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Team Zambia
Tuesday, 6 February 2007
Debriefing
Now Playing: Kari
On Friday we said goodbye to the students and wrapped up our work at Northrise (for now :)). 
 
The next day we travelled to Livingstone for our debriefing time.  Laston Hamoonga -- the business manager at the University -- and his wife Nora accompanied us.  We continue to learn so much from them -- they are delight to be with.
 
So many things to tell you...  I hope you can wait until we get home.  We're already planning an event at my house In March to show you pictures and to tell you the stories of what we have seen -- and what may be yet to come.  There is SO MUCH opportunity here!
 
Get your calendars out and reserve time in late June 2008.  We're planning to come back then.  And I told my students I would come to their graduation -- so if you're a planner like me, mark your calendar for April 2011.
 
What a gift we have been given to come here.  While we have spent time "debriefing", I know the full impact has yet to hit.
 
Our bags are packed and we're headed to the airport -- Livingstone to Jo-berg; then Dakar, Senegal for a quick stop; on to Washington D.C.; then on to LAX (scheduled to arrive at noon on Wednesday).
 
With love,
 
Kari

Posted by teamzambia at 9:50 AM PST
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Thursday, 1 February 2007
Northrise University
Now Playing: Boog

The internet has returned and so have we.  There is so much to share but brevity will be our guide. 

Today is the last class with my African friends.  They call me Professor, which has still not become normal for me, but I call them friends.  I will miss them.  But, because of commitments and projects that we share we will hav to stay in touch.  

 As I stand in front of the class and see not only their minds and hearts expanded I have an unusual out-of-body experience.  My mind leaves my body and moves about ten feet out so that I can see myself down below.  What has God done to allow me to be a teacher to the future of Africa?  

 He is good.


Posted by teamzambia at 11:13 PM PST
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Mukinge update
Now Playing: Ian

Well, we made it back from Mukinge.  We flew out there in a 4-seat Cessna 206, landed on a grass runway, and spent approximately 24-hours visiting a bush hospital run by volunteer missionary doctors.  (Actually within the past month they have just hired their first native Zambian doctor since starting the hospital in 1951.)  Most of the staff there was Canadian/American/British, but there was also a team from Denmark setting up a satellite internet connection.  The hospital is funded almost entirely by donations (the government pretty much says "hey you're a private hospital...  do it yourself" even though they're providing free medical care to the rural poor), and even though things are tight they seem to be doing very well keeping a 250-bed hospital running on $12-$14,000 per month budget.  (!)  They appreciated the supplies we brought; in fact one of the managers said they were down to their last 10 IV cannulae (n eedles for starting IV's) -- we brought them another 4 boxes.  We spent time with them talking about their long-term needs (housing for staff, surgical specialists, skilled laborers), and hope to be able to find ways to support them in the future.  One of the specific things that came up was that the hospital chaplains didn't have Bibles for patients to use (~$8 apiece), so we left them some money for that.  They are definitely doing good work -- both in content and in being effective & efficient -- and seem to be an excellent model for missionary medical work.  Their community HIV/AIDS outreach program has actually managed to destigmatize the disease to the point that people are willing to come receive treatment!  (The program is also plugged in to American pharmaceutical companies that provide anti-retroviral [ARV] therapy.)  Amazing.  I wish I had some barrel rolls to report, or that the pilot let Paula and I jump out of the plane in to a lake full of hippos or something cool like that, but the flight was very smooth and uneventful.  Amy did well, although I did manage to make her cry before we got on the plane when I told her that the pilot had to "tighten the wings before we left".  OK... bad timing, I'll admit it.  But she forgave me and ended up even enjoying the flight (I think).
 
Since returning we have met with a "local" doctor (actually a surgeon from Ukraine, but working in Zambia for years) and a nurse who has been working with Northrise in preparing plans for the university medical clinic.  It looks like most of the groundwork has been laid for the on-campus office ('Phase I')...  now we'll see if we can help take them from boxes & supply sheets to a functioning clinic serving the students & staff of Northrise!  It is exciting to see what the Lord is doing over here, and even more exciting to be a part of it.  "Come and see..."
 
-ian

Posted by teamzambia at 11:30 AM PST
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Tuesday, 30 January 2007
God is here
Now Playing: Kari
Hello friends and family,
 
Sorry you have not heard from us in a few days.  Northrise University lost its internet connection (to a lightening strike) a few days ago.  (I am at an internet cafe.)
 
We are well.  Amy, Ian and Paula flew to Mukinge Hospital on Friday.  Find a map and look for Kasempa.  I'll let them fill you in...suffice to say it was great.  God is present and caring in the bush of Zambia.
 
