A Birthday to Remember

Saturday 30^th November

I don't tend to make a big thing of my birthday, but this year seems a bit different – more of that later!!

Yesterday I knew that a couple of people were due to call around.

I had arranged to see Hennah and her mother Euphrasia. I have kept in touch with them for a number of years and wanted to know how they were getting on. Water is a big problem this year – this morning I saw three women carrying 20 litre buckets of water along the road and in the other direction and at the same time, a guy was rolling a drum of water – perhaps 200 litres along the road.

In Euphrasia's area they had no water taps, so some of the people came together to pay for a line to be brought from the water main. People are now able to obtain taps at their houses for a more reasonable cost. Hennah has passed some nursing assistant qualifications, but has yet to receive her papers. In both instances they are things we take for granted. Not only a tap in our yard, but throughout the house! The idea that somehow after passing your exams – you still have no official confirmation six months later is outside our experience.

Luke and Diven arrived together! Luke was on time and had travelled from Chikuni to see me, so we chatted under the veranda and in the garden, while Diven waited inside. Chikuni is a small town in a rural area. The town is built around some Jesuit communities. There is a Jesuit School and hospital. If life is difficult in town, in the rural areas, where people are reliant on growing their own food to survive, it is much worse. Luke told me that some people have nothing and have to live on wild fruits, leaves and roots in order to survive. We had some discussion about churches building huge expensive structures and buying expensive vehicles, while people have nothing to eat. It seems to me that there are some who have lost their way – others of course are totally committed to relieving the plight of the poorest people and the churches are also in the forefront of providing support.

Power came on so I got busy cooking while chatting to Diven. We still haven't an answer to his business challenges!

Jennipher was delayed and missed supper!! We decided to postpone our joint birthday party as there were other events taking place.

Dilys had been in touch during the day to discuss planting trees on my birthday. For those not aware it appears that there is an attempt to get 1 million of my UK friends to plant trees to celebrate my 70^th Birthday. At least I think that is what I read!!

My granddaughter Amy had obtained permission to plant an oak tree in Cheltenham – I believe they even identified a good central position for the planting. The only problem was she hadn't obtained an oak tree! Dilys rang around to try to locate one, but at such short notice she had no luck. I put a brief message on Facebook in a final attempt to locate a tree just before midnight (Zambian Time – GMT+2)

This morning, despite a late night, I arose at about 6.15 and headed for 7 am mass at the cathedral. Unfortunately they seem to have changed mass on Saturday to start at 6.30 to match the weekday mass time. I would have been early for the 7 am mass, so at least I was present for the main sections and didn't miss mass completely.

Yesterday the ATM was not dispensing cash and I had little faith that it had been filled. However, to my relief the money was flowing once again.

I was going to relax and do a little bird watching, but Raymond was determined to come and visit! He brought me a birthday card and a big bag of mangoes picked fresh from the tree. He stayed an hour or so and we spotted a few birds between us. In fact, like most people Raymond is much better at bird spotting than me! We saw a blue waxwing – small birds that make me think of cartoon creatures. They look as if they have sat in a pot of blue paint! We also saw a pigeon – possibly a laughing dove.

Ireen promised to have a shirt ready for my birthday and I was to collect it at 10 hrs. I called around at her shop around 12.30 to see her busy with a number of sections of my shirt!! It was a long way off being ready to wear!! She said she would ring me Monday or Tuesday when all three will be complete!! We shall see !!!

I had built in a little slack, but now I was ahead of schedule. I decided to check out the Southern Comfort Motel. Originally I was going to celebrate Jennipher's birthday of 24^th November with mine today. When I was told the children were gathering at Our Lady's church at 14hrs. I wondered whether we could meet at Comfort Lodge as it is known. In the end it was decided to rearrange for another day. Anyway I had an excuse to call in and see whether it would be a possibility for next week. Then I thought of a cup of tea and my mind was made up.

I needed to see Diven briefly, so I arranged for him to meet me at “Comfort Lodge”.

When I arrived I asked whether there was any chance of a cup of tea. The manager (and it seemed, the cook and waiter as well!) Seemed very doubtful that tea could be provided – power was off! After a few moments hesitation he told me to make myself comfortable and he would try to conjure up some tea!

