Today our team said goodbye to Choma and the wonderful Zambians who we have spent the last two weeks with. Our work is done and everything is now in the hands of those who remain in Choma. We certainly intend to return though, there are many good opportunities for the MED group to get involved.
The papermaking and tie-dye co-op seems very excited about their new business opportunity. They have received training in both the artistic and business aspects of the project. It appears like they have really taken ownership of the project, and two of the leaders were part of Thursday's meeting with the Choma Museum. They were all very excited that Choma Museum has agreed to market their products. We think this market outlet could prove to be very profitable, because at least 10,000 people visit the museum annually. The museum also sells products through their website, http://openentry.com/cmcc/EN/100001.html. The chairman of the co-op, Derek, gave a farewell speech to our group on Friday morning, in which he asked for our continued prayers and support.
We traveled to Livingstone this morning (along with Ron and Erma Herr) where we are staying through Monday morning. Our team spent the whole afternoon at Victoria Falls - it was absolutely beautiful! We were of course amazed by the height of the waterfall, but even more so by its width. I'm still not sure exactly how wide it is, but it was longer than we could see. Of course, we didn't have a clear view because the air was constantly full of mist. I was the only one who didn't bring or rent a rainjacket, and I got thoroughly soaked!
Our team walked to the long bridge that spans the Zambezi river, connecting Zambia and Zimbabwe. After walking over to the Zimbabwe side, and a couple of us walked well into Zimbabwe (until we neared the immigration checkpoint). We met this awesome Zimbabwean named King George who is an actor and musician, who told us many of his neat life stories. We also watched people bungee jumping off the bridge, which was pretty sweet!
On the way back to our lodging, Chris and I were let off in town to look into bus tickets to Botswana (that's going to be tomorrow's little adventure). As we walked back to our lodge, we stopped at a row of craft stalls. By the time we left 1 to 1.5 hours later, we had pulled off the most impressive and fun business deal of our lives. In a nutshell, I traded the very shoes off my feet plus 1,000 K (about 30 cents) for a drum, two wood carvings of traditional Zambian masks, and a Zebra wall hanging! Chris and I worked together to negotiate the deal, and one Zambian craft dealer went home very happy to have a pair of nike tennis shoes from America. The whole bartering process was fun for all of us as we went back and forth trying to work a fair deal. The process was so entertaining that other crafts dealers gathered around to watch! I realized how tender my feet are when I had to walk back from town barefoot...
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
A week in Choma and Simaubi
So it has been an eventful few days. Starting with Monday, which was the first day of the week for tie dyeing. The whole business team had the opportunity to be there as well. Derick was chosen as the leader of the group, Watson as the secretary, and Eness as the treasurer. After the paper making workshop, the group headed into town to do some shopping. The Spar was the main destination to pick up some food, as well as the internet café and the local market, which was a very cultural experience. So many vendors were present selling fruit, clothing, and other little items. Monday night we got to meet up with some people from Messiah at the Herr’s and had dinner together which was great. Andrea, one person in the group, ended up riding to Macha with the business team on their way to Simaubi.
On Tuesday, the car to Macha was packed, but we viewed it as team bonding. Anyways, once the business team got to Simaubi, there was a workshop for basic business and marketing led by Chris and Shannon. About 55 people attended and it seemed to be received well. The team members (Ron, Shannon, Matt, and Chris) stayed in various community members homes and then held another workshop the next day. This workshop focused on record keeping and was lead by Matt. About 65 people attended. After a meal of enshima, cabbage, chicken, and guinea fowl, and the goodbyes the team was headed back the bumpy road to Choma.
Back in Choma, Tuesday and Wednesday were quite eventful for the art team and J-Lynn. Tuesday was paper making and Wednesday was tie dye. On Tuesday there was a brush fire near the house which drove out a python about 3 feet long. A few local people killed it.
The business team got back Wednesday night and the whole group had antelope stew over at the Herr’s. It was good to be back as a whole group again. Today holds training in business for the leaders of the paper making group as well as another trip to town. The meeting with the Choma Museum today was very successful and all positive things happened.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Paper Making and Enshima
It's been a week since we updated the blog and so much has happened. Internet here is a scarce commodity otherwise we would have updated the blog every day.
