FRIDAY 26th OCTOBER 07
I woke about 6am as it was getting light and then again at 6am. Ken and I had a cup of tea which we were able to make in our room. Then after breakfast at 8.45 Bishop Derek came and picked us up with Bishop Peter and Liz. We went to Margaret Hall, an MU sewing project in Mushili Parish, on the outskirts of Ndola. Father Pascal Chalwelwa is the priest there, with his wife Jessie. She hasn’t been very well – her limbs have been aching. Mushili parish is linked to St John’s, Bridgewater.
We met Julia Fundulu who is the Mother’s Union coordinator for the project. Beauty and Jenny are the instructors. We went into one room, packed with students and sewing machines. They study a 6 month course and are government affiliated, so they take exams to qualify and get a certificate. We watched the girls sewing at the machines. Julia told us anyone can steal anything from your house, but they can’t steal your skill. Those who are able and keen can move on to an advanced level. This building and the idea that came from the MU has taken 5 years to come to fruition. Little by little with what they could afford they gradually built the building brick by brick. The church next door in Mushili parish paid for the roof and the electricity. It is called Margaret Hall after Margaret Wineberg, who was MU president for many years and did a lot for the MU. Mr Iddaney Chapema is the chair of the board for Margaret Hall.
Challenges that they have:
Sewing machines need frequent servicing.
Electricity costs.
State of walls – large cracks.
More books on sewing needed.
This present course started in June and they take their exams the first week of Dec. They can train up to 50 students at a time, as they have morning and afternoon sessions. Later in the morning a nurse came to talk to them about HIV awareness. I asked them about when the course finishes is there any help for the students to own their own sewing machine. If the MU can afford it they try and give 5 machines to the best students.
We then went into the next room and saw a class of preschoolers. They had little uniforms shirts on, all made by Evelyn, their teacher who had been one of the first sewing students.
The other half of the room had grade 1 students,. Messie, the teacher was in the middle of giving some remedial help to one child and the others were all doing a simple maths test quietly from the blackboard.
Challenges Are:
Not enough desks and chairs. Need a larger blackboard.
Uniforms so the students can go on to government schools.
These children are aged 6-10yrs and have missed out on going to a gov. school either because of enrolment problems, - not enough places- or the child couldn’t afford the school uniform and school books.
There is also a problem with water supply – it is very intermittent, especially in the dry season. They would love to put a bore hole in.
We were then driven around Pascal’s parish – we saw St Agnes church, just made of mud, so they are building a new church next to it. So far the foundations are down and they will build the walls as they raise funds.
Then we drove to Kabushi Church, also in the parish of Mushili. This one was just made of wood and looked as if it wouldn’t last very long. They already have a large church half built. The walls are about 8 foot high and foundations are complete. Holy Trinity has 900 members, many have to walk miles to come, hence church planting in strategic places where people have access to the church. St Agnes has 657 including children and Kabushi has 600 registered members. Usually about 100-150 come, as many are trying to earn a living selling in the market.
Then we returned to Holy Trinity, went in the church, and enjoyed Mother’s Union dancing and singing. We all had to speak, first Ken, then me, then Liz and then Bishop Peter.
Julia, the coordinator spoke – Margaret Hall started in 2001 with 2 students. 161 have now been trained. It was begun to help those in adversity. They also do classes for HIV awareness. There is a need to sponsor students as the government has stopped sponsoring. There are 5,000 kwacha fees for appreciation to the instructors. Julia welcomed us warmly, and was keen for us to take ‘our picture’ wherever we go, to help with their work.
I gave out Mother’s Union cards with the MU prayer on – they were thrilled.
We were all presented with a shirt and Liz and I also a wrap around skirt. The students had made them while we had been looking around the parish!!!! They hadn’t measured us, just observed us when we came into the classroom! I tried mine on and joined in the African dancing with the ladies!
Then we had lunch in Pascal’s house and saw Jessie who was feeling a little better.
!2 midday came the time Bishop Peter and Liz were due at the airport! Time moved on and still no sign of Happy Banda, the Bishop’s driver! He’d been sent back to get the visitor’s book for us all to sign! Nothing happens fast here – Africa time! We eventually got to the airport, only to find the plane hadn’t even landed yet! We heard the president’s wife was due to land.
The Mother’s Union, including Evelyn, the Bishop’s wife turned up to say ‘goodbye’ to Bishop Peter and Liz, but they had already gone through to the departure lounge! Ken and I went back to the guesthouse for a short rest before Florence and Happy Banda were due to pick us up to go to Lunchu!
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Blessing of the Teachers' House at St Michael's Mikumbila
BLESSING OF THE TEACHERS’ HOUSE AT LUNCHU
THURS 25th OCTOBER 2007
We woke early, showered, killed a few enormous ants in our loo, and then Ken and I walked to the Cathedral, met Janet, the Admin secretary, and Happy Banda, the Bishop’s driver. We looked inside the Cathedral, and Janet explained all the dust covering the outside of the Cathedral, and also a thin layer inside, was due to pollution from the cement factory. They had complained to the Environment Agency, but it is still bad.
We returned to the guesthouse for breakfast – just down a short driveway from the Cathedral. I have worn my Mother’s Union sarong (called a chitenge in Zambia) for the Blessing of the teachers’ house at Lunchu. Mother’s Union members all wear their uniform whenever there is a meeting/ service etc. It is blue and white. We set off for Lunchu in Bishop Derek’s vehicle. He drives very fast so we made it in about an hour and a half! We were Bishop Derek, Bishop of Central Diocese in Zambia, Bishop Peter Maurice, Bishop of Taunton, Florence Mumba, the Diocesan Mother’s union worker, Dorcas, the MU president, Ken, myself and a young man who wanted a lift to the Kapiri turn off, where he would catch a bus to Lusaka. Liz, Bishop Peter’s wife, stayed and had a quiet day at the guesthouse, as she wasn’t feeling very well. It was very disappointing for her.
The straight road seemed endless. All along the highway there were people walking. One wondered where they’d come from and how long they’d already been walking, and how far they still had to go. A lot of charcoal was on sale by the roadside and lots of fruits and vegetables at little makeshift stalls – such as apples, watermelons, tomatoes etc. One stall we passed sold only mugs!
We arrived at Lunchu to be greeted by some of the children singing and dancing towards us, accompanied by Pumulo, the Deacon in Lunchu parish and Head teacher at the school there at St Michael’s community school. He was so excited and happy to see us all, and Ken and I were particularly excited to see him as he had stayed with us for a week when he was over in England for some training in August this year. Everyone greeted us all, shaking hands using the African handshake (3 shakes). We met up with John Chawaya, our link correspondent, seen here with Ken. There was lots of activity, the ladies cooking in the open air, chickens (from the chicken project) wandering around, excited children, young mums with their babies tied on their backs with pieces of cloth, Mother’s Union members. We met Hilda, and later Abigail, the 2 trained teachers living in the house that Bishop Peter had come to bless, also the Rev Stephen Panji from Macushi parish ( where Mark is priest – he also came and stayed with us in August with Pumulo), and John Chawaya, a lay reader and our link correspondent.
After lots of greetings we all went into church where different groups of children took it in turns to sing – they sang so beautifully and with such gusto and enthusiasm. At the front were Bishop Derek, Bishop Peter, Dorcas (MU president), Florence (Diocesan MU worker), Pumulo, Stephen, Pumulo, Ken and myself. We were introduced and the leaders in the congregation were introduced to us. There was a priest warden, Mr Malata, a church warden, 2 MU leaders, Deacon Pumulo, Mr John Chawaya, a teacher and link correspondent, Hilda Banda, Deputy Head, Kachinga, teacher, Father Panji, from Macushi, Miskandeo, president of MU, and Florence, the MU worker.
Bishop Derek asked each of us to stand up and say something. He said we would start with the lowest and work up! ‘ So Lois would you like to get up and speak first!’ Dorcas translated for me – I can’t remember exactly what I said, but I sent love from everyone in Nailsea, and our thoughts and prayers for them. Ken was next and then Bishop Peter! If it had been a church service in England I would have been very nervous, but it was all so relaxed and informal that I felt quite calm!! Then Pumulo did a long speech that he’d prepared in English, remembering his visit to England. He mentioned Jon Backhouse and family, Linda Dicks, the meeting with the Mother’s Union in our Rectory garden, and Jane and Pete Nott. He witnessed a baptism and a cremation while in Nailsea, and he remembered the meeting to talk about Lunchu. He continued, talking about the challenges facing them at Lunchu:
Transport to get around – (Ken had talked to Bishop Derek and hopefully now that can be followed up. Bishop Derek suggested getting a realistic quote for a motor bike for Lunchu, including spare parts and maintenance. A `few days later Bishop Derek said that he’d been thinking of the question of transport for Lunchu and thought for much the same cost a small Toyota pick up truck would be far more useful).
3 Community Schools – Mekumbila, St Agnes, and Kamukuba.
Parish needs help to lead a spiritual life.
He asked Bishop Derek to release funds to him on time! Then he talked about his visit to Canterbury, thanking Bishop Derek for allowing him to go to the UK. He was able to visit Canterbury, Bristol, London, Bath and Wells and Bournemouth. He sends his greetings to family and friends at Holy Trinity, Nailsea, and to all those that he met.
