Thursday was our last full day in Zambia. Before we set out from Castle Lodge, as has been our habit, we stopped to consider the quote and the assignment for the day from Transform Your Life, Cheri's latest book. It was particularly relevant:
Quote: We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth others are here for I don't know. --W.H. Auden
Assignment: Today, just enjoy all the help you can give others.
Our first move was to visit once again the office of the local internet provider. At this point in our efforts to bring internet to Kantolomba, there are several questions that need to be answered before we can choose the solution that will work best. The first and biggest is, will the new WIMAX technology work in Kantolomba? Unfortunately, this is something that will need to be determined after we go. All we can do at this point is to set up a clear way to communicate with John, the manager, wait, and keep our fingers crossed....
John
Then we dashed off to Kantolomba to get to work. As is always the case as we prepare to end a trip here and head for home, we had an enormous list of details to go over with the Kantolomba team, a great number of loose ends to tie up, and some complex plans to make. This is hardly a chore, however: everything that needed our attention was something good for the people in the compound, something inspiring for us, and a reason to celebrate.
For example, we are on the verge of doubling the number of children we are feeding every day, from 400 to 800. We have not discussed this project much on this blog because it has not required much of our attention--the workers are in place, trained, willing, and eager to begin--but this is probably our biggest achievement right now and the most powerful possibility for the near future. This week Theresa and her team will go to town and buy four more huge pots, four hundred plates, four hundred cups, a truckload of groceries, and begin the expansion. The time-table we have laid out has us increasing the program by 200 children between now and our next trip to Zambia in January, then the next 200 soon after that.
As another example, the sewing cooperative has established itself officially as a business able to bring in funds for the cooperative. Last week the Castle Lodge ordered 100 chair-covers from the cooperative, to be delivered on December 11.
Modeling a chair cover
This is a huge project, and one that will require the tailors to work day and night in order to meet the deadline. In return for their dedication and hard work, the tailors will bring close to 2 million kwacha (about $500) into the cooperative bank account when the covers are completed. That is enough money to pay for one quarter of the hammermill building, from this one job alone!
Chris, from Castle Lodge, checks in on the progress.
And we have a uniform! The tailors finished it this morning, much to everyone's delight. Georgina modeled the new creation while everyone looked on, laughed and cheered happily. The folks here can hardly wait until they each have their own.
"How do I look?"
Meanwhile, work is proceeding on the hammermill building.
Peter digging the foundation
We had hoped that the guys would have poured the foundation before we left the country, but, as usual, there were complications. This time the complications took the form of several huge rocks that had to be cleared out of the way.
Video of the rock
The adult education program that we have dreamed of for some time now is up and running. The focus of this program is English, as proficiency in English is the one thing that will most increase people's opportunity to improve their lives. English is the language of commerce in Zambia; without English there is little possibility that the poverty in Kantolomba will be reversed. So far our efforts mainly serve those who are already a part of the project. Each day after lunch the team divides itself into three groups: those who have completed grade 9, those who have completed grade 4, and those who have no English at all. For an hour an a half they study and practice their language skills before they go back to work outside. Theresa says they are improving quickly!
The team's exercise books
As soon as the main building is finished and the electricity has been hooked up, we hope to offer classes in the evenings in the compound. Very exciting!
Then there is the farm. We mentioned earlier in this blog that the cooperative has rented a patch of land near the property to grow corn. We have been trying all week to get out to the place to visit it, but so far every day something has gotten in our way. When we woke up this morning we said to ourselves, "This will be the day!" And it was! After lunch, Friday drove us to the spot in his 4x4.
It is difficult to describe the impression it made on us. The place is wonderful, beautiful, fantastic, inspiring.... Our dedicated workers have carved a farm right out of the bush, with row upon row of tidy plants poking their leaves above the earth. And it is humongous! They have germinated thousands of plants, and they are all healthy and thriving in the fields. "We are hoping for a bumper harvest," said Theresa, grinning with obvious pleasure. Imagine how empowering this will be for the people here! To grow their own food, to grind it (hopefully) in their own mill, then to feed it to the hungry children in the compound--this is more than a dream come true: it is a miracle.
The farm
At the end of the day we took a photo of the amazing team that is making all of this possible. Here they are, dressed in what serves now as their uniform:
The team
Finally, the day drew to a close. All the work was done; what remained was only to say good-bye. This is the hardest part of each trip every time. We have fallen in love with the people of Kantolomba. They are more than our friends: they are our partners in a work that gives life to us all. We live ten thousand miles from each other, but we do not feel separate: we are one people. As those of us who live in America prepared to leave, those of us who live in Kantolomba gathered around to sing.
Video of the final song
"Goodbye, friends!" we told them. "We hope to see you again very soon, and in the mean time we will keep you close to us in our hearts." And so we will. In just five weeks Jen and Cheri return to Kantolomba, and the adventure continues.
Saying goodbye to Theresa
"Goodbye our dear visitors, we shall never forget you."
Post Script:
Before we end this Africa blog, we cannot resist including one detail from our journey home. After two days of travel, we arrived at last in San Francisco. We spent the night in the Bay Area, then headed up to the Monastery the next day. Who could have predicted the surprise that awaited us there? It was snowing! We had hoped, of course, to drive all the way down to our property, but this was impossible. Finally, we were forced to leave our car beside the road and walk the last half-mile, carrying our computers, cameras, and other technical gear. What a beautiful homecoming!
Walking in a winter wonderland!
