GENERAL UPDATE

Friday we thought about Malaria as it was World Malaria Day. This is a disease that kills in 1 in 5 children under the age of 5 in Zambia. It is completely preventable if the right resources were available.

Due to a number of projects we have going in this area like the Child Survival Project and the Zambian Integrated Malaria and Pheumonia Study, Chikankata Hospital is making major inroads into reducing the incidence of this disease in the area.

Heidie and I knew very little about Malaria until we arrive in Zambia. We have both fallen to the female pregnant mosquitoes fangs on a few occassions and have first hand experience of this illness.

I have not mentioned the SW Division Team who visited Zambia, largely because the electricity situation was awful when they were here and its obviously difficult to blog when there is no power. They were great and the blessings were ours from their ministry. The gave a substantial financial donation to the Hospital and also brought some band instruments for the florushing YP Band at Chikankata Corps. The YP Band were on duty at the world malaria day.

We are also enjoying the company of our great friends Lisa and Nick, along with their boys Joshua and Daniel. Last week we all accompanied our visitors from the SW Division to Livingstone. I did a microlight flight over the magnificant Victoria Falls.

Heidie, who had nagged me all day about whether it was safe to do, then decided she couldn't resist it herself!

Richard and Joshua had their Danagerous Day Out - see Facebook for more pictures.

This weekend we are at Chisamba Lodge for Daniel's Birthday. On his very first birthday he rode an elephant to celebrate

It's been a good few weeks and we are so grateful to all who continue to support and encourage us in so many ways. We will try and keep you posted over our future as things seem still uncertain. However of this we remain very certain - GOD IS FAITHFUL!!

Easter Sunday

It's a bit late I know but I am taking advantage of the longest spell of electricity for quite some time. Here are a few pics from the Sunrise Service on Easter Hill at Chikankata.

Ulapona, Ulapona, Ndilazyiba ulapona.

I know that my redeemer lives but I am definitely not sure what I think about this picture of the Headmaster's son...

Zambian Electricity Supply Company (ZESCO)

I have not blogged for quite some time. This is because I am working on my new campaign; to rename the above company ZECO. Basically to claim you are supplying electricity would centainly be contrary to the trade descriptions act back home. So since last Monday we have been off power from 5.30 - 9am every morning and then again from 6-9pm every evening. Minimum! These are my blogging times. On one occassion we have been without power for almost 48 hours.

Now, I realise that Zambia is a developing country, the infastructure is not good and there is not enough electricity to go round at peak times. However most people could cope with 'loadshedding' if it was done in a systematic way. It seems if you live in a rural area you are far more likely to be taken off supply so that those in the the urban areas can have electricity. Even amongst the poor there is a hierarchy it seems.

Last week I met with 2 directors from ZECO with some of the local commercial farmers. Since that meeting things have become 20 times worse. Even more depressing is that the generator we have here is old and very expensive to run. So far this year we have spent near 6000 pounds in generator diesel alone. That's a lot of money for us.

That said, I am constantly reminded that for most of the people around us, electricity is indeed a luxury. My feeling is that the failure to invest in the electricity infastructure on the part of Zambia mirrors the general attitudes in developing countries. Long term thinking, investment and planning runs against the grain of a lifestyle so rooted in the present. Why worry about tomorrow, when there is enought to worry about today? Proverbs 15v15 says this about the poor, "Their future is so uncertain and the need in the present is so pressing." It seems the idea of investment or saving has until now been so far away and obscure for the poor that it probably feels like a complete waste of a precious resource.

Maybe I shouldn't be too hard on ZESCO!