Today is our last full day at the property before we start the journey home tomorrow. We want to give as much support to the team as we can, especially the projects requiring computer skills that are brand new to most and pretty new to all. Veronica will direct the children’s photo project and train others to assist her, Muyunda and Theresa will be working with their new photography skills to send photos back for all of us to enjoy, and the leadership team will be filing a new weekly business report to Jen. We realize how short a time we’ve actually had to coach them on some pretty high-level tasks and concepts, and want to use this day reinforcing their understanding.
- As we drive to the property, some streets are lined with young men and women digging impressive drainage ditches by hand and building roads. The new president of Zambia is investing public money in infrastructure improvements in Kantolomba. A true miracle.
- When we arrive at the property, we are greeted by dozens saying, “Hello. How are you?” We get out of the car and gravitate towards some of the older children who are actually able to hold a simple conversation with us in English. A miracle, indeed.
- Rose makes a home visit to see Ann. Before Living Compassion, there was no health professional accessible in this community for the many who are unable to travel to clinics. Now they have the kind, capable service of a nurse who is readily available.
- Today and every weekday, 800 children can eat a plentiful, hot meal served by loving women in a setting that is beautiful, clean, and encouraging to them.
- Georgina sits in the sewing room at one of two beautiful, well-kept industrial sewing machines, while on the other side of the property the men work on Pulumosa stoves—both symbols of the growing money-making ventures. The entrepreneurial spirit is beginning to take hold. People see that they can make business agreements, keep them, and profit from their commitments and work. Profits are deposited in the cooperative account and are then available for ways the cooperative chooses to use them, such as treating mosquito nets, giving microloans, investing in further training for the sewers, and the like.
- Two people apply for funds from the Emergency Cooperative Fund today. Josephine needs to buy medicine for Baby Emmanuel who has dysentery, and Beatrice needs to take her son back to the hospital for a follow up visit as he is recovering from malaria. Thanks to the guidance and direction from both Rose, our nurse, and Martha, our accountant, some of the cooperative funds have been used to set up this fund to help people in crisis. Each person’s labor benefits not only the individual families but the community as a whole. These tiny (by our standards) loans, which will be paid back at the first of the month when salaries come in, can mean the difference between life and death, truly.
- Even amid what we would call dire poverty, music and dancing is a daily occurrence.
- People stream in from the community throughout the day to draw water from one of two taps that provide the only clean, safe water in Kantolomba.
- We have a real live saint in Theresa Kapenda, whose heart for service sustains this entire project.
- There are thousands of folks many thousands of miles away from this small community in Kantolomba who care enough to participate financially in making all of this happen.
- And, most important for all, we have a practice and a teacher that models for us that all of this is possible. Puts us right back in the gratitude loop.
The mounds of dirt on the side of the road are evidence of the road construction planned for this road just outside the property. Exciting!
We visit Christopher’s grave to say goodbye and honor his life. Christopher was a member of the coop who passed away recently due to complications from AIDS. The cemetery is filled with young men and women who, like Christopher, died in their 30’s.
Jen, Beauty, and Josephine discuss the medicine given for Josephine’s son Immanuel. The clinic didn’t have the correct medicine for his illness so she has to walk to another clinic for the right medication.
Rose and Angela visiting Ann (seated).
She’s still got a great smile!
An impressive serving line! Plates of nchima awaiting the protein entrée.
Monica enjoying her sewing.
We told you yesterday about Rose’s Girls Club where she teaches the girls sewing and other useful skills. They make mats from mealy-meal sacks and brightly colored yarn and sell them.
Benendetta and Pauline get fuel to cook the meal using a Pulumosa stove.
Reuben disassembles an oil drum to begin construction of yet another stove.
Susan tidies up the main room where the children have their lunch.
These girls are enjoying a picture/vocabulary book that was handmade and illustrated by someone in the Sangha back home. We wanted to see how the children would like them as we may use them in our emerging English program. It was a huge hit!
Georgina is braiding the strips of fabric that will become the handle for the new bag she is making.
We caught sight of these two lounging off to the side of the property. The girl sitting is braiding her friend’s hair.
This is little Cheri, Josephine’s daughter. She is about 3 ½ years old and a little miracle in herself!
Our work was complete but we delayed our departure, all too aware that it will be many months before we see our friends again. We sang a goodbye song together which features the name of the person you are bidding farewell. We sang 39 verses, enough to sing individually to each person. Wonderful as a group to acknowledge that each person matters.
Jen and Rebecca begin saying goodbye to the team.
We received many hugs, handshakes, and warm wishes for safe travels.