Last Tuesday and Wednesday the business students and J-Lynn traveled out to Simaubi, a collection of tribal villages that are located two hours into the bush. There we met with community leaders, shared enshima, and lived in mud huts with the locals. Our purpose in being there was to get to know the people and learn from the business experience and knowledge they have. Most of the people are subsistence farmers who, with a bad rainy season, are struggling to get by. However, this hasn't appeared to affect their generosity and hospitality.
We met with 50 people from the community to learn from them what they want and need to learn about business in order to improve their well being. They were all extremely interested in everything we had to say.
We spent the weekend preparing lesson plans in anticipation for our return to the village tomorrow. Shannon and I will be teaching the people about basic business and marketing skills, while Matt will be introducing them to record keeping and accounting skills. We think that one of the concepts that will be most beneficial for them is the idea of profits.
The art department has also had a fantastic week working on the hand made paper project. They are working with 10 people who are "living positively with HIV and AIDS" on a small business that will help the people support themselves. The group has come together quite nicely and is diligently learning the skills of paper making and tie-dying in hopes of selling their products to tourists through the country. They just finished the first products which look great!
Our week has been busy but God has been showing himself faithful by giving us plenty of energy and encouragement. The people here are kind and sweet and have made our work thoroughly enjoyable.
Chris
Last Tuesday and Wednesday the business students and J-Lynn traveled out to Simaubi, a collection of tribal villages that are located two hours into the bush. There we met with community leaders, shared enshima, and lived in mud huts with the locals. Our purpose in being there was to get to know the people and learn from the business experience and knowledge they have. Most of the people are subsistence farmers who, with a bad rainy season, are struggling to get by. However, this hasn't appeared to affect their generosity and hospitality.
We met with 50 people from the community to learn from them what they want and need to learn about business in order to improve their well being. They were all extremely interested in everything we had to say.
We spent the weekend preparing lesson plans in anticipation for our return to the village tomorrow. Shannon and I will be teaching the people about basic business and marketing skills, while Matt will be introducing them to record keeping and accounting skills. We think that one of the concepts that will be most beneficial for them is the idea of profits.
The art department has also had a fantastic week working on the hand made paper project. They are working with 10 people who are "living positively with HIV and AIDS" on a small business that will help the people support themselves. The group has come together quite nicely and is diligently learning the skills of paper making and tie-dying in hopes of selling their products to tourists through the country. They just finished the first products which look great!
Our week has been busy but God has been showing himself faithful by giving us plenty of energy and encouragement. The people here are kind and sweet and have made our work thoroughly enjoyable.
Chris
Monday, May 26, 2008
Choma!
After our crazy day on Friday, we decided to take it easy on Saturday morning in Lusaka before traveling to Choma. We spent some time talking about our reflections on the previous day. Everything that we saw on Friday was so different from the norms we experience back at home that we struggled in knowing what to take away from that experience. Our goal is to take what we learned from MEDA and ECLOF and apply that knowledge to the economic development activities that we will be working with in Choma and the surrounding regions.
We began our journey to Choma in our Super 16 van around noon on Saturday. The trip took about 3-4 hours which went my very smoothly. We enjoyed seeing the Zambian countyside and just taking in all the scenery.
After unpacking our bags in the Brethren-In-Christ Guesthouse where we are staying, we went over to the house of Bishop Hamukangandu for dinner. We were served a lovely meal consisting of authentically Zambian food. The staple is a starchy, cornbread-like substance that is tasteless yet filling. You are supposed to break off a piece of this meal, roll it up in your palm, flatten it, then use it to scoop up the other food on your plate. We ate rice, chicken, rape, and salad, with cinnimon buns (admitedly American) and coffee to top it off.
Our team very much enjoyed Church on Sunday morning. The Zambian people were warm and friendly and seemed very happy to have us there. We heard native worship music in the Tonga language which was great! It was hard at times for us to follow the words, even though we had little songbooks right in front of us. The sermon spoke very specifically to major issues in the Zambia culture, such as multi-generational sin, adultry, the practice of relatives taking the property of a widow after her husband dies, and even the importance of naming children when they're born.
