After our crazy day on Friday, we decided to take it easy on Saturday morning in Lusaka before traveling to Choma. We spent some time talking about our reflections on the previous day. Everything that we saw on Friday was so different from the norms we experience back at home that we struggled in knowing what to take away from that experience. Our goal is to take what we learned from MEDA and ECLOF and apply that knowledge to the economic development activities that we will be working with in Choma and the surrounding regions.
We began our journey to Choma in our Super 16 van around noon on Saturday. The trip took about 3-4 hours which went my very smoothly. We enjoyed seeing the Zambian countyside and just taking in all the scenery.
After unpacking our bags in the Brethren-In-Christ Guesthouse where we are staying, we went over to the house of Bishop Hamukangandu for dinner. We were served a lovely meal consisting of authentically Zambian food. The staple is a starchy, cornbread-like substance that is tasteless yet filling. You are supposed to break off a piece of this meal, roll it up in your palm, flatten it, then use it to scoop up the other food on your plate. We ate rice, chicken, rape, and salad, with cinnimon buns (admitedly American) and coffee to top it off.
Our team very much enjoyed Church on Sunday morning. The Zambian people were warm and friendly and seemed very happy to have us there. We heard native worship music in the Tonga language which was great! It was hard at times for us to follow the words, even though we had little songbooks right in front of us. The sermon spoke very specifically to major issues in the Zambia culture, such as multi-generational sin, adultry, the practice of relatives taking the property of a widow after her husband dies, and even the importance of naming children when they're born.
Sunday night we went over to the house of Ron and Erma Herr, the BIC missionaries we're working with. They have a small gathering of young adults that meets weekly. We had a great time getting to know Chulwe, Alex, Sidney, and Matimba.
Today we are going to town to buy food, as well as supplies for the paper-making activities that will begin tomorrow. We have a planning meeting this afternoon with 6-10 church pastors who will be providing some oversight to the paper-making training.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Cure International, MEDA, and ECLOF, on 4 hours of sleep
Yesterday was our first full day in Zambia. We spent our time in Lusaka where we visited the Beit Cure International Hospital. The hospital, which was built last year, offers free care to children who are affected by physical disabilities. Most children stay for a week while they prepare, undergo, and recover from surgery. While they are at the Cure Hospital mothers are trained and equipped to start their own micro business. With the help of the staff and a starter kid mothers are trained in tie dying so that they can sell their products and provide for their families.
After that we traveled to Kafue where we visited a Kennith, man who started his own treadle pump business. His energy and entrepreneurial spirit was a real encouragement to us, who heard that there was no spirit of innovation in Zambia.
From there we traveled 30km on beat dirt roads to a tribal village where we visited farmers using the treadle pumps created by Kennith. These farmers are clients of MEDA who are using the pumps to drastically improve the efficiency of their plots.
Clarance, a loan officer for the micro finance group ECLOF, introduced us to a group of his clients that work in a market in Kafue. It was fascinating to see how the group of 55 clients has used its micro loans to improve and expand their businesses.
The learning done through our various visits was more than anyone could possible absorb in one day. It was such a tremendously rich experience and I can honestly say I learned more about life and development yesterday then I typically learn in a semester at college.
Our time here in Zambia has had a great start and we look forward to traveling south to Choma today.
-Chris
After that we traveled to Kafue where we visited a Kennith, man who started his own treadle pump business. His energy and entrepreneurial spirit was a real encouragement to us, who heard that there was no spirit of innovation in Zambia.
From there we traveled 30km on beat dirt roads to a tribal village where we visited farmers using the treadle pumps created by Kennith. These farmers are clients of MEDA who are using the pumps to drastically improve the efficiency of their plots.
Clarance, a loan officer for the micro finance group ECLOF, introduced us to a group of his clients that work in a market in Kafue. It was fascinating to see how the group of 55 clients has used its micro loans to improve and expand their businesses.
The learning done through our various visits was more than anyone could possible absorb in one day. It was such a tremendously rich experience and I can honestly say I learned more about life and development yesterday then I typically learn in a semester at college.
