LUNCHU VISIT – FRIDAY 26th – 29th OCTOBER 2007
At 2.30pm (or 1400 hrs as they say in Zambia) Florence Mumba, called for us saying ‘ Ready to go?’ We left the guest house and went to the carpark by the Cathedral. Needless to say we waited another hour before we actually left! Happy Banda our driver one minute wasn’t there and then we were waiting for a cool box to be delivered by the Bishop! We are getting used to African time!
Bishop Derek and his wife, Evelyn said ‘goodbye’ to us. They were going about three times as far as us visiting rural parishes. He had very kindly provided us with his driver, Happy Banda, who was always smiling, ( so a very good name for him), the Mother’s Union landrover, and Florence Mumba, their Diocesan Mother’s Union worker.
At 3.30pm we were ready to go shopping in Ndola. We had asked Deacon Pumulo Neo to write us a list of things the school at St Michael’s needed, and we were keen to try and get some of them, with the money that had been given by our church of Holy Trinity, Nailsea.
Here is his list:
Filing cabinet
Footballs, netballs and volley balls and net.
10 files
plain paper (ream)
10 bibles
100 exercise books – squared
Carpentry tools – chisel, hammer, saw, nails.
We rushed round shopping before every thing closed at 5pm! We went first to the Roman Catholic shop and bought 10 Good News bibles, packets of plain paper – ream, the exercise books, wine for Ken to celebrate Communion with. Then we hurried to a sports shop and bought 4 footballs, and 2 netballs, then another shop to get 10 folders. Nowhere in Ndola sells filing cabinets which the school desperately needs – everything is just on a shelf in the small school office. It will have to be got from Lusaka. Our Mother’s Union in Nailsea had given some money, and so we were able to buy lots of wool, material and needles and thread. I’d been given knitting needles and some material to bring out with me.
Then we bought diesel for the MU Landrover. Fuel is an essential and big expense to get around the diocese, as the distances are so great. We then shopped for food as a contribution to Pumulo and Francesca, and at 6pm we were ready for our journey to Lunchu, our link parish! En route we bought a couple of watermelons and some onions from stalls along the roadside. Then at Kapiri we bought some more fuel, which we paid for. The allowance from the diocese for travel usually will only get them to Lunchu, but not to travel around the parish (which is very large, with 22 different congregations!). So normally they will arrive at Lunchu and then have to walk everywhere. An example is that Pumulo lives near St Barnabas’ congregation, St Michael’s is about 6 kms away and St Gabriel’s congregation is about 30 kms from St Barnabas.
It is dark by about 6.30pm so we arrived at St Michael’s, Lunchu after nightfall just before 9pm. There was a lovely full moon so you could see a little. Two or three of the builders for the headmaster’s house were sitting around a fire but everyone else was in bed, though Hilda and Abigail (two teachers at the school) had been waiting up for us. Bishop Derek had called in about an hour before and told them we were on our way! They emerged from their house, and then a bit later Pumulo came out of a mud house by the church where he stays when he is visiting St Michael’s. He hadn’t been at all well last week, and had fallen asleep while waiting for us. They were all very pleased to see us, and Hilda and Abigail were thrilled with the arrival of things for the school. Happy Banda then loaded bags onto the roof so that we could fit 2 more people into the back of the Landrover with Florence and myself. Pumulo’s grandson, Patrick was coming back with us. He had come to look after Pumulo while he’d been sick. We then drove about 12 kms along a hardcore very bumpy road to Pumulo’s house, arriving at 10pm.
Francesca, his wife came out to greet us so enthusiastically and we were introduced to their children, grandchildren and niece. Their was Patrick, (grandson), Isaac, (grandson) Stephen (Patrick’s brother – both orphans) Maria (niece and also an orphan), Malone, (son), Muyunda (son).
Then Francesca set to to cook a meal. By then though I was so tired and exhausted I went to bed before most of the meal was cooked, just having a bit of chicken. I left Florence, Happy Banda and Ken to tuck in with Pumulo and Francesca! I hardly slept though – probably because I was overtired and the heat. We’d had a busy morning before coming to Lunchu seeing another parish in Ndola and visiting a sewing project and preschool.
Toilets in Zambia aren’t in the home but quite a way from the house, in the bush. They are deep holes in the ground, so being able to squat is rather necessary! The toilet where we were was about 100 yards away from the home. It is in a small ‘shed’, made of mud bricks covered with a corrugated piece of metal. This was quite a grand one as many are just holes surrounded by a wall of straw. Thankfully we had a wind up torch, so no need for batteries. In the house were candles, as there was no electricity. I went to the loo in the night, and while squatting, a bat flew in through a hole in the corrugated roof, flying around me. I flew out of the door!!
Florence had written up a programme for our weekend here:
LUNCHU PARISH PROGRAMME1600 leave for shopping in Ndola
1800 leave for St. Michael’s Lunchu
Then to St. Barnabas – Deacon Pumulo’s residence.
27.10.07 – Saturday
07.00 tea
08.00 breakfast
09.00 visiting of St. Barnabas area
10.30 tea
11.00 leave for St. Gabriel
13.00 lunch
15.00 back to St. Barnabas
16.00 Meet St. Barnabas Mother’s Union and St Veronica’s members.
18.00 supper.
20.00 tea. To bed.
28.10.07 – Sunday
07.00 tea
08.00 breakfast
09.30 leave for St. Paul’s Mass.
13.00 lunch
14.00 visit to Kamukuba and St. Agnes projects.
16.00 Back to St. Barnabas. Meet St Barnabas MU/ St Veronica’s members.
18.00 supper
19.00 tea
28.10.07 - Monday
07.00 breakfast. Leave for Undola.
Sat 27th Oct 07
After breakfast we (Pumulo, Ken, Happy Banda, and myself) went to look around the St Barnabas parish. Francesca and Florence stayed behind to pack 10 bags with gifts of wool, knitting needles, materials, cotton thread and needles for the various Mother’s unions and St. Veronicas, with love from our Mother’s union. Happy Banda drove us in the MU Landrover to the school and local community about 1 km away and dropped us off to look around and walk back. We visited Lunchu Basic school where Francesca works. It is Government run with 560 pupils. Her classes are 4A (49students) and 4B (48 students).
Then we looked at how bricks were made for the buildings, and saw the water pump for the community, people collecting water in various down to the river which is quite low at the moment. When the rains arrive shortly it will overflow and many of the rural roads will become impassable for vehicles. That is why Bishop Derek is rushing around taking Confirmations etc. at the moment before the rains come!
Returning through the village we saw lots of mud houses covered with straw for roofs, and also some government houses. We passed a small RC church with people gathering for worship, and greeted the priest. Next we visited a new rural health clinic that the government are in the process of building. Hopefully it won’t be too long before it’s up and running.
Florence and Francesca obviously thought we were hot and tired so sent Happy Banda to collect us in the MU Landrover! We were obviously getting behind on Florence’s programme! She is very organised! It wasn’t far to home but I was pleased to see the Landrover! I was feeling very hot, sticky and tired. The cup of tea that Francesca had waiting was very welcome! We then set off for St Gabriel church. I hadn’t realised how far away it is – at least 30 kms from Pumulo’s house – along a hard-core or soft earth road. The hard-core road had become corrugated, and one felt riding in the back of the vehicle as if one’s bones were rattling! It is so rural. We drove for miles through scrub passing small communities of mud houses, families scratching a living from the dry earth around, preparing the ground ready for the rains.