Sunday night we went over to the house of Ron and Erma Herr, the BIC missionaries we're working with. They have a small gathering of young adults that meets weekly. We had a great time getting to know Chulwe, Alex, Sidney, and Matimba.
Today we are going to town to buy food, as well as supplies for the paper-making activities that will begin tomorrow. We have a planning meeting this afternoon with 6-10 church pastors who will be providing some oversight to the paper-making training.
We began our journey to Choma in our Super 16 van around noon on Saturday. The trip took about 3-4 hours which went my very smoothly. We enjoyed seeing the Zambian countyside and just taking in all the scenery.
After unpacking our bags in the Brethren-In-Christ Guesthouse where we are staying, we went over to the house of Bishop Hamukangandu for dinner. We were served a lovely meal consisting of authentically Zambian food. The staple is a starchy, cornbread-like substance that is tasteless yet filling. You are supposed to break off a piece of this meal, roll it up in your palm, flatten it, then use it to scoop up the other food on your plate. We ate rice, chicken, rape, and salad, with cinnimon buns (admitedly American) and coffee to top it off.
Our team very much enjoyed Church on Sunday morning. The Zambian people were warm and friendly and seemed very happy to have us there. We heard native worship music in the Tonga language which was great! It was hard at times for us to follow the words, even though we had little songbooks right in front of us. The sermon spoke very specifically to major issues in the Zambia culture, such as multi-generational sin, adultry, the practice of relatives taking the property of a widow after her husband dies, and even the importance of naming children when they're born.
Sunday night we went over to the house of Ron and Erma Herr, the BIC missionaries we're working with. They have a small gathering of young adults that meets weekly. We had a great time getting to know Chulwe, Alex, Sidney, and Matimba.
Today we are going to town to buy food, as well as supplies for the paper-making activities that will begin tomorrow. We have a planning meeting this afternoon with 6-10 church pastors who will be providing some oversight to the paper-making training.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Cure International, MEDA, and ECLOF, on 4 hours of sleep
Yesterday was our first full day in Zambia. We spent our time in Lusaka where we visited the Beit Cure International Hospital. The hospital, which was built last year, offers free care to children who are affected by physical disabilities. Most children stay for a week while they prepare, undergo, and recover from surgery. While they are at the Cure Hospital mothers are trained and equipped to start their own micro business. With the help of the staff and a starter kid mothers are trained in tie dying so that they can sell their products and provide for their families.
After that we traveled to Kafue where we visited a Kennith, man who started his own treadle pump business. His energy and entrepreneurial spirit was a real encouragement to us, who heard that there was no spirit of innovation in Zambia.
From there we traveled 30km on beat dirt roads to a tribal village where we visited farmers using the treadle pumps created by Kennith. These farmers are clients of MEDA who are using the pumps to drastically improve the efficiency of their plots.
Clarance, a loan officer for the micro finance group ECLOF, introduced us to a group of his clients that work in a market in Kafue. It was fascinating to see how the group of 55 clients has used its micro loans to improve and expand their businesses.
The learning done through our various visits was more than anyone could possible absorb in one day. It was such a tremendously rich experience and I can honestly say I learned more about life and development yesterday then I typically learn in a semester at college.
Our time here in Zambia has had a great start and we look forward to traveling south to Choma today.
-Chris
After that we traveled to Kafue where we visited a Kennith, man who started his own treadle pump business. His energy and entrepreneurial spirit was a real encouragement to us, who heard that there was no spirit of innovation in Zambia.
From there we traveled 30km on beat dirt roads to a tribal village where we visited farmers using the treadle pumps created by Kennith. These farmers are clients of MEDA who are using the pumps to drastically improve the efficiency of their plots.
Clarance, a loan officer for the micro finance group ECLOF, introduced us to a group of his clients that work in a market in Kafue. It was fascinating to see how the group of 55 clients has used its micro loans to improve and expand their businesses.
The learning done through our various visits was more than anyone could possible absorb in one day. It was such a tremendously rich experience and I can honestly say I learned more about life and development yesterday then I typically learn in a semester at college.
