tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35390848396992418582024-02-19T08:17:44.557-08:00A Joyful Heart in the City of JoyFollow my journey as a VIDES volunteer in Zambia Annie Doughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12864471504523703781noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539084839699241858.post-48606014715336690122015-05-20T11:37:00.000-07:002015-05-20T11:50:02.859-07:00Long Overdue Update<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I didn't mean to be silent for so long! I was able to revisit Zambia July-September of 2014 and I wanted to share a bit of my experience. It was such a beautiful time, to go back and see the City of Joy after a year and half away! Nothing can replace my love for the girls and the community in Mazabuka.</div>
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Meeting the newest girls and reconnecting with those I already knew was wonderful. I was able to see my friends in the community and spend time with the other volunteers who where there this time around. The placement overall seems to be doing well, with quite a bit more financial support (thanks in part to Calvin, Rena, and Cody who were there in 2013-14)</div>
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The girls still struggle with studies but we did our best to tutor and support them, including hiring one of the local teachers- my friend Matongo- to tutor one of the examination classes. Twelve of the girls from COJ were confirmed while I was there! I was asked by Charity to be her sponsor which was a great blessing. I still wear the beaded bracelet she made as a thank you.</div>
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My friend James provided a donation that we used to plaster and paint three sections of the outside wall. Two were trees using handprints for leaves. The center section reads "As you grow older you'll discover you have two hands. One for helping yourself and one for helping others." I thought it was a fitting message to have displayed in a place so filled with the Salesian spirit. Painting the wall was a project I was never able to complete in 2012/13 so there was some great satisfaction in doing so.</div>
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There are more stories and pictures than I could possibly fit here. In large part, I appreciated this visit because it reminded me that my beautiful second home is only a flight (well, maybe 3!) away, that life continues just fine without me, and that my friends are always willing to welcome me back with the same love and joy. I even remembered most of the Tonga and Nyanja I learned!</div>
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Naku yewa, Mazabuka. Meaning, I miss you Mazabuka.</div>
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E<span style="text-align: left;">ven though I can't always be there, I know that my caring for the place so deeply is felt and appreciated. My heart no longer aches to be there though I look forward to the time I can see the girls again.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPFwGrKXgSz-D6zRswK0hsleQxNDDwpezt7wxj1LMtmTnIY2Qb5XzANOWEfp8u3qGF4NtMLpYMDr0VVAtnWyoHTD4JhIN9ObEw4OgrhCfac3ZTeioP2-7R-CyFa6RqJbDUfCNrawzQ4Q/s1600/0719141638b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPFwGrKXgSz-D6zRswK0hsleQxNDDwpezt7wxj1LMtmTnIY2Qb5XzANOWEfp8u3qGF4NtMLpYMDr0VVAtnWyoHTD4JhIN9ObEw4OgrhCfac3ZTeioP2-7R-CyFa6RqJbDUfCNrawzQ4Q/s320/0719141638b.jpg" width="240" /></a>I've found ways to become more involved with the community and needs here in Dallas, TX. I am mentoring a Burmese family through the International Rescue Committee, and recently became a Dallas CASA (court appointed special advocate) for the foster care system. It means so much to me to be involved in humanitarian work.</div>
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A high school friend and I reconnected at the end of 2013 and got engaged in January! We're planning an October wedding. Eric is such an amazing source of encouragement and strength for me. I'm so excited for this next stage of life and to have someone to share my adventures. We've talked about visiting Africa and the community of City of Joy in the summer of 2016. I hope these plans will be blessed!</div>
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With love and prayers always,<br />
Annie<br />
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<br />Annie Doughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12864471504523703781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539084839699241858.post-35796570940028947002013-11-06T15:15:00.000-08:002013-11-06T15:15:46.024-08:00A way to support <br />
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<span class="messageBody" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38;">Dear Friends,</span></h5>