Most of the service was conducted in the local language of Bember, and then translated into English. When Bishop Derek asked the children questions in Bember, they would reply in English ‘ Yes’! He said ‘ oh, I see I don’t need to translate for you’!! Then Bishop Derek gave a potted history of how the school came to be built. It was a Mother’s Union initiative, by the late Mrs. Piri. It is difficult for many children to go to the government schools, as they are poor and unable to buy the necessary uniform and books. It was decided to build a Community school so that they could come just as they were. One family , I think from the UK, initially started to help with funding for the school. Unable to finish the school, HT Nailsea were then given Lunchu as their Link Parish and were able to help complete the school – fund the walls and the roof through our reordering fund (10% of which went to help overseas projects). The next project that HT helped fund was a house for the teachers to live in. Bishop Derek went on to say ‘ I might get in trouble with the government, but when Government teachers see the Lunchu teachers house and how nice it is, they all want to come here!!’ ( Hilda and Abigail are both from Dorcas’s church, and she is godmother to Hilda). The teachers in Community schools are often voluntary and untrained, and so Bishop Derek said, the schools are often considered rather 2nd class. So the Diocese agreed to send 2 people for teacher training – Hilda and Abigail. The Diocese paid for their training and they are now paid by the government. Pumulo who retired as a head teacher went into training for the Ministry and is now a Deacon, but is also head teacher of the school where Hilda and Abigail are!
Bishop Peter was then asked to speak. He sent apologies for Liz who wasn’t well, but being a teacher would love to have been here. He also said that he was sorry that Zambia lost the football final last night to South Africa! Bishop Derek later asked if anyone knew what we had in common – England and Zambia? No one answered, but everyone was thinking it must be a spiritual answer. He then replied to his question, saying that England had also just lost to South Africa in the final, at rugby!! Ken and I tried to learn some Bember language on the way to Lunchu in the car. We wanted to be able to greet people because many couldn’t speak English.
Mulishanni – How are you?
Bwino - Fine
Natotela - Thank you
Muleya Kwinsa - Where are you going?
Infi fiwakulya fiwama – the food is delicious
Hilda also spoke. She had prepared a speech in English. First she welcomed us all. Then she gave a background to the Community school. It was started in Jan 1999, Mrs Piri, an MU member being the founder. She and the MU were concerned for orphans and vulnerable children. The Diocese sponsored 2 teachers to study. UNICEF gave 25 desks and got some sports equipment. There are 5 teachers – 2 male and 3 female – 3 are trained. There are 212 children at the school (107 are boys and 105 are girls). 51 of these are orphans. They teach from grade 1-7, one stream each.
The challenges are:
There are only 2 classrooms and 7 streams.
Payment of community teachers is very low .
Lack of modern teaching and learning materials.
Only one toilet.
No jerseys for sports.
Many children live far away so are late for school.
Hilda said she would love to see another building, so that they could offer weekly boarding.
Projects
1 teacher’s house – helped by our church.
1 mono pump.
Chicken rearing project – 19 chickens at present. There is a temporary structure to house them.
Playing grounds.
Toilet.
Inter school competitions.
We all then went to look around the school, on the way passing where the community are making the bricks for the new house for the Head teacher.
Then we went and saw Hilda and Abigail’s house, which HT funded. It is a very nice small 3-bedroom house with a small kitchen, living room. It also has a bathroom and toilet, but this is yet to be completed. Bishop Derek, Bishop Peter, Pumulo and Ken all robed for the Blessing of the new home, service. We went around praying in each room, led by Bishop Peter. Lots of the children were there, and teachers, and MU and St Veronicas. Not everyone could fit into each room, but the clergy, teachers, MU and myself managed to go around each room. When the land and the entrance were blessed everyone was able to join in.
After The Blessing of Hilda and Abigail’s home we all went back to the church. The children and teachers all sat on the pews, made out of hardened mud. As we entered the children were all singing beautifully. Then we did the presentations of all the gifts given to us by Holy Trinity, Nailsea. Ken presented all the gifts to the school – all sorts of things, - pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, bible stories, ruler, geometry set, pencil cases, kangaroos (not real, small toys!), spinning tops etc.
Then I presented the other gifts firstly to St Veronicas, from our Morning Break. The 3 young mums who came to collect the gifts, plus some lovely little children’s T shirts, were thrilled and went to their seat singing! Dorcas said they are singing to show how grateful they are. I said that Morning Break thought of them often and sent their love to them.
Then the Mother’s Union ladies came up to receive the gifts from our Mother’s union at HT. A card signed by our MU members, MU brooches, MU cards. I kept back the knitting needles and material given to me as I would like to uy some wool to go with them. This is just one MU group. I was to meet several more on my next `visit! There are 22 congregations in the parish, and so lots of different MU and St Veronica groups.
Then from the Explorer group at HT, Hilda and Abigail came and received their gifts and lovely card that the Explorers had all signed, with a picture of Holy Trinity on the front. They were amazed when they read that HT is 700 yrs old! The oldest church in Zambia is only 100 yrs old when the missionaries came.
I gave the cards out from those that sent them – the photos to Pumulo from Vera Hendy of Pumulo with the MU members in the Rectory garden. His beaming smile said it all. It means so much to them, that we at HT remember them in our prayers. Hilda and Abigail received the card from Linda Dicks. They so appreciate correspondence to know we are thinking of them.
We asked Pumulo afterwards to give us a list of things that were needed at Lunchu, so that we could buy things in Ndola, from the money collected by our church and MU. Here is the list that he gave us:
Filing cabinet
2 footballs, 2 netballs, 2 volleyballs and nets.
10 files.
Plain paper (ream)
10 bibles.
100 exercise books ( squared).
Carpentry tools – hammer, chisel, saw, nails.
So when we return to Lunchu to stay at the weekend, we may have a filing cabinet on the roof of the MU Landrover! The school has 2 classrooms with a small office in between them. There are just shelves that everything is stored on. A filing cabinet is desperately needed.
After presenting the gifts and more wonderful singing, we went back to the teachers’ house for lunch. The ladies had been busy cooking it on open fires. This included nshima – a solid white mass. It doesn’t have much flavour, made from maize usually. One picks off bits of nshima, roll it into a ball and pick up the food with it. Rural Zambians would not use a knife and fork. Bishop Derek said that now it was Ken’s 2nd visit, he wanted to see him eating his food the Zambian way!! Ken said ‘ no problem’ and got stuck in. He told me next visit you can eat without a knife and fork! He’s got quite a sense of humour! Before you start a meal, water is poured into a bowl so you can wash your hands under the ‘running’ water. As well as nshima we had chicken, one of the ones from the chicken project, cabbage, a tomato and onion sauce, rice, and a bean dish.
Then we said ‘goodbye’ to everyone. I think Pumulo thought Ken and I were staying tonight. He said his wife was waiting for us. She couldn’t be here today as she is a teacher at another school. Bishop Derek explained our programme to Pumulo. Tomorrow morning we will go to see an MU sewing project, then Bishop Peter and Liz return to Lusaka early afternoon, as they fly back to England on Saturday. In the afternoon Ken, Florence and I will do some shopping for some of the things on Pumulo’s list that the community need, and then return to Lunchu on Friday evening. Florence will accompany us – she is the Diocesan MU worker, also Happy Banda, the Bishop’s driver, will drive us in the MU Landrover.
We then returned to Ndola – Bishop Derek driving at a fair speed. He has such distances to cover. We stopped to look at a project the Mother’s Union are hoping to get under way. Some land near Kapiri has been bought by the MU, to build a school. It would be a community school, but a private one. That way it could pay its way and so they could have a percentage of orphans at the school. It would be a Christian boarding school. It sounds a wonderful vision. It is quite a large piece of land with a wall around it.
We had a relaxing evening together with Bishop Peter and Liz. It was a lot quieter than the previous evening when about 20 clergy, wives and Diocesan staff came to the guesthouse to join us for supper. Before bed we went for a short walk – we didn’t get very far as the gates from the Cathedral were shut! It was good to stretch our legs a little after a long drive.
THURS 25th OCTOBER 2007
We woke early, showered, killed a few enormous ants in our loo, and then Ken and I walked to the Cathedral, met Janet, the Admin secretary, and Happy Banda, the Bishop’s driver. We looked inside the Cathedral, and Janet explained all the dust covering the outside of the Cathedral, and also a thin layer inside, was due to pollution from the cement factory. They had complained to the Environment Agency, but it is still bad.
We returned to the guesthouse for breakfast – just down a short driveway from the Cathedral. I have worn my Mother’s Union sarong (called a chitenge in Zambia) for the Blessing of the teachers’ house at Lunchu. Mother’s Union members all wear their uniform whenever there is a meeting/ service etc. It is blue and white. We set off for Lunchu in Bishop Derek’s vehicle. He drives very fast so we made it in about an hour and a half! We were Bishop Derek, Bishop of Central Diocese in Zambia, Bishop Peter Maurice, Bishop of Taunton, Florence Mumba, the Diocesan Mother’s union worker, Dorcas, the MU president, Ken, myself and a young man who wanted a lift to the Kapiri turn off, where he would catch a bus to Lusaka. Liz, Bishop Peter’s wife, stayed and had a quiet day at the guesthouse, as she wasn’t feeling very well. It was very disappointing for her.
The straight road seemed endless. All along the highway there were people walking. One wondered where they’d come from and how long they’d already been walking, and how far they still had to go. A lot of charcoal was on sale by the roadside and lots of fruits and vegetables at little makeshift stalls – such as apples, watermelons, tomatoes etc. One stall we passed sold only mugs!
We arrived at Lunchu to be greeted by some of the children singing and dancing towards us, accompanied by Pumulo, the Deacon in Lunchu parish and Head teacher at the school there at St Michael’s community school. He was so excited and happy to see us all, and Ken and I were particularly excited to see him as he had stayed with us for a week when he was over in England for some training in August this year. Everyone greeted us all, shaking hands using the African handshake (3 shakes). We met up with John Chawaya, our link correspondent, seen here with Ken. There was lots of activity, the ladies cooking in the open air, chickens (from the chicken project) wandering around, excited children, young mums with their babies tied on their backs with pieces of cloth, Mother’s Union members. We met Hilda, and later Abigail, the 2 trained teachers living in the house that Bishop Peter had come to bless, also the Rev Stephen Panji from Macushi parish ( where Mark is priest – he also came and stayed with us in August with Pumulo), and John Chawaya, a lay reader and our link correspondent.
