We're now ready to begin a formal relationship with the local government officials in Ndola. Most government offices have been aware of our existence since we've been here, but since we have been in preparation mode--building the clinic, getting the lunch program set up, figuring out which children are already in school somewhere, and which are candidates to attend schools we put in place.
This morning we did a grand tour of offices beginning with that of the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Jennifer Musunda, a lovely lady whom you've met in previous blogs, then to Mr. Kelvin Samiselo at Child Welfare Services, and finally to Mrs. Chikalikali at the Department of Education. These folks will inspect and advise as we officially move into becoming a Community School and certified medical clinic.
After the usual stops for kwacha, internet, and grocery supplies, we return to our spacious kitchen for lunch (wonderful to so easily be able to prepare food for ourselves), and we're off to Kantolomba, which can only be described as a shock. Imagine, if you will, a piece of property in your town that has been unattended to for years--overgrown, dirty, past falling into disrepair, solidly having reached the stage of beyond repair. Then imagine driving around a corner and seeing that same property bright and shiny, landscaped with trees and gardens, and sporting a beautiful new building.
Mr. Jangles (our favorite four-legged friend at Castle Lodge) helps Jen with the blog.
Greeting all our friends in Kantolomba.
Cheri looks around with amazement.
There, you have a little picture of our experience yesterday driving around the turn and catching our first glimpse of the compound. A lawn edged with plants and flowers, water flowing from the new well, people lined up with their water containers, staff filling buckets to water the new planets, children running everywhere, chickens pecking in the new water run-off diversion project--a lively, beautiful scene. Up on the hill we can glimpse the new insaka (open-air thatched meeting space), the vegetable garden, and dominating it all in a protective sort of way, the new medical clinic building.
The beautiful lawns.
The women working in the new vegetable garden.
Looking up at the insaka and the water tanks.
Walking up to the insaka.
The view of the property below from inside the insaka.
Left to right Cheri, Theresa, Veronica, Gaudencia.
Unbelievable! I said the word so often I finally began to feel repetitious and started trying for equally accurate alternatives--amazing, astounding, inspiring, extraordinary. One year! In one year this dedicated, hard-working group of women (now plus Charles!) has transformed a patch of dirt and weeds into a bright, welcoming, active community center.
Inside the medical clinic.
We love what they have done with the windows!
And then, the piece de resistance--baby Cheri! Two months old and well on her way to being as gorgeous as her mama, Josephine.
Big Cheri meets little Cheri.
Left to right Cheri, Josephine with Baby Cheri, Theresa.
We reluctantly give Baby Cheri back to her mama.