Life in Zambia……………………..…..
I have now been in Zambia for 3 months! How exciting!…….I can tell you it still feels great. It takes a lot of getting used to because things are going much slower here than we are used to in the Netherlands. The first 2 weeks I stayed in a house with 5 other female volunteers and at the end of July I moved in a house with Delia (German) also on the base. Living room, kitchen, 1 bedroom (shared) and a shower. Fortunately, fully furnished, that saves money for now! It takes a lot of getting used to sharing a house, but so far it is fine! I’m quite flexible I figured out. So this is where I most likely will stay until 2021.
Because my work visa was already approved, we ‘only’ had to pick up the card at the immigration in Lusaka. Fortunately, this went quite smoothly. In addition, a tax number had to be requested, a bank account opened and, not unimportantly, arranging my Zambian driver’s license (conversion of my Dutch driver’s license). Well, I can tell you, that was quite something to arrange!
First I had to do an overall health test. Luckily they finally decided that only my eyes should be tested because I wear glasses. All in all it took ‘just 4 hours’ including a lot of waiting.
Then the day was there that I could actually arrange my driver’s license. Completing a form in one office, get it ticked off at another office by the manager, hand it in to someone else again and then make a payment at one of the 3 counters. In between a lot of waiting again. There were 3 to 4 phases that went the same way and after 8 hours and a driving test I had the converted Zambian driver’s license! Luckily I have found a found a car (paperwork also took a lot of time!), so I can move arround, which is very handy and I no longer have to depend on others. The base is about 10 km away from Kabwe and 13 km from Tabitha (the training center) so you need transport for everything. Even to the church … … Fancy dressed in the back of the jute!
My work
Well … work has started of course! At the moment I am “visiting” the Skills & Development Centre “Tabitha” to observe how they do the teaching and when necessary I can help. Last year September the building was not yet finished and the lessons were stopped, but now there is a lot of teaching again. A beginners sewing class and a 3rd year sewing class. Because the lessons were paused last year, no 2nd year sewing class started. In addition, there is also a class where jewellery is made being knotted with beads and there is a knitting class. Furthermore, in my “home office” I am busy going through my own old school material from 1988 (MDGO Fashion and Clothing) and practicing my skills. Really nice to dive back into this and to find out that I still have a lot of knowledge!
The goal / idea is that I will put together a curriculum that can be used in new places in Zambia and Africa and that we can start new “Tabitha’s” with good teaching material. How the extra funds within my support will be spent I don’t know yet. I want to have a good and well thought out plan for my support, which also has sustainability and which hopefully also brings results. Time will tell…..
Mid October I will attend a leadership training in Lusaka for two weeks. An educational training where I hope to get a tools for my work as a skills and production trainer within OM Africa.
Power cuts 12 hours a day
At the time of writing this newsletter, we have no electricity for 12 hours each day. Alternately from 5:00-15:00, 11:00-23:00, 10:00-22:00. The nights are quite black on this side of the equator in Africa. The reason is huge drought. There is not enough water to generate electricity, so the government needs to take these measures. It requires some adaptability, but so far it works! No electricity also means no Wi-Fi (so no good connection to home), it means charcoal cooking outside and no running water from the tap. So filling bottles, lots of bottles!
“Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His Unfailing Love” Lamentations 3:32
Grief
“How flexible will you be on the field, how resilient”, a question which – before departure – emerged during a psychological examination. What do you do, how do you react if something serious happens on the field or at home with your loved ones in the Netherlands. Something you hope will never happen, but that has to be taken into account. For me being on the field for just a short time I got the news that my sister-in-law (57) passed away after suffering the consequences of an aneurysm. Her body could not handle the recovery …… Well, at such a moment you are far away from your family here, you can’t just stop by and just be there for them. Not a good connection to quickly give them a phone call …… Fortunately, I have dearest new friends surrounding me. The verse just above is what I believe in and keeps me going. My grief and tears are real, but God’s Compassion is too!
Thanks for your Support! Now we continue to support the projects!
In my previous newsletter I mentioned that 100% of my financial support has been committed to by people and this means I can work in Zambia for 2 years! It keeps amazing me and I am so grateful! Everything above the 100% in commitments goes to the projects that I am working for within Women’s Empowerment Africa of Operation Mobilization. Tabitha is also included.
Do you want to help with the projects?
To contribute, press the button ‘DONEER NU’
What’s my story again?
Through the mission organization Operation Mobilization I will go and work in Zambia and Africa to give the women Hope and Recovery through lessons in sewing, pattern drawing and Bible study. In addition, I will also coach them and provide pastoral assistance. My salary consists entirely of financial donations. In this newsletter I share with you what happens in my work and life.
Any questions, remarks, want to know more? Feel free to contact me!
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Jannie in Mission 