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<span class="messageBody" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38;">I wanted to share the link to a cause that is very dear to my heart. Calvin Frith is a volunteer through the Salesians in Australia and he is doing amazing work at the City of Joy. I would love for you to visit this link and take a look at some of the projects he has underway: </span></div>
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<span class="messageBody" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38;"><span class="userContent"><a href="https://fundly.com/city-of-joy-mazabuka-zambia" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://fundly.com/city-of-joy-mazabuka-zambia</a></span></span></h5>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">And if you feel the desire to contribute financially you have my thanks as well! I know what a difference hard work can do at the site and Calvin is putting in a lot of sustainable infrastructure that will benefit my girls for years to come! I will try to post a few pictures of him with the girls, but you can find them directly at the link!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Currently I am working in Dallas and praying that God will give me a way to return to my beloved Africa!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Love and prayers,</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Annie</span></span></div>
Annie Doughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12864471504523703781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539084839699241858.post-64316916769367621812013-02-25T13:45:00.000-08:002013-09-21T13:48:36.148-07:00Re-Entrance into the Western WorldRome, Italy<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Gimignano in Tuscany on a trip I made with my<br /> brother, Dominic.</td></tr>
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I read somewhere that Pope John Paul II never saw a crowd but a gathering of individuals. I used to have no idea how that could be possible, but somehow I’m starting to figure it out because when you<br /> try to see other people within the light of charity (love without limitations) and imagine the world from their perspective (thanks, UD psych), suddenly all kinds of beautiful experiences emerge and<br /> unlikely friendships are formed.<br /><br /> One Italian woman I met the other day congratulated me for having gone to Africa and I really didn’t know how to respond. It was like being praised for receiving an undeserved gift. If you could meet Rachael or Shevan, Alice or Christine, Susan or Charity, Astridah, Maureen, Chewe, Doris, Lulu, Orian, or any of the other 17 girls, you would instantly see how fitting the name City of Joy is, and the ability that love of God and neighbor has to ‘rub’ all kinds of emotional abandonment and pain. I think that in developed countries, our poverty is not recognizing how central love is to who we are- and its difficult in the face of so many confused expressions.<br /><br /> The only reason my heart is still in one piece after leaving Zambia is my certainty that I’ll be back there before too long. Until then I’ll have the girls’ farewell song to remind me how important prayer is in remaining close to those you love; “Oh, we’ll miss you when you go. Remember to create one union with the Lord.”<br /><br />I have so much more to tell but I’ll be home in just 4 days!<br />
<br />Until then,<br /> AnnieAnnie Doughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12864471504523703781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539084839699241858.post-37987595954503060522013-02-01T13:27:00.000-08:002013-09-21T13:42:20.063-07:00A Long Overdue Hello
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids at Oratory</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">City of Joy Mazabuka,
Zambia</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many stunning sunsets I've seen lately. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiey18ohEOKUqMOvfKJZZCInfVQSjNd5539fRZKc-rjO9dLghJNkXEtL05BQXRGtgjsJVzcS25GtxNWOjX8Mf8B5cbsus2YAXOIu_D8UkiXMFDUkxSsUMxVmbJo1H6A4RCVG3giXlJHrSU/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I’ve had so much to think about lately that I’m just managing to get something
written! The new year has already brought so much life with it. From the girls
starting to school, to learning to slash grass, to new volunteers arriving, I
remind myself every day to enjoy the unplanned adventures such as getting caught
in the rain or a two hour business meeting on tenders. I’ve left age 22 in
Zambia! It was a memorable celebration with friends and then with the girls who
sang songs for me and had the sweetest words of gratitude. I even got to drive a car
for the first time in six months - on the left side of the road!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They like to see how many kids I can carry ;)</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">As I get more used to being here, I more and more realize that my reaction to
age, background, education, and culture have really colored my interactions
with people - and I think that’s another thing I’ll leave in this country.
