Bittersweet days

The past couple of weeks here in Zambia have been the busiest yet. A week ago today, I battled 24 stomach flu. Now looking back, it’s almost humorous because of how miserable I felt. It was probably 90 degrees in my room, and slept all day on the stone floor because it felt a lot cooler than my bed. Thankfully, that I felt back to normal the next day.

Last Wednesday (so over a week ago) our team planned an educational health fair at a local school. For my community nursing class, I presented on the topic of disabilities to a fifth grade class. Here in Zambia, there are many stereotypes about people who possess [especially] physical disabilities. Many times the people think the family is cursed or is punished for some type of sin. So in my teaching, I addressed these beliefs and challenged the students read the story of John 9:1-7. We then talked about how we should treat all, people even those with disabilities. On a side note, it’s interesting that although health in Zambia is universal (meaning that it’s pretty much free of charge to the people) there are many reasons that people don’t receive medical treatment. Transportation for people who live in rural villages is a major reason. The several times I’ve been in villages, I’ve seen different disabilities that could be treated with surgery and therapy. However, there’s so much more that plays into these situations. Anyways, I’ve been so learning so much!

Here is the poster I made to go along with my teaching at the school. 

Some of my students for the morning!

On Tuesday our team traveled to a village about two hours away from Choma. A branch of World Vision has been active in this community for about the past fifteen years. The leaders of this ministry were so welcoming to us; their staff took us on a tour all day of the different projects occurring in the community. Before this experience, my knowledge of World Vision was limited to child sponsorship. While this remains a large part of the organization’s mission, this NGO also works with the community on a larger scale. The World Vision staff members showed an irrigation system that helped the locals grow a garden, a large cooler for the fishermen to store and preserve the fish so that these men could make a profit off of their work. We visited a preschool also sponsored by World Vision. Besides seeing all the ways World Vision has empowered this community, I also saw my first wild African monkey! Unfortunately I didn’t get a great picture of him. Towards the end of this afternoon our team went to see the largest man-made lake in the world (I can’t think of the name right now!). The Zambians warned us against wading in the lake water because of crocodiles. Apparently, some of the animals here in Zambia are only cute from afar. An Indian doctor that we met a few weeks ago told some crazy stories of patients he had treated that were bitten by monkeys, hippos, crocodiles – you name it, he’s seen it.

Also last week our team said many goodbyes to our friends in Choma. Since a large part of our time in Zambia (almost 6 weeks) was spent in Choma, it was starting to feel like home. The goodbyes were rough; especially with our little friends at the orphanage. But I am reminded that Jesus loves those little children more than I ever could. And I trust that He holds each one of them so close to His heart. I took so many pictures the last few days we were together, so those smiles can stay with me forever.

Saying goodbye to my friends that lived in the village behind our compound. 

Our last Saturday with the girls from the No More Whispering group.

These girls. Make me want to move to Zambia. 

Our last day at the orphanage. I couldn't stop taking pictures, I want to remember these sweet face forever. 

These boys thought they were so silly ;)

On Friday morning, Zambia celebrated their 50^th year of independence. The Zambians refer to 2014 as the Year of Jubilee. Our team dressed up in our Chipolopolo (the name of Zambian’s soccer team) jerseys and our flag chitenges. I’m pretty sure – no, I know that we stuck out in the crowd. A bunch of white girls decked out in everything Zambian. We went to the center of town and watched so many people from the local community walk in a parade. One of my favorite parts of this was when the “Freedom Fighters” came in at the tail end of the parade. These were all men and women probably in their 70’s and 80’s that were alive when Zambia gained their independence. It was so fun celebrating this big day with the Zambian people.

The students marched in the parade with their schools. 

On Friday afternoon our team left for Macha. This is our second to last stop before we head home. Actually, two weeks from tomorrow we board the plane for home. It’s crazy to think that our time here in Zambia is almost up. Our nursing classes wrap up this week, so our team is pretty pumped about that. I’m feeling pretty bittersweet about everything – about leaving Choma, about leaving Zambia, and about going home. All I know is that I am reminded every day that I am so blessed to be here this semester!