into the ECZ Compound. Its autumn here coming into their winter, leafs are falling off the trees and its very dry and dusty underfoot.
I'm sharing a two room bungalow with Emily who arrives with James on the 20th, we have a little kitchen and sitting room which is lovely. All very basic but all that we need. I slept like a log last night, got up to find Geoff coming over for me – he had breakfast ready in his bungalow – I forgot to change the time on my mobile which I'm using as my alarm clock. So it was a quick breakfast before walking over to Kiine School which has 150 pupils from 3-12 yrs, they teach primary up to grade 7.
I will tell you more about the school and the compound when I get a chance.
Geoff has supper waiting and I want to copy this into my blog when we finish eating.
Thank you so much for reading this and supporting me.
Love Carol
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Its been a busy weekend, on Friday I travelled up to Luton to met up with James and Emily who are also going to be be with Geoff and me in Zambia. It was an afternoon of checking that all our paperwork was correct and a big decision, what to do with my body if I should die. I'm happy to be buried out there, so I'm praying that Jon and Anna will be happy with that. As a Christian I can't be worried of my earthly remains, after all its my Spirit that God's interested in. Or is that really bad theology - I wish I knew more about such weighty matters but up to now I've not had to think about them. Well here's hoping that a don't get eaten by a crocodile or hungry lion!! Well I suppose if I did there wouldn't be much left so why am I worried. Lets hope its quick as I don't fancy dieing slowly.
Anyway, back to this weekend - after Luton a very slow journey to Godmanchester, a really pretty little town near to Cambridge. We were warmly welcomed by Dorne, who fed us handsomely and then onto bed at Roger and Annette's house. After breakfast we were at Godmanchester Baptist church for the Zambian Orientation day. Folk from all over the country started arriving from about 9.30 am. By 10.15 we were busy in team groups finding out who would be with us during the two week team visits. We had some very big circles of chairs (the groups who will be coming out during the school holidays) and smaller groups especially the last two in September and October. Two young girls in the first group, looked at each other when they arrived and immediately knew each other because they had both been at New Wine.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Not gone yet
Its now less than two months before I will be arriving in Lusaka, gradually all my arrangements are coming together - just the malaria tabs to sort, my appointment with doc is booked so its all in hand.
Geoff, out team leader is already in Lusaka sorting everything out before we arrive. I've now got lots of excel spread sheets to read and inwardly digest - plus getting to grips with the risk assessment which I will need to do as soon as I arrive in June. In the meantime, Geoff will be going up to Uganda to spend two weeks with the team there.
Trevor and Yvonne who have recently joined Horley Methodist Church (where I worship) come from Lusaka - must get them around for lunch soon! They are helping me learn a few words - no easy job as I'm hopeless at languages, but i want to know a few words so that I can pray with folk.
I've just been asked to suggest a song for our songs of praise service at the end of May, how do I choose, so many wonderful songs around at the moment. Will have to start listening to some CD's to see where I'm led.
Must get on now.
Thanks for supporting me
x Carol
Geoff, out team leader is already in Lusaka sorting everything out before we arrive. I've now got lots of excel spread sheets to read and inwardly digest - plus getting to grips with the risk assessment which I will need to do as soon as I arrive in June. In the meantime, Geoff will be going up to Uganda to spend two weeks with the team there.
Trevor and Yvonne who have recently joined Horley Methodist Church (where I worship) come from Lusaka - must get them around for lunch soon! They are helping me learn a few words - no easy job as I'm hopeless at languages, but i want to know a few words so that I can pray with folk.
I've just been asked to suggest a song for our songs of praise service at the end of May, how do I choose, so many wonderful songs around at the moment. Will have to start listening to some CD's to see where I'm led.
Must get on now.
Thanks for supporting me
x Carol
Saturday, 4 April 2009
I've copied this from Mission Direct's web site - this is all about what our teams will be working on in Zambia plus some information about volunteering. My close friends and family can come out for a tw week stint at reduced rates!! So think on - how about joing me for a visit?
Mission Trips to Zambia now running
Come and join Mission Direct on a trip to Zambia in Summer 2009. For dates in 2009 check with www.misiondirect.org .
