The Writing Activity

A few sponsored students have agreed to do some journaling—about who they are, their dreams, their disappointments and daily life in Zambia. They have given me permission to share this with you.

Mohammed is twenty years old and is an excellent grade 11 pupil at Mwaata Day High School sponsored by Darwin and Nelda Benton. Mohammed scored ten points on his most recent report and has very good behaviour. Both his parents died in 2005 of the pandemic.

This is an excerpt from his book this week.

I wish to tell you about my last born sister. Her name is Written Chondonda. She is ten years old and she is doing grade 2 at Smakakasikili Basic School. Now what worries me is that she stays with my grandmother who cannot do anything for her, absolutely nothing, not even buying clothes. It is me who buys for her when I get piece work. I provide books and pencils for her.

In the village you find that the school is very far away from home, some kilometres from home. Now she has to move some distance barefooted without eating breakfast up to 12:00 hours when she will have lunch. As I am speaking they rely on wheat. There is a certain kind of wheat that cannot be processed into flour that they are given as relief from World Vision. Every two months they are given forty kg.

She carries twenty litres of water from a distance of some kilometres, not that she is forced, but because there is no one to do that work. Now this worries me a lot because I don’t know if she understands the situation because she is still young and I don’t know how she feels when she mixes with her other friends whose parents are still alive and give total support to their children.

She feels very happy whenever she sees me because I am like her father. It is me who provides for her. I want her to be educated so that we can both support ourselves and other family members, even other victims if possible.

So that is what worries me about her.
Mohammed Chondonda

This Week in Zambia

On Monday our friends, Jean Webster and Nomazulu left us to return to Zimbabwe. We had four wonderful days together discussing many aspects of God’s work and in particular the ZOE model of orphan care. The Siabalumbi community is excited about the prospect of being able to implement some of what Jean and Noma shared with us.

Please continue to pray for Jean and Noma and the ZOE work both in Zimbabwe and in Zambia as it has much potential for improving the lives of orphans and vulnerable children.

Tuesday we headed to Katungu to check on the progress of the second 1 x 3 classroom building. Below is a picture (ed: I'll include the picture when I get it!) of Mr. Daka and Patrick finishing the floor in one of the three classrooms. Mr. Daka is a very focused worker and does very good work—but because he is good, he has many jobs so work moves along slowly. We are grateful for his craftsmanship and have been trying on many occasions to encourage him in his spiritual walk.

Wednesday we were baking in the sun (+35 in the shade!) at Siabalumbi as we inspected their second 1 x 3. The building still requires some work in order for it to be completed. We are trying to assist the headmasters both at Katungu and Siabalumbi with getting their schools up to government standards so their students can write their grade 7 exams at their own schools about a month from now.

The good, the bad and the ugly!

The good

Many pupils arrive for their Saturday volunteer work. Slowly, slowly I am collecting the term 1 and 2 report cards for 2008. Meanwhile I get to visit with each kid; we talk about how to improve (much like I did with our own kids!). Then in the afternoon Richard and I attend the Kalomo High School (KHS) Church of Christ graduation party. So much fun with speeches, dancing and food. ZMF-C kids have done so well and they are SO GRATEFUL for their sponsorship. Thank you sponsors! Photo below – KHS graduation party. A lot of toilet paper goes into these fancy decorations!
The bad
Hezron (KHS) is sick this week. He’s been fighting bilharzia for a few months. He has a follow up appointment in Zimba in October and I shall accompany him to hospital so I can get the lowdown on what is happening with him. They now say he has a growth on his kidney? Timmy (NCSS) is sick and so I’ll need to catch up with him tomorrow.

Also, last night there was a riot at Kalomo High school and several kids (boys) are now in jail, but not our ZMF-C kids. There are over 1000 kids at this boarding school. The days have been extremely hot, exam schedules are out so tension has been building. Some of those in jail are grade 12’s who will not get to write their final exams. So bad, so sad.

