Chisomo Drop-In Centre

Kabwata is in the planning stage of opening a home for girls. There is a man, Rev. Chilunjika who has a ministry to street children that has been helping Kabwata in some of these initial meetings.

A couple Saturdays ago a few of the members went out with him to the City market downtown just to observe the children. I had planned to go along with Leah, but was so sick that I could not go. The experience was eye opening to many of those that went.

Many of the kids in Lusaka on the street use Stickla. Glue that they used to get high on. The boys have it in smaller waterbottles and the girls put it in their chitenges. Leah said they met one girl (probably about 16) with her baby. The baby stays in the chitenge on the mothers back and therefore has the drug going into her system as well. Mr. Chilunjika was telling us that in the last few years there has been an increase in the pregnancy rate among the girls, it has become a status symbol for them to have a baby.

We made plans later in the week to stop by where Mr. Chilunjika works and have a meeting with him. He heads up the ministry at the Chisomo Drop-In center.
Leah had been communicating with him over email before she arrived in Zambia, so she was eager to see his ministry.



The drop-in center is, like it sounds, a place for street kids to just drop in. They can take a bath, wash their clothes and get a meal for both breakfast and lunch.





When we arrived, most of the boys that were there were sleeping. Mr. Chilunjika explained to us that at night when they are on the street they are just trying to get by and because it is cold they are not able to sleep. So they come here and sleep. They were just laying on the ground both outside and inside the rented house. When they come to the center they are automatically missing out on the money they could be trying to earn on the streets during the day.




We had a good meeting and Mr. Chilunjika shared their goals and desires for these kids. They work hard at reuniting them with their families and giving counsel before the kids go back into the home and after.
They have a Center, where if the kids are serious about getting off the street they commit to going there and living there. The drop in center is only in the daytime.
He said that there are kids who work on the streets during the day and then those that truly live on the streets, and that there is often just a thin line, or small amount of time before those that work there, end up there. Many of the kids come from the compounds.

After we finished the meeting, we were shown around the house and then were speaking with the man that does the cooking. He said that they have a teacher that volunteers twice a week but she did not show up that day. So we looked at the clock and determined that we had about 45 minutes before we had to leave. We offered to stay and Leah taught a very impromptu, (but good), lesson on spatial things and grammar. Directions, left and right which then worked on letters and having them write. Some of the kids don’t know how to read.

The Lord has really given Leah a gift in teaching and drawing people out and making them feel comfortable. I looked at the situation, and knew if it was just me standing there with a small group of teenagers, I would have had no clue what to do!
But she just jumped in and made it up as we went along, seeing what the needs are and how she could help, and I could clearly see she was loving it.

I enjoyed being a part of it, and helping but I know where my abilities are and that doesn’t seem to be it. I am much more “comfortable” jumping in and holding a baby or playing with little kids any day. It is great to see how the Lord gives us each our own “sphere” that we find particularly natural and easy to work in. Though it is good to expand and be stretched too.





Please pray for these street kids.
The boys are the ones that come mostly to the drop in center. They tend to keep the girls away, they see it as “their place” and don’t want them there.
Pray for the boys. Also pray for the girls who are these teen mothers. Mr. Chilunjika told us that there was a woman the police were trying to catch who was running a prostitution circuit. The girls would work for her and in exchange she would buy them nice clothes. It is so sad to hear. Their greatest need…The Gospel.

Shopping with rifles

Today as I was  walking into the grocery store to buy some milk and bread  I thought to myself  “this is strange. “

I saw 4 men carrying rifles and 3 security guards all at the same time. 

That might sound very strange to see at  the grocery store.

But the strange thing I was thinking, was that this is normal  and no longer strange!

 

They walk around the main “western” shopping centers, just guarding and patrolling.  Just a precaution and deterrent I guess.

Every bank has a guard hired from a security company that stands around outside the door and at the ATM machine .

 

So when I was walking, I was going past 2 ATM machines so their guards were together and then the 2 men that patrol one area were walking back with the 2 men that patrol the other side of the shopping center. So 7 men. In the beginning, and even our initial visit, It was very strange and a little scary, when you are unfamiliar with what is going on or the situation.

You just see rifles and all you want is some milk and bread. 

 

 

Street Vendors are the same way.

The first few weeks every time someone approached the car to sell something I felt strange. I didn’t want to look at them or what they were selling.

Now its fine, its normal.  I think the “ice broke”, one day when we passed the same intersection about 4 or 5 times within a couple hours.  After a certain point, I just laughed and smiled, “no, we still don't want  the Arabic monopoly game you are selling”.  I even know one guys name now, Lazarus.  James bought a hat from him the other day. He sells Zambia Souvenirs, hats and t-shirts. Leah was looking for some of those items, so I knew where to find him. So if you come visit we can go there and get something.  Now when we are stopped at the light he walks by with his wares,  and says “hello my friend. How are you today. How is the family?”

