Sunday, July 28, 2013

This has been a full week.  Friday Lovemore and I drove up to Kapiri Mposhe to screen more patients for the feeding program.  I had a full African adventure day.  We picked up a CHE worker who was in Lusaka but from Kapiri to give him a lift back, picked another pastor along the way.  Pastor Gabby is from Mungule.  He helped us a lot because he could help the new people in Kapiri fill out the forms since his group has done the feeding program already.  Stopped for a brief meeting with Pastor Zulu in Liteta.  (got to hold the sweetest little butterscotch kitten)  Then onto our destination.  It's somewhere around a 3.5 hour drive.  We screened the participants and then had to visit a few homes.  Everyone loaded up in my truck Zambian style.  I think I had six people plus a bike in the bed of my truck going over rough dirt roads.  I'm glad everyone stayed inside.  On the way home we stopped and bought six bags of charcoal for cooking during convention because it's much cheaper far from the city.  This is not Kingsford style bags.  It was fun listening to the guys barter for it and then load it all up.  I kept my white face hidden until the price was set:)



We were able to enroll 6 more people.  The clinic worker at the local govt clinic helped us a lot by gathering people who he thought might qualify.  He did great.  My heart breaks for several of the children I saw.  One doesn't qualify for the program b/c thankfully he isn't HIV+ but his dad wanted some help.  He was a normal child until he got a bad case of malaria and quinine injection.  Sounds like he had a hypoglycemic seizure afterwards and is mostly blind and deaf since.  Special services are almost non existent here, especially that far out.  Praying for a change of heart of one caregiver to overcome fear and let us help two little ones in desperate need. Next month we will return with the meal supplements and moringa seedlings.  I'm looking forward to seeing the change in people's lives.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Yesterday I got to see "the farm". Picked some moringa pods and took a branch back to the ministry center and planted it. Today enrolled nine people in our feeding program in Mungule. Please pray for one woman, not in the program, who is receiving palliative care for cancer. If I told you the details of her circumstances you wouldn't believe them. We serve a God who knows when a sparrow falls and she is worth so much more.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Enjoyed a wonderful service at Oasis of Love (PAOG) church. It's just a short walk from my house. Good message by Bishop. I liked the illustrations taking African context. Sin crouching at the door where God warned Cain before he killed Abel was described as one type of large hyena who is known for crouching at doors waiting to pounce on the victim as they exit. Very vivid!
His description of the little foxes that spoil the grapes has more meaning when your sitting in a society much closer to their agrarian roots. Even though I'm in the city, still passed a goat and few chickens on the way to church.

A few other thoughts unrelated to the sermon but bouncing around in my heart today:
Sitting in my African church today, struck by how compartmentalized our American culture is today. Truly one culture is not better or smarter than another. Each has its pieces of revelation of God's love and each has its mars of sin. 
Basking in the free expression of love and joy Zambians excel at, my heart wondered at and hurt for my friends who intellectualize themselves out of anything besides the physical world existing. The level of conscious or unconscious denial of a spiritual world beyond what we can see in order to live our own way is great. Even though God may ask difficult things of us, the joy of the Lord is our strength. I wouldn't trade Him for anything I can see! I haven't had to give up thinking rationally to have faith.  Instead of being irrational, it's more like superrational (related to supernatural).  And really it's Him keeping me, not the other way around.  

Friday, July 19, 2013

Yesterday Christine and Lovemore and I drove to Kapiri Mposhe and today to Kabwe.  At both places we did the first session introduction of a supplemental feeding program.  It is done through the CHEs (community health workers) but supported through Cry Africa, the Assemblies of God Africa HIV/AIDS ministry.  In it we screen people the CHEs have identified as being HIV positive and on treatment but appearing malnurished.  If they qualify, they receive supplemental high energy protein, cooking oil, ground nuts(peanuts) and veggies to supplement the food they already have.  A person with well controlled HIV can still have 10-20% higher caloric needs while with active infection (AIDS) 20-40% increase.  These people often already struggle to meet normal caloric intake.  To help with the sustainability of the program, we introduced moringa trees.  The feeding program itself runs for 6 months but is dependent on donations to supply the HEPS (high energy protein supplement).  Our hope is the moringa trees can help provide a longer term, "home grown" solution or help.  I got to do the lesson on moringa.  This time was introducing the tree, its uses and benefits.  Next time we deliver the HEPS and will bring some seedlings for the groups to plant and teach about how to plant and harvest.  I'm hoping to have some food for them to sample or help cook so they can try it first hand.  We did the screenings also to see who qualifies (small enough BMI and arm circumference).  We had to visit several homes because the people were too ill to come to the teaching site.