After an hour we turned a corner, and there was St Gabriel church and community. It was such a contrast to what we’d been witnessing for the last hour. Here in the middle of nowhere was a large farm, 2 tractors, modern farm equipment and a generator for electricity! Mr and Mrs Banda retired as teachers and started farming here, building it up, growing maize. Her husband died but she and her sons have carried on expanding the farm, giving work to the community, and are pillars in the church. It was the only church in the Lunchu parish that had a light bulb in it!
We were welcomed warmly with singing and dancing, and lots of African handshakes. We went into the church. Pumulo asked Ken to say a prayer, then more singing with drums. Pumulo introduced the church leaders – they had also come from St Stephens and St John’s. I wrote their names down but as he said them quite quickly I might have misheard and got a few names not quite right. The names are:
Isa Cunda – priest warden from St Stephen’s.
Benedine Sani – St John’s
Alexander Tuyu – lay leader, and Father’s Union at St Stephen’s
Mary Tuyu – Treasurer, MU from St Stephen’s.
Kennedy Mwansa – Church warden from St Gabriel’s.
Passpor Banda – Secretary from St Gabriel’s.
Musunda Temwa Chair of choir from St Gabriel’s.
Landau Kanguga – church warden
Jonathan Katanga – trustee from St Gabriel’s.
Saphie Katanga – MU
Iraeni Banda – secretary of MU, and founder of a number of congregations. Looks after children, church and farm. Her daughter is a sister at the Fiwila Mission Station.
We heard how there had been no church here. The Banda family used to go to St Barnabas or St Michaels. Others came to join them, so at St. Michael’s and St Barnabas they said to them, ‘ It’s a long way to come’. So they started to begin this work here, praying and worshipping together. A small church was built. Others came to join them even people from the town. The numbers increased, and they wondered how they could build a new church. In 1987 they moulded the bricks, which stayed on the ground for 3 years while they saved money to buy cement. They asked the Bishop for help and he gave 12,000 kwacha, with which they bought the metal sheets for the roof. Her husband (died in 1996) helped lead the constructing of the church, the windows, buying paint and doing the floor. The church was completed in 2004, and they are still waiting for the Bishop to officially open the church.
I spoke on behalf of our Mother’s union at Holy Trinity, Nailsea, passing on greetings from them. Also on their behalf I gave a bag containing wool, knitting needles, materials, cotton thread and needles. They were so thrilled. We had more music. The choir there had wonderful voices. A St Veronica mum (same as our Morning Break mums), with her baby on her back, led the singing so beautifully. When the baby cried, she wasn’t fazed, she just undid the cloth (impapa) that held the baby on her back, and breast-fed while still leading the singing! She was amazing and had such a fantastic voice; I could have listened to her and her choir all day! When it was my turn to speak I said if they entered a competition they would win. If they had their singing on a CD then I would definitely buy one! Ken spoke and ended with a prayer.
After the time in the church with the congregation we looked around the farm. Mrs Banda who owns it has developed it, with one of her sons as Farm Manager. They now have 2 tractors and a truck, growing maize and fruit. The generator that they have put in means the church and
community benefits as well. We visited Mr Banda’s grave and Ken said a prayer. Then we were invited to lunch in her house – chicken, rice, nshima and vegetables with a tomato and onion sauce. Before each meal the hostess comes around with a bowl and a jug of water and a towel and each guest washes their hands. Zambians don’t really feel they’ve eaten unless they’ve got nshima on their plates! It is a white mass usually made from maize, but can be also made using cassava or groundnut. We were given knives and forks but the usual way in rural Zambia to eat is with your fingers picking some of the nshima, rolling it into a ball and using it to scoop up the food on ones plate. It is fairly tasteless, so needs other food for flavour.
Afterwards we walked back to the Landrover, passing lots of choir robes hanging on the washing line, all made by hand. An hour later, after bumping along the dirt track we arrived back at Pumulo and Francesca’s house at St Barnabas. All I could think about was how does Pumulo manage visiting all the congregations on foot. In England we get in the car if the journey is more than about 10 minutes!
We arrived at St Barnabas about 4pm and there were the St Barnabas congregation and members of St Peter’s singing and dancing in preparation for our arrival. They all greeted us warmly with an African handshake while still singing and dancing. Then they all filed into church together with their beautiful singing. I followed poorly attempting to dance in time!! I was glad I was wearing my MU sarong or chitenge as they call it in Zambia. All the Mother’s union were wearing their blue and white uniform along with the younger St. Veronicas.
At 2.30pm (or 1400 hrs as they say in Zambia) Florence Mumba, called for us saying ‘ Ready to go?’ We left the guest house and went to the carpark by the Cathedral. Needless to say we waited another hour before we actually left! Happy Banda our driver one minute wasn’t there and then we were waiting for a cool box to be delivered by the Bishop! We are getting used to African time!
Bishop Derek and his wife, Evelyn said ‘goodbye’ to us. They were going about three times as far as us visiting rural parishes. He had very kindly provided us with his driver, Happy Banda, who was always smiling, ( so a very good name for him), the Mother’s Union landrover, and Florence Mumba, their Diocesan Mother’s Union worker.
At 3.30pm we were ready to go shopping in Ndola. We had asked Deacon Pumulo Neo to write us a list of things the school at St Michael’s needed, and we were keen to try and get some of them, with the money that had been given by our church of Holy Trinity, Nailsea.
Here is his list:
Filing cabinet
Footballs, netballs and volley balls and net.
10 files
plain paper (ream)
10 bibles
100 exercise books – squared
Carpentry tools – chisel, hammer, saw, nails.
We rushed round shopping before every thing closed at 5pm! We went first to the Roman Catholic shop and bought 10 Good News bibles, packets of plain paper – ream, the exercise books, wine for Ken to celebrate Communion with. Then we hurried to a sports shop and bought 4 footballs, and 2 netballs, then another shop to get 10 folders. Nowhere in Ndola sells filing cabinets which the school desperately needs – everything is just on a shelf in the small school office. It will have to be got from Lusaka. Our Mother’s Union in Nailsea had given some money, and so we were able to buy lots of wool, material and needles and thread. I’d been given knitting needles and some material to bring out with me.
Then we bought diesel for the MU Landrover. Fuel is an essential and big expense to get around the diocese, as the distances are so great. We then shopped for food as a contribution to Pumulo and Francesca, and at 6pm we were ready for our journey to Lunchu, our link parish! En route we bought a couple of watermelons and some onions from stalls along the roadside. Then at Kapiri we bought some more fuel, which we paid for. The allowance from the diocese for travel usually will only get them to Lunchu, but not to travel around the parish (which is very large, with 22 different congregations!). So normally they will arrive at Lunchu and then have to walk everywhere. An example is that Pumulo lives near St Barnabas’ congregation, St Michael’s is about 6 kms away and St Gabriel’s congregation is about 30 kms from St Barnabas.
