Chongwe

In the span of forty-five minutes we traversed three very different worlds today. Helen Kaunda, the compound where we are living, is a fairly decent community. Literally just around the corner, though, you enter Mtendare. Siwale won’t let us walk in Mtendare. It’s not safe.

But, we got a feel for it today as we drove through. It’s hard to describe.

I felt like there were mobs of people everywhere. With astronomical unemployment rates in this country, most people spend the majority of their day by their stall, trying to sell whatever it is they have to sell. The result is street after street lined with piles of fruit next to heaps of dirty used clothes stacked by bundles of charcoal. Men, women, and children sit in door fronts, under makeshift tables, and on the side of the road.

a view of Mtendare

more stalls

As we left Mtendare my mind was racing. I wish everyone could experience this. Words and pictures just can’t describe the reality of life here. I can’t imagine what life is like for these people. Even as I witness it with my own eyes, it’s hard to really feel and understand what trials they face every day.

As we continued to drive, we left the chaotic scenery of the city behind us. We were headed to Chongwe. Chongwe is in the bush – about 45 minutes from Lusaka. It is the rural community where we are building The Esther School.

each brick for the school is made by hand - one at a time

As we drive up, people start to wave. Again, our pale skin sets us apart.

It was surreal to walk the grounds of the school. What an awesome feeling to see the manifestation of so much planning and prayer. The first teachers’ dorm has walls and a roof. The team of men was working hard when we arrived, and one of them gave us a tour of the surrounding area. Seriously, so amazing to be there.

It was a teacher’s holiday, so there was no one at the government school just up the road, but we walked by on our way to the orphan home’s we had planned to visit. We hope to meet with the headmaster of the school sometime this week and get permission to do some filming there.

There was a group of kids playing on a merry-go-round and we stopped to spin with them for awhile. The kids is so what this is all about, and it was fun to get to interact with them in their element while we were there.

So fun...seriously this is why I love it here...the kids

When we arrived at the homes (there are two duplexes that house 32 children and four mommas) the women greeted us with intense warmth. We talked to some of the kids and got some good ideas for the video that we are going to be making.

warms my heart

The feeling in Chongwe is radically different than in the city. I can’t put my finger on why, exactly, that is. The children are shy, but at the same time accepting and welcoming of our presence. People smile and wave and ask how we are doing. That happens in Lusaka, too, but it just feels different here.

On the drive back, we got pulled over at a police checkpoint which, really, is a cop standing in the road next to an orange cone waving everyone to the side and making them pay before continuing. Siwale explained a little more about the corruption in the government that radiates from the local police as well. Interesting, he said, that the checkpoint wasn’t there on our way to Chongwe. They must have felt the need for some extra cash!

and of course, we had to jump in the bush

rock on

Tomorrow’s goal: Get Siwale to do a jumping picture with us 🙂

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