There’s just so much to learn about people when you manage to overlook those
things. I’ve laughed with 70 year old women, talked to politicians and bishops,
had hours of conversation with a 38 year old Zimbabwean, and spent most of my
time with people who are under the age of 18. I think the main difference is that
people here are very humble and (at least when talking to you) don’t attempt to
make themselves superior to one another. I remember my friend Katherine (who is
volunteering in Haiti) saying that she was excited to focus on people not for what they had but for who they are - and it’s
so amazing what happens when you are given the chance to do that.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hands (obviously) I may be getting darker, but I'm still pretty white.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
This week I was able to revisit Victoria Falls with two friends who moved down
to Livingstone. It was such an incredible experience (since there was water
this time). We got soaked from the spray and saw more rainbows than I’ve ever
seen in one place! I imagine that heaven is somewhere near as beautiful. The few days away has given me a chance to refocus
on spending my energy on the girls here at City of Joy. I have only 10 days
left in Zambia, and as excited as I am to visit my brother Dominic in Europe,
and to be home, I’m not ready to leave this country behind. I don’t know where life is taking me next, but I hope that I
will remain connected to Zambia somehow. Sometimes I have brief moments when I
remember my first impressions and challenges, but most of the time, I feel
completely at home digging up onions for supper, catching rides on the road,
speaking my few Nyanja or Tonga words, and I forget that I stand out so much
here. I’ve even given up cooking American food most of the time which means
I’ve mastered nshima, cabbage, and soya. I take it as huge complements that
I’ve been praised for cooking nshima, told that I’m becoming a Zambian from the sun, and
given a Tonga name- Luendo. It means Journey, because I don’t like to sit still
;)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbppndeL0NzMMTRQyYoTqtmOwhdqh5ARfZ-imCOTgJC0xjnqcmAvquA7Ichd1D4QWYqhRLOcSx-t6zFgAWXkyoAA4Re5fi8JNlNrkO7SvJKRtOliLBtmeT6LSPnzq2akKXlYgGtlRp0Y/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbppndeL0NzMMTRQyYoTqtmOwhdqh5ARfZ-imCOTgJC0xjnqcmAvquA7Ichd1D4QWYqhRLOcSx-t6zFgAWXkyoAA4Re5fi8JNlNrkO7SvJKRtOliLBtmeT6LSPnzq2akKXlYgGtlRp0Y/s320/5.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How often do you get to see a double rainbow?! (Victoria Falls)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I’ll be sending one more email from Europe, but I hope that I see each one of
you soon after I get back to the USA on March 1st!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UDYZTRyC5MN6RT_XNX6Cae90xciGE6GFZF9FRL4o9p24K50egOFkX0u1lsk9mNBPeMhzBDMMLzl7lRfwE6NwkkPss_IYdvyrNCrVCn10AvOHRmJ-gZztjH0i8h2xUSIVNhIpI9ZLSY8/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UDYZTRyC5MN6RT_XNX6Cae90xciGE6GFZF9FRL4o9p24K50egOFkX0u1lsk9mNBPeMhzBDMMLzl7lRfwE6NwkkPss_IYdvyrNCrVCn10AvOHRmJ-gZztjH0i8h2xUSIVNhIpI9ZLSY8/s320/4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys at Oratory</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
With thoughts and prayers from Maz,<br />
Annie</span><br />Annie Doughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12864471504523703781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539084839699241858.post-10454465185398512752012-12-30T13:20:00.000-08:002013-09-21T13:42:50.155-07:00Christmas Blessings<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mazabuka, Zambia</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6vlsp1J02Euc1lw-1F6201_TNlIgG7rOac_JewrtcTvmx2Ezps_7b_llZ9owvPpPk6xWPPRb7QQ7h1GhRIjQHgzs1LlixFfoXF4QAL9SHH3x5RWvsVTcnOFHNncWP675ztwcsFpc-7c/s1600/DSCN6682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6vlsp1J02Euc1lw-1F6201_TNlIgG7rOac_JewrtcTvmx2Ezps_7b_llZ9owvPpPk6xWPPRb7QQ7h1GhRIjQHgzs1LlixFfoXF4QAL9SHH3x5RWvsVTcnOFHNncWP675ztwcsFpc-7c/s320/DSCN6682.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cassie's hut where I spent Christmas!</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></td></tr>
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My dear family and friends,<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipR_B3G7FM8UP1RIyRHvTfU0XL7h2W605is-nNaRoCfRMp3ODjWjmsHKKo12Ci6QEwnpHjlSPE-TwqmzuVwOzDI87g4QAqINJAW210OPm04ifISWr-SnUbCWlCIz9Sr2iqOyisNaiX_EQ/s1600/DSCN6673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipR_B3G7FM8UP1RIyRHvTfU0XL7h2W605is-nNaRoCfRMp3ODjWjmsHKKo12Ci6QEwnpHjlSPE-TwqmzuVwOzDI87g4QAqINJAW210OPm04ifISWr-SnUbCWlCIz9Sr2iqOyisNaiX_EQ/s320/DSCN6673.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A cow head that was sitting outside my house. I'm here with my<br />
