Sunday April 27, 2008 and Tuesday April 29, 2008

April 27, 2008 Sunday

Pastor Sherman writing:

It is a day of rest much needed by the team. Well almost a day of rest, we did visit George Compound for follow up visits on a number of patients seen earlier in the week, but I’ll let the medical staff tell you about that.

Jon, Dr. Lynn and I left for church at 8:30 this morning. We dropped Lynn off at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Ndola, where she arrived in time for the English mass. Jon and I journeyed on to Twapia to find the Untied Church of Zambia congregation. This is the church recommended to us by Ron and Mary Sue Claus after their service in Zambia last summer. Ron and Mary Sue, you will be pleased to know that when we told some of the Elders the reason we chose them, they remembered you.

Rick, our very capable driver, did not know where the church was. We drove around town for a short time but could not find the congregation. Zambian men are not like American men, Rick asked for directions, and after passing a Mosque, a Jehovah Witness and an Apostolic Church we found our church of choice.

There was no one in the church when we arrived (9:00). But in the area behind the church lots of boys were marching in drill formation. The younger boys wore white shirts with yellow sashes, and the older boys wore white shirts with red sashes. Some adults were in uniform as well, and several of the oldest boys had chevrons on their sleeves.

This was the congregation’s Boys Brigade, something akin to a military corps, which is utilized as a toll for Christian Education, but also to instill in the boys discipline, team work and physical fitness. There is also a Girls Brigade. We had come to Twapia on the Sunday new boys would be enrolled in the Boy’s Brigade. On May 11 the Girls Brigade will be enrolled.

I was told by an elder of the congregation that the boys (and I assume the girls) wear their uniforms to special services, and to all communion services held in the congregation (they commune once a month).

We also saw a new member’s class being conducted, outside, under a shady tree. Jon and I were ushered into a gathering room at the back of the church, introduced to two visiting elders from another United Church of Zambia congregation. It turned out that the woman was to lead the worship today, and the man would be preaching. I was told that lay people attend clinics for preaching and leading worship, and that congregation’s then send elders to one another’s churches to serve in those leadership roles. This congregation had sent members to another church in the area to do this same service. The pastor was present, but was not preaching on this day.

At about 9:30 the room filled up with elders, and the pastor. Instructions were given for what was to happen in worship. We were introduced as guests from the United States of America, and the visiting elders were introduced as well. When everyone had their instructions we all went outside and lined up for the processional. First was a woman’s core of deacons. Each wore a red shirt over a black skirt, with a white color and turbine. Then came the pastor and Secretary of the congregation, followed by a lead deacon (a woman) and then Jon and I. The visiting elders were behind us followed by the elders of this church. As this was happening wonderful strains of song were coming from the congregation, the singing led by the choir. We lined up on the side of the church, in the front were the Boys Brigades, divided by color of sash. At 10:00 the Women Deacons leading our procession broke into song. Wonderful African harmony filled the air with the beautiful blended voices of these women. Then they started to process, with a dance step/shuffle. As they entered the back of the church the congregation stopped singing and only the voices of these women proclaimed God’s praises.

Up to the front we marched, led by these women who formed an honor guard on either side of the aisle. At the front we were seated in places of honor next to the Pastor and the Secretary of the church. Before the procession was completed, that is before the last of the Boy’s Brigades were seated it was 10:30. That was a sign of things to come. We had been warned that it would be a three hour service, from 9 – 12, but were told that normally it was 2 hours long, 10 – 12. The added honor of welcoming the Boys Brigade lengthened the service. We expected Rick to return with the bus at 12:00, and at that time asked an elder to go out and ask him to come back at 1:00. The bus was not there. The elder say it drive up at 12:35 and went out, but the team was on the bus prepared to go to George Compound and they asked for us to come at that time. We left before the sermon had even begun.

What we did experience was the wonderful songs. The choir was thrilling in their melody. The Deacon corp sang, as did the youth offices of the Boy’s Brigade. Prayers were offered, scripture was read, announcements were made, all in Bemba except for the announcement introducing us – this was in English. The offering was most interesting.

Two older boys of the BB held baskets at the front of the church. A wooden stand was brought out that had 11 divisions. We were told that guest placed their offering in #11. Then as the choirs sang congregational members brought their offering forward and placed it in the appropriate box. I gathered that the congregation has some sort of number system, like our numbered envelopes at home. If one had an offering for the Boy’s Brigade it was placed in the basket. I was told that the basket on the right was for offerings from women, and the basket on the left for offerings from men, but I noticed that rule being liberally broke by the congregants.

I went forward and placed by offering in the box, and then in the basket. I gave K50,000 for the support of the congregation and K20,000 for the Boy’s Brigade. The 50,000 note was the largest I had. It is something like $12 US, or about 6 times the average wage of a typical Zambian.