It is dark by about 6.30pm so we arrived at St Michael’s, Lunchu after nightfall just before 9pm. There was a lovely full moon so you could see a little. Two or three of the builders for the headmaster’s house were sitting around a fire but everyone else was in bed, though Hilda and Abigail (two teachers at the school) had been waiting up for us. Bishop Derek had called in about an hour before and told them we were on our way! They emerged from their house, and then a bit later Pumulo came out of a mud house by the church where he stays when he is visiting St Michael’s. He hadn’t been at all well last week, and had fallen asleep while waiting for us. They were all very pleased to see us, and Hilda and Abigail were thrilled with the arrival of things for the school. Happy Banda then loaded bags onto the roof so that we could fit 2 more people into the back of the Landrover with Florence and myself. Pumulo’s grandson, Patrick was coming back with us. He had come to look after Pumulo while he’d been sick. We then drove about 12 kms along a hardcore very bumpy road to Pumulo’s house, arriving at 10pm.
Francesca, his wife came out to greet us so enthusiastically and we were introduced to their children, grandchildren and niece. Their was Patrick, (grandson), Isaac, (grandson) Stephen (Patrick’s brother – both orphans) Maria (niece and also an orphan), Malone, (son), Muyunda (son).
Then Francesca set to to cook a meal. By then though I was so tired and exhausted I went to bed before most of the meal was cooked, just having a bit of chicken. I left Florence, Happy Banda and Ken to tuck in with Pumulo and Francesca! I hardly slept though – probably because I was overtired and the heat. We’d had a busy morning before coming to Lunchu seeing another parish in Ndola and visiting a sewing project and preschool.
Toilets in Zambia aren’t in the home but quite a way from the house, in the bush. They are deep holes in the ground, so being able to squat is rather necessary! The toilet where we were was about 100 yards away from the home. It is in a small ‘shed’, made of mud bricks covered with a corrugated piece of metal. This was quite a grand one as many are just holes surrounded by a wall of straw. Thankfully we had a wind up torch, so no need for batteries. In the house were candles, as there was no electricity. I went to the loo in the night, and while squatting, a bat flew in through a hole in the corrugated roof, flying around me. I flew out of the door!!
Florence had written up a programme for our weekend here:
LUNCHU PARISH PROGRAMME1600 leave for shopping in Ndola
1800 leave for St. Michael’s Lunchu
Then to St. Barnabas – Deacon Pumulo’s residence.
27.10.07 – Saturday
07.00 tea
08.00 breakfast
09.00 visiting of St. Barnabas area
10.30 tea
11.00 leave for St. Gabriel
13.00 lunch
15.00 back to St. Barnabas
16.00 Meet St. Barnabas Mother’s Union and St Veronica’s members.
18.00 supper.
20.00 tea. To bed.
28.10.07 – Sunday
07.00 tea
08.00 breakfast
09.30 leave for St. Paul’s Mass.
13.00 lunch
14.00 visit to Kamukuba and St. Agnes projects.
16.00 Back to St. Barnabas. Meet St Barnabas MU/ St Veronica’s members.
18.00 supper
19.00 tea
28.10.07 - Monday
07.00 breakfast. Leave for Undola.
Sat 27th Oct 07
After breakfast we (Pumulo, Ken, Happy Banda, and myself) went to look around the St Barnabas parish. Francesca and Florence stayed behind to pack 10 bags with gifts of wool, knitting needles, materials, cotton thread and needles for the various Mother’s unions and St. Veronicas, with love from our Mother’s union. Happy Banda drove us in the MU Landrover to the school and local community about 1 km away and dropped us off to look around and walk back. We visited Lunchu Basic school where Francesca works. It is Government run with 560 pupils. Her classes are 4A (49students) and 4B (48 students).
Then we looked at how bricks were made for the buildings, and saw the water pump for the community, people collecting water in various down to the river which is quite low at the moment. When the rains arrive shortly it will overflow and many of the rural roads will become impassable for vehicles. That is why Bishop Derek is rushing around taking Confirmations etc. at the moment before the rains come!
Returning through the village we saw lots of mud houses covered with straw for roofs, and also some government houses. We passed a small RC church with people gathering for worship, and greeted the priest. Next we visited a new rural health clinic that the government are in the process of building. Hopefully it won’t be too long before it’s up and running.
Florence and Francesca obviously thought we were hot and tired so sent Happy Banda to collect us in the MU Landrover! We were obviously getting behind on Florence’s programme! She is very organised! It wasn’t far to home but I was pleased to see the Landrover! I was feeling very hot, sticky and tired. The cup of tea that Francesca had waiting was very welcome! We then set off for St Gabriel church. I hadn’t realised how far away it is – at least 30 kms from Pumulo’s house – along a hard-core or soft earth road. The hard-core road had become corrugated, and one felt riding in the back of the vehicle as if one’s bones were rattling! It is so rural. We drove for miles through scrub passing small communities of mud houses, families scratching a living from the dry earth around, preparing the ground ready for the rains.
After an hour we turned a corner, and there was St Gabriel church and community. It was such a contrast to what we’d been witnessing for the last hour. Here in the middle of nowhere was a large farm, 2 tractors, modern farm equipment and a generator for electricity! Mr and Mrs Banda retired as teachers and started farming here, building it up, growing maize. Her husband died but she and her sons have carried on expanding the farm, giving work to the community, and are pillars in the church. It was the only church in the Lunchu parish that had a light bulb in it!
We were welcomed warmly with singing and dancing, and lots of African handshakes. We went into the church. Pumulo asked Ken to say a prayer, then more singing with drums. Pumulo introduced the church leaders – they had also come from St Stephens and St John’s. I wrote their names down but as he said them quite quickly I might have misheard and got a few names not quite right. The names are:
Isa Cunda – priest warden from St Stephen’s.
Benedine Sani – St John’s
Alexander Tuyu – lay leader, and Father’s Union at St Stephen’s
Mary Tuyu – Treasurer, MU from St Stephen’s.
Kennedy Mwansa – Church warden from St Gabriel’s.
Passpor Banda – Secretary from St Gabriel’s.
Musunda Temwa Chair of choir from St Gabriel’s.
Landau Kanguga – church warden
Jonathan Katanga – trustee from St Gabriel’s.
Saphie Katanga – MU
Iraeni Banda – secretary of MU, and founder of a number of congregations. Looks after children, church and farm. Her daughter is a sister at the Fiwila Mission Station.
We heard how there had been no church here. The Banda family used to go to St Barnabas or St Michaels. Others came to join them, so at St. Michael’s and St Barnabas they said to them, ‘ It’s a long way to come’. So they started to begin this work here, praying and worshipping together. A small church was built. Others came to join them even people from the town. The numbers increased, and they wondered how they could build a new church. In 1987 they moulded the bricks, which stayed on the ground for 3 years while they saved money to buy cement. They asked the Bishop for help and he gave 12,000 kwacha, with which they bought the metal sheets for the roof. Her husband (died in 1996) helped lead the constructing of the church, the windows, buying paint and doing the floor. The church was completed in 2004, and they are still waiting for the Bishop to officially open the church.