The ugly
I really like the Mbumwae dogs, Tripod and Tarra, but I really do not like the cat. It is very stupid! This morning, a couple of hours before the kids arrived, while I was doing some cleaning and organizing, I found that the cat had dragged a half eaten kitten onto the bathroom window ledge. I thought the dogs had done the damage, but now since I found the cat eating the brains of another kitten tonight, I think it was the mother cat who is the killer. I gave the cat a whack with the broom and Richard buried the second kitten today! Sick animal! Stupid thing! Richard and I killed a rat in the house earlier this week, so the cat is really dumb, it’s not earning its keep at all!

ZOE

Kamwamba,

I hope that your week has gone well. We’ve had a variety of activity and are 98% finished with payment of term three fees. Now, I’m just trying to catch up with each student to review report cards and the volunteer work situation! As we’ve said before the ZMF-C kids are an exceptional group! I even saw one kid achieve a 100% this week—can you imagine? The 100% was in History and he just happens to live with a history teacher. That is Mohammed Chondonda at Mwaata High School—and there was no cheating!

Since Thursday we’ve been visited by Jean Webster and Nomazula Nares of ZOE (Zimbabwe Orphans through Extended Hands). After we’d introduced ourselves we were anxious to get the lowdown on the political climate in Zimbabwe. Things are not good—this is a nation that needs the prayers of the world! Many are suffering daily.

I had not met Jean before, but had heard of her through Joan and Steve Mann and through Doug Funk (Solon Foundation). I had read and been praying about her work and really thought that she needs to come to a community that we are working with—Siabalumbi. She took the offer; we and Siabalumbi are grateful!

ZOE has been operating for about fourteen years and with the Lord heading this work approximately 67,000 orphans in Zimbabwe have been cared for in their own communities. Jean has many great connections in Zimbabwe through her work in UNICEF, and has spoken on this model in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Thailand and even in Toronto, Canada at the 2006 AIDS conference.

Yesterday, about twenty church leaders from various denominations gathered at Siabalumbi as Jean and Noma shared about ZOE—a community based approach to orphan care.
At the end of the session, and after the headman, Mr. Dickson, had given his final round of appreciation, such enthusiasm had built that the various church and community leaders continued to meet so that a plan for the future of Siabalumbi could be sketched out!

Praise God for the vision and prayerfulness of women like Jean and for church leaders like Samuel Moono and the others who walked long distances to gather. It was so wonderful to watch the various church leaders discuss together how they could continue to work together on the issue of orphan care!

Last night on our porch Richard, Jean, Noma and I were encouraged by a choir of thirty-five under the leadership of one of our grade 11 sponsored students, Steward. What great voices and actions to go with them! Richard gave an encouragement lesson, because he was apparently on the program. He had six minutes to prepare!

Richard and I continue to audit two university of Harding classes each morning from 0630 – 0800. We are taking Tonga and African History and Literature. The classes are wonderful! If there was only a Tim Horton’s on the way—that would be perfect! Sometimes, if the power has been on I take a coffee (instant) made at home and Richard takes his tea! The mornings are chilly and we sit outside—so a hot drink is nice! The dogs always follow us and Richard ends up spending the start of each class trying to gruffly chase them away. At least one of them usually finds their way back—and sits nearer to me!

If you have time, look up ZOE on the internet (ZOE itself does not have a website – but if you type in Jean Webster and ZOE you will find information). One good source at this time is at:
http://www.viva.org/?page_id=164
Excellent work!

Greetings from Rich

Hello to all of you,
It is now two weeks to the day that we landed on the Zambian soil. Life has been busy here but not as hectic as it was last time. We are much more familiar with the work and the Zambians would say that we are getting uset. We have enjoyed our first two weeks. Much of the time has been spent with the sponsored students—paying their fees, listening to their problems, visiting and laughing with them, mentoring them, and just trying to be a parent when needed. This helps to fill the void that we feel in not being with our own children, and family. If you haven't already done so, check out Goodson's story. It helps to explain the struggle that many young people face here. It is written by Goodson and so you will get the story firsthand.

