mkushi to mombasa to kimilili

So, it’s December already! I find it hard to believe it’s December as I’m sat out on the verandah at the IcFEM guest house, it’s 10am and it’s already shaping up to be another gloriously sunny day. Everyone is talking about snow back home and I just can’t get my head around the fact that it really is that cold...and in exactly one weeks time I will be back on English soil, the sunshine a distant memory and the freezing cold weather a very present reality. I think it’s going to hurt!

Last time I wrote I was still in Zambia, tying up lose ends and getting ready to leave. Generally I managed to finish off most things that I meant to (although of course I was doing some stuff the evening before I left!) Zambia gave me a typically Zambian goodbye; I had a long debate with the lady at the check-in desk about whether I was allowed to take two bags (as clearly stated on my ticket) or whether I had to pay extra for the second (I didn’t in the end but it took a while!) and then as I was waiting for my flight I ended up having three long conversations with various people who just wanted to say hello. It just wouldn’t happen at Manchester or Heathrow!

I was on my way to Kenya to meet Jo (Riley), Jo (Finlay) and Angie (Browne - I feel I need to include her surname as I gave you the Jo’s surnames!) Jo, Jo and Angie were on their way home from IcFEM (where I am now) and we had booked a weeks holiday in Mombasa together. We were taking the overnight train from Nairobi and I was due to meet them at the train station at about 6pm to check in, with the train leaving at 7pm. Thanks to Kenyan Air I arrived in Nairobi two hours later than planned with just 30 minutes to get to the train station and an hour and a half before the train left. The guy who was picking me up said that in the current rush hour it could take up to 2 hours to get across town from the airport the train station...great! We made it in a mere 45 minutes though by using lots of pot-holey little back roads, cutting across petrol station forecourts and driving along pavements, as you do!

Anyway, I arrived just about on time to the train station and it felt both very surreal and very normal seeing the Jo’s and Angie there. We all had to do a quick comedy reshuffle of our bags on the station platform as we didn’t want to take all our luggage to Mombasa and then we piled on the train and were off! We travelled first class....a first for me but I can assure you, Kenyan first class is quite different to English first class! Basically it meant we had a little cabin to ourselves with some fold down beds so we could try to get some sleep. We had a fifteen hour journey ahead of us so after eating our tea (in the dining car) and watching a film (on a laptop - the first class cabin didn’t come equipped with cinema!) we settled down for the night. Generally I found sleeping quite difficult as the train was so bumpy and bouncy that it just kept making me laugh!! I think I got some sleep but I’m not really that sure...


Turns out the Rift Valley Railway is pretty punctual and we made it to Mombasa at 10am as planned and for the next five days my life consisted of lazing by the pool, wandering along the beach and paddling in the sea, snorkelling with some amazingly colourful fish, eating yummy food and generally catching up with Jo, Jo and Angie. It was so great to take some time out, do as little as we wanted and just relax and have a laugh. Mombasa being a tourist area there are lots of folks out and about trying to sell you stuff so walking along the beach was never quite as relaxing as it sounds, but I really can’t complain. It’s a long time since I’ve had a holiday for holidays sake. Most my “holidays” become working holidays like Cyfa camp where I do the catering. Whilst I love doing those type of things they are hardly times of rest and relaxation!

All too quickly the days whizzed by and before we knew it it was time to head back to Nairobi from where the Jos and Angie would head home and I would head to Kimilili and IcFEM. We arrived at the airport at about 4am with 8 massive bags between us and much comedy ensued as we opened them all up to distribute the weight evenly, make sure anything coming back to Kimilili was in my bags, anything for England in one of the other girls bags - I’ve never seen quite so much luggage! Once again, I found myself with a 6 or 7 hour wait at Nairobi airport - I have spent far too much of my life waiting there!


And so now you find me in dear old Kimlilili, the place I spent four months in last year and home to IcFEM (InterChristian Fellowships Evangelical Mission). It’s great to be back here as there is a whole community of people involved with IcFEM who became good friends last year so catching up with them all is a great joy. Last year I was out here at the same time as the Jos (who I’ve just been to Mombasa with) and Gemma so without them here it feels very different. However, I now have Steve and Sarah Small (who some of you may know from home) and Marielle (from Holland) to keep me company around the guest house!

It’s been great to catch up with my Kimilili friends, if a bit of a challenge to keep up with all the things that have changed over the last year and a bit. Things are very much as they were in some ways, and in other ways things are different. When I was here last year there was a big project under way (which you may remember) supplying local farmers with maize seed and fertiliser hand in hand with Equity Bank. At the time, this took over lots of the time and energy of many people at IcFEM and I think as a result some of the other aspects of IcFEM got sidelined for a while. It is encouraging to see that this year time and energy is being put back into one of the missions core values - teaching people about God and his kingdom. The management of IcFEM has taken a step back to look at the structure out in the areas they are working and had a reshuffle to make sure that each community has a strong leadership team, well grounded in their christian faith. Teams from the head quarters are going out to visit each district area that IcFEM are working in and helping introduce and explain the shifting structure as well as carrying out some training on planning and budgeting and teaching on the putting God first (“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you as well.” Matthew chapter 6 verse 33). Hearing about some of the struggles and challenges people in the IcFEM community have faced over the last year I am once again lead to the conclusion that while we pursue good works for good works sake there is potential for jealousy, pride, distrust and greed to come in and destroy the good that people are building. However, if the good works are grounded in a deeper work in our hearts, a transformation Jesus causes within us leading us to outwards actions loving and caring for others, there is a much stronger chance for the good works to stand and succeed. It is therefore great to see IcFEM shoring up their foundations and making sure that the work they have already done is set on a steadfast rock.

