The last few days have been much more quiet as our numbers have lessened being beginning early Friday morning. Myself, Jami and Matt are the last of the Americans to depart. We said many of our farewells last night to those we have met, worked with and shared these last two weeks. This morning was filled with our final packing, and some football with the children in the backyard. Until next time. Mwende Bweino.
Reuben
Monday, August 3, 2009
Matt's Last Blog 8-3-09
Hello everyone, it's been a while since any of us have blogged because we are running around like crazy people trying to get things done. I have been asked to summarized the last few days in one final blog. We finished up with the schools on Friday with sketches, games, presentations and songs. Jami, Rebecca and I rewrote the words to Amazing Grace to speak about HIV and it turned out really nicely. It was difficult to sing though because by Friday we all had sore throats and runny noses, but we are all feeling a lot better since then. So Friday night we showed the Jesus film in Murundu and if it is possible to drown in small children, it would happen in Murundu. Jami, Reuben and I were given the task of crowd control and it was nearly impossible, however with a few choice Bemba words like STOP and NO, and the use of a big stick we survived. Pastor Joseph and Dr. Thinus prayed for the crowds when the movie ended, and they all seemed to be excited about it. However, when the dust cleared we were all covered in dirt, about five shades darker, and unable to take a shower because the water in Mufulira turns off at ~22:00. Reuben had a bandage on all night and when he took it off, it was the closest thing to Zebra that I've seen since I've been in Africa. I don't know about anyone else, but I washed my hands about four times the next day and used hand sanitizer and each time I got a little lighter in color.
On Saturday, we took William and Heather to the Airport, but stopped at a snake farm first. It was a little sad to see the place so run down, but it's cool to stand less than a foot from a black mamba or a cobra that are being stored in unlocked display cabinets. You think about the people around you and wonder if someone will decide to slide one of the panes of glass to the side. So we said our goodbyes and came home to find that Jami and Dan had been working non stop for about 12 hours to ensure that the STS local clubs were sustainable. You could see how tired they both were, but there was still a lot of work to be done. We came back home for a traditional South African meal and the frantic packing began.
On Sunday morning, we all went with Dan, Carrie, Bashidan, and Liam to see them off. We watched the beginning of a copper plate import business taking off as Dan and Joel purchased hand made copper plates. We said our goodbyes, hugged and took pictures as four of our team left for home. Hopefully their flights all went well. After leaving the airport, we stopped at the roadside markets and Jami argued with a man named Brian for an hour trying to get a giraffe. She got the carving, but not for the price she wanted, so she swore to never wear a dress in Africa again. Jami met with Ida to set up the STS computer and library, while Reuben and I discussed the nature of sin and the Law with Dr. Thinus. Once at home, Jami was still working like... well normal for her... but incredibly hard to finish the STS budget before we all leave. We said our good byes to some of our friends and finished packing. I think that we will all welcome the rest that the 20 hour plane ride can bring, but we will definitely miss Zambia, especially the people that we have come to know and love.
-Matt
On Saturday, we took William and Heather to the Airport, but stopped at a snake farm first. It was a little sad to see the place so run down, but it's cool to stand less than a foot from a black mamba or a cobra that are being stored in unlocked display cabinets. You think about the people around you and wonder if someone will decide to slide one of the panes of glass to the side. So we said our goodbyes and came home to find that Jami and Dan had been working non stop for about 12 hours to ensure that the STS local clubs were sustainable. You could see how tired they both were, but there was still a lot of work to be done. We came back home for a traditional South African meal and the frantic packing began.
On Sunday morning, we all went with Dan, Carrie, Bashidan, and Liam to see them off. We watched the beginning of a copper plate import business taking off as Dan and Joel purchased hand made copper plates. We said our goodbyes, hugged and took pictures as four of our team left for home. Hopefully their flights all went well. After leaving the airport, we stopped at the roadside markets and Jami argued with a man named Brian for an hour trying to get a giraffe. She got the carving, but not for the price she wanted, so she swore to never wear a dress in Africa again. Jami met with Ida to set up the STS computer and library, while Reuben and I discussed the nature of sin and the Law with Dr. Thinus. Once at home, Jami was still working like... well normal for her... but incredibly hard to finish the STS budget before we all leave. We said our good byes to some of our friends and finished packing. I think that we will all welcome the rest that the 20 hour plane ride can bring, but we will definitely miss Zambia, especially the people that we have come to know and love.
