Hello there,
Its been a busy couple of months as usual! Schools finished at the beginning of August. When its summer time in UK, its wintertime in Zambia, and because its summer holidays in UK its the time when we tend to get quite a few visitors!
I managed to have a couple of days in South Luangwa just before the end of term and its been hectic ever since! In South Luangwa (my favourite game park in Southern Africa), I had a wonderful relaxing time viewing animals, although a couple were too close for comfort especially the elephants! Here are a few photos!
The last picture is actually the elephant charging a vehicle in front of us! Thankfully, he didn’t make contact!
I visited Kabwata ECD centre here in Lusaka before the end of term and it was great to see the kids busy doing things for themselves, and also being excited when the teacher, James, was reading a story!
When I worked in Malawi, I had many teams passing through Mzuzu on their way to Livingstonia or other parts in the north of Malawi! On one of those teams I met Stephen and Hester. It was lovely to see them again as they were passing through Lusaka from South Africa on their way to Livingstonia again!
At the beginning of August, a team from Hillsborough Presbyterian church led by their Youth worker Ashley, arrived in Lusaka! They were coming to spend the first week in Mtendere CCAP with the CYF (Christian Youth Fellowship), and the second week in Matero CCAP with the Sunday school kids doing a kids club! There was a lot of excitement and some of the young people from Mtendere came to the airport to welcome them! As you can see they had a lot of luggage!!! We managed to fit it all into the bus and trailer.
The team stayed in a backpackers in Lusaka which was mid way between the two churches they were going to be serving in! The first day was Sunday service in Mtendere CCAP which was only 3 hours long and in which they performed a worship song, much to the delight of the congregation! Of course, the choirs in Mtendere were amazing as usual! Perhaps Hillsborough need to practice their dancing!!
In Mtendere we do not have a Pastor at present so Rev Gift Nyirenda who you can see addressing the team after the service, is looking after the congregation in the interim period!
Before the team started their time with the young people in Mtendere, they visited our Synod offices to meet the General Secretary, Rev S Kabaghe. They brought him some gifts from Ireland. He was delighted to welcome them although he did have to ask them to speak slowly so that he could understand their English!!
The week in Mtendere was full of fun, some frustrations, some learning and hopefully building relationships between the young people from Mtendere and the team from Hillsborough. Getting to the church each day was an experience in the Synod bus as they struggled to get through the narrow road through the market to the church.
Jointly, the young people from Mtendere and the visiting team did some outreach in the community together, visiting old people from the congregation, and spending an afternoon doing litter picking (which created a lot of interest from the community)!
There were also some cultural presentations (from Ireland and Zambia) which were interesting! Ashley did one of the morning devotions on love which was very appropriate! The Girls Brigade from Mtendere and Hillsborough exchanged gifts, and as you can see in the photo immediately below even football shirts were shared!!
The first few days of the second week of the trip were spent in Matero CCAP Congregation with the kids from the Sunday school of Matero and George CCAP congregations! There were a lot of kids and they were very excited to be there! They did ‘Champions Challenge’ and I am sure they were all champions at the end!
The week began on Sunday morning, again with the Hillsborough choir (joined by the General Secretary) who did a great job, and were appreciated by the congregation!
After the time at Matero, the team (including me) set off for Kafue National Park to Lake Itezhi tezhi for a couple of nights! We arrived early afternoon (after some drama on the bus – a back window shattered!!) to a beautiful location. Included in the package was a drive in the Park and a boat trip on the lake. We saw lots of elephants and this time had the elephant charging our vehicle. One of the young people described it as ‘awesome’! Not exactly my sentiments!!!
We did spot a leopard but it was moving quickly through the bush and I didn’t manage to get a photo!
Sometimes, teams coming to visit can be a hindrance more than a help but if good planning is done, then things usually go smoothly! Here in Lusaka, we have been planning for this visit for almost a year and yet one of the activities planned did not take place which was a bit disappointing for everyone. I think it is good however for visitors to realise that even with planning, here in Zambia, things do not always go according to plan, and a plan B is usually necessary! I am thankful that we had a plan B and the team enjoyed their day to visit the Kalimba Reptile park, where some had a chance to wear a Python round their necks), and go to a local football match!
I know that the young people and children here learnt much from the Hillsborough team and I pray that the Hillsborough team went back to Hillsborough with positive stories and perhaps a change in their outlook in how some people in the world worship and live! I believe it was a positive experience for everyone!
Here in Lusaka, we are experiencing severe power loadshedding these days. It is off between 8-10 hours daily and as you can imagine that can be very frustrating. Solar lights are charged up daily, phones are charged on solar, but when the laptop battery runs out, then plan B has to come into action…pen and paper!!
Nevertheless, I know that God is with us, guiding us and helping us through these frustrations. We just need to rely on Him!
I head to Lundazi in Eastern Zambia next week for our General Administrative Committee meeting of CCAP Synod of Zambia, where I will present a report on ECD and also a powerpoint presentaion on Child Protection. I would value your prayers for travel and for the time spent at the meeting.
I leave you with the sunset over Lake Itezhi tezhi…peaceful tranquility in Kafue National Park!
Please do feel free to leave a comment!
Blessings,
Diane x
August 23, 2019
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