During my first week here I went out with one of the teams to Nalondo to join the training. It was great to be out in the community and meet some of the people whose lives are being affected by the work IcFEM are doing. Hearing testimonies from villagers about the ways their lives have changes, the improvements in their relationships with family and neighbours, the amazing provision for their families and the difference some of the practical training they are receiving from IcFEM is making is so encouraging and a great reminder about how important the work of groups like IcFEM and Dignity is.

This last week I have spent helping out at Holiday Club and the Eye Camp. Hoilday Club takes place at IcFEMs headquarters and involves lots of kids, lots of noise, lots of running around and lots of fun! Marielle and I took on responsibility for all the break time games in between lessons to keep everyone entertained as well as running some craft activities. Although at a slower pace than last years holiday club, we had lots of fun organising games and watching the kids run around laughing! I also lead one of the morning devotions which I actually really enjoyed (I normally hate the thought of speaking to a group of people but it’s beginning to finally get a bit easier this year!). I’m not sure some of the teenagers have quite forgiven me yet for dragging them out to the front to help me with a little drama I was to doing to explain my point!

Eye Camp took place at Dreamlands hospital (linked to IcFEM) and was amazing! This is the fifth Eye Camp to be run and the idea is simple...a team of visiting specialist eye doctors, one local hospital, reduced rate cataract and other simple eye operations and as many people as possible from the community around benefiting, people who would otherwise not be able to afford the travel to the hospital never mind the operation.

The reality, as you can imagine, is actually very complicated and quite an exercise in crowd management with people who can’t see where they are going having to move around the hospital from one place to another. (I spent my days leading people from one place to another and trying to understand swahili and bukusu!) It’s also a massive tasks to keep records of all those assessed, operations undertaken and pre and post operation eye test results.


On the first day about 170 people had their eyes assessed, some were given medicine or glasses and those in need of bilateral cataract operations had their first eye operated on. Day two was a long day of surgery with about 80 operations taking place. Day three saw a long line of mainly elderly people all with matching bandages over their eyes. The doctors went along removing the bandages and checking the eyes. As bandages were removed there was great rejoicing. Imagine a group of 80 people who previously could see very little, some who could only perceive light and others who could only see half a metre away, all of a sudden being given their sight back! There was great rejoicing and many people thanking God for this miracle!! Of course, for some the results were not as instant or as dramatic but over the coming weeks their sight should improve following the operation. I nearly cried as I saw a group of about 10 aged mamas (between 80 and 100 years old), all of whom had arrived being lead or supported by relatives and using walking sticks, walking independently along the corridor having a good old natter! I’m sure that sights like that make all the hard work and preparation worth it for those involved in the organisation and sponsorship of Eye Camp. Do pray that the sponsors will continue to fund this amazing event as without their support it would not be able to take place.


After being at the Eye Camp yesterday morning, I went along to Rose’s wedding. I got to know Rose really well last year and was glad to be here at the right time for her wedding this year. Kenyan weddings are in some ways similar to English ones - the same vows and stuff, but in other ways so different! The wedding was scheduled to start at 10...the bride arrived at 2! There was 5 page boys, about 12 bridesmaids and groomsmen, 5 flower girls and of course the bride and her parents to process along the aisle (often the wedding party dances into church but this time they walked, albeit very slowly!) The gifts are presented after the ceremony, still in the hall where the wedding took place...all of a sudden there was a whole three piece suite, a bed and a calf being marched up the aisle to the front of the church as well as many other smaller gifts! We took our little gift up to the front amidst the procession and when I reached Rose she just cheered and started dancing...there was nothing I could do but join in the dancing! The bride and groom are adorned in tinsel and there is much singing, dancing and cheering. It’s strange to see such a well known service but feel so confused about what is going on as well!! The speeches then followed but it seemed much more like a free for all with anyone who wanted to taking over the mic for a while...mid-speeches everyone begins to wander out the hall across to the dining hall (it was held at a school) for a big feed of rice, beef, cabbage and chapatti. It was a great celebration and Rose and Elphas looked suitably happy about it all!

And now it’s my last week in Africa for now at least. I honestly can’t believe how soon I will be home. I can’t wait to see everyone and am looking forward to catching up with good friends, visiting the christmas markets, getting a chinese take away (and pizza...and fish and chips), being able to go out after dark and just understanding how all the simple things in life work without having to think about it! But I sure will miss being out here once I’m back. I’ll miss the slower pace of life, the way people always stop for a chat, knowing that each day will be sunny and warm and not having to wonder how many layers to put on, trying to speak bemba or swahili and generally making everyone laugh at my poor attempts, random kids deciding to walk along the road with you for a while and of course all the cows, donkeys, goats and chickens that are around!

A random note to finish on...I’ve been reading my way through the bible and have made it through Genesis, Exodus, Levitius and Numbers, finally reaching Deuteronomy - another seemingly tough going book about the law laid out for Israel. Chapter four is a gem though and a great summary of God’s amazing, faithful and forgiving nature! Read it if you get a chance. Two of my favourite verses from it...

Verse 32: “Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of?”

...and Verse 39 says it like it is: “Acknowledge and take heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.”

a time of contrasts and learning

Since I last wrote it has been a time of contrasts; from quiet times to busy times and from village life to city life. In some ways it's been tough and in other ways fantastic...