The main project: As a result of HIV/AIDS and the economic situation there are many orphans and children at risk, without family provision of food, shelter, health care or education. It is these most vulnerable that we are seeking to help.We are planning to work with the Evangelical Church in Zambia (ECZ) one ofthe three mainstream Christian churches in Zambia, to help improve the facilities at a school they are running for kids from the shanty town of Kaunda Square. They have been running the school for almost 8 years now. The schoolis operating in a converted residential house, squeezing in over 100 pupils. Last year the council temporarily closed the school because they were not happy withthe size of the school buildings, lack of space and poor facilities. The childrenhad nowhere else to go to school and it was re-opened, but they have been unable to enroll any more orphans or other vulnerable children, because of the lack of space and facilities. We plan to build one or two more classrooms, toilets and improve the school to accommodate more children from the shanty community it serves. We will help with lifting and carrying materials, wheel barrowing, bricklaying, sawing, nailing, painting, cleaning and clearing up behind the professional builders we will be working alongside. Some volunteers, of course, may prefer to play with the children who will gather round as soon as we arrive and love us to play music and games and have fun with them.Other Partners we will also work with ECZ and other Christian partners on a number of holisticprojects. These will include programmes to help vulnerable people and children a trisk, clinics providing medical care, food for those living in slums, health education teaching basic hygiene and health care. We will visit a “child dump centre” where babies and young children who have no one to look after them are literally “dumped”.We will also work alongside local churches to show the Jesus film and tell the gospel message to people who have never heard any “good news” before!
Travel - we fly to Lusaka, which is about a 15 hour total journey time from Heathrow with a changeover at a major international airport to catch a plane into Zambia. You are collected by the Mission Direct staff team (ME) at the airport. It is only a ½ hour drive to our guest house, which is on the east side of Lusaka. W e will have short drives each day to projects in Lusaka and the nearby villages. At the end of the trip we will drive down to Livingstone on a boarder with Zimbabwe to see the Victoria Falls and visit a game park (I will do this about 6 times). It is a 6 hour journey on a reasonable road through arural African landscape; past farmers tending their fields, mud houses andox carts, sights which have changed little in centuries. We then plan to flyback from Livingstone.
Doesn't it sound wonderful - do come and join one of the teams
Mission Trips to Zambia now running
Come and join Mission Direct on a trip to Zambia in Summer 2009. For dates in 2009 check with www.misiondirect.org .
The main project: As a result of HIV/AIDS and the economic situation there are many orphans and children at risk, without family provision of food, shelter, health care or education. It is these most vulnerable that we are seeking to help.We are planning to work with the Evangelical Church in Zambia (ECZ) one ofthe three mainstream Christian churches in Zambia, to help improve the facilities at a school they are running for kids from the shanty town of Kaunda Square. They have been running the school for almost 8 years now. The schoolis operating in a converted residential house, squeezing in over 100 pupils. Last year the council temporarily closed the school because they were not happy withthe size of the school buildings, lack of space and poor facilities. The childrenhad nowhere else to go to school and it was re-opened, but they have been unable to enroll any more orphans or other vulnerable children, because of the lack of space and facilities. We plan to build one or two more classrooms, toilets and improve the school to accommodate more children from the shanty community it serves. We will help with lifting and carrying materials, wheel barrowing, bricklaying, sawing, nailing, painting, cleaning and clearing up behind the professional builders we will be working alongside. Some volunteers, of course, may prefer to play with the children who will gather round as soon as we arrive and love us to play music and games and have fun with them.Other Partners we will also work with ECZ and other Christian partners on a number of holisticprojects. These will include programmes to help vulnerable people and children a trisk, clinics providing medical care, food for those living in slums, health education teaching basic hygiene and health care. We will visit a “child dump centre” where babies and young children who have no one to look after them are literally “dumped”.We will also work alongside local churches to show the Jesus film and tell the gospel message to people who have never heard any “good news” before!
Travel - we fly to Lusaka, which is about a 15 hour total journey time from Heathrow with a changeover at a major international airport to catch a plane into Zambia. You are collected by the Mission Direct staff team (ME) at the airport. It is only a ½ hour drive to our guest house, which is on the east side of Lusaka. W e will have short drives each day to projects in Lusaka and the nearby villages. At the end of the trip we will drive down to Livingstone on a boarder with Zimbabwe to see the Victoria Falls and visit a game park (I will do this about 6 times). It is a 6 hour journey on a reasonable road through arural African landscape; past farmers tending their fields, mud houses andox carts, sights which have changed little in centuries. We then plan to flyback from Livingstone.
Doesn't it sound wonderful - do come and join one of the teams
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Before I go
My niece Harriet is blogging from Ethopia so I thought I would also have a go.
June is now getting nearer, flights are booked, vaccinations are up to date and Malaria tabs are in process of being organised. I've even visited my dentist and asked for a print out of my details in case I get swallowed alive by a crocodile or other such calamity falls upon me.
Today is my last day free day at the YMCA Gym - will have to pay to carry on as I don't think I will be winning the yrs free membership, but hey ho its been fun and I've certainly got fitter so will try and carry it on until I go.
Bye for now
Carol
June is now getting nearer, flights are booked, vaccinations are up to date and Malaria tabs are in process of being organised. I've even visited my dentist and asked for a print out of my details in case I get swallowed alive by a crocodile or other such calamity falls upon me.
Today is my last day free day at the YMCA Gym - will have to pay to carry on as I don't think I will be winning the yrs free membership, but hey ho its been fun and I've certainly got fitter so will try and carry it on until I go.
Bye for now
Carol
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