-Matt
Saturday, August 1, 2009
8/1/09 from Reuben
The house has been very busy as we work to complete our projects in the final days. Friday was our last working day at Joseph's house and the clinic. We wished our future doctor and pharmacy friends (Mike, Jake and Alden) well at 4 am this morning, as they departed for Livingston to see victory falls. Joel, Liam and I finished up everything we could on the clinic and hung the "Gracie's Place" sign above the door before departing. The team constructed desks, benches and shelves for the clinic, all of the furniture is being stored at Joseph's house for safe keeping until the doors on the clinic are in place. Our work has made a good start and we hope to see the clinic come to be a place of health and healing.
The agricultural work has gone well. We finished seeding the intensive cultivation plots on Thursday, with 500 seeds in each of the three plots, just north of the shade house. The shade house is filled with over 1000 planting bags, 1073 to be exact :D Many bags and seeds remain and Joseph has the additional supplies in safe keeping to continue with more planting bags in the future. We have shared seeds and planting bags with several other people and hope to spread seeds and knowledge of moringa farther this year.
The irrigation system for the vegetable garden and moringa is working nicely. Bringing water to the field is perhaps the best accomplishment of this year's work in the fields. This will enable much more ease in growing the moringa and other crops year round.
Many hands, minds and hearts have helped with this year's work and many people will continue the work here in Zambia after our American team has departed. May our work continue to grow and bring life and health.
Mwemde Bwino, Good Journeys,
Reuben
The agricultural work has gone well. We finished seeding the intensive cultivation plots on Thursday, with 500 seeds in each of the three plots, just north of the shade house. The shade house is filled with over 1000 planting bags, 1073 to be exact :D Many bags and seeds remain and Joseph has the additional supplies in safe keeping to continue with more planting bags in the future. We have shared seeds and planting bags with several other people and hope to spread seeds and knowledge of moringa farther this year.
The irrigation system for the vegetable garden and moringa is working nicely. Bringing water to the field is perhaps the best accomplishment of this year's work in the fields. This will enable much more ease in growing the moringa and other crops year round.
Many hands, minds and hearts have helped with this year's work and many people will continue the work here in Zambia after our American team has departed. May our work continue to grow and bring life and health.
Mwemde Bwino, Good Journeys,
Reuben
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
7/28/09 - Reuben's Agriculture Blog
The agriculture and construction projects continue to go well. Jake, Mike and Alden helped Joel build desks and tables for the clinic today at Dr. Thinus' house in Mufulira while I worked on Moringa at Joseph's house in Murundu. We will take the completed furniture to Joseph's house in the morning and once the doors are secured to the clinic, it can be moved there.
I was the only one going to Murundu this morning so I rode the mini bus from Mufulira to Murundu. This was my first time navigating Zambia on my own. The bus dropped me off in the center of Murundu and after a short walk in the wrong direction, I quickly found my way back on to the correct path and arrived at Joseph's house in short course. I was asked by several people on the bus and in the streets while I walked what I was doing/why I was here. I talked about both the HIV Ed in the schools and the agriculture work with people and they were very interested. I must stick out a bit here for some reason... j/k
Our planting bags are progressing steadily. We had our highest production day yet, 250 bags! That brings the total to 750. The shade house should be able to hold 1500 seedling at capacity. I expect to continue the planting bags for the rest of this week to fill as much of the shade house as possible before we all return to the USA. Joseph and company can of course finish filling the shade house after the STS USA team departs, but it would be a joy to see it full before leaving Zambia. The area for the intensive cultivation plot was tilled today and I have 1500 seeds soaking over night (approximately, I didn't count them all...). We have some minor bugs to work out with the sprinklers and sprayer hose and nozzle, but nothing that should be too difficult.
Take care wherever you may be.
