This week was a rollercoaster of emotions. As we learn more and more of the situation here in Zambia things seem more hopeless. My homestay family is all sick-most likely malaria and my little brother has worms. They don't have time or money to get transport to the clinic, so we have tried to get some free meds thru the Peace Corp for them. Coming here I had in mind that HIV and AIDS was the biggest problem here, and yet each day there seems to be needs that are more pressing or devastating. No doubt HIV & AIDS is causing enormous problems, but there are endless issues that needs to be addressed. My heart is broken each day for the people here in Africa, for the struggle they endure, and often times have no choice but to perpetuate.
Yet, in the midst of all this hopelessness, God has given me hope. Hope that regardless of how insignificant my actions may seem, He has a purpose for my life here. Last night, as we were going to eat shima (the staple food) my homestay brother uttered the most beautiful prayer. His words as best as I can remember were that God would remind him to give to those who have less. This is coming from a 26 year old man who is responsible for providing for 8 siblings and his widowed mom. A man who has no hope of getting out of this cycle of poverty...and yet he realizes that God can still use him to give to others. It was humbling to hear.
Some of my favorite memories from this week...dancing last night to some American hip hop music and seeing my little 4 year old brother (Victor) shake his booty like nothing else, it was hilarious...teaching the kids some sports cheers on my front porch...teaching the girls to say "Whatever" when boys are teasing them...watching the sunset from the porch while listening to music...having my little sisters (Nchimunya & Milimo) meet me at the trail after school and race me back home...having 20 African kids chase me on my bike while I ride to class.
Life is good. My heart is broken, but it is full.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Sunday, June 18, 2006
KAMWAMBA & COBRAS
Learning a new language. Check. Bathing from a bucket. Check. Eating dried fish with eyeballs. Check. Watching amazing sunsets. Check. Waking up to roosters crowing at 2am, 3am, 4am. Check. Watching my host family kill a spitting cobra. Check.
Life in the "bush" is all of these things and more. I left the airport 2 weeks ago, and already it seems like a lifetime ago. Things here are so different, and I often find myself laughing just thinking about how to describe things to all of you! So the things I've listed above, they are now my life, which is just so insane. I arrived in Mwakera West 2 days ago, and I am staying with Baa Grace. I have been given the Tonga name, Chipego, which means "gift". I have my own "hut" which is one room with a thatched hut. Andrea, another Peace Corp volunteer, stays with Grace's daughter and so we eat our meals together and do a lot of laughing throughout the day! I am really thankful that she is here with me now, but it will be really hard to part ways in 9 weeks and be alone in a village.
I am confident that I can do this, can live here in Africa and come to love life here, it is just a matter of sorting through all of the emotions that come with that. It is really hard to have all of these experiences, but not be able to share them with the people that know me, with people whom I have a history. So basically everyone needs to come here and experience it with me! I can't put into words what life is like here, the beauty and pain of life in Zambia. The people are wonderful, loving, warm and welcoming. I've come to realize more that we are all the same, seeking, searching to be known and understood. I am reminded each day of the differences also. Children are sick and there is no medical care for them, people have to walk miles to get water and don't understand the importance of sanitation. While at the clinic in the southern province a pregnant 18 year old girl learned that she is positive for the HIV virus, and she will most likely not have the medical care needed to keep her child from contracting the disease. It is being surrounded by these situations that remind me of why I am here, how I can help. But is is overwhelming and the problems seem insurmountable at times.
I've tried to upload photos here, but the computer is not letting me, so sorry about that! I will continue to try in the future. I will try to bike into town each Sunday and email and update you all - so you can email me too!
As I fall asleep at night, under my mosquito net, I think of home back in the States and I miss you all. Blessings!
Life in the "bush" is all of these things and more. I left the airport 2 weeks ago, and already it seems like a lifetime ago. Things here are so different, and I often find myself laughing just thinking about how to describe things to all of you! So the things I've listed above, they are now my life, which is just so insane. I arrived in Mwakera West 2 days ago, and I am staying with Baa Grace. I have been given the Tonga name, Chipego, which means "gift". I have my own "hut" which is one room with a thatched hut. Andrea, another Peace Corp volunteer, stays with Grace's daughter and so we eat our meals together and do a lot of laughing throughout the day! I am really thankful that she is here with me now, but it will be really hard to part ways in 9 weeks and be alone in a village.