 

The thing is, they are so good at reading people. Almost every time I give a second glance, to one walking by or up ahead  thinking to myself, “do I need that?  Or maybe I could use that? “   instantly their face is right there at your window ready to negotiate the price.  And for me, even if I am interested and able to negotiate, the light is turning green in less than 60 seconds and that is way too much pressure.

 

 

The other thing I noticed recently was that I am getting used to being called, “Mama”. 

Strange I know,  and maybe a bit uncomfortable at times when they are either young guys, or old guys for that matter. And often when I am not with all the kids, so how do they know I am a mom?!

“Mama,  here is the paint you were buying.    Mama,  come buy this rice. Mama come see the apples today. 

Do you want potatoes Mama?”      All for “Good Price”,  of course!

 

 Women are the Mamas  and the white man is the Bwana. 

We had a man cleaning out the septic the other day at the house and he asked me what I wanted to do about a certain thing.  He said well you can decide because you are the bwana.

I said no, my husband is and he can tell  you what to do, he is the bwana.   (I am just the Mama)

Occasionally Enock will ask me something and then mention what the “ big man” said.  It still takes me a minute to figure out, “big Man” refers to James.  Good thing he is not really a “big” man or that could be bad. And it is a good thing that they don’t combine the Big and the Mama together.  That would be really bad.  

Faith Baptist Church

When Pastor Andy Dunkerton was here, he preached at Faith Baptist Church.
It is mostly a vernacular speaking church that occasionally uses english.

Faith Baptist is a church plant of Kabwata, started in 2008.

This is Pastor Chirwa and his wife Fanny and their two children


They are meeting in a rented classroom in a local school

More pictures of LMC

The internet was having trouble last night so I didn't get to upload these other pictures from the College.



First Day of class

The second day they met, there were about 5 more men.



This is a landmark in Kabanana, the water tower. This is on the grounds of the room that the school meets in. It is a great place because everyone knows where it is.

And they get to hear the sound of running water during the entire class. A bit of an irony I think because water is rationed to 3 hours per day. One hour three times a day that is. And here it is dripping out all day long.



Entrance to the area


The college rents one of the rooms in this building.




Pastor Curits Chirwa opening the first day

Lusaka Ministerial College

This week was the first week of class for the new Lusaka Ministerial College in Kabanana. This college is geared to train pastors who are in and around the compound area of Kabanana.

Kabanana is a poor area outlying Lusaka. There are many of these compounds around Lusaka. James along with Pastor Curtis Chirwa of Faith Baptist Church have been working to see the college established. Curtis is part of a church plant sent out from Kabwata.

The first week went very well and James said, "What a great blessing that the Lord provided for this college to start."

Providing training to men in Lusaka was a desire and plan for James in coming over, but we did not know how that was going to work out.
About a month or two into being here this all came together.

There is a mixture of Baptist and pentecostal pastors that are attending.
The classes for this semester and teachers are:
Introduction to Biblical theology - Victor Kanyense
Introduction to Christian Ethics -Issac Makashyini
the Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount- James
Legalism, Lawlessness and the Gospel of Grace - James
History of Christianity in Africa - Matthew Phiri

Invited In

While we were in the copperbelt, we were invited into children's homes. We spent the entire day driving around and observing and interacting.
It worked out very well. We had 3 women with us. Sharon Chisala, who has the most direct contact with the kids, and Lister and Mrs. Kabwe. Then Leah and I. We had a good system. I drove, and the Ndola ladies directed me on which roads to turn down. Then once we arrived at the homes I took pictures and occasional video while Leah took down notes.

This is Sharon, Leah and I at the end of a long day




Are you serious?
This is the road that we turned down and I asked that question. It was barely a 1/2 lane road and we were brushing both sides of the car with tall grass.


It opened up though on a beautiful spot. There was a banana plantation and a community school, and a well.

Joy community school


Water Well
When we came up to the well several kids were there with their buckets and pitchers getting water. Most of them ran away when they saw me coming and with the camera.





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We drove to most all of the kids homes. We were invited in. We sat in the living rooms and listened to the guardians and children tell us their stories.
It’s hard enough to hear when kids are orphaned, either one parent dies, or both parents. Or to hear of parents leaving them to go work.
But to spend all day hearing so many stories, each one sad and unique. Each one deserving its own place to be sympathized with, not just all lumped together into one group of “orphans”, or those without their parents.

I just wanted to post some pictures and tell you a little more to give you an idea of what we experienced.

Of the homes we visited, only about 3 or 4 had electricity, and I think only one home we were in had a toilet. So no running water for most all of them either.
We were greeted warmly at each home and then brought into their living room. Most all of the homes were very dark inside. A few of them, so dark that it took several minutes for my eyes to adjust and even see around the room. On several occasions I would try and open the door a bit more to let more light in to get a picture, or lift the curtains back briefly.

