First Days in Zambia

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Yesterday was our first full day in Zambia and it was amazing. We got up pretty early (much earlier than I'm used to on summer vacation) but it's exciting to get going into our day. We start with breakfast, do some devotions (1 person each day leads the group in a small discussion of a Bible verse) and a prayer for the days work. Just before 9:00 we head out to the school which is a 15 minute drive to the school where we spend a good portion of the day (we start heading out around 4:00-4:30). We all have different types of jobs we are doing like brick laying, digging trenches for the new washroom or painting in the existing school.

This school is much different than our schools. There are no resources or learning materials for the students to use or books and yet so many say reading is there favourite activity in their free time. The teachers have minimum resources to teach with and none of them get paid because it is a non-profit organization. 4 of the 8 teachers at the school have post secondary education but the other 4 do not, but would love to but can't because of the cost. In the community schools teachers do get paid but it's equivalent to about $250 a month and yet the cost of living (groceries, rent) is not a whole lot less than ours...some things are cheaper but many are the same or more. I worked on developing biographies of some of the neediest students in the school so I spent most of the day doing interviews with the students and a teacher who could translate the questions I was asking. Eventually we are hoping to create sponsorship programs to help support the needs of these students through the organization we are with "Christ's Hope".

Today I helped out with the painting and did some digging of the trenches. I also took some time to talk to the teachers to find out their specific needs in the school and those of the students. It was definitely eye opening and I hope to do some collections of childrens books as they have no books in the school that we can ship here in the near future. I'm hoping to get donations of classroom resources as well and teacher guides/resources that perhaps us teachers in Canada aren't using any longer. They would be so appreciative. I think my highlight today was playing with the kids and many of us have quite the following. Wherever we go, there is always a trail of children following us from all ages. I'm quite surprised that so many children and even very young ones (2 yrs) are off on their own for most of the day and then some of the even younger ones are on the backs of their older siblings wrapped in that cloth materials. I can't help but be touched by these mass amounts of children and have come to love them so much (even after just 2 days with them) but I think the whole team is feeling the same way.

When we leave we head home to get dinner started. We decided to do our own meals and use that money to do other things for the kids...like yesterday we provided sandwiches for all the school children for lunch. It saddens many of our hearts that despite our efforts they still go the whole day without eating, and today we found it particularly difficult because we ate our lunch and even away from the kids but they were still watching us through the window. For some of the team, this bothered them so much that they couldn't eat. The reality of the poverty here is so real to us.

After dinner we play games or chat and then of course we have a long wait for washing (and not everyone can have a shower each day as the water situation is very difficult). Some get warm water, others get cold, some get actual showers, others do a makeshift bath in the tub with a basin. But at least we are getting clean. Later in the evening we spend some time debriefing our day and discussing our highlights and then have another prayer time to thank God for all he did for us and through us.

Later in the evening is when we can get on to the internet and work on our blogs but that can take quite some time. We have to pay a small amount between 8 and midnight, but after midnight is free. So that's when they are hoping to do most of our internet usage. However since last night was so late, I'm doing this earlier today. It's almost 11:00pm here so we are 6 hours ahead of you in Ontario.

So far, this has truly been an amazing experience...until next time!

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Photos

First 2 Days
Just about to land in Ndola after many many hours

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The Ndola airport

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Some African children beside the runway (not from the school we are helping with)

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Coming off the plane...so nice to get off and stretch!

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And all our bags arrived with us!

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Our home for the next 2 weeks

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In the backyard of our place...a neat African Tree...I love thses trees!

First 2 Days
Ryan and Kyle installing our mosquito nets!

First 2 Days
Under the mosquito tent...everyone has one on their bed to protect us from mosquitos each night.

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At the school for the first time!

First 2 Days
The kids lined up at the start of the school day

First 2 Days
In their grade lines!