MWANDI NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2011

Dear All,

WOW November and what a November it was. This was the first time we were honored by an International Company sending volunteers over to us. Wait for the drum roll……. Yes Siemens has done it, thanks to our very own Jenny Deacon who has been with us two times before (this being her 3^rd trip over!!). The last time Jenny was with us she went back to Germany and started work at Siemens and when her supervisor interviewed her and asked her what she was interested in she told him US AS IN MWANDI!!! What a gal and with that things were set in motion.

We had with us a very international group starting with Abhinav from India, Christian from Columbia (but works in the NY office), Chrisandra from Singapore (but works in the Munich office), Cynthia from China, Diana from Columbia, Markus from Munich, Mirja from Munich, Slavi from Bulgaria (but works in the Munich office),  Temenuga from Bulgaria (but works in the Munich office), Tobias from Munich, Willem from the USA and last but certainly not least our own Jenny, without her none of this would have been possible!! We thank her and the entire Siemens group for making this possible. We especially would like to thank Siemens who paid for all the airfare and all the funds they paid to us as well as paying the group while they were here I mean really WOW! November was looking really glum as we had no volunteers booked and when Jenny told me about them coming it was such a relief as a big hut would be built!

I have always had a dislike for big companies having really never worked for one that was International and as big as Siemens but Siemens has certainly changed my mind. Siemens rocks and the people of Mwandi have benefited from their charity thanks again Siemens!!!

They were all such wonderful people they all got along so very well, they did not all know each other prior to their coming out. And we got on with them very well indeed; they were just the dream group so to speak, and so very hard working. Tobias was like 6 foot 7 inches tall, so when the roof went up he just stood there and held the roof up no ladder was needed for him. Slavi was the fashion guy with his matching attire and Marcus has the cleanest teeth on the planet!

They were with us for only 12 days but with this group that is all the time that they needed. In addition to a big hut being built for a woman who’s husband had been killed leaving her with four children to take care of and a hut with the roof just about gone the walls were in very bad repair and I am sure it will be falling down any time now, they also worked in Kandyiana, the pharmacy, and the Mission pre-school.  Both Temenuga (Teme as we called her) and Jenny donated funds for Kandyiana.

The government has not sent any funds since Aug. and we now have to use the first of the donor money I had from Nick who was here in August with Dorrie to feed them. So I have to wait to see if the Government will be sending funds for their food before we think of doing something else, like repairs to Kandyiana.  Both Jenny and Teme wanted to buy new mattresses for them, but the social welfare dept. has said they were going to come in with new ones any day now but if they don’t, and we get funds from the Govt. then that is what I will do. Right now we are just struggling to feed them so I’ll have to keep you all posted.

I did use a bit of funds the girls gave me for a proper coffin from a friend in L’stone who is making these great coffins that look just like wood and they have the upper part that opens and screws on the top so you don’t have to nail down the top like we usually do. They are lined as well and have proper handles on them they are made from paper, he has this method where he does something with the paper and they come out really strong and look really good. For those of you who have not been here when we have worked a funeral, the coffins we get here are made the day the person dies they are just a wood box and they cost the same as the ones this guy makes and they are so much nicer. Well I got one for Kandyiana as it is just a matter of time till it will be needed I know that is not very nice to say but here it is a fact of life and I am so tired of burying my beloved old folks in a horrible ugly box. So we have one on stand by for when it will be needed.

We took the group to Shakletons one very hot afternoon, and the Germans did up proud, boy could they drink beer, much to Howard’s delight. They had a wonderful time and I have to say they not only could drink the beer they could hold their liquor as well, as I never saw any of them falling over just happy!

After they left it was like a tomb around here so quiet and we missed them all so very much they were just a wonderful group and I can’t say enough about them, every one of them was a delight to have, and I never heard any complaints from any of them.

The Chief was to meet with them but we are in the middle of a big Barotse Royal Establishment problem with the new Government and there was a big big meeting at the basic school here with lots of Government people from Lusaka trying to work through all the problems so the Chief, as much as he wanted to meet them was unable to do so but he did text me to say how sorry he was, but it would have been nice had he meet with them but can’t have everything.

The rains held off till they were gone but now they have come, along with the flying ants and all their wings they leave behind in the morning. But it’s just great we are getting the rains I just pray they continue like they should and everyone around here has a good harvest. Last year was not good at all and the harvest was so very bad.  

We had a visit from Lee, the coordinator from World Challenge and it looks like we will have them back again next year. He was a really nice guy and we had a great evening with him, then put him on the bus back to L’stone the next day it was a short stay but we took him to the huts his groups had built and he got to meet some of the families who let him go inside and see their new homes. 

Towards the end of the month we had a big Consistory meeting at the Church that I had to attend to give my report on all we (well you guys) had done since Feb of this year. It is so tiresome for me as I have to sit in uniform (and it was a hot day) and listen to all the complaints from all the little churches in our Consistory. Not complaints about us just about Church stuff and this and that and everyone has a say so it goes on and on and on. Lucky for me at about 1PM I was called out as Kandyiana had no meelie meal, they had lots of bags of maize but the miller was broken at the hospital and the meelies have to be taken to the miller at the Palace. Since it was a Saturday I just bought them a bag of meelie meal and then on Monday we took 100 kgs to the miller for them. But I got out of the meeting for lunch early came back to camp, ate, fought with the old goat and when I got back there at nearly 3PM they were just breaking for lunch!! I asked Rev. if I could give my report right after lunch so I could go attend to Dan and they said ok. So after I gave my report I left at about 4:30 the meeting did not end till after 8PM so I was lucky I got to go early! But still it was a long hot day, I don’t know how they sit there till 8PM it’s just too long. But they get feed a lunch by the women who were cooking all morning for all of them that is a big job!

