This day we went to Julius Village. We planned to rotate through the day, different teams moving through different activities. This is a village of squatters from different tribes. They live quite far apart from each other in the bush. Over time one of the men has become chairman of the village and they have a committee to oversee things. There are a number of cement buildings, one of which is a schoolroom with a dirt floor and broken chalk board.
Most of these people do not speak English.
Our arrival in the village. Webster with his Super Kids Camp
Webster was with us this day and he did his usual Super Kids Camp introduction to the kids. Webster is so outgoing, energetic and enthusiastic that he gets all the kids singing and moving. They were already hugely excited by our visit. Webster really relates to the kids and they relate to him. After he does his intro then the chairman of the village spoke to us about the village. As soon as that ended we all split up into different groups for the activities.
My first assignment was literacy, we had a number of books to read to the children and to let them peruse. We read for a little while, then we handed out the books. After awhile it got a little crazy with the kids having the books and Innocent took the books back and we read to them some more.
Reading to the kids
One of the village girls. Innocent, one of the wonderful Zambian staffers.
While I was sitting on the edge of the group watching the kids reading a young boy carrying a younger boy came up to me and thrust the younger boy into my lap as he yelled out "worms." At least that is what it sounded like. I was completely startled because I had been concentrating on the reading group. As it happened the little boy jumped right back out of my lap and headed for his brother, he wasn't about to be separated from his brother as much as his brother wanted him to be. I have to say I was a bit relieved after hearing what I thought I heard.
About this time I was summoned to work in the medical clinic. I stood by the door and gave out wipes for the patients to use before I sent them to the right spot as the stations became available. I pantomimed wiping hands and the chairman stood opposite me and helped me by telling them what to do with the wipes, he also let them in one at a time. The people were lined up in a line to get into see the nurses (3) and our doctor. This day we were able to see all the patients, which was very gratifying. At a previous village, we had to leave before we could see everyone. What we could do for them was only a little bit that would only last for a little while. Just the fact that we saw them and listened to their problems made them feel better, I am sure. Those more seriously ill were referred to a Zambian clinic and hopefully they were able to go.
About this time I was summoned to work in the medical clinic. I stood by the door and gave out wipes for the patients to use before I sent them to the right spot as the stations became available. I pantomimed wiping hands and the chairman stood opposite me and helped me by telling them what to do with the wipes, he also let them in one at a time. The people were lined up in a line to get into see the nurses (3) and our doctor. This day we were able to see all the patients, which was very gratifying. At a previous village, we had to leave before we could see everyone. What we could do for them was only a little bit that would only last for a little while. Just the fact that we saw them and listened to their problems made them feel better, I am sure. Those more seriously ill were referred to a Zambian clinic and hopefully they were able to go.
The line outside the medical clinic and the doctor and nurses with a patient.
The village chairman at the door. The medical clinic building after we finished.
After the clinic was over the villagers brought out a few wares to sell. I bought a broom and a wooden carved mug.
Kathy had told us about a little girl with very serious eye problems that they had been watching in order to bring her to the CRC orphanage when the time was right. Today was that day, we left the village headquarters and went out into the bush of Julius village to Diana's home. We stopped the bus where we could see Dianna's home in the distance. Kathy went on ahead but motioned us to come, too. We all walked up the path to the huts that comprised Dianna's grandparents' home. We all gathered around the huts and the chicken house. I went sort of in back and stood on a rock with BJ. I felt very uncomfortable about being there and all of us gawking at this family. I felt we shouldn't be there and I told BJ how I felt. Kathy was beside me and they both told me that it was a very good thing to be there. This family had been shunned because other villagers thought they practiced witchcraft which was not true. For us to be there was an honor for them and lent great credibility to this family. This was the man who carved the wooden mug that I had bought in the village center. He was carving the mugs when we visited and he sold a lot of them to our team. This showed the rest of the community that they had all these new friends and these new friends spent a lot of money while they were in their home.
Kathy had told us about a little girl with very serious eye problems that they had been watching in order to bring her to the CRC orphanage when the time was right. Today was that day, we left the village headquarters and went out into the bush of Julius village to Diana's home. We stopped the bus where we could see Dianna's home in the distance. Kathy went on ahead but motioned us to come, too. We all walked up the path to the huts that comprised Dianna's grandparents' home. We all gathered around the huts and the chicken house. I went sort of in back and stood on a rock with BJ. I felt very uncomfortable about being there and all of us gawking at this family. I felt we shouldn't be there and I told BJ how I felt. Kathy was beside me and they both told me that it was a very good thing to be there. This family had been shunned because other villagers thought they practiced witchcraft which was not true. For us to be there was an honor for them and lent great credibility to this family. This was the man who carved the wooden mug that I had bought in the village center. He was carving the mugs when we visited and he sold a lot of them to our team. This showed the rest of the community that they had all these new friends and these new friends spent a lot of money while they were in their home.
Walking to Dianna's house and Dianna's home with her grandmother walking towards the camera.
Dianna's home and Dianna saying goodbye to one of her relatives, I am not sure if it is a sibling or not. If you can see, Dianna's eyes look very bad.
Dianna's grandfather, the carver of the wooden bowls.
Dianna leaving her home with Kathy and the other staff members and our bus on the rocky road to her house.
Today we were taking their granddaughter away to live somewhere else. We thought it would be a very sad moment but instead there was excitement that she was chosen to go to the CRC and get help for her eyes. They felt like they won the lottery. Both parents had died and it was getting difficult for the grandparents to care for her and the other children. Diana seemed very excited as she walked down the path to the bus. Kathy just recently gave me an update on Diana. She is doing great! Her eyes are about completely opened and her vision is improving all the time. She is very happy and giggles constantly.
While walking back to the bus Kathy said anyone who hasn't ridden in the back of the truck gets first chance to do so. I hadn't done it so I decided to go back in the truck. I am so glad I did because while it isn't something we can do in the US anymore, it was totally exhilarating riding down the African dirt, rocky roads with the wind in our faces in the back of a pickup truck . It was a feeling I will never forget, it was a wonderful African moment in time. We all really felt we were truly in Africa and feeling every bit of it.
Dianna leaving her home with Kathy and the other staff members and our bus on the rocky road to her house.
Today we were taking their granddaughter away to live somewhere else. We thought it would be a very sad moment but instead there was excitement that she was chosen to go to the CRC and get help for her eyes. They felt like they won the lottery. Both parents had died and it was getting difficult for the grandparents to care for her and the other children. Diana seemed very excited as she walked down the path to the bus. Kathy just recently gave me an update on Diana. She is doing great! Her eyes are about completely opened and her vision is improving all the time. She is very happy and giggles constantly.
While walking back to the bus Kathy said anyone who hasn't ridden in the back of the truck gets first chance to do so. I hadn't done it so I decided to go back in the truck. I am so glad I did because while it isn't something we can do in the US anymore, it was totally exhilarating riding down the African dirt, rocky roads with the wind in our faces in the back of a pickup truck . It was a feeling I will never forget, it was a wonderful African moment in time. We all really felt we were truly in Africa and feeling every bit of it.
The great truck ride!
Some miscellaneous notes:
A white person is called muzunga
Many young children suffer burns in the winter when they are crowded into the huts around the fire. They get bumped into the fire and the teapot spills on them.
The worth of money changes every day and money has an expiration date.
Quote of the day:
When people come from other countries from around the world, sometimes communication in a common language is impossible. the "language" of a simple touch and sympathetic glance, however, is universal.
M. Callopy
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