Wild Mushrooms

Tuesday 19^th November

It was 1 am when I turned in last night. Power came on at about 22 hrs and I needed a cup of tea before heading for the staffroom and internet. I used the opportunity to talk to Dilys and catch up on her activities.

This morning I intended to head straight off to Pemba, but just before I left Fr. Wilson came around. Fr. Wilson is newly appointed to Our Lady of the Wayside church and we only met briefly on the evening I arrived. It is important that we get to know each other a bit. So we chatted for an hour or so. He asked me if I would like to join them sometime when they visit some of those in need of food. I am keen to get a better idea of the situation here in Monze. I know that I will never fully understand, but I would like to see for myself, as long as my presence is welcomed. So I am very pleased to accept the invitation.

I have come to know a lot of Zambian priests over the years and most of them I have known firstly as people and friends. There are very few English priests to which I could make the same comment. It is probably partly the context in which we meet, but it is a privilege to have so many friends in the clergy – and many of them play a mean game of pool!!

I left the house at about 11 hrs and walked past a few empty vehicles that would be leaving for Livingstone - now now!! I said that I would wait to see which filled up quickest and then take a seat!! Eventually I followed a few passengers onto a bus – I was offered the front seat! A little while later I was ushered off the bus towards another just arriving. I was brought back because there was no room! This procedure repeated itself a couple of times until I was seated in the front of a bus which appeared to be full. I was amazed to find a working seatbelt and the guy beside me followed my lead and strapped himself in. After a few minutes and a few extra passengers we moved along the Livingstone Road - I hesitated to ring Jennipher until Monze was properly behind us. A hundred yards down the road we pulled over, we then turned and headed in the Lusaka direction. Fortunately it wasn't far before we stopped, took on another passenger and turned around once again. We stopped a couple more times before heading away from Monze towards Livingstone. There would be numerous stops before we made it to Pemba – 35 Km down the road. We arrived at about 13 hrs! Jennipher had been at the “lion” waiting from before I left Monze. However she wasn't entirely idle and presented me with two wild mushrooms that she had found whilst waiting. You might be thinking that two mushrooms is hardly a feast – but you would be wrong! The smaller mushroom is a solid lump the size of my fist and the larger was four time the size. I ate the top of this mushroom this evening and it was easily equivalent to a small punnet of mushrooms we would buy at the supermarket. I was a little taken back by the taste at first – probably because I am used to the bland flavour of most of our mushrooms. This was quite strong, but oh so delicious!! I hope that some of the hungry people around here will also be able to enjoy a mushroom or two – even if they have no maize. For me it is luxury – for them perhaps vital. I don't know how nutritious the mushrooms are, but at least they fill the stomach.

Jennipher and a lady from her group escorted me to Jennipher's house. On my own I would still get lost! Jennipher quipped that I could find my way from Zambia to England, but still couldn't find my way to her house from the road side!!

It was good to meet up with Jennipher' family again. Soloman was hoping that I had remembered his request for some new sandals – I didn't disappoint! Obadia was unhappy he had to take his shoes off at school a couple of days back and someone stole them. He was upset that he had to use his plastic home sandals at school – he took my backpack in the hope of finding a pair of new shoes for himself!! Everyone is growing – even since May changes have taken place. Maria is now about the same age as Selina was when I first met her. Selina is Maria's mother! Emmanuel is quite a little man now and he still often thinks of my granddaughter Amy who was pictured with him as a baby. His white mother!

The teacher who looks after the children in the pre-school was also there – he mentioned that only a small number of children attend these days. If they were provided with some porridge the class would be full again.

I must just mention the electricity today! It just came on for a few seconds and vanished! There was no power before I left for Pemba and I expected it to come on around midday while I was away. So I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived back at 16.30 and there was power. It lasted for an hour or more and I didn't expect it to return until about 22 hrs, however we had power for another couple of hours from about 18.30. This is the first evening when, as darkness descends, there has been electricity for lights. Torches etc. don't quite give the right light. Light should come from above and be available as you move from room to room. So it was a great joy to have that facility this evening – not to mention several cups of boiling hot tea!!

Jennipher now has a variety of buildings on her land – most constructed by her cousin Soloman who lives in one of them and is a great help in many ways. I checked on the pigs and goats and spotted a few chickens and ducks wandering around the yard. Jennipher was pleased to hear that my daughter Helen now has a few chickens – three actually! Though I doubt that Jennipher's chickens are named!

Jennipher wants to develop a business to make her less reliant on me. Her plan is to buy and sell mattresses which the secondary school children need to take to their boarding schools. A client has a spare shop which she is willing to let Jennipher use. On the way to the shop Jennipher showed me the hand pump she uses to draw water – her mains tap has stopped working because the water level is too low at the reservoir. She also introduced me to a family where the husband recently had a stroke – I was introduced and I said hallo.

At the shop owner's house we met her family which includes a child unable to walk or support his head without help. He goes twice a week to Monze where there is a centre – The Holy Family – which provides physiotherapy.

It has been raining now for the past four hours. At first the rain was very heavy with thunder and lightening. It is more gentle now, but still heavy in UK terms.

The first rain beat me to Monze by a couple of days. A good shower occurred on Sunday afternoon and it rained again Sunday night. In my naïve view this is a promising start to the rainy season. The cattle are finding a little fresh grass to eat and pools of water where they can drink. Tomorrow Jennipher will plant some maize. She has two cows and a friend with a plough – between them they have the tools to plough the land and do a little farming!

Take Care,

Chris