All Visited Out

Sunday, May 25, 2008
We just returned from a quick weekend trip to Lusaka. Because our MCC Reps are leaving after living here six years, they had a farewell open house Saturday afternoon. I was pleased to see my friend, Issa, who was in the trauma counseling workshop I co-facilitated. I also met a few other MCC partners and I got to hold baby Chi-chi again, the little one I held at Needs Care School a few months ago. Sunday morning we had a team worship service. The boys and I were given the task of doing a kid-friendly devotional. I chose the scripture in Luke 24 where the two disciples encounter Jesus on the road to Emmaus. They don’t recognize him until later when they see Jesus’ hands and feet. So as an object lesson, I had all the women take off their shoes and stand behind a sheet. The guys in the group had to try to identify the person by their feet. And then we talked about times in the past year when we later recognized Jesus at work but had been blinded while he was walking with us. Jason shared about God calling his name and recognizing that it was God. I’m glad he got the opportunity to share that and be affirmed. Unfortunately, Peter missed the service because he had to pick up an API facilitator at the airport. Violette, from Rwanda, will be the lecturer for the Trauma Counseling course this week. She rode back with us the 4.5 hours to Kitwe. Peter and I learned so much from her about the underlying issues that led up to the genocide in 1994 and how the church has been responding. Violette is a lovely woman, so gracious and gentle. She has dedicated her life to responding to the trauma her country has been through, and especially helping children.

When we arrived home, we found that Hlobi was our new next door neighbor for the week. Hlobi is from Swaziland and we knew her from our MCC regional retreat last December. Hlobi is wonderful and she takes the time to explain things about her culture and traditions. Her grandfather was the acting chief of Swaziland for many years. His elder brother died and the son who was to be the next chief was too young to rule so Hlobi’s grandfather ruled in the interim. He had 40 wives! Hlobi jokes that she is related to half of Swaziland. Hlobi works in the area of HIV/AIDS awareness and so that is what she is here teaching at API.

Friday, May 30, 2008
I spent the week sitting in on Violette’s Trauma Counseling course. I was moved by the stories that she told about the horror and violence that occurred in Rwanda. Her own testimony of how she and her family escaped death is amazing. But she also shared stories of others she has encountered. One story sticks out in my mind. Violette was, in her gracious manner, saying that she can’t judge people for their actions. Despite our beliefs and our values, sometimes circumstances are beyond our control and the fear of death forces us to make hard choices. She told us of a Hutu pastor that was providing a safe haven for several Tutsi children. When the militia came, they took all the children and lined them up. The pastor was told that he had to identify which children were his, otherwise they would shoot them all. He begged the soldiers to have mercy on all the children but they told him he had a choice: save his own children or see them all killed. In the end, he chose his own children and watched the other children die. Can you imagine?

The highlight of the class was getting to know some of the participants. Jemimah from Nigeria, is a gem. She is so full of life and always has a smile and hug for me. Then there are three elderly women from Tanzania that are an absolute hoot! Mama Rhoda, Mama Lucy, and Mama Lydia are so warm and caring. They led Wednesday’s chapel and taught us praise songs in Swahili. They were so alive and energetic and singing their hearts out. I found it interesting that Mama Rhoda Mtoka went to Hesston College and Eastern Mennonite University back in the sixties. And then there are others: Mohammed who is a Muslim from Sudan, Erick who is a prosecutor in Zimbabwe, Kelemua from Ethiopia, and the list goes on and on. What a wonderful group of people! One afternoon Violette showed a film that she often shows to children depicting the cycle of violence and how it affects all parties. Brendan and Jason joined us for the movie and the participants were thrilled to see them.

Saturday, May 31, 2008
Georgi told me yesterday that there was a big event happening at the showgrounds so today we went to check it out. The Copperbelt Mining, Agricultural, and Commercial Show was in full swing when we got there. Basically it is a small fair with all the businesses present and showing what they do. Georgi and Patric and Gemma were part of the horse show. Our family, the only white faces in a sea of black, sat in the bleachers and watched the show. Three skydivers landed on the field to start the show. Then the competitions began. It was odd to see all these white people with their riding boots and riding hats prancing around on their horses. Sometimes I feel like the old colonial spirit whacks me on the side of the head. When the boys decided they had seen enough, we attempted to have lunch at a makeshift restaurant that had been set up. We sat down and ordered chips (French fries), samosas, and chicken strips. Nearly an hour later, the waitress came up to us and told us the chips were finished. That doesn’t mean they are ready for us, but that they were no more. Ten minutes later she reported that the samosas were finished. We chose not to wait for the bad news on the chicken strips. After an hour and a half of waiting, our stomachs were still empty. We went to a vendor and bought apples and I found a bakery selling rolls so that was our makeshift lunch. There was also a house of snakes where I graciously allowed Peter to take the boys while I sat outside under a tree. The boys each held baby crocodiles and Peter had a huge python laid across his shoulders. I’ll pass on that one.

Monday, June 2, 2008
After being gone for two weeks, we are delighted that Carmen is back around MEF again. She took me out for a birthday lunch today and we have a new favorite lunch destination. We discovered that the Indian restaurant, Mukwa, serves Mexican food at midday. We split a Cajun chicken burrito and a TexMex steak and pepper burrito. Delicious! (Try saying it the way our Namibian friend does: Deli-see-ous!)

Friday, June 6, 2008
Here is an account of the past week and the traffic that went through our home.

Saturday: Adrian (UK) and Carmen (USA) came for Sabbath dinner, which was eaten by candlelight thanks to a powercut. Hlobi (Swaziland) joined us in the evening so she wouldn’t have to sit in the guest wing alone in the dark.

