Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Kelvin Musole's big question

My Big Question is: why are there so many orphaned children? UNICEF estimates that there are approximately 145 million orphaned children in the world! That is crazy! why? and what is my role in that? These are my big questions?

Kelvin also has some big questions.

Recently, Richard and I hosted abougt 10 of our college sponsored kids at the farm for 10 days while they did their volunteer work for ZMF-C. (education is not free!). We shared some meals together and devos every night.

One devo activity I did with these ever so progressive thinking and hopeful young adults is to ask them to think carefully and write down what they consider their "big questions in life".

Many interesting questions were tackled including "who will be the right mate for me?" (college kids!!)

Kelvin's question: Why is it so hard for some people to get what they want in life and for other everything just seems to come their way?

I think my question and Kelvin's are somewhat similar. Maybe. Both Kelvin's parents were killed in an auto accident when he was 6 years old. He has one young brother and not many other close relatives. He grew up at Zyangale village area and performed VERY well at Basic school and so was chosen to be in the ZMF-C sponsorship program. He also did well at Zimba High School so was accepted into Evelyn Hone College.

Now, Kelvin is studying Library Technology and there are still many obstacles. For the first term of 2100 Kelvin found that he was among 7,000 pupils at the college and only 2,000 get accomodation. So...what does a village kid do? He becomes a squatter. But....because of so many squatters he managed only to be able to store his luggage in a kid's room and slept most of the term on the floors of the school classrooms. And he had to pay K250,000 just to store his luggage! He was so distraught - he asked me to come with him to school for the start of this term to plead on his behalf to administration so that he can at least have a 1/2 bed to sleep on. (kids here have twin size mattresses and share with others!)

Richard and I have 4 adult children who have all gone through college of some kind. None have ever had to sleep on the classroom floor, or even worry about if they could go, thanks to the gov't of Sask and Canada and mom and dad.
We are blessed, they are blessed - our country is blessed!

So...Kelvin's question? WHY does it come so easy for Tiffany, ....and not for Kelvin? Why is she not an orphan who has fallen through the huge cracks (caverns) and has to struggle every day???? Somehow, its not fair for Kelvin at all.

The answer as far as I can see is that we live in a fallen world. Because of that, children suffer - all mankind suffers actually. Our own children are not exempt, although life looks pretty easy for them compared to Kelvin.

Life in North America and other developed areas of the world appears "satisfied" and " okay" on the surface - but there isn't a week that doesn't go by that I hear of someone who has died of cancer or someone is acting fairly stupid and leaving their family for another "love" of their life. I worked as a mental health nurse for 37 years and our ward was never empty - not even at Christmas. People feel sad and empty and suicidal - from all walks of life - doctors, lawyers, singers, politicians.

I think its important to look at the big picture. Ask the questions, come up with your own answers - but mine is that I need to know where I am, where I am going and how I'm getting there and to make a difference along the way.

Jesus - our Saviour did not plan for everyone to suffer - choices have been made and are still being made.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Thanks Alberta ladies for the baby bundles!



Village women who come to Kasensa house for aid for their babies appreciate the baby bundles that the Alberta ladies put together! This woman was overwhelmed and grateful for the gift. She cannot nurse her baby. She has a strange and rare condition where she doesn't actually have any nipples. I checked myself and she has aereola, but only indentations where there should be a nipple. This baby was surviving on cow's milk - which was okay, but recently the cows had become diseased. She will come again on the 15th of this month and we'll see how they are progressing!


Thanks Alberta ladies and keep up the good work - it makes a huge difference for the village people and they really do appreciate!

Aggie's family



Agness Siachobe's family comes from a family compound about an hour's walk from the village of Simpweze.


Simon Siachobe has 3 wives and they all have had many children. Some of the children have died and some of them have left kids behind for the grandparents to raise.


Agness's mother died shortly after childbirth and the dad left and never returned. Agness inherited HIV from her parents. She was started on ART when she was a very young girl - but she was almost dead when brought to Kasensa as a very young girl. Today, she is 13 years old and as I type she is repairing her school bag as term 2 starts tomorrow!


