History & Other Shenanigans

Muli Buti!

This week’s blog post is coming from the one and only Tracey Mamerow. Only one person this week, due to the academic chaos that has befallen us since the arrival of our dear history professor, Dr. Carla Lovett. Tracey is a closet dancer who loves to bust a move and then discuss the profound meaning of life. She harkens from the great state of Wisconsin, eats a lot of cheese, and her favorite thing about Zambia so far are the bright stars at night, and the sweet spirits of the Zambians.

This week was quite eventful, so I’ll try to give you all the highlights.

On Monday, we visited Choma and were introduced to Elijah Mission in Zambia (EMIZ). They welcomed us and described to us the wonderful ministries we will be able to participate in the next couple weeks. These include sports ministries, home and school visits, and gardening, all with the purpose of making connections with vulnerable families and children.

Following EMIZ, we made a pit stop at an orphanage, the Nest. Although we were sad to only be able to spend 20 minutes with the children, their bright smiles and beautiful singing cheered us up, and we have arranged our schedule so we can find more time to visit and spend time with their joyful spirits. It was also a great reminder that sometimes God uses short spurts of time to touch people’s lives. Even though it was only 20 minutes, it was 20 minutes we were able to use to pray over the children and bring smiles to their faces. God doesn’t always ask us to do big things; instead, he asks us to be faithful in the little things and be obedient in every moment—not just in the big things.  

Tuesday was our second clinical, and first day of outreach. Clinical consisted of seeing births and surgeries, practicing blood draws and working in the pediatric wards. Outreaches consist of participating in (and sometimes running) under 5 child checkup clinics, and going out into the bush with just a couple students and a couple nurses and ministering to different villages. Although these outreaches are challenging and long, we have learned a lot not only about nursing skills and recognizing what we do know, but also learning how much responsibility nurses have here in Zambia. One clinic we did outreach at was run solely by nurses. Due to need, they diagnose, prescribe, admit, and discharge patients—roles doctors normally hold. I think I can safely say our respect for the nurses here has skyrocketed this past week.

Wednesday was a day full of history (6 hours!) as well as continued outreach. Although Professor Lovett has raised the stress level of students here, we are SO grateful for her arrival. She helps us see Zambia in a different light, and asks probing questions that teach us not only to observe, but also to analyze and process what we’re encountering. We’ve been confronted with the culture, education and healthcare of Zambia, and through discussions with her we are learning to reconcile where we’re from and the resources we have, with what we’re seeing in Zambia. She is teaching us to look at Zambia’s way of life as not wrong, because it is distinct from America, but as beautiful, unique and something we can learn from. Although most of us are stressed from the many assignments (I say most because there are 8 of us who are not actually in the history class), I know we all appreciate the effort and the growth we are experiencing through the class.

Thursday included a history filled morning, followed by tours of the local primary and secondary school. We were asked to observe and contrast what we see here with what we know at home. Although resources were limited, the teaching was magnificent, and the students were the most well-behaved, respectful students we have ever seen. We learned that to enroll a child in primary school it costs about 20-30 kwacha, which is about 3-4 dollars a semester. Yet some parents cannot even afford that. That was a hard fact to face, especially when we realized that what we pay for chocolate here could send a child to school. These tours also helped us realize the privilege we have in school being a given in the USA, and in college being affordable. Every complaint we have had about classes and homework was wiped away in light of the fact that so many people desire our education but are unable to have it. We, as people with the privilege to have an education, have a responsibility on behalf of those who cannot gain an education, to not waste it but utilize it and work for education globally.

Friday was relatively mellow, except for the four girls who had night clinical (Natalie Theriot, Ashley, Hanneke & Emily). They had a night clinical in the maternal ward. Although it seemed like a slow night, they prayed for a baby and God answered. They were able to witness and participate in the birth of 5 different children, including an emergency C-section and working to resuscitate a blue baby (she lived!). Although frightening at times, they had a great experience and were reminded of God’s provision and care, even over tiny babies. And as anyone who has witnessed a birth knows, their lives are now changed from that experience.

Saturday was event day of the week. We had the chance to join a village in a bush and learn about their way of living. They welcomed us with open arms, calling us sisters, and taught us how to make a traditional Zambia meal (nshima, rape, roasted peanuts). We carried water from the well, and were shown the layout of the village and homes. The Reverend graciously let us tour his home, and let us ask questions about his corrals, goat and chicken pens, and showed us how they make nshima sticks—one man actually grabbed a hatchet and chunk of wood and started chopping one for us. Overall, it was one of the most fulfilling experiences we have had. We got to really immerse ourselves in Zambian culture and become part of their family. Our gifts to the village were insignificant in comparison to what they were able to give us through their love and grace.

In total, this week we have been completely submersed in Zambian culture. We are working to process and learn from our experiences, and are so grateful to finally feel like we’re here to stay in Zambia, rather than just touring the country. This upcoming week we look forward to starting our ministry with EMIZ, visiting the orphanage, continuing outreaches, and being overwhelmed with history classes and deep ponderings of life.

We appreciate your prayers. We ask that for this week you could pray to multiply our minutes so we can  finish our history work, for grace to extend to each other as we are starting to get exhausted, and for eyes to continue to see God’s work here in Zambia through outreaches.

We love you and miss you!

ZamFam 2015.