friend Dana. I definitely don't have the courage to eat THAT</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Merry Christmas from Zambia! I hope that these days are filled with peace and every blessing for you as we celebrate the birth of Jesus! Being here in a culture that doesn’t celebrate by giving gifts, I am definitely removed from the commercialism of the holidays, but it also makes me really appreciate the genuine love and thoughtfulness behind the gifts I have been given in past years. I spent the better part of last week with my Peace Corps friends in their villages (without electricity or running water) and it was definitely a Christmas that won’t be easily forgotten. It was full of new experiences and not at all like the Christmas we have in the States! I was in Lubombo for Christmas day which started with Cassie and I walking through rain, knee-deep puddles, and fields of maize in order to get to church. After waiting 1.5 hours it finally got underway and afterwards we were fed nshima and chicken. I was ‘nakuta maningi (too full)’ that day because we rushed back after that to have lunch with our other friends. After a soccer game involving the village headman and several other important people, we spent the evening dancing in and around the streets! Life in the village is simple but beautiful in its own way. I’m keeping this short because I really just have to add that I am so so grateful for each one of you who has made 2012 such a memorable year! Here’s to 2013!</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
Annie</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbJLqrP78TlZYOvG3_NJnY6xRexE2nlj9HRBNKBqRIgkITV0mJL-iFyQgdt5pyNowSgpHOdF3pupEJlyVh-aMoUsNClm5l9oWp0v9PxuO9rv5Yw_Ezmt9eluCSO3SvAq4x3Fzwc0HvQM/s1600/DSCN6766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbJLqrP78TlZYOvG3_NJnY6xRexE2nlj9HRBNKBqRIgkITV0mJL-iFyQgdt5pyNowSgpHOdF3pupEJlyVh-aMoUsNClm5l9oWp0v9PxuO9rv5Yw_Ezmt9eluCSO3SvAq4x3Fzwc0HvQM/s320/DSCN6766.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Some of my American friends: Matt, Ty, Cassie, (and thats me).</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4T9A_qlCyDA2Xaiz9gWQms_7xfhov_-LBPgXpzvQDc-uAjcbIbxFsMCfx3Hw_vRVaMDNOyYRhTCiTiPfgqkewhyphenhyphenKy0f0EhwTSuOSQFFjYyVnwz_6MGLQcjhpxDQlep6Q5CqVMtFv75M/s1600/DSCN6822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4T9A_qlCyDA2Xaiz9gWQms_7xfhov_-LBPgXpzvQDc-uAjcbIbxFsMCfx3Hw_vRVaMDNOyYRhTCiTiPfgqkewhyphenhyphenKy0f0EhwTSuOSQFFjYyVnwz_6MGLQcjhpxDQlep6Q5CqVMtFv75M/s320/DSCN6822.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My ride back into Mazabuka from Chikankata. Before it ended up<br />
being 22 people, 2 large suitcases, and two live chickens. I had to<br />
put my backpack on the roof of the truck because </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">there was no other place!</span></span></td></tr>
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Annie Doughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12864471504523703781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539084839699241858.post-45868947304350784602012-12-05T12:48:00.000-08:002013-09-21T13:02:07.833-07:00Thanksgiving, Inswa, and Getting to Know Zambia
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">City of Joy, Mazabuka,
ZAMBIA<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
My dear family and friends!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
I hope that you had a great Thanksgiving celebration at home. It (surprisingly)
doesn’t get a lot of recognition here, but at least the sisters commemorated
the day by serving chips and ice cream at lunch. Our City of Joy is becoming
quieter these days because the girls are starting to leave for holiday- to
visit family or former homes for the next month. My days will be pretty free
after Friday, and I will have time to sleep in and work on a few projects
around here. I’m not sure what the Christmas season will bring, but the Peace Corps volunteers will be
nearby so I may have a little American celebrating! I’ve been thinking a lot
about my position and work here. Because the community is relatively new (2008)
and still developing, it seems that the focus of the volunteer is largely up to
their personal ideas and strengths.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKW8rmD5yepGg69jeh8zlo3HpHaQu1zDXkL4KEG2XhebIaugwwuvxiJXrGk9ToSBRplxbAY9cYIIOR2drVkxsnz_GYKvZuh0PkbktU7GTsGbKYuQ9ojbKzG0H2trn5YFvvvXJwOB-zLI/s1600/slide.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKW8rmD5yepGg69jeh8zlo3HpHaQu1zDXkL4KEG2XhebIaugwwuvxiJXrGk9ToSBRplxbAY9cYIIOR2drVkxsnz_GYKvZuh0PkbktU7GTsGbKYuQ9ojbKzG0H2trn5YFvvvXJwOB-zLI/s320/slide.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playtime!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While I was helping a good bit with school, lately I've been more intent on just spending time with the girls and getting to know them individually. Usually I try to join in on their activities and interests, which involved planting grass and maize and catching inswa this week! It's a ground termite that flies out after a big rain. The first time I saw the girls collecting the insects off the ground I lost my appetite, but fried with a little salt they're actually pretty good (much better than the charcoal-like caterpillars) and taste a bit like peanut butter. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9TpXzISrqDoQMHn27Wa47EYymWnX8A5S1W2oFqEE53-g2DdvwGcL_F31XHX41XQKLqW3CKA7KrL8vqG4Ym3EFMfiplJqkQLaTrXMDp6xan44SbFAaKXI9xgFPsYMgidrTn0rmkfGQ18/s1600/inswa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9TpXzISrqDoQMHn27Wa47EYymWnX8A5S1W2oFqEE53-g2DdvwGcL_F31XHX41XQKLqW3CKA7KrL8vqG4Ym3EFMfiplJqkQLaTrXMDp6xan44SbFAaKXI9xgFPsYMgidrTn0rmkfGQ18/s320/inswa.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few of the inswa we collected to eat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now that it's the rainy season, it's cooler at night and often cloudy during the day which is a nice break from the heat of the past few months! When the rains come it's like being in Texas - sheets of water and rivers forming in the sandy roads. The girls are becoming more comfortable with me, asking questions or sharing stories from school. I think that the presence of volunteers here is essential because it's proof to these girls that someone loves them and care about who they are and their choices in life. There's a sad history of abuse in Zambia and teaching the girls that they're worth something will hopefully continue to improve things. There are a lot of assumptions about 'muzungus' around here that I'm learning to live around. That I have money to hand out. That I don't know how to cook. Or work. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYoh1kVcito9E6rQatS7k_Xc0rkPw-OCbcC_WpBE9f_OQy4sHTfZSdbg3lT_1rCfCF7Sw2cbzDNX-dkGafNQ0UlYvlYbW1v3a111zjE0bmqv_SSBwxDnJy2yDXpQlDmzimigvIjZo088/s1600/plowing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYoh1kVcito9E6rQatS7k_Xc0rkPw-OCbcC_WpBE9f_OQy4sHTfZSdbg3lT_1rCfCF7Sw2cbzDNX-dkGafNQ0UlYvlYbW1v3a111zjE0bmqv_SSBwxDnJy2yDXpQlDmzimigvIjZo088/s320/plowing.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning how to plow with cattle!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's really sad to me that experience has taught Africans that their stereotypes are often based in reality. Because of that, I enjoy surprising people and helping with work, although I don't like doing it form them because that creates its own problems! I was helping Christine to weed her portion (grassy area) and as I was cutting out the long grass runners wondering why I hadn't done it before at home. Then I realized we have lawnmowers. I think that culture shock will hit me harder when I come back to the States!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIsGywbhHoHht4r9ojqUUcXgIDKLlgq1I18wf9k4XiYmRS2OwZrJrE7hXTWzMaxlH9QPAyhiXomycyvMS28sQF0um_ejjVK3_VsczU5aBh-rTERDHBkpjsNbdjej_53X2AvNL3iAgRNk/s1600/planting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIsGywbhHoHht4r9ojqUUcXgIDKLlgq1I18wf9k4XiYmRS2OwZrJrE7hXTWzMaxlH9QPAyhiXomycyvMS28sQF0um_ejjVK3_VsczU5aBh-rTERDHBkpjsNbdjej_53X2AvNL3iAgRNk/s320/planting.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Planting- back row: Florence, me, Susan. Front: Maureen, Mami<br />
Agness, Mami Bertha</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of my new favorite creatures is the chameleon. Seems to have some similarities to the Texas armadillo because I’ve seen it as often dead in the road as not! If you’ve never seen one walking go look it up on youtube. Weirdest thing ever. Much friendlier than the cobra we (and by ‘we’ I mean 3 men) killed on my porch a few weeks ago! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve decided to work on one language instead of the 72 here in Zambia, so now I know a few short sentances in Nyanja. Laylo cu zizila (i=ee) means ‘today is cold’ and ooinda cuti? is ‘where are you going?’ Tien cu nyumba (lets go home) and nifuna kapinga yambili (I need more grass) have been useful a few times : ) Hope all is bwino. I’ll write again at Christmas time but know that you are in my prayers throughout this season of Advent! Please keep us in your prayers as well.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzdrPlXikW0rMh1u7gL0m-F1KwVWo6xJxzPBPiDhBcafhbkJfusHAUGShaA8UzXUEmBpBwTwKNtw4I_M3v0XEEDJyS99pXTfE_vqQy4ksLy7lJ_qGwwhPr-b6ukHt-QS7lGmOjFLq_r8/s1600/little+girls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzdrPlXikW0rMh1u7gL0m-F1KwVWo6xJxzPBPiDhBcafhbkJfusHAUGShaA8UzXUEmBpBwTwKNtw4I_M3v0XEEDJyS99pXTfE_vqQy4ksLy7lJ_qGwwhPr-b6ukHt-QS7lGmOjFLq_r8/s320/little+girls.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Ni nda tozaonana (I’m going, see you!)<br /> Annie</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span>Annie Doughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12864471504523703781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539084839699241858.post-84027388379675883322012-10-29T09:40:00.000-07:002013-09-21T11:16:22.019-07:00Falling in Love with Zambia!!<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The last few weeks have
flow, largely due to having my friend Katie<br />
here! It’s great to have her here sharing the workload and whatever<br />
observations or stories we come up with during the day. I was<br />