Simon Siachobe married the 3 wives before he became a Christian and then...he just kept the wives. Polygamy has many challenges and one is always how to only have one wife when you've married 3! (or more).


The family that remain are VERY hardworking and diligent and walking into their compound is like arriving at the garden of Eden! Bananas, mango, guava, oranges, limes, lemons, and even 2 apple trees. As well, maize, groundnuts, monkey nuts, melons....and cattle. Jonah, Aggies' uncle who is 30 year old and very articulate and a true gentleman toured us around and introduced us to the grannies (who are healthy and strong) and the various cousins and other kin....


What is Aggie's future? She is in grade 3, quite delayed at school related to damaged ear drums, related to infections as a baby (due to HIV). In the past year she's had both ear drums repaired at Beit Cure Hospital in Lusaka and she can even hear us whisper! But...she's got lots of catching up to do at school. This week I'll speak with her teachers at school and perhaps in the future she will be able to go to a boarding school and learn some other great life skills!

Timmy visits during holiday



Timmy Mbambiko - one of "our boys" has been staying with us on the school holiday. We've had lots of fun and he's a ton of help! Today, he cut Jack and Twaambo's hair just in time for the start of term 2 tomorrow!

He helped Richard sort through storage sheds and organize +++. He also is good at making our evening nsima and most importantly being a spiritual leader throughout each day!


Thanks Timmy!

Michael at 4 1/2 months!



He's gaining weight! He's now 3.75 kg and smiling! (sometimes!)

Thanks Tim Krogsaard from Webster



Webster is one of our builders for community schools. Tim, our carpenter son in Canada donated his safety glasses to Webster and Webster says "thanks Timmy!'

Alex, Molly, Timmy and Joseph



This afternoon -


Far left - Molly

Mouth wide open - Timmy (Molly's twin)

Right side - Joseph "Jo-Jo" - he's a TANK!

Centre front - Alex! If he isn't just the cutest!! He also has a very sweet emerging personality.

Alex's family



Yesterday, we drove 21 km. along the sandy, rough road off the tarmac from Zimba to Alex's village. There is absolutely no infrastructure in this part of Zambia. No electricity, no running water, no roads, nothing. Only clusters of small huts and one run down, but operational government basic school that also operates as a health post.






Alex is 9 months old and stays with us at Kasensa. His 23 year old brother, Modern brought him in July following the death of the mother. Alex is child #21 of a polygamy family. Modern is the firstborn from wife #1, Alex is from wife #2. Alex's dad died in January of this year. The first wife has 11 children, Alex was #6 from wife #2 and wife #3 has 4 (from this husband, she had 5 from another husband).


wow - family life in Zambia and other Southern African countries where polygamy exists can be complicated and strressful!


Since Modern is the firstborn of the first wife he has inherited all his dad's family responsibilities (the 21 children) and all his assets - the farm, 130 cattle, goats, sheep, a motorcycle and a toyota hilux that does not start without a push!


Modern graduated from Zimba High in 2010 and performed quite fine. He even got a 3 in agriculture science. He had hoped for college - not managing a verylarge family and a farm. These days Modern's days consist of overseeing the crops and cattle and ensuring there is enough to eat and that school fees get paid.


As we visited about how Alex might return to the family, Modern had one eye on a few of the cattle that were become unruly - and brought them back to quick order in a commanding voice to the cattle boy.


On his own initiative, Modern has made the 50 km. visit to Kasensa three times to visit Alex.


Alex's 4 siblings resemble him so much! So what can be done? One day Alex must be returned to his family.


On the surface, Modern seems to be handling the situation fairly well. But, there is some work to do if Alex is going to be able to return to his family. It is tricky to understnad or problem solve this complex web.


The best we can do is consult our God and our Zambian friends for insight, wisdom and guidance. Along with us yesterday was Timmy Mbambiko - one of our grade 12 sponsored students at Namwianga Christian Secondary. He also is a village boy and an orphan and headboy of his school. At 21 years of age - he is wise and humble.


In our short visit with the family and Modern there were a few points that were concerning. Although the children appear well nourished - not skinny or sick, we were left with a few queries and some incongruencies in the stories that were heard.


