Meeting Friends

I took a taxi for the shortest of rides – it takes less than 5 minutes to walk to Truckers, but I couldn't face dragging the bags even that distance after my journey from the UK. I was greeted on arrival by Lisa and another maid who both gave me a hug.

Arriving at 14.30 meant that I had a chance to sort myself out a little in the afternoon. There are a few essentials that need to be bought – tea bags, cornflakes and milk being at the top of the list.

I am about 50 yards from the main road. As soon as I reached the road I was greeted - “Hallo Chris, when did you come!”

I usually buy a bottle of water in Lusaka before catching a bus. I hadn't a chance this time, so with the temperature in the mid thirties it was essential that I grabbed a drink. Food Royal is very close so that was my first port of call. A tropical Cabana and two samosas would bring me back to life.

There are some small grocery shops very close – there is also Choppies which is a big supermarket I usually avoid. I also noticed that the market seems to also have arrived on the side of the road. I prefer to give the ladies selling vegetables along the road my custom whenever possible. In fact I managed to pick up most of my grocery needs for the next week without travelling more than a few hundred yards.

It was then back to my accommodation for some serious tea drinking!! I let a few people know of my arrival – including of course my wife Dilys.

I arranged to meet Diven later for a meal – again at Food Royal – cooking could wait till tomorrow. I was about to leave when Diven arrived – an hour late!

Thursday gave me the chance to pop along to the market and pick up some spices and meet a marketeer from the church. Brian came over from his stall by the “robots” to say hallo and I weighed myself on my friend's scales outside the old cathedral.

Since I arrived Best has shown me the preparations he needs to make for being called to the Bar. I will be in Zambia at the time and he asked if I would attend – fortunately I packed a suit in case. It has been a long journey with many twists and turns since I met him as a secondary student in 2005.

Teddy came around and told me how his retirement is going – though he doesn't seem to have fully extracted himself from the hospital. I gave him his birthday present – a Fedora hat in the stle of Indiana Jones!!

I have spent some time observing the birds in the garden – lesser blue eared starlings are common and spectacular – especially in flight. I have already finished my first thriller! You have a lot more time without the TV!!

Today I went to Our Lady of the Wayside for mass. It was lovely to hear the singing. The beautiful harmonies – often unaccompanied, and the volume from the whole congregation is a joy. I took the chance to bring a bible from Truckers and marked the readings before mass. I thought I was going to be anonymous - even though there was no other white face in the church! However, right at the end of mass the priest apologised for nearly forgetting to welcome me.

I met a few more friends after mass. Obert's father told me that Obert's wife gave birth to a baby boy this morning!!

I had not intended to go to st Veronica's Small Christian Community meeting today because with temperatures in the thirties – it hit 37 yesterday! - I don't want to do too much – at least until I am better acclimatised. In the event there was no meeting today.

I have had a lazy day doing a little family history research on the computer, chatting to Dilys and spending time in the garden.

Chris

Reflections as we approach Easter

 

Reflections

I made my return journey to the UK three weeks ago.

It is time to reflect on my recent visit. In two respects this was different to my previous trips. Firstly my great friend Jennipher was no longer around to greet me and guide me. Secondly the relationship between Hands Around the World has broken down and PIZZ school is having to plot a new path for it's future.

I find Easter a wonderful and inspiring time. I have had the joy of spending a couple of Easters in Zambia. The rainy season has just ended and everything is green and vibrant. The Easter week celebrations start with processions through the towns involving Christians from all churches. Good Friday also sees more public displays of Christian devotion with further processions around the streets. Everything culminates in a joyous celebration of new life as we recognise the risen Christ at the Easter Vigil. In Zambia this is a service full of smiles and laughter, as well as singing and lots of dancing, held under the stars - with the addition of candlelight.

Although it is always challenging for me in Zambia, I usually have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the people and the environment. Since last June it has been very difficult to stop thinking about the challenges presented to Mrs. Sianga and PIZZ School. In Monze this was heightened.

It has become clear that there has been a communications breakdown. I have realised over the past 20 years that the gap between Zambia and the UK is not just 5,000 miles! You cannot expect to understand Zambia and Zambians after a few weeks in the country. Unfortunately it probably takes much longer than that just to recognise that there is an immense gap.

When talking to people in the UK and Zambia I have always stressed the need to try to get a better understanding of each other's culture and way of life.

As I have mentioned often, I am comfortable in Monze and don't notice many of the differences between Zambia and the UK. The fact that I rarely see a white face, most of the local deliveries are made using wheelbarrows rather than vans, ox carts are often seen on the local roads, ladies often carry goods balanced on their heads, chickens are sold in the markets live, bikes often have a passenger on the carrier, trucks often carry passengers in the back etc.

