Back to Normal – Not really!

“You don’t know what you’re doing!’ is a chant that I may have joined in with a couple of times when berating a referee at a St. Mirren or Southend game. Anyone spectating on our first week of parenthood would be equally within their rights to direct the same sentiments at Heidie and me. However so far, Luke doesn’t seem to have been too adversely affected by having us as parents. However it has been a great week, if one without too much sleep.

Heidie’s parents arrived in the nick of time and drove through the gates at Chikankata just hours before Heidie was taken to the operating theatre. Their story is also quite a nice one as they had originally planned to come on the 21st September but changed their flight not long before their departure date, having just a ‘feeling’ that they should come a wee bit earlier. They have been a great help and William’s cooking in particular has helped sustain us this week and keep us strong.

Although I had the best intentions of taking a week or two paternity leave, the busyness of the Hospital and Health Services has not afforded me this opportunity. This week I have spent the mornings at home directing operations from the armchair and worked in the office in the afternoons, with the exception of Thursday when a full day was required.

Perhaps one of the biggest blessings we’ve experienced at Chikankata during our time here is the visitors we've receive and the people we've meet. My life is undoubtedly richer and my Christian experience deeper because of some of these encounters. So on Thursday I spent the day with Lt-Col Dan Starrett, the Executive Director of the Salvation Army World Service Organisation and Lt. Col. Bell, the Chief Secretary of USA Western Territory. Both ‘offices’ have assisted Chikankata in different ways, SAWSO funding our Child Survival Programme and USA Westerm helping the hospital studio to convert to a community radio station. I am a better person for talking and sharing with them and we are continually grateful to God for all the help we receive both practical, spiritual, and financial.

In a similar vein a big thank you to one Capt Jonny Smith, who ran the marathon in April and raised money for the Hospital at the same time. What a trooper! (I will now overlook how he adandoned me to struggle to the finish line with knee ligament damage in our first marathon together!) Many people when they give donations to Chikankata specified what it should go towards and rightly so. But to receive ₤5000 simply towards the running cost of the hospital is special. This will pay 5 months electricity bill or pay most of the staff wages or drugs purchases for one month. Outside of the regular funding Chikankata Hospital receives from government, we have to raise around ₤10,000 or $20,000 each moth just to function. It's a huge undertaking and without doubt the biggest stress of my job!

We are so thankful for the many people like Jonny and SAWSO, who work tirelessly so that the people of Chikankata can at least have access to a decent standard of healthcare. The old adage about “Where there’s a need, there’s The Salvation Army” is certainly true of this part of Zambia. We thank God for internationalism of The Salvation Army and the generosity of our many friends around the world.