Settling In

We are in Zambia!

Already, we are busily engaged in our assignment and adjusting to our new surroundings.

Let us do a quick overview of what our first week and a half looked like.  We stayed in Kenya at the Mennonite Guest house for four days for a few different reasons. The first was to help us recover from jet lag before presenting ourselves to the team in Zambia. Secondly, we met with Jackie Koster, World Renew’s  Disaster Response Manager for East and South Africa, to get oriented to the project and discuss our role. Getting reacquainted with some of the very special people we got to know and love during our previous assignment was a third and great reason to be in Nairobi.

Last Monday we flew to Lilongwe, Malawi and from there we went to Chipata, Zambia where we will stay for the next six weeks. Peter Timmerman, the Team Leader for World Renew’s Southern Africa Ministry Team, drove us to Chipata in the vehicle that will be at our disposal for the duration of our stay here.  As we travelled, we were familiarized with the border protocol between Malawi and Zambia, how to drive in Zambia  (drive on the left side of the road and watch out for people! – walking or biking), and how to find our way around Chipata, a small city with only one “robot” (the Zambian name for a stoplight).

On arrival in Chipata, we were introduced to some of the team members that we will be working with. Next we were oriented to our new home. It is a comfortable home with a screened in porch, a big yard/garden, a gazebo with bats, and beautiful birds to see and hear.  While Chipata “feels” safe, our home is protected with a steel entry gate, high walls topped with barbed wire, double doors with triple locks and deadbolts, and “panic buttons” if all else fails.  As part of the rental, we have been blessed with an indoor/outdoor worker named Wisdom.   We have learned how valuable he is as lots of fine red dust continuously permeates the house and forceful night winds blow leaves and dirt on to all the walkways.

The remainder of last week was spent learning as much as possible about the project. We have already received much detail that will be beneficial to us as we assist them in compiling a comprehensive report on the ongoing project. Justin, the project manager is well educated on agricultural issues and has a lot experience in developing farmer groups in conservation farming methods and alterative income generating activities. Pindu, the accountant is very helpful in explaining budget lines and the rationale for changes. Both have been friendly, welcoming and very helpful.

This week we will be going on two field visits with the two development facilitators. We will be observing some of the demonstration plots, talking to local farmers and hopefully seeing and gaining insight into some of the health aspects of this project.

We look forward to sharing our experiences from these visits with you in the next blog.