I spoke on behalf of our Mother’s union at Holy Trinity, Nailsea, passing on greetings from them. Also on their behalf I gave a bag containing wool, knitting needles, materials, cotton thread and needles. They were so thrilled. We had more music. The choir there had wonderful voices. A St Veronica mum (same as our Morning Break mums), with her baby on her back, led the singing so beautifully. When the baby cried, she wasn’t fazed, she just undid the cloth (impapa) that held the baby on her back, and breast-fed while still leading the singing! She was amazing and had such a fantastic voice; I could have listened to her and her choir all day! When it was my turn to speak I said if they entered a competition they would win. If they had their singing on a CD then I would definitely buy one! Ken spoke and ended with a prayer.
After the time in the church with the congregation we looked around the farm. Mrs Banda who owns it has developed it, with one of her sons as Farm Manager. They now have 2 tractors and a truck, growing maize and fruit. The generator that they have put in means the church and
community benefits as well. We visited Mr Banda’s grave and Ken said a prayer. Then we were invited to lunch in her house – chicken, rice, nshima and vegetables with a tomato and onion sauce. Before each meal the hostess comes around with a bowl and a jug of water and a towel and each guest washes their hands. Zambians don’t really feel they’ve eaten unless they’ve got nshima on their plates! It is a white mass usually made from maize, but can be also made using cassava or groundnut. We were given knives and forks but the usual way in rural Zambia to eat is with your fingers picking some of the nshima, rolling it into a ball and using it to scoop up the food on ones plate. It is fairly tasteless, so needs other food for flavour.
Afterwards we walked back to the Landrover, passing lots of choir robes hanging on the washing line, all made by hand. An hour later, after bumping along the dirt track we arrived back at Pumulo and Francesca’s house at St Barnabas. All I could think about was how does Pumulo manage visiting all the congregations on foot. In England we get in the car if the journey is more than about 10 minutes!
We arrived at St Barnabas about 4pm and there were the St Barnabas congregation and members of St Peter’s singing and dancing in preparation for our arrival. They all greeted us warmly with an African handshake while still singing and dancing. Then they all filed into church together with their beautiful singing. I followed poorly attempting to dance in time!! I was glad I was wearing my MU sarong or chitenge as they call it in Zambia. All the Mother’s union were wearing their blue and white uniform along with the younger St. Veronicas.
We repeated what we had done at St. Gabriel – Pumulo introducing the leaders there, me speaking (they always start with the least person to speak, so when Bishop Peter was around I was the first speaker and he was the last!), then Ken spoke, then I was asked to talk to the MU and St. Veronica’s, and I was able to present them with the wool, knitting needles, material, needles and thread from HT. They were very excited at the thought of what they could make with it all. Their MU presented me with several pieces of material that they had beautifully crocheted for me to take home with love to our MU in Nailsea. The leaders that Pumulo introduced (again I’ve probably misheard some of the names and got wrong spellings!) were:
Idona Mokuka – Priest warden and Father’s union at St Peter’s.
Agnes Mokula – St Veronica’s branch leader
Dougnes Angosa – MU at St Peter’s.
Mildred Tembe – Chair of MU at congregational level, St Peter’s.
Doreen Peeny – chair of the choir.
Trevor Peerie – secretary of the choir.
Daniel Angosa – lay leader, St Peter’s
Wellington Banda – lay leader, St Barnabas
?? - lay leader St Barnabas.
Bemue Bella – Secretary of congregation, St Barnabas.
Matthias Campule – St Barnabas.
The St Barnabas church is old and small and the roof is in bad repair. The foundations for a larger one and floor have been completed next door, but because of lack of funds they have been unable to go any further, and now the floor is beginning to go to powder as it has been down for a long time and will need redoing.
After the gathering I was given a cookery demonstration:
Bean leaves.
Water
Tomatoes x 3
Salt
Peanut butter – quite a lot.
Dried bean leaves. (in Lusaka I had a similar dish made with pumpkin leaves)
Boil water tomatoes and salt. Add peanut butter (they used homemade) and then dried bean leaves – simmer for 10 mins.
The Mother’s union and St Veronica’s have regular weekly gatherings altogether. Some of the topics and activities include:
Cookery
Sewing
Home visiting – including visiting those who are sick and prison visiting.
Teaching about diseases such as HIV and Aids, malaria.
Family Planning.
Washing and laundry.
Netball.
Church cleaning.
Bible study.
Marriage guidance.
The St Veronica’s meet with the Mother’s union. They include not just young mum’s but single young ladies as well. The MU help and teach them meeting the MU objective of supporting Family life.
We said farewell to everyone – quite a number had a 2 hour walk home and so wouldn’t reach home until well after dark. It is very humbling. I can’t think of anyone in our country that would walk 2 hours to a meeting and then 2 hours walk home in the dark!! People were so pleased we had come. The link with our parish means so much to them, knowing we are thinking and praying for them.
We went back to Pumulo and Francesca’s house by this time very hot and tired! It is the hottest time of year just before the rains start. After a lie down we had supper by candlelight, on our laps in the lounge – nshima, rice, chicken, the vegetable and peanut dish we’d made in the cookery demonstration – delicious! Then we went to bed under our mosquito nets.
Sunday 28 Oct 07
Ken and I woke about 6am and we enjoyed a cup of tea in bed at 7am. As it is light early and cooler the household is up about 5am doing chores, sweeping, lighting a fire for cooking etc.
The bathroom is a mud brick construction, no roof, with bricks laid on the ground with gaps in them for drainage. To have a bath you use the plastic mug fill it up with the water from the bowl and pour it over yourself. Then you soap yourself, collect more water in the mug, and rinse off pouring the water over you. The trick is not to contaminate the bowl of water, as the next person would appreciate clean water for washing! Bishop Derek told us about a vicar who came out, when presented with a bowl of water, didn’t know what to do with it! Bishop Derek asked him ‘ well what did you do with it?’ He replied ‘I climbed into it’! So the next person would either have had an empty bowl or a bowl of dirty water!
Breakfast consisted of porridge made of a maize and peanut butter mixture – quite nice, then followed fried eggs and peanuts – they are very tasty together!
At about 9.30am we left in the MU Landrover – Florence, Francesca, Pumulo, Ken, myself and Happy Banda, driving. It wasn’t too far so we were in good time for the 10am service at St Paul’s. As we drove up to the church everyone was already practising in the hot sun, singing and dancing getting ready to welcome us. They were so excited to see us all, Florence now knows every parish in Central Diocese, and people are always delighted to see her. They came rushing over still dancing and singing excitedly. They greeted us so enthusiastically, shaking all our hands. I was embraced by many of the ladies with such enthusiastic hugs that I was nearly throttled by one lady!
We went into church and found people had come from different congregations:
St Michael’s – we could see Hilda (in her St Veronica’s uniform – she joined about 2 months ago) and Abigail – two teachers from the school.
St Paul’s
St Luke’s
St Agnes’.
We were welcomed with different songs and dancing from different groups/ choirs, taking it in turns – St Paul’s choir, St Michael’s choir, St. Veronica’s, and MU. Pumulo then introduced all the church leaders, and their roles in the church from the various congregations:
St. Michael’s
Agnes Shatala – church choir.