It took twenty minutes or so, but a pot of tea arrived, together with an egg sandwich, some coleslaw and tomato – not that I remember ordering the extras!! I was very grateful and decided that I should enjoy my birthday treat – even if I was now running late for my meeting with the children – due at 14 hrs.

Diven didn't appear and I was reminded of my last day in Monze in May.

Ireen promised to finish my shirts a few days before I left. Eventually, on the morning that I was leaving, after my bus had passed us heading for the stop, where the passengers would have a break of about fifteen minutes, I collected the shirts she had been working on for the previous half hour, with only the buttons left to be sewed on – oh and the button holes still had to be made!!

Diven wanted to say goodbye and would meet me at Roadhouse – the bus stop. I rang him and yes he was there! I arrived complete with shirts, quickly bought tickets, but couldn't see Diven! I rang again and he admitted he was in a taxi very close – a couple of minutes passed and the bus was about to leave! I left with Diven chasing behind!!!

On this occasion Diven caught up with me at Our Lady of the Wayside church.

The children were gathering – more than a hundred in total. At about 15 hrs they were ready. They started with a prayer and then launched into “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Chris, How old are you?”.

The children present are from families suffering the most from food shortages. Their families will have received some extra food from the funds sent by my church in Cheltenham. A small amount was also raised by the children back in the UK and it was thought appropriate to do something for the children here with that money. When I was told the day chosen, I admitted that it was my birthday and hence Fr. Wilson hatched this plan. Fortunately I have never experience real hunger, but I imagine that it saps your strength and can lead to a sense of helplessness. I am sure that it is easy to lose any hope.

Meeting with others can help – an excuse for a bit of singing and dancing in itself can raise the spirits. The children are of primary school age. Though there are no school fees for primary schools the children are expected to meet certain standards. They need to obtain their own notebooks and pencils. They are not expected to go to school dirty or with unwashed uniforms. At the moment the families cannot manage to feed the children properly - there is no spare money for books or even soap!

Each of these children received a notebook, pencil, bar of soap and/or some washing paste.

Its hard to understand that these small gifts could mean the difference between continuing in school or being sent home facing more stigma and humiliation.

After watching the distribution of goods, the huge birthday cake, with which I was presented was cut and distributed.

Fr. Wilson took me then to see a building which will be let to students at a nearby college. The idea is to buy this property for the parish and generate some income. Income from some of the rooms will be earmarked to support elderly and vulnerable parishioners.

Fr Wilson dropped me back home where I made a quick cup of tea to make use of some electricity. I rang Raymond and Diven. Raymond had informed me that “Debonnaires PIZZA” had opened on my birthday and he liked PIZZA!! Diven and Raymond both being friends I met on my first visit in 2003, I thought it appropriate for the three of us to celebrate my birthday with a PIZZA!

In the event – as this was the first PIZZA restaurant in Monze and its opening day – the place was packed, with a queue coming out of the door! and there was nowhere to sit. I suggested that we retreat to Food Royal close by and perhaps have a PIZZA another day! So that's what we did – eating more traditional fare!

My birthday concluded with a walk down a semi-dark road to my house. I enjoyed reflecting on the day and looking at an upturned moon which, like the Cheshire Cat, was just left with a smile!!

I did pop over to the staff room when the power returned just after 10 pm. Dilys had already rung to confirm that an oak was planted in my honour, together with other trees.

For a long time I have wanted to grow an oak. The oak is a very special English tree. It is big and strong, full of character with branches that go in all directions and show all the cracks and creases that come with age. It is loved by a huge variety of insects and birds - it grows large and can live to a great age. I have had a couple of issues when trying to grow an oak – one was that even when I found some acorns, I could never get them to germinate. The second was, if I had succeeded, where would I plant it? Oaks are not really suitable garden trees unless you have a huge plot!

My appeal on Facebook for a tree was successful. My friend Brenda had a self sown sapling in her garden - probably from a tree she grew from an acorn, found I believe at Prinknash. Dilys planted it along with my daughters and grandchildren.

