The Beginning of Lent

Ash Wednesday 13^th February 2013

On Sunday Moses sent me a text to say that a second bull calf has been born. Although he would have preferred heifers, at Kaliyangile the cows will soon be producing milk for the students and for sale and eventually there will be a couple of oxen to help with the work on the farm.

Sadly about a month ago the man Jennipher had been looking after (Mike's son) died from his injuries. Again this makes me realise just how different life is in Zambia. In the UK these injuries would not be considered as life threatening. His relatives wanted the body to be returned to their village not far from Pemba rather than for him to be buried in Lusaka, as was the case with Mike. So this was arranged.

Jennipher has had a difficult time over the past years, she told me that she needed a break – perhaps a trip to Livingstone to stay with her relatives. A few days later she rang me from Livingstone!! However, it appears that the relative she had gone to see was in South Africa so the initial objective of her mission was unsuccessful. She rang from immigration where she was trying to get a passport and organise a visa for the UK!! She now has a passport, but I persuaded her that applying for a visa needed a bit more thought. She told me that she was staying at the lodge where we stayed with Dilys andAmy in 2011. They had provided a 'side room' for which she was not being charged – further evidence of the resourcefulness of my friend.

Diven rang a few days ago. He says that his little business is working well. He now has a house full of Boom! This he buys in boxes of 12 or 20 packets and sells individually. His aim is to make 30,000 kwacha a day (about £3.75) – in practice I suspect he averages less than half of this, but he is happy.

The students at PIZZ school did well in their exams. Twelve students passed their grade 9 exams which means they will be accepted at Secondary School – unfortunately due to the costs few will be able to take up this opportunity, unless additional funds can be found.

The rains have been very heavy this year causing flooding. This is true for some of the parishioners of Our Lady of the Wayside church, since Manugu is an area particularly affected. There was a week or so of dry weather but the rain has again started falling. It appears that in Zambia, like many other places around the world, the weather is becoming more extreme. This is something that needs to be addressed urgently and I am about to start a new blog http://www.christmasspirit2013.blogspot.com/ where I want to try to explore how we can address the issue.

As we start the Christian season of Lent as Catholics we are required to fast. The rules allow one full meal and two smaller ones. I reflect that even for some of my Zambian friends this would be quite a feast. It reminds me of the many people for whom to feel hungry is a common experience. I hope that one day the scandal of hunger will be removed.

Best wishes

Chris

Happy Christmas

Christmas Blog

Forgive me for taking so long to post this blog. I thought that I should post some blogs during while still in the UK to bring you up to date with happenings in Zambia. As we start Lent and I look out at the snow falling perhaps it is good to look back at Christmas.

I am getting into the Christmas spirit.

In previous years I have found it difficult to deal with Christmas in the UK, after spending time in Zambia. The true message of Christmas seems to have been lost to that promoted by Big Business which tells us we must buy lots of things that few people need or want, and that we should over indulge in food and drink to the extent that it often makes us ill.

Still there is hope!

I enjoy watching some of the films about Christmas that are available on TV. Most are sentimental and often very silly, but they have merit in the message that they give. A Christmas Carol is a favourite of mine and a couple of years back I re-read Dicken's novel to compare it with the modern film adaptations – which gave me the excuse to watch a number of versions.

The message is simple, it is the message of all the major world religions. That we should not be selfish, that we should reach out to the rest of humankind – especially the most vulnerable. In doing so, not only will their lives be enriched but so will ours.

Since I returned from Zambia a week doesn't go by without me talking to friends back there. In fact I often speak to several friends within a day. Jennipher continues to be in touch. She has had a difficult year with Mike taking ill and subsequently dying. Mike's brother has been in hospital since he was knocked down by a car a few days after the funeral. Jennipher has spent a lot of time helping to look after him at Monze and at Lusaka.

Many friends contact me and wish me a Happy Christmas. How can I go to the supermarket and buy vast amounts of food and drink with a clear conscience?

