Quite some time since I've had time to jump on
the computer for any length of time, apart from our Skype conversations with
folks at the Jesus Centre Northampton on Sunday, then to Living Light and
Abundant Grace's agape gatherings on Tuesday, and also a catch-up with Josie
and George last night.
Well, it's been very busy since Len, Ian and Farayi set off on Saturday morning (understatement, but you get the idea). Pastor Nathan Nyirongo picked us up from Pastor George Banda's home this morning as George pastors a daughter congregation in town; a very new and small gathering (we have said we would like to join him next weekend).
On arrival at All Nations Harvest Church we were greeted at the car by a steward(ess) wearing black skirt and buttercup yellow blouse. She took our bags and led us down the aisle to the sofas reserved at the front (not very comfortable with this arrangement, particularly with the stark reality of poverty that we have lived among this week in this very building; too many divides, but this is not the time to protest). Hannah and I sat with Gladys, Stephen's wife, and Jimmy sat across the way with Pastor Nathan. Worship was in full swing, led by a dozen singers dressed in black and bright red or orange, and it was very uplifting. From time to time a lady, dressed in black and royal blue, would quietly drift between our table and the podium to distribute bottles of water and mints.
I would say that there were probably around 250 – 300 adults in the congregation and, apart from a handful of younger children, the absence of the other young people we had met this week was glaringly obvious. It appears that there is something separately run for the children in the school side of the building, but I'm not quite sure, but their absence was noticeable.
Pastor Nathan bought the word with great passion and strength. I'm
seeing a different side to this man who covers the church in Bishop's absence
and I can see why he does; a man passionate for the church and its people.
He talked about relationships and the need for unity: 'Where is your
brother/sister?'
The announcements at the end included references to the IT and
literacy projects beginning tomorrow for two weeks (hmm, that’s clever as we
fly home on Wednesday of the second week … never mind), and also that there
would be a ladies meeting next Saturday morning, which happens to be National
Ladies Day. Gladys puts her hand on my
arm, ‘Did Bishop mention to you about taking this meeting?’ No, but Len mentioned in passing that there
was a meeting they’d like me to be a part of.
Didn’t realise I was the guest speaker … deep breath!
Lunch was in the rest room at the back of the church hall, then Jimmy and Hannah spent the afternoon with the youth whilst I dived in to sorting through and logging all the books and resources we had sent over, ready for Monday morning. It's been decided that we need to set up a proper library facility where teachers and individuals alike need to sign out resources in order to make sure they don't disappear or get sold; a good idea as we need to make sure these resources, being all that they have, remain available so all get the benefit of them.
Having been indoors all day now, I decided to get some fresh air. The temperature outside had been in the upper 30s most of the time, but a torrential downpour just after lunch had helped cool things down a bit so it was now quite pleasant, some grey clouds still looming. (When I say 'quite pleasant', I'm saying it's now upper 20s instead). I had a little wonder around the complex, taking some photos and awaiting the return of the youth. When they came strolling back across the tarmac road, some of the older ones wanted to try using my camera, so we had an impromptu photo shoot; them all taking it in turns to have a photo with 'Auntie'. They are such a warm and caring group of young people; looking out for each other and showing such respect for their elders. I really am going to miss them! It’s amazing to have become so much a part of their lives this last week, it’s going to be hard leaving them. Something I have noticed in the time we have been here is that you don’t hear children arguing, squabbling or screaming hysterically. Probably because there is nothing to get in to a tizzy about, but it is a glaring reality. Really makes you wonder …
On our return home, Hannah and I decided to try and rig our mozzie nets up between the curtain rails, having had a bad night’s sleep the night before with them buzzing around my head. Success!! Then we prepared to link up with Northampton on Skype. It was so cool to hear Huw's voice; a voice from home, but strange knowing that we were being projected onto a huge screen for all to see, yet only being able to see our own faces. The connection wasn't wonderful so we kept getting cut off, but I think we managed to convey something of our journey so far, despite feeling extremely hot, tired and bordering on hysteria.
Monday morning two young
lads are methodically sweeping the huge church hall. I was curious to see how they would remove
the dirt. It was eventually swept in to a neat pile and then, yup, scooped up
with the hands and carried off outside.
I presented the reading books and CD players to the children and
principal of the school. They were so grateful and appreciative. It was
very difficult for these children to see all these books and then walk away
from them. 'Can you give me one,' was whispered from the lips of several
as they filed passed me, back to class. I reassured them that their
teachers would be letting them read them in due course.
