Monday 24th September
Today I decided
to list the projects and look at the work I need to do during my
stay. I found at least 6 major and a similar number of minor
projects, plus half a dozen people that I need to catch up with in
detailed discussions.
Any of the
projects could produce major tasks, so I doubt if I will be bored!!
I spent most of
the afternoon looking at the PIZZ project with Mrs. Sianga. Here
again we haven't been able to secure quite the funds we would have
liked. It is clear that the project needs some extra money quickly,
and then an increase in the regular income in order to meet the basic
needs. Despite this the school is making a huge difference to well
over 200 children. They hope to have an outing to Lochinvar National
Park – so far about 30 of the children's guardians have raised the
20,000 (£2.50) kwacha to pay for the trip.
Yesterday I was
taken out to a fishing village by the Kafue river in the depths of
Lochinvar National Park. It is within Monze parish, though two hours
drive from the parish church across dirt roads. On the way we met
some children moving a herd of cattle, perhaps 50 – 100 animals in
all. Apparently when they are born the child is given 3 or 4 cattle.
By the time the child is adult they have a small herd. Many don't go
to school but spend their lives looking after the herds. They use
drums to move the cattle and apparently each animal knows the sound
of it's owners drum.
Almost half of
our time spent driving was within the park. The villagers are only
visited by the priest about 3 times a year. The church is made out of
grass and mud – as are most of the permanent buildings. All the
structures are built on anthills or raised mud foundations because
the whole area is flooded during the rainy season. Boats are needed
to move between houses, though some are only 3 or 4 metres apart.
There was
another village nearby – a couple of kilometres - but these people
hadn't yet arrived at the church, so Fr Kenan sent me with the truck
to fetch them. I was directed across the flat plain and eventually
saw some buildings in the distance closer to the river. These houses
were just made out of grass and were temporary dwellings, used during
the dry period. When the rains come these people move to a permanent
village which we passed on our way. Their grass houses are washed
away with the rising water at the start of the rainy season.. While
at this village I was treated to some nshima and dried fish. As far
as I could see the whole fish was eaten, so I consumed a couple -
complete with bones, skin and head!
When I returned
with a dozen or so extra worshippers, mass had started, but I was
still lead to the front. As always the singing was very powerful, as
was the drumming. At the offertory about half of the congregation
went out of the church and returned in procession placing their
donations directly into Fr. Kenan's hands.
After mass I was
directed to join the line with Fr. Kenan, and the others who had come
from Monze, to shake the hands of each of the parishioners as they
left the church. At Our Lady of the Wayside the priests and altar
servers shake the parishioners hands after Sunday mass.
It was about 15
hrs when lunch was served – fish and nshima again – this time
fresh bream caught very locally (and you didn't have to eat the bones
or head!) after lunch we headed back through the park and meet Fr.
Jackson at the gate near where we left him earlier. He was saying
mass for the people of Lochinvar village who live just outside the
park. He had been told we would pick him up at 14 hrs!
We didn't see a
lot of animals in the park but I enjoyed meeting some new people and
seeing a very different way of life. A few monkeys scampered across
the road and a group of vultures were circling when we made the
outward journey. Otherwise the lechwe and zebras could not be clearly
made out. There were a few birds but even these were more scarce than
usual. Lochinvar is famous for its birds, having very many species
including Fish Eagles, Secretary Birds and Malibu Storks – all of
which I have seen in the past. There were a few razorbills, crowned
lapwing and magpie shrikes (which have spectacular long tails), but
often the place is full of a rich variety of brightly coloured birds.
Antelopes, zebra, wilder-beast and buffalo are also present in the
park as are crocodiles and hippos in the river.
When we reached
Monze I was tired but grateful for a wonderful day.
Chris
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