Christmas is a time for feasting – not fasting. This year the knowledge that some of my friends in Zambia are also able to enjoy a Christmas feast enables me to relish mine. It was good to be able to pre-empt their requests and to give some a little more than they would have dared ask for!

Happy Christmas

Chris

Moving to another life

Thursday 1st November

I will briefly recall the final stages of my Zambian adventure before they become a distant and indistinct memory.

I had hoped to spend the day with Persis explaining what was on the laptop and in particular giving some further tuition on the accounts system. Unfortunately she had to attend court in the morning and it was just before lunchtime when we managed to get together.

On the way to the Centre I was attracted to some flowers that seem to have appeared after a little rain. They look like a small lilac-blue orchid and are abundant at the edge of the football pitch – which forms part of my walk between the guest house and Kaliyangile. A number of pied wagtails were also hopping around on the pitch – these are slightly smaller and thinner than the British variety. I think that the first of the European swallows had also arrived, just as I prepared to leave. I have had too little time this year to observe the wildlife.

Thursday raced by and it was getting dark before I left the Centre. There were a couple of things to do with the laptop, so I held onto it overnight. I had intended to spend at least some of the evening in the bar chatting to the local residents. In the event it was well closed by the time I had sorted out the laptop.

I was treated to another fine fish for supper – apparently it isn't Talapia, but the name had skipped the memory of the waitress, so I am still in the dark.

Persis came around at about 8.30 to collect the laptop and I started to prepare for the transition into the other world I inhabit. It isn't a simple process to re-adjust to life in England and I needed at least a few hours to wind down and reflect a little on my visit.

It was about 11 hrs when I arrived at Justina's house – the taxi and bus didn't keep me waiting long, for a change in the bus we listened to some french music! I didn't stay long but picked up a taxi driven by Mr Banda and organised by Justina. He seemed to be surprised that I seemed very approachable and even more surprised that he could understand my version of English! He concluded that over the many trips, I had become used to speaking to local Zambians and perhaps adapted my speech – or possibly my accent is less pronounced than some others. Anyway we chatted a little as he took me to the hotel. He told me that he was willing to take me to the airport and we agreed a figure, if I should wish to take him up on the offer. I hadn't change and offered a 50,000 kwacha note (about £6) for the K20,000 fare. He hadn't change, so I left him with the note while he searched for change – this exercise took about 10 minutes. Apparently neither the hotel reception or the bar had change and he had to hunt around the nearby shops! It is a mystery to me just how little change there is about. Shops that seem to have a reasonable turnover often cannot change anything above 10,000 kwacha – maybe my perception of their trade is wrong. The fact that they have a lot of the more expensive items doesn't necessarily mean that they often sell them! My Finta milk cartons are usually covered with dust which could be a clue (though again after a few days most things are covered by dust in Monze!)

I met a guy in reception – while I waited for Mr Banda and my change – who told me he was involved with a theatre group which put on performances to sensitise people to the issues around HIV/AIDS. He had a list of NGOs with which he had worked. I think he said he would send details to my email address.

For the first time this year I had hot water! However, I chose to have a refreshing cold bath and ignore it! On Thursday the sky was overcast all day and I was told it was good cold weather! It probably didn't exceed 25°C – though equally it wouldn't have dropped much below! On Friday the clear blue sky and African sun greeted me in the morning, by lunchtime the sun was overhead and we were back into the mid 30s. So the main purpose of a bath was to cool down! Again perhaps a strange concept for most back in England.

I had lunch watching BBC World in the restaurant, with three staff looking after me! After lunch I decided to make a quick trip to an Internet Café in order to check in and print my boarding card. They had set rates, so I booked in for half an hour. After 10 minutes I was done and decided to return to the hotel. As I left the café I saw a familiar face. Best had come to say goodbye and wasn't too sure where the hotel was situated. He decided to go the shopping area and this turned out to be an excellent choice. I took him back to the hotel where we had some drinks while we talked. He told me that his taxi was doing well and hadn't needed any major maintenance. As a result he had over 4 million kwacha in the bank (£500) and was hopeful that he would have sufficient for his university fees in December.

