The weary travelers did some very important sleep catch-up their first night in Ndola before launching into the first full day of activities. There are, as usual, many, many items on the team's want-to-do-list, and Thursday morning was focused on what those things are and what our priorities will be. Some top-of-the-list items:
-- Do as much ground work as possible in preparation for the August Zambia trip, which will bring a strong medical team into Kantolomba to assess and make recommendations for lasting health care and education in the community. Interviewing candidates for positions as nurses will be an important early step in the preparation.
-- Gather a new batch of chitenge (colorful African cotton fabric) to be made into curtains by the sewing cooperative for the Monastery upgrade projects.
-- Check on all the building projects in Kantolomba to see how they are coming along and what adjustments might be needed: inspecting the new hammermill building under construction, as well as various aspects of the community building - plumbing, wiring, security systems - that are in need of attention.
-- Have a community meeting with the Living Compassion cooperative team to look at how decisions are made within the community, and what the team members see as priorities in the work there. As the project matures, and we move towards doubling the number of children in the feeding program, what does the team see as how best to proceed with funding and staffing the expanded program. There are also a number of exciting projects that have been initiated by the Kantolomba team that we'll look at more closely, such as contests they are designing to encourage greater participation among both adults and children.
-- We want to check in with the men's cooperative to see how that's going and to look at some of their projects, such as the prototype that has been created for a desk-and-bench design for the classrooms.
-- An issue that is emerging as critical to the long term success of the program is the status of girls and women in the community; how to support transformation that includes young women learning that there are options for them in addition to being mothers and wives. Lots more on this as we go along.
Theresa joined us mid-morning and we headed out to do errands, not the least of which was recovering Jen and Melinda's luggage, which arrived on the noon plane from Johannesburg. The plan had been to get the luggage when we picked up Cheri, who was scheduled to arrive on that same plane. Much to the disappointment of all, Cheri, whose flight from Munich was late into Johannesburg, had missed the connection to Ndola, delaying her a full day. Life so often lets us know that we have no control!
Visiting the bank for cash, buying chitenge from "Milan Investments," marker pens from "Challenge," and some groceries from "Pantry Pride," were stops along the way. Our favorite driver, Muyunda, had car trouble that morning and had sent Davis to replace him while Muyunda got his car repaired. Davis is an easy-going, friendly fellow who was on time and right where he was needed at every moment through the day.
Davis waiting for his passengers
One of the day's highpoints was lunch at Castle Lodge, which presented Melinda with her first taste of nshima, the grits-like staple of Zambia, along with scrambled eggs and rape, a variety of greens that tastes quite a lot like spinach. Theresa informed us quietly toward the end of the meal that the greens were actually pumpkin leaves.
Jen and Theresa about to dig into nshima, eggs and pumpkin leaves
In the afternoon we set off for Kantolomba. Melinda was struck by the names of businesses we pass along the way: "Re Ho Both" is an auto parts store, as is "Polite Auto Spares."
One of many great store names
In Kantolomba Jen showed the sewing team (Veronica, Josephine and Georgina) some patterns that had been created for the Monastery curtains, as well as some apron patterns that might evolve into another sewing project.
We found Friday working on the hammermill building, which looks to be about half finished. Friday introduced us to John, a parent of one of the children in the feeding and education program. It turns out that John heard of the need for experienced bricklayers and volunteered to assist: he was so grateful for what the program is offering his children that he wanted to give back in some way.
John working on bricks at the hammermill building
As we moved around the property a feeling of Kantolomba began to emerge through the sights and sounds of the day: a dozen children playing on the lawn, holding hands and circling around in time to a song they were singing. The song leads them to the place where they all fall down together, giggling happily, then they get up and start all over.
Kids at play on the lawn
Another lovely sight: the women's team spread out across a hillside, weeding the garden there.
Women working on the hillside
A mother hen ushering her chicks around the grounds, giving food-gathering lessons.
Hen and chicks
At the end of our visit that day we met with the women briefly and learned that one, Ethel, had been very ill. After getting everyone's input it was decided that Theresa would stay behind to be sure Ethel was ok. It is so inspiring to be in community with a group of people who so clearly care deeply for one another.
Back to Castle Lodge at the end of the day to prepare for the next day's activities.