Highs, lows and funnies

Sorry it's a bit longer then I was expecting!!! The second week in Zambia has been a rather mixed week, and by the end of it we were feeling pretty worn out. There were some highs and have been some lows and also some funnies :) 

The highs - after doing a couple of loads of hand washing we found out that the accomodation we've been staying in has a washing machine.  I was so delighted.  I'd heard stories of people having to handwash for their entire stay and was not looking forward to six months of it!

- Actually getting into doing some more useful things, started physio with the Bethesda children and a missionary who's had a spinal cord injury, Jono's even been kept busy doing admin tasks and stuff.

- Hearing some good and challenging messages.  

- To see the Bethesda parents group really passionate/confidence after the community disability day (they previously, last week seemed ashamed/lacking confidence)

The Bethesda Mothers with their 'new' donated sewing machines.  Spot the white people . . .

- We saw our very first wild snake!!! 

Ok so it was tiny, (the size I can handle and be excited about!), it wiggled across the road in front of us, before convieniently being squashed by a car so I could take a photo.

- Having a braai (AKA bbq) with our neighbours (German volunteers that are helping with BOCC schools), that included eating impala meat.  

Check out that for a bbq . . .

The lows - There was a car crash outside the base (second one since we've been here, we weren't around for the first one).  So I rushed out with a whole bunch of Zambians thinking I probably had more medical knowledge than they did, having done a couple of first aid courses previously (although I think I'm long overdue to refresh/redo one).  I diligently (or something like that), with my first aid hat on, sent Jono to call 'emergency services' and find a first aid kit, as the victim was unconscious and had a nasty cut on his head.  I proceeded to put him into the recovery position while I awaited his return.  Most of the Zambians just stood round in a circle like it was a spectacle, as I assume they didn't know what to do.  I was the only person right down beside the guy.  I was shocked to find that the OM base didn't have a first aid kit and Zambia doesn't really have ambulances.  Someone went to get the OM van, the Zambians picked him up (the physio in me cringes at how they lugged him like a sack of potatoes) into the van and took him to hospital.  I guess I cringe because we didn't know his injuries, if it had been a spinal cord injury they probably would have made him worse, I know they were just being helpful, I guess here there's not really any other option.  Jono finally returned with a nurse who had a first aid kit, after they left for the hospital.  Sadly she didn't come running (she's from South Africa, apparently black and white coloured people don't really help each other there, otherwise they get blamed for things).  I found this really sad, thinking that someone with medical knowledge holds back when potentially someone's life is at risk.  For me even if there are negative consequences I think I'd still try to help, the guilt otherwise would be too much I think.  Its really sad the lack of medical knowledge here, even for basic things.  Luckily (probably due to lots of prayer) the man regained consciousness and is now out of hospital.  At least something good has come from the incident, Pastor Melvin (he's the head of OM in Zambia) has realised they are unprepared for any sort of emergency and is looking to make some changes, who knows maybe  I can help there!

- Then that afternoon we were at the Bethesda mothers support group, one of the mothers had brought a new mum along with her child (which is good).  The child, Given, has many facial birth deformities, that was really tough to see.  He's 1 and a half years old, his Mum had poor advice when he was born and hasn't taken him for medical follow up since.  He also was unwell with a chest infection, diarrhoea, and fungal rash.  So we took him to the Dr.  The Dr seemed shocked that the child hadn't had medical care since birth.  The Mum is pregnant again and wants us to take Given to Mother Teresa House, so she no longer needs to look after him, which is sad.  

Little Given, his Mum and those Umusungus AKA 'the rich white people'

The funnies 

Seeing this while driving down the road. 

- seeing a dance circle (like you see at weddings/clubs) at church, Jono refused to go and show them his 'white' moves.  

- When a particularly wide vehicle was coming towards us the pilot sign said "Abnormal" What happened to wide load, or something like that?

- We had a cockroach that I sprayed and it ran between the wall and a cupboard.  Next morning Jono walks into the room to find the dead cocroach in the middle of the floor with a whole lot of ants eating it.  Who knew ants would eat another bug that's like a million times the size!

The other things - It's been quite a contrast seeing some churches here compared to St Peters Basilica.

 Can you spot the differences?

 

- My head has been a flurry of thoughts recently.  There are many needs here.  I find it weird sticking out like a sore thumb and being seen as a 'cash machine'.  I have however been encouraged by the teaching that OM gives to the community, about empowering Zambians and not always asking for money, but trying to do something for themselves.

Just a little on that pre Zambia thing.  

From Paris we eurostarred it to London – we were so tired since it was an early start (up at some unearthly hour like 5.40) that we mainly slept on it.  We had a little time before our bus so we went to see the outside of Buckingham palace.  

They had these funny looking men outside it

Royalty?????

 

Bussed to Basinstoke where we were greeted by Jono’s relatives Malcolm and Claire.  They were so hospitable.  It was so lovely to have home cooked meals, to be able to use a washing machine and to have a bath.  Oh the luxury of it all. 

Conveniently they live near the church that Jane Austen’s dad was the pastor of and where she spent the first bit of her life, so a walk there was in order.   Yay Jane Austen!

Look Miriam it had a baby pipe organ, could almost fit one of these in the house!!!

 We also met up with Jono’s cousins Richard and Clare (a different one) with their wee boy Joshua.  Claire had packed a scrumptious picnic for us to eat on the way back, so we headed to Richmond Park only to find that we could not find a carpark despite Malcolm trying for half an hour or so, so lunch ended up being at about 3pm on the way home.  Jono’s cousin Graham came over one evening for a catch up too. 

Malcolm and Claire took us to the theatre in Basinstoke to see what I cannot describe.  No matter how many words I put in.  It was hilarious.  I didn’t expect it to be but it was.  These two actors did a play kinda about Abba, with a whole lot of Swedish jokes in there, that was a murder mystery.  The set had a whole lot of knitted items, including a coffee jug with knitted coffee. As part of it they did puppets.  Oh and there was Nordic walking and a drunk moose.  Fantastic mix of oddities, incredibly well put together, they must be naturally funny people.  This is their website http://www.lip-service.net/home might explain things better then I can!

More from Malcolm and Clare's to come . . .

Prayer thanks

- For safety while we've been travelling

- For modcons (internet and washing machines)

- That the Bethesda mother brought Given and his Mum along

Prayer requests

- For continued safety on the roads, like I've been saying they are really bad and the vehicles are not really up to New Zealand standards.

- For Given to recover from his illness (the Dr seemed to think it was serious given his birth deformities), and that we as Bethesda will know the appropriate action to take.  The Dr was going to try to refer him to a plastic surgeon. 

- That my Physiotherapy registration will be sorted quickly, it's in the process but there's a couple of documents that I need to get.  (I didn't know about needing to do it until I got here, so it's harder to organise things)

- I think mainly the crash has stirred a bit of culture shock for me, so that I/we will deal with culture shock well.  

- Jono's foot continues to niggle at times, so prayer for healing there.

- That we will connect well with the locals and missionaries.  

- That God will be our highest priority, followed by our marriage

We'd love to hear from anyone of you that has prayer requests, we don't want this to be a one way street, so feel free to comment or send us an email karlyn.jonathan@gmail.com

God bless you all