By a little after 14 hrs I could relax and be alone with my reflections. There is a lot to think about in relation to this trip but I will leave my thoughts to develop and share them in a later posting. I read a little, watched television and did very little for the remainder of the day.

At about 5.15 on Saturday morning Mr Banda rang me to say he was in reception! (Best's taxi had a job on the Zimbabwe border and wasn't available to take me to the airport.) I was just getting myself dressed and was caught a little off guard – the taxi was ordered for 5.30.

Mr. Banda explained that he was very hot on time - and he knew that we were very precise with timing. He hadn't slept much because he didn't want to be late. He told me that he was picking up a new car later in the day. After two years leasing the car, it would be his own.

Needless to say we were at the airport in good time. Last year there was an enormous queue at emigration due to the introduction of finger printing and photographing of all passengers - this was my main reason for thee early start. In the event they seem to have abandoned last year's practices and, for good measure, also scrapped the emigration forms. In 5 minutes I was in the departure lounge.

As I arrived, the BA plane touched down from England – on time ( it was still before 6.30!). We boarded the plane in good time and it took off half-empty for Heathrow. After an uneventful flight – though I should complain that I only managed a single small Mars bar for my snack ( Here perhaps I should briefly relate the feeding regime on the BA day flight from Zambia. About an hour after getting on board a small cooked breakfast is served. About 8 hours later a sandwich is provided – no meals in between. For those in the know – which includes me when I am thinking! - there is a snack bar where biscuits, chocolates and the like these are are available together with soft drinks at the back of the plane – part of the reason for my rear seat! There are no announcements in reference to the snack bar so many are unaware. On my recent trips these supplies have run low very quickly. When you think of the cost of a few extra bags of mini chocolate bars it seems very petty and can't be worth the loss of goodwiil - BA executives please note!!)

We touched down at Heathrow at 18.30 British Summer Time and by about 7 pm I met Dilys and A different life had started.

I intend to write some reflections in a week or two. People have asked me on my return whether the trip was successful. I have had difficulty in knowing how to respond, but I think that I will conclude that it was successful. It wasn't easy, but on reflection I think that I will find that I have learnt a lot and that perhaps I will have a clearer view of my mission in Africa as I move forward. We shall see!

With my love and prayers

Chris

Independence Day

Wednesday 24^th October

Today is Independence Day. It is 48 years since Zambia ceased to be a British Colony.

Last week one of the priests temporarily staying in Monze was refused a visa to visit England next month. Some religious sisters in Newcastle had invited him to come and give some talks – they were happy to pay all his expenses etc. but, apparently because of some documentation being missing, his application has been refused. The little contact I have had with people going through the process suggests that it is very bureaucratic and it takes ea lot of time and effort to jump through the hoops set out. I can't help suspecting that applications from the so called developed countries wouldn't be so onerous.

Yesterday was my last day in Monze and, not surprisingly, it was hectic! I had arranged to meet up with Sr. Rachael to look at the goods made to support orphaned children. This year I have no market back in the UK, but I picked a selection of items that might end up in a few Christmas stockings – though if you look at the size of some of the baskets they had better be very large ones!!

I realised that I hadn't seen Mrs. Chiiya properly this year, so I called in to say hallo on my way back. We chatted for an hour or so. Saki is about to finish secondary school and hopes to take up nursing – this might be influenced by the fact that her Mrs. Chiiya (her mother) has started a private nursing school in Monze.

Jennipher had been trying to see me to say goodbye and called in when I got home. While I was with her the two ladies who she introduced as being in need of support also dropped around. It is very difficult to refuse help, but I cannot meet all the demands. A friend had given me a few pounds to pass on while I was here so I split this between them. They will at least have a little food for a short while.

I had been trying to load anti-virus software onto yet another computer, whenever I had an opportunity. The internet connection however was too slow.