We attended a church in one of the squatter townships last Sunday.  And then visited the future site of the University -- and stood on the foundation of the first dormitory!  Hard to describe.
 
We visited a school today -- and I want all of you to come see it.  Faithful people serving the kids and the community with very limited resources.  A soccer ball means the world!
 
As I type, Ian and Amy are meeting with a group of doctors -- and Paula is telling her story in Boog's class.  I am working this week on the "processes" at the Univ.  It's wild to be doing my "real job" in Zambia.  I love it!  I miss my students (our class finished last Friday), but I see them most every day in the hallways and dining room.
 
So much more to day...  For another time.
 
Love to you all...and deep gratitude for the opportunity to come here.  At chapel yesterday the student choir sang, "Come and See What the Lord Has Done."  I will be coming back to Zambia -- and I want you to come and see what the Lord has done!
 
Kari

Posted by teamzambia at 9:37 AM PST
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Monday, 29 January 2007
Lightning Strikes!
Now Playing: Stacy (not in Zambia)

I wanted everyone checking this blog to know that the Internet is currently down in Zambia due to lightning.  It should be back up by Tuesday, but nothing is for sure.  If there are no blogs until later this week, this is why. 

We heard from the team this morning.  A plane ticket has gone missing, so please pray that they will be able to get it reissued without having to pay an arm and a leg.

We love you guys and trust that God has you in His control!

Stacy 


Posted by teamzambia at 3:57 PM PST
Updated: Monday, 29 January 2007 4:02 PM PST
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Friday, 26 January 2007
From Paula...
Hello....

Greetings from Ndola. Sorry for not writing sooner. We've seen and experienced a lot and I wanted to wait a bit to digest it and sort it out before writing. Not sure I have clarity even yet. All I know is that it's heavy over here. One is constantly burdened with the presence of poverty, pain...and needs that aren't being met. It's wearing because you want to help. How do you look at person after person, in the eye, when you yourself are well, and taken care of, healthy and strong, have all you need at your fingertips....and they don't. Sometimes I find I can't look them in the eye. I want to smile. I want to engage. And yet I can't. My smile only patronizes their situation...their life, their reality. I'm only passing through. I go home in 2 weeks, and this IS their life. Even though I care, and I'm here to see how I can help, it's obvious they don't know that. They just look at me. I'm western. I'm wealthy. I'm privileged. I wouldn't understand.

I guess I probably don't.

I want to though. I want to understand. I want to be able to bring light to their lives..hope and love....to touch them as if it was the Lord Himself.

Since we've been here, we've visited some townships, a government-run children's hospital, and an orphanage - each riddled with signs of extreme poverty...people living in far below satisfactory conditions - no running water, no electricity, sometimes no doors...pigs and chickens going in and out of the make-shift houses...no drainage or even adequate roofing for the daily heavy rains.

We've made progress though. We're observing, questioning, listening and praying....ideas are flowing and solutions are coming together creating pathways through this seemingly bleak and destitute situation.

More to come later. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Hope you all are doing well at home.

paula

 



Posted by teamzambia at 5:49 AM PST
Updated: Monday, 29 January 2007 3:56 PM PST
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Thursday, 25 January 2007
Ian actually blogs
Now Playing: The need is real.

OK that last one was all Boog....

All golf and casino jokes aside, we've been seeing very real and tangible poverty already.  So far we've toured the pediatric hospital (with desperate children and heartbroken mothers overflowing into the halls), been to several squatter townships (makeshift villages consisting of people too poor to have permanent housing), and visited an orphanage/school (where a plastic cup of plain porrige served during 'snack-break' may be the only meal the kids eat all day).  Their need is urgent, and our obligation to do something to help is apparent.

But how to help??  In talking with one of the senior residents at the children's hospital, it was clear that the doctors here are receiving good training in modern medicine...  they just don't have access to the technology and resources to deliver the care they are trained to provide.  Listening to his frustrations reminded me of how I felt during residency, trying to advocate for patients in the overcrowded LA county health system with limited resources.  Except the situation here is 100x worse:  instead of having to wait 2 months to have a cardiac ultrasound done, they can't even do one because they don't have enough money to hire an ultrasound technician.  They are treating opportunistic HIV/AIDS infections according to the current standard of care... as long as the "dispensary" (pharmacy) doesn't run out of medicines (which it frequently does).  And in the case of a child choking on a foreign body, they have to be transferred all the way to Lusaka (several hours away) to be treated because the hospital doesn't have a bronchoscope (piece of equipment used to find & remove objects from the respiratory tract).  The feeling was that "we know what to do, we just can't do it because we don't have the money."  Heartbreaking when you consider that the price is in human lives.  So if you have an old pediatric bronchoscope lying around, head on down to Fedex!  But I have a feeling that any lasting solution isn't going to fit in a shipping box...

