The Sun is Shining

Yes! I am back in Monze, the place which I have adopted as my second home.

I arrived just over a week ago, but it feels like I have never been away. I have been greeted by many friends , but this year there is one huge exception. Jennipher is no longer here to welcome me. In the past I could step of the bus and she would appear with a big hug to tell me that I was back home. This year I am greeted with – “I am so sorry” - referring to Jennipher's tragic death. She is greatly missed by so many.

My surprise visit this year was prompted by the need to provide support for Mrs. Sianga who has endured a very stressful and extremely difficult year. We are trying to see how we can ensure the future of PIZZ School. The second major purpose is to try to locate and meet with Jennipher's children. I hope that they too can have a secure future.

It didn't take long for word to get around that I was back in Monze. I was contacted by Henna in Lusaka as well as many in Monze. Brian came over to the petrol station, where I was passing through, to say hallo, Obert beeped at me from his taxi as I wandered down the main road, Ireen greeted me with her customary hug, Teddy caught me after church, Angelina spotted me at the market, Diven expected me and popped along to Truckers, where I am lodging and many others have greeted me as I wander around Monze.

It is so good to feel welcomed. In Cheltenham I can often walk through town without a single person saying hallo. That never happens in Monze. Many people say “hallo Chris how are you?” often followed by “when did you come? - Long time!” A lady this morning just said “Hallo white man how are you?”

Yesterday, when I was on my way to church, a man told me off for not greeting him. I apologised and we chatted a little. My mind has been preoccupied of late, but that is no excuse. On the way back he asked me if I had prayed for him. We agreed that respect for each other was so important.

My main mission in Monze is to develop friendships with the local people, built on the basis of mutual respect. I have learnt so much over the past 20 years. The more I learn, the more I realise that I don't understand. I am with people who live a world apart from me and not just in distance. I should not expect my friends here to see the world as I see it. In the UKwe come from a world of paperwork, of documents going back hundreds of years. Zambia was no doubt introduced to the written word by their 'colonial masters' - until then their tradition was oral. I don't pretend to understand how a Zambian thinks, but I try to respect the cultural differences and accept that many practices will surprise and perhaps shock me. On the other hand I feel at home with people who are warm, friendly and great fun to be around.

It is the rainy season, however so far I have been fortunate. It rained heavily on my first night, though I slept through it, having been travelling for more than 24 hrs. We had a heavy storm lasting an hour or more and a heavy shower, but I have been safely at home. The past few days have been dry and sunny. Yesterday was hot – exceeding 30ºC.

My faith is an important part of my life. I find comfort in the knowledge that my God is always near by and I often receive reminders in nature. In the UK I regard magpies as my angels – messengers from God to remind me of His presence. Here they don't have magpies, but they have black and white butterflies which I have christened magpie butterflies. On my first visit to PIZZ School I was welcomed by such a butterfly.

On my first visit to Our Lady of the Wayside church I was greeted by a flock of swifts. These are amazing birds. Our European swifts fly to Africa for for the winter (our winter) and return in the spring. Even more remarkable is that they might do 3 or more round trips after leaving the nest without alighting from their flight. Yesterday when I went to church I was met by a dozen or more brown dragonflies – I don't ever remember seeing them in such numbers. The dragonfly is another incredible one of God's creations. It spends 4 or 5 years crawling around in the mud at the bottom of ponds as a grey non de script creature and then one day climbs a reed and undergoes an amazing transformation into a flying beauty. The story of this transformation is sometimes used to explain to children the concepts of death and heaven. I watched this transformation many years ago over several hours and it is one of the most remarkable things that I have witnessed.

 

With love and prayers,

Chris

Monze Honey

Just as I get used to a pattern it changes!! The result of low water levels in Lake Kariba has resulted in the lack of power for a few hours each morning here in Monze. Until the past few days!! For some reason we had no power cuts for three days and then a cut at 10.30 pm last night – power was back again this morning. To a large extent a regular pattern of cuts is better than fewer unpredictable cuts. The fear is that the cuts will return – with a vengeance and will be unpredictable. I will wait to see if the pattern returns or whether a new one will emerge!