I am very pleased that I now have a very special oak tree – made even more special because of the links with friends, family and Prinknash - somewhere which has had a special place in my life. I hope it thrives and outlives me by at least a couple of hundred years!!

I couldn't think of a better birthday present.

Best Wishes,

Chris

My first weekend back in Monze

Sunday 27th September

It is now nearly 5pm on Sunday evening. The temperature is beginning to drop a little so is now probably below 30 C. The Jacaranda in the front is dropping its petals reminding me of the Derbyshire well dressings which comprise pictures made from the local flowers – here I have a rich blue carpet. There is more birdsong than most sounds, though the sound of children's voices is present most of the time in varying volumes.

Yesterday I set off for the parish just after nine with Natasha and found some lads busily cleaning and polishing Fr. Kenan's car – it seemed a shame to dirty it again. After putting in some petrol and finding an ATM that would give me some cash, we headed for Pemba – about 35km along the Livingstone Road. (calling in on Charles very briefly on the way.).This section is a good tarmac road remarkably free of potholes. Jennipher was waiting in town and took us first to look around the clinic before returning to her house. The clinic seems much more active than on my last visit. There are several rooms for files, testing (they also have equipment at the clinic to test for malaria). There are also counselling rooms etc. Jennipher was called away to deal with some matter (perhaps a client) while we waited in one of the counselling rooms.

Soloman and Selina were there to greet us when we arrived at the house. Selina was unusually quiet and not like the girl I left last year, I hope that she just felt a little shy with Natasha around. Soloman was also a little distracted – in his case he was concerned that they had had no water for 2 days and all the work he had done to grow his vegetables could be in vain. They have a good sized garden area that is used my Jennipher's family and her support group to supplement their diet.

Jennipher has two additions to her family since last year. Grace is an orphaned girl who told me that she is 15 years old. She was treated very badly by her relatives and Jennipher agreed to take her in about a month ago. Emmanuel (God with us) was named by Soloman. His mother died in Monze hospital and no one could locate any relatives so Jennipher also adopted this child of no more than 3 weeks. He is now two months old and looking very healthy. Initially he was provided with some powdered milk but this has run out and so has Jennipher's credit at the grocers! It's an expensive business having friends in Zambia – especially good natured friends like Jennipher!

Natasha immediately took charge of Emmanuel – since he slept till almost the moment we left, that was very far from a hardship.

Jennipher wants to register with an organisation that receives money from the Global Fund for food. She believes that she will then be eligible for support. She showed me the bricks that her support group have made for a shelter (just cement and roofing needed!). She also showed me the well that needs rehabilitation. Unfortunately projects rarely go smoothly here in Zambia. Although when I left a couple of years ago I understood we were within days of finishing the well, capping it and having a safe – fully enclosed - pump connected, it wasn't done. The result was damage during the floods and much more tragically one of Jennipher's children Chimunya fell into the well and drowned. The well is still open and I will do my best this year to ensure that it is rehabilitated and made safe. Unfortunately open wells are only one of many hazards for the people who live here.

Soloman offered us a chicken but Natasha couldn't bear to have the bird killed for our dinner and told him that she should be the one providing a chicken. I explained to Soloman that in England most people think that chickens only exist in plastic bags in supermarkets – we don't like to know that someone has to kill them for us to eat and we don't usually see them running around before they come to our plate!

Jennipher provided me with my second meal of sump since I arrived in Monze and Nataha's first for some time. Sump is a sort of pudding made out of partially pounded maize – it's amazing how many ways you consume maize here.

Eventually I prized Natasha away from Emmanuel and we headed back to Monze.

After depositing the vehicle and having a quick bite to eat I headed down the road to meet Edward, who is the head of Monze Basic. Monze Basic school is where I meet my first bit of tarmac from here and only a couple of hundred metres from my house.

I was surprised when Edward entered the room walking very slowly and looking a fraction of the man I left last year. He told me that he had a very serious attack of malaria three weeks ago. From the comments I heard it seems that there were even doubts that he would pull through. He spent some time at the hospital where I gather they gave him blood transfusions as well as other treatment for the disease.