At noon I met with six of the teachers themselves to discuss teaching methods, talk them through the reading and writing materials and how they could make the most of the resources we had brought over. They had many questions to ask about teaching so it was a good time of sharing experience and UK practice with them. Now being aware that there is a baby class and reception grade too, we discussed equipment that would be good to purchase for them which I could source in the next couple of days.
I then decided to take a stroll round to the IT suite;
the sun was so blazing hot and bright I could hardly keep my eyes open. 30+
people have been turning up for training sessions, most of them being local pastors. I didn't hang around long, but headed back to
gather myself for the first literacy class.
Nerves were beginning to kick in as I was aware that there had been
great excitement about this literacy class for some time and, going by the
folks who had been turning up at the IT class, my stomach was beginning to
churn. Good job no lunch appeared today
as I don’t think I could have eaten a thing.
The class was to be held in the entrance room to the
school. I walked round to find that
school was just finishing, the corridors streaming with lots of tiny people in
buttercup yellow and dark green, wide-eyed, whilst lots of tiny children were carrying
huge desks round to the room for me. Today
I received lots of smiles and waves; obviously getting used to me being around
now. One child was complaining to the
Principal that another child was speaking Bemba and was told to go and report
it to the teacher. ‘It’s against the school rules’ she whispered to me. ‘They speak it at home, so only English is
allowed in school.’
In the room, a teacher and some more little boys were
busy sweeping chalk dust and red African soil off the floor and wiping down the
desks. Then another young lad of about 7
years appeared with a mop and methodically washed the floor.
Well, it’s 14 hundred hours and there are only 3 people here for the class. Could this be it or should I assume others are on their way, after all, we are in Zambia. This is going to be a mission … I would like to do an initial assessment to get an idea of what people are expecting to achieve on this course, and to get a gauge of their levels, but not sure when to start. Finally, after about 25mins we got started as we now had 18 people in the room and had had to draft in more tables. I opted to open with ‘Muli shani’ (how are you?) which was obviously a good move. ‘Bwino’ came the response (fine!). All went well, considering the echo of young voices around the rafters above the partitions, the fact we had no light and there was little coming through the slats up near the ceiling, and everyone was now sitting shoulder to shoulder and knees to backs! We are now 29!! I was much relieved to get to the end of this first class, and quite amused to see 2 more turn up (just a little late lol). Well, tonight is going to be a late one planning tomorrow’s class; we have 2 or 3 complete beginners, some very strong advanced learners, and 20+ others in between :-/ … Must ask if we can use the church hall tomorrow.
Agness (the Principal) and Pastor Nathan were beaming with good reports about the class which was very encouraging, especially as the church is already making an income from this, but more so because one lady who came asked what time the Sunday morning service would be. But Pastor Nathan was concerned to hear that we hadn't had lunch provided today but we all assured him none of us had really had time or need of it today; it was so hot.
Tuesday, and I kind of get the impression there’s a lack of organisation or funds somewhere along the line;
biscuits and fizzy for lunch today ... hey-ho!
We met in the main hall. This was much better seating wise and, following the marking of assessments, I had divided the class in to four more manageable groups. If I thought it would be plain sailing from here and I could just get on with teaching, I couldn't have been more wrong; we had a power-cut which meant no lights and no CD player, and 8 more people turned up for the class so needed assessing! Don’t ask how I managed it but I did and everyone seemed to leave happy; I believe in miracles :)
After supper, Pastor George and his neighbour, Bwaly, took us to the Progress Medical Centre; a private clinic. Hannah had been diagnosed earlier in the day as having an allergic reaction to a bite so we were returning for her second injection of the day. In the car, before going in, we managed to get a Skype connection with the Living Light saints who were gathering for agape. It was great to see them all (another welcome taste of home) and doubly blessed as I’d forgotten Lizzie would be there (doh!). Driving home from the clinic we managed to get a connection with the Abundant Grace crew too!! That was so cool!! I even managed to carry the laptop in to our host house and introduce them to everyone.
Wednesday was another veeeeeeeery hot day! But the electricity was back on so we had light in the main hall, and in the IT suite the laptops weren't dependent on just their batteries so Jimmy, Simon and Hannah could continue to instruct people on the computers. A loaf of bread and some scrambled egg appeared for lunch today, but I was already teaching by then, and feeling quite sick as well, so gave it a miss. Keeping good hygiene here at the centre is a tricky business and needs to be of highest priority, but there is no running water in the building which doesn't make it easy, especially when needing the loo. A large bucket with cut-down squash bottle for scooping out the water acts as the flush, and we've bought wipes and alcohol gel for hands but it’s not quite the same …
Today’s teaching was much easier and straight-forward despite having two more new students (it balances out as not everyone seems to come at the same time, but we still average between 25-30 per session). Pastor Nathan came in for his usual catch-up with us at the end of the afternoon. We (and he) were shocked to hear that one of the older lads had collapsed yesterday. He went on to tell us Sanga had felt dizzy when he came out of the IT suite, but Nathan found him later, collapsed outside. They immediately took him to clinic where he was found to be suffering from the onset of malaria. Through this event, Nathan had discovered that not only had we been without lunch, but the orphans hadn't been fed either (the difference being, we went home to a meal at our hosts homes at the end of the day!) He explained to us the difficulties they had had with catering and house mothers and determined to sort this present situation out.
