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Published: June 16th 2012
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As most of you know, The OLP Zambia 2012 Group spent almost 18 months (1 year 6 months as they would say here) fundraising for our trip to Zambia and trying to collect or purchase the things we thought would be the most beneficial to donate while we are here. We are near the end of that supply. And yesterday at Twikatane Vocational Training Centre it happened again.
The training center is what would be understood as a vocational training school in the US. Students learn woodworking and dress-making so they have practical, marketable skills. We knew the training center needed power tools and hand tools. We also knew that they are starting a library and specific books like textiles and dress-making were needed. They also wanted business textbooks. So, we delivered the power tools, hand tools and books that we brought with us and the staff and students were thrilled. One picture in the blog shows the students and staff dancing around and holding the books we brought in the air, singing a song of thanksgiving. Then, quite unexpectedly, they began doing some gift-giving of their own.
A beautiful malakite (a copper mining by-product) clock of Zambia for
the whole group and then individual gifts to each one of us. They had gift wrapped shirts that they had made at the training center and put each one of our names on the outside and they handed them out. Like the Friends of the Franciscan Friars at Immaculate Conception parish the day before, we experienced the gift-giving that is so much a part of Zambian culture. Our Francisan hosts have tried to help us see how important visitors are and how people are honored to receive guests and share what they have. Fr. Charles tells us that in Zambia if there is a quarrel in the home and a visitor arrives, the quarrel ends and it is is not revisited. Try that one at home.
So, as we find ourselves emptying the bags we brought, the Zambians are pouring things back in. And we have no doubt that you recognize that we are not just talking about shirts. The people have been very welcoming and friendly. There is music, singing and dancing everywhere we go. The music at masses has been transcendant and most of the time it is spontaneous and in three-part harmony. Some streotypes on both
sides are being broken. We are being given the opportunity to see the world - and ourselves in it- in a new way. In today's blog you will see the smiles of the OLP group, but look at the smiles of our Zambian friends. We are still processing what we have been given and what it may mean for us when we get back to the US, but we know we have been touched in deep and meaningful ways by all we have been given by the people we have met here.
We travel to Kitwe again today, attend a parish fundraising dinner tonight and celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart at Sacred Heart Parish tomorrow.
The OLP Zambia 2012 Group
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Lori
non-member comment
What an amazing experience. It shows how the human spirit is all about giving and not so much about the material things in life. Thank you for sharing all the stories with us, so we can share in your joy.