He told me also that he is retiring on Thursday and so will not be working at the school any more. At least for the time being he will continue to live next to the school in what was the original school building.

While I was at Edward's Sr. Christeta rang. She is now at a village on the other side of Choma (about 100 km south of Monze.) She was returning from Mazabuka (60 km or so to the north) and wanting to stop off and say hallo. Sr. Christeta is a big bouncy woman who I thought of immediately when I read the description of a key character in a book I am currently reading.

She presented me with a bag of groundnuts (peanuts) and came in with a novice who was accompanying her. She told me that she has passed on the guidance that Dilys gave her in respect of child bereavement. Apparently they have regular sessions with orphaned children who are helped to tell their stories and they use the three stones as an aid as Dilys taught. They could do with some more material from Winston's Wish – perhaps we can sort something.

Time was pressing! I have known my friend Jeff since primary school and more than fifty years later he was celebrating his 60th birthday. (At this time he didn't know it – at least that was the plan). My plan was to go to the Internet café and try to set up a call with a web-cam. Well I managed to install the camera on the boss's computer but there was no working microphone and I didn't bring anything. Unphased, I attempted the call and seemed to connect but heard nothing. I cleared the call and Jeff called back! Still without sound in either direction. So I sent a message! Since everything else seemed to have failed, I decided to ring using my mobile. Eventually I was able to wish my friend a happy birthday. He couldn't work out how to send messages but eventually all was sorted and we went back to our respective computers. (He had no web-cam installed). We exchanged a few messages and I was also able to 'talk' to my friends Pete and Bob after correctly guessing who might be at the computer that end each time - I claimed access to the ubiquitous CCTV network in the UK. So the objective was achieved - I had at least made contact during the party - though perhaps not in quite the manner intended.

It was after 20.30 before I started preparing supper.

I arose this morning a little after 7 hrs and had my cornflakes. (It surprising how comforting a bowl of cornflakes is here!). Not working at the hospital has disturbed my usual pattern so this morning I made my first visit to the chapel this year. I was delighted to see Bright on duty at the hospital entrance. He has a son Brian who I know has been doing well at school over the years and his Dad is very proud. Keeping a child at Secondary school on a security guard's pay is very difficult.

My next encounter was with Mr. Lungu – one of the hospital drivers. He told me that his wife lost her father last week. A little further I was greeted by Ennias who is an uncle to Fr. Kenan and also to Lillian. Last year one of the volunteers was keen to meet Ennias because she had a gift from a friend who knew him when she (the friend) worked in the Pharmacy at the hospital. (Don't worry I think I am lost as well!) Suffice it to say that it is a small world. Ennias has a new car this year. I understand that he had an accident at work, some years back, leaving him paralysed from the waist down. He is able to drive his adapted vehicle and therefore have considerable independence. I am sure this is very rare in Zambia.

At last I covered the 150 metres from the gate to the chapel and took my seat. On each of the benches I was surprised to see the prayer stations that I brought out several years ago. (Fr. Rodgers says another set wouldn't go amiss if they're available!)

It was good once again to hear the joyous singing and drumming and watch the dancing that characterises services here in Zambia. It was also good to shake hands with all around me - sharing the peace of the Lord. One year when I was hear in Monze I shared a house for some time with a foreign doctor who told me I shouldn't shake hands because everyone was carrying diseases. At home in England at our church the fear of spreading swine flu has taken precedence over the sign of peace. Personally I think that friendship and God's peace are worth a slight risk.

I realise that I haven't had a break since I arrived in Zambia so I decided to take it easy and other than briefly popping around to Edward with a card reader (which seems to be faulty) and doing a little washing and tidying, I took it easy for the rest of the day.

Having no TV or radio gives me more time and allows me to read a little. I have often found that books given to me to read generally prove to be better than those I choose myself. This year my friend Mary lent me a book called “The Shack”. (I don't think she'll get it back, it's too good not to leave here!) It is about a man who spends a weekend with God. If you wonder what God is really like I would recommend you read this book. It won't appeal to everyone, but it is clear to me that the author has met God and those who have also spent a day or two is his/her presence will surely recognise their God here.

With my love and prayers


Chris