We squeezed in a phenomenal amount Friday morning before leaving for the airport. Jen went to the ATM and pulled together all the finances to go over with Theresa, then had a meeting with Dr. Obi to finalize the program of medical care in Kantolomba. He and his nurses are going to write up a schedule of days they plan to come out to provide on-site care at the Living Compassion Community Center. Tracey and Jen then did final in-town errands, including taking a photo to a woman who works at the craft market. We had taken her picture during the April trip and had promised we would bring it to her. It was a 30-second errand and produced a smile large enough to make a person's whole day (our day, that is).
Dave had raced out early to Kantolomba to video the construction of the community center and to meet with Francis, an electrician we found who lives in Kantolomba. We have hired Francis to wire some lights and electrical outlets inside the kitchen building. Imagine the difference this will make! In just a couple days (hopefully) there will be a place for the Zambian Living Compassion team to plug in cell phones, to use an electric sewing machine, to read by electric lights.... Everesto will have a place to charge his new computer. In addition, the stage is now set for the installation of a water pump when we return.
On the way to Kantolomba, Dave stopped in town for the electrical parts that Francis would need. This included forty 12-foot pieces of conduit, which Martin, Dave's fearless taxi driver, somehow managed to stuff into the trunk of his car.
Dave arrived in the compound to discover that Tom and Magnus had preceded him. They were saying their final farewells. While they handed out candy, Dave met with Francis to go over the wiring, then videoed the construction project for several minutes. On the way back to town, the three stopped at the school to say good-bye. Magnus gave all the children lollypops. As Dave, Tom, and Magnus prepared to leave, one of the children discovered that the lollypops could be made to whistle. Before long, all fifty children were laughing and whistling with all their might. It was a send-off fit for royalty.
Back at the flat, while Dave and Tracey were loading our luggage into two taxis (alas, we cannot say we were successful with the car--it will have to sit parked until we return and can continue the investigation of what's amiss), Jen went to print the land agreement papers that Theresa will have each of the owners of the 5 next-door properties sign.
Theresa accompanied us to the airport, where we had a few more minutes to relay information and to thank her for her heroic efforts. We also said good-bye to Moyunda, our faithful taxi driver who has been a pillar of this trip.
Moyunda
The boarding area of the Ndola airport always provides us with a few precious moments to reflect on the trip--no more cell phones, no internet access, no shops, no restaurant, just a little room looking out on a single runway in the middle of a simple field. In many ways, this has been a difficult trip: we could not fix the car, the well still does not provide water to the community, and we were unable to purchase a Living Compassion headquarters as we had hoped. And yet...
The property now has electricity. HUGE! The groundwork is laid for the project to be based right there.
The power line to our property.
We discovered that our Living Compassion women are about the best tailors in Zambia, and we are on track for a new line of fabulous products.
We took giant leaps forward in medical care, going far beyond where we dreamed we would before the clinic is built. Violet will soon have teeth! Purity, Regina, Elizabeth and countless others will have lives saved from simple wound care.
Purity and Tracey
We had our first annual Living Compassion celebration, complete with a football (soccer) match.
Brian towers over his teammates.
We exponentially deepened our relationships and friendships in Kantolomba.
Cheri greeting the property caretaker.
Veronica, Troy and Theresa.
Jen with Baby Jen (Beauty's new baby).
Walking over the hill together.
We began offering English classes to adults in Kantolomba.
Tom showing a world map in the adult class.
We doubled the food program.
Yum!
We introduced the beginning of a microfinance opportunity.
A group of women at the first microfinance meeting.
We stewarded the community center construction.
The workers leveling the foundation.
Yes, it's true, we mentioned some of these things to you already when we wrote about all that was working half-way through the trip, but they bear repeating, don't you think? Plus, it gives us an excuse to show you more pictures.
Everesto has a very good shot at studying abroad, thanks to Magnus, not to mention a chance to be featured in a movie, if we have our way!
Tom and Everesto
Six more people who had never previously been to Africa have been transformed through on-the-ground participation.
At the big football match.
We made several new, important contacts, including Jennifer Mosundo, the highest government official in the Copperbelt region and Marcia Glenn from USAID.
At the property with Marcia.
We took the first steps toward assisting Ndola to receive a Cities Alliance grant--an enormous opportunity for us, our colleagues in Kantolomba, and all of Ndola.
We learned a great deal about car mechanicing and met Friday.
Dave and Friday at work.
AND, we wrote the blog.
Many of these are things that were not even on our list when we landed in late June. We find ourselves grateful for the training to respond to what life offers rather than clinging to an idea of how things should be. And, as always, we have deep gratitude for all of you and your participation. Please feel free to write us with any feedback that has occurred to you as you read the blog.
Signing off for now,
The Africa Team