8th August 2012
For the first
time since 2003 I will have spent a full year away from Zambia. I am
planning to return again in mid-September. Although 5,000 miles away
I keep in touch and every week I speak to someone in Zambia. Very
often – like today - I speak to several of my Zambian friends
during the day – the wonders of modern technology!
I have been
spurred into resuming my blog by a couple of my long term friends.
Jennipher and
her family have featured regularly in my blog. She rang me yesterday
to tell me that Mike, who had been taken ill a few weeks back, died
early in the morning. Mike was probably 19 or 20 years old. He was a
great guy who had been through a difficult time. His parents having
died, he had to escape from Zimbabwe with his three siblings. On the
journey one of the children died and Mike's elder sister was very
sick when she arrived in Zambia. I visited her a couple of times with
Jennipher, but unfortunately within a few weeks she also died.
Jennipher welcomed into her home Mike and Raquel who were related to
her – perhaps neice and nephew. Raquel started to thrive, picking
up on her schooling and growing into a lovely young lady, but when
she was 14 or 15 years old she caught measles and also died.
For the past
year and a half Mike has been following a course in engineering in
Lusaka and would have completed it at the end of 2013. I don't know
what illness ended his life so prematurely, but, like his siblings
and parents, if he had been born here, rather than in Zambia his
chances would have been so very much better.
I mourn for
Mike. Any death of a friend is difficult, but when someone so young
is cut down without having a chance to reach his potential ,it is
very hard to take. Jennipher's family is an extension of my family
and the children welcome me as “uncle”. When I return to Zambia
there will be one less 'nephew' to welcome me with a loving hug.
Jennipher was
distraught when she rang yesterday, as would any mother be after
losing a son.. She had stayed with Mike in Lusaka University Teaching
Hospital where he was being treated. Please remember Mike, Jennipher
and her family in your prayers.
Best has also
been in contact in recent days. He is another person who has featured
in my blog over the years. Best was born the second of 5 children in
1987. Three of this siblings died before they were three years old.
His father died in 1995 and in 1997 when he was ten years old his
mother also died. His sister died in 2003. leaving him not only
orphaned but also as the last surviving in his family. He lived with
his grandmother for 12 years and she worked hard to help him get an
education. The later stages of secondary education in Zambia become
too expensive for families such as that of Best. Fortunately, with
support from our church in Cheltenham, the local church helped to
fund Best until he finished his grade 12 (end of secondary school)
studies with excellent marks.
Subsequently
Best has worked hard to raise funds to help him pursue studies in Law
and, with help from a few people in Cheltenham he gained a diploma in
Law, and a certificate from a course he followed in Namibia (again
achieving excellent marks). He has now commenced a degree course in
Lusaka having worked to raise the full cost of the first semester's
fees – no mean feat. He has three more semesters left to fund and
each will cost about 10 Million kwacha. (Approximately £1,350) in
addition he will need to find a further sum to be admitted to the
bar.
Best is a very
capable young man and is determined to complete his studies to enable
him to become a fully qualified lawyer. He has always played his full
part in acquiring his own funds but there is very little chance of
him being able to fund the remainder of his course through holiday
working. He has never liked having to beg for money and again wants
to try to play his part in funding his studies.
Best has a
friend who is a taxi driver and for a long time he has wanted to
acquire a car which his friend would drive. Best is sure that the
income from this business would cover the cost of his studies and his
keep. He has identified a good second-hand car, with help from his
friends who are involved in that business. One of these friends – a
mechanic – has checked the vehicle carefully.
The owner has
agreed to accept 20 million kwacha (about £2,700) of this Best has
been lent 5 million leaving 15 million (£2,000) to find. I think
this initiative deserves our backing. Best is prepared to take the
risk and does not expect funding beyond the cost of the car. So far I
have received money and pledges covering £1,200 so my task is just
to find a further £800 in the next two or three days!!
It would be a
shame to miss this opportunity! The alternative is to try and find in
excess of £4,000 to cover the University fees.
There is a lot
to say about my relationship with Zambia over the past year but I
will leave that to another day. I expect to receive my flight tickets
in the next day or two and will now start my preparation for the
trip.
The stories
above remind me of the vast difference between the world we
experience in the UK and the one in Zambia. We are currently feeling
weighed down by the recession and austerity – it is good every so
often to remember how fortunate we really are.
I look forward
to returning to Zambia and Monze in particular. I know that I will be
greeted warmly by many people who have become good friends – this
is truly life-giving and brings me great joy. To see friends who are
confident, happy and progressing is also a joy. I like to think that
I have have some part in their development, with support from friends
back home.
Thanks for being
with me during my journey and please keep me in your thoughts and
prayers as I venture once more to my second home.
With love and
prayers
Chris
