Update from Jami

A much needed day of rest was used today. The pace of the day was much slower and we all got to sleep in till at least 9:00 hours! Dr. Thinus was up and going at full steam around 5:00 hours trying to fix the water pipes to the bathroom with the shower. By 9:30 hours we went to Murundu to attend to various tasks. A few went to visit Pastor Joseph, who is working with the Orphans in Murundu, to continue assessing that project and STS’s potential involvement. A couple of us went to visit students from Murundu Basic School, students who we’ve met through our time spent at their school doing HIV/AIDS education. Others, including the Church Plant Students, went to visit a student to check on her well being.

I was escorted to the girl (Naomi) from the school whose home I was to visit. I ended up meeting her, her brothers and sisters, all younger, and peeling sweet potatoes with them for their breakfast/lunch, I guess that’d be brunch! It was an amazing time seeing where the students who we’ve been with all week, where they eat and sleep. It’s interesting that I’ve always imagined them in houses like the ones I’ve seen in Mufulira and just assumed they all live in homes that are similar to the ones in town. But that isn’t the case. I found that most of them live in huts that are quite small. I found them all outside playing, washing, and making food. It was such a simple way and day there. The girl who I visited, I had met last year when she was in grade 8. Her mother had just passed away then due to child birth. So now it’s a year later and much has changed for her. She’s doing well in school though and will be moving on to grade 10 with no problems. It was great to see her again this year!
Around 13:00 hours we were all picked up by Dr. Thinus and taken to Kitwe for some fine dinning and shopping, a definite change from a typical day. We had swarmas for lunch and pizza for dinner! It was all delicious and great. We probably consumed more calories today than the trip as a whole! It was especially great for me to get to sit and talk with everyone getting to know each of them even better. Since arriving on Sunday and starting at the schools on Monday, it’s been fast paced, and not a lot of down time to just get to sit and talk with everyone. As an added bonus, the French Open was being shown on one of the TV’s in the pizza restaurant! You can’t beat that!! Between consuming the swarmas and pizza we did a little souvenir shopping at the Kitwe market. Getting a good deal was a lot tougher this year but I think everyone managed to get a lot of great things for a pretty good price. I think all the sales guys were glad to see us go though. After a purchase I had made I thanked the sales guy by saying thank you in Bemba (Twa totella). He then turned to me and said, “Twa totella ponono”, which means thank you just a little. Which I thought was pretty funny.

Our day concludes with emails and watching all the great videos that were generated throughout the week. The dance competition videos are the best! All-in-all it was a beautiful Zambian day which allotted us time for rest and renewal.

Jami W. Ward