Katombi- Finally

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