I was absolutely thrilled to worship this morning. The singing, the hospitality and the shared love of God made for a wonderful morning. But the day was not over.
Chriss writing:

Though it was Sunday, “school” was in session at OMNI Village. We drove to the new school building and nearly all of the students were there, in uniform, waiting to see us. Remember that the building is in progress, but the children knew to stand on the stage area. Finally, finally, I was so blessed with the opportunity to meet and greet each and every child. It is difficult to decide who was more excited! On behalf of all of our wonderful sponsors, I was able to give greetings to each of your children. The mail that many sponsors have sent to OMNI was hand delivered. And, all the while, the students were singing to us! I was able to update much of the information I currently maintain for OMNI regarding names and ages of children, as well as their home status. A very few students no longer attend OMNI school (they have moved to other districts), but we also have new students who will also need sponsors. The last names of most of the children prove challenging to me, but with the help of Teddy, our wonderful teacher, I was able to correct my spelling errors. Personally, it was such a joy to meet in person each child and observe briefly the personalities of these beautiful children. The pictures we’ve had on our bulletin board at church finally came to life for me. Those are not just pictures of random African children; they are real and have distinct personalities and are all so delightful!!!

Through the course of the day, four more children were sponsored. The good news is that there are just a few more children in need of sponsorship. So, if you are reading this and wishing you, too, could be a sponsor, please email me quickly (rossdds@verizon.net). I will be more than happy to help match you with a child upon my return!!

We then moved to the new children’s home, also under construction, where we began the task of distributing new skirts and pants to our children. So many were in such need and their faces just glowed when we gave them new uniforms. Many “struck a pose” to model their new outfits!

And in the meantime, at the village ----
Karen here: At 13:00 hours we drove to our OMNI Children’s Village to meet all of our school children. Each arrived in full uniform and sang for our team at the school site. We presented Melvin our child who was stricken by polio years ago with a new polio crutch as the ones that we carried from the states were a bit too short. He was pleased to know that we would be returning with the matching crutch as soon as it is available in town to us.

Our next task was fitting the children with new school pants and skirts, a very fun task.
Dr. Lynn, Dr. Jeanette, Gil, our driver and I went on to the George compound and treated about 25 people who were waiting for medications and wound care. We were unable to treat them earlier in the week due to running out of meds at the clinic. Everyone was pleased and yet 2 more medications will be delivered tonight as Foster returns to the site.

Even though today was a day off….business as President had to be dealt with back at the Lodge. Our architect just left and I am looking forward to the delicious meal that has been already served.

Tomorrow we will be off to serve the Koloko village in the deep bush of Mpongwe region. We know from experience that it will be a very full and challenging day.

God bless to all,

Karen
p.s. Colin, we are praying for you each day. Stay well and we send our love!




April 29, 2008 Tuesday

Pastor Sherman writing:

Sorry that we have not been able to update the blog these past few days. Our access to the internet became non existent. It happens here.

The first of our team has left for the US. June flew out today, to meet some obligations back home. Tomorrow we lose two more as Kevin and Dr. Jim leave for Lusaka to conduct business related to the club feet surgeries that have been scheduled. Chriss and Pastor Sherman will depart Thursday, and be joined in Lusaka by Kevin and Jim to fly back to the US, and on Friday four of the team will depart Ndola for a trip to Livingston and Victoria Falls. They will rendezvous with the remaining team members on Sunday and begin the long trip home.

It is Africa, and things are unpredictable. On Monday we held a clinic at the Koloko Trust, finding the health in this community improved over the visit even two years ago. There is a skilled nurse and aids working at a clinic in Koloko, so this village has access to health service that is not available to most villages. Our visit provided needed medicines for villages, one thing that seems in perpetual short supply in Zambia.

It turned out that the Koloko clinic was our last. It is Africa. The government health ministry in Ndola suddenly decided that they needed more paperwork and documentation of our medical staff than had been supplied. They refused us permission to hold the remaining clinics at government sites. This is their country, and we are bound to be good guests as well as servants, so the work we came to do is prematurely ended. Still we have seen thousands of men, women and children. Numerous active cases of Malaria have been treated. Several critically ill people have been transported to hospitals, and our witness to God’s compelling love, and the generosity of American Christians has been well received.

Several team members looked into changing plane reservations and coming home early, but discovered that Ethiopian Air had no seats available on the Addis to Washington flight, and changing to another airline would have been prohibitively expensive. So what to do?

Today the doctors and nurses made rounds at Ndola Children’s Hospital. We are happy to report that baby Peter seems to be doing much better. He was alert and has put on weight, an excellent sign. They will check on him again before we leave Zambia for home.