After lunch I headed for the ATM which might give me some cash. There is always a final bit of settling up – various projects etc. and a donation here and there, which usually means a lot of activity at the bank over the final few days!! Another queue in very hot sun meant that I didn't get to see Mrs. Sianga until 14.30. I needed to return the laptop and camera as well as having a final chat about the project. She introduced me to a guy who has agreed to help with the production of her reports and I left just before 16 hrs.

Next I made a quick trip to the convent to pick up and pay for the goods I chose earlier at Buntolo. Buntolo is a bit of a walk and I didn't want to carry a big bag back with me, so I used Sr. Rachael and her taxi to do the transporting. (The convent backs onto the cathedral grounds and there is a connecting gate – so in contrast to Buntolo it is very convenient!)

I agreed to swap bits of two computers in order to provide a decent working machine in the parish office – so this was my next task. The dogs were a bit bemused as I walked to and fro with computer CPUs and screens! Recently Bingo has objected to me passing and has ran at me barking – I don't what I have done to upset him, but he soon backs away when I talk to him sternly! It was after 5pm by the time I had installed the machines and started downloading anti-virus - this time the speed looked promising.

I had been getting calls throughout the day from people wanting to say goodbye. I had told them it would be OK but had started to lose track of who I said could come when!! Obert arrived while I was packing. I had just put the kettle on and offered him a drink when I noticed a face outside. Raymond was checking to see if I was alone! I said we wouldn't be long and he agreed to wait. Time was moving along by now and at about 18.40 I had a call from a number I didn't recognise. “Please can you come and collect your things!” I began to think it must be a wrong number, but then I realised that it was Ireen who promised to complete my shirts by 16 hrs. I apologised and ran off to her workshop taking Obert with me. She was busy completing the button holes when I arrived – using a torch shone by one of her 'apprentices'! I had another call from Collins who couldn't find me at the priest's house. I had told him I was around to receive a letter he had for me to take to Lusaka. We arranged to meet on the High Street. Ireen got me to model the shirts - again in torchlight - she declared they were OK .Just as well really, since it was 19.15 and I hadn't time for alterations!

Back at home I had a knock at the door and expected to see Raymond. However, it was Diven who had appeared – Raymond was still willing to wait, so I was informed by Diven. Raymond eventually popped in to see me just before supper – though I did have to do a little bit with the computer in between!!

Nearly there! The packing was almost complete, the anti-virus was downloaded, though for some reason Google Chrome has been installing for over an hour – I wasn't aware I asked for it, but probably left a box ticked somewhere!

Fr. Kenan had been busy at a funeral and wasn't at supper. I assumed that our final tournament wouldn't take place, however he called around and said he was up for it. I was now just waiting for the egg cups! These arrived a few minutes later with Fr. Raphael – after I checked and found that my friend Google was still busy.

So I went to Mayfair to play pool with a clear conscience, feeling that I was more or less ready to depart. Fr. Clement joined us and claimed the major successes of the evening. It was about 00.30 by the time we were back. Before leaving Fr. Kenan remarked that it had become cold – the concept of it being cold when the temperature was 25 °C might seem a little alien to most readers! After setting the computer the overnight task of checking for viruses and increasing the weight of my cases with the 122 egg cups, I turned in for the final time in Monze.

I rose early and headed for the church, forgetting that there is no 6.30 am mass on holidays! However, it gave me the opportunity for a final visit to the ATM to cover the remaining cost of my stay here. I also satisfied a recent request I had to bring back a few mealie meal sacks in case they could be converted into bee-keeping suits.

I had a lonely breakfast and called a taxi to take me to the big bus stop.

I was able to leave Monze shortly after 9 am and we made good timing until we caught up with 3 exceptionally wide loads just before Chilanga. Here they have exceptionally unfriendly sets of speed bumps. In the usual course of things they probably add 10 minutes to any journey. Today our journey was delayed by at least 30 minutes.