I loved being out of the big city and sitting in family compounds talking with the children, moms and dads and grandparents while puppies and chickens and ducklings wandered around.  Some of the people break your heart.  One elderly man, the CHE worker had just discovered the day before was living all alone in this small mud brick hut.  His mother comes and gives him one meal a day.  He is weak and can't walk without help and hasn't been able to get to clinic for several months so is not on his medicines presently.  He had such a gentle, meek and resigned spirit about him.  He was able to start in the program and the worker was figuring out ways to help him get to clinic.  One of the saddest parts about the entry form is filling out the 24 hour food diary.  Almost all the people we talked to eat only one meal a day.  That meal consists of a serving of nshima (think grits made stiff) and a small side of a green veggie like spinach (they use a veggie called rape or cabbage or pumpkin leaves).  A few of the people had a few small fish.  No wonder people are more worried about if the food fills you up or quantity vs quality.

A few other people stood out in my mind.  First was a gentleman who came bent over on the back of a bike, unable to walk. I am still puzzling over his neurologic problem.  I'm afraid there isn't treatment.  Another was this woman with a beautiful smile who walked with a cane and was so thin.  She burst into spontaneous songs while walking and was just beaming.  Another woman we met who had just had a stroke.  She too had a beautiful face but couldn't talk to us.  She needs a healing touch from the Great Physician.  Many others with each their own story.

Thank you for allowing me to be the one who gets to meet these people on the ground and bring some tangible help and spiritual encouragement.  The pastors we met are also incredible men with big hearts facing large problems with enthusiasm.  I am in awe at getting to work with these amazing people.

 Lesson in Kapiri about Moringa.  You can kind of see the moringa seedling in front of me in the bag. I'm excited that at each of the sites one of the pastors has gone through moringa training so already have some knowledge.
 Christine teaching the CHEs in Kabwe.

Lovemore and pastor at Kabwe doing skit to introduce one of the lessons.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

The advantage to helping a clinic in the country is the great visuals from Scripture that come to life.  
Had an inspiring visual that made this verse come to mind on Friday.
Malachi 4:2 "But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." 
Two young calves were penned separate from their moms in the field. The farm worker came and let them out. One went skipping across the field just because. 
The joy Jesus gives to us, whether today with new life or at His second coming, is just that kind.

Never know where the day will lead. Woke up Sunday morning planning on visiting one church close to home. Ended up visiting 2 different churches on the other end of town. Made it there all by myself! Great time at Achievers and Signs and Wonders Grace Ministry churches talking about Balm Clinic.

You know the roads are bad when for the second time this week I knew I was on the right road because I recognized the pot holes.

Saw 4 patients at Balm today (twice as many as last time). Prayer group from one of the churches we talked at came to offer weekly prayer with us at clinic along with prayer booklets for patients. It was followed by a lively Zambian prayer time. Seeds being planted and prayers being answered.


Thursday, July 11, 2013



Here are a few pictures from Sports Day.  Bishop Simunyola is on the right, running to win the 400 m relay.  Can he run!  Below that is the women warming up to run the 100 m dash.  




Spent my first day at Balm Clinic working on Wednesday.  Saw a few patients, listened to a meeting about fundraising project, discussed painting the new wall sign out front, had a nshima/greens cooking lesson (and yummy lunch), and did some HIV reading. Good day.
Today I went to Bethel Clinic.  Below are two pictures from just outside the clinic on Fringilla Farms.  Can you tell why I love coming to visit this clinic?  The cows were so cute.  The two moms were very upset that they were separated from their calves (in the enclosure).  These cows are still milked by hand.  Fun fact about peacocks...they sleep in the trees at night.  
The little girl with the heart murmur came back to clinic today.  She gained 1.2 kilos!  I'm very happy and so is mom.  She still has a murmur.  Praying it's the kind that goes away in another month or two.  
Finished my day off with dinner at Fringilla's restaurant.  Chicken feet for dinner! For real! Nothing says Zambia like nshima and chicken feet. Not sure I did them justice. Sorry I forgot my camera at dinner.