The pace of my time here this year has been different. As Jon and Jude now live here the urgency to fit absolutely everything for the year into two or three months isn't there. This is a definite bonus as it means relationships with people in different areas can be nurtured and conferences or visits timed much better than in previous years and a general increase in the amount of hands on work they are able to do. As a result, the work we are doing has definitely spread much wider and more and more people and villages are getting involved. There are now roughly 75 life groups meeting in villages across northern zambia, meeting to study the bible and to discover together what it means to live out our faith day to day. As my last blog showed, for many people this is bringing them to a point where they take positive actions to begin to bring change to their communities. Its very exciting to be a witness to what God is doing here in Zambia and how he loves his children.

The flip side of this on a personal level is that my time here hasn't been as busy and jam-packed with conferences and trips to villages as the last two times I've been here. Instead, I've had a chance to do other things, like getting the magazine from an idea to (hopefully...) almost reality! I'm also writing some materials about working with children in your village and various other bits and bobs about what we're doing here.

When I sit down and look at the long term, I can see the real value in what I've been doing - I love the idea of the magazine and it has such amazing potential to reach loads of people. However, you know me...I like to see things happening (I'm impatient!) and I love to be around people! There have been days I've been sat working away at my computer and what I've wanted to be doing is sitting in a village talking to people, or in a friends living room with a cup of tea! I've really missed being surrounded my little project team from Sheppard Robson as I work, all the banter (and the cake!) I've had to ask myself why I'm here - to have fun and do the exciting bits of work, or to do the "good works, which God has prepared in advance for me to do"? I know the answer to this question in theory, but sometimes the reality can be tough!

Before I left, I was praying with some friends. One gave me a picture of beautiful open skies and landscapes...of "space" in contrast to being so busy and pressured during my last time at home. This has been so helpful as I've had so much more "space" in a number of ways; less things crowding into every day, less friends around to help me get through stuff, more time to myself to deal with anything in my life that needs dealing with...a greater need to turn to God and rely on Him in more areas of my life. While I can be self-sufficient in an aspect of my life, I am! Its only when the things I rely on to support me are taken away that I finally lean on God rather than myself. If you've ever had to let go of control of something, or part of your life, you will know that this can be a hard and painful process...but ultimately rewarding and freeing! I guess I feel a bit like a broken car engine that is being stripped down before being rebuilt in working condition...its lots of hard work but in the end, the result is worth it!

So, I've been busy writing and designing the magazine (which, incidentally I do actually enjoy doing as well!) in between others things. What other things...?

Over the last couple of weeks Jude and I have been out to some villages close by to discuss and introduce a new resource Jon and Jude have been writing. We want a couple of groups to try it out and give us some feedback before we use it on a wider basis.

We also ran a conference last week. Twenty five people from two local areas gathered and we talked about all being part of one family, one body rather than lots of separate entities, the much more common scenario for churches here. It was encouraging to see peoples reaction to what we were saying and many left eager to try and start a Life! group in their village...who knows what will happen in their villages over the coming weeks, months and even years! It is always so encouraging to meet people here who want to volunteer their time and energy to see God bring change in their villages...it's through them that this will ultimately happen, not through people like me, Jon and Jude who are outsiders. These people know and understand their villages, their neighbours, the struggles and challenges they face and the culture so much better than we ever will. Without them chosing to get involved, we would be able to do very little. I thank God that he has put in place many people to be his hands and feet in many different villages!

The day after the conference finished we all set off for Lusaka, the capital city...about as far from simple village life as you can get! Andy had been out here for a couple of weeks and we were taking him back to the airport. As it was bonfire night we decided to all make the journey so we could go see the big firework display in town while we were there. It was very surreal - it honestly felt like we were in Platt Fields apart from the fact it was warm and not muddy! It was lovely to do something "normal"!! We also fitted in a trip to Adventure City - an big park with outdoor pools and water slides - great fun and a true example of the comparative lack of health and safety rules here compared to England! I'm sure people wouldn't have been allowed to set off down the slides standing up at home! Ha ha!!

And now it's my last Zambian week. (By the way, I know I shouldn't start a sentence with "and"...it just worked though!) I can't believe how fast time has gone by, although it does seem like ages ago I arrived. This week, we were supposed to be heading to Namibia to run a conference but the guy we know there had to postpone the plans. You just have to learn to be more flexible here - it's the way life goes! Instead of going to Namibia, I'm trying to tie up a few loose ends and finish off a few things. I have a couple of meetings with people in Lusaka before I fly out from there on Monday.

Next stop...Kenya! I'm meeting up with some friends for a weeks holiday in Mombasa (on the coast) before heading back to IcFEM for a few weeks...then I'm coming home - I know, how has it flown by so fast?! It will be so lovely to see some of my great friends, both on holiday and also back at IcFEM. As ever, I'm sad to leave here...but excited about the next step!

how wrong can I be?

I spent plenty of time telling you about my journey up to Nchelenge so I thought I'd take some time to tell you about what actually happened after our long day of travelling!

I should probably start by 'fessing up and letting you know that I didn't really want to go on this particular trip. Part of the reason was that it is such a long drive and I was the only driver going so I knew it was all down to me. If anything went wrong with the car, it was up to my limited knowledge of engines and what not to fix it! Alongside this, the place we stay is pretty basic with no running water (and not all that clean), its always baking hot and there is a particularly ravenous and large mosquito population. Food and drinking water is hard to come by so I had to go well prepared, carrying supplies and camping stoves in the car, as well as spare diesel for the car in case of the common shortages in the area. So, I was a little hesitant about going...

We went a couple of times last year and ran a training conference there. As a result a number of Life! groups have begun meeting around the area and we feel it's important to follow these up and take time to encourage them. Alongside this, we had heard some exciting stories of things going on in the area so wanted to find out more and see what we could learn from the groups there that could benefit other areas.

