Day 4 - Graduation Festivities

The graduates in their matching shirts and skirts

Thursday morning came quickly, and the Lord gave us a beautiful day to celebrate the graduation.  There were several last minute details that needed to be addressed before making the 90 minute drive back out to the church.  At daybreak, Jan remembered she was supposed to bring cookies for the reception that would take place after the ceremony.  In the states, a quick stop at the grocery store to purchase an already-made sweet treat would solve the dilemma.  That solution is unheard of in Chipata, so I woke to the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven.  Jan had gotten up early and thawed out some dough that she had prepared on a previous occasion.  We also discovered that we were short two chitenge skirts for the female graduates.  As a result, we needed to stop at the Down Shops (individual retail shops/stalls located in “downtown” Chipata) to purchase a couple more chitenges so Doreen Zulu would be appropriately dressed for the occasion. 

Lil’ Savannah and I laughed and talked in the backseat of Kevin’s vehicle on the drive to the bush.  We finally arrived and took our seats on the front row of the church.  Everything was ready – the certificates had been printed, gift bags for the graduates had been filled, the front of the church had been decorated, the reception meal had been prepared, the guests had arrived, and all that was left to do was wait for the arrival of Honorable Chief Mnukwa.  I would have my formal introduction meeting with him the next day, but he was going to be part of the entourage of officials that had come to take part in the ceremony.   I would finally get to see him face to face.  The program was wonderful.  Dan and Kevin both addressed the congregation and the graduating class.  Chief Mnukwa addressed many of his remarks to the village headmen in attendance. The area counselor and education officials praised the work that Doreen Zulu had done with the class and encouraged her and the students to continue with their progress.

15 year old Dani Zulu, class valedictorian

I can’t even begin to describe how proud I felt watching these adults walk across the stage to receive their certificates.  Please take a moment to watch the video of the ceremony even though the footage is a little rough.  Two of the students are husband and wife.  Their names are Bernard and Joyce Zulu.  Both are in their fifties, and neither knew how to read OR write before attending the literacy class.  Bernard shared his testimony last summer stating that his goal was to someday be able to stand up in church and read a passage of scripture from the Bible.  Joyce had to endure the mocking and ridicule of friends every time she prepared to come to class (peer pressure isn’t felt by the younger generation, only).  They thought she was too old to learn and was just wasting her time.  I am pleased to report that those same friends who were mocking are now showing interest in attending class themselves.  God is good! ☺

Click the link below to watch a portion of the graduation ceremony

http://youtu.be/tb0V1G4-u64

Toward the end of the ceremony I had the opportunity to address the congregation, the graduates, the village officials, and Chief Mnukwa.  All of the speakers that had gone before me began their remarks with the greeting, “Yomashopa” which is the English equivalent to “Your royal highness.” This is what I said:

“Yomashopa Chief (and I courtsied).  I am so glad to be here today to witness this occasion and play a small part in helping the literacy class.  I am motivated by a love for God and a heart of compassion for al of you.  The people of this village are part of my new family and Chief Mnukwa is my chief.”  

Everybody started laughing right away.  In my mind I thought, “Oh no!  What did I say that was so funny?”  I found out later from Justinah, my translator, that everyone was laughing at what I said because Chief Mnukwa CAN’T be my chief since I don’t live in the village.  I thought I was being respectful; they thought I was talking crazy!  Oh well, another mzungu mistake.   I sure am glad I can laugh at myself! ☺

The Chief (in the middle w/ red and white shirt), 
village officials, and entire graduating class

5 hours had passed from the time Savannah and I took our seats until the final song was sung and closing remarks were made.  Sitting that long on a hard, mud pew really takes its toll.  My tailbone was ready for a change in seating, and my stomach was ready for lunch.  The reception meal was very special.  In addition to the customary Nshima (corn that is ground into a rough meal and cooked like grits) and relish (cooked cabbage/greens in tomato broth) that is eaten most every day by the nationals, white rice had also been prepared along with a really tasty beef stew.  Our hostess even brought out the silverware, and we all ate with forks instead of our fingers.   I enjoyed my food and sat with the Chief and his advisors for just a while, listening to their conversation and laughter as the reminisced about growing up in the village together.  I went outside and walked around with Jan and Savannah as Jan passed out her chocolate chip cookies.  They were a big hit.  After more visiting and picture taking, we left.  The evening was still young, and I had less than an hour and a half to prepare for the next big event of the day:  my first board meeting with the Zambia Sisterhood Of Servants Board of Directors (ZSOS).

