Mapenzi

Mapenzi: a Tonga word meaning

 “problems”

or

“troubles.”

Everyone faces problems in life.  For some it’s finances, for some it’s faith, for some it’s school…the list could go on. 

I want you to meet Mapenzi, a young boy in the village of Mukwela.  Yes, his name is Problems. - that is what was thought of when this boy was born.  In the short time we sat with him, I couldn’t get it out of my mind that his parents named him “Problems”.  He is in no way, shape, or form a Problem.  

He was quiet, respectful, shy.  However, his life has brought many problems his way.  Maybe his name was a foreshadowing of things to come.

His problem…

MAPENZI IS AN ORPHAN

His father passed away, his mother left.  He lives with his older sister and her family.  He cannot afford a uniform for school or school fees, so he cannot go to school. 

His daily life is a struggle – food, clothes, health care, and education.

Mapenzi has problems that are a constant part of his life.  All of these problems stem from poverty.  To every problem, there is a solution.  The solution for children like Mapenzi:

CHILD SPONSORSHIP 

Child sponsorship is a huge part of bringing hope to children in the developing world.    Right now, in Zambia alone, over 200 children are waiting for sponsorship through World Hope International.

A small sacrifice will bring great return

Jon and I have seen firsthand how $34 a month can 

transform the future of a child.

www.worldhope.org 

("Our Work"/"Hope for Children")

Nshima 101

Erin "helping" make nshima in Bulyambeba

Nshima (shee-mah), a main staple in Zambia, is made from dried, ground, white corn.  It’s similar in texture to cream of wheat or grits, just much firmer.  You ball it up with your hand in small pieces, dip it in “gravy” and enjoy it’s deliciousness!  The ladies of Bulyambeba (along with many others) have tried to tell me/show me how to make it…I have yet to try it on my own, but here’s what I've observed is the process:

1. Put a big pot of what over an open fire to boil
2. Mix in a little bit of “mealie meal” (the ground corn)
3. While trying not to cry your eyes out from the smoke from the fire or get burned by the flames, mix the mealie meal constantly…you may need to rotate around the fire and wipe the tears from your eyes, causing the women of the village to laugh profusely – at least they are amused.
4. After a little while (not quite sure how they gauge the time, they just seem to know when it’s right), add mealie meal to the pot one bowl at a time and KEEP STIRRING!  If you are adding the mealie meal for the person stirring (village sized pots are a two person job), just listen for the "Now!"
5. While adding more and more mealie meal, keep stirring as nshima takes form and thickens up.  If necessary, place your foot on the hot pot so it doesn’t tip over as you stir.
6. If you are not quite strong enough to stir the almost complete nshima (it gets pretty thick) or are too afraid to put your foot against the pot so it doesn't fall over, relinquish the big wooden spoon to someone who is so the nshima doesn’t get lumpy.
7. Once the nshima is ready, enjoy a huge portion with "gravy"...I'll have Jon teach you how to make that later (he's a much better cook anyway!).

And that’s how it’s done!  Easy, right???

24 Days, 3 Teams, 1 Malarial Experience

It has been an intense 24 days.  Time has flown by and much has happened…here are some of the highlights (and “low-lights)…

The Vision Team at Victoria Falls
(one of the perks of our job!)

Our first team to arrive came into Livingstone on May 20.  The “Vision Team” led by Karl Eastlack, had 2 pastors and 4 church members (all from South Dakota).  We were able to take them to 2 villages awaiting partnership from US churches  (Chimbo and Maunga) and one village that has been in the Village Parntership (VP) program since last year (Sialubala).  Our visits there were both sad and hopeful as we toured the communities, heard of their struggles and dreams and saw how they live daily life. 

The small girl in the green shirt and purple
skirt is my "snuggler"

While we were visiting Sialubala, there was time to sit around with the community while we were waiting for lunch to be ready.  It was hot that day, so I (Erin) ended up taking shelter in the shade of the church roof with many of the other village women.  I saw this little girl walking toward me.  She sat down by me and did something I never thought would happen in Zambia…she snuggled up right next to me.  She held a small piece of sucker in her hand that she would occasionally pop in and out of her mouth and had this deep, sickly cough that will never leave my mind.  Needless to say, I wanted to bring her home and get her healthy so she could grow into a beautiful, healthy woman. 

Jamie & Emily working on the
Hammermills

One day after the Vision Team arrived, Jon decided it was time to go to the doctor as he had not been feeling well for a number of days…the doctor confirmed that Jon had malaria.  He gave Jon the meds he would need, they talked a little about sports, and Jon left.  The malaria didn’t leave, though, for over 2 weeks.  He is finally feeling back to normal!

One day after the Vision Team left, we were on our way to Livingstone again to pick up 2 young ladies who would be building small, hand-powered hammermills for villages who don’t have access to one.  Hammermills grind up dried corn so that Zambians can make their staple food – nshima.  About 9 days of hard work later, one mill was delivered to a village and 2 are waiting to be finished.

Countryside home visit

Two days before the hammermill team left, our third team, Countryside (from South Dakota) arrived in Lusaka.  This church has been partnering in Zambia for a number of years and were able to celebrate 2 village graduations from the Community Orphan Trust program.  I (Erin) was also able to experience my first village overnight in Bulyambeba with this fine group of people (still being sick, Jon missed out, but got to go see his buddy, Dr Jain, again).  A four hour drive into the bush with a big bus, trailer attached, enough corn meal to feed the village 3 times over and, of course, a french roaster with Starbucks coffee for the morning made this trip one that I will never forget. 

Tracy from Countryside receiving thanks
for the gift of a blanket

From the women of a village trying to teach me to make nshima (my arms are not quite strong enough for that yet) to home visits with orphans and people living with HIV/AIDS – my heart was overwhelmed with:

Gratefulness -for new friends, the many blessings in my life, and good coffee :);

Sadness – for the children we met who no longer have parents, for the parents we met with HIV/AIDS who have passed that disease on to some of their children and

Hope – because we trust that God is bigger than the disease and poverty that is a part of our lives; because we see people who have a heart for the “poor and oppressed” with each team that we meet; and because of the transformation that is 

happening in villages we have the privilege of visiting.