Last night we enjoyed some Friday evening entertainment. Steward, a sponsored student in grade 11, is the choir master for the secondary here at Namwianga. So, thirty-five students showed up here last night under the carport for a performance and devotion. As well, nine of the male students from within the group did a couple of songs. I was asked to preach and so it was a good thing that they asked me six minutes before the scheduled time so that I could prepare. It was fun to have our own concert, and the night ended with Mom serving chocolate cake to all who attended. The cake was so good that I think they may ask for a second chance to present.

As well, this week, we have had two visitors with us from Zimbabwe. Jean Webster and Noma have been here to share information on a model that they have been promoting for the care of orphans. Jean has been working with this model for ten years now in Zimbabwe and more than 70,000 orphans are being cared for through the work. Sue found out about this project on the internet. It is called the ZOE project. She arranged for a workshop for the churches in the Siabalumbi area. Samuel, the Bible teacher and one of the church leaders at Siabalumbi, invited church leaders from the area from various denominations. The workshop went from 9:00 to 14:00 and many attended. The information was motivational. It was good to see the leaders from the various groups talking about the importance of being united in their care for the orphans. We will see how the seed grows.

Today the power is on but there has been much load shedding. Most evenings this week the power has been off from 6:15 to 9:30. After that the power is usually on for the night but goes off about 6:00 am for a couple of hours. As well, the power goes off and on throughout the day. It seems like the power is mostly on when we are in bed or away from the house during the day. This makes it difficult to keep up with emails. However, we are comfortable here and have had water most of the time.

This morning twenty-three of the sponsored students showed up here to do volunteer work. They did laundry, house work, yard work, and delivered firewood, water, and maize to the muchembeles and mudalas (women & elderly) at Tumango. There are already a lot of hungry people around here. I do not know how they survive. Please pray for the hungry people around the world. There are many!

One of the boys was supposed to share a short devotional thought with the rest of the group but he failed and so Sue lead the devotion using Jeremiah 29:11-13. Please look it up, and meditate and pray about this scripture for a few minutes. I am sure that it will be an encouragement to you. We pray for all of you. We know that the Lord is very near and we pray that you will walk with Him daily. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead your will.

We love you,
Rich

Goodson's Story

Everyone has a story. Some stories are just not fair. This is the story of one of ZMF-Canada's sponsored students, this week.

Before I get into the story, let me share a bit of background. I’d been waiting for Goodson to arrive at Kalomo High School along with his 1300 plus schoolmates—as I’d paid the term three fees, but he’d not arrived on time. Starting late each term is not unusual, so I wasn’t too concerned. But, late last week just as Richard and I were heading by truck into Kalomo we passed a young cyclist flagging us down! It was Goodson! Finally, he’d showed up for school and has come to show me his report card—as kids with great marks can’t wait to do! Wrong! From the vehicle we hear Goodson’s story. It is 11:00 am and he has cycled 75 km on sandy road to see us. The day is beginning to get hot; it is now over 30 degrees Celsius.

After a warm greeting Goodson begins, “Madam, I need to speak to you about not returning to school this term.”
“But Goodson I’ve already paid your fees, this week, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you in school?”

Out of his pocket comes a lengthy tattered letter; he waits while I read.

Dear Madam;
How are you in the Lord? As for me, life is unfair. I have a problem which has gone beyond my understanding. I am writing to let you know why I did not write my end of term two exams. I was sick with stomach pain and headache. I went to the hospital and got medicine, but nothing happened. My illness disturbed me academically, because I could not attend classes. Later I told my class teacher everything about my sickness and he wrote a pass for me to go home. I went home two weeks before class ended in term two. That’s how I did not write my exams, but for now I am just okay, only that I don’t know how my life will be from now on.