I was relieved to see Justina soon after I arrived at the Inter City bus station. She organised a taxi to take us to her house where we had some nshima and watched the proceedings at State House where President Sata was handing out awards to commemorate Independence Day.

I caught a bus and walked through town to Lumumba bus station. I thought I was in luck. A Chisamba minibus was just about to leave, but even more astounding, after being told to get in, the conductor decided that it was full. I had a book ready and decided to settle into my thriller. I was surprised to read that my character was visiting Lumumba hall. Time passed quickly and, after an hour or so, we headed for Chisamba Turnoff. I was offered a taxi for K50,000 but said I was happy to wait and pay K10,000. So I covered another few chapters before leaving for Chisamba Township. My room was awaiting me. I can't remember how many years ago I was introduced to room 1 but ever since this has been allocated to me whenever I visit.

This is likely to be my last post from Zambia – and you might not get this till I get home – depending on Internet access. Very soon I will be transported back to a different world. I will need to stop eating with my fingers – I had t-bone steak tonight, it was a bit more expensive, but is rarely on the menu, so I spent the £3 for the meal and treated myself! In England buses will move when half full and keep to a timetable, cars and pedestrians will have separate paths, water and electricity will become reliable, and people will rush around without saying hallo.

I asked one of the priests how he found his time when studying in Washington. He said he hated it. No one spoke to him, he reckoned that if he died in his room they would only realise when the smell reached them. What an indictment of so called civilisation!

There will be a lot to reflect on over the next few weeks. It has only been a short trip, but I am ready to go home. I hope I will have a few hours on Friday to prepare for the shock of returning home.

With my love and prayers

Chris

Will I ever learn Chitonga?

Monday 22^nd October

Saturday is already a blur – probably because too much of my time was wasted with computers. I still have a machine that will not load Windows. At least it now produces more than hieroglyphics on the screen. I suspect that opening it up after so many years was my mistake! Dust and brittle cables are best left undisturbed!!

Sunday was a busy day with church business. The choirs and young dancers at the Sacred Heart and Our Lady of the Wayside swapped for the day. I wondered why the ladies of the choir looked so elegant in their satin gowns! They put on a very good performance at Our lady of the Wayside.

I have an assignment to take photos for a calendar so I took a few before and after mass. I am far from the world's best photographer – I just hope if I take enough some will be usable.

After our 'Section' meeting a few of us visited the home of the man we saw last week – he died a couple of days ago. The room was emptied so that 20 – 30 could squeeze in to say some prayers and sing a few hymns. I was asked to say a prayer and quoted from next weeks gospel which we had just reflected upon: “They said to Bartimaus – rise up, Jesus is calling you.” It seemed appropriate for the elderly man who had died. I also recalled the poem which talks about saying goodbye to the person as the boat goes over the horizon, while those at its destination are getting ready to welcome the new arrival.

At the end of our prayers we had a sharp shower, that slightly delayed my return. Diven was keen that I went to see his current house, so despite the time pressing on, I made a quick visit and enjoyed a little sump and sour.

If anyone has a solution to Luke's problem with Skype please let me know! It works fine except that the video cannot display properly on his screen. The camera works and the video can be seen at the far end and there is no problem taking a picture for the Skype profile!

Recently I have had difficulty finding a working ATM. Today I found one but had to queue for 30 minutes under the African sun. I then had to get my money out in three sessions because the highest denomination was 20,000 kwacha (about £2.50) and the drawer holds a limited number of notes. (Nationwide also charges me for each transaction which adds to the cost! - it is my one complaint with Nationwide, that they charge me to use ATMs here, despite heading a campaign against charging in the UK. So if there are any Nationwide managers reading this blog, please use your influence to remove these charges!)