Joseph Banda – chair of choir.
Elvis Machenje – Music director
Robson Kezara – Trustee of St Michael’s.
Peter Malakta – priest warden.
St Agnes
Winston Kaputula – chair of choir.
St Paul’s
Davis Karuga – chair of Father’s union (there is a large FU at St Paul’s), priest warden and lay leader.
Paul Simbe – Disciplinary leader, church choir.
Kosmos Korunga – Secretary St Paul’s
Saidi Mowela – Youth Chair of the whole parish of Lunchu.
Peter Stoney – churchwarden
John Chasowa – vice secretary of FU for the whole parish of Lunchu, Lay leader.
Amoni Kataloka – Advisor for FU.
Baldwin Waite – vice secretary.
Atthur Maya – chairlady of MU for St Paul’s.
Rudic Singa – vice chair of St Veronica’s for the whole parish of Lunchu.
Evelyn Kunda – Parish secretary for the whole of the parish of Lunchu.
St Luke’s
John Chawaya – FU Link correspondent to HT Nailsea. Build up a good church of St Lukes.
Grace Tembo – Chair of MU for St Luke’s.
Patson Kavinga – Lay leader.
Priscilla Inshimbi – Leader of St Veronica’s.
Hilda and Abigail were also introduced, both teachers at St Michael’s community school –HT have helped fund the school building and the teachers house. Mrs Neo, Pumulo’s wife was also introduced as a Boys Brigade leader and a trainer for TEEZ (Theological Education by Extension in Zambia).
There were also there 2 young people from the parish that had visited Keynsham parish in Bath and Wells diocese in July this year. Apparently young people from each parish in Central diocese had been offered the opportunity to visit England. We had thought that all the young people had come from the link parish for Keynsham. We said we were sorry that we hadn’t realised – if we’d known there were young people from Lunchu parish, we would have invited them to visit us in Nailsea.
We then had a Communion service, led by Pumulo and a lay leader and Ken preached and administered the Communion. We all greeted one another during the Peace.
Ken started his sermon by giving them greetings and love and prayers from HT church in Nailsea. He used one of the tea towels that had been given for us to bring out, to illustrate his talk.
After the service I was asked to speak, and then I was able to present gifts (bags of material, wool etc to the various MU groups) from HT Mother’s union again sending them all love from our church, the MU, and our St Veronica’s – Morning Break.
There were 2 Boy’s Brigade members there – Patrick, (Pumulo and Francesca’s grandson) and his friend. After the service Francesca met with all the boys interested in becoming a member of the Boys Brigade. While we were enjoying lunch on the floor of the church, ( that the ladies of the parish had prepared), we could hear Patrick putting the boys through their paces outside the church, ‘Left, right, left, right’ etc!!
After lunch some of the parish brought us gifts. They have so little but are so generous with what they do have. One of the gifts presented to me was a live chicken in a basket!! But most of the gifts were groundnuts, cassava or popcorn. We met John Chawaya’s wife Mary which was lovely.
We said ‘goodbye’ and drove to St Agnes Community school and church. The community school at Kamukuba, that was down on Florence’s programme, we had to \miss going to because the message hadn’t got through that we would be coming, so there wouldn’t be anyone there. Communication between the congregations isn’t easy, as it usually means someone walking a long way to pass on any messages.
We saw St Agnes church – the congregation are in the process of renewing the roof. They had hoped to put corrugated metal sheeting on instead of straw, but so far can only afford 8 sheets, which they have already bought. Without at the moment being able to afford more roofing sheets, they are reluctantly going to replace with fresh straw. Then we went into the local school next door to the church and met some of the local community, including the Deputy Head, Mr Kalarlai. The Village Headman gave this plot of land to the church and community. He was there at the meeting seen sitting next to me. Pumulo introduced people there:
Mr Morris Mutambo – St Agnes church
Mr Kalarlai – Deputy Head of St Agnes Community school.
Dickson Malay – Lay Leader.
John Chawaya – very senior! lots of wisdom. Has started lots of churches
Mr Ma…..- Project chair for the village. Headman. He gave this plot of land.
Mr Sakarlarcy greeted us and gave us a history of the school. His English is excellent and he was a very good translator. He was quite emotional when he spoke and is obviously very keen to help the community in moving forward. The school was started in 1996. The idea came from this community, as the nearest school was so far away. The community agreed to \mould the bricks, which they did, but they were not fired properly so the rains ruined them. The church allowed them to study in the church. The priest then, Father Masengi agreed to continue letting the school use the church building. Then there was 1 teacher and 125 pupils. Then the community sat down and introduced the school to the government. Through the hard work of the local community this school was built in 1997. They all united to mould the bricks, buy the iron sheets, doors, windows and cement. He mentioned that there is a problem with the teachers not being payed and asked us to pray for the needs of the school and community.
There are now 265 pupils (105 are boys, 130 are girls and 76 are vulnerable orphans).The lay leader at St Agnes spoke about how far it had been to walk to church to either St Michael’s or St Luke’s, so they decided to build a church here. The Headman gave them some land. He talked about the problem of the roof, how they would love to put a more substantial roof on the church, but with only 8 corrugated metal sheets, they are reluctantly going to renew the roof again with straw.
I and then Ken were asked to speak, so at the end I was able to present the bag of wool and knitting needles etc. to a St Veronica’s mum who was there at the meeting. She was very pleased. Florence has asked each group to show her what they make so she can photograph the finished products to show us! When I heard what Florence had said, I said we’d send her a disposable camera.
When we went back to the Landrover we found my chicken had escaped from it’s basket and was sitting on the roof of the Landrover!! Happy Banda climbed up and caught it. As I can’t take it on the plane I will donate it to Francesca – I don’t know how many chickens have been killed for us to devour!
We dropped John Chawaya off at his home and saw the bee-keeping project he’s starting, and the chicken house he’s built to start another project with chickens. We also saw his office – I haven’t seen another office like it. It was circular, made with mud bricks and a straw roof, but dangling down between the roof and the wall, all around were empty cans, cartons etc, so when the wind blows there is a nice array of musical sounds!! He is an amazing man – in his 70s, still walking miles, encouraging congregations and projects. He has started about 10 of the congregations in Lunchu parish! Still the ideas keep coming.
Then we returned home to St Barnabas and Pumulo and Francesca’s house. We were very hot and tired, but had met so many lovely people. We slept for a while and then Francesca taught me how to crochet. Some of the local community came to greet us while we were sitting outside crocheting together. I was given some peanuts – people are so kind and friendly. While I was having a lesson ken and Pumulo walked down to the village, as Pumulo was trying to see someone. Pumulo had said ‘ do you want to come for a stroll?’ It turned out to be quite a walk, so Ken returned feeling rather hot and exhausted. How does Pumulo do it?!
We had supper together and then all welcomed our beds. Florence has a very busy time because when she gets back to Ndola tomorrow, she will only have Monday night at home before she heads of to a Mother’s union conference for 2 days in Eastern Diocese. She will go with Agnes (on the Provincial committee for MU) and Dorcas (MU president) in the MU Landrover.
