Our Home in Monze
Saturday 20th
May
It is already Saturday
evening and I am aware that my posts are well behind.
I will therefore
summarise the past few days and maybe fill in the gaps later.
I am doing my best to
introduce Ben to Monze in a gentle but reasonably comprehensive way.
This has been helped by spending two nights at the priest's house.
Monze Cathedral, where it is sited is in the centre of town. Outside
the gate are stalls that soon become the market. The other entrance
is on what can be regarded as Monze High Street.
So everywhere you look
there are stalls selling groceries, food – including very fresh
chickens (the type that cluck and spread their wings!) and other
goods. Items are moved around on a variety of wheelbarrows and
peoples heads – much like Lusaka, but less frantic and possibly
with a few more smiles.
I am in my element and
friends greet me as I move along. So we meet Rasta Brian, a long time
friend who sells a few socks, a comb and miscellaneous odds and ends.
Like many, Brian is bright, but hadn't the money to complete his
education. Along the High Street I bump into Captain who was in
charge of the block making team when we started building the ICU at
Monze Mission Hospital in 2003. It doesn't take long for Jennipher to
appear and greet me emotionally. Many regular readers will know about
Jennipher who I met in 2004 when she started taking Anti-retroviral
drugs for AIDS. She has since been doing amazing work helping others
with the disease and trying to remove the stigma. She has been very
ill during the past couple of months and wasn't sure she would be
around to see this day.
OUR VERANDA AND GARDEN
Ben had some fun and
games getting a SIM card for his mobile phone. Well of course it was
getting it to work that caused the problems. He came to know where
the MTN shop was situated and this enabled him to venture out alone.
During one such occasion when he was at MTN, I bumped into Sichone. I
worked closely with Sichone for several years developing a stock
control system for the hospital – he was the stores manager at the
time. He is currently on leave – for about 4 months! Government
workers accumulate a special type of leave at the rate of 1 day per
month, if I remember rightly. After perhaps 5, 10 years or more they
can decide to take it all in one go!!
It was good to get to
know a few new priests at the priest's house as we shared meals - and
to renew my acquaitance with some old friends. There was a lot of
good natured banter and plenty of laughter as we shared stories. It
seems that Fr. Vincent – the new parish priest – is a Liverpool
supporter. He dreams of seeing Anfield stadium some day. I happened
to have a few photos taken outside the ground and gave him copies.
We moved into our
current accommodation yesterday afternoon. It is behind the Curia
(Bishop's offices). David and Lynda stayed here for three months –
I had imagined that it was quite a walk from town, but we popped into
town to buy food and groceries and it was no distance – I can't
imagine why David thought it was a problem walking from PIZZ School
from here!! (Since he never reads my blog he won't see this
comment!!)
THE CURIA
It is very peaceful
here, right on the edge of town. Ben took a stroll on his own down
the road yesterday and met Robert who said he knew me. Robert was a
general worker at Monze Hospital. He tells me he has seven children
an his wife has health problems. I am sure I will meet Robert myself
before long. - especially now that he is aware that I am about.
Having stocked up with
fish, both fresh and dried, a chicken, soya, vegetables including
impwa and lusala, fruit including guava, a full range of spices and
other necessities, we went for a stroll this afternoon in the bush.
We spotted a few birds on our trek including a small flock of blue
waxwings, a black breasted snake eagle and open-billed stork.
Everything is looking lush after the excellent rains. There is still
some water about in pools along the roadside and the fields are a
mass of meadow flowers.
Fr. Vincent popped
around to say hallo and stayed for a coffee. We talked a bit about
our lives and the difficulties faced by many – including his
family.
I am familiar with the
situation here in Zambia, but unless you meet the people and hear
their stories first hand, it is difficult to take in the reality of
the lives of so many.
I am happy to be back
among the people again. It is easy for me to feel at home, everything
is familiar, much is comforting, but there will be plenty of
challenges ahead. I look forward to the next few weeks and you can
follow me here on my African adventure – not so much a safari, more
a pilgrimage!
Take Care,
Chris
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