After lots of greetings we all went into church where different groups of children took it in turns to sing – they sang so beautifully and with such gusto and enthusiasm. At the front were Bishop Derek, Bishop Peter, Dorcas (MU president), Florence (Diocesan MU worker), Pumulo, Stephen, Pumulo, Ken and myself. We were introduced and the leaders in the congregation were introduced to us. There was a priest warden, Mr Malata, a church warden, 2 MU leaders, Deacon Pumulo, Mr John Chawaya, a teacher and link correspondent, Hilda Banda, Deputy Head, Kachinga, teacher, Father Panji, from Macushi, Miskandeo, president of MU, and Florence, the MU worker.
Bishop Derek asked each of us to stand up and say something. He said we would start with the lowest and work up! ‘ So Lois would you like to get up and speak first!’ Dorcas translated for me – I can’t remember exactly what I said, but I sent love from everyone in Nailsea, and our thoughts and prayers for them. Ken was next and then Bishop Peter! If it had been a church service in England I would have been very nervous, but it was all so relaxed and informal that I felt quite calm!! Then Pumulo did a long speech that he’d prepared in English, remembering his visit to England. He mentioned Jon Backhouse and family, Linda Dicks, the meeting with the Mother’s Union in our Rectory garden, and Jane and Pete Nott. He witnessed a baptism and a cremation while in Nailsea, and he remembered the meeting to talk about Lunchu. He continued, talking about the challenges facing them at Lunchu:
Transport to get around – (Ken had talked to Bishop Derek and hopefully now that can be followed up. Bishop Derek suggested getting a realistic quote for a motor bike for Lunchu, including spare parts and maintenance. A `few days later Bishop Derek said that he’d been thinking of the question of transport for Lunchu and thought for much the same cost a small Toyota pick up truck would be far more useful).
3 Community Schools – Mekumbila, St Agnes, and Kamukuba.
Parish needs help to lead a spiritual life.
He asked Bishop Derek to release funds to him on time! Then he talked about his visit to Canterbury, thanking Bishop Derek for allowing him to go to the UK. He was able to visit Canterbury, Bristol, London, Bath and Wells and Bournemouth. He sends his greetings to family and friends at Holy Trinity, Nailsea, and to all those that he met.
Most of the service was conducted in the local language of Bember, and then translated into English. When Bishop Derek asked the children questions in Bember, they would reply in English ‘ Yes’! He said ‘ oh, I see I don’t need to translate for you’!! Then Bishop Derek gave a potted history of how the school came to be built. It was a Mother’s Union initiative, by the late Mrs. Piri. It is difficult for many children to go to the government schools, as they are poor and unable to buy the necessary uniform and books. It was decided to build a Community school so that they could come just as they were. One family , I think from the UK, initially started to help with funding for the school. Unable to finish the school, HT Nailsea were then given Lunchu as their Link Parish and were able to help complete the school – fund the walls and the roof through our reordering fund (10% of which went to help overseas projects). The next project that HT helped fund was a house for the teachers to live in. Bishop Derek went on to say ‘ I might get in trouble with the government, but when Government teachers see the Lunchu teachers house and how nice it is, they all want to come here!!’ ( Hilda and Abigail are both from Dorcas’s church, and she is godmother to Hilda). The teachers in Community schools are often voluntary and untrained, and so Bishop Derek said, the schools are often considered rather 2nd class. So the Diocese agreed to send 2 people for teacher training – Hilda and Abigail. The Diocese paid for their training and they are now paid by the government. Pumulo who retired as a head teacher went into training for the Ministry and is now a Deacon, but is also head teacher of the school where Hilda and Abigail are!
Bishop Peter was then asked to speak. He sent apologies for Liz who wasn’t well, but being a teacher would love to have been here. He also said that he was sorry that Zambia lost the football final last night to South Africa! Bishop Derek later asked if anyone knew what we had in common – England and Zambia? No one answered, but everyone was thinking it must be a spiritual answer. He then replied to his question, saying that England had also just lost to South Africa in the final, at rugby!! Ken and I tried to learn some Bember language on the way to Lunchu in the car. We wanted to be able to greet people because many couldn’t speak English.
Mulishanni – How are you?
Bwino - Fine
Natotela - Thank you
Muleya Kwinsa - Where are you going?
Infi fiwakulya fiwama – the food is delicious
Hilda also spoke. She had prepared a speech in English. First she welcomed us all. Then she gave a background to the Community school. It was started in Jan 1999, Mrs Piri, an MU member being the founder. She and the MU were concerned for orphans and vulnerable children. The Diocese sponsored 2 teachers to study. UNICEF gave 25 desks and got some sports equipment. There are 5 teachers – 2 male and 3 female – 3 are trained. There are 212 children at the school (107 are boys and 105 are girls). 51 of these are orphans. They teach from grade 1-7, one stream each.
The challenges are:
There are only 2 classrooms and 7 streams.
Payment of community teachers is very low .
Lack of modern teaching and learning materials.
Only one toilet.
No jerseys for sports.
Many children live far away so are late for school.
Hilda said she would love to see another building, so that they could offer weekly boarding.
Projects
1 teacher’s house – helped by our church.
1 mono pump.
Chicken rearing project – 19 chickens at present. There is a temporary structure to house them.
Playing grounds.
Toilet.
Inter school competitions.
We all then went to look around the school, on the way passing where the community are making the bricks for the new house for the Head teacher.
Then we went and saw Hilda and Abigail’s house, which HT funded. It is a very nice small 3-bedroom house with a small kitchen, living room. It also has a bathroom and toilet, but this is yet to be completed. Bishop Derek, Bishop Peter, Pumulo and Ken all robed for the Blessing of the new home, service. We went around praying in each room, led by Bishop Peter. Lots of the children were there, and teachers, and MU and St Veronicas. Not everyone could fit into each room, but the clergy, teachers, MU and myself managed to go around each room. When the land and the entrance were blessed everyone was able to join in.
After The Blessing of Hilda and Abigail’s home we all went back to the church. The children and teachers all sat on the pews, made out of hardened mud. As we entered the children were all singing beautifully. Then we did the presentations of all the gifts given to us by Holy Trinity, Nailsea. Ken presented all the gifts to the school – all sorts of things, - pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, bible stories, ruler, geometry set, pencil cases, kangaroos (not real, small toys!), spinning tops etc.
Then I presented the other gifts firstly to St Veronicas, from our Morning Break. The 3 young mums who came to collect the gifts, plus some lovely little children’s T shirts, were thrilled and went to their seat singing! Dorcas said they are singing to show how grateful they are. I said that Morning Break thought of them often and sent their love to them.
Then the Mother’s Union ladies came up to receive the gifts from our Mother’s union at HT. A card signed by our MU members, MU brooches, MU cards. I kept back the knitting needles and material given to me as I would like to uy some wool to go with them. This is just one MU group. I was to meet several more on my next `visit! There are 22 congregations in the parish, and so lots of different MU and St Veronica groups.
Then from the Explorer group at HT, Hilda and Abigail came and received their gifts and lovely card that the Explorers had all signed, with a picture of Holy Trinity on the front. They were amazed when they read that HT is 700 yrs old! The oldest church in Zambia is only 100 yrs old when the missionaries came.
I gave the cards out from those that sent them – the photos to Pumulo from Vera Hendy of Pumulo with the MU members in the Rectory garden. His beaming smile said it all. It means so much to them, that we at HT remember them in our prayers. Hilda and Abigail received the card from Linda Dicks. They so appreciate correspondence to know we are thinking of them.
We asked Pumulo afterwards to give us a list of things that were needed at Lunchu, so that we could buy things in Ndola, from the money collected by our church and MU. Here is the list that he gave us:
Filing cabinet
2 footballs, 2 netballs, 2 volleyballs and nets.
10 files.
Plain paper (ream)
10 bibles.
100 exercise books ( squared).
Carpentry tools – hammer, chisel, saw, nails.
So when we return to Lunchu to stay at the weekend, we may have a filing cabinet on the roof of the MU Landrover! The school has 2 classrooms with a small office in between them. There are just shelves that everything is stored on. A filing cabinet is desperately needed.
After presenting the gifts and more wonderful singing, we went back to the teachers’ house for lunch. The ladies had been busy cooking it on open fires. This included nshima – a solid white mass. It doesn’t have much flavour, made from maize usually. One picks off bits of nshima, roll it into a ball and pick up the food with it. Rural Zambians would not use a knife and fork. Bishop Derek said that now it was Ken’s 2nd visit, he wanted to see him eating his food the Zambian way!! Ken said ‘ no problem’ and got stuck in. He told me next visit you can eat without a knife and fork! He’s got quite a sense of humour! Before you start a meal, water is poured into a bowl so you can wash your hands under the ‘running’ water. As well as nshima we had chicken, one of the ones from the chicken project, cabbage, a tomato and onion sauce, rice, and a bean dish.
Then we said ‘goodbye’ to everyone. I think Pumulo thought Ken and I were staying tonight. He said his wife was waiting for us. She couldn’t be here today as she is a teacher at another school. Bishop Derek explained our programme to Pumulo. Tomorrow morning we will go to see an MU sewing project, then Bishop Peter and Liz return to Lusaka early afternoon, as they fly back to England on Saturday. In the afternoon Ken, Florence and I will do some shopping for some of the things on Pumulo’s list that the community need, and then return to Lunchu on Friday evening. Florence will accompany us – she is the Diocesan MU worker, also Happy Banda, the Bishop’s driver, will drive us in the MU Landrover.