Sunday had a wonderful service at Grace Exploits with a lovely dinner at Bishop Nga'andu's home after. Gracious, spontaneous, generous Zambian hospitality with good fellowship.  It's good to finally be able to recognize people I've met before and build relationships.  

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Quick update

Quick update.  Lovemore and Mrs. Mwale successfully found a venue for our Community Health Evangelism conference!  Mattresses have been located and a source for chairs is known.  Thank you for the prayers.  Now we are waiting for a similar good report on the mobile clinic papers at  interpol.  It is in God's control.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Two weeks in review

A lot has happened since I last posted.  Few updates from last post.  The little girl with the heart murmur gained a little weight.  I think clipping her tongue helped her eat easier.  I will see her again tomorrow and decide what to do next.  I was able to give mom some formula to boost the calories of her breast milk.  I had a good time meeting the Special Hope Network children.  I saw about 14 kids at the two centers they have running in two different compounds.  My neurology skills are being challenged with many of them having seizures.  I'm looking forward to helping them.  Many are malnourished also...which can be a challenge when they can't feed themselves or have lower muscle tone.  Lots of learning to do for both me and kids and parents.

Exciting news!  Archie and Nancy McGlawn have arrived safely in Zambia.  She is the missionary in charge of me.  It was so good to welcome them yesterday.  Last week we wished the Elliott's safe journeys as they are on furlough now.  I have shifted (how everyone says "moved" here) to their house now.  Christine and the McMillens moved this week also.  All but one of our team members have moved in the past month.  So much change.

Before the Elliott's left, I got to spend Sunday in church with them.  John spoke while Bishop Simunyola interpreted.  Bishop is the "general superintendent" of Grace Ministries, one of the 3 pentecostal denominations we work with here.  It was a wonderful picture of God putting our strengths together.  John gave this very deep teaching about the meaning of the name, "the Lord Jesus Christ".  Bishop brought the incredible passion and excitement.  He was jumping and yelling and getting people to clap.  The two of them made a great team.

This last Sunday, Christine and I went to three different churches to promote Balm Clinic.  It is a ministry of the women at Grace Ministries.  It needs some help reboosting.  We are each going to work one day a week there.  We want to get help from all the churches.  Many of them have nurses, doctors and other medical professionals.  We also are looking for financial expertise to help with the business end.  Monday was a holiday.  Grace Ministries held a sports day.  It was so much fun.  There were track events, net ball (basketball), football (soccer) and volleyball.  The turn out was good and all had a good time.  We ran the first aid tent.  Thankfully we only were needed for sprained muscles and scrapes.  We also did blood pressure and BMI screening.  It was a good way to get Balm Clinic's name out there.  We even gained two volunteers.  We have one Zambian doctor who has really gotten on board with us also.  I really like Dr. Nkole.  She is a ob/gyn so she compliments my peds and Christine's family practice credentials perfectly.  She has similar vision for the way to help the clinic too.  We will visit the rest of the churches this month.

Two prayer requests before I close this post.  We had two major setbacks within 24 hours last week.  The first was with the registration and license of the mobile clinic.  This is the vehicle registration that makes it legal to drive on the road.  It made it fine through 3 borders on the way here but interpol says all the paperwork is not in order and was being gracious to not impound it on the spot.  Please pray as this week will be more meetings with the officials.  Pray for favor.  The second was the loss of venue for our upcoming Community Health Evangelism conference.  The place we reserved several months ago has bumped us.  It is getting close to August and we have 200+people coming plus a team from the States.  It is going to be a wonderful time of learning about appropriate technology and reinvigorating the groups for evangelism.  Please pray God provides a venue that fits our needs and budget.  Satan will not win these battles.