Reuben
I was the only one going to Murundu this morning so I rode the mini bus from Mufulira to Murundu. This was my first time navigating Zambia on my own. The bus dropped me off in the center of Murundu and after a short walk in the wrong direction, I quickly found my way back on to the correct path and arrived at Joseph's house in short course. I was asked by several people on the bus and in the streets while I walked what I was doing/why I was here. I talked about both the HIV Ed in the schools and the agriculture work with people and they were very interested. I must stick out a bit here for some reason... j/k
Our planting bags are progressing steadily. We had our highest production day yet, 250 bags! That brings the total to 750. The shade house should be able to hold 1500 seedling at capacity. I expect to continue the planting bags for the rest of this week to fill as much of the shade house as possible before we all return to the USA. Joseph and company can of course finish filling the shade house after the STS USA team departs, but it would be a joy to see it full before leaving Zambia. The area for the intensive cultivation plot was tilled today and I have 1500 seeds soaking over night (approximately, I didn't count them all...). We have some minor bugs to work out with the sprinklers and sprayer hose and nozzle, but nothing that should be too difficult.
Take care wherever you may be.
Reuben
7/28/09 from Heather
Muli Shani Everyone!
Let me start by saying Tannen and Megan are greatly missed, as is the rest of the VanZwieten clan (though I am very happy to have fewer people to fight with over the shower in the mornings). I hope everyone had an uneventful trip back and is enjoying the luxuries of home in America.
Today was a wonderful day here in Zambia! My group (Carrie, Dan, William, and I) traveled to Luansobe, just around the corner from where our sports camp was held the past two Saturdays. We each have a classroom of about 30 students, which is a bit more than we would like but it is working out quite well! I should also mention that the students are fluent in Bimba, which means they are not quite so fluent in English -- in fact only about 10 of my students can say a few words in English, and only about 4 can actually speak and understand English. My class is made up of Grade 7 pupils ranging in age from 13 through 17. It is the older children who have a much better grasp on the English language, but we still have some words that simply do not translate from English to Bimba. Today we discussed the basics of HIV because the majority of the students could not answer the quiz questions I presented yesterday. Also, my translator was the teacher, so I am not quite sure that we were on the same page. Today I had one of the STS translators, a pastor from Tanzania, Chibesa and he was wonderful to work with because he has our same vision in mind. Also, he can understand me, even when I speak quickly, which happens frequently.
We went to our second school today, Kalanga Basic School, and did not have as much luck because, for the second day in a row, the students are completing their exams. We were told yesterday to come back at 13:00 hours today because testing would be over, but the Civics exam was about to begin so we could not have the students.
Not being able to go to Kalanga worked out alright though because the construction team was very busy building furniture for the Murundu clinic, Grace's Place, at Dr. T's house. Joel, Jake and Alden were already busy working on the furniture when we pulled up in our taxi (thank you Alfred for being a very trustworthy driver for us!). William and Dan joined in, as did Mike who was just returning as well, and by the end of the evening three desks and one exam table were completed. All of the furniture looks great and is very sturdy should there be any "screaming and wriggling" children, in the words of Joel.
Jami, Matt, Liam, and Rebbecca were at Murundu for the first time today and they said that it went quite well. To quote Matt "there were a lot of kids and Liam played with balloons." In other news, Jami has lost her voice today and is having trouble talking over a whisper. We have tried to encourage her to not talk as much, but anyone who knows her knows that is not going to happen, nor will telling her to slow down and not work so hard. Please keep her in your prayers so that she will have a voice back tomorrow and the rest of the week to teach the students all she knows in 4 days. She said that it's hard enough getting them to understand English, much less when you cannot raise your voice above a whisper. Jami did not lose her voice until the end of class today, so hopefully there will not be any time without a voice. Matt and Reuben had gone into town to get bread where they also picked up a Fanta for her. The Fanta did not improve her voice, but it did boost her spirits.