A few houses had a room that was their “kitchen”. The place where they store their food, dishes, utensils, etc. But no refrigerators, or cook tops, ovens, etc. They cook their meals outside over a coal fire. A few homes had a specific area outside that they used to cook.

After we finished our time in the living rooms, we would ask to see the children’s bedrooms. After the second home we then started asking if we could see where they “sleep”. Realizing that the room might not actually be their “bedroom” as we would think of, or even “theirs”.
In the first couple of homes, we could tell it actually was the child’s room. But after that, the majority of the kids had a shared room with everyone in the house, along with all the clothing, and any item that was not in the kitchen and living room. So for some, it was a bike in their room. Buckets. Miscellanea. One girl had a page from a catalog or a sales flyer for toys, taped to her wall.
We also were taking note of whether or not they had a mosquito net.

A few children had actual beds. But beyond that, we were led into rooms where there was just a blanket , or a reed mat with a blanket on the hard concrete floor.
You know this happens all over the world. But when you are invited into someone’s home and life it becomes much more than just a statistic or a story.

One boy lives with his grandfather. His mom died in the hospital when her second child was born. She had a c-section with the first and the way the c-section was performed with the second child, led to her death. As well as the second child dying a couple months later in the hospital. So he has lived with his grandfather for many years.

Another girl lives with her aunt and uncle and cousins. Her mom died when she was 18 months old. Everyone in the family knows that she is “orphaned” except her. We suspect she knows though and has been very distant and not knowing how to relate to her aunt and uncle through what we heard of her interactions. It was very sad to listen to the aunt talk to us, knowing that she has intended it for her good, and loves her as her own, but has kept this information from her. She is close to being a teenager and we encouraged the “auntie” or mother to tell her the truth, since even her younger cousins know.

Another sibling group, -in discussing the health situation of their girl, found that the mother ( father died) knows the girl is HIV positive but has not taken her to the clinic to start treatment.
We found out this same “mother” has brewed beer in her home and been accused of running a gambling ring.
In discussing this matter with the deacons at GRBC, we see the difficulty in supporting the children in school and sponsoring them when the guardians and the home environment are running counter to what they are trying to see achieved.

One of the homes we went to was in the “Habitat Community”, A group of homes built by Habitat for Humanity.
The home belonged to a grandmother who has 6 children and 6 grandchildren living in the home. Of the 6 grandchildren, 3 are supported by the Hope for the Afflicted Ministry.
3 sisters. 2 of the 3 are HIV positive.
We were invited into their home and sat in their living room talking with their grandmother and the girls. Heartbreaking stories. The older sister was very sick with malaria when she was 3 years old, it ended up that she needed a blood transfusion and was given 2 units of blood. That’s how she contracted the disease. The other sister received it from the mom, most likely, at birth. The mom died shortly after having tested positive at the clinic, but unable to afford the ARV drugs at that time.
When we asked the youngest, 8 years old what she dreamed of being when she grew up, she said, “a truck driver”. Sounded sweet enough for a child’s dreams. It wasn’t until I was watching the video I took at her home later that I caught what she was saying. I heard the grandmother say that her dad was a driver.
Her dream was that she wanted to be like her dad…

You might think it’s easier not knowing those things. It’s easier not seeing those children, or hearing their stories because your heart just breaks.
I have heard people say in relation to those types of situations, something to the effect of, “I just couldn’t handle that. It would be too hard. Too sad.”
Well yes and yes it is.
Yes it’s easier, and yes it is too hard and too sad, and yes you can’t handle it.
Easier to not know, or think about; but is that really better?
The blessing though is that in knowing Christ, you are not the one handling it anyway.

So we were “successful” in finding out a little more information on the children and seeing where they live. But it was hard, and it was sad. But it was a good thing...to be invited in.






At one of the homes, we entered in and all the neighborhood kids stood at the doorway peeking in.



Different Homes




















Habitat homes




Grandfather



They put the maize ( corn) up on the metal roofs along with groundnuts (peanuts) to dry. They will leave them there for months sometimes. Then the maize is taken down and pounded into the mealie meal.



Kitchens in different homes















Bedrooms

A few pictures from SOS Village (in Lusaka)

We went to the SOS childrens village with Leah on Sunday for Sunday School. Emma does especially well with the little ones. She held one on her lap during the lesson and then 3 wanted to hold her hand at the playground afterward. Jackson was pretty cute because he saw the swings and kept asking to swing. So after the service he ran over and played on the playground. (First time in 3 months)



A few more from the morning.




This one little boy was sitting one child away from me. I had one on my lap and had my arm next to his. He took it and wrapped it tightly around him.
Then a couple times I had to get up to help with crowd control and he would get up and follow me to the next place I sat down at. So sweet.
I think here, he was playing and got dirt on his face.