While most of the team was at the hospital Foster and I went shopping. We went to the primary market in Ndola that supplies items to the poor of this country. It is like a very large flea market with open air stalls providing nearly everything that one might need. Our primary mission was to buy beans for a bean clinic this afternoon (while the government can say that we cannot provide medicine, there is no permit needed to give away food). This was again one of those most unique experiences. Foster buys the beans from a shop run primarily by women. After negotiating the price the women begin to fill a large bag with forty buckets of beans. The final weight will be between 300 and 400 pounds. The cost for this bounty is K960,000. To that we add K3,000 for the bag and another K3000 for porters to carry it to the car. Everything went smoothly until the porters were carrying bag number 2 to the car. Only two of them decided to do the job, likely they wanted to increase their pay. Ten feet short of the car they dropped the bag and it split open, spilling the precious beans all over the ally.

Now it became interesting. Women from several bean stands all came together to help the women who sold us this food salvage the sale. A new bag was produced, and they ingeniously salvaged the majority of the food. Then they patiently picked up the remaining beans, sifting through them with fingers and sorting the beans from the detritus on the ground. The day was saved, and now four men picked up the bag and carried it to the car. What a parable of cooperation and mutual support was lived out in front of us this morning.

The rest of our shopping went off without a hitch. It was off to the mattress store (Foam King) to purchase two mattresses for the maternity ward in Kasongo.. It is a much needed gift. Deliveries are made with the mother lying on just the slats of the bed frame, covered only by the material she brought. The mattresses, mosquito nets and supplies we are giving will be a great aid to the moms giving birth at this site.

Following the shopping we returned to George Compound for a follow clinic (since it is considered “bush” and not government run, we could conduct one without the withheld permit. We arrived, but no one else was there. The gate to the community center was locked, and while a runner was sent to find the man who had the key (he was working in the field) we waited. Finally the key arrived, but still no patients. We decided to cancel the effort.

We drove to the OMNI Children’s Village. The first orphanage unit is 95% completed, and the first school building is nearing completion. Next Monday, when school resumes, they will be holding classes in the orphanage. The rooms they will need were cluttered and filthy. We made the afternoon into a cleaning servant event. The primary rooms were cleaned and emptied of construction materials (it is stored inside for security reasons). We cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. We organized boxes and bags of school supplies. We were prepared to fully set up the classroom, but were told that the cement floor will be polished and painted this week. The team remaining in Ndola on Saturday plans to come out to the site and set up desks for the first day of school.

After a long and dusty day we returned to the Setanga Lodge and washed the duffels and bags, reorganized and repacked all remaining supplies. Some will be returned to the local Chemist (pharmacy) for a credit, some will be donated to the Ndola Children’s Hospital, and the remaining items donated to Ndola General Hospital. It has been a strange end to a wonderful week.

The evening ended with a visit by Mildred Chisanga and her daughter Dorcas. Mildred is a pastor from Lusaka who was living in a rural village, a widow with four young children when OMNI first met her seven years ago. We gave her a small gift ($4.00 US) that paid rent and bought beans for some time. That kind gesture was received as a sign of hope, and Mildred began to look to the future. First she volunteered at a nearby hospital, then was hired part time at the OMNI school in George Compound, and ultimately enrolled in Bible College in Lusaka. She is now the assistant pastor of a key Pentecostal church in the capital. Mildred shared her side of the story with us over supper, and we were all thrilled to meet her. Hers is quite the story of transformation. Paul said that faith, hope and love last forever. The truth of that can been seen in the story of Mildred.

Before Mildred arrived the electricity went off at the Lodge. Our meal was by candlelight. Since they were going to a remote village with no lighting I asked if they had a flashlight. As soon as we figured out that I meant a torch, they said no. I gave her mine, given to me by Ron and Mary Sue for this trip. Immediately upon giving it away the lights came back on. A sign? It is hard to say no, considering how remarkably God has worked through Mildred.

Our remaining few days here will be different than we had planned. It will allow us some rest before the long trip home. We will be able to take a trip to Kitwe, and shop at the market there (quite a treat we are told), and we will hopefully meet Chris, the older brother of Memory ReMine. Memory is the Zambian son adopted by Steve and Karen.

More work will be done at the OMNI site at George Compound, and the staff will continue to follow-up with the mothers and babies at the Children’s Hospital. We also purchased supplies for the maternity clinic at Kasango, and those will be delivered this week.

It has been a fulfilling trip to Zambia. Most of us speak openly about wanting to see family and friends again, but even as we travel back to the US we will carry with us memories of beautiful people of Zambia, connected to us through service and friendship. Thinking of the work we did we can only say Sola Deo Gloria! (To God alone be the glory!).