Andy's Zambian Adventures: Who is poor in comparison to whom?

Sylvester Malunga is a 40 year old artist, and a couple of days ago we caught up with him at his small house in Chiwempala, (one of the poorer districts of Chingola). Sylvester was just starting to make some Christmas cards using banana twine. As well as a range of paintings, he also makes many types of cards both painted and crafted. He then tries to sell them in the town centre where we first met him, and purchased some of his cards. Of course for most people buying Christmas cards or any type of card, is hardly a priority, so he was glad of our custom, as often he can be in town a whole day without a sale. His beautiful cards and paintings were in stark contrast to the rubbish filled streets of Chiwempala. There’s no refuse collection here, so all the rubbish just gets thrown into the street. This is not dissimilar to many of the poorer districts in this town, and yet despite the mess, there is also a happy vibrant feeling amongst the people as we walked through with the sun beating down on us. We were happy to take shelter from the oppressive sun, in the shelter of Sylvester’s house. He is also helped by his friend Bernard, who has started to make the cards too. Opposite, a few children play in the dirt, and a lady sells tomatoes at her stall. The tomatoes are built up into tomato pyramids, as is the norm here in Zambia. (They just don’t put the effort into their displays back home at Tesco and Sainsburys!) In the distance the hustle and bustle of the main large market can be heard. Here you can buy anything from fruit and veg, meat, dried fish, to clothes, tools and kitchen utensils, and one thing is certain here, it is always very busy.

Photo: Sylvester (left) and Bernard, outside Sylvester's house in Chiwempala

We bought some cards off Sylvester and then made our way by taxi to a fairly new compound that is being built to meet a man named Chimbala. In Zambia you pay per person for the taxi, so you’ll share with whoever else is going in the same direction so the driver can make it worth his while. He gave up a job in the mine to lead a church, but is interested in working in the rural areas and the work we’ve been involved setting up. His house was built around a year ago. Everyone builds their own houses, once they have been assigned a plot by the council. Chimbala's house is very basic inside, although he does have a TV and DVD player, which the people he has an interest in helping in the villages, would not be able to afford in a million years, even if they did have electricity, which they don’t. I guess there are so many levels of wealth. Compared to the people in the villages we’ve seen, Chimbala and Sylvester are so rich, but compared to us they are very poor, and yet in Britain I don’t feel like I’m that rich, because of those that have so much more, but in the world picture I am very rich.

Earlier in the week, Ponde and I went to look at prices of cabbage seed and fertilisers in Chingola, for the support project we want to start with the pastors. Where so many people rely on growing vegetables and other crops themselves, even those living in Chingola itself, it’s not surprising that there were many shops selling seed etc. We also looked at the costs of chicken rearing, as this is another option in the support plan. We saw lots of 1 or 2 day old chicks in cardboard boxes (25 to a box) standing on top of each other making a lot of noise.

Ruth and Jo went with Joel to visit Kapeshi School to see how they were getting on with preparing the fields for the crops they will grow to make the school financially sustaining over the coming years. They took Alice and Patrick through a 5 year plan to see the school being able to support itself.

Photo: Joel (left) and Patrick look at the field the school can use to grow crops

On Tuesday Ruth and I went with Joel to Kanawabatami, one of the villages we visited back in August. This village is some 15 minutes drive from the main road, and goes through a deserted wilderness. – Deserted apart from 1 or 2 goats that is. When we arrived we met one of the leaders who will be coming to the training conference we’re holding at the beginning of November.

Photos: Winding road to Kanawabatami

Photo: Chicken house in Kanawabatami - High up to prevent disease of chickens

Last week the first discipleship courses started in Ipafu with Joel and Ranger, in Sekela with Ponde, and in Kallilo with Vincent and Meshach. In Ipafu 12 people turned up from different churches in the community. After some lengthy introductions (as is the Zambian way) Joel began the session. The next day in Sekela, Ponde led a larger group of 25 people who really enjoyed the first week. Meanwhile around 50 kids played with a football outside, which got a bit too noisy at some points. Caspa started a group this Wednesday in his village of Kameter. We had hoped to go, but with the car out of action we were unable to get there. Hopefully we can visit his group next week.