We then returned to Ndola – Bishop Derek driving at a fair speed. He has such distances to cover. We stopped to look at a project the Mother’s Union are hoping to get under way. Some land near Kapiri has been bought by the MU, to build a school. It would be a community school, but a private one. That way it could pay its way and so they could have a percentage of orphans at the school. It would be a Christian boarding school. It sounds a wonderful vision. It is quite a large piece of land with a wall around it.
We had a relaxing evening together with Bishop Peter and Liz. It was a lot quieter than the previous evening when about 20 clergy, wives and Diocesan staff came to the guesthouse to join us for supper. Before bed we went for a short walk – we didn’t get very far as the gates from the Cathedral were shut! It was good to stretch our legs a little after a long drive.
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.
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.
Wednesday in Kitwe
24th October 07
Today is Zambian Independence Day, so there will be celebrations and parades all around the Country. Father William, last night was quite cynical about the day. He said all the schools turn out for the celebrations. In Kitwe all the school children and their teachers have to be in Freedom Square by 7.30am. Any teachers that don’t bring their children are fined. He said ‘ what do the people have to celebrate? Poverty? Aids? Many people ignore the day. We got up at 8am and had breakfast with with Bishop Peter, and Liz – toast, egg and bacon. We saw the front page of yesterday’s newspaper reporting Rev Daka’s sermon at Lusaka Cathedral, for the Independence Day service on Sunday afternoon.
Bishop Albert came and picked us p to show us around the Diocese – well not the whole diocese as that would be an enormous area! Then at 3pm his driver will take us to Ndola, to Bishop Derek. Our first visit was to St Michael’s church in Kitwe, an old very Anglican brick built church. We met Father Harry Zulu, a lovely man and good friends with Roger and Ronnie Broomhead ( a couple in our church of Holy Trinity). He sent greetings to them. All Harry’s family names start with the letter H! First born is Harriet who is studying nursing in Yorkshire, living in Harrogate. Next is Hazel who is in Ndola. She is Captain of hockey for Zambia. Then comes Humphrey who is in Kitwe and the youngest is Hector who is in Konkola. Harry showed us their large church hall, which is next to his house, with the church on the other side of the house. The car park doubles as an outside worship area with a large communion ‘table’. They have just had their 50th Anniversary celebrations. The hall was built in 1957 – when Ken saw it on his last visit it was in great need of roof and floor repairs, which are now complete. We also went upstairs and saw his office. The church was built in 1940. We met Helen, his wife and took some photos promising to email them to them.
Then we drove to St Peter’s, Chimwemwe which is a township outside Kitwe. The word means ‘joy’. We drove off the tarmac onto an earth road in a high density area and came across St Peters still under construction. The roof was on and most of the walls had been built and windows were in. As we got out of the car we could hear beautiful singing. We went into the unfinished church to find 8 St Veronicas ladies practising singing and dancing for the Sunday service. We were all introduced and shook hands warmly, and I was able to give them each a Mother’s Union card with the MU prayer on it. They were thrilled. As we got into the car another St Veronicas lady appeared at the window eager to have a copy of the MU prayer. So thanks to Chris Mahoney for giving them to me and bringing smiles to their faces.
We then continued driving into the rural areas, to Garneton. It was an area of farmhouses where a huge shanty area had grown up, Bishop Albert saying the numbers were probably 45,000. We passed a walled compound. Inside it about to be built, were houses for the Chinese owners of the copper mines. The feeling was that the Chinese only had to ask the government for land and the request was granted. If Zambians applied it would be very difficult and would be a long drawn out process. He showed us a church in Garneton, called St Philips, also part of St Peter’s parish. This church though had no roof on it yet, and as the diocese can’t yet afford it, there will probably be no roof before the rains come shortly. Next to this church is the present one that they are worshipping in. It is built of bamboo, plastic and straw with simple benches inside. Next to these 2 Anglican churches, the old and the new, is an enormous Catholic church with a wall around it. Across the dirt track is a Pentecostal church. Bishop Peter asked why the Anglicans couldn’t share the enormous Catholic building. I think it basically comes down to Holy Communion, that the Catholics wouldn’t allow the Anglicans to receive communion.
As we were driving around a car passed with a helmet on the back shelf. Bishop Albert said ‘ if you see a helmet you know that car is either a supplier or a contractor at the copper mines. Bishop Albert took us for a drive around the area where he was brought up and showed us his school. A lot of the houses were gone. Some new ones were being built to move people whose homes are in a dangerous area where the mines are. They will move into the homes as soon as they are completed. We also drove past homes that had sprung up informally. The government want to clear the area, but are afraid they’ll lose votes, so the people remain to date. Tiny homes made of any materials available – wood, mud, etc cramped together. On past a huge market that went on and on, rather run down, but a hive of activity. We were back at the guesthouse and had lunch there with Bishop Albert. Then we packed our bags into the van that Bishop Albert’s driver was going to take us in, to Ndola. We first stopped at Bishop Albert’s house to say ‘goodbye’ to him and his family. We took a family photo of Bishop Albert, Bertha, their son Michael 10yrs, and daughter 4yrs, plus their family dog. Such a lovely family, and such a hard job that Bishop Albert has.
Today is Zambian Independence Day, so there will be celebrations and parades all around the Country. Father William, last night was quite cynical about the day. He said all the schools turn out for the celebrations. In Kitwe all the school children and their teachers have to be in Freedom Square by 7.30am. Any teachers that don’t bring their children are fined. He said ‘ what do the people have to celebrate? Poverty? Aids? Many people ignore the day. We got up at 8am and had breakfast with with Bishop Peter, and Liz – toast, egg and bacon. We saw the front page of yesterday’s newspaper reporting Rev Daka’s sermon at Lusaka Cathedral, for the Independence Day service on Sunday afternoon.
Bishop Albert came and picked us p to show us around the Diocese – well not the whole diocese as that would be an enormous area! Then at 3pm his driver will take us to Ndola, to Bishop Derek. Our first visit was to St Michael’s church in Kitwe, an old very Anglican brick built church. We met Father Harry Zulu, a lovely man and good friends with Roger and Ronnie Broomhead ( a couple in our church of Holy Trinity). He sent greetings to them. All Harry’s family names start with the letter H! First born is Harriet who is studying nursing in Yorkshire, living in Harrogate. Next is Hazel who is in Ndola. She is Captain of hockey for Zambia. Then comes Humphrey who is in Kitwe and the youngest is Hector who is in Konkola. Harry showed us their large church hall, which is next to his house, with the church on the other side of the house. The car park doubles as an outside worship area with a large communion ‘table’. They have just had their 50th Anniversary celebrations. The hall was built in 1957 – when Ken saw it on his last visit it was in great need of roof and floor repairs, which are now complete. We also went upstairs and saw his office. The church was built in 1940. We met Helen, his wife and took some photos promising to email them to them.
Then we drove to St Peter’s, Chimwemwe which is a township outside Kitwe. The word means ‘joy’. We drove off the tarmac onto an earth road in a high density area and came across St Peters still under construction. The roof was on and most of the walls had been built and windows were in. As we got out of the car we could hear beautiful singing. We went into the unfinished church to find 8 St Veronicas ladies practising singing and dancing for the Sunday service. We were all introduced and shook hands warmly, and I was able to give them each a Mother’s Union card with the MU prayer on it. They were thrilled. As we got into the car another St Veronicas lady appeared at the window eager to have a copy of the MU prayer. So thanks to Chris Mahoney for giving them to me and bringing smiles to their faces.
We then continued driving into the rural areas, to Garneton. It was an area of farmhouses where a huge shanty area had grown up, Bishop Albert saying the numbers were probably 45,000. We passed a walled compound. Inside it about to be built, were houses for the Chinese owners of the copper mines. The feeling was that the Chinese only had to ask the government for land and the request was granted. If Zambians applied it would be very difficult and would be a long drawn out process. He showed us a church in Garneton, called St Philips, also part of St Peter’s parish. This church though had no roof on it yet, and as the diocese can’t yet afford it, there will probably be no roof before the rains come shortly. Next to this church is the present one that they are worshipping in. It is built of bamboo, plastic and straw with simple benches inside. Next to these 2 Anglican churches, the old and the new, is an enormous Catholic church with a wall around it. Across the dirt track is a Pentecostal church. Bishop Peter asked why the Anglicans couldn’t share the enormous Catholic building. I think it basically comes down to Holy Communion, that the Catholics wouldn’t allow the Anglicans to receive communion.
As we were driving around a car passed with a helmet on the back shelf. Bishop Albert said ‘ if you see a helmet you know that car is either a supplier or a contractor at the copper mines. Bishop Albert took us for a drive around the area where he was brought up and showed us his school. A lot of the houses were gone. Some new ones were being built to move people whose homes are in a dangerous area where the mines are. They will move into the homes as soon as they are completed. We also drove past homes that had sprung up informally. The government want to clear the area, but are afraid they’ll lose votes, so the people remain to date. Tiny homes made of any materials available – wood, mud, etc cramped together. On past a huge market that went on and on, rather run down, but a hive of activity. We were back at the guesthouse and had lunch there with Bishop Albert. Then we packed our bags into the van that Bishop Albert’s driver was going to take us in, to Ndola. We first stopped at Bishop Albert’s house to say ‘goodbye’ to him and his family. We took a family photo of Bishop Albert, Bertha, their son Michael 10yrs, and daughter 4yrs, plus their family dog. Such a lovely family, and such a hard job that Bishop Albert has.
