Revd Liz Smith's Team Visit
Here is one account of two trips to Zambia by parishioners in 2008 . . .
In the late spring of 2008, Reverend Liz Smith, Sandra Freeborn, Alex, Trevor and Pam Hoddinott visited Chipilli to maintain the previously established link that was set up many years ago. We needed to visit to see how funds are being spent and to find out what is needed for the future.
The water pump was nonfunctioning and trips to Mansa, the local town, did not achieve the necessary repair. Even though there were bore holes, the water was very muddy and so the river water was the only option.
A guest accommodation area is only partly built awaiting more funding as is the medical centre. The existing medical centre is totally inadequate. The maternity room striking us as being the worst part with three metal-framed beds which were rusty and dirty with no mattresses and the single baby's cot containing an old piece of brown foam. There was no linen or birthing aids and women only gave birth here who suffered complications otherwise a home care team visited them and the unwell. There was a new mill where people could take their maize and millet to be ground by the very dusty mill worker.
There are two schools the basic school for local children and a boarding school which served the towns offering cheap tutoring in poor conditions. Two meals of beans and enchema were given each day cooked in huge fired circular vats in a dark kitchen. The pupils had to provide their own bedding and linen and were tiered in their sleeping arrangements with a girls and boys dormitory.
The cathedral was enormous and we shook hands with 350 local people all of whom were so welcoming. Reverend Liz Smith was invited to administer communion which, along with preaching the sermon, was a privilege, as women are not ordained as priests in Zambia. Despite this, Liz was invited to baptize eighteen babies at St Agnes in a neighbouring village. A joy for us all.
We were fed with precious ingredients which were scarce to the Chipilli people. They brought five live chickens in a box in the boot from the town to feed us. Their generosity if spirit was quite humbling. We lived with them for the time we were there enjoying their tremendous hospitality and sharing their faith.
We visited the river, the school gardens by the river and the beautiful falls.
The carpenter/school teacher helped Alex make a door for a workshop.
There was basic electricity in six houses for part of each evening. It was dark at 6 pm. These houses had a fridge, oven, TV and one had a deep freeze.
We hope to return to Zambia in 2012 for their celebration of the centenary for the mission centre. Meanwhile, the wonderful people of Chipilli will remain in our hearts and minds forever.
We all are thankful that the trip was blessed for a safe journey and return and a meaningful time spent there. We thank the Shepton Mallet congregation and other church members for your prayers.