So, although maybe not with the most willing heart, I had made it to Nchelenge. I had prayed against my spirit of grumpiness and unwillingness and asked God to give me enthusiasm and compassion instead. And he did! If you know me at all, you know I love people. I love being around people and chatting with them...and these characteristics overcame my grumps to help me actually make the most of my time there.

We met with five different groups of people and one of my worst nightmares came true. Whenever we go anywhere, people always want us to share a word of encouragement with them and to say something wise, basically do a mini-sermony, preachy, teachy thing...not my forte!! As I was the team leader on this occasion it fell to me to come up with something to say to each group. I was terrified. I can talk a lot of nonsense easy enough, but to say something relevant to each different group, having only a basic introduction to who they were before hand, was quite a challenge. I really had to ask God for wisdom and words...and each time he reminded me of a different bible passage and gave me a point to draw out from it. I was more than a little worried at the last group as even as I walked into the room and was greeting everyone I was still praying in my head for the words to say...but they came...and I said them!

I then spent some time asking the groups to share what they have learnt, struggled with, been challenged by, seen happening or actively gone and done as a result of meeting in a Life! group. I simply wanted to find out how its been going for them. It took some prompting to get going but when people started there was some really interesting stuff going on. Lots of people said they had been trying to share Gods love by speaking to their friends and neighbours and also in their actions, simple things like lending their bike to someone who was ill and needed to travel to the clinic. Many times over I heard that unity between different churches has been growing and the historic division and fighting between churches is being set aside. People and churches are coming together to seek the best for their community.

One lady spoke of how she had only recently become a christian after a friend had invited her along to a Life! group in her village. Although her family are poor, she has come to understand that God has blessed her and her husband with children. She has felt challenged by this, and despite having very little themselves, her family have taken in some orphans, feeding and clothing them. For me or another outsider to manage such a life changing task for these orphans would take huge amounts of money and time setting up a special home, finding someone to run it, sourcing funds to keep it going, the number of places would be limited and would all be in one location...but this one family has just got on and done something to help these kids in their own village. No fuss, no hype...just action based on a new understanding of who God is and what he has done for us. Imagine the impact if one of two families in each village began to do this. As a rough guide, there are about 50 Life! groups meeting now, with a potential 30 or so about to start. If one family from each group took in just one orphan, that would be 80 children being fed, clothed and loved as part of a family! If we can help share what this one family has done amongst others the potential for change is massive!

We heard of three groups that have begun farming a small plot of land each in order to grow some food to give away to the very poor amongst them. As groups, they have each contributed either a little money or a small amount of seeds and given their time to work in the fields. This is incredible...people work so hard here to scrape by and feed themselves and their families. That they are willing to give their time and energy to do more work to help others shows a desire founded on something more than a passing whim!

One group has applied to the government to obtain funding for a hammer mill to grind maize into flour, used to make the staple food enshima. They plan to raise money milling maize to help the widows and orphans in their community as well as offer a free or reduced price milling service to the poorer families. Another group is looking to run a tailoring course to teach young people a skill so they can earn a living for themselves.

These are not things we have told people to do. In fact, we haven't told them to do anything! These actions we are seeing are I believe, a natural result of people coming together and learning more about God and what he has done for us. As we understand this and open our hearts to him, he opens our eyes to others rather than our natural focus on self and looking after number one.

It's not all roses of course. Some people said they were finding it hard to share what they are learning as their friends just don't want to hear about Jesus. Others meet opposition from those who think they are trying to take people from their church to start a new one in competition, which is not the case.

Many people ask us for resources to help with the ideas they are having. This is such a difficult question to answer. A massive part of me wants to give every penny I have to help these amazing people do these fantastic things. But even if I did that there wouldn't be enough money to help them all. Even if there was enough money to help them all, it would run out pretty quickly...and then what would happen? If things here were set up to be reliant on money coming from outside they would fizzle out and die as soon as the money stops coming in. (This is something people here have seen happen time and again and are constantly reminded of as they daily see buildings that were once active now lying dormant as those funding the schemes have left.) The amount of initiatives that could happen would also be limited by our fund raising abilities. Alongside this, but possibly most dangerously of all, if we gave money to everyone who asked for it, it would reinforce the belief so common here that for anything to happen, financial help must be given. Dependency is rife here and holds many people back...in truth, people are able to do many things despite the poverty they struggle with. We are seeing that this is possible in some of the things happening that I've just told you about! But, there is also no denying that resources are scarce and a real challenge for many people. So what do we say when people ask us for money?! The best way to solve this constant challenge is to think around problems, to come at them from different angles. As the projects being undertaken are community based there is the opportunity to involve others in the area and get them to share you vision. For example, rather than buy expensive fertiliser, if you could persuade goat farmers to sell you their goat manure (rather than selling it to big farmers) it would be a cheaper and more reliable solution (its often hard to buy fertiliser as suppliers run out at the critical times). This is a harder solution to establish in the short term than a quick cash injection, but I do believe it can have a much longer lasting effect as it would be a local enterprise and therefore more sustainable! If an idea is found to work in one area it can then be reproduced in other areas with potential to become much bigger than our limited funds could manage.