Northern Diocese
NORTHERN DIOCESE
VISIT TO BISHOP ALBERT AT KITWE
TUESDAY 23rd OCTOBER 07
We got up at 5.30am to have breakfast at 5.45am ready to go for our early flight to Ndola. But while I was in the shower Bishop David’s car arrived with Bishop Peter and Liz – they had come half an hour earlier than we’d expected. They too hadn’t realised it would be this early. We had a quick breakfast and said ‘goodbye’ to Rodgers and Esther and left for the airport. Airport tax was 28 kwachas. I’m writing this as we are taxiing down the Lusaka runway! The pilot has just told us to ‘sit back and enjoy your flight’. There are only 8 passengers, a hostess and a pilot on board. Bishop Peter has just said ‘this is more comfortable than BA’!! We have an extra bag as luggage that contains presents from many at Holy Trinity, and groups such as ‘Explorers’, Mother’s Union, and Morning Break, as well as individuals. It contains all sorts of ‘goodies’ such as toys, crayons, pens, pencils, lotions, notebooks, calendars, tea towels, soaps, knitting needles. Jenny Humphries had given us a large bag of knitted squares, which we left in Lusaka with Catherine, who is the MU worker for Lusaka Diocese. Previously MU members she said had knitted small blankets for premature babies in Eastern Diocese.
There has just been a ‘funny’ noise, which made my heart miss a beat!
I looked to see what the pilot was doing! Ken joked ‘Oh it’s probably the kettle boiling!’ And sure enough the waitress is now up and preparing drinks for us!! We landed safely in Ndola having had a very good and comfortable flight lasting about 45 minutes. A driver from Kitwe met us, we presumed he was Bishop Albert’s driver. We had another 45 min journey from the airport to Kitwe mainly on dual carriageway. The scenery was dusty from lack of rain, huge termite mounds, quite a lot of trees and areas alongside the road that were cultivated – men and women with handheld ploughs. There were also various straw covered huts selling things at regular intervals each side of the road – from arts and crafts, to armchairs, beds, doors etc!
We arrived at Kitwe around 9am at The Providence Guesthouse. We had some coffee and toast while waiting for our rooms to be got ready, and to be picked up to go, we thought to St Michael’s where Bishop Peter understood he was to be speaking to the St John’s Seminary students. We were a bit concerned as we thought we were expected there for 10am. Midday came and still we were waiting, no sign of anyone coming to pick us up!! When we enquired in the office we were just told ‘ they will be coming’! On our itinerary and speaking to Bishop John Osmers, Rector of St John’s Seminary ( when he was in Lusaka for the Licensing of the new Dean), we definitely thought we’d got the early plane so as to be with the students and staff at 10am! So not sure what is happening.
Bishop Albert came just before !pm and asked us if we’d had a good rest. We would have done if we’d known we weren’t due anywhere for a while! He said that the programme was for us to rest and then be at St John’s Seminary at 2pm. We told him we hadn’t eaten yet as we thought we were going to be picked up any minute for the last 3 hours! So we had a lovely meal of chips, vegetables and chicken kebabs. Bishop Albert told us he’d only got back from Malawi last night – as Dean of the Province of Central Africa, which includes Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, he is acting Archbishop for the Province as Archbishop Bernard Malango has retired. Malawi has a vacancy (3 Dioceses). Elections can’t take place unless there are Bishops in place in all the dioceses. There are a lot of church politics going on with a parish priest in England pushing to be the Bishop. Bishop Albert had a very difficult time there and was threatened physically. People warned him that he might be killed. He replied ‘ if I am killed I will welcome death, I am not going to be afraid’, and he remained sitting rather than escaping. This morning he had a meeting with his archdeacons before coming to us.
After lunch Bishop Albert took us to see a building that Ken had seen on his last visit. It has since been renovated and enlarged. In the grounds offices are being built, for renting out so that the diocese can have an income. The main building ‘houses’ the Diocesan office, the Bishop’s office, MU office Community Development office and a lovely large hall for meetings etc. Bishop Albert has a lot of vision for the diocese to be self-supporting. He wants to \move from aid to development.
His driver then took us to a large compound, which has St John’s Seminary, training evangelists and ordinands. We met the Rector there, Bishop John Osmos, and the Lecturers:
Olga from Czechoslovakia originally (though she has lived in Tanzania since she was 19yrs), has been at St John’s for 6 yrs. She teaches Church History and Biblical Studies.
Keith Scott from CMS, Ireland, teaches systemmatics – homiletics and IT.
George, a Franciscan is a visiting Lecturer, teaching Spirituality and Liturgy.
Francis, a Zambian, teaches Pastoral Theology. Linda, Keith’s wife teaches English, as some come from French speaking countries.
We all sat in quite a small room and Bishop Peter spoke on Changing Lives, and showed a clip from the Changing Lives video. Ken also spoke, then questions and Bishop Peter presented them with the Changing Lives DVD series. We then had a drink and biscuits, and a tour around, plus a group photo. We visited the vegetable garden where bananas, oranges, mangoes, sweet corn, cabbages, marrows etc were growing.
An appointment followed at The Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation with Rev Reuben Daka. He is a lovely Zambian, full of humour and wonderfully welcoming with a beautiful smile. His sermon at the Independence Service in Lusaka Cathedral, was front page news in The Zambian Times newspaper! Reuben has taken over from Charley Thomas as Director of the Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation. He is a Presbyterian. Bishop John Osmers told us that Bishop Michael Lapsley is here for 3 days to speak about Reconciliation and Healing of the memories. Like Bishop John he had publicly supported the ANC during the Apartheid in South Africa. The S. African Government didn’t like that, and the Security Forces sent parcel bombs to try and kill them. Bishop John said that his parcel bomb was only a small one compared to Bishop Michael Lapsley’s! Bishop John lost his whole hand and Bishop Michael lost both hands and one eye. He now has a huge ministry not just in Africa but places like East Timor etc. on reconciliation. As we left the Mindola centre in the car we saw Bishop Michael walking along the road to the MEF. We dropped Bishop John off at St John’s Seminary and then went back to the guesthouse.
The room we were moving into still wasn’t ready – a couple of men were trying to fix the air-conditioning to no avail. When we were able to move in we had a shower and then just after 7pm we walked along the road to Bishop Albert’s house for dinner. His wife, Bertha is a lot better since having treatment for cancer in England. Their 3 yr old daughter has also had treatment in England for sickle cell anaemia. She is a very sweet petite little girl, quite ‘bouncy’, but still has to return to hospital at times. We didn’t meet their 10yr old son, Michael as he was out playing with friends. When we arrived at the house it was all in darkness – there was a power cut, so we had dinner by candlelight, which was very nice.
The food had all been cooked on a brazier as the power had been off since 9am. I couldn’t help thinking that if that happened to me in England, with lots coming for supper, I might have either postponed it or given them something cold!! Bertha produced lots of different hot dishes!! The electrician came while we were there and found a huge cable completely bent, and someone out there with a fire going, obviously sleeping there. They warned him the cables could kill him. I think he was taken off to the police station! Anyway it’s going to be a huge task to get the electricity back on, so they might be without it for quite a while.
In the candlelight we met other invited guests church leaders who live nearby. There was Frazer, an Archdeacon and his wife, Judith. He had been Rector of St John’s Seminary before Charley Thomas. Then there was William, a priest who was supporting his mother and I think niece and nephew, who’d both lost parents to Aids. The niece had also had a child out of wedlock. In Zambia, he said that poverty means that if someone offers you some meat in exchange for sex, then it will happen. William not only has a parish, but is also the Bishop’s chaplain. Then there was Joyce and her husband, a lay Canon and also on the Standing Committee. We then enjoyed the buffet meal- nshima, rice, pasta, chicken, chicken curry, beef stew, and various vegetable dishes. We all felt quite exhausted, and it was hard at times to make conversation, especially as it was hard to see anyone in the dimness! Bishop Albert was in and out trying to deal with the electrical problem and also, and also phone calls on Provincial business. It was a delicious meal, Bertha had done amazingly with so many to feed and no electricity!
Just after 9pm we returned to the guesthouse and were in bed at a reasonable hour. Our room had been sprayed with mosquito spray. Our mosquito net had holes in it but we weren’t disturbed by any! In fact we only ever saw one dead mosquito!!
VISIT TO BISHOP ALBERT AT KITWE
TUESDAY 23rd OCTOBER 07
We got up at 5.30am to have breakfast at 5.45am ready to go for our early flight to Ndola. But while I was in the shower Bishop David’s car arrived with Bishop Peter and Liz – they had come half an hour earlier than we’d expected. They too hadn’t realised it would be this early. We had a quick breakfast and said ‘goodbye’ to Rodgers and Esther and left for the airport. Airport tax was 28 kwachas. I’m writing this as we are taxiing down the Lusaka runway! The pilot has just told us to ‘sit back and enjoy your flight’. There are only 8 passengers, a hostess and a pilot on board. Bishop Peter has just said ‘this is more comfortable than BA’!! We have an extra bag as luggage that contains presents from many at Holy Trinity, and groups such as ‘Explorers’, Mother’s Union, and Morning Break, as well as individuals. It contains all sorts of ‘goodies’ such as toys, crayons, pens, pencils, lotions, notebooks, calendars, tea towels, soaps, knitting needles. Jenny Humphries had given us a large bag of knitted squares, which we left in Lusaka with Catherine, who is the MU worker for Lusaka Diocese. Previously MU members she said had knitted small blankets for premature babies in Eastern Diocese.
There has just been a ‘funny’ noise, which made my heart miss a beat!
I looked to see what the pilot was doing! Ken joked ‘Oh it’s probably the kettle boiling!’ And sure enough the waitress is now up and preparing drinks for us!! We landed safely in Ndola having had a very good and comfortable flight lasting about 45 minutes. A driver from Kitwe met us, we presumed he was Bishop Albert’s driver. We had another 45 min journey from the airport to Kitwe mainly on dual carriageway. The scenery was dusty from lack of rain, huge termite mounds, quite a lot of trees and areas alongside the road that were cultivated – men and women with handheld ploughs. There were also various straw covered huts selling things at regular intervals each side of the road – from arts and crafts, to armchairs, beds, doors etc!
