Well, after about a
two week delay, I am finally here in Katombi visiting with Margie.
Margie has a sweet
little house in the village about an hour’s drive out from Loloma Mission
Hospital. It is quite isolated here: electricity by solar panels, no cell
coverage, Internet by cable (a step up from dial up) and no indoor plumbing. So
far, the only thing I’ve really noticed is the limited internet usage- I don’t
know what that says about my priorities, but it’s not being able to connect with
people at a whim that makes this difficult, so we’ll take that as a redeeming
factor for this ‘techno- product- of- my- culture kid’ J
Language study is
the reason I came out here. And language study is what I will be getting. Aside
from Margie, there is no one else out here fluent in English. So, until I can
master some conversational Lunda, aside from greetings, I won’t be having much
variety in people to converse with J The area here is comprised of four different tribes- Luvale
(which Margie speaks) Chokwe, Lochazi and Lunda (which I am learning). Chokwe
and Lochazi are different enough for the most part from Lunda, but I will have
to be careful not to pick up Luvale which has many similar sounding words.I am
really excited for this opportunity though, not just for language learning but
to live off the mission station and amongst the people around!
For the latter half
of next week, we will be travelling with several other local Christians to a
community about 4hrs away and camping there for 4 days as an outreach work. I
have been tasked with working out a bible lesson for the kids for one of the
days. :S I feel like I am back in grade
two trying to write a story for class. In order to be able to translate it, I’ve
had to keep the sentences very simple and most of my ‘translating’ is copied
from the Bible. Still, it’s been a great experience trying to read and
understand what I’m reading and adding words to my vocabulary and just trying
to figure out what the root of the words are and what the suffixes and prefixes
are and how they all fit together to make a comprehensible sentence. But I’m
sure I’m in for some good laughs with the kiddos and our fellow workers as I
stumble my way through this lesson.
I love that though.
Sometimes it’s difficult always being corrected. But I love being able to share
a laugh and a joke. It makes for good bonding and great memories. Sometimes I
think laughter is the glue of relationships. The people I can laugh with tend
to be the people I make the best and closest relationships with. And I have
been so blessed especially in these last few years, not just at home but here
also to count some of the most amazing people as ‘akwetu’ – my friends.
The two week delay,
afforded me the opportunity to be involved in another ortho day. Great
experience for learning how Chit MH works. Most of Thursday and Friday were
consumed with assessing ortho patients and then performing surgery. However,
being on ward rounds, I had the opportunity to manage the rest of the hospital.
There were a few bumps to sort out in the lab, the Colony and with some of the
staff, but these are the things that constitute learning and I feel I know
better how the hospital works.
Last week, I
developed a head cold which has hung on and is still quite heavy though we are
on day 10. Margie was to come over to Chit to pick me Friday, but other
transport became available and so I headed up to Loloma MH to wait for Margie
there. It was totally cool- I was to meet Alice White (missionary to Chavuma
MH) at the Chit Turn Off on her way from Chavuma to Loloma (basically, the
corner of the road in the middle of nowhere). But Shawn was heading in to Zambezi
Immigration which is nearby Chavuma so he agreed to take me and Alice said it
would be very convenient for her for me to be dropped off at another missionary’s
home in Zambezi. So off to Zambezi I went- which was great for me as I had my
report order stamped for another 60 days and I am in possession of it now which
is kinda important when travelling around in a foreign country. Anyway, as we
finished up our business there, I noticed a little old white lady walking out of
a building across the courtyard. Of course, when white is the minority chances
are it’s the person you’re looking for. Shawn recognized her and saved himself
a trip out to the Croudace’s to drop me. But it was just cool to see how God
arranges even the minutest details.
The visit to Loloma
also I think was my Father looking out for me. Jesus tells us that ‘our Father
knows we have need of these things’ and we are told also that “He gives to His
beloved rest”. Loloma was great! It was great to get to know Rebekah Flynn and
Naomi Poidevin and also a short visit with Paul and Eunice Poidevin, and also
with the other missionaries there. But the best part was the three days of
sleep. I almost slept night and day there, but its great especially with this
cold to have had that rest.
Study is to be my
main goal here, along with building relationships and learning about life here
in general. For me, it’s always a little bit scary to leave my comfort zone and
brave new people and new experiences, but the cool thing is, and I know I’ve
said this many times before, but even here in Katombi in a place so different
from where I started out in Toronto, even here my Father is with me, even here
His hand holds me, even here, I can be at home- why? Because even here He is
with me. How can I begin to explain the settled confidence, the peace that
comes from knowing this? This is the only reason that I am able to do these
things, the only reason face fear head on. Don’t
worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God and the peace of God
which passes all understanding shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus.
Let the adventures
begin!
The outside Kitchen
the facilities
Margie's home
The Chota where Margie runs her clinic
