Eastern Province Adventures



Nancy, Kari, Lovemore, Debbie, CHE trainer, Dr. Chilenje

Several weeks ago I traveled to the eastern province with Rev Kari Nicewander, new PCUSA mission co-worker to Zambia and a discipleship and church growth specialist, Rev Debbie Braaksma, PCUSA area coordinator for Africa and Nancy Collins, PCUSA regional liaison for East Africa. We went to hear about the work and plans of the CCAP church, to visit several church schools and clinics and to attend a special ceremony for those completing course work at Chisefu Theological College. Lovemore Zulu, Zambia CHE (Community Health Evangelism) director updated us on our four hour drive to Petauke where we had lunch with several of the CHE trainers that I had previously met and worked with in April and May.

Mphamba Basic School

We drove on through Chipata to Lundazi arriving around 11:30pm at the "castle." I stayed in the room with a turret on the right.

During our trip we visited several basic (primary)schools and several secondary (high schools). The schools were all challenged by a high teacher to student ratio, a lack of books for students, safety issues for the high school girls, insufficient facilities but motivated and passionate staff. On the right is a blackboard with a lesson on "Common Faults of a Sewing Machine", including things such as causes for skipped stitches, broken needles etc. Students do not have books but dutifully copy lessons into their notebooks. The school does not have a sewing machine for the students so they are memorizing lessons in the hopes that one day they will have access to a machine not just pictures in the teacher's book.

Newly "collared" pastors ready for service

 

 

We also visited two medical clinics both of which lacked medical personnel due to housing issues. In both clinics cleaners were diligently passing out medications and continuing to see patients though they have had no formal medical training. Jim tells me that this is not uncommon in other rural areas of Zambia.

Patients waiting to be evaluated at the clinic