One of the most exciting stories I heard was in a village called Kambwali. A year ago it was generally called Crimezone, suffering from high levels of crime. A Life! group has been meeting there for a year and praying for their village as well as specifically for the known trouble causers. They have invited some of these people along to the group. A combination of seeing the unity that has been growing in the village as a result of the group meeting and witnessing the works the group are doing, alongside on going prayer and growing relationships with God, these people are beginning to change their ways. Crime levels have fallen and the reputation of the village has changed so much for the good that people now call it by its real name! This is an amazing and very real example of the transformation that Jesus brings when we turn from our own selfish ways and give our lives, and all their detail, to him. He's not some far off, distant God dishing out miserable rules, he's actually involved in our day to day existence and wants to give us freedom from the things that have held sway over us for so long. The best bit is, because he is also an awesome and powerful God and he's sent Jesus to die in our place for all the wrong things we've done he has already sorted it that we can be set free as soon as we turn from our ways to follow him. You've got to love him when the impact of that begins to dawn on you!!

So, in summary, I didn't want to make the 1500km round trip...but I'm so very glad I did! It was a time of great encouragement as I heard all these amazing stories, a time of personal growth as I had to lean on God in new ways and a fun time as well as I got to know some of the people we're working with more! It rained for the first time in 6 months while we were there (although the rains haven't arrived where we live yet) and we got to see some amazing lightening over the lake at night. We travelled home safely, although the journey was slightly less eventful than on the way. I've been home a few days now and I'm finally beginning to feel less exhausted and more human again after a few good nights sleep!

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Would you like to be involved in the exciting work taking place in Zambia? Dignity is looking for people who would be willing to run a small fundraiser or do a sponsored event to help us carry on the teaching work we are doing here. It doesn't have to be anything grand...it could be as simple as a sponsored run or a little cake sale at work or church!

If you think this is something you could get involved with, please email me or enquiries@dignityonline.org.uk for more information!

a journey

Well today seems to have been truly Zambian in so many ways, so I thought I'd share it with you while the details are still fresh in my memory...it's all been about our journey from Mkushi where we live, to Nchelenge to visit some groups there.

The journey really began yesterday when Sharon and Maurice set off from their homes by bike. Sandy roads prevented them from cycling though so they had to push their bikes and when I called to see if they were okay they were still some way off and it was going dark. So, I turned the oven off, hoped the chicken wouldn't end up over cooked and went to find them. Bush roads by night are hard to recognise because unless you know them well they all look the same! Anyway, before too long we were all home eating said chicken (which hadn't been spoilt) and crashing out in bed!

Today began at 5.15am with an early breakfast before I threw the last things in the car. I had asked Moses who works for us (helping around the house, doing mountains of washing by hand and making yummy fresh bread!) to put the empty green diesel cans in the car as I wanted to fill them at the petrol station in case there was a shortage of diesel further along the journey - this isn't uncommon! I just happened to check and Moses had ever so kindly filled the green cans from the other ones and put them in the car...which was very kind of him, but left no diesel at home for Jon and Jude meaning they could not run the generator and therefore would have no electricity or lights in the evening! I wouldn't be popular if I took the last diesel!! So our start was delayed as I swapped the full and empty jerry cans over following this simple miscommunication. Little things like this happen all the time which leads to some crazy and confused situations and sometimes frustration but more often, laughter in my case!

Finally we were on the way. By 7.30am we were 80km along the road and at Serenje and the last fuel station for 350km. So I filled up the car and the jerry cans...well, I didn't because here there are attendants at the stations who do it all for you. Meanwhile, I bought 6 little sweet bananas for 1500 kwacha, about 20p, from a lovely boy called Christopher...then it all went a bit crazy when an old guy called Sparks (complete with a gold tooth and very dodgy hat) turned up for fuel. He decided I should be his friend and started inviting me on a 4x4 expedition around Malawi, announcing that he does love an english girl with a sense of adventure and who loves Africa...hmm! I decided it was time to beat a hasty retreat and thankfully was safely back in the car with the door closed before he walked by and asked if I was going to give him a hug!

Two and a half hours and 292km later saw us at Samfya. We had crossed the Luapula Bridge and the surrounding salt marshes. The landscape in that area is so different to anywhere else in Zambia. Its greener and there are tall thin ant hills all over the place on the outskirts. Then amid the marshes there are various sizes of pools and little lakes (I think it's probably very different during the rainy season). You can see people standing in the water fishing or even in little boats in some of the bigger lakes. They then come to the side of the road with their catch and hold them up to tempt passing drivers. I have to confess, the thought of freshly caught, still wiggling, stinky fish in my car doesn't appeal to me so I'm afraid I wasn't adventurous enough to stop and buy some!!

We whizzed on through Samfya not stopping as I wanted to make it to Mansa by lunch time. Mansa is only 80km away from Samfya but the entire road is full of potholes the size of bathtubs...and I'm really not exaggerating! You have to drive off the side of the road to go round them...only since I'd travelled this bit of road last year they've mended it!! Imagine my joy at being able to zoom along to Mansa in no time rather than spend an hour and a half fighting with potholes! Yeyyyy!!!!

Mansa is the biggest town in these parts for miles, so the last fuel stop and a good chance to track down any supplies you need or to go to a cash point.

Turns out though, of the four petrol stations, only one had any diesel left and they were only selling it to account holders now. Hmm...very glad I brought extra fuel with me! At one place, the guy was very kind and helped me fill the car from the cans even though I wasn't buying anything from them. I had hoped not to have to use any of my reserve diesel quite to soon, but hey ho. Let's see what happens!

We popped by Shoprite, the big supermarket you find in most Zambian towns (but not where we live - no supermarket for us!) and got a few supplies I had not been able to bring...more water, bread, non-melting margarine, fruit and heaps of sugar as most Zambians have at least three teaspoons of sugar in a cup of tea!

