Last five days

Two months ago I was busy preparing to come back to Zambia, on Saturday I will be flying back to the UK. Its been eventful - lots of love, joy, hugs but some sad times as well.

Last week Chama Mwelwa who I talked to last Monday when we visited the boys who live on the street was brought into the Fountain, he was very ill, so Kenny and Vasco carried him to the local clinic. Unfortunately poor Chama died on the way, we believe it was Malaria. This became a time of real stress for Vasco as they had to arrange the funereal etc - no easy task when you have no money. They found a sister who lives in one of the poorest compounds, Misi she lives with granny. Thank God i didn't go to Livingstone as I was able to go with Vasco and Kenny on Friday, we found a coffin, got the paper work organised and burial plot purchased, transport was found for a crowd of street boys, family and friends. The boys dug the grave and took the service which was incredibly moving. We all had to walk around the coffin before it was lowered into the ground then once it had been covered flowers were placed on top. During the whole time, when we were travelling and at the graveside everyone was singing. Back at the funereal home granny (who was blind) was playing a drum and all the ladies started dancing with us. We couldn't stay long as Vasco and Kenny were on their knees as they had been at the funereal home overnight.

So from the sad to the happy, Vincent and Rosanna got married on Saturday and i was privileged to attend their wedding. Vincent is a Catholic so it was a beautiful mass, then in the evening there was a wonderful reception for all their family and friends. Vasco escorted me which was a blessing as I was the only white person there. We shared a table with Vincents friends and had a wonderful evening, lots of dancing and laughter a really joy filled occasion.

This afternoon I'm going out with Barbrah when she goes home care visiting, I'm not sure what I'm doing the rest of the week, we are going to Lliayi on Wednesday and I'm going with Emmanuel and Jemma down town for T-bone steak and chips on Thursday.

So this is my last blog, I thank you all for your prayers, I can only be here by the grace of God.

Love Carol

Zambia

We are nearly at the end of Team 2, they go off to Livingstone tomorrow but for me I'm staying behind. I'm going to Vincent and Rosanna's wedding on Saturday and there are some things a girl just has to do.... like hair... nails etc. I'm so looking forward to going - its been a long wait for them both and its still really hard as Vincents not been paid for about 3 months now. I will tell you more about it next week.

Can you believe I only have one more week here. Its now saying goodbye everywhere I go, which I'm finding really hard as it seems that I've only been here for a little while.

Yesterday I had my final visit to the market where the street children live, I had to be rescued several times - I kept getting into conversation and then loosing the team. Luckily Vasco and Kenny were there to keep an eye on me. Kenny in the end just kept hold of my hand until I got back onto the coach. There weren't so many street children this time, it was a bank holiday and Lusaka Agric show so most of them had gone there - Sharon and a few of the others were around.

I'm not here for very long as I have to shop for bottled water etc to take down to Livingstone but I wanted you all to know that I'm okay.

This morning I will be going over to the building site at Garden Hill then we go to Kumbayah to help serve lunch to the school children - we are expecting about 500 so it will be a busy time for the team.

So I need to say goodbye for now, I will try and blog again when I come back to shop - I'm doing this instead of having a coffee!!