There are too many events to highlight from this week, here is a selection;

1. I knocked over a donkey! Seriously. Fortunately both the donkey and me escaped injury as I had whacked on the breaks and managed to swerve thus just brushing its backside. The animal just kind of got up, looked at me as if to say "Idiot!" and ran off.

2. On Wednesday it was our wedding aniversary, so Heidie and I went for a slap-up meal at the local Chinese before taking in a show and finishing the night off at Starbucks in Chipanga. I WISH! Just as our meal was prepared the power went off so we had a candlelight dinner (candles are now functional rather than romantic) Then Heidie thrashed me at Backgammon. I returned the favour by beating her 3-0 at the far more intellectually challenging game of Guess Who! What exciting lives we lead but we did have time to refelct on our exciting and developing journey together and thank God for the many blessing and experiences he has given us together.

3. Yesterday, we went on a staff fellowship outing. Sixty people from Chikankata ventured to the banks of the Kafue River, where we enjoyed spending time with each other, games, meals, fishing and devotions. It was a blessed time. I was reliably informed that this was the first time in 9 years there has been any sort of fellowship outing. For those who have served at Chikankata, the event was organised by Mr. Chiyota, Clare Ntinda, Florence Muleya and Heidie and I believe it was a real beneficial experience to staff members and to the hospital. I am hoping to raise some money for a trip to Siavonga, as used to happen in the days of yore.

4. Now a tribute to Barbara, one of the many unsung but gracious supporters of Chikankata. 18 months ago a young student male nurse was doing extremely well at the Nursing Training School - he finished Term 1 with top marks. Unfortunately, immediately after Term 1 his father died and he had very little means to support himself. Barbara stepped in and sponsored him through all of his training. This week he found out he passed his exams and did extremely well too. He is now working at the Hospital, where he will stay for at least the next two years. This is sort of care and encouragement is one of the things that seperates a Salvation Army / Mission Hospital from a government hospital. This relatively small investment will mean this young man will now have a job for the rest of his life and he will also have an impact on the life of many others. Thanks Barbara and Well done Benson.

5. Finally, tomorrow (Monday 27th August 2007) sees a day of fasting and prayer across the Mission and the Division. Recently there have been a number of unfortunate and testing incidents that has caused some distress to the people in the communities and within the Mission. All these incidents are related to witchcraft. It seems people are extremely fearful of witchcraft and cause real dilemmas and anxities for people. It also brings out extreme behaviours that have placed a number of us in very dangerous situations. If you have a spare moment in your busy week, please pray for Chikankata and our ongoing spiritual war.

On Friday, we had yet another meeting about finance. These are always a bit heated and I am usually the bad guy. I am constantly under pressure and in a continual sense of internal dilemma. You see, I have been very strict with allowances, one of the main issues Africa will need to address if it’s move away from its state of dependency and become self sustaining and supporting. Yet I can see that people are struggling because of the many commitments, especially those related to the living costs and school fees for children and additional dependents. There is not one Zambian person living within the Mission who does not have at least one of their family members children living them – some have up to 8 dependent / orphaned children, largely due to the death of their parents through HIV/AIDS. It’s a hard one to deal with and one which makes me feel bad but I know if this Hospital is to survive then these are the tough decisions that need to be made.

Anyway, the figures speak for themselves. Once you calculate the grants we receive from the Government (if they actually come) and the income we generate from other sources, it seems that between now and the end of year, Chikankata Health Services has to find or raise another 222 million kwacha (approximately ₤25,000 or $50,000). This is without the debt servicing that is still a continual burden for the hospital. I really have no clue how we are going to do it!

Then, this morning I read the bible passage from Luke 9 v 1-6 where Jesus sends out the 12 disciples to preach the gospel and heal the sick. He told to go with “no staff, no bag, no bread, no money”. They were weaned off their dependency on Jesus and the protection and comfort this offered and they learned to live trusting a God who could multiply loaves. I am learning so much but I also need to learn to trust more in the same God and pray that although he we have little he will continue to provide and multiply the little we have.

100 Not out!

This is my 100 post and as I write I am waiting for the police to arrive as we have a man running round the Mission with a gun. Witchcraft is a terrible thing and really scares people and now it seems that a relative to one of our patients has been doing some of the funny stuff with charms and powder within the Hospital. Understandably other family members are not too happy (putting it midly!) and so are searching for the budding Harry Potter with their weapons. The staff are very tense but we can only wait. The funny thing is that if you want the police to come you have to go and pick them up. With the nearest town over an hour away, we generally have to deal with such emergencies ourselves. I'll let you know how things work out!

Chikankata is never a dull place that's for sure. With the recent riots at the High School again linked with a rumour related to witchcraft, I am more convinced than ever that if the Salvation Army were not in this place, this would be a very dangerous, voilent and fearful part of Zambia. At least with a Christian Hospital there is a chance for proper healing without having to resort to witchcraft and traditional healers.

Yesterday, we were saddened to learn of the death of Major Milambo. The Major was in the Mission when we arrived and was a very strong man. He helped and protected us tremendously during those first few difficult months. We will be attending the burial on Monday in Central Province.

On a brighter note, Mrs. Ellie Kalichi (see picture below - Mrs Kalichi, me and Heidie, Dr. Kaile and some kid!) has been officially 'gazzetted' as Cheif Mweenda and will be installed into her position on 31st August. It has taken her a while to shake off the legal challenges to her ascension to the royal throne but everything is now clear for her to take up this role. I wonder if there is any other place in the world where the Salvation Army someone working for them who is officially to be addressed as Her Royal Highness.

I have beena big laid back with the blog for the last week or so. A combination of no electricity, no internet connection, a bout of malaria and just being really busy.

A nice surprise came through our weekly postal delivery yesterday; a book entitled More than the Eyes Can See. (To order copy click here). It is the story of The Salvation Army's response to HIV/AIDS crisis. We were visited by a journalist Rhidian Brook and his family last year and had a great time with them. There is a chapter on Chikankata in the book, largely an account of our history and work related to HIV/AIDS through the eyes of Capt Angela Hachitapika.

"An extraordinary account of a nine-month journey made by the author and his family into some of the World’s HIV/AIDS epicentres. Sent by the Salvation Army to bear witness to the work they were doing in response to the pandemic, Rhidian Brook, his wife and two children, follow a trail of devastation through communities still shattered and being broken by this disease: truck stop sex workers in Kenya, victims of rape in Rwanda, child-headed families in Soweto, children of prostitutes in India, farmers who sold blood for money in China. It is a remarkable journey among the infected and the affected through a world that, despite seeming on the brink of collapse, is being held together, not by power, politics, guns and money; but by small acts of kindness performed by unsung people choosing to live in hope."

'"HIV/ Aids has enough experts," the Salvation Army told BBC journalist Brook as it sent him on this task. "We just want someone to go and see and find the stories." . . . and tell them he does, with a light, deft touch. Without a trace of mawkishness or sentimentality, Brook sets it out straight with heartbreaking simplicity.' – Independent

Have just started to read but I think its going to be a good one.