The weather pattern recently has been very settled. Clear blue skies to start the day, then a few light clouds to add interest to the sky, but hardly ever to shield the sun. I have taken to having lunch outside, as it is brighter and more cheerful. There are a few common butterflies that inhabit my garden, the large butterfly that posed is a regular visitor, along with a small one with blue markings - the most common is a white butterfly – isn't it always! There is also another small, almost uniform, yellow butterfly and this morning a pretty lemon coloured butterfly with a black border and black veins posed for me. I don't know if there are Zambian butterfly books - it would be good to identify some of these beautiful insects?

Saturday 4^th June

Christopher popped around this morning and we chatted over a coffee. He told me that he hadn't been paid this month. He has nine children to support – he is 73 years old and these are his grandchildren. He should have been at church, but he was trying to get some food instead. He was looking for some relish, by which he was talking about a few vegetables – maybe some rape, or even a little kapenta (small dried fish) if he was lucky. He hoped to get paid on Monday, but there were still a couple of days to survive. He told me that sometimes Mrs. Sianga will give him a little piecework so he can earn something. He also told me that he was friends with Diven and worked with him for a short while at the mortuary. At this time of year, before the harvest is sold there is no business at the guest house – he told me no rooms are occupied and the bar has only one or two people in a night. The next few weeks will see things improve. Apparently Christmas is a good period at the guest house.

During the day my data bundle ran out. In the past, 2 GB has lasted a month. So far I have used 4 GB in less than a month and my use has been sparing in comparison with previous years. I think the assumption in the internet world is that the volume of data transfer is no longer an issue – everything seems to have pictures and videos attached! For me the internet is important so I will grin and bear it, with perhaps a little more care.

I found the project that makes Monze honey! I no longer need sugar on my cornflakes!!

There is always plenty for me to do in the background. Unfortunately money is needed to keep projects going and this is very true for Mrs. Sianga's project. I sit in the middle. On one side I am told by the teachers at the school that they cannot survive on the little money they receive from Hands around the World – very much less than they would receive in a government school. There are also endless bills to pay. On the other side I am told back home in England, that we cannot keep providing so much money to a single project in Africa. Squaring the circle is not easy.

At the moment we provide about £20,000 each year for wages and other routine costs – some funded through child sponsorship. We also have a separate fund where we need to raise £6,000 a year for school meals. Of course this isn't enough!! My answer is that we need to raise more money. We are currently expecting to educate a child (including giving a daily meal) for £70 a year!! Despite their hardships, the dedication of the teachers and other staff is making a huge difference to the lives of these children. In reality £100 or £120 per child (or double that) would still provide amazing value for any donor.

I will be pushing a fundraising opportunity on 16^th/17^th June through Global Giving and hope to top up the funds a little.

My concern is particularly for the children leaving PIZZ School. The school fees at secondary schools are a lot higher than the costs at PIZZ, but if the children are to have a chance to fulfil their potential they need to complete their education. This year Hands Around the World will need to find about £16,000 to cover the costs of students at secondary school and university. Next year I hope it will be more, because we should have more successful students at grade 9! I am starting to sell good but unwanted items on behalf of Hands Around the World to support a fund for secondary and tertiary education. I will plug this more on my return to the UK.

I am not a natural fundraiser, but when I see what a difference we can make here in Monze I will do everything I can to ensure that we don't let down these children.

Sunday 5^th June

Life at Our Lady of the Wayside has gone back to normal, after the excitement of the past few weeks. For once I was around at the right time for the start of mass. It was good to have a straightforward service – the singing and dancing was good and as always the joy was evident and abundant.

I received rough instructions about the location of this afternoon's 'Section prayers'. “Not far from the Moonga's house – near Queen's”. With that I made my way home for a lunch break.

I headed off with a view to arriving at a little after 14 hrs – I had no fear of being late!! As I approached the area, a lady with a CWL (Catholic Women's League) chitenge spotted me and directed me to our host for the afternoon. It has been very rare that even with far fewer directions I have failed to locate our group which meets in the middle of the local compounds. There are no street names or house numbers here – certainly none that are displayed! However people know each other and know what is happening and there is always a friendly person to help out a lost looking white man!

I was sat down (a privilege reserved for the men) and a few comments were made – especially about my lack of Chitonga – including my own expression of shame that I know the fewest of words after so many years. The chairman saved me when he arrived. He wasn't sure which reading we should be reflecting upon, because he hadn't yet received the timetable. Each week we look at the gospel reading for the following week. I find this very useful – especially since I understand little during the service. It enables me to reflect on the gospel during its reading and during the sermon. I decided to send a text to Dilys and she was able to help out with the relevant reference. It was good to include her in our prayers.