Yesterday I met Mr. Monze on the road – and to my shame I didn't recognise him. For years he has talked to me at the hospital, attempting to teach me a little Chitonga. He has been so patient and never gives up – despite my pathetic learning skills. Today I met Alick. I first got to know Alick as the MC at the hospital chapel, but haven't seen him for a couple of years, he lent me a book – learning Chitonga – he has been as successful as Mr Monze! Alick's father said hallo on Saturday – another face I didn't recognise – and he told Alick I was around. He is now studying welding in Mazabuka. He told me it was fine, except for its effect on his eyes. Though they have shields, they lift them sometimes to see what they are doing and, naturally, it affects their eyes. Health and safety practice is not good in Zambia, I hope that no permanent damage is done.

I called at PIZZ school for a quotation for books. To fully equip the grade 1 to 7 classes would cost about 40 million kwacha – about £5,000.

On the way home I popped in to see Edward. We had a chat and he offered me a very welcome drink.

I don't know how many people said that they would say hallo and goodbye tomorrow. I am also compiling a long list of tasks to fit in! Tomorrow will be hectic!!

Bye for now

Chris

Familiar sights

Friday 19^th October

I realise how familiar I now find the way of life here. I don't think twice about the ladies with all manner of goods carried on their heads – even children will carry 4 or 5 litre water bottles. Many will balance the commodities without a thought about steadying them with their hands. Eating with my hands is second nature to me and mixing with cattle and Ox-carts in the streets seems perfectly normal. However I still find the poverty difficult to accept. How can we allow this to happen? We live in a world where we are capable of providing for everyone, where even the most disabled, with the right, equipment can take a very active part. If scientists co-operated we could solve the world's biggest problems. Yet the richest are not satisfied, we guard secrets that could make huge positive differences to mankind and we still spend fortunes on weapons.

Yesterday I was talking to Charles about his PEASSA project. He tries to provide support for a few elderly and disabled people around Monze. Sometimes he cannot afford the chemicals needed to stop disease and insects destroying his crop – and if he can they are often not available locally. He produced a long list of food that he would like to supply to every person each month – in practice he will just provide a client with a small bag of beans one month and the next a little bag of Kapenta (very small dried fish). Four of his clients will almost certainly have their houses washed away when the rains come – they are due any minute. They are hoping to have them rebuilt. Simple single room buildings made of mud bricks and grass thatching costing about £80 each. There is no way that PEASSA can find this money.

Today two ladies Agnes and Catherine came to see me. They had been waiting for Jennipher since morning. Agnes is the lady whose husband is sick – she tells me she has 6 not 5 children as I previously reported! Catherine lost her husband in 2008. Last month one of her sons died. She had to spend what little money she had on transport costs to and from the hospital. She has a little market stall where she tries to earn enough to keep her children - selling beans and Kapenta. She was considering selling her mattress and sleeping on the floor to raise enough money to buy a bag of Kapenta or beans tand start selling again. (Friends advised against it because she recently had a serious operation and sleeping on the floor wouldn't be good for her.). There is a major problem in Monze with water shortages. Sometimes at 3 am Catherine says she can get some water if she queues. She would like more than the two containers she has because it is difficult for the family to wash with so little, but she cannot afford extra containers. (People usually buy empty containers once used for cooking oil or similar commodities – about 5 litres.)

I visited a lady whose girl was in the children's ward. Her child was brought in with Jennipher's help and that of the bicycle ambulance. The child is unable to stand or support her head. The hospital have diagnosed sickle cell disease. She was in the ward for malnourished children. Here the children receive extra food, the parents however very often go hungry. The lady is pregnant with another child and worries how she will cope because she cannot afford a pram and carrying two children – one being severely disabled – is going to be a problem.

Unfortunately these stories are just a few of the many I come across, but give a glimpse into the lives of so many here in Zambia. Yet there are minerals here, particularly copper, which are much sought after and command high prices – someone is getting rich, but it certainly isn't the ordinary Zambian.