We grabbed a pasty from the little cafe attached to Shoprite for a quick and cheap lunch. As we were sat eating a girl was really staring at me. She wouldn't stop. Lots of people stare at me because I'm the odd one out here, so I get used to it. Its normally kids though and they normally smile or look away if I look back at them. But this one girl, who must have been 16 or 17, just kept staring and staring. I couldn't figure it out. It was only as we were finishing and I put down my can of coke and said shall we go that it became clear why. The second I'd put it on the table she quickly reached across and snatched it from under my nose! As it happened I hadn't finished so I told her to give it back, but she had obviously been watching me as she wanted the empty can for something. It makes you realise just how poor some people here really are that an empty can is worth waiting 20 minutes for (and how nothing gets thrown away but is used for something!) The car park at Shoprite is a real gathering place for street children and those who beg. It's a pretty tough place to even stop by briefly, never mind spend all your time there.

Well, we cracked on from Mansa to tackle the last stage of our journey, 240km north to Nchelenge. The road was generally good, but just as you begin to relax into the driving another batch of potholes arrives! It's exhausting continually watching for potholes as well as the random goats and chickens that may hurl themselves in front of the car at any point!! Not to mention all the pedestrians and cyclists who use the road as well!

We finally arrived in Nchelenge at 3.45, exhausted and hot, but safe! We met our friend and headed to the place we are to stay at. We've stayed here before and as places go, its not the best. Its pretty grimy, there's no running water, the rooms are always baking hot, full of mosquitos and they pretty much whiff! But...we walked in to find that since we last came they've put up new mosquito nets! Sounds like nothing exciting, but the old ones were full of holes and so dirty I used to try and sleep without moving so I didn't accidentally touch them!! Ha ha! The simple thing of new nets means that sleeping will be much more successful generally despite the heat, and with a good nights sleep anything is possible!!

So, having watched an amazing sunset over the lake, cooked our dinner on the back of a van, washed up our pots in the dark and played a quick round of uno...it's bedtime! I'll write again soon to let you know how our time here went...probably a lot more interesting than hearing about the journey. As they say here, mulale bwino...goodnight! x

the calm before the storm

I'm lying on my bed in my mercifully cool room on what is turning into another baking hot day...Zambia is working up to the rainy season so getting hotter every day. I made it safely back to Mkushi on Tuesday, the day after I last wrote, with a much happier and healthier car.

After a fairly intense first two weeks, the rest of this week has been a chance to catch up with Jon and Jude and talk about the plan for the rest of the time I'm out here...and wow! It's going to be busy!! But you know that's how I like life to be. The plan currently includes:

- helping run 3 conferences (one of which may be in Namibia!)
- a trip to Nchelenge to meet with people we're working with there
- another trip to Lusaka to carry on with the magazine
- a number of days out in villages trialing some practical teaching stuff that Jon and Jude have been busy writing
- some trips to villages to show the Jesus film and meet people who we can continue to work with

...so not too much! Ha ha!! Amidst all this I really want to do loads of reading and write some documents that have got lost over the really busy summer at home. One of these documents is some training on why its important to work with children in villages as well as adults and an introduction to teaching kids...a friend at church has helped out with some of this and I really want to finish it off and get the rest written and usable! I'm no expert and only know what I've picked up from time working with the wonderful St Margaret's Pathfinders and a few years at CYFA camp...but hey ho, we all start somewhere.

Yesterday was an amazing day. Some friends we are working with in different areas all travelled to meet at our house and we simply spent the day catching up with what's going on and looking forward as well. I think all of us were pretty blown away by what we heard. In a number of places where groups of people are meeting they have helped groups in different villages get started. We also heard that where groups are meeting we heard that unity is growing. This may not sound all that grand, but actually it's huge! For example, funerals here are hugely expensive as whole families and many friends gather at the home of the deceased and stay there for a week or maybe even longer. It is the responsibility of the nuclear family to feed all these people for the duration of their stay (and it's not acceptable to tell them it's time to leave now!) You can imagine this can be crippling to a family, already living in poverty. One of our friends told how in villages where groups are meeting all the churches are now rallying together to help families when someone dies and share the burden of the funeral. Imagine the difference this would make to your family at such a difficult time. This is not something we have told people to do - it is people (who are poor themselves) opening their eyes to see the needs of others and responding to them.

We also heard of a group of ladies who have come together to apply for a hammer mill, used for milling maize, through a government initiative. Their aim is to be able to raise money to put towards the work their village groups are doing, growing food to help feed the elderly and extremely poor amongst their villages. They can save money by using the mill to grind their own maize and that of the groups and also raise money by charging a small fee to mill maize for others in the area. Again, this is not our idea...it's theirs and it's a great idea! Much better than I would have come up with!!

These things beginning to happen are the signs of something deeper going on, the fruit of a richer work under the surface. When we start work in an area we simply begin a basic bible study course that looks at who is God, what is our relationship with him, what has gone wrong along the way and what Jesus has done for us and goes on to help build some firm foundations and challenge us on what it means to be a christian in a very practical way - I don't just mean going to church on Sunday, I mean actually walking each day with Jesus and inviting him into all the big and little parts of our lives. When we let Jesus in to our lives he begins to work in our hearts and helps us to serve God and other people rather than ourselves. I can say whole heartedly from experience that the times I am serving God and others rather than myself are the most fulfilling and rewarding...in turn bringing more happiness to me than the times I am being selfish...I think that's just the way we are made!