Monday 29 Oct 07
We were awake at 5.30am – most of the household were up working, sweeping the hardened earth and preparing water and breakfast. We got up about 6am, met more villagers who’d come a distance to say ‘goodbye’ and bring popcorn and peanuts. One man’s wife had been up very early preparing the nuts for us. Then he’d walked a long way to see us and give them to us. Another man came from St Barnabas parish with 2 of his children, also with a bag of peanuts for us. Ken had prayed for his little daughter who was not well, when we’d met at St Barnabas church. We were very pleased to see she was quite a bit better.
We saw Maria, Pumulo and Francesca’s granddaughter, ready for school. She is 10 yrs old with both her parents dead, and always looks so serious. We brought a smile to her face, with a pink hair band and some beads to make necklaces and bracelets with that had been given by someone at HT. Francesca and Pumulo are caring for several children who are orphans.
After our ‘bath’ we had breakfast at 7.30am – a rice pudding with peanut butter in it, (very tasty), hard-boiled eggs and bread and marmalade, and water melon. Then it was time to say ‘goodbye’, - we gave a few gifts to Pumulo and Francesca, Florence and Happy Banda, our driver. I felt a bit bad that we didn’t have anything left to give the 2 ladies who’d cooked for us.
That is a problem, there is so much need, people have so little, that one wants to give a little something to everyone that has come into our lives.
We have only been in this country for 10 days, but it seems so much longer, as we have met so many wonderful people, so many congregations, schools, communities. People like Florence, Pumulo and Francesca are an inspiration. Florence has come back out of retirement to continue to be a Mother’s worker travelling around the diocese, teaching and encouraging MU and St Veronica groups. She is a fountain of knowledge! She, Happy Banda and Bishop Derek are really the only ones that know every single parish in the diocese. Florence is amazing!
It has been an exhausting trip but very worthwhile. I would love to bring the St Gabriel choir to England. If there was a CD of their music it would sell like hotcakes! It would be great if folk from Holy Trinity such as a teacher, Someone to record and film what life is like in Lunchu parish, and capture some of the singing and dancing, some of our young people to experience life in rural Zambia, someone from MU,- the MU are the ones at the forefront of caring for the communities, inspiring and helping to build community schools such as Lunchu community school.
We dropped Pumulo off at a government school, as he is invigilating for exams today, and then we had a 2-hour drive back to Ndola. We arrived back at the Cathedral and our guesthouse in Ndola just before 12midday. We saw various people when we reported in at the Diocesan office – Agnes, MU president, Janet, the Administrator (she’s only been doing the job for 5 months), Susan, the secretary, Father Pascal, and then Bishop Derek arrived. Ken chatted to Janet about the link with Bath and Wells and Central diocese. Then we went with Bishop Derek and Pascal, to have lunch at the Bishop’s house with his wife Evelyn. We met their children:
Precious, Audreen, Chisenga – wants to be a lawyer, Mambwe, Derek – 16yrs – at boarding school, Yolanu & Mosonda.
Then we came back to the guesthouse for a rest, though Happy Banda came for Ken, as the Bishop wanted to see him. So Ken went off to the diocesan office and chatted with Bishop Derek and Janet about how the finances work. It cleared up several queries. Then we completed our packing, Happy loaded our bags into the Landrover, we said ‘goodbye’ to the bishop and went to the airport. The plane was supposed to leave at 5pm but didn’t actually take off until 7.30pm! Rodgers had phoned with the news so we hadn’t had to wait at the airport.
We arrived at about 8.10pm at Lusaka having had a good flight with a South African crew. Rodgers Banda was there to greet us with a warm smile. He had just come from an Alpha meeting. Canon Charley Thomas, the new Dean of Lusaka Cathedral, and Rodger Banda’s wife, Esther both phoned on our drive back into Lusaka, to find out what had happened to us, and what the delay was. It’s about a half hour drive from the airport to the ZAC (Zambian Anglican Council) guest house.
We had a lovely evening meal with Esther, Rodgers, and their son, and Charley. Ken then chatted about the link with Rodgers and Charley while Esther helped me try on the 2 outfits I’d had made by an MU tailor in Lusaka. She also showed me how to put the headpiece on using the left over pieces of material. Ken took photos in case I can’t do it again!
So it was quite a late night – well after 11pm when we got to bed. We’d had a lovely evening – Rodgers and Esther are such hospitable people. We set the alarm for 5.30am to be up and ready for the airport tomorrow.
Tues 30th Oct 07
We got up at 5.30am, showered, breakfasted, said ‘goodbye’ to Esther and went with Rodgers to the airport for the 8.50am flight to Heathrow. Rodgers had booked our seats, and he did a great job as we had seats by the emergency exit with lots of legroom!
In the departure lounge we bought a couple of souvenirs – a bicycle with a man on it made from wire and bottle tops! In the rural areas the main mode of transport is either walking or cycling. We also bought a ‘mud’ house with ‘straw’ for a roof, to show people what a lot of houses are like. John Chawaya’s office is just like it. This one is actually made of pottery, not mud.
Well, ‘goodbye’. Zambia until next time! We will always remember our time here and making so many new friends!
Idona Mokuka – Priest warden and Father’s union at St Peter’s.
Agnes Mokula – St Veronica’s branch leader
Dougnes Angosa – MU at St Peter’s.
Mildred Tembe – Chair of MU at congregational level, St Peter’s.
Doreen Peeny – chair of the choir.
Trevor Peerie – secretary of the choir.
Daniel Angosa – lay leader, St Peter’s
Wellington Banda – lay leader, St Barnabas
?? - lay leader St Barnabas.
Bemue Bella – Secretary of congregation, St Barnabas.
Matthias Campule – St Barnabas.
The St Barnabas church is old and small and the roof is in bad repair. The foundations for a larger one and floor have been completed next door, but because of lack of funds they have been unable to go any further, and now the floor is beginning to go to powder as it has been down for a long time and will need redoing.
After the gathering I was given a cookery demonstration:
Bean leaves.
Water
Tomatoes x 3
Salt
Peanut butter – quite a lot.
Dried bean leaves. (in Lusaka I had a similar dish made with pumpkin leaves)
Boil water tomatoes and salt. Add peanut butter (they used homemade) and then dried bean leaves – simmer for 10 mins.
The Mother’s union and St Veronica’s have regular weekly gatherings altogether. Some of the topics and activities include:
Cookery
Sewing
Home visiting – including visiting those who are sick and prison visiting.
Teaching about diseases such as HIV and Aids, malaria.
Family Planning.
Washing and laundry.
Netball.
Church cleaning.
Bible study.
Marriage guidance.
The St Veronica’s meet with the Mother’s union. They include not just young mum’s but single young ladies as well. The MU help and teach them meeting the MU objective of supporting Family life.
We said farewell to everyone – quite a number had a 2 hour walk home and so wouldn’t reach home until well after dark. It is very humbling. I can’t think of anyone in our country that would walk 2 hours to a meeting and then 2 hours walk home in the dark!! People were so pleased we had come. The link with our parish means so much to them, knowing we are thinking and praying for them.
We went back to Pumulo and Francesca’s house by this time very hot and tired! It is the hottest time of year just before the rains start. After a lie down we had supper by candlelight, on our laps in the lounge – nshima, rice, chicken, the vegetable and peanut dish we’d made in the cookery demonstration – delicious! Then we went to bed under our mosquito nets.