We arrived at Kitwe around 9am at The Providence Guesthouse. We had some coffee and toast while waiting for our rooms to be got ready, and to be picked up to go, we thought to St Michael’s where Bishop Peter understood he was to be speaking to the St John’s Seminary students. We were a bit concerned as we thought we were expected there for 10am. Midday came and still we were waiting, no sign of anyone coming to pick us up!! When we enquired in the office we were just told ‘ they will be coming’! On our itinerary and speaking to Bishop John Osmers, Rector of St John’s Seminary ( when he was in Lusaka for the Licensing of the new Dean), we definitely thought we’d got the early plane so as to be with the students and staff at 10am! So not sure what is happening.
Bishop Albert came just before !pm and asked us if we’d had a good rest. We would have done if we’d known we weren’t due anywhere for a while! He said that the programme was for us to rest and then be at St John’s Seminary at 2pm. We told him we hadn’t eaten yet as we thought we were going to be picked up any minute for the last 3 hours! So we had a lovely meal of chips, vegetables and chicken kebabs. Bishop Albert told us he’d only got back from Malawi last night – as Dean of the Province of Central Africa, which includes Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, he is acting Archbishop for the Province as Archbishop Bernard Malango has retired. Malawi has a vacancy (3 Dioceses). Elections can’t take place unless there are Bishops in place in all the dioceses. There are a lot of church politics going on with a parish priest in England pushing to be the Bishop. Bishop Albert had a very difficult time there and was threatened physically. People warned him that he might be killed. He replied ‘ if I am killed I will welcome death, I am not going to be afraid’, and he remained sitting rather than escaping. This morning he had a meeting with his archdeacons before coming to us.
After lunch Bishop Albert took us to see a building that Ken had seen on his last visit. It has since been renovated and enlarged. In the grounds offices are being built, for renting out so that the diocese can have an income. The main building ‘houses’ the Diocesan office, the Bishop’s office, MU office Community Development office and a lovely large hall for meetings etc. Bishop Albert has a lot of vision for the diocese to be self-supporting. He wants to \move from aid to development.
His driver then took us to a large compound, which has St John’s Seminary, training evangelists and ordinands. We met the Rector there, Bishop John Osmos, and the Lecturers:
Olga from Czechoslovakia originally (though she has lived in Tanzania since she was 19yrs), has been at St John’s for 6 yrs. She teaches Church History and Biblical Studies.
Keith Scott from CMS, Ireland, teaches systemmatics – homiletics and IT.
George, a Franciscan is a visiting Lecturer, teaching Spirituality and Liturgy.
Francis, a Zambian, teaches Pastoral Theology. Linda, Keith’s wife teaches English, as some come from French speaking countries.
We all sat in quite a small room and Bishop Peter spoke on Changing Lives, and showed a clip from the Changing Lives video. Ken also spoke, then questions and Bishop Peter presented them with the Changing Lives DVD series. We then had a drink and biscuits, and a tour around, plus a group photo. We visited the vegetable garden where bananas, oranges, mangoes, sweet corn, cabbages, marrows etc were growing.
An appointment followed at The Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation with Rev Reuben Daka. He is a lovely Zambian, full of humour and wonderfully welcoming with a beautiful smile. His sermon at the Independence Service in Lusaka Cathedral, was front page news in The Zambian Times newspaper! Reuben has taken over from Charley Thomas as Director of the Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation. He is a Presbyterian. Bishop John Osmers told us that Bishop Michael Lapsley is here for 3 days to speak about Reconciliation and Healing of the memories. Like Bishop John he had publicly supported the ANC during the Apartheid in South Africa. The S. African Government didn’t like that, and the Security Forces sent parcel bombs to try and kill them. Bishop John said that his parcel bomb was only a small one compared to Bishop Michael Lapsley’s! Bishop John lost his whole hand and Bishop Michael lost both hands and one eye. He now has a huge ministry not just in Africa but places like East Timor etc. on reconciliation. As we left the Mindola centre in the car we saw Bishop Michael walking along the road to the MEF. We dropped Bishop John off at St John’s Seminary and then went back to the guesthouse.
The room we were moving into still wasn’t ready – a couple of men were trying to fix the air-conditioning to no avail. When we were able to move in we had a shower and then just after 7pm we walked along the road to Bishop Albert’s house for dinner. His wife, Bertha is a lot better since having treatment for cancer in England. Their 3 yr old daughter has also had treatment in England for sickle cell anaemia. She is a very sweet petite little girl, quite ‘bouncy’, but still has to return to hospital at times. We didn’t meet their 10yr old son, Michael as he was out playing with friends. When we arrived at the house it was all in darkness – there was a power cut, so we had dinner by candlelight, which was very nice.
The food had all been cooked on a brazier as the power had been off since 9am. I couldn’t help thinking that if that happened to me in England, with lots coming for supper, I might have either postponed it or given them something cold!! Bertha produced lots of different hot dishes!! The electrician came while we were there and found a huge cable completely bent, and someone out there with a fire going, obviously sleeping there. They warned him the cables could kill him. I think he was taken off to the police station! Anyway it’s going to be a huge task to get the electricity back on, so they might be without it for quite a while.
In the candlelight we met other invited guests church leaders who live nearby. There was Frazer, an Archdeacon and his wife, Judith. He had been Rector of St John’s Seminary before Charley Thomas. Then there was William, a priest who was supporting his mother and I think niece and nephew, who’d both lost parents to Aids. The niece had also had a child out of wedlock. In Zambia, he said that poverty means that if someone offers you some meat in exchange for sex, then it will happen. William not only has a parish, but is also the Bishop’s chaplain. Then there was Joyce and her husband, a lay Canon and also on the Standing Committee. We then enjoyed the buffet meal- nshima, rice, pasta, chicken, chicken curry, beef stew, and various vegetable dishes. We all felt quite exhausted, and it was hard at times to make conversation, especially as it was hard to see anyone in the dimness! Bishop Albert was in and out trying to deal with the electrical problem and also, and also phone calls on Provincial business. It was a delicious meal, Bertha had done amazingly with so many to feed and no electricity!
Just after 9pm we returned to the guesthouse and were in bed at a reasonable hour. Our room had been sprayed with mosquito spray. Our mosquito net had holes in it but we weren’t disturbed by any! In fact we only ever saw one dead mosquito!!
Monday in Lusaka
MONDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2007
We had a large breakfast at 7.30am – omelette, eggybread, ham, and tomato, toast, cornflakes and orange segments! Rodgers and Esther popped in to see us and told us we were to be at the Cathedral at 8.40am ready to be taken with Bishop Peter and Liz to the British High Commission. We left at 8.30am with 2 of the ZAC staff who were going to drop us off at the Cathedral, so we could meet up with the Bishops to go to the High Commission together in Bishop David’s car. Three times the car alarm went off as we were driving and the car lost all power! As it happened on a dual carriageway it wasn’t very pleasant with cars whizzing past us. They tinkered under the bonnet and the car worked again for a while. The 2nd time we managed to veer off into a side road to get out of the traffic’s way. We went along the back roads after that to the Cathedral.
We walked through the Cathedral grounds to the Diocesan office and met up with Bishop David. We also saw Constance who works there- I’d met her last night at the ‘pot luck’ supper. We discovered that the High Commissioner was expecting us at 10am, not 9am as we had thought, so Bishop David showed Bishop Peter, Liz, Ken and I around the Diocesan land and property. We met Molly Wadey, who works for ‘ Voyageurs’, a tourist company. They rent an office from the Diocese and her husband Gordon, was involved with Rod Humphreys (Jenny his wife, is the World Mission Advisor for Bath and Wells Diocese), to develop the land that the diocese own, so that the church is able to have an income.
Then we drove to the British High Commission and met with Charley Thomas and William – Dean and Sub dean. Bishop David drove separately and Bishop Peter, Liz, Ken and I went with Bishop David’s driver in another vehicle. Bishop Peter has the use of Bishop David’s driver and car while he is in Lusaka. We all trooped into the building and while in the queue waiting we met an elderly lady, who’d come here from England when she was 2 yrs old, and lived here ever since! The High Commissioner was nowhere to be found, and so the man in the office phoned and discovered we were expected at his residence!! So we all hurried back to the cars and arrived late!! We arrived at his lovely house and beautiful garden, and found him very welcoming to us. We all sat outside on his veranda and enjoyed ‘English’ tea or coffee in china cups and saucers, with brownies and homemade chocolate chip cookies! We were there for at least an hour and it was a good contact for Charley. He was able to offer the use of the Cathedral for any official services.
Then Bishop Peter, Liz, Ken and I went to the Craft Village, which were selling a variety of arts and crafts, in a number of circular mud brick shops. All the people who had made the crafts were keen to sell to us. Mr Katema, our driver kindly came with us when we were ready to buy to make sure we weren’t ‘ripped off’. I was the last to get back in the car, and we hurried to the Kainga Lodge (where Bishop Peter and Liz were staying) where there were lots of clergy, wives and Diocesan workers for an informal lunch under a tree in the garden. Several of the Lodge staff were barbequing chicken and there was beef stew, rice, nshima, salad, Chinese cabbage (delicious made with crushed peanuts) etc. Pudding was a delicious fresh fruit salad. After lunch Bishop David asked Bishop Peter to speak for about 20 mins on ‘Changing Lives’, which has been an initiative in Bath and Wells Diocese for the last few years. Ken also spoke followed by questions.
Afterwards Ken and I went back to ZAC, and Esther, Enelesi and I went to buy some material for me to get a Zambian outfit made. The shop was full of materials and I felt overwhelmed, I just didn’t know what would suit me. Also the shop was about to close, so I didn’t have any time to dither and made a rushed choice! Across the road by the car was another shop also about to close. I quickly bought another material there, as enough for an outfit only cost about £5. Then we drove to a tailor. She is a Mother’s Union member, and I was pleased to be able to give her some work. She measured me and I chose 2 different styles. The pink material cost me 35,000 kwacha (about £5) and the orange/ yellow/ blue material cost 50,000 Kwacha. To make up the outfit is 80.000Kwacha each – about £11, so very good value. Then we made our way back to ZAC, Esther driving in very heavy traffic, everyone going home from work.