Our time here in Zambia has had a great start and we look forward to traveling south to Choma today.
-Chris
in transit,
Airports.
Dreadful places that make you feel like your being scolded by your kindergarten teacher for something foolish. I found out that a Nalgene stuffed with electronics raises enough suspicion to call four security officers to the x-ray and have my bag partially unpacked.
Seven hours to England followed by an eight hour run-around London lay-over. London was a landscape of the medieval and modern stacked one atop another. Then ten hours of plane travel, and finally, Lusaka, Zambia.
The very kind Ron Herr picked us up in a Toyota “Super 16” van, a vehicle we will soon know well. Lusaka is a buzzing place. Vans, bicycles, and so many on foot. Men walk through traffic selling sunglasses, board games, and plungers. Cement walls are boldly painted with advertisements, of all colors and font varieties.
It is a place of extreme contrasts: strip malls, complete with a Shoprite and Subway, and new construction, as well as roadside peanut sellers, sprawling shanty towns, and brightly painted local stores. While buying fabric dyes, the man behind the counter is amused by our seriousness and the Indian tore owner convinces us of the fine quality of the product.
Our stomachs are full of Chinese food and the weather is beautifully clear and cool. Tomorrow we head to Cure International Hospital and continue to learn about Zambia.
We find ourselves quite worn out from all the travel but eager to experience what the Lord has in store for us. Thank you for your prayers.
-Lindsay
Dreadful places that make you feel like your being scolded by your kindergarten teacher for something foolish. I found out that a Nalgene stuffed with electronics raises enough suspicion to call four security officers to the x-ray and have my bag partially unpacked.
Seven hours to England followed by an eight hour run-around London lay-over. London was a landscape of the medieval and modern stacked one atop another. Then ten hours of plane travel, and finally, Lusaka, Zambia.
The very kind Ron Herr picked us up in a Toyota “Super 16” van, a vehicle we will soon know well. Lusaka is a buzzing place. Vans, bicycles, and so many on foot. Men walk through traffic selling sunglasses, board games, and plungers. Cement walls are boldly painted with advertisements, of all colors and font varieties.
It is a place of extreme contrasts: strip malls, complete with a Shoprite and Subway, and new construction, as well as roadside peanut sellers, sprawling shanty towns, and brightly painted local stores. While buying fabric dyes, the man behind the counter is amused by our seriousness and the Indian tore owner convinces us of the fine quality of the product.
Our stomachs are full of Chinese food and the weather is beautifully clear and cool. Tomorrow we head to Cure International Hospital and continue to learn about Zambia.
We find ourselves quite worn out from all the travel but eager to experience what the Lord has in store for us. Thank you for your prayers.
-Lindsay
Monday, May 19, 2008
Packing Party!
The anticipation and excitement for our trip to Zambia has been growing for weeks. Our journey into the heart of Africa begins tomorrow. Today the seven of us got together in the basement of Frey Hall to pack our bags and prepare for the trip. With a belly full of brownies and 13 bags packed full of clothing, food, and art supplies, we are all ready to go.
We leave Messiah College at 6:00 tomorrow night and head to BWI where we will be catching a late night flight to London's Heathrow airport. Then we have another 16 hour flight from London to Lusaka, Zambia.
Over the next three weeks we will be trying to overcome technical barriers to keep you up to date on what our team is doing in Zambia. We are extremely appreciative of all our supporters, friends, and family back in the states. Without your prayers and your support this trip would not be possible. We ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers as we embark on this journey.
Please pray that our flights would work out smoothly and that we wouldn't loose and bags.
Thank you!
We leave Messiah College at 6:00 tomorrow night and head to BWI where we will be catching a late night flight to London's Heathrow airport. Then we have another 16 hour flight from London to Lusaka, Zambia.
Over the next three weeks we will be trying to overcome technical barriers to keep you up to date on what our team is doing in Zambia. We are extremely appreciative of all our supporters, friends, and family back in the states. Without your prayers and your support this trip would not be possible. We ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers as we embark on this journey.
Please pray that our flights would work out smoothly and that we wouldn't loose and bags.
Thank you!
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