Sunday 28 Oct 07
Ken and I woke about 6am and we enjoyed a cup of tea in bed at 7am. As it is light early and cooler the household is up about 5am doing chores, sweeping, lighting a fire for cooking etc.
The bathroom is a mud brick construction, no roof, with bricks laid on the ground with gaps in them for drainage. To have a bath you use the plastic mug fill it up with the water from the bowl and pour it over yourself. Then you soap yourself, collect more water in the mug, and rinse off pouring the water over you. The trick is not to contaminate the bowl of water, as the next person would appreciate clean water for washing! Bishop Derek told us about a vicar who came out, when presented with a bowl of water, didn’t know what to do with it! Bishop Derek asked him ‘ well what did you do with it?’ He replied ‘I climbed into it’! So the next person would either have had an empty bowl or a bowl of dirty water!
Breakfast consisted of porridge made of a maize and peanut butter mixture – quite nice, then followed fried eggs and peanuts – they are very tasty together!
At about 9.30am we left in the MU Landrover – Florence, Francesca, Pumulo, Ken, myself and Happy Banda, driving. It wasn’t too far so we were in good time for the 10am service at St Paul’s. As we drove up to the church everyone was already practising in the hot sun, singing and dancing getting ready to welcome us. They were so excited to see us all, Florence now knows every parish in Central Diocese, and people are always delighted to see her. They came rushing over still dancing and singing excitedly. They greeted us so enthusiastically, shaking all our hands. I was embraced by many of the ladies with such enthusiastic hugs that I was nearly throttled by one lady!
We went into church and found people had come from different congregations:
St Michael’s – we could see Hilda (in her St Veronica’s uniform – she joined about 2 months ago) and Abigail – two teachers from the school.
St Paul’s
St Luke’s
St Agnes’.
We were welcomed with different songs and dancing from different groups/ choirs, taking it in turns – St Paul’s choir, St Michael’s choir, St. Veronica’s, and MU. Pumulo then introduced all the church leaders, and their roles in the church from the various congregations:
St. Michael’s
Agnes Shatala – church choir.
Joseph Banda – chair of choir.
Elvis Machenje – Music director
Robson Kezara – Trustee of St Michael’s.
Peter Malakta – priest warden.
St Agnes
Winston Kaputula – chair of choir.
St Paul’s
Davis Karuga – chair of Father’s union (there is a large FU at St Paul’s), priest warden and lay leader.
Paul Simbe – Disciplinary leader, church choir.
Kosmos Korunga – Secretary St Paul’s
Saidi Mowela – Youth Chair of the whole parish of Lunchu.
Peter Stoney – churchwarden
John Chasowa – vice secretary of FU for the whole parish of Lunchu, Lay leader.
Amoni Kataloka – Advisor for FU.
Baldwin Waite – vice secretary.
Atthur Maya – chairlady of MU for St Paul’s.
Rudic Singa – vice chair of St Veronica’s for the whole parish of Lunchu.
Evelyn Kunda – Parish secretary for the whole of the parish of Lunchu.
St Luke’s
John Chawaya – FU Link correspondent to HT Nailsea. Build up a good church of St Lukes.
Grace Tembo – Chair of MU for St Luke’s.
Patson Kavinga – Lay leader.
Priscilla Inshimbi – Leader of St Veronica’s.
Hilda and Abigail were also introduced, both teachers at St Michael’s community school –HT have helped fund the school building and the teachers house. Mrs Neo, Pumulo’s wife was also introduced as a Boys Brigade leader and a trainer for TEEZ (Theological Education by Extension in Zambia).
There were also there 2 young people from the parish that had visited Keynsham parish in Bath and Wells diocese in July this year. Apparently young people from each parish in Central diocese had been offered the opportunity to visit England. We had thought that all the young people had come from the link parish for Keynsham. We said we were sorry that we hadn’t realised – if we’d known there were young people from Lunchu parish, we would have invited them to visit us in Nailsea.
We then had a Communion service, led by Pumulo and a lay leader and Ken preached and administered the Communion. We all greeted one another during the Peace.
Ken started his sermon by giving them greetings and love and prayers from HT church in Nailsea. He used one of the tea towels that had been given for us to bring out, to illustrate his talk.
After the service I was asked to speak, and then I was able to present gifts (bags of material, wool etc to the various MU groups) from HT Mother’s union again sending them all love from our church, the MU, and our St Veronica’s – Morning Break.
There were 2 Boy’s Brigade members there – Patrick, (Pumulo and Francesca’s grandson) and his friend. After the service Francesca met with all the boys interested in becoming a member of the Boys Brigade. While we were enjoying lunch on the floor of the church, ( that the ladies of the parish had prepared), we could hear Patrick putting the boys through their paces outside the church, ‘Left, right, left, right’ etc!!
After lunch some of the parish brought us gifts. They have so little but are so generous with what they do have. One of the gifts presented to me was a live chicken in a basket!! But most of the gifts were groundnuts, cassava or popcorn. We met John Chawaya’s wife Mary which was lovely.
We said ‘goodbye’ and drove to St Agnes Community school and church. The community school at Kamukuba, that was down on Florence’s programme, we had to \miss going to because the message hadn’t got through that we would be coming, so there wouldn’t be anyone there. Communication between the congregations isn’t easy, as it usually means someone walking a long way to pass on any messages.
We saw St Agnes church – the congregation are in the process of renewing the roof. They had hoped to put corrugated metal sheeting on instead of straw, but so far can only afford 8 sheets, which they have already bought. Without at the moment being able to afford more roofing sheets, they are reluctantly going to replace with fresh straw. Then we went into the local school next door to the church and met some of the local community, including the Deputy Head, Mr Kalarlai. The Village Headman gave this plot of land to the church and community. He was there at the meeting seen sitting next to me. Pumulo introduced people there:
Mr Morris Mutambo – St Agnes church
Mr Kalarlai – Deputy Head of St Agnes Community school.
Dickson Malay – Lay Leader.
John Chawaya – very senior! lots of wisdom. Has started lots of churches
Mr Ma…..- Project chair for the village. Headman. He gave this plot of land.
Mr Sakarlarcy greeted us and gave us a history of the school. His English is excellent and he was a very good translator. He was quite emotional when he spoke and is obviously very keen to help the community in moving forward. The school was started in 1996. The idea came from this community, as the nearest school was so far away. The community agreed to \mould the bricks, which they did, but they were not fired properly so the rains ruined them. The church allowed them to study in the church. The priest then, Father Masengi agreed to continue letting the school use the church building. Then there was 1 teacher and 125 pupils. Then the community sat down and introduced the school to the government. Through the hard work of the local community this school was built in 1997. They all united to mould the bricks, buy the iron sheets, doors, windows and cement. He mentioned that there is a problem with the teachers not being payed and asked us to pray for the needs of the school and community.
There are now 265 pupils (105 are boys, 130 are girls and 76 are vulnerable orphans).The lay leader at St Agnes spoke about how far it had been to walk to church to either St Michael’s or St Luke’s, so they decided to build a church here. The Headman gave them some land. He talked about the problem of the roof, how they would love to put a more substantial roof on the church, but with only 8 corrugated metal sheets, they are reluctantly going to renew the roof again with straw.