I am confident that I can do this, can live here in Africa and come to love life here, it is just a matter of sorting through all of the emotions that come with that. It is really hard to have all of these experiences, but not be able to share them with the people that know me, with people whom I have a history. So basically everyone needs to come here and experience it with me! I can't put into words what life is like here, the beauty and pain of life in Zambia. The people are wonderful, loving, warm and welcoming. I've come to realize more that we are all the same, seeking, searching to be known and understood. I am reminded each day of the differences also. Children are sick and there is no medical care for them, people have to walk miles to get water and don't understand the importance of sanitation. While at the clinic in the southern province a pregnant 18 year old girl learned that she is positive for the HIV virus, and she will most likely not have the medical care needed to keep her child from contracting the disease. It is being surrounded by these situations that remind me of why I am here, how I can help. But is is overwhelming and the problems seem insurmountable at times.
I've tried to upload photos here, but the computer is not letting me, so sorry about that! I will continue to try in the future. I will try to bike into town each Sunday and email and update you all - so you can email me too!
As I fall asleep at night, under my mosquito net, I think of home back in the States and I miss you all. Blessings!
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Life in the City
Greetings from Lusaka! I've been in Zambia 2 days now and well, basically I'm already Zambian. I've seen monkeys, zebra, giraffe & water buffalo. And this was just at my campsite yesterday. I know you think I'm lying, but I have photos to prove it! I've also "almost" killed the largest spider I've seen in my life...It was a quick sucker though and I only slightly maimed the guy before he got away from me. Colorado basements have nothing on spiders found on the back of your toilet here. I've also become an avid World Cup fan, futbol is huge. We have a TV at our campground now, so life is a bizarre mix of nature and technology right now. We've received the first in a series of shots...And have been doped up on malaria meds for the last couple days. The side affects are only depression and vivid dreams, thankfully I'm not experiencing either.
We received our Provence placements today - and I'll be in the most Southern Provence of Africa, which was my first choice. It will be hot and sandy but home to Victoria Falls and the largest lake in the area so I'm looking forward to that. I start my language training Sunday and I'll be learning Tonga. Right now I can only tell you that peepee means No.
In my group of HAP volunteers (HIV/AIDS Program) there will be 4 of us in that region, Andrea (Utah), Bryan (Colorado), and Kris (Texas). We have all begun to bond and joke around and I think we'll be an effective team for that area. Bryan and I have worked out a deal where I'll do his laundry if he kills any snakes for me. I may be doing a lot of laundry. We'll be about 30K from each other, but transportation is fairly easy in that area. I'll be about 2 hours from the capital city, so I can hop down and pick you up from the airport in a days travel no problem. We leave tomorrow for a site visit that will take me through Thursday of this next week.
All in all I feel really excited about being here. Home seems a million miles away but I still feel rooted in who I am and can feel your love all the way over here. Please continue to pray for me, that I'll be able to sleep at nights, kill the big hairy spiders and just really accomplish God's plans for me here.
Love you all!
We received our Provence placements today - and I'll be in the most Southern Provence of Africa, which was my first choice. It will be hot and sandy but home to Victoria Falls and the largest lake in the area so I'm looking forward to that. I start my language training Sunday and I'll be learning Tonga. Right now I can only tell you that peepee means No.
In my group of HAP volunteers (HIV/AIDS Program) there will be 4 of us in that region, Andrea (Utah), Bryan (Colorado), and Kris (Texas). We have all begun to bond and joke around and I think we'll be an effective team for that area. Bryan and I have worked out a deal where I'll do his laundry if he kills any snakes for me. I may be doing a lot of laundry. We'll be about 30K from each other, but transportation is fairly easy in that area. I'll be about 2 hours from the capital city, so I can hop down and pick you up from the airport in a days travel no problem. We leave tomorrow for a site visit that will take me through Thursday of this next week.
All in all I feel really excited about being here. Home seems a million miles away but I still feel rooted in who I am and can feel your love all the way over here. Please continue to pray for me, that I'll be able to sleep at nights, kill the big hairy spiders and just really accomplish God's plans for me here.
Love you all!
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
THE BEGINNING
Good morning! I sip my last caramel latte as I write this and I'm treasuring my final day (for awhile) here in the United States. Training has been great here in Philadelphia and I am feeling awesome about going to Zambia today (or at least starting the flight that will put me there on Friday). There are 58 of us that are going to Zambia and we'll be spread out in 5 provinces. I'll stay in Lusaka for 2 days and then have a 5 day site visit with one of the community mobilizers in a village. I am ready to be there and meet the people I'm going to serve and just see what this new chapter of my life is going to be all about! Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I'll be in touch soon! Miss you.
Friday, June 02, 2006
ONE WILD NIGHT
What a fun night! We had a lion, a flamingo,a tribal warrior and a couple tacky tourists...just to name a few of the crazy animals that showed up for my "wild" party. Women attempted to carry water buckets on their heads and men ate bananas (that Gwen song just came in handy there!) so fast monkeys would be put to shame. It was an awesome send off and with the rare exception (SAM), few tears were shed. For all of you that couldn't make it - you were missed! I hope you had a wild night of your own!
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