It’s always a breath of fresh air for me to go and sit out in the yard with the orphanage children at the end of the afternoon as I usually end up with an hour or so til our lift comes to take us home. Today was no exception and, having been inside for some time, it was good to get out in the sun. I went and stood where Hannah was sat with a few of the girls, chatting and watching the boys having a kick around. One of the boys immediately disappeared round the front of the building, then came back carrying a battered old plastic chair, ‘Sit down Auntie.’ Sitting listening to the girls chatting I decided to let my hair down to give my neck some protection against the blazing sun (incredible how hot it is even at 5pm). Immediately I was surrounded by many little hands plaiting and playing with my hair. It was very therapeutic after such a very busy day and I began to sit and reflect over the events and eye-opening situations. Young Katherine was in front of me, playing with my hair, smiling so peacefully. I was recalling how she was one of the first little girls I had spoken to when I arrived here and had said to me, ‘I want you to take me’, and how I couldn't get her to smile, but here she was, constantly smiling and content. As I studied her I noted her extremely grubby buttercup yellow school blouse, her dusty dirty holey green skirt, and her bare soiled feet (she often asks me to buy her boots, but where do you start when she’s one of many here). The thought of them having had no food, and how susceptible they are to disease (and death) it was suddenly too much and I had to excuse myself to go to the ‘toilet’ for a few minutes to compose myself. As Nathan had said in an email to me some months ago, the needs of the orphans here are many and finances are stretched. Let’s hope these projects truly make the impact they need to make on the lives of these young people.
Hannah and I had a slower start to the day today (Thursday). We had risen early to go in to town when George dropped Jimmy to the coach station, but he forgot us. It was probably a bit of divine intervention as I had been quite unwell the night before; something had seriously disagreed with me. The medicine we had brought with us was, fortunately, very effective so all was well, but the chill probably did us good.
We headed in to town for a few more bits for the projects and grabbed a sandwich while we were at it as felt we were in need of something today, and grabbed some bottled water too. This turned out to be good planning. Food we could survive without, but don’t plan to get dehydrated in this heat; would render us useless to everyone and an extra burden they sure can do without.
Again, the literacy class went well, but folks are beginning to ask what will happen when I return to the UK. Indeed, what will happen? Pastor Nathan has vision to continue the class, but it will probably fall to him to man it. I have said I will introduce the learners to some very good educational websites next Monday before I go, so they can access some self-study sites too at their leisure.
Went to sit out with the children again this afternoon. Clouds were gathering in the distance and a few rumbles of thunder were resounding but it was still very pleasant to be sitting out. The older boys were, again, having a kick around. I took my laptop out so that I could get them all to help me spell their names correctly against some of the photos I had posted on Facebook. Sanga came strolling out of the orphanage; it was so good to see him on his feet again. He said the medication was working well. I asked if this was the first time he had had a bout like this but he said not. He said that all African’s probably carry the parasite; it was something you have to accept in life because of the presence of mosquitos, so you just have to deal with it when it knocks you down. The lack of food the last two days probably hadn't helped.
I had brought several snack packs of apricots out. I had brought them in my suitcase but hadn't fancied them. Sanga immediately took charge and shared them out, instructing the other children, in Bemba, who was to share with who as there weren't enough for everyone. No-one argued, and did exactly as they were told so that everyone had some and no-one took more than their fair share. He’s 15 years old, and quite a shepherd among this little flock. Will be good to see how God uses this young man – had had some interesting conversations with him over the weekend. He noted that I was on Facebook and said he had an account he got to check occasionally; I added him as a friend – will be one way of keeping a connection with the others through him.
They wanted to see pictures on my computer of England and to see what English money looked like, so I showed them and compared it to kwacha. They are so fascinated by it all; this other world. They noted my passport in my bag and jokingly asked if I could get home without it … hmmm.
The thunder clouds were now gathering and Pastor George had arrived to take us home. Looks like we’re in for some rain tonight, but boy don’t we need it!
Amazing blog. Just read it to some of us here at Cornerstone.
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