I and then Ken were asked to speak, so at the end I was able to present the bag of wool and knitting needles etc. to a St Veronica’s mum who was there at the meeting. She was very pleased. Florence has asked each group to show her what they make so she can photograph the finished products to show us! When I heard what Florence had said, I said we’d send her a disposable camera.
When we went back to the Landrover we found my chicken had escaped from it’s basket and was sitting on the roof of the Landrover!! Happy Banda climbed up and caught it. As I can’t take it on the plane I will donate it to Francesca – I don’t know how many chickens have been killed for us to devour!
We dropped John Chawaya off at his home and saw the bee-keeping project he’s starting, and the chicken house he’s built to start another project with chickens. We also saw his office – I haven’t seen another office like it. It was circular, made with mud bricks and a straw roof, but dangling down between the roof and the wall, all around were empty cans, cartons etc, so when the wind blows there is a nice array of musical sounds!! He is an amazing man – in his 70s, still walking miles, encouraging congregations and projects. He has started about 10 of the congregations in Lunchu parish! Still the ideas keep coming.
Then we returned home to St Barnabas and Pumulo and Francesca’s house. We were very hot and tired, but had met so many lovely people. We slept for a while and then Francesca taught me how to crochet. Some of the local community came to greet us while we were sitting outside crocheting together. I was given some peanuts – people are so kind and friendly. While I was having a lesson ken and Pumulo walked down to the village, as Pumulo was trying to see someone. Pumulo had said ‘ do you want to come for a stroll?’ It turned out to be quite a walk, so Ken returned feeling rather hot and exhausted. How does Pumulo do it?!
We had supper together and then all welcomed our beds. Florence has a very busy time because when she gets back to Ndola tomorrow, she will only have Monday night at home before she heads of to a Mother’s union conference for 2 days in Eastern Diocese. She will go with Agnes (on the Provincial committee for MU) and Dorcas (MU president) in the MU Landrover.
Monday 29 Oct 07
We were awake at 5.30am – most of the household were up working, sweeping the hardened earth and preparing water and breakfast. We got up about 6am, met more villagers who’d come a distance to say ‘goodbye’ and bring popcorn and peanuts. One man’s wife had been up very early preparing the nuts for us. Then he’d walked a long way to see us and give them to us. Another man came from St Barnabas parish with 2 of his children, also with a bag of peanuts for us. Ken had prayed for his little daughter who was not well, when we’d met at St Barnabas church. We were very pleased to see she was quite a bit better.
We saw Maria, Pumulo and Francesca’s granddaughter, ready for school. She is 10 yrs old with both her parents dead, and always looks so serious. We brought a smile to her face, with a pink hair band and some beads to make necklaces and bracelets with that had been given by someone at HT. Francesca and Pumulo are caring for several children who are orphans.
After our ‘bath’ we had breakfast at 7.30am – a rice pudding with peanut butter in it, (very tasty), hard-boiled eggs and bread and marmalade, and water melon. Then it was time to say ‘goodbye’, - we gave a few gifts to Pumulo and Francesca, Florence and Happy Banda, our driver. I felt a bit bad that we didn’t have anything left to give the 2 ladies who’d cooked for us.
That is a problem, there is so much need, people have so little, that one wants to give a little something to everyone that has come into our lives.
We have only been in this country for 10 days, but it seems so much longer, as we have met so many wonderful people, so many congregations, schools, communities. People like Florence, Pumulo and Francesca are an inspiration. Florence has come back out of retirement to continue to be a Mother’s worker travelling around the diocese, teaching and encouraging MU and St Veronica groups. She is a fountain of knowledge! She, Happy Banda and Bishop Derek are really the only ones that know every single parish in the diocese. Florence is amazing!
It has been an exhausting trip but very worthwhile. I would love to bring the St Gabriel choir to England. If there was a CD of their music it would sell like hotcakes! It would be great if folk from Holy Trinity such as a teacher, Someone to record and film what life is like in Lunchu parish, and capture some of the singing and dancing, some of our young people to experience life in rural Zambia, someone from MU,- the MU are the ones at the forefront of caring for the communities, inspiring and helping to build community schools such as Lunchu community school.
We dropped Pumulo off at a government school, as he is invigilating for exams today, and then we had a 2-hour drive back to Ndola. We arrived back at the Cathedral and our guesthouse in Ndola just before 12midday. We saw various people when we reported in at the Diocesan office – Agnes, MU president, Janet, the Administrator (she’s only been doing the job for 5 months), Susan, the secretary, Father Pascal, and then Bishop Derek arrived. Ken chatted to Janet about the link with Bath and Wells and Central diocese. Then we went with Bishop Derek and Pascal, to have lunch at the Bishop’s house with his wife Evelyn. We met their children:
Precious, Audreen, Chisenga – wants to be a lawyer, Mambwe, Derek – 16yrs – at boarding school, Yolanu & Mosonda.
Then we came back to the guesthouse for a rest, though Happy Banda came for Ken, as the Bishop wanted to see him. So Ken went off to the diocesan office and chatted with Bishop Derek and Janet about how the finances work. It cleared up several queries. Then we completed our packing, Happy loaded our bags into the Landrover, we said ‘goodbye’ to the bishop and went to the airport. The plane was supposed to leave at 5pm but didn’t actually take off until 7.30pm! Rodgers had phoned with the news so we hadn’t had to wait at the airport.
We arrived at about 8.10pm at Lusaka having had a good flight with a South African crew. Rodgers Banda was there to greet us with a warm smile. He had just come from an Alpha meeting. Canon Charley Thomas, the new Dean of Lusaka Cathedral, and Rodger Banda’s wife, Esther both phoned on our drive back into Lusaka, to find out what had happened to us, and what the delay was. It’s about a half hour drive from the airport to the ZAC (Zambian Anglican Council) guest house.
We had a lovely evening meal with Esther, Rodgers, and their son, and Charley. Ken then chatted about the link with Rodgers and Charley while Esther helped me try on the 2 outfits I’d had made by an MU tailor in Lusaka. She also showed me how to put the headpiece on using the left over pieces of material. Ken took photos in case I can’t do it again!
So it was quite a late night – well after 11pm when we got to bed. We’d had a lovely evening – Rodgers and Esther are such hospitable people. We set the alarm for 5.30am to be up and ready for the airport tomorrow.
Tues 30th Oct 07
We got up at 5.30am, showered, breakfasted, said ‘goodbye’ to Esther and went with Rodgers to the airport for the 8.50am flight to Heathrow. Rodgers had booked our seats, and he did a great job as we had seats by the emergency exit with lots of legroom!
In the departure lounge we bought a couple of souvenirs – a bicycle with a man on it made from wire and bottle tops! In the rural areas the main mode of transport is either walking or cycling. We also bought a ‘mud’ house with ‘straw’ for a roof, to show people what a lot of houses are like. John Chawaya’s office is just like it. This one is actually made of pottery, not mud.
Well, ‘goodbye’. Zambia until next time! We will always remember our time here and making so many new friends!
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