Day 3 - Back to the Bush

In January 2013, the first literacy class was held for 18 adults who are members of Big Tree Baptist Church.  Click this link from my blog post last year that describes in greater detail how the class was started: http://www.sisterhoodspeaking.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-four-sweet-sound-of-literacy.html

Savannah Jalowiec and me as we left the airport

Just a few days before I was to leave for Chipata, I received an email message from Jan Jalowiec.  Jan said that Kevin, Dan, Robert and Doreen Zulu were planning to have a graduation ceremony to celebrate the milestone of the students from Big Tree Baptist Church’s literacy program.  The students would be receiving a certificate of achievement for completing the Breakthrough to Literacy curriculum, and a big, village-wide celebration was planned.  The Chief, village headmen, and other government dignitaries had been invited.    I was overjoyed by the news!   Just nine months prior, the majority of these dear folk were learning to write for the first time.  I was actually going to witness them receiving their first grade diplomas.  God is incredibly gracious to me.

The Jalowiec’s were so hospitable.  Savannah, Dan and Jan’s 12 year old daughter, had given up her bedroom so that I could have comfort and privacy during my stay.  I enjoyed her company so much, and I’m thankful for her spirit and spunk!  In truth, she confessed that I was a little overwhelming when I greeted her at the airport with my very best ‘mama bear hug.’  The laughter, conversation and fellowship that I experienced with Savannah and her older brother, Micah made me feel right at home.  They are great kids – wonderfully respectful and fun to be around.  Ben and Eddie could learn a lot from them! 

I slept like a dead woman that first night but managed to resurrect myself bright and early on Wednesday morning.  Dan was instrumental in coordinating the logistics of my itinerary for this trip.  On Wednesdays, he and Kevin teach an afternoon bible study for the members at Big Tree.  I would accompany them and have the opportunity to visit Chinunda Rural Health Clinic, see the progress that had been made since the renovations of the past summer, visit with Mable Phiri (the head nurse/midwife), deliver the baby layette items that I brought with me, and attend bible study at Big Tree.  It would be so wonderful to see everyone again. 

Jan was busy all morning cutting out and sewing matching shirts that would be worn by the men as part of the bush-style graduation regalia; the women would be adorned in matching chitenge skirts.  One of the male graduates was a 15 year old boy named Dani Zulu.  He is small for his age, and Jan wanted his shirt to be distinctive from the men.  She asked if I would help her create a shirt pattern for Dani and cut it out.  I was delighted with my morning task and went to work visualizing, marking, and cutting out a pattern.  Jan stayed home to spend the afternoon sewing, and Savannah and Micah stayed home to do schoolwork and participate in a homeschool co-op activity later that day with the Tsoukalas family.

Jan, hard at work on the shirts

Dani's shirt pattern in the making

 I rode with Dan, and we stopped to pick up Kevin on our way to the Bush.  It was wonderful to see him, his wife Savannah and their daughters, Analiese and Gabriella.  Savannah is expecting their third child, so little Gabriella is going to be a big sister.  The last time I saw her she wasn’t yet walking, so it was a treat for me to see her run and play.  We stopped at the Zulu’s house to get Robert and Doreen.  Again my heart leaped as I greeted Doreen, Robert, and their children.  My goodness, how I have grown to love these people, and I am smiling as I type. 

drawing water at the clinic.  Praise the Lord!

When I last visited Chipata in July/August 2013, the landscape was completely brown, winter was in full swing, and there hadn’t been any rain in the forecast for months.  On this last day in April 2014, I was so pleased to see so much green still remaining on the horizon from all the foliage and grass that had yet to die.  I had arrived at the end of rainy season.  The heavy rainfall brings everything to life (including the termites and mosquitos), but it really takes a toll on the bush roads that Dan usually drives to get to Big Tree.  We took a different route.  The view was definitely more picturesque, and I just gazed out the window at the mountains in the distance and talked with Doreen about harvesting the fields of maize and sunflowers that we passed.  We arrived at Chinunda clinic, and the scene before me was familiar.  Dozens of men, women, and children were lined up on the back porch of the general medical building waiting to see Mable, hoping she would provide some relief for their ailment and some reassurance that all would be well.  The one scene that wasn’t familiar but that caused my heart to swell inside me was seeing the women and their children pumping water right on the clinic property.  Last summer I was blessed by the generosity of many Sisterhood Of Servants donors and was able to bring a large monetary gift with me to support the work that Kevin and Dan are doing in Malongwe Village.  A portion of the money that we received was used to provide layette items for the babies that are born at the clinic.  The bulk of the funds were used to install solar lighting in the clinic buildings, pay for contract labor to dig a bore hole, and have a solar well pump installed on the property.  S.O.S. along with two other private donors provided the bulk of the funding for the project.   Complications with the contractor had delayed the installation of the well last Fall, but finally the patients had easy access to fresh water.  No longer would clinic patients have to walk a mile and half to the nearest available bore hole to draw water for their needs.  I was so happy for them and for Mable, especially.   Dan told me that most of the water that comes from the bore holes in the area contain a bit of salt.  Our well had been dug deep enough so that the water the comes forth is really clean and sweet.  Dan called it “holy water.”  I just laughed and smiled at God’s gift to us. 