We got back at about 6pm and I went in search of Ken, finding him relaxing under the pagoda. We had supper together in the guesthouse dining room – noodles with chicken and mixed vegetables. It was tasty, followed by a banana and orange segments.
We sat in the lounge to wait for Malele, who was going to pop in to see us after work with one of her daughters, Saraiya and granddaughter, Ariana. While we were waiting Christine Muyawala, the People’s Warden at Holy Cross Cathedral arrived and presented us both with a present – a shirt, with ‘church of the Holy Cross’ printed on it. Also for me a chitenge, and Christine taught me how to put it around me to secure it like a sarong. I loved them and was so pleased with the gifts!
After she had left, Malele, Saraiya (24yrs) and Ariana (18mths) arrived. It was lovely to see Malele again, and to meet for the first time, her daughter Suraiya, and granddaughter, Ariana. Suraiya was so eager to learn all about the family she belonged to, and I was able to show her a few photos, one with Mum and Dad (Pat and Marion Ashe) and children at Dad’s 90th birthday celebrations.
Malele told us that Mulilo’s house is chaotic and Mulilo is devastated, because a really good friend of his died the night of the Rugby final, in a car crash – 3 people killed altogether. His Swedish wife and 4 month old daughter was out of the country at the time.Mulilo had to go to the airport to pick her up, and since then she has been at his house , his wife Donna trying to protect her. In Zambian culture, when someone dies, relatives turn up from all over the place , so her home is inundated with people. They are now turning up at Mulilo’s, so he has lots of people now around at his house trying to see his dead friend’s widow. Mulilo and family and Donna’s mother never made it for their holiday break in Tanzania. The funeral is on Thursday.
Ariana was quite active and a real ‘sweetie’. Suraiya would love to meet family and visit England. She has visited once but didn’t know about her large extended family!! Their taxi (one of Mulilo’s taxi firm) didn’t turn up for ages and Malele was getting crosser and crosser!
The Ken and I packed, left a few things we didn’t want to take on the plane to Ndola, and went to bed under our mosquito nets.
We had a large breakfast at 7.30am – omelette, eggybread, ham, and tomato, toast, cornflakes and orange segments! Rodgers and Esther popped in to see us and told us we were to be at the Cathedral at 8.40am ready to be taken with Bishop Peter and Liz to the British High Commission. We left at 8.30am with 2 of the ZAC staff who were going to drop us off at the Cathedral, so we could meet up with the Bishops to go to the High Commission together in Bishop David’s car. Three times the car alarm went off as we were driving and the car lost all power! As it happened on a dual carriageway it wasn’t very pleasant with cars whizzing past us. They tinkered under the bonnet and the car worked again for a while. The 2nd time we managed to veer off into a side road to get out of the traffic’s way. We went along the back roads after that to the Cathedral.
We walked through the Cathedral grounds to the Diocesan office and met up with Bishop David. We also saw Constance who works there- I’d met her last night at the ‘pot luck’ supper. We discovered that the High Commissioner was expecting us at 10am, not 9am as we had thought, so Bishop David showed Bishop Peter, Liz, Ken and I around the Diocesan land and property. We met Molly Wadey, who works for ‘ Voyageurs’, a tourist company. They rent an office from the Diocese and her husband Gordon, was involved with Rod Humphreys (Jenny his wife, is the World Mission Advisor for Bath and Wells Diocese), to develop the land that the diocese own, so that the church is able to have an income.
Then we drove to the British High Commission and met with Charley Thomas and William – Dean and Sub dean. Bishop David drove separately and Bishop Peter, Liz, Ken and I went with Bishop David’s driver in another vehicle. Bishop Peter has the use of Bishop David’s driver and car while he is in Lusaka. We all trooped into the building and while in the queue waiting we met an elderly lady, who’d come here from England when she was 2 yrs old, and lived here ever since! The High Commissioner was nowhere to be found, and so the man in the office phoned and discovered we were expected at his residence!! So we all hurried back to the cars and arrived late!! We arrived at his lovely house and beautiful garden, and found him very welcoming to us. We all sat outside on his veranda and enjoyed ‘English’ tea or coffee in china cups and saucers, with brownies and homemade chocolate chip cookies! We were there for at least an hour and it was a good contact for Charley. He was able to offer the use of the Cathedral for any official services.
Then Bishop Peter, Liz, Ken and I went to the Craft Village, which were selling a variety of arts and crafts, in a number of circular mud brick shops. All the people who had made the crafts were keen to sell to us. Mr Katema, our driver kindly came with us when we were ready to buy to make sure we weren’t ‘ripped off’. I was the last to get back in the car, and we hurried to the Kainga Lodge (where Bishop Peter and Liz were staying) where there were lots of clergy, wives and Diocesan workers for an informal lunch under a tree in the garden. Several of the Lodge staff were barbequing chicken and there was beef stew, rice, nshima, salad, Chinese cabbage (delicious made with crushed peanuts) etc. Pudding was a delicious fresh fruit salad. After lunch Bishop David asked Bishop Peter to speak for about 20 mins on ‘Changing Lives’, which has been an initiative in Bath and Wells Diocese for the last few years. Ken also spoke followed by questions.
Afterwards Ken and I went back to ZAC, and Esther, Enelesi and I went to buy some material for me to get a Zambian outfit made. The shop was full of materials and I felt overwhelmed, I just didn’t know what would suit me. Also the shop was about to close, so I didn’t have any time to dither and made a rushed choice! Across the road by the car was another shop also about to close. I quickly bought another material there, as enough for an outfit only cost about £5. Then we drove to a tailor. She is a Mother’s Union member, and I was pleased to be able to give her some work. She measured me and I chose 2 different styles. The pink material cost me 35,000 kwacha (about £5) and the orange/ yellow/ blue material cost 50,000 Kwacha. To make up the outfit is 80.000Kwacha each – about £11, so very good value. Then we made our way back to ZAC, Esther driving in very heavy traffic, everyone going home from work.
We got back at about 6pm and I went in search of Ken, finding him relaxing under the pagoda. We had supper together in the guesthouse dining room – noodles with chicken and mixed vegetables. It was tasty, followed by a banana and orange segments.
We sat in the lounge to wait for Malele, who was going to pop in to see us after work with one of her daughters, Saraiya and granddaughter, Ariana. While we were waiting Christine Muyawala, the People’s Warden at Holy Cross Cathedral arrived and presented us both with a present – a shirt, with ‘church of the Holy Cross’ printed on it. Also for me a chitenge, and Christine taught me how to put it around me to secure it like a sarong. I loved them and was so pleased with the gifts!
After she had left, Malele, Saraiya (24yrs) and Ariana (18mths) arrived. It was lovely to see Malele again, and to meet for the first time, her daughter Suraiya, and granddaughter, Ariana. Suraiya was so eager to learn all about the family she belonged to, and I was able to show her a few photos, one with Mum and Dad (Pat and Marion Ashe) and children at Dad’s 90th birthday celebrations.
Malele told us that Mulilo’s house is chaotic and Mulilo is devastated, because a really good friend of his died the night of the Rugby final, in a car crash – 3 people killed altogether. His Swedish wife and 4 month old daughter was out of the country at the time.Mulilo had to go to the airport to pick her up, and since then she has been at his house , his wife Donna trying to protect her. In Zambian culture, when someone dies, relatives turn up from all over the place , so her home is inundated with people. They are now turning up at Mulilo’s, so he has lots of people now around at his house trying to see his dead friend’s widow. Mulilo and family and Donna’s mother never made it for their holiday break in Tanzania. The funeral is on Thursday.
Ariana was quite active and a real ‘sweetie’. Suraiya would love to meet family and visit England. She has visited once but didn’t know about her large extended family!! Their taxi (one of Mulilo’s taxi firm) didn’t turn up for ages and Malele was getting crosser and crosser!
The Ken and I packed, left a few things we didn’t want to take on the plane to Ndola, and went to bed under our mosquito nets.
Licensing of Charley Thomas as Dean of Lusaka
LICENSING OF CANON CHARLEY THOMAS
NEW DEAN OF LUSAKA CATHEDRAL
SUNDAY 21ST October 07
We had a knock on the door at 6am! The cook called through the door saying breakfast was ready. We’d thought it would be at 6.45am! So we hurried up, showered, dressed and went to the dining room. Breakfast was fried egg ( very nice though I think it had been made before 6am!), spam and bread that we could toast, followed by a banana and orange segments.
Then we went with Rodgers and Esther to the Cathedral. The Girl’s Brigade and all the various uniformed groups were congregating when we arrived. Rodgers and Ken went off to robe and Esther and I went into the Cathedral to a row at the front reserved for clergy and Bishop’s wives. I sat next to Bishop Derek’s wife (Central diocese) and Liz Maurice. Also on our row, was Bishop David’s wife, Noreen, and Susan Rivett. Susan and her husband Peter are from England and know John Simons (who was the previous vicar at Holy Trinity, Nailsea), and Chris and Janet Faull (two of our congregation at HT), as they were with SOMA ( Sharing of Ministries Abroad) and Crosswinds. They came to Mapanza Mission Station, Peter as Chaplain to the large boarding school. Then the Bishop asked him to be the parish priest as well! They have 16 churches as well as the chaplaincy! Rev Charley Thomas’s family were sitting in front of us in the front row.
The service lasted 4 hours from 8am – midday! There were several choirs – Cathedral Praise Team, Diocesan Choir, Mary Sumner choir, Mother’s Union, and at various times during the service they would burst out in song and dance. The choirs were wonderful to watch and listen to. It was a lovely service with a lot of variety and very lively.