My father chased me out of his home a few days after chasing my mother. The reason is because there is no food at home, so I did not prepare anything for him. My father is a drunkard, he does not buy food for the family, instead he spends on alcohol and tobacco, and when he comes he demands food for himself. So that day he found no food at home. He chased me after beating me up. Therefore, I went to Kabanga and took my younger brother and sister with me. When my mother was at home, we used to depend on a small garden. She used to sell vegetables in order to buy food for us. From the time she left, it became my responsibility for my young sister and brother.

As for now, I don’t know where to go. We can’t follow my mother because we don’t have transport money to reach the village near Mazabuka where she is now. Our uncle does not want us because he fears our father. So, I have decided to find somewhere to stay and to do something to help my younger brother and sister in terms of food and then start grade 10 again in January. This has come about because there was no way I could leave my brother and sister suffering while I’m at school. Not only that I don’t have school shoes. Please if there is any way you can help me, help me; God will bless.

Yours faithfully,

Goodson Chendela

Goodson & Dorica after receiving some help!

To say the least, at the side of the road, many emotions quickly flooded—anger, wanting to choke a father who beats his kids and wife. The father is a teacher, perfectly capable of supporting this family. Compassion—just wanting to help this very courageous and humble and very caring young sixteen year old boy!

Goodson will return to Kalomo High tomorrow, Friday. We arranged for transport (again using donations from our kids in Canada! Thanks!) for Goodson and his siblings to the village 20 km from Mazabuka where his mom is. The village is a safe place for the mom and kids, because it is the mother’s home village and far from Kabanga area.

I am going to petition Kalomo High School to transfer Goodson to Pemba High School for January 2009, so he can be closer to his mom and siblings. I will work with Goodson over the next few months to try to help him with the experience of beatings that he’s been enduring for the past three years at least. He is a very sweet boy and can have a very promising future!
And I will buy him new shoes!!
And I will not choke the father!!

Love to all – Sue K
Goodson’s story has been shared with his permission.

Settling In

We are thinking about you. Many ask about Tiffan—the daughter who visited last January—mostly it is boys who ask! They also ask about Aaron because most of our Sponsored kids knew of his health problems. They are very grateful that our family is well and genuinely say that they are so happy Aaron is well and for his wife and for us! We have seen many of our special students; some had come to see even before we arrived. Too special!

Rich and I are settling in after six days in Zambia. Our Zambia work permits made passing through Immigration at Livingstone a five-minute job—unreal! AND, all our luggage arrived—if you can imagine! We finally both slept last night so today our heads are more on task. We've paid for over two thirds of the students so far. I've reviewed as many term 1 and 2 reports as I've received and have had many pep talks with the kids!

This morning three of the boys (Daniel from Sikalongo, Oberty from Monze High, and Fletcher from Chipepo) were here bright and early. I made porridge for myself and the boys. Rich had mini-wheats (our only box! - and then he'll be into Zamflakes!). We had tea and porridge and then had a morning devo with the boys—too special. Daniel closed in prayer (he is another one of these extremely grateful and humble kids) with an excellent report card. Both his parents died when he was a baby and he lives with his blind, divorced aunt who has two of her own daughters to educate! What a grateful and pleasant boy!

I mended Innocent's pants yesterday. Innocent is a new student who I enrolled and he has the sweetest smile. He is in grade 7. He had come to me asking for another uniform and I'd just bought him one last January. "But Madam, my pants are short!" he complained, and sure enough Innocent is a few inches taller! When he brought me the pants the crotch was ripped out as well both sides were split. I found Ruhtt's sewing machine and had them fixed within thirty minutes. I had Innocent pick out the old hem and then I ironed them out and they'll be fine for one more term! Then, what does Innocent say, "But madam, my shoes have ended!"? I said for him to go back to the school, because I'd need more time to think of what to do about shoes!! What can I do about those? Duct tape?!