After some consultation with Modern, the two "mothers" - and also Timmy, we decided to have mother "#1" and Modern visit Kasensa in the next few weeks and also encouraged Modern to continue his visits while we are out of the country. When we return in September, Richard, Timmy and I will return for another assessment and will attempt to work with some church leaders in the area that could be a support to Modern and the family.


Modern is new at his job! And he is a 23 year old male! What temptations and challenges he faces! He has inherited huge responsibilities and huge assets. As we left to return home, Modern was headed to Livingstone on his motorbike. It was Saturday night. Only Timmy heard about the Livingstone trip - and didn't get an understanding why he was going.


Please join us in prayer for the challenges ahead for Modern! and for Alex and for everyone involved in helping this family and ones like it!




Sunday, May 1, 2011

Milk babies and thanks Katy and Owen!



Every 15th of the month aunties, fathers, or whoever the caregiver of the baby in need is, comes to collect 6 tins of milk formula.


Each baby has a unique situation. About a week ago a mom came on referral from the nearest Health Clinic. The mom has had 4 children in all - only the eldest and the youngest remain alive. She is HIV positive and her husband, the father of the 4 is in jail. Ethel came with her caregiver - and she is NOT one of the ladies in this picture. The baby who is now receiving milk from this program appears fairly healthy - a wee bit underweight and has a generalized body rash. The family have NOTHING. We rustled up a baby bundle (blankets, clothes, nappies) put together by some precious Alberta women and also gave her the first 6 cans of formula. Mom will come every month for the next 12 months - with the baby and the under 5 card that verifies that immunizations are being kept up to date.


A special thanks to Katy and Owen for contributing to this program! thanks you two!!

Measles and other things this week!












Sunday afternoon - time to write, have tea, and enjoy someToblerone brought to us by Ruhtt and Shepherd (gift from South Africa). The dog - Odie is at my feet, and a few of the college boys who came for "lunch" of tea and buns and leftovers have just left to see Mrs. Mbumwae to get their next term's fees. I'm even listening to Tiffany's recordings on the MP3 - Taylor Swift. The clouds have rolled in and the weather is cooling down - tea is lovely!

Another measles case this week, Michael. Joy had measles first, then Alex, then Abigail and now Mike. I think we've now become professional caregivers for the measleys! Joy and Alex both ended in hospital b/c we were just not familiar or experienced enough. I clued into the signals quickly with Abi and Mikey. A high fever is spiked very quickly and some minor rash type spots are noted on the face and chest and "koplik" spots in the mouth. So far, Mikey has been very good tempered about it all - not so uncomfortable as the others. I'll take him to the clinic on Monday or Tuesday(Monday is a holiday here). So far, we have it under control. I created an isolation room - not that I have to be concerned anymore with who might get measles - either they've had measles or have had the immunization. The isolation room is a room though where the aunty can just pay special attention day and night to the wee one without waking the other babies up!

















Last night Richard was late coming to bed! He was fighting with "insilibi" - biting black ants that had come to invade the house -they were only following the stink bugs who hatched in the millions. Richard was up late doing some e-mails and he noticed the ants. He used up 4 cans of Doom - (like Raid) and this morning we woke up to a zillion black little ant corpses inside the house and outside!







The college guys came by to play fooseball - but I made a deal that they could play if they were willing to pick up the broom and clean up the corpses! No problem -














The college guys have been here for the past week volunteering on the farm. We've enjoyed having them around - they mostly cook for themselves - and they come each evening for devo time. We studied the book of James together this week and had some very meaningful discussion with the 10 of them ~ and great singing. Last night I cooked supper for them - masala, nsima and cabbage salad and then we all watched "the princess bride". Timmy Mbambiko - one of our Zambian sons has been staying this week with us too - and he says about the movie "I know what they're going to say before they say it'." Definitely this boy is one of us!!






















We went camping this week with Timmy and Mathias - just to Livingstone for one night. It was time for some downtime and while the boys campfired their supper Richard and I went out to supper at the L'stone golf course for our 35th anniversary celebration. God is good - we are grateful!

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