On an unrelated STS point, I NEVER want a pet monkey! Liam brought the neighbor's monkey into Dr. T's house to show to everyone. I was happy just taking a photo of it, but then my curiosity got the best of me and I followed the monkey and the pet monkey (hahaha) outside. Liam sort of threw the monkey at me, which I didn't have to catch because he clung to me like a tree branch. I moved a tad too close to the door and the monkey was off my back faster than he had gotten on it and onto the door frame instead. I tried to comfort him and pull him off the door, and the next thing I knew he had bitten me! No blood was drawn, so no panic please, this is not the next Outbreak The Movie in progress. The monkey came over today and I stayed clear of the critter altogether.
Adventures in Zambia are sure to continue! Please do not forget our whole team in your prayers, especially as the traveling for everyone back to America will begin in a few days.
Heather
Let me start by saying Tannen and Megan are greatly missed, as is the rest of the VanZwieten clan (though I am very happy to have fewer people to fight with over the shower in the mornings). I hope everyone had an uneventful trip back and is enjoying the luxuries of home in America.
Today was a wonderful day here in Zambia! My group (Carrie, Dan, William, and I) traveled to Luansobe, just around the corner from where our sports camp was held the past two Saturdays. We each have a classroom of about 30 students, which is a bit more than we would like but it is working out quite well! I should also mention that the students are fluent in Bimba, which means they are not quite so fluent in English -- in fact only about 10 of my students can say a few words in English, and only about 4 can actually speak and understand English. My class is made up of Grade 7 pupils ranging in age from 13 through 17. It is the older children who have a much better grasp on the English language, but we still have some words that simply do not translate from English to Bimba. Today we discussed the basics of HIV because the majority of the students could not answer the quiz questions I presented yesterday. Also, my translator was the teacher, so I am not quite sure that we were on the same page. Today I had one of the STS translators, a pastor from Tanzania, Chibesa and he was wonderful to work with because he has our same vision in mind. Also, he can understand me, even when I speak quickly, which happens frequently.
We went to our second school today, Kalanga Basic School, and did not have as much luck because, for the second day in a row, the students are completing their exams. We were told yesterday to come back at 13:00 hours today because testing would be over, but the Civics exam was about to begin so we could not have the students.
Not being able to go to Kalanga worked out alright though because the construction team was very busy building furniture for the Murundu clinic, Grace's Place, at Dr. T's house. Joel, Jake and Alden were already busy working on the furniture when we pulled up in our taxi (thank you Alfred for being a very trustworthy driver for us!). William and Dan joined in, as did Mike who was just returning as well, and by the end of the evening three desks and one exam table were completed. All of the furniture looks great and is very sturdy should there be any "screaming and wriggling" children, in the words of Joel.
Jami, Matt, Liam, and Rebbecca were at Murundu for the first time today and they said that it went quite well. To quote Matt "there were a lot of kids and Liam played with balloons." In other news, Jami has lost her voice today and is having trouble talking over a whisper. We have tried to encourage her to not talk as much, but anyone who knows her knows that is not going to happen, nor will telling her to slow down and not work so hard. Please keep her in your prayers so that she will have a voice back tomorrow and the rest of the week to teach the students all she knows in 4 days. She said that it's hard enough getting them to understand English, much less when you cannot raise your voice above a whisper. Jami did not lose her voice until the end of class today, so hopefully there will not be any time without a voice. Matt and Reuben had gone into town to get bread where they also picked up a Fanta for her. The Fanta did not improve her voice, but it did boost her spirits.
On an unrelated STS point, I NEVER want a pet monkey! Liam brought the neighbor's monkey into Dr. T's house to show to everyone. I was happy just taking a photo of it, but then my curiosity got the best of me and I followed the monkey and the pet monkey (hahaha) outside. Liam sort of threw the monkey at me, which I didn't have to catch because he clung to me like a tree branch. I moved a tad too close to the door and the monkey was off my back faster than he had gotten on it and onto the door frame instead. I tried to comfort him and pull him off the door, and the next thing I knew he had bitten me! No blood was drawn, so no panic please, this is not the next Outbreak The Movie in progress. The monkey came over today and I stayed clear of the critter altogether.
