So yesterday I had to call the police to attend to an emergency situation at the hospital. Everything was going in fine until they told me if I wanted to police to come I would have to come and pick them up from Mazabuka (45 miles each way!).

Also last week a couple from Australia (the Weymouths) arrived in Chikankata for a 3 year stint. They seem like a really nice couple and I have enjoyed winding them up immensely. Having been on the Mission as the only white man for the past year or so, I am looking forward to a bit of male company, a bit of masculine conversation, some deep intellectual bonding. So the first session is planned for tonight - I've been challenged to a game of Guess Who?

Tomorrow I set off for Malawi. I am attending two meetings at the Hospital and Laboratory in Blantyre and I am driving the 14 hour journey. I will spend the weekend and bank holiday Monday with General Burrows (not really a General and not Eva! - Rachel's mum and dad) before returning to Chik on Tuesday. Heidie flew to Garbarone in Botswana yesterday as a guest of RATN on a training course. What an African adventure this week should be.

This last week we have had a group of Americans here from USA West Territory. We had a great time here and enjoyed taking the Michael Caine out of their accents all the tijme - it was all done in good spirits. One of them sounded like Marge Simpson and one sounded like the guy in Starsky and Hutch - DO IT! They seemed to have had a great time having visited Godson farm, Nameembo, Nanzele and Mukwela, as well as spending time in the Mission. Even though it's hard work - we always enjoy having groups.

Finally, I know I said I was going to post a few things regarding our one year stay here but I got bored of them myself so decided to press on with the regularly updates from Chik. Note to self: Don't be so boring.

CHILD HEALTH WEEK

Today sees the start of Child Health Week in Zambia. To mark the event, we had a march round the Mission and Chikankata area of breastfeeding mother and the Primary Health Care Team, followed by an opening ceremony outside our Mother and Child Clinic. We then sent our Under 5 Mobile Clinic to dancing and singing. These clinics are fantastic. They leave Chikankata four days a week and mothers walk for miles to be at the designated village or health outpost.

(Photo to follow - the blooming thing won't upload!)

In Zambia:

over 30% of all children under the age of 15 are orphans

• 80% of the people in rural areas live below the poverty line

• half a million young children are living on the streets, with no one to look after them

In Chikankata:

1 in 5 children don't reach the age of 5

80% of households have an orphan living with them

Finally, the five main cause of deaths of the Under 5's in Chikankata are

• Malnourishment
• Diarrhoea
• Malaria
• Respitory Infections
• HIV/AIDS

Most of which is preventable and/or treatable in the developed world.

One of the great things about Chikankata is our Orphan and Vulnerable Children's Programme. Our catchment areas is one of the few (if not the only) in Zambia where all the orphans are registered and there are no child-headed households! I want to say a special thank-you to The Salvation Army in Worthing and Central North Division (UK), UNICEF and the many individuals who support this work. This week, I have just taken on Francis - an orphan at the age of 12. Chikankata OVC Programme paid for the last 4 years of his schooling and this year paid for him to go to college. He is working as a cook here while also studying to gain a Diploma in Catering. It's a great project!

However, I want to tell you about some of the children I have met in Zambia. First of all, our cleaners little girl, Tawanda. Every morning she runs in and gives Reechard a big hug and smile. She has really melted my heart. It doesn't matter which question you ask her, she just says "I'm fine". She's brilliant.

I want to tell you about Chilufia, who is the son of our friends Martin and Bertha. Without saying much, he is the funniest person on the Mission. He makes me laugh alot.

On Friday, I had lunch with one of the workers from an organisation in Lusaka working with street kids called Action Zambia. Together with Chikankata, they have built a little village in nearby Nanzele and regularly bring the kids there so that they have a village and idea of what it's like to live in rural Zambia. They are great guys. Anyway we visit one of the children's homes and met four month old twins abandoned by their family. They were called Mary and Joseph. Fantastic! We played with them for a while. They were brilliant too.

VALUING THE CHALLENGES at CHIKANKATA

Sometimes it’s easier to concentrate on the problem areas rather than emphasize the good things. Major Chick Yuill speaks of how, in the Salvation Army, we often have come to “talk defeat” about our church. On many occasions I have been distracted in my service and life because of the problems faced at Chikankata. I have tried hard not to think negatively, see here my prayer journal entry on 11th October 2005;
“Lord, thank you for the opportunities you have given us. Although we often find it very hard, we realize we are blessed and find fulfillment in serving you. Bless Chikankata and shape its future.”

I have, however, been guilty of regularly talking up defeat.