It is a great joy, as well as a relief, when water comes out of the tap. Yesterday we had a little water after lunch and today it is after 9 pm and this is the first water since yesterday. But I am lucky! It is rarely more than a day before water re-emerges. I can fill up a few bottles and a bucket when it arrives and I can cope till it comes back. For others water is a constant issue and often they have to resort to impure sources. There is plenty of water in Zambia – most of it underground – but the infrastructure needed to deliver it effectively is often absent.

My work on computers has had some success, but there are still computers in a sorry state and I doubt whether they will all be fully functional before I leave.

My stay here in Zambia is rapidly coming to an end. I intend to leave Monze on Wednesday, passing through Chisamba before leaving for the UK on Saturday. My final days are becoming booked by friends and my little projects – as usual I will run away leaving many things incomplete.

Bye for Now

Chris

Sometimes the needs are overwhelming

Wednesday 17^th October

It seems an age since I was in Chisamba!

The past two days I have spent back at school. I started yesterday in grade 1 and reached grade 9 today. I thought that it would be good to spend some time with the students in their classes. And I enjoyed the experience – in grade 2 they were talking about birthdays when I joined them. I mentioned that it was my daughter's birthday so the teacher designed a simple card on the blackboard and all the children copied the card “Happy Birthday Barby, we love you” into their exercise books. They also sang Happy Birthday Barbara, which I videoed and played to my daughter and granddaughter over Skype later in the evening. Teaching is a difficult task anywhere, with very few books and other teaching materials and children who have to learn their subjects in a foreign language – the teaching is in English – the task is made much more difficult. I admired the teachers determination and was impressed by the way they praised and encouraged the children – especially the younger ones.

It was probably a bit intimidating for the teachers to have me sitting in their classes, but at least some were able to put me on the spot and tell me about their difficulties, in a meeting today after the classes. Finding funds to pay salaries is very difficult and the amount that can be afforded is hardly enough to live on, but they are keen to help the disadvantaged children, so they continue to teach despite the hardships.

On Saturday I met the committee at Kaliyangile which proved very positive. My brain switched off again in Lusaka and I made the mistake of parting with cash for a coach which I was assured was just about to leave. I had caught a Rosa bus from the “Chisamba turn-off” which was heading for the Inter-City bus station. Since time was moving on, and I didn't relish wandering through Lusaka, I decided to catch a Big Bus – these were very well described by someone telling me a story about a man who was saving the few kwachas he earned for a big bus. If you put your arms straight out in front of you and then flick the palms downwards, you will know what a big bus is!! - I digress! There are many big buses at Inter-City - a few of which go to Monze. Unlike other buses they usually stick to a timetable. I arrived just before 16 hrs and one was leaving at 17hrs or 17.30. Instead of deciding to wait – or look to find one leaving sooner, I agreed to go on the one leaving now! At a little after 18hrs we moved off and when we left Lusaka it was after 18.30, so we didn't arrive in Monze till 21.15.

On Sunday the bishop was confirming 120 candidates! So there was a single mass for the parish and all connected churches. The service started at 9 hrs and concluded at 12.30. It was lively with plenty of singing and dancing. As well as the usual gifts offered there were a couple of goats and a few chickens and other bird – live of course.

Sometimes the needs here can feel overwhelming. Last week one of Jennipher's clients who was doing well and looking after his family was involved in a freak accident and was killed. He leaves a wife and five children. She has no idea how she will be able to provide for them.

On Monday just after Jennipher told me this story, the lady who has been cleaning the rooms where I stay wanted to speak to me. Using Jennipher as an interpreter, she told me that her husband has been bedridden for four or five years. She is just doing the cleaning while someone is away. She also has five children and doesn't want to leave her husband. She has a little land but no money to buy fertiliser and maize seed for the coming growing season – the money she earned won't cover this cost. (About £65 will provide the family with a crop that would last most of next year). I cannot find any more money this year – I hope I have enough for getting to the airport next week!! Such requests I receive daily and is very difficult to refuse. Sometimes – like on this occasion – I say that I will tell people about their needs on my blog, and just maybe someone will be willing to help.

Best wishes

Chris