Adventures in Zambia are sure to continue! Please do not forget our whole team in your prayers, especially as the traveling for everyone back to America will begin in a few days.
Heather
Monday, July 27, 2009
7/27/09 from Reuben
We began the day bright and early at the saw mill to pick up the load of timber for furniture for the new clinic in Murundu (Grace's Place). After that we returned to town for painting supplies and were off in a taxi to Murundu. I was dropped off at Joseph's house for work on Moringa while Joel, Jake, Alden, Mike, Liam and Rebecca when to the clinic to paint and clean.
The Moringa project is progressing steadily. Myself and many of Joseph's sons worked on the planting bags most of the day. At day's end our count was 500 plus. Our current space will allow for approximately 1500 planting bags in the shade house. I ended my planting efforts a little sooner than expected today when the HIV ed team stopped by Joseph's house in Murundu around 1500. Three muzoongos (forgive the misspelling, its the local term for white people), me, Jami and Matt and four Zambians, Pastor Terry, Martinz, Carmelitar and Rebecca took a trip to the Congo border for some shopping.
We hope to start the intensive cultivation portion of the Moringa project tomorrow and continue to fill planting bags until the shade house is full. Our timber is secured in the hallway of Dr.Thinus's house as we all turn in for some well earned rest.
The Moringa project is progressing steadily. Myself and many of Joseph's sons worked on the planting bags most of the day. At day's end our count was 500 plus. Our current space will allow for approximately 1500 planting bags in the shade house. I ended my planting efforts a little sooner than expected today when the HIV ed team stopped by Joseph's house in Murundu around 1500. Three muzoongos (forgive the misspelling, its the local term for white people), me, Jami and Matt and four Zambians, Pastor Terry, Martinz, Carmelitar and Rebecca took a trip to the Congo border for some shopping.
We hope to start the intensive cultivation portion of the Moringa project tomorrow and continue to fill planting bags until the shade house is full. Our timber is secured in the hallway of Dr.Thinus's house as we all turn in for some well earned rest.
7/27/09 from Matt
It's been almost a week since my last blog, but here it goes. The kids have been great in all the schools that we have been to, and it is incredibly difficult to say good bye to them. However today we started with a fresh new intake of students, which should be a lot smoother than the last round. Jami, Pastor Terry, Martinz, Carmelitar and myself all went to Vineyard Basic today, and from what I can tell the kids are very intelligent, fluent in English and shy. I would have liked to have seen more HIV knowledge, but I guess that's part of why we are here. After we finished, we waited for a notoriously unreliable taxi driver to pick us up, but after a half an hour we walked to get a minibus.
The minibus seems to be a staple of third world countries and is still by far the most effective method to convert an atheist in the world today. If you aren't praying while you are bouncing on a seat that pivots backwards toward a back hatch that is wide open and tied down with twine, you are most likely clinically dead. However, we safely made it to Murundu basic a half hour late, and found that the students had been sent home. In America, I would have been pretty upset because Dan and I set this up a week prior, but here it seems normal. As a result, we got to tour the clinic, the agricultural project, and we went about 200 meters from the Congo to buy some material for a tailor in town. Both Reuben and I bought some before taking a chance on the long ride back to Mufulira in another minibus. Overall, it was a great day, which seems to be the trend here. I hope all is well at home; I will continue to keep you all in my prayers and I thank you all for keeping us in yours.
Matt
The minibus seems to be a staple of third world countries and is still by far the most effective method to convert an atheist in the world today. If you aren't praying while you are bouncing on a seat that pivots backwards toward a back hatch that is wide open and tied down with twine, you are most likely clinically dead. However, we safely made it to Murundu basic a half hour late, and found that the students had been sent home. In America, I would have been pretty upset because Dan and I set this up a week prior, but here it seems normal. As a result, we got to tour the clinic, the agricultural project, and we went about 200 meters from the Congo to buy some material for a tailor in town. Both Reuben and I bought some before taking a chance on the long ride back to Mufulira in another minibus. Overall, it was a great day, which seems to be the trend here. I hope all is well at home; I will continue to keep you all in my prayers and I thank you all for keeping us in yours.
Matt
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