definitely missing a lot of the humor from back home too!</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrgLXQAsQa-9T8A0cUNhxTMkkwfkO_OKLiSlx-dAXVIwYWRSnd4STdCu6hXwUcMDtsb7727zaUqf1SIZHlmlv6LIzM6bKivMN4zmWwrwwJuk10o28f1WVMdjjD0dlrwb3ZIU21v1ecR4/s1600/DSCN5929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrgLXQAsQa-9T8A0cUNhxTMkkwfkO_OKLiSlx-dAXVIwYWRSnd4STdCu6hXwUcMDtsb7727zaUqf1SIZHlmlv6LIzM6bKivMN4zmWwrwwJuk10o28f1WVMdjjD0dlrwb3ZIU21v1ecR4/s200/DSCN5929.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A typical Friday lunch of nshima, capenta, and veggies</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Things are still pretty routine with the girls in school, but final<br />
exams start soon so that will be changing. I always welcome the weekends here, because it’s a break in the routine, and as exciting as it is to share my learning with them, I don’t think teaching is something I could do permanently right now. Most days are good- when the girls pay attention- and the others are giving me a crash course in patience.<br />
<br />
I’m falling more in love with this country and some days I just have<br />
to stop moving for a minute or two to remind myself how beautiful the<br />
land is. I don’t know if I’d ever feel ready to leave it permanently and that’s also because of the people. I get asked all the time ‘how<br />
is Zambia/Mazabuka?’ It makes me feel as if my opinion of this place<br />
really matters! When I bought ‘airtime’ to call home, the shop owner<br />
caught me the next day and asked ‘did it work?!’ I really can’t<br />
describe the openness and genuine character of the people I’ve met<br />
here. Spending this last weekend mostly with the oratory leaders (most<br />
are 24/6 years old) has made me truly appreciate my experience here in<br />
a new way. I know that their attitude towards life and one another<br />
will give me a new perspective on many things. Unlike the lack of<br />
personal space in Italy (yikes) here it seems to be more from the<br />
sense of community everyone shares. public transport is overcrowded<br />
and it always looks like someone is going to fall out of the bus! But<br />
I'll enjoy seeing it until the time I have to use one ;)<br />
Last week Katie and I finally made the trip to Livingstone and<br />
Victoria Falls, 4 hours south of us. While I was waiting outside the<br />
bank for Katie, a man came up and asked ‘are you waiting for me?’ then<br />
went on to tell me how welcome I was and that he hoped I would enjoy<br />
my visit- a good first impression of the people there! I was also able<br />
to accomplish all three of my African goals in one day! Starting in<br />
the morning with a walking safari where we saw giraffe, a warthog<br />
(Pumba), impala, a bushbuck, white rhinos, buffalo, monkeys, and<br />
elephants! We got dropped off at the falls and spend hours hiking<br />
around admiring the gorge and ‘boiling point’ (at the bottom). Since<br />
it’s the dry season, there’s not a lot of water falling, but the placeis still incredible. As soon as we got back to the hostel, I literally<br />
ran to join the elephant back safari! Not as much wildlife this time<br />
(besides rogue elephants and a lion), but it was amazing to be riding<br />
such a massive animal, walking through deep rivers like it was<br />
nothing! Afterwards we had a chance to feed them. New friends were<br />
everywhere, from my bus companion, to the safari driver, to the other travelers. I was blessed to meet a beautiful family from Australia who <br />
were incredibly supportive of my time here- thank you Toby and Esther!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgaC-O92fJ5O1xK2FeCtY7xRy4EjlcKE_ix3-I7lUFhD90V_tH7IyiAi9O-cnsMfbKm6kjb6xzsl3rrw8CVUrZgiPkDLk30H9va0yTnayUYQxAFuGMT2AHTfCldMVEKlLVLGpkvOOwZg/s1600/DSCN6110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgaC-O92fJ5O1xK2FeCtY7xRy4EjlcKE_ix3-I7lUFhD90V_tH7IyiAi9O-cnsMfbKm6kjb6xzsl3rrw8CVUrZgiPkDLk30H9va0yTnayUYQxAFuGMT2AHTfCldMVEKlLVLGpkvOOwZg/s200/DSCN6110.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Feeding Matinta, the elepant I rode. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The name basically means that</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">the person (or elephant) is the only boy in</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> family of girls- or the</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">other way around!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI40FtRtDWAGNL2GCPSt1sGt-wxUaiOlLSQhpnXY3OjhzNxnaxOdYopcUm5JcJUqzM59Y5L7GdxPrD0U0pZECxw6Bv5gcqhsI15_VerCTvLjpUdglQCqno7K5oVB5kV5K2fGyue30ZIpY/s1600/DSCN6029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI40FtRtDWAGNL2GCPSt1sGt-wxUaiOlLSQhpnXY3OjhzNxnaxOdYopcUm5JcJUqzM59Y5L7GdxPrD0U0pZECxw6Bv5gcqhsI15_VerCTvLjpUdglQCqno7K5oVB5kV5K2fGyue30ZIpY/s200/DSCN6029.