Now imagine you are really, really poor and fighting every day to feed your own family...why on earth would you look around to help anyone else? Surely your first instinct is to fight for you and yours...that makes sense to me! But what we are seeing is that people are being set free from this mind set as Jesus works in their hearts. Instead of villages where everyone is grabbing what little they can, even if it harms someone else, people are beginning to come together and see that as a group they are stronger and can help one another as well as others in need in their villages, improving life for everyone. This is a huge and exciting shift in mind set that reflects something deeper...if you ask me, its really, really exciting!!

I've just had a quick break (as my thumbs were worn out from typing on my phone) and played badminton with Ethan, Jon and Jude's eldest boy, for five minutes before running for cover from the sun under some lovely shady trees where I'm now sat in a camping chair! There's loads of annoying flies though...grrr!! So anyway, where was I?

Yeah, yesterday was a great day and really encouraging. It's such a joy to hear of the little things that are beginning to happen and our desire is to nurture these and see things like these spread to many more villages and areas. Generally, people living in rural villages here are hungry for knowledge as there is barely any help or teaching available to them. We have very little to actually give people in terms of resources and money. The biggest resource available in the bush is actually the people themselves and it is so important to value each person we meet and spend our time and energy helping that person realise their own worth and potential in Gods eyes.

So our plan looking forward is to carry on planting the Life! project in new areas, encourage those we're already working with and to keep learning as we do it. That's why we've got such a busy few weeks coming up as we travel the county to meet with people, hear their stories and run teaching sessions. Alongside us running various teaching sessions a number of the people we have been working with for a year or so are also beginning to do the same. This is really exciting. It means that what we are doing is already outgrowing us...on our own there is a limit to the number of people we could reach, but if people can help one another...it can grow much bigger and many more lives can be changed!

This coming week sees me setting off to Nchelenge...this is a mere 800km north. I went twice last year so think I can remember the way. I'm going with a couple of our Zambian friends but this means I'll have to do all the driving (about 12 hours each way...) Last year, we helped establish a few groups around the area and since then, more groups have begun and we are hearing exciting stories from them. While we're there its a chance to encourage people there as well as be encouraged by what's going on! I'm a little bit worried about the distance we have to go - it means taking loads of fuel for the car with us and stuff as there is quite often none at the petrol station there! It really is a long way away!!! The place we stay in is pretty basic so we also need to take lots of drinking water and food to cover all possibilities. It will be good to catch up with people I met last year though and I'm excited about going...if a little nervous!

And on that note, I think I've said enough...I just don't seem to be able to write a short blog post! Ha ha! Lots of love and thanks for sticking it out to the end xxx

back in the swing of it

So, I said I'd try to keep my blog posts shorter but maybe more regular...and I think I've found a way...having sorted an internet connection on my phone it saves me the 40km drive to town to the internet cafe...but it does mean I'm typing this on my phone!! That means it's bound to be shorter...and probably full of spelling mistakes!

So, here I am! Back in Zambia. We're living "close" to where we were last year, close being about 25km away! The house we're in is much bigger than before, but Jon and Jude have had their work cut out reclaiming it as it had been empty for a while and was fast becoming a bit of a wreck.

It's strange to think that just a week ago I was at home running out to church, with packing still to do, friends still to see and what felt like not enough time to do it! But somehow or other it all got done and I left Manchester behind once again. As ever, I'm sad to say goodbye, but the looming sense of adventure helps me be excited rather than homesick!

Saying goodbye to Manchester means saying hello to Zambia (via a few airports!) and it's been straight back to it. Abenaa, who works in our UK office, has come out to Zambia for 10 days and with some help from our friend Angela, who lives in Lusaka, we're looking into starting a magazine to circulate around the village groups.

Oops...I wrote the above a week ago and ever since have been meaning to finish this post off, but, well, haven't done it! So now you find me sitting at a friends garage in Lusaka, the capital city, waiting for my car to be mended...I was supposed to head home to Mkushi yesterday, but the car had other ideas and I've ended up staying an extra day.

I've spent a lot of time at the garage during the last week - our friend, as well as giving our car some general tlc over the last few days, has let Abi, Angela and I borrow some space in his office to use as a base.

Together, the three of us have been putting together a proposal for a magazine we are hoping to begin publishing. The nature of the work Dignity is planting is very spread out, in rural villages that are remarkably isolated. Last year we were discussing how it would be good to encourage the different village groups with stories from other groups, helping build a wider identity and also sharing ideas from the work people are beginning to do in their own vllages.

A while after our initial discussions, some of the guys we are working with came up with the same idea, totally independant of us. So...six months on, here we are trying to make it happen!

We began by spending some time out in rural areas...before we create anything, we need to understand the lives of those who will be reading it. For me, it was good to be reminded of life in these areas, for Abi and Angela, it was their first trip out with us...so a bit of an eye-opener I think!

I was struck again by how poor people in rural areas here really are. There is such a contrast between the city and the country - Lusaka is continually developing and seeming more affluent, although this is for the privileged. Within the city are also huge compounds where masses of people are crammed into tiny spaces in slum-like situations. Out in the bush, people at least have space...but they also have to travel long distances to sell anything they grow, get medical assistance or simply get to school.

I had forgotten how dry the land is here. It hasn't rained for four months and the sun is baking every day - the land is parched and dusty. When the rains do come, much of the water will run straight over the hardend land making streams of mud for us all to slip around on! You can smell the dust in the air and even a few minutes in the sun is enough to make your skin tingle!

Anyway, we spent some time in Mkushi going out to various villages and brainstorming. Then last Tuesday we headed down to Lusaka so we could do some research into actually printing a magazine and also putting together a proposal, looking at timescales, distribution and costs. Things are so different here - at home you would just bundle stuff up and post it, here you have to take it the intercity bus station (at 6am!), pay to put it on the bus and arrange for somebody to meet it at the other end and then get them to send it on its way, sometimes on a second bus journey before it even gets near the areas we are reaching. It makes you begin to reliase how isolated some villages really are!