We paid fees at Zimba school—about a forty-minute drive from here. We have twelve kids there. We had lots of fun reuniting with them. I had taken a photo of Brittel's tongue last year after he'd eaten a green freezee and had the kids guess whose tongue this might be. It was a fun contest and the kids just died of laughter looking at the tongue photo!

Zesco, the Zambian power company has daily "load shedding" power shortages. They publish the times in the newspaper, but it seems to me that they don't always follow the schedule. Because we were jet lagged this week, lights out at 8pm is quite okay since for now trying to sleep is a good thing to do. I think we're recovered for now, but Zesco is not and will keep on with the power outages—tonight we had a cold supper. Hunger has set in early around here, poor maize crop—about 87% failure in this area.

For those that know BK - I saw him today and we had a short but warm greeting. He was at the bank (the bank was closed, but he was still able to do business through the locked iron grate!). What a guy!

I bought mealie meal for our kids who will come tomorrow—ouch the price is up and also the price of maize seed and fertilizer! As well, the kwacha is now trading at K3300 per dollar (was 3600 - 3800 last Dec/Jan). So, things are more expensive!

Richard and I are auditing two Harding classes (Tonga and African History) on Monday through Thursday each week from 0630 to 0800. The classes are very good. As auditing students we just sit; we don't put our hands up!

Well tomorrow the sponsored kids are coming early; I've ordered buns and we'll have tea and then get to work! I have two college girls who clean inside and some high school girls who do laundry. As well, some kids are coming that have had some 'issues'—that should be interesting and hopefully produce something better for the kids. We'll see.

Our friend Derrick Siapegwa, the goat boy, is ill and I'm not sure what his trouble is. I'll be seeing him again on Sunday; he doesn't look well at all. We may need to get him to a better medical situation. Pray for Derrick, please.

We think about our family and church family every day. We appreciate that we can do this kind of work together here. Richard is quite comfortable. Some of our chocolate chips are still in the freezer and he says he's given up trying to sneak them out because, "You've buried them at the bottom of the freezer," but honestly, I didn't! Anyway, they might still be around when I get some cookie baking ingredients and get an accurate Zesco power-out schedule!

It is hot here - we hung our Co-op thermometer in a shady spot by the back door. In the morning it is about 18 degrees and noon it is about 33. By 6 pm it is cooling back down to 18. It will get hotter, this is only the start of heat!

We're Baaaack!

Hi to all of you!

We arrived here safely yesterday afternoon about 3:00. It was a long journey and we are tired but in a day or two we will be adjusted. All four of our bags arrived on time with us at the airport in Livingstone. We were pleased and amazed. The bags were checked right through from Regina to Livingstone, and they still made it here even though there were plane changes in Toronto, London, and Johannesburg. AND, 99% of the contents were still in our bags! A few things did get removed from one of the bags along the way, but we are not quite sure what is missing. When we arrived at the Mbumwae's house, we were greeted by their dog, Tripod, and a power outage.

We went to bed about 9:30 last night and it felt great to be horizontal! I went to sleep immediately and slept through to about 4:00 a.m., which was about the time that Sue finally fell asleep. I stayed in bed trying to fall asleep once again, but it did not really happen. Our first visitor at the door showed up while we were still in bed this morning. It was one of the college girls looking for money so that she can return to school. The rest of the day has been very quiet so far, with no other door knockers. That will begin soon enough.

We have just been unpacking our things and getting organized. We went to church at the traditional 10:00 time this morning only to learn that church began at 9:00. One or two people kidded us about being on Canadian time. Since they have an evening service here, we will go early to make up the difference.

A college group from Harding is here for their first semester. They will start each morning with a Tonga class at 6:30, and then from 7:00 to 8:00 they will have a class on Tonga culture. It would be very good for us to join them if that is permitted. Sue and I set ourselves a goal of learning some Tonga while we are here, and this might be just be the ticket. We will see how it all turns out since early mornings are not really one of my strengths.

We are fine.
Love to all,
Rich & Sue