We had a scare as well on that Sunday as Deaconess Lubinda (our old Deaconess who is like my mother in law) passed out at Church, she made it to the Vestry as she was in the front of the Church, and then collapsed. I was called out of Church to take her to the hospital and stayed with her till she came to and then they transferred her to L’stone right away to have a scan done as we don’t have the equipment to do it here. Ends up she had a bad kidney infection so they treated her and sent her back home a couple of days later and she is now just fine.

Ok now on a much sadder note our Beloved Reverend Lubasi in Livingstone passed away November 30^th in the hospital in Lusaka. He was a very close friend of mine and was the supervisor over Mwandi. He was the Reverend we were to have come here after Reverend Silishibo left but the Church in L’stone had such a fit the Church left him there but he was still Mwandi’s supervisor. It was such a great blow to me and I was one of the first to know as Rev. Manda knew how close we were and sent word to me right away. He was such a wonderful man and every time I saw him he would hold his arms open wide for me to jump into for a big bear hug I will miss him so very much. I ended up crying most of the day with Rev. Manda, Dorothy, Percy and just by myself. I did not even know he was sick or in the hospital. Rev. Manda said he had just spoken to him 2 days before and he said he was well and going back home in a day or so, and then we got the word he had passed away. He was not infected with HIV or AIDS and I am still not sure what happened. But I do know I will miss him so very much he was a wonderful human being with a big big heart and a big big smile always!

The funeral was to be held in Livingstone but at the last moment his parents said no he was to be transported to Sufela 2 days drive from here and where he was from. So I was not able to attend I am so sorry I could not go but it was impossible for me to do so. He leaves behind a lovely young wife and 4 kid’s one just a wee baby. She is still in Sufala but expected back this week. He will forever be in my heart and I will never forget his big smile and the big teddy bear he was! God rest his soul.     

I hate to end the newsletter on that sad note so forgive me.

I miss you all so much and pray you are all well and happy don’t forget us we will never forget all of you.

Much love and God Bless

Paula, Dan (old goat) Matt the staff and all the dogs and donkeys!!!!

Who We Are:  United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Mwandi Mission Partners is an organization that envisions all citizens of Mwandi having an improved standard of living that enhances their quality of life, maximizes their potential through increased opportunities in education and employment, increases life expectancy, reduces HIV transmission, and provides a safe and sustainable community 

What We Do: Our mission is to bring volunteers into the community to support existing programs and to provide resources to continue programs and develop new opportunities

What We Have Done:

Housing – In February 2011, Hut 50 was finished.  These are traditional termite mound mud houses with iron tin roof sheets.  Over 90% of the village houses are of this construction, but with grass roofs that leak in the first rains; so the houses do not last.  With the iron roofs, they can last for over 10 years with minimum maintenance.  Over 190 orphans have been housed with their elderly caregivers.  A whole generation has been lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the grandparent or other elderly family members must care for the orphans.  These elderly people have no means of support and no homes to care for the children.  Housing is critical as it gives the family some sense of dignity, protects them from the elements and mosquitoes (reducing the chance of Malaria infection), and improves their general health.

Safe water – A bore hole has been drilled to provide safe accessible water to the Mwandi community.

Education – Volunteers assist in various community educational programs.  Paula’s supporters help support children by paying the school fees and paying for their uniforms and school supplies.  The basic schools in Zambia only go to the 9th grade.  High school fees are high here and beyond the reach of most of the parents or grandparents at about US$400.00 a year.  Until last year, the closest high school was 50+ miles away, so students had to be boarded.  There is now a United Church of Zambia High School in Mwandi, so the cost has been reduced to only US$200.00 a year; as the students no longer have to board.  With the help of donors, 6 students have passed through high school.  There are now 8 in high school and 2 in the basic school.  Three have been put through to vocational colleges.

Seniors – Shelter and attention to basic needs is provided to seniors who do not have families to care for them.  They are housed in the Home for the Aged called Kandiyana (means “small village”).  These elders have out-lived most of their family and have no one to care for them, two are blind.  There is always a shortage of food and help to care for them.  Mission Partners helps with food and volunteers help the one caregiver there in cleaning the rooms and helping with the laundry that must all be done by hand.  There are currently 15 elders housed in Kandiyana

 Food Collection & Distribution – Assistance with food for needy families and people is provided.

 Camp development – Volunteers provide physical labor, financial assistance, and professional assistance to the community.  In turn, the camp strives to provide them with a comfortable, safe and secure base to work from.

Supporting the delivery of health care – Volunteer health care professionals provide their expertise to the community.  They work in the hospital, as well as in the outreach programs, going with the medical staff out to the rural villages for the under 5/prenatal clinics, as well as the HIV/AIDS clinics.  When the Mission Partners receive medical supplies, they hand all over to the hospital administrator who distributes them to the most needed areas.  The hospital is funded by Americans from various churches in the USA and by the Government of Zambia.

 What We Want To Do: The desire of the UCZ Mission Partners, Paula and their supporters is to continue with the completion of their mission camp, building homes for the neediest, saving lives, and making a difference in the Mwandi community.

Call Us 877 532 2919  317 614 7343 Skype