On the 1st June 2006 one year on and rather belatedly, I decided to stand tall, fight back and defend the name of my Lord and Chikankata Hospital.

Chikankata Health Services has many great things going on – people come from all round Zambia and indeed the world to see what’s going on at Chikankata. I love Chikankata. I love what’s going on at Chikankata Health Services, I love Chikankata’s history, I love Chikankata’s people, I love that Chikankata is Salvation Army, I love the way Chikankata strives for the best, I love that Chikankata is close to Livingstone, I love the way the cows and goats come in my garden at Chikankata, I love the way Chikankata cares. It is one of the many jewels in the Salvation Army’s crown;

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen
Tell them of Jesus; the mighty to save.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

With God’s help and God’s people, Chikankata has changed some harmful cultural practices, helped many communities work together, prolonged patient’s lives, cared for those who were nearing the end of their days, brought hope to families, looked after its orphans and vulnerable children, given nourishments and skills to its inhabitants and brought people to a knowledge of the Big Man’s salvation. Isaiah 55 v 10-11 talks about the amazing workings and success of God’s work. We need to remember the positives, keep the faith and value the challenges.

Dr. Calvert, a former Chief Medical Officer of Chikankata, once wrote to me that he had taken away from Chikankata far more than he had given. As a look back over the last year, I wouldn’t have changed it for a minute. Yes, I have faced many trials, many difficult situations but I have also had some tremendous opportunities and experiences. Most importantly I have also come to know the presence and power of the Big Man. After all God has proved he can take men through the fire, he can take men out of the lion’s den, and he can unlock prison doors. He is doing good things through the staff at Chikankata Health Services. I thank God for Chikankata and The Salvation Army and praise God for his amazing power.

Biblical Truth: Romans 8: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, I who have been called according to his purpose”

REFLECTIONS on 1 YEAR (and 1 month) at CHIKANKATA.

– 5 entries to come – oh yes!

Those who are mainly engaged with the spiritual also engage with the practical, and those who are serving in practical ways - do not forget the spiritual dimension. Holding the spiritual and practical aspects together is a hallmark of The Salvation Army.
General, Shaw Clifton (paraphrased).

I have found myself in an unusual situation. It may seem from reading the next five entries that I am the big boss of Chikankata. I am not. Chikankata Health Service has a Chief Medical Officer (see the pitcture of me, the Chief Medical Officer (Dr. Kaile), the newly appointed tribal chief Chief Mweenda (Mrs Kalichi) and the real Chief (Mrs Bradbury). He is a respected doctor and lecturer, based in Lusaka and his role here is largely as a consultant – he comes to Chikankata Hospital two afternoons a week for approximately 3 hours. That means that much of the day to day running and organization falls on me. This has propelled me, or rather dragged me, into the role of a leader. This is an unexpected challenge for me in itself and has not been through personal choice or request. President Roosevelt wrote to a reluctant appointee in a difficult situation; “Do whatever you can, wherever you are, with whatever you have”. It may not be a fancy management principle, it may not find itself as a maxim in leadership text books but it’s blooming good advice.

I am reassured that in the Bible, God called some of the most hopeless, hapless people, put them in places they didn’t expect to be and used them to great effect. This has been my hope. On many occasions I have felt so far out of my depth that only a lifeboat could save me. God has proved faithful and seen me through many difficult situations and given me some amazing experiences. Here’s my testimony and reflections of the last year or so.

SCHIZOPHRENIC CHIKANKATA!

Today has highlighted the whole experience of Chikankata Mission Hospital and Health Services.

On one hand we get notification that we have been given final approval in our proposal and budget for a research study with Boston University. It is entitled Zambia Integrated Management of Malaria and Phenomia Study (ZIMMAPS) and will be conducted in our catchment area, bringing 20 jobs to Chikankata communities and some much needed additional income to the hospital over the next two years. It's an exciting study and will fall very much on the back of the recent award to study HIV/AIDS patients' adherence to treatment, which will be carried out in conjunction with Michigan State University.

On the other hand we get two creditors demanding payments for outstanding (large) bills dating back to 2001 and we are finalising Human Resources tasks which should have been completed two years ago. One of the overdue payments was an agreement made in 2001 for monthly installments for rental of some communication equipment. We didnae even make Payment 1!!!

Eventually after much fraught negotiation, we agreed on a settlement figures and completed the HR tasks. This was very hard work but I am trying to value the challenges.

My aim here is to have a mundane month - no thrills, no spills - just a normal steady month. Not many people aspire to that