Our time here in Zambia has had a great start and we look forward to traveling south to Choma today.
-Chris
in transit,
Airports.
Dreadful places that make you feel like your being scolded by your kindergarten teacher for something foolish. I found out that a Nalgene stuffed with electronics raises enough suspicion to call four security officers to the x-ray and have my bag partially unpacked.
Seven hours to England followed by an eight hour run-around London lay-over. London was a landscape of the medieval and modern stacked one atop another. Then ten hours of plane travel, and finally, Lusaka, Zambia.
The very kind Ron Herr picked us up in a Toyota “Super 16” van, a vehicle we will soon know well. Lusaka is a buzzing place. Vans, bicycles, and so many on foot. Men walk through traffic selling sunglasses, board games, and plungers. Cement walls are boldly painted with advertisements, of all colors and font varieties.
It is a place of extreme contrasts: strip malls, complete with a Shoprite and Subway, and new construction, as well as roadside peanut sellers, sprawling shanty towns, and brightly painted local stores. While buying fabric dyes, the man behind the counter is amused by our seriousness and the Indian tore owner convinces us of the fine quality of the product.
Our stomachs are full of Chinese food and the weather is beautifully clear and cool. Tomorrow we head to Cure International Hospital and continue to learn about Zambia.
We find ourselves quite worn out from all the travel but eager to experience what the Lord has in store for us. Thank you for your prayers.
-Lindsay
Dreadful places that make you feel like your being scolded by your kindergarten teacher for something foolish. I found out that a Nalgene stuffed with electronics raises enough suspicion to call four security officers to the x-ray and have my bag partially unpacked.
Seven hours to England followed by an eight hour run-around London lay-over. London was a landscape of the medieval and modern stacked one atop another. Then ten hours of plane travel, and finally, Lusaka, Zambia.
The very kind Ron Herr picked us up in a Toyota “Super 16” van, a vehicle we will soon know well. Lusaka is a buzzing place. Vans, bicycles, and so many on foot. Men walk through traffic selling sunglasses, board games, and plungers. Cement walls are boldly painted with advertisements, of all colors and font varieties.
It is a place of extreme contrasts: strip malls, complete with a Shoprite and Subway, and new construction, as well as roadside peanut sellers, sprawling shanty towns, and brightly painted local stores. While buying fabric dyes, the man behind the counter is amused by our seriousness and the Indian tore owner convinces us of the fine quality of the product.
Our stomachs are full of Chinese food and the weather is beautifully clear and cool. Tomorrow we head to Cure International Hospital and continue to learn about Zambia.
We find ourselves quite worn out from all the travel but eager to experience what the Lord has in store for us. Thank you for your prayers.
-Lindsay
Monday, May 19, 2008
Packing Party!
The anticipation and excitement for our trip to Zambia has been growing for weeks. Our journey into the heart of Africa begins tomorrow. Today the seven of us got together in the basement of Frey Hall to pack our bags and prepare for the trip. With a belly full of brownies and 13 bags packed full of clothing, food, and art supplies, we are all ready to go.
We leave Messiah College at 6:00 tomorrow night and head to BWI where we will be catching a late night flight to London's Heathrow airport. Then we have another 16 hour flight from London to Lusaka, Zambia.
Over the next three weeks we will be trying to overcome technical barriers to keep you up to date on what our team is doing in Zambia. We are extremely appreciative of all our supporters, friends, and family back in the states. Without your prayers and your support this trip would not be possible. We ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers as we embark on this journey.
Please pray that our flights would work out smoothly and that we wouldn't loose and bags.
Thank you!
We leave Messiah College at 6:00 tomorrow night and head to BWI where we will be catching a late night flight to London's Heathrow airport. Then we have another 16 hour flight from London to Lusaka, Zambia.
Over the next three weeks we will be trying to overcome technical barriers to keep you up to date on what our team is doing in Zambia. We are extremely appreciative of all our supporters, friends, and family back in the states. Without your prayers and your support this trip would not be possible. We ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers as we embark on this journey.
Please pray that our flights would work out smoothly and that we wouldn't loose and bags.
Thank you!
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