This year I had the joy of meeting the students at PIZZ school. When I told them that we didn't eat nshima in the UK they found it hard to believe! Nshima – maize meal – is the staple diet in Zambia. The children look forward to their daily meal of nshima and groundnuts (peanuts) at PIZZ School. It costs approximately £1 to provide a student at PIZZ School with a daily meal for one month! I am hoping that this Easter people will consider donating the price of an Easter Egg to the school – this could provide several students with a meal for a month. Saving PIZZ School

Here in the UK the spring flowers are coming out, the blossom is abundant and signs of new life are abundant. I will spend Holy Week at my daughter's house in Naunton in the Cotswolds looking after her dogs and chickens. I will have time to reflect as I sit in her field enjoying the natural environment – weather permitting.

With love and prayers during this holy time,

 

Chris

Child Labour, Laughter and Singing

Tuesday 7th December

You can almost see the grass grow in Monze at the moment! The rain is now coming regularly in showers and – especially at night in longer spells. People were wearing coats today! However,I am still comfortable in shirt sleeves. We have had clouds now for several days, with relatively little sun. Every time I look outside, the grass is higher and less of the sandy soil is visible. The transformation of Zambia at this time is wonderful, every bit as much as our Spring – but much quicker and more dramatic.

At lunchtime I bought some eggs of a young boy. It is difficult to know what is best. Boys of 10 or 11 – some much younger – shouldn't be selling goods on the streets, they should be at school. However for many if they didn't help earn money for the family – they and those who rely on them would go hungry. Some will even be looking after sick parents. Of course this shouldn't be necessary, but until we are prepared to share more of our wealth with the poorest the situation won't change. Until then I will have to decide whether to put a few kwacha in the children's pockets or tell them that they should be in school!

Yesterday evening I went to the market for a few items. It is a while since I visited my friend who has a prime corner spot as you enter the covered market. As well as onions and tomatoes, I can rely on her for herbs and spices. I usually get a supply of curry powder, paprika and piri piri (chilli) from her. She also sells “village garlic” which is very powerful and yesterday she had some fresh root ginger. It was beginning to sprout so she told me to plant it! While at her stall another friend from St. Veronica's – also a marketeer - came up to me and said I should buy some mushrooms from her – she was just fetching them!

I visited a couple of other stalls picking up among other vegetables a cabbage. My biggest problem with cabbages is finding one that is small enough! I have only just over a week to eat it!! I found one that is only 5 – 6 inches in diameter – these cabbages have a very firmly packed heart so it probably weighs about 1 kg (2lbs) and cost 1,500 kwacha (20p). I found my friend back at her stall and I bought three mushrooms from her for 5,000 kwacha (60p) – but since the smallest was about 6 inches (15cm) in diameter, I had enough for two substantial meals!

This evening for supper I had garlic mushrooms with Kapenta (very small fish - sold dried) fried with pounded groundnuts and rice.

I have continued to read “chasing joy” and I am enjoying it. Edward Hays seems to be my kind of priest. He moved from the theme of laughter to that of singing – he suggests that we should sing regularly unaccompanied and on our own. However, he claims that the church is a place were people are always solemn and even miserable, where there isn't spontaneous laughter, lots of smiling or joyful singing. He hasn't visited Zambia!! I might try to contact him and put him right! I suspect however that he is reflecting what he sees in the US and unfortunately is also very much true in the UK. It is a shame that Christian churches can seem to be joyless places, when the God that I know is in the smiling faces and laughter I see all around me here. And yes it is common to come across people in the streets of Monze singing (solo) as they make their cheerful way about town.

This evening I called to the chapel for mass. The bishop celebrated the mass for our congregation of about 10 people. At the cathedral I don't think I have known him celebrate daily mass. He is usually present but takes a back seat and allows one of the other priests to be the principle celebrant. He occasionally visits the outlying churches and celebrates mass for those congregation – as he did this evening.

As I left the hospital I met Jennipher heading my way. She had said that she would call around earlier, but was detained at a meeting and would have gone straight home had our paths not crossed. She was visiting a client in hospital. He works as a security guard and last night some people came to rob the place he was guarding. He went to investigate and was shot in the neck. Although such instances are not common, there are occasional instances of shooting in this area. The patient had been looking after his mother who is largely bedridden, though today she was trying to tend to him in Monze Hospital. They will probably try to transfer him to Lusaka where they are better able to treat him.

I was expecting Teddy this evening, but either my phone has gone mute, or it's my ears – because I see I have missed two calls from him!

I must rush because I have another webcam test to perform!

Take care

Chris.