Faith

Salesian Sisters’ City of Joy, Mazabuka, Zambia

Nakambala Sugar Plantation.
My hands and feet were black from eating burned sugar cane
but it was delicious!

I can’t believe that I’ve been here for five weeks already! Time flies when you’re having fun right? Or staying busy! Things have fallen more into a routine since school started a few weeks ago. The school schedule in Mazabuka is all over the place though, so it makes it a guessing game to figure out what to expect from one day to the next! Most of the girls leave here at 6:30, some return at lunch time when the others leave, and everyone is back around 5:00. I’ve been put in charge of helping those taking exams (7th, 9th, and 12th) to pass. As things stand, it’s going to be a challenge, because most of the 8 girls failed their second term. The biggest hurdle is relearning Chemistry and trying to figure out Physics (something I haven’t done up until now!). I have fond memories of balancing equations which is definitely helping. Another goal is teaching a 14 year old to read. I’m pretty sure she’s dyslexic, so I’m also learning how to teach special-ed.

Nakambala Sugar Plantation.
The girls with me are Alice, Christine, Esther.
Esther, Queen, Orian.

Since I have a LOT of time to think, I was wondering why I’ve been sent to Zambia of all places. When I heard where the placement site was, I had to google it because I honestly didn’t know the country existed. But now that I’m here, I recognize so much good in this place, most importantly the faith of the people. I think that faith is what holds a lot of these people together, especially given their difficult lives and lack of basic family structure. I’ve met some really amazing men and women, including some sisters from Ireland, the priests of our parish, and Bishop Clement, the first bishop of Kabwe. He offered mass for us, and shared his beautiful experience in leading a diocese. I think his demeanor gave proof as he described the energy he gets from the faith of his people. He stressed how the apostles were full of joy in the face of difficulties as they spread the message of love to the world. And that joy is present here. When the congregation sings at mass, you can feel the joy coming from their hearts, like a force that can’t be stopped from finding expression. Since it was recommended by another volunteer, I just finished reading Tattoos on the Heart, about Fr. Gregory Boyle’s experience working with gangs in LA. I cried or laughed over every page and I would recommend it to each of you! He says that in working with the poor and underprivileged, we are “Allowing our hearts to be broken by the very thing that breaks the heart of God.” He goes on to quote Mother Teresa saying that “we are not called to be successful, but faithful.” I think this is an important distinction, since I’m often tempted to give up when I don’t see the fruit of my work, or the results I expect. Mother Teresa also says that many of our earthly struggles are due to the fact that we’ve “forgotten that we belong to each other.” One of the girls said to me- ‘you know, it’s funny how much like a black person you are.’ I had to describe to her that white person or black person, we’re both ‘persons’ and that’s what makes us belong to one another.

My adventures with strange foods have continued and I’ve found a few that I don’t like. Boiled okra leaves produce a slimy green mess, and I really don’t see the attraction. After climbing a papaya tree to give the fruit a second chance, I decided I was right the first time- It has a nauseating smell and the taste isn’t worth going through that. Sweet potato leaves on the other hand are delicious!!! It’s a different variety than we have at home, and we ate it boiled. I was also finally able to visit the market a few weeks ago- it’s a hectic place full of buildings and falling down tents, selling everything from nail polish to sugar to clothing. I think it has to be a square mile because it didn’t seem to have an end! I had the feeling of being sucked in, whirled around, and spat back out. Definitely an experience to remember.

Kids from the Oratory.

A few disorganized realizations I’ve come to: It surprises me now to hear an airplane! I think that only 2 or 3 have flown by in the last month! This culture is non-reflective in my experience so far. I think part of the contrast is due to coming right from ‘university,’ but it’s pretty rare to hear someone say ‘I feel’ or even ‘I think.’ Usually, people Do say ‘I’m asking for…’ or ‘I’m telling you…’ Some of you may know how much I dislike winter. Well I managed to skip it completely! I realized I’ve gone from Summer ->Spring -> Summer and I’ll be coming back in the Spring again! Haha. And Some funny things that happened: One of the boys said about his unruly brother/classmate ‘don’t mind him, he’s sick of mental.’ I also get odd questions all the time, like ‘how many friends do you have?’ ‘I like that --- how many do you have?’ ‘are there people in America who don’t know how to read?’ ‘When are you going to get married?’ Are there poor people in America?’ I think it’s helping me to come up with quick answers. And sometimes I have to hold myself back from laughing at the girls, like the other day I turned around from helping someone with their work and saw a 7th grader wearing a garter for a headband.



The view south from City of Joy, not too many buildings in that direction. ;)

I’m really looking forward to seeing my friend Katie a few days from now! She’ll be here up until the halfway point of my service and I couldn’t be more excited to share my experience with her.

Some of you have asked for a way to donate to City of Joy and I am working on getting the information for that! I’m sorry this got so long, I guess I had more to tell than I expected.

Love and Prayers,
Annie