Sunday: Said goodbye to Hlobi (Swaziland) in the morning. In the afternoon, Doug and Lynne (Canada) dropped by for a visit. Carmen came to do her laundry and the Khongwir family (India) came over for awhile and invited us to Charisma’s 14th birthday dinner next week.

Monday: Our dinner was interrupted by a Zambian man who saw our white Toyota Corolla out front and wanted to see if our car key would work in his car, because he too had a white Toyota Corolla. In disbelief, Peter asked if the man truly thought that our key would start his car. Yes, he thought it might since somebody else’s key in Ndola had started the car which is how he got here. Again, Peter asked the question that you too might be thinking, “And then what will happen with our car key if it does work?” The man replied that he would just take the key out, the car would keep running, and then he would be able to get home. Hmmm. So Peter went out and attempted this crazy scheme but wonder of wonders, it didn’t work. I have dubbed this, The Curious Incident of the Car Key in the Night.

Tuesday:
Adrian came over this afternoon for a haircut and then he and I got to talking. Carmen then joined us for a bit. The boys were outside playing with Han-guyl, a classmate of Brendan’s. I ushered Carmen and Adrian out when Han-guyl’s parents arrived. Shin Ae and Sung Sik (Korea) are missionaries here in Zambia and have lived here a number of years. As soon as they left, I hurried to get dinner on the table. After dinner, we hosted dessert for the API facilitators. This week Peter is teaching along with his Zambian colleague, Ignatius. Ignatius wasn’t able to join us because his wife is sick. But Bishop John (originally from New Zealand), Issa (Congolese/Zambian), and Burton (Congolese) joined us. They are co-teaching the class on refugee issues. Burton has been living in the Meheba Refugee camp for awhile and will actually be going back to Eastern Congo in a few months. It was discouraging to hear about the plight of refugees and the insane amount of corruption that happens which retraumatizes these people.

Wednesday:
The farewell dinner for Doug and Lynne (Canada) this evening was originally conceived of as a small meal that would allow them not to cook their last day and for us to say good-bye. But it blossomed into a bigger group. In addition to Carmen and Adrian, Jenny (UK), also joined us and she invited Sevellin (Namibia) because it was his last day here. And then Jane (UK) was here visiting MEF, having been a volunteer in years gone by, so she joined us as well.

Not the sharpest tool am I. Here we are inviting all these people over for dessert and there is no sugar in Zambia. Even in Lusaka, the shelves are empty. Luckily, I bought two when it was available, not knowing it would be almost a month and still no sugar. But someone tipped me off that our own little MEF tuck shop had some so I went today and I bought four bags. That should allow me to continue baking for awhile!

Thursday:
Issa came to meet with me for an hour to discuss various projects with which he would like me to assist. I am flattered that he thinks I have something to contribute but if I don’t politely set some limits, I could be working full-time on his ideas and projects! Right before dinner, Aline (Congo), my next door neighbor, came over for a visit. With all these other people coming and going, I have neglected this friendship. Sometimes it is hard to drop whatever I was doing, or postpone what needs to be done, to just sit and visit for awhile. It was sweet that she came over to say hello. If I got my act together, I could go visit her and choose a time when I’m not attempting to get the boys home and bathed and dinner on the table.

In the evening, I had the five Tanzanian women who are attending API over for tea and dessert. Mama Rhoda, Mama, Lucy, Mama Lydia, Sister Joyce, and Sister Naomi, all trooped in with their smiles and laughter. They are delightful and I enjoyed hosting them in my home. I must admit to a bit of culture shock when I passed around the almond squares and no one was eating. Finally, one said that they don’t eat until they have prayed so I said a quick prayer and they commenced eating. At the end, they closed by singing “For God so Loved us” (Gott ist die Liebe) in Swahili and then prayed again. Sometimes I feel like such a heathen. I can almost safely say that I never pray before digging into my dessert. Or after. But maybe it is not such a bad idea.

Friday:
The last of our weekly visitors are coming this afternoon. Patric and Jemma (Australia) are coming over for a playdate with the boys. Jemma is Jason’s self-proclaimed girlfriend. I don’t think she objects. They all play quite nicely together, although Brendan and Patric end up dirtier than you can imagine at the end of the afternoon. And then that will be the end of the visitors . . . at least for a few days!


There were two unwelcome guests that also came this week. I discovered the traces of a mouse in my cupboards. The droppings are smaller than the rats we had a few months ago so that is encouraging. I am waiting for Hero to earn his keep and get rid of those pests.

In an effort to save money, I decided to cook my own dried chickpeas (garbanzo beans). After soaking them overnight, I discovered little brown things floating on the top of the water. Upon closer inspection, I discovered they were little beetles. I spent an hour that morning sorting through the beans to cull the ones with beetles burrowed in. I proceeded to cook the beans, pleased with myself that I had found the culprits and saved the rest of the beans. But later in the evening, as I was putting the beans in bags to freeze, I found a few more with black spots, beetles that I had overlooked the first time. I debated as to whether I should just turn a blind eye but found that I would not be able to eat the beans if there was the possibility that a few more beetles remained. So, once again, I sorted through the eight cups of beans, and now I truly think the beans are ready for consumption. At least I hope so.

So by my count, eleven different countries were represented in our home this week (I am assuming the mice and the beetles are indigenous to Zambia but you never know how far they traveled to be a nuisance in my kitchen). It has been a rich, diverse . . . and exhausting kind of week.