In talking with Moffat Zimba (the president of Northrise University) it is easy to see that he has huge plans for Northrise, but also that his concern extends to the local community of Ndola and the surrounding townships (several of which he lived in as a child).  While his immediate goals include outfitting a university health clinic and hiring a nurse to staff it (providing medical care to students & staff), he also mentions mobile health clinics (travelling to squatter townships) and even a teaching hospital (to train more Zambian doctors & nurses) as goals for the future.  Northrise is already active in the community; the pediatric resident said that they have received periodic donations of money and supplies to the  hospital, which was greatly appreciated.  What we need to do (and the reason we're here) is to figure out how best to support Northrise, thereby encouraging and supporting the local community medically, economically, and spiritually.  Because believe me...  they need it.

Tomorrow we're flying out to Mukinge to deliver the medical supplies and assess the situation out there.  Paula & I are hoping for an ex-stunt pilot who will show us some low-altitude barrel rolls.  I think Amy is just looking forward to landing when she can dive out of the plane and embrace the sweet earth.  Thank you again for your prayers, we'll let you know how it goes!

-ian 


Posted by teamzambia at 12:49 AM PST
Updated: Thursday, 25 January 2007 1:19 AM PST
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Wednesday, 24 January 2007
Ian will finally blog
Now Playing: Dr. Bare on African health

So, I think I've pretty much taken care of the problems here.  Loaded em' down with some ibuprofen and every one has a supply of 800mg of benadryl.  We're all finished here.

 

I'll be  playing golf and touring the local casinos if you need me.  

 

Sincerely,

Dr Ian 'the hot Doc' Bare 


Posted by teamzambia at 11:27 PM PST
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Hard to describe
Mood:  sad
Now Playing: Kari

Yesterday (Tuesday) Amy, Paula, Ian and Boog visited a school and drove through some of the squatter townships.  In the afternoon we visited the children's hospital.

For me, all of the statistics about poverty and disease became real in the moment we walked into the hospital.  I do not have words to describe it...except for heartbreaking.  Somehow the doctors and nurses we met with are tenderhearted and kind (I would be bitter).  Given what they see everyday -- along with severely limited resources -- it is hard for me to understand.  It was humbling to be with people who talked about "loving patients" in the midst of it -- they (Clemintina, Rosemary, Matthew and Dr. Cason) are remarkable.  The hospital was full (way over capacity) with children and their mothers.

I have to believe there is hope (the alternative is too difficult to imagine).  I believe there are ways we can help that are tangible, effective and sustainable.  Ian (our fine doctor) articulated several opportunities that he sees.  We will report back in full -- and plan next steps.  I type that and think, "Am I doing the American 'fix it' thing?"  I don't know.  I trust God to show me.  I do know that doing nothing is not an option.

Amy, Ian and Paula are at an orphanage/school this morning.  Paula will be meeting with two graduates of Northrise this afternoon -- to work on graphics and business.  Ian and Amy are headed to a biomedical/nursing training facility.  Boog's in class.

More soon...

Love,

Kari


Posted by teamzambia at 2:18 AM PST
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Tuesday, 23 January 2007
Tuesday in Zambia
Now Playing: Kari

We arrived yesterday in Ndola -- on time and with all of our bags and supplies (thumbs up!).  Moffat Zimba, Laston Hoomonga and Laston's son (Laston Jr.) pciked us up at the airport.  We needed all three vehicles given the amount of "stuff" we brought.  Exhaustion set in yesterday -- but we rested, napped (Ian is a professional napper), went to an Italian restaurant (yes, Italian), drank Nescafe, and settled in.

Soon after we landed, Boog taught his first class (go Boog!).  Moffat and Doreen have made us feel at home...in the deepest way.  Amy, Paula and I are staying in their home...and we feel like princesses.  To hear what God has done in establishing Northrise University is mind-blowing!  The Zimba's are two of the most faithful, trusting, kind people I have ever met.  We LOVE them!

I just finished teaching my first class this morning.  The students are beautiful and bright.  I look forward to our time together this week.  It is hitting me what an education means to an impoverished country.  These students have the potential to alter the course of Zambia's future.

The rest of the gang is out in Ndola...I can't wait to hear about their time.  We met as a team this morning.  Boog talked about Philip in Acts.  He listened and responded.  That is the heart of our trip...to listen and to respond.

We are so glad to be here!  Thank you for praying.

Much love,

Kari


Posted by teamzambia at 2:19 AM PST
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