(click this link to see the pictures of Chinunda Clinic before the renovations: http://www.sisterhoodspeaking.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-five-painting-singing-and-solar.html

Mable Phiri, angel of mercy

Mable exited the building that we had refurbished last summer; it was now being put to full use as a maternity/recovery ward (click this link to see the before pictures: We greeted each other warmly.  It was WONDERFUL to lay eyes on here once again.  We chatted for a few minutes, and she escorted me inside.  Two women lay on recovery beds having just given birth the day before.  I smiled at them and offered a simple greeting, feeling the need to be discreet and not intrude on their privacy.  I walked into each room thinking about the transformation that had taken place just a few months earlier, and thanked the Lord again for the opportunity to minister in such a practical way.   I spoke privately with Mable about her needs, her family, and asked if she had any prayer requests.  I would have loved to stay and visit, but the bible study participants at Big Tree were waiting for Dan and Kevin to arrive.  I gave her a warm goodbye hug and told her I would be praying for her.  Thank you God for that woman and her unselfish, servant’s heart!  

There was much excitement in the air around Big Tree Baptist Church.  Everyone was anticipating the graduation ceremony that would take place the next day.  It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and step foot on that property once again.  I even commented to Kevin just how nice and “modern’ the bush potty was (I know that is a relative term ☺).   Atnes and Irene greeted me warmly.  They kept looking me over up and down and made an African motion with their hands.  They were indicating that I had gotten fat and stout in 9 months!  I could only laugh while my heart sank!  I think they were telling me in their own cultural way that I looked well (at least that’s what I’m going to keep telling myself…wink. Wink.)  So much planning had gone into having a successful graduation celebration, and Doreen was the foreman.  She was going to stay in the village overnight to make sure every detail was addressed properly. 

We left later than usual and nightfall was quickly upon us.  Dan had the unenviable task of trying to maneuver through the dark, twisty, pot holed, people and animal filled bush roads.  This was the first time I had been driving in the bush at night, and it was a REAL experience.  The night sky is black as pitch, but somehow Zambian eyes can see well enough to walk the roads and not fall in a ditch.  Without the headlights on Dan’s vehicle I wouldn’t have been able to see two feet in front of me.  Dan was doing an expert job of avoiding the obstacles along the way:  ox carts, goats, pigs, and people.  There would be a slight turn in the road, and before he knew it, an ox cart would be right in front, and we would have to swerve to miss it.  No one who walks the bush roads at night wears reflector clothing.   The only advance warning we could give to the people on the roads was the sound of our engine coming straight toward them.  Praise the Lord we didn’t hit anything or anyone or wind up in a ditch.  As we drove back toward town that night, the loveliest sight to me was driving past Chinunda clinic and seeing the flicker of lights inside the buildings.  Perhaps Mable was in the process of delivering another baby.  I didn’t know.  I was just glad that there were solar lights available to help illuminate the rooms so that the work of ministering to the sick could take place in a more hospitable setting.  I said a prayer of thanksgiving in my mind, thanking the Lord once again for allowing to have a little part in ministering to the people.

 
That night I lay awake thinking about the events of the day and how exciting graduation would be on the morrow.  I couldn’t wait.

 

Onward and Upward - My Return to Zambia 2014

Aren't these faces and smiles BEAUTIFUL?

The weeks leading up to my return to Zambia felt so different from those I experienced last summer when I was headed to Chipata for the first time.   My anticipation and excitement was doubled, and I just couldn’t wait to return and become reacquainted with familiar faces.  The trip I had planned last July was mostly ministry based – working at the rural health clinic and teaching ladies bible studies.  This excursion to Zambia would be lickety-split quick (I’d only be in the country for seven days), and my purpose was very different.  That will become evident as the journey unfolds.  I don’t want to give away too much,  so I hope you’ll keep reading along.  My prayer is that you will smile, laugh, shake your head in astonishment, shed a few tears, and ultimately say “God is incredible” as you experience Zambia through my eyes.

