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
Monday, 29 June 2009
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.
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