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Standing in front of part of Victoria Falls</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwb4uSCk2pn1-NaJ8ysV3WNq6bulfH1cs_Pjkj0QqbiG40vwngrm7XlpVyaoqeMaMUR9-PDMC2wSxUlpfZ_a13ZbZWz3xp334XEgpXBoM5zhEbAyhE-Zi2ygHJpgvq8io84GsjVOOqoM/s1600/DSCN6170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwb4uSCk2pn1-NaJ8ysV3WNq6bulfH1cs_Pjkj0QqbiG40vwngrm7XlpVyaoqeMaMUR9-PDMC2wSxUlpfZ_a13ZbZWz3xp334XEgpXBoM5zhEbAyhE-Zi2ygHJpgvq8io84GsjVOOqoM/s200/DSCN6170.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Our visit to Chimungalu with some of the children there.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The week we got back, the sisters took us on an afternoon outing to Chimungalu, a village that is definitely part of 3rd world Africa. It made me even more thankful for the running water and electricity here! The men and women working/volunteering there have my respect.<br />
<br />
On Tuesday the Irish sisters had Katie and I over for supper and besides having a night out, it was great to hear their stories and perspective since they’ve been here for 14/40 years! Wednesday we celebrated Zambian Independence and next year is their Golden Jubilee. Katie and I must have been greeted 100 times by people excited to see us celebrating in Zambian chitenges! I still have so much to learn here, especially the language which I’ve been pretty slow to grasp.<br />
Maybe next time I’ll finally have a sentence or two memorized to share. ;)<br />
<br />
I would love to receive emails from ya’ll, especially since I’ll be on<br />
my own again for the month of November. Hope that all is well!<br />
<br />
Until next time, my thoughts and prayers are with you from Zambia!<br />
Annie<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
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Annie Doughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12864471504523703781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539084839699241858.post-63268315120894731812012-09-17T11:04:00.000-07:002013-09-21T11:15:50.775-07:00Faith<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Salesian Sisters’ City
of Joy, Mazabuka, Zambia</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-XpOUWkyrYkv3e963Y5OFm3yDGocBjUX7NPajoNMaE7JvKxFVUrBltrC0TOyHUW55YNnEiXkYOTd4b8t0OAz2uhC-mXr6uoXyVT_5E15iSzeTHPD_z1TemIQvLTEfeNwqwjxjnCXMXw/s1600/eating+sugar+cane.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-XpOUWkyrYkv3e963Y5OFm3yDGocBjUX7NPajoNMaE7JvKxFVUrBltrC0TOyHUW55YNnEiXkYOTd4b8t0OAz2uhC-mXr6uoXyVT_5E15iSzeTHPD_z1TemIQvLTEfeNwqwjxjnCXMXw/s320/eating+sugar+cane.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Nakambala Sugar Plantation. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My hands and feet were black from eating burned sugar cane<br />
but it was delicious!</span> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">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.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjntza0n0aTYhd-ecqh57bwu9j_CV5tytRh_LAUSez9FNCiBjET8Kvb-387oyCqcnJYNF-5TO7I7n8qf0wJYArUFUyD-bDtDJnn5o-S9Fmp_RRBud2xG5X8t36MXpQrKo8EewrIZBbgg/s1600/Girls+at+Nakambala.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjntza0n0aTYhd-ecqh57bwu9j_CV5tytRh_LAUSez9FNCiBjET8Kvb-387oyCqcnJYNF-5TO7I7n8qf0wJYArUFUyD-bDtDJnn5o-S9Fmp_RRBud2xG5X8t36MXpQrKo8EewrIZBbgg/s320/Girls+at+Nakambala.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Nakambala Sugar Plantation.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The girls with me are Alice, Christine, Esther.<br />
Esther, Queen, Orian.</span> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo31JX5uDDZXs2aXFQuSad4gm_2mrjafFjnIcI-ni4oOO4QVTcuA-pBuiqBzcbe2oSTkEonz039sW7pxEyHWiygilHJq72r3f27LbTYGS54MMNIHL-vmSPK9zcAXYfLHWfVZ0qZZF2bf4/s1600/Oratorians.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo31JX5uDDZXs2aXFQuSad4gm_2mrjafFjnIcI-ni4oOO4QVTcuA-pBuiqBzcbe2oSTkEonz039sW7pxEyHWiygilHJq72r3f27LbTYGS54MMNIHL-vmSPK9zcAXYfLHWfVZ0qZZF2bf4/s320/Oratorians.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids from the Oratory.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwYL8w5Uen-MeCfztGdvmuguY0B0oNUyMGIXk5Dq4zeQm9KgMCW-2V92xJIaH9fukr8W7-0A0rQ7eS_jf9CJsVy7Jq3l5MVGn8m9zjokrxXPhFT3SeTCn3-xatZYxojTfbndPrWMXVsU/s1600/South+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwYL8w5Uen-MeCfztGdvmuguY0B0oNUyMGIXk5Dq4zeQm9KgMCW-2V92xJIaH9fukr8W7-0A0rQ7eS_jf9CJsVy7Jq3l5MVGn8m9zjokrxXPhFT3SeTCn3-xatZYxojTfbndPrWMXVsU/s320/South+view.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">The view south from City of Joy, not too many buildings in that direction. ;)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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.<br />
<br />
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.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
Love and Prayers,<br />
