Day 12

Today is Friday, the 4th of July. No fireworks. No picnics. Nevertheless, it is a day to celebrate our independence as a nation. Without leaving the U.S., it is difficult to comprehend what it really means to live in a nation that operates for the most part based on the rule of law. Sure, we often complain about our government, politicians, and bureaucracy. But unless you spend time in a third world country, you probably can’t fully appreciate the competence, efficiency, and yes integrity of our governments. They may not work as we would like them to all the time, but they do work, and, for the most part, in the collective interest of the populace. It seems there is only a casual pretense of that in these third world countries.

Yesterday, the president of Zambia died of a heart attack. We are told that his administration was widely regarded as corrupt. We see how poorly funded the hospital is, how poorly maintained the road from here to Livingstone is. We understand his official residence had become palatial. We don’t see much sadness in the faces or voices of the local Zambians because of his passing. It seems to be unremarkable.

Early this morning, Mark and Diane were able to take an unplanned side trip to Chobe National Park about an hour south of the Zambian-Botswana border. All of the other members of the team who have been to Zimba previously have been to Chobe at least once. It contains the confluence of three rivers, so in the dry season, it represents the only really substantial water hole for wild animals for many kilometers. Consequently, the animals travel there to feed and drink in great numbers. In the past we’ve seen elephant herds, hippos, impala, kudu, monkeys, Roan antelope, crocodiles, giraffe, and lots of different birds. It’s a very cool benefit to making the trip. We’ll join up with Mark and Diane tomorrow in Livingstone.

Meanwhile, Glen and Joan drove north to Choma and Monzie. Joan had business there and they were to pick up Drs. Dan and Joan Jones from their language study course to return to Zimba to work. Glen went to check out the hospitals that have been constructed in these two towns. In Choma, he was to stop at World Hope Zambia to gather additional information about providing assistance to orphans.

Dr. Kari, anesthetist Barb and nurse Ann spent most of the day providing patient care and giving away gifts we’d brought from home for the nursing staff (pens, sanitizer, etc.) and patient (baby clothes). Earlier in the trip, Diane had given out many, many beany babies she been given to give as gifts to children in Zimba.

Bud and Larry worked at finishing up the rest of the little projects remaining on the list of construction related tasks. In the late afternoon, Larry met with Mr. Khondowe, the hospital administrator, to let him know what we had been able to accomplish, what things were not quite finished for lack of critical parts, but assured him we would be trying to get the missing parts delivered to the next mission group coming from a Tennessee church in about a month. We also made a couple of suggestions about how we might develop a better work list to be more helpful and to help mentor several local workers so they are better able to make repairs and fixes in our absence as well. Mr. Khondowe expressed his appreciation for all we had done as did others on the hospital staff during chapel in the morning. At the close of that service, they prayed for our safety as we travel and made their formal farewell to us, including many more hugs than we experienced on previous trips.

Late in the afternoon, a young boy was brought to the hospital from Kaloma about a half hour north. The boy, age 8, had had an accident several days ago that resulted in a serious laceration. For whatever reason, the medical staff at the hospital in Kaloma did not treat the injury at all except ibuprofen and antibiotics. After several days in that hospital getting no treatment, he was referred to Zimba. Dr. Kari and Barb immediately decided to give him antibiotics and to sew up the laceration. Barb gave him an injection of anesthesia to numb the area. Nothing happened. She gave him another injection, and nothing happened. She had to give him another and another. Finally, she and Dr. Kari concluded the batch of anesthesia was bad. Barb went and got a whole new batch and gave him yet another (the fifth) dose and finally the boy went to sleep. Dr. Kari sewed him up and repaired the injury. It is hard to explain why the Kaloma staff did not treat the boy. Dr. Kari, Barb and Ann joked later that it must have been quite traumatic for the young boy surrounded by a bunch of white women with very sharp objects pointed at him.

In the evening, Pastor Sichongwe stopped by to say goodbye and to pray for us on our travel home. He brought with the superintendent of the Wesleyan churches in all of Zambia. He was visiting the community for a conference of pastors in the Zimba district of Zambia.

Most of the remainder of the evening was spent packing for the trip home. We had thought we were flying from Livingstone on Saturday the 6th of July. Thursday evening, we figured out that this was only half correct. Re-examining our itinerary from the travel agent clearly indicated we were flying out on the 6th, but that happens to be Sunday rather than Saturday. That discovery created something of a problem. Joan had been told we would be leaving Saturday morning and, consequently, had agreed to house another group Saturday evening. That group would have 17 so there clearly wouldn't be enough space for both groups. Joan and Janet had teamed up to locate lodging for us in Livingstone for Saturday night so we plan to leave Zimba in the morning as we had thought.

By the way, we've received word that the president of Zambia didn't die afterall. Apparently, the president of South Africa was misinformed when talking to the press at a conference in Paris. Apparently, the Zambian president had collapsed and is recovering but is still alive.