Arrival in Central Diocese

CENTRAL DIOCESE NDOLA

WED 24th October 07

At 4pm we left Kitwe for a journey of just under an hour, heading for Ndola, along mostly dual carriageway. It is very hot, though nice to feel the breeze through the van windows as we went along. The guesthouse is just down a short drive from the Cathedral. We had a welcoming party of various people – Father Manuel, Margaret his wife, Grace, who manages the guesthouse, Janet, the

Administrative secretary for the Diocese and Florence Mumba, who is the Mother’s Union worker for the Diocese. Her husband died 3 years ago, her children are now grown up, but she is looking after 2 grandchildren whose parents have died. When Florence is travelling around the Diocese, her sister looks after the children. They were all very welcoming to us. We were shown to our rooms and freshened up. Then we went through to the dining room/lounge and chatted to people. More people arrived. There must have been over 20 of us for the evening meal together! Bishop Derek didn’t make it as he was still on the road on his way back from Fiwila. His wife Evelyn came. They have 7 children (25yrs-8yrs) and she is a teacher. Also at the welcoming meal were:

Canon Stephen Mwanza. He is Director of Stewardship.
Deacon Mwelwa Mupeta. His ‘boss’ is Rev Sam Zulu who is in S. Africa at the moment.
Susan - Bishop Derek’s secretary.
Douglas – Diocesan Registrar, and his wife Agnes, who is the former MU president, and now on the MU committee for the Province.
Dorcas – present MU president for Central Diocese.
Charles Ngesa – member of the Cathedral.
Raphael – retired Diocesan Administrator.
Evans and Patricia – husband and wife. Patricia is the Link secretary for Bath and Wells.
Rev Pascal and his wife, Jessie. Pascal is the priest of Mushili parish.
Happy Banda – Bishop’s driver
Loyce (pronounced Lois) Mary – the same name as me!! She helped with the meal and would like to study hotel management in Lusaka when she can afford it. We exchanged addresses as she was very excited to not only have her 1st name the same as me, but our middle name, Mary is the same too!!

We had a very nice buffet meal – rice, pasta, potatoes, chicken, salad, beef stew. Rev Manuel introduced everyone and then after the meal thanked all those who cooked the meal, ‘but next time could they have nshima, as without it Zambians didn’t feel they’ve had food!! We took photos and then people started leaving. Some watched a bit of the football match on TV, South Africa against Zambia. Bishop Peter and Liz headed for bed, and Ken and I sorted out the gifts to take to Lunchu tomorrow, before we fell asleep.