It's been really interesting tackling a new task here - I was beginning to feel like I knew how things worked...but that is of course only the things I've been involved in so far! As soon as I try something new, it a whole new ball game with a totally different set of challenges! But you know me...I love it!

So, we now have a mock up of the magazine and a rough idea of costs and timescales. It needs a bit of polishing up and then we can evaluate whether it is feasible and if we can raise the money needed to produce it!

On Saturday, I sadly sad bye to Abi who was heading back to England and I'm leaving Angela back at home in Lusaka, so, when the car is mended, I'm heading back up to Mkushi on my own...it will be good to get back to Jon and Judes though and feel like I'm home again! I feel less like a guest there than I do where I'm staying at the moment, maybe because I lived with them last year as well!

So that's my life at the moment. There is so much more to it that makes it richer...its hard to explain but it's all the little random things that happen and that people say to you. Being a white person walking along the road draws so many comments - "don't get bashed" as in, run over, being one of my faves! Someone told me they were impressed when they saw me doing my own washing up! People constantly shout "mzungu" (white person) at me and say they want to speak to me, or ask me what I'm doing. Normally it amuses me, but when it comes from a drunk bloke hanging around it makes me feel uneasy! I still find it impressive how many languages people here speak, they switch between English, Bemba, Nyanja and Tonga, to name but a few! Best of all is the way people always have time to stop and talk. Everyone always greets you when you go somewhere - conversations never get straight to business, time is spent asking each other how you are, asking after your families and what not before anything else! So, in short...it's great to be back! When I finally make it back to Mkushi, I'm going to sit down with Jon and Jude and talk about the rest of my time here...I know it'll fly by!!

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Thank God for:
- all the work he has continued to do here and the way village groups are growing and becoming stronger.
- safe travel from home and that the car broke down before I even got out of town, not while I was miles and miles away from help!
- Abi and Angela being able to join us for 10 days and get involved in a very hands on manner!

Please pray for:
- me to get safely back to Mkushi (maybe even today!)
- more people to be involved in the work, both zambians from town and rural areas and volunteers from England who can join us for periods of time.
- wisdom and clarity of purpose! Every situation is unknown and there are many things that could distract us from what we have been brought here to do.

hello stranger!

Well, it’s been a while! About 10 months to be precise and a lot has happened. I've been back at work as an architect, my sister got married, which was a fantastic celebration, and I've been back to Criccieth for CYFA camp....but now it’s heading towards autumn in Manchester, the nights are suddenly getting shorter and once again, I’m planning a trip to Zambia. I say planning, it’s already planned really. I’ve got a ticket...so I’m going...a week on Monday! With one week and one day left at work and loads of you lovely folks to see before I go, I’m not quite sure when I’m going to pack or sort out all my stuff here at home, but it will all get done somehow...and what doesn’t get done will just have to wait, or not matter.

I’m really excited about going back to Zambia. This will be my third trip working alongside Dignity and being involved in their Life! initiative. Check out the link to their website to find out more. The small groups we have helped get started in about 40 or 50 villages across Zambia are continuing to meet and simply study the Bible together, learning and growing in God’s love. As they do this, we are seeing real practical change and the out workings of faith filled lives. These range from increased unity in villages where relationships used to be tense to the growing or extra food or rearing of extra animals by groups to help ensure the elderly in their village are fed, rather than going hungry. These aren’t things we have told people to do - these are ideas born and nurtured by people who have very little to help others. It’s amazing and so exciting!

My time in Zambia will start this year with establishing the production of a simple magazine that can be circulated around all the groups. We have seen that one of the most encouraging thing to people living in difficult circumstances is hearing of others in the same circumstances pushing forwards and making positive change happen. Therefore, we want to start a really simple publication that can be easily produced and circulated around all the groups. Myself and Abi, who works for Dignity in the UK and is joining us for a couple of weeks, are going to spend some time with Angela, who is involved in the work in Zambia, and hopefully get something up and running.

After that, I think I will be out and about visiting numerous villages around Zambia where Life! groups are beginning or have been running a while, spending time with people, encouraging them and helping them carry on moving forwards! It will be so good to see old friends and meet new people who share our vision to see Zambians helping each other and making real change in their villages, secure in the knowledge that Jesus has saved us and gives our lives purpose and value.

I’ll be in Zambia until mid-November (or so) and then I shall head to Kenya for about a month to visit IcFEM again. I’m not sure what I will get up to while I’m there, but I do know that there will be plenty I can get involved in and help out with! I’m sure that my time there will take shape when I arrive...

And finally, I’ll be heading home again mid December....just in time for some evenings at the Christmas markets in Albert Square, a big warm winter coat and of course, Christmas, birthday and New Year fun!!

My aim this trip is to write shorter, more frequent blog entries so it’s easier for you fine folks to read...I’m already sat here thinking of a million and one other things I want to say right now, but I’m going to shut up (as it’s late at night and I need to go to sleep) and leave this entry as it is! Do say hi from time to time if you read this - it’s always lovely and a real treat to hear about life at home when I’m miles away. So keep in touch....
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Thank God for:
- provision of work and everything I’ve needed while I’ve been at home
- the opportunity to go back to both Zambia & Kenya
- all those who have continued the work in Zambia & Kenya while I’ve been at home!
Please pray for:
- safety as I get ready to go, and readjust to Zambian life
- understanding of different cultural situations
- increased love for those I meet in all walks of life