During the installation of Rev Charley Thomas, as Dean, one of the questions and response was this:
Bishop: ‘My brother, will you proclaim God’s word with boldness, teach the truth and banish error?’
Priest: ‘ With God’s help I will.’
Bishop:’ People of this parish will you hear what is preached, apply it to your lives, and by word and deed commend the gospel to others?’
People: With God’s help we will.’
Bishop David then said ‘ That means listening to the sermon and not reading your parish news!!’
He made funny remarks quite a lot. He introduced Bishop John Osmers, as ‘retired but not tired!’ Bishop John is missing one hand, die to the South African Government security forces (during apartheid) sending him a parcel bomb that blew off his hand. He is head now of St John’s Theological in Kitwe, in Zambia.
Buomba was amazing with their music and dance. They are a Roman Catholic cultural worship group from Kaunda Square Catholic parish and performed twice during the service. Towards the end of the service different groups – cell groups, Bishops, Mother’s Union, Youth, Clergy Wives, etc. all came up to the front to shake hands with Charley and all his family, wife Rachel and children, Tony, Mollie, and 3 yr old Jolly. His mother too was there at the service – she had come over especially from India where she lives. Many brought up gifts for Charley. At the end of the service there was a large procession out. Everyone greeted each other on the Cathedral steps and in the grounds. Then followed refreshments – drink, sandwich, chicken drumstick, and 2 varieties of samosas, and sausage. We ate it in a tent (put up in the Cathedral grounds), which became very hot, as the tent was made of plastic material and there was no through breeze. We greeted various folk, everyone was so welcoming and friendly.
A red carpet was being put out on the steps of the Cathedral ready for another big service in the afternoon, for Independence Day, with the President expected. Eventually we went back to ZAC with Rodgers and Esther, dropping George (who lectures at St John’s Seminary, in Kitwe) off at a house. There was a fierce some dog there, so he wouldn’t get out of the car until the security guard on the gate had secured it behind a fence!!
In the afternoon we changed into cooler clothes and sat under the pagoda where there was a gentle breeze. We had a short nap, and then I wrote up my diary. At 6pm we went with Rodgers and Esther back to the Cathedral for a ‘pot luck’ supper. We arrived to find no one around, except 2 ladies coming out of an Alpha course! We discovered the supper was supposed to be at 6.30pm. We’re learning to live by Zambian time and the supper actually materialised at about 8pm!! Bishop Derek never made it – he’d gone to bed!! I joined the ladies sitting around the table. I met Irene and Pinky from Zimbabwe. Four of them had driven here for the service – it had been a 12hour drive from their homes in Zimbabwe! That’s longer than the flight we had from UK, which had been 10 hours. Irene is a primary school teacher and we got talking about the lovely Zambian dresses. We both said we’d like one, and she was doing a drawing of one I liked of a lady called Wanga, who was wearing a lovely green dress. She was trying to do the design so she could have one made when she got back to Zimbabwe. I went over to Wanga and chatted with her saying how lovely her dress was. She gave me all the details of where to buy the material and the person who could make it. I took a photo front and back, and said I’d send the photo by email to Irene. Austin and Pinky came with her. I also sat next to Rachel and Jollie (4 yrs). Rachel is Charley’s wife – Canon Charley Thomas, Dean of Lusaka Cathedral. I spoke with Margaret Katongo Willombe, who is the National Coordinator of Mother’s Union. I met her 2 children, Bevan and a daughter, who’s name I forget. They are both studying in Australia, in Perth. Margaret gave me her contact details as she may come to England sometime. I also sat next to George Kateka and his wife Hilda and chatted with them. He was Master of Ceremonies this morning at Charley’s Licensing service.
We had a delicious ‘pot luck’ supper of rice, chicken, chapatti, pumpkin leaves, etc. Ken chatted with a number of the men. We came home about 9.30pm. Esther said we could go shopping for material tomorrow when I am free, probably after lunch. In the morning I think our itinerary includes The British High Commission, and then lunch with some of the clergy and wives. Esther and I are then hoping to be able to have a bit of free time to go shopping! Bishop Peter has a bad back – I said I could give him some back exercises. I think the plane journey was part of the cause.
NEW DEAN OF LUSAKA CATHEDRAL
SUNDAY 21ST October 07
We had a knock on the door at 6am! The cook called through the door saying breakfast was ready. We’d thought it would be at 6.45am! So we hurried up, showered, dressed and went to the dining room. Breakfast was fried egg ( very nice though I think it had been made before 6am!), spam and bread that we could toast, followed by a banana and orange segments.
Then we went with Rodgers and Esther to the Cathedral. The Girl’s Brigade and all the various uniformed groups were congregating when we arrived. Rodgers and Ken went off to robe and Esther and I went into the Cathedral to a row at the front reserved for clergy and Bishop’s wives. I sat next to Bishop Derek’s wife (Central diocese) and Liz Maurice. Also on our row, was Bishop David’s wife, Noreen, and Susan Rivett. Susan and her husband Peter are from England and know John Simons (who was the previous vicar at Holy Trinity, Nailsea), and Chris and Janet Faull (two of our congregation at HT), as they were with SOMA ( Sharing of Ministries Abroad) and Crosswinds. They came to Mapanza Mission Station, Peter as Chaplain to the large boarding school. Then the Bishop asked him to be the parish priest as well! They have 16 churches as well as the chaplaincy! Rev Charley Thomas’s family were sitting in front of us in the front row.
The service lasted 4 hours from 8am – midday! There were several choirs – Cathedral Praise Team, Diocesan Choir, Mary Sumner choir, Mother’s Union, and at various times during the service they would burst out in song and dance. The choirs were wonderful to watch and listen to. It was a lovely service with a lot of variety and very lively.
During the installation of Rev Charley Thomas, as Dean, one of the questions and response was this:
Bishop: ‘My brother, will you proclaim God’s word with boldness, teach the truth and banish error?’
Priest: ‘ With God’s help I will.’
Bishop:’ People of this parish will you hear what is preached, apply it to your lives, and by word and deed commend the gospel to others?’
People: With God’s help we will.’
Bishop David then said ‘ That means listening to the sermon and not reading your parish news!!’
He made funny remarks quite a lot. He introduced Bishop John Osmers, as ‘retired but not tired!’ Bishop John is missing one hand, die to the South African Government security forces (during apartheid) sending him a parcel bomb that blew off his hand. He is head now of St John’s Theological in Kitwe, in Zambia.
Buomba was amazing with their music and dance. They are a Roman Catholic cultural worship group from Kaunda Square Catholic parish and performed twice during the service. Towards the end of the service different groups – cell groups, Bishops, Mother’s Union, Youth, Clergy Wives, etc. all came up to the front to shake hands with Charley and all his family, wife Rachel and children, Tony, Mollie, and 3 yr old Jolly. His mother too was there at the service – she had come over especially from India where she lives. Many brought up gifts for Charley. At the end of the service there was a large procession out. Everyone greeted each other on the Cathedral steps and in the grounds. Then followed refreshments – drink, sandwich, chicken drumstick, and 2 varieties of samosas, and sausage. We ate it in a tent (put up in the Cathedral grounds), which became very hot, as the tent was made of plastic material and there was no through breeze. We greeted various folk, everyone was so welcoming and friendly.
A red carpet was being put out on the steps of the Cathedral ready for another big service in the afternoon, for Independence Day, with the President expected. Eventually we went back to ZAC with Rodgers and Esther, dropping George (who lectures at St John’s Seminary, in Kitwe) off at a house. There was a fierce some dog there, so he wouldn’t get out of the car until the security guard on the gate had secured it behind a fence!!
In the afternoon we changed into cooler clothes and sat under the pagoda where there was a gentle breeze. We had a short nap, and then I wrote up my diary. At 6pm we went with Rodgers and Esther back to the Cathedral for a ‘pot luck’ supper. We arrived to find no one around, except 2 ladies coming out of an Alpha course! We discovered the supper was supposed to be at 6.30pm. We’re learning to live by Zambian time and the supper actually materialised at about 8pm!! Bishop Derek never made it – he’d gone to bed!! I joined the ladies sitting around the table. I met Irene and Pinky from Zimbabwe. Four of them had driven here for the service – it had been a 12hour drive from their homes in Zimbabwe! That’s longer than the flight we had from UK, which had been 10 hours. Irene is a primary school teacher and we got talking about the lovely Zambian dresses. We both said we’d like one, and she was doing a drawing of one I liked of a lady called Wanga, who was wearing a lovely green dress. She was trying to do the design so she could have one made when she got back to Zimbabwe. I went over to Wanga and chatted with her saying how lovely her dress was. She gave me all the details of where to buy the material and the person who could make it. I took a photo front and back, and said I’d send the photo by email to Irene. Austin and Pinky came with her. I also sat next to Rachel and Jollie (4 yrs). Rachel is Charley’s wife – Canon Charley Thomas, Dean of Lusaka Cathedral. I spoke with Margaret Katongo Willombe, who is the National Coordinator of Mother’s Union. I met her 2 children, Bevan and a daughter, who’s name I forget. They are both studying in Australia, in Perth. Margaret gave me her contact details as she may come to England sometime. I also sat next to George Kateka and his wife Hilda and chatted with them. He was Master of Ceremonies this morning at Charley’s Licensing service.
We had a delicious ‘pot luck’ supper of rice, chicken, chapatti, pumpkin leaves, etc. Ken chatted with a number of the men. We came home about 9.30pm. Esther said we could go shopping for material tomorrow when I am free, probably after lunch. In the morning I think our itinerary includes The British High Commission, and then lunch with some of the clergy and wives. Esther and I are then hoping to be able to have a bit of free time to go shopping! Bishop Peter has a bad back – I said I could give him some back exercises. I think the plane journey was part of the cause.
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