I usually bring a small version of the New Testament (Epistles and Gospels), but this year I forgot. So I listened to the gospel in Chitonga. A reading came to mind and when I eventually was shown an English translation I found that in fact it was the reading I had thought of. The gospel relates Jesus visiting the house of a Pharisee – people renowned for being good people, keeping all the rules and doing the right thing. A women known to be a 'sinner' came to him and wiped his feet with her hair and tears. We are told that others thought Jesus was unaware of the women's reputation and if he knew he would shun her. Unfortunately so often our organised religions are unwelcoming to those who seem to lead a different lifestyle, or move in the wrong circles. Jesus always seems to make a point of engaging with such individuals, being more interested in an act of kindness than a set of often petty rules. I often find myself mixing rogues and villains – it is good to know that I'm in good company!

The prayer session ended with some high finance! A scheme has been introduced where members of the community could borrow money to do a little enterprise. They were expected to return the money the next month with 25% interest! This becomes a revolving fund to generate money for the community and apparently it is working. I was fascinated by the scheme and was surprised to hear that in some way I was responsible!

Chris

Zambia Roads

Sunday 7^th October

Was it really Wednesday when I last wrote?

I have to keep reminding myself that roads in Zambia are for motorised traffic – with the possible exception of the ox-cart! Others are permitted to use the roads as a concession when the true owners are not around, but if a car wants to use any part of the road the driver has only to give a quick toot and claim the space. For those not familiar with Zambian roads – a road is a piece of ground that is used by motorised vehicles and stretches between the bushes that border it. Don't be confused by that bit of ground that has been laid with some tar – it is rarely used, being more holes than tar anyway- no, that sandy mud at the side of the tar is a major highway!

Despite being just as likely to move into the road than off it, by some miracle, as yet, I have escaped with my life – though I did have a very close shave last week with a bicycle travelling at the speed of light! Even animals here seem to have better sense than me – and they need to because many drivers assume that they know the highway code. This morning, on the way to church, I saw a donkey taking a stroll. He came to the main Lusaka / Livingstone road stopped looked one way and another and, after letting a couple of vehicles pass, wandered into the centre of the road – and stopped!! At least he made sure the next vehicle had plenty of time to brake – having made his point, he strolled to the other side and headed for the railway line (his next challenge!)

I am very familiar with seeing animals wandering around unaccompanied. Cattle, pigs, goats, chickens and even the occasional donkey routinely pass by, without me casting a sideways glance. Lizards and geckos are also a common sight. For one moment I thought a butterfly might alight on my hand this afternoon – it's wingspan was the size of my hand, but, as seems normal here, it didn't settle for me to get a good view. I am looking forward to the first swallows to arrive from Europe, there were a few at the church but I don't think they were the European variety.

Today, after mass, I chatted to five students whose education is sponsored through our church in Cheltenham. It was good to get to know them a little, some I might meet again in future years and follow their progress. After a very quick bite to eat, I headed for where St. Veronica's Small Christian Community were meeting. I had arranged to meet a couple of members who would take me to the meeting. I didn't see them but met another and was directed by them. In the event neither of the members who were to be my guides came to the meeting! I don't think I will ever understand much of what I experience here!

I have been touching base with a few places where there might be some work for me to do – such as the Diocesan project office and the hospital – but no one is demanding my time, so I will quickly retreat. I am not short of things to keep me busy! When at the projects office I did make a few enquiries about solar pumps to take water from wells and boreholes. This seems to be a major need.

I have a couple of computers that need anti-virus software – at least! I have to be careful not to let them devour too much time.

I have decided that I will remain at the priest's house until the end of my stay. I am sure I will be back home before the Hospital Guest House becomes available. Power has been quite good until just now. I only have a couple of minutes before my battery expires! In any case I better try to find my way in the dark to retrieve the matches and light a candle!! In the event the power was off for less than half an hour.

Tomorrow I have agreed to help Obert with his algebra. I told him that, because I never learnt any maths, I haven't forgotten any! In fact I have always found that even after many years I am able to help because I

understood maths rather than learning it!

On Tuesday I am returning to Chisamba for a few days and already I am aware that I have very little time left here in Zambia.

Chris