We Got Chicken….and this way to Velody’s…the extended version's

Friday started off as any other day so far, ‘Chuck’ the evil rooster waking me around 4 am (so now you know why ‘Chuck’ must die, as he would not only awaken me with his crowing, but with cock fights outside my door as well). Every morning as I awake my thought is, this day could not in anyway be better than the last (and every day it's proven wrong).
Breakfast is ordered to be ready at 7 and having it served in dribs and drabs and finally sitting to eat at around 8; this is after all still Africa and it looks like all countries in Africa run on “Africa time”. If you were to take a good look around, you would notice that maybe 1 out of 50 might wear a watch. Calmness, relaxation and a sense of Hankuna Matata are the norm, things we now lack in our hectic schedules, with phoning, and texting constantly. Although cell phones are a lifeline to most here, you‘d be in big trouble broken down in the wilderness without a way to call for help. I noticed when I returned after my trip last year, that things didn’t seem nearly as important, the rush to get here or there or get things done on time was not of major importance anymore. Of course I didn’t lose the need to be on time for most things, but a minute or two late was not going to send me into major stress attack. Perhaps this year will also add to my more easy going feeling. But I think perhaps I may just need to go back every year, just to top up the tank, so to speak! Please pass on to WV that Donna now needs a yearly trip to Africa to keep her mellow.

On our itinerary for this day, things looked pretty relaxed. It would be a change from the hectic schedule and perhaps save a few cramps and sores from the bouncing around in the back of the vehicle. If you have ever had to try and get in and out of a Land Cruiser, with it’s high step, low overhead, while trying to perform this feat in a skirt and in a lady like manner, well, you get the picture. There were of course the very (un) comfortable bench seats on either side, where we usually had to pack bags of gifts and numerous ADP staff usually ending with 5 or 6 per side. We were to have home visits in the morning, break for lunch at Trekkers and then resume home visits in the afternoon, broken into 2 groups. The day tends to remain a blur as it turned out to be our longest day, thus far, but with the help of my photo’s and the remembrance of the other team members, I think the essence has been recorded.
Our first visit was to visit Dumisani, one of Colin & Christy‘s sponsored children. He, his mother Cecile and a visiting nephew were sitting in the shade at the side of their hut, sharing a morning snack of avocado and potato. Home visits are always such a delight, watching these shy little ones become more animated as they get to know you and to learn from the parents about their lives, hopes and dreams. Our next visit was with another of Colin & Christy’s children, Naomi. Christy’s was so distraught, yet, comical as we left and she discovered that she had inadvertently picked up one of Naomi’s gift bags. She was urging Utant to head back, when Kingstone said to just stop and he would run it back to them, which he did, finding that the family had noticed it missing as well, and was coming the other way to try and catch up with us.
photo by Colin & Christy Zacharias
The next visit was to Jane the sponsor child of my friends Claudia & Mo. When we drove in, it was clear that the visit was much anticipated – every inch of their property had been swept with a grass broom. Jane was shy and unsure about this strange white person who had come to visit. I’m sure Claudia and Moe will receive wonderful letters though, telling of the experience. It was at the end of the visit that I was gifted with Henry, the rooster. Well, poor Kingstone was really having a day, because within few minutes, this shocked bird had pooped in the jeep and he seemed to be the only one willing to clean it up. The poor bird had his legs tied together and after another visit had managed to hop up on one of the seats, leaving behind more reminders of his fright. At one point his wing was shut in the door, with much squawking and human screaming, but thankfully he seemed no worse for wear. The WV staff accompanying us, seemed very perplexed by the Canadians concern for this animal that they were sure needed to become dinner one evening.
On to the next family, the sponsored child of Charmaine, Irene. This was another wonderful family group, who had cleaned their yard to perfection for our visit, and laid out mats (maize bags) to sit on. As Charmaine started her visit with Irene, Christy discovered her precarious younger brother, Joe and instantly fell in love, cuddling and playing with him throughout. Like children everywhere, some are shy and some are outgoing with Joe firmly falling into the later category. The father of this family was very wise and spoke with great understanding of the work that WV was doing to help his community. He had tears in his eyes as he spoke to us, and told us how appreciative he was to World Vision.

It was now nearing 1 o’clock so it was off for lunch at Trekkers, with a quick stop at the local ADP office in Zimba to drop of that poor harried bird, Henry. This had been another morning of back roads with much jouncing and bouncing, I was already feeling tired and sore and almost ready to join Henry for the afternoon at the office! Lunch was yet another experience in culture shock for me. As my kids have grown, one of their favourite questions upon arriving home from school is, “What’s for dinner?”. My usual retort has been, “fish head soup!” (Fish heads, fish heads, rolly polly fish heads, fish heads, fish heads, eat them up yum!) a matter of grossing them out I thought. Well, there before me, being served up and much enjoyed, were fried fish heads! As I tried not to look completely revolted, the WV staff sat picking out pieces and popping them into their mouths. I just had to sneak a picture of a plate, so I could show that “Yes Angela, people really do eat fish heads!” and it is probably considered a delicacy.

Now it was time to be off for 2 more visits, both being beyond the hospital we visited on our first days. The day was full of insane roads, but this stretch, beyond the hospital, was particularly treacherous. As we neared a portion of the school, near the hospital, we heard angels singing in the African wilderness -

The sweetest and most harmonious sound I had ever heard. Christy & I begged Utant to stop the jeep, and so, for a couple of minutes we sat, in what felt, the middle of nowhere and listened to the school choir sign a hymn, a most moving experience! We could tell too, that the choir appreciated an audience, becoming more animated the longer we stayed.
As Christy said, “Anyone who stays on the paved roads in Africa misses it’s heart.” We finally arrived to visit Kathy’s sponsored child, Christerbelle. The wait having been to long, I suppose for a child, she had wandered off to the garden with her mother until our arrival. Her little brother took off running to find her, and within a few minutes, along the grass path came this enchanting little girl. When she spotted Kathy, she ran into her arms like Kathy was the most important person in the world, come to visit. The look of wonder and love that filled Kathy’s face will be remembered by all of us for years to come.
photo by Colin & Christy Zacharias

It was getting quite late by now and African darkness sets in fast, so as much as we would have loved to have extended this visit we had to rush, so we would have time for the final visit of the day, to my Velody. The visit, as memorable for meeting Velody & his family, as his most inspired directions to his home, was short and sweet but I know, through letters (although he quickly informed me that he is not in school yet and to young to write) we will have a long and lasting relationship. Christy noted that Velody’s grandmother appeared at one point and leaned down to talk to him, she asked Lydia what was said to him and was told “She was congratulating him”. Sponsorship is not something of which to be ashamed, but something that the family, and it seems, the whole community takes pride in, a symbol of hope and a cause for a celebration.
As we left, the sun was slipping below the horizon and I for one, felt our day had been truly blessed with so many inspiring sights, sounds and words of wisdom.

photo by Colin & Christy Zacharias
The final fun of the day was our trying to find ways to kill time on the way back through the rough roads. We asked the ADP staff with us to sing the Zambian national anthem which they obliged, singing it in both English and Tonga, then it was our turn with the Canadian anthem. There was much laughter and it really helped to bond our groups and make the time pass. When the lights of Zimba where finally spotted in the darkening sky, we knew we had made it out of the wilderness and would soon be home.