DAYS 1 and 2:  Ben & Eddie

I love Jacksonville International Airport.  It’s small, the flight schedules are really accommodating, and the airport is fairly quiet for 6 AM red-eye flights heading to New York’s JFK.  My first blessing came at airport check-in when I wasn’t charged the customary $100 for traveling with an extra checked bag.  The suitcase was filled with baby layette items for Chinunda Rural Health Clinic and a few missionary gift requests that I was bringing for the Jalowiec, Pestkes and Tsoukalas families.   I was glad to have a window seat and 2 empty seats next to me.  I prayed that the trend would continue on my transcontinental flight to South Africa.  The first leg of the trip was uneventful, and I arrived in New York with time to spare. 

I took my seat for the 15-16 hour flight to South Africa and watched the passengers walk past me one by one.  No one was stopping on my row.  I was so excited. Not only did I have an aisle seat, but there were two empty seats next to me again.  Then, it happened.  A family with two small children situated themselves into the seats directly behind mine.  I thought the mom and dad had a young son and daughter.  I would find out later that the youngest was actually a boy (the long hair and gorgeous eyelashes caused me to think otherwise).   I must admit, these were beautiful children to look at, but every time the youngest opened his mouth, something whiny and disrespectful came forth.  I had flashbacks of the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and the bratty girl named Veruka Salt.  This little child had the same whiny accent and the same similar complaints:  “Daddy, I don’t want to sit down.”  “Daddy, I don’t want the plane to take off.  Daddy, why does Ben (the brother) have more than me?  Why is this game so hard?  No, Daddy.  I don’t want to watch that movie.   Daddy, I want my iPad NOOOWWW!”  

Bratty Veruka Salt

Good grief!  How long would the annoyance last?  The answer was twelve hours.   The poor father was at his wits end with his kids, but his wife had ‘checked out’ completely.  I don’t know if she took sleeping pills, vallum, had a shot of whiskey from the flight attendant cart, or some other remedy to calm frayed nerves, but this woman slept through the entire flight and left her husband to tend to the kid’s needs. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t find satisfaction in anything the father had to offer.  About 9 hours into the flight we hit a patch of air turbulence, and that’s when things took a quick downward turn.

It was the middle of the night, and the airplane lights had been dimmed.  Most everyone was sleeping with the exception of the passengers across the aisle from this troublesome family, the ladies across the aisle from my seat, and me.  I stood up for a moment to get something from my carry-on in the overhead bin.  I could see the stir-crazy blank stares of my fellow passengers.  Secretly, we were probably all praying that Ben and Eddie would quiet down and go to sleep.  The father was becoming so frustrated with the kids.  They didn’t want to sit down.   Eddie, the youngest (probably about 5 or 6) kept getting up and down going to the bathroom.  Each time he got up, he’d kick the back of my seat or the father would grab the back of my seat in order to steady himself.  Once Eddie finally sat down, he didn’t want to put on the seat belt (remember the turbulence).  He wanted to sleep on the floor, but that is strictly prohibited by South African Airways.  When the dad told Eddie he couldn’t sleep on the floor, Eddie had another temper tantrum and started kicking the back of my seat again.  Once the conversation turned to violence and the language became more vulgar (the dad was threatening the kids within an inch of their lives), one of the male flight attendants intervened and confronted the dad.  I didn’t hear everything that was said because I chose that moment to push my ear plugs deep inside my ear drums, grab a pillow and neck rest, and cover myself with a complimentary blanket.  I was determined to try and get some sleep.  For the first time in my life, I actually thanked the Lord for the air turbulence.  The sporadic, herky-jerky, up and down motion of the plane seemed to balance out Eddie’s non-stop seat kicking.  

The flight was scheduled to land at 6am.  So, at about 4:30 am the flight crew turned up the airplane lights to begin the breakfast service.  The airplane came alive with passengers stirring, but there were no sounds of little voices behind me.  I was shocked!  Ben and Eddie were fast asleep.  Their mom had woken up from a refreshing night’s sleep and was engaged in happy conversation with her husband.  Once the plane landed everyone stood up to stretch their legs and begin removing carry-on luggage from the overhead.  I just couldn’t bring myself to look at the dad in the eye.  I was so annoyed, but he was all smiles.  The boys were still sleeping, and much to my chagrin, they looked angelic.  A passenger in the row behind the family initiated a brief conversation with the dad while we were waiting to deplane:

Passenger: “So what time did they finally get off to sleep.”

Dad:  “About 3a.m.”

Passenger:  “They really were VERY GOOD.”

Dad:  “Yes.  They had their moments, but they weren’t too bad.”

I almost choked on my own saliva!  I had to turn my back so that no one saw the grimace and look of disbelief on my face.  I purposed in my heart right then to pray for Ben and Eddie whenever the Lord brought them to mind.  Who knows?  They may both end up as the next president and vice president of South Africa. ☺

Day 3:  Back to the Bush