Annie</span>Annie Doughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12864471504523703781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539084839699241858.post-49471088684846384752012-08-23T09:21:00.000-07:002013-09-21T13:12:44.181-07:00Learning to LoveSalesian Sisters' City of Joy, Mazabuka, Zambia<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQVvBjKPIVW7i1Nx7lZ3KPoloBdnH2P5u9HVTSrqpsvYuECCSYOdsSYlCYpTGuzcNs7A6Keus0aIahCw4LaLzK4E4lce8mgSXIoXUfaEEPwlbbN6-xGnqjDx-1QeXW7hojQNqOcun0wg/s1600/DSCN6783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQVvBjKPIVW7i1Nx7lZ3KPoloBdnH2P5u9HVTSrqpsvYuECCSYOdsSYlCYpTGuzcNs7A6Keus0aIahCw4LaLzK4E4lce8mgSXIoXUfaEEPwlbbN6-xGnqjDx-1QeXW7hojQNqOcun0wg/s320/DSCN6783.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I bet you can find me easily here... </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This was in the streets of Lubombo- the kids flock around pretty quickly! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I mention Lubombo in my Christmas post!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The more time I spend here at the City of Joy, the more I realize how<br />
much we narrow down our understanding of love and how small my heart<br />
must be compared to the infinite compassion of God! Everything here is<br />
a challenge, but I still feel that this is exactly where I’m supposed<br />
to be right now. I want to thank each and every one of you for helping<br />
me to reach this point- either by helping with the flight, or just as<br />
importantly, your prayers and encouragement.<br />
<br />
I’ll start by giving you a short description of this place and<br />
hopefully the internet will allow me to send some pictures soon ;) On<br />
the gated property is a convent with 3 sisters and 5 aspirants, three<br />
houses for the 29 girls and 3 Mamis, and a volunteer house. A mansion<br />
for me because it holds 12 and I’m the only one here right now (and<br />
only American in Mazabuka that I know of)! There’s a hall as well as<br />
basketball and volleyball courts (cement). Our road is rocks and dirt<br />
(yet another new friend) which always makes for an adventure in the<br />
van or pickup.<br />
<br />
The girls are still on holiday so the schedule isn’t fixed, but the<br />
days have looked something like this: morning Mass as the parish with<br />
everyone from the convent- I love riding in the back of the pickup and<br />
there are so many people awake by 6am that there’s always something to<br />
see. Seems like a lot of life takes place along the road. Some<br />
mornings are cold or dusty so we ride with a blanket over our heads.<br />
Can’t imagine how that looks! After breakfast, I usually help the<br />
girls with studies; most of them aren’t in the ‘right’ grade because<br />
of their backgrounds. Lunch I eat at the convent and after that have a<br />
few minutes before 10-15 of the girls come over to make bracelets,<br />
draw pictures or play cards. From 2:30-5 we have Oratory, a Salesian<br />
tradition of lessons, games, or performances and prayer led by the<br />
aspirants and young men (ages 15-30) from Mazabuka. Kids from the<br />
neighborhood come for that which gives me more than enough names to<br />
work on! After dinner the girls often practice for an upcoming holiday<br />
or visitor. They all sing so well! Somehow no one is too shy to sing<br />
on stage and there are one or two really beautiful voices. They sing<br />
on bus rides or when the power goes out, and I’m doing my best to<br />
follow along even though half of the songs are in Tonga- their native<br />
language. Each girl is incredibly strong and sincere. Even hearing<br />
their stories, its hard to believe that most are orphans or come from<br />
abusive backgrounds. It truly is a city of Joy. I wish that my arms<br />
were longer or that I had more hands so I could hold more than two at<br />
once!<br />
<br />
Sugarcane is what Mazabuka is known for. The factory seems to employ<br />
half the city! The girls don’t have any sugar left, so we all went<br />
with Sr. Elisa to ask for more. We even found some sugar cane on the<br />
way out (illegal to pick) and I understand why the kids get excited!<br />
It really tastes great and way better than ‘Zambian bubble gum,’ a<br />
slightly sweet seed that you chew to a pulp. Bleh. Nsima is the most<br />
common item on the menu- maize flour cooked to the consistency of<br />
grits or porridge. I’ve learned how to eat it with my hands (“like a<br />
real Zambian”). Im also learning a few Tonga expressions; Twalumba is<br />
‘thank you,’ mwabuka buti is ‘good morning,’ and maguwa is ‘white<br />
woman.’ I get letters of appreciation from the girls all the time, and<br />
I really understand Don Bosco’s (the Salesian Founder) words that “it<br />
is enough that you are young for me to love you.”<br />
<br />
There is so much to be done here, from helping the girls, being here<br />
for them, and making their home more beautiful and more like family.<br />
Some of it is due to resources we don’t have, but a lot of it can (and<br />
will!) be improved. I hope that God is blessing each and every one of<br />
you back home!<br />
<br